Cable Ganged Heliostat

Abstract

A cable ganged heliostat used to focus radiation from a moving source onto a receiver is disclosed. The primary application of such an invention relates to reflecting the radiation from the sun onto a stationary target. The device orients a reflective surface to a position necessary for imaging using a mirror adjustment means. The device may be used singly or in a ganged array. The mirror and mirror adjustment means of the device may be supported by cables.

1 . A cable ganged heliostat wherein;
 said cable ganged heliostat comprises a mirror, for reflecting incident radiation from a moving radiation source to a receiver;   said cable ganged heliostat comprises a mirror adjustment means wherein;
 said mirror adjustment means includes an incidence part wherein;
 said incidence part is aligned with the incidence vector; 
 
 said mirror adjustment means includes a reflection part wherein;
 said reflection part is aligned with the reflection vector; 
 
 said mirror adjustment means includes one or more sun linkages wherein;
 said sun linkages provide an incidence aiming means; 
 said sun linkages are connected directly, or indirectly, to a primary sun aiming means; 
 said sun linkages are connected at one end to said incidence part; 
 said sun aiming linkages causes said incidence part to be aligned with the incidence vector; 
 
 said mirror adjustment means includes a receiver cable wherein;
 said receiver cable provides a reflection aiming means; 
 said receiver cable is parallel to the receiver and mirror centre; 
 said receiver cable is connected at one end to said reflection part; 
 said receiver cable causes said mirror connector to be aligned with the reflection vector; 
 
 said incidence part and said reflection part are coplanar with the incidence vector and the reflection vector; 
 said mirror adjustment means adjusts the position of said mirror to achieve imaging; 
   said mirror and said mirror adjustment means are supported by cables;   said mirror and said mirror adjustment means are gangable wherein said mirror and mirror adjustment means share said primary sun aiming means with other cable ganged heliostats;   
     
     
         2 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said mirror adjustment means is a ‘half-angle gearing’ aiming means wherein;
 Said incidence part is a sun gear wherein; 
 Said reflection part is a gear plate; 
 Said half-angle gearing means includes one or more intermediate gears; 
 Said half-angle gearing means includes a mirror gear wherein;
 Said mirror gear is connected to said mirror; 
 An axis of said mirror gear is parallel to the mirror normal; 
 Said mirror gear is geared to said intermediate gear or gears which is geared to said sun gear; 
 
 Said mirror gear turns at half the angular rate as said sun gear; 
 Said sun gear, intermediate gear, and said mirror gear are mounted on said gear plate; 
 
     
     
         3 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said mirror adjustment means is a ‘traversing bolt’ aiming means wherein;
 Said incidence part is a sun connector; 
 Said reflection part is a receiver connector; 
 Said sun connector and said receiver connector and said mirror are mounted on, and rotate about, a kingpin; 
 Said sun connector is connected to a sun traversing linkage at a sun traversing connection point and said receiver connector is connected to a receiver traversing linkage at a receiver traversing connection point; 
 Said sun traversing connection point and said receiver traversing connection point are equidistant from said kingpin; 
 Said ‘traversing bolt’ aiming means comprises a traversing bolt; 
 Said sun traversing bolt is connected to said sun traversing linkage and said receiver traversing linkage; 
 The distance between said sun traversing connection point and said traversing bolt and the distance between said receiver traversing connection point and said traversing bolt are equal; 
 Said mirror includes traversing guides that comprise one or more slots parallel to the main axis of said mirror; 
 Said traversing bolt travels through said guide; 
 
     
     
         4 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said mirror adjustment means is an ‘elastic band’ aiming means wherein;
 Said incidence part is a sun connector; 
 Said reflection part is a receiver connector; 
 Said sun connector and said receiver connector and said mirror are mounted on, and rotate about, a kingpin; 
 Said sun connector includes a sun elastic connection point 
 Said receiver connector includes a receiver elastic connection point; 
 Said sun elastic connection point and said receiver elastic connection point are equidistant from said kingpin; 
 Said ‘elastic band’ aiming means includes an elastic; 
 Said elastic is tensioned, at minimum, around said sun elastic connection point and said receiver elastic connection point; 
 Said mirror is positioned by said elastic, directly or indirectly; 
 
     
     
         5 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said primary sun aiming means includes a pair of sun aiming meshes wherein;
 Said sun aiming meshes are tensioned between said primary sun aiming means; 
 A first of said sun aiming meshes is connected to a first of said sun linkages; 
 A second of said sun aiming meshes is connected to a second of said sun linkages; 
 Said sun aiming meshes are sufficiently open to prevent interference with the parts of the device; 
 
     
     
         6 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said sun linkage or linkages are coil, composite coil, spiral, or helical shaped; 
     
     
         7 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said sun linkages are linked to said primary sun aiming means by an equalizing sun linkage cable wherein;
 Said equalizing sun linkage cable is connected at a first end to said primary sun aiming means; 
 Said equalizing sun linkage cable is connected at a second end to said primary sun aiming means; 
 Said equalizing sun linkage cable is looped around said sun linkages; 
 Tension on said equalizing sun linkage cable aligns said incidence part with said primary sun aiming means; 
 
     
     
         8 . A device of  claim 2  wherein said mirror gear is connected to said mirror by cables; 
     
     
         9 . A device of  claim 4  wherein said ‘elastic band’ aiming means comprises an elastic balancer wherein said elastic is looped around said elastic wherein said elastic balancer positions said mirror.