Heliostat support and drive mechanism

Abstract

A heliostat support and drive mechanism ( 10 ) includes a fixed pedestal and a central joint attached to the pedestal ( 12 ) and attachable to a mirror frame ( 28 ), the central joint ( 22 ) allowing the mirror frame ( 20 ) to be connected to the pedestal ( 12 ) and to be movable with respect to the pedestal ( 12 ) with at least two degrees of freedom. At least two arms ( 14 ) are movably connectable to the pedestal ( 12 ). A first ( 16 ) and second ( 18 ) drive mechanism are connected to the arms ( 14 ) and are movable with respect to the arms ( 14 ), the drive mechanisms ( 16, 18 ) having mirror frame connectors ( 20 ) attached thereto to allow the drive mechanisms ( 16, 18 ) to connect to a mirror frame ( 18 ), the drive mechanisms ( 16, 18 ) being movable between an extended position and a withdrawn position.

1 . A heliostat support and drive mechanism including:
 a fixed pedestal;   a central joint attached to the pedestal and attachable to a mirror frame so that the mirror frame is able to rotate with respect to the central joint, the central joint being movable with respect to the pedestal with at least two degrees of freedom;   at least two arms connected to the pedestal;   a first drive mechanism connected to one of the arms and being movable with respect to the arm, the first drive mechanism having a mirror frame connector attached thereto to allow the first drive mechanism to connect to a mirror frame, the first drive mechanism being movable between an extended position in which the mirror frame connector is extended away from the arm and a withdrawn position in which the mirror frame connector is withdrawn towards the arm; and   a second drive mechanism connected to the other one of the arms and being movable with respect to the arm, the second drive mechanism having a mirror frame connector attached thereto to allow the second drive mechanism to connect to a mirror frame, the second drive mechanism being movable between an extended position in which the mirror frame connector is extended away from the arm and a withdrawn position in which the mirror frame connector is withdrawn towards the arm.   
   
   
       2 . A heliostat support and drive mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the mirror frame connector attached to each of the first and second drive mechanisms comprise a universal joint. 
   
   
       3 . A heliostat support and drive mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the fixed pedestal is a pole which is able to be inserted into the ground. 
   
   
       4 . A heliostat support and drive mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second drive mechanisms comprise worm-gears.