Solar collector positioning apparatus

摘要

A solar collector positioning apparatus including a base structure and an intermediate frame connected to the base structure by at least two base support legs. The base support legs have a hinged connection to the base structure and a hinged connection to the intermediate frame, thereby constraining the movement of the intermediate frame to a plane substantially orthogonal to a plane occupied by the base structure. A solar collector support frame is connected to the intermediate frame by at least two intermediate support legs. The intermediate support legs have a hinged connection to the solar collector support frame and a hinged connection to the intermediate frame, thereby constraining the movement of the solar collector support frame to a plane substantially orthogonal to a plane occupied by the intermediate frame.

主权项

1. A solar collector positioning apparatus comprising:
a. a base structure; b. an intermediate frame connected to the base structure by at least four base support legs, each of the base support legs having a hinged connection to the base structure and a hinged connection to the intermediate frame, the four support legs having approximately the same length, and the hinged connections to the intermediate frame having a lesser separation distance than the hinged connections to the base structure; c. a collector support frame connected to the intermediate frame by at least four intermediate support legs, each of the intermediate support legs having a hinged connection to the collector support frame and a hinged connection to the intermediate frame; d. a first linear actuator connected between the base structure and the intermediate frame to impart rotation to the intermediate frame relative to the base frame and a second linear actuator connected between the intermediate frame and the collector support frame to impart rotation to the collector support frame relative to the intermediate frame; e. a solar collector module positioned on the collector support frame; and f. wherein the movement of the solar collector support frame is constrained to a plane substantially orthogonal to a plane in which movement of the intermediate frame is constrained.