| 摘要 |
<p>Mechanisms which automatically track the sun in its apparent westward motion across the sky between sunrise and sunset. Prior art devices have either been too cumbersome and expensive or inaccurate due to a lessening of the complexity of such devices. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing a trough type solar collector (21) or other body mounted to rotate about a generally north-south pivotal axis. A balance weight (25) is supported on an elongated heat sensitive beam (26) anchored at its ends to the westerly side of the collector. The beam is adapted to bow away from the collector when it is heated by the sun"s rays, thereby causing the balance weight to exert westward rotational force on the collector. A reflector (43) may be positioned behind the beam to concentrate the sun"s rays on the beam. A shutter (34, 35) is fixed to the collector to shade the beam when the collector is pointing toward the sun. Biasing means (29) such as a fixed weight secured to the easterly side of the collector, oppose the torque exerted by the balance weight (25) and urge the collector to rotate eastwardly when the beam is unbowed. Damping means (44) control the speed of westward and eastward rotation of the collector, and a pair of stops (55) limit its westward and eastward travel. </p> |
