Apparatus and method for heliostat support

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a heliostat and method thereof comprising: a rigid elongate vertical member having a first end region and a lower second end region, the first end region connected to a heliostat drive mechanism connection means, wherein the lower second end region is adapted for being driven into the ground with frictional contact.

1 . Apparatus for supporting a heliostat comprising;
 a rigid, elongate vertical member,   the vertical member comprising a first end region and a second end region, the first end region operatively connected to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection arrangement, the second end region adapted for being driven into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and   at least one stabilising structure,   wherein the at least one stabilising structure comprises a rigid interconnection between a first vertical member of a heliostat support and a second vertical member of another heliostat support.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vertical member comprises naturally occurring materials or fibres, comprising one or a combination of:
 timber; 
 metallic materials comprising steel and aluminium; 
 synthetic materials comprising plastics. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vertical member comprises an electric resistance welded hollow mild steel pipe having a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a nominal bore dimension of the vertical member is about 50 millimetres. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vertical member second end region has a length greater than about 300 millimetres. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one stabilising structure comprises an anti-torsion member comprising a rigid, elongate member comprising a first end region and a second end region, the first end region having operable interconnection to a first heliostat drive mechanism support vertical member, the second end region having operable interconnection to a second heliostat drive mechanism support vertical member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the anti-torsion member comprises naturally occurring materials or fibres, comprising one or a combination of:
 timber; 
 metallic materials comprising steel and aluminium; 
 synthetic materials comprising plastics. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the anti-torsion member comprises an electric resistance welded hollow mild steel pipe having a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the nominal bore dimension of the anti-torsion member is about 25 millimetres. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the anti-torsion member operable interconnection arrangement includes at least one plate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the operable interconnection arrangement comprises two opposed plates adapted to clamp the vertical member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the plates achieve the clamping effect by use of at least one laterally orientated fastener system. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the at least one plate comprises a mild steel body having a ridged shape. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the at least one plate has a thickness of about 4 millimetres. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for supporting a heliostat comprising;
 a rigid, elongate vertical member,   the vertical member comprising a first end region and a second end region, the first end region operatively connected to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection arrangement, the second end region adapted for being driven into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and   the drive mechanism connection arrangement is adapted to isolate the drive mechanism from torsional forces between the drive mechanism and the vertical member above a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the isolation from torsional forces is achieved by frictional arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the drive mechanism connection arrangement includes at least one plate. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the drive mechanism connection arrangement comprises three opposed plates adapted to clamp the drive mechanism and the vertical member. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the plates achieve the clamping effect by use of at least one laterally orientated fastener system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the at least one plate comprises an arrangement of two mild steel external plates and an aluminium intermediate plate. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the mild steel external plates comprise a ridged shape. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the mild steel external plates have a thickness of about 4 millimetres. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the aluminium intermediate plate comprises a scalloped profile. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the aluminium intermediate plate has a minimum thickness of about 4 millimetres. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus for supporting a heliostat comprising;
 a rigid, elongate vertical member,   the vertical member comprising a first end region and a second end region, the first end region operatively connected to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection arrangement, the second end region adapted for being driven into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat,   at least one stabilising structure, wherein the at least one stabilising structure comprises a rigid interconnection between a first vertical member of a heliostat support and a second vertical member of another heliostat support, wherein at least the vertical member and the at least one stabilising structure are adapted to form a portion of the heliostat drive mechanism power supply circuit.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the portion of the heliostat drive mechanism power supply circuit formed is the current return path. 
     
     
         27 . A method for supporting a heliostat comprising the steps of:
 operatively connecting a first end region of a rigid, elongate vertical member to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection arrangement;   driving a second end region of the rigid, elongate vertical member into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and   stabilising with at least one stabilising structure comprising a rigid interconnection between a first vertical member of a heliostat support and a second vertical member of another heliostat support.   
     
     
         28 . A method for supporting a heliostat comprising the steps of:
 operatively connecting a first end region of a rigid, elongate vertical member to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection arrangement;   driving a second end region of the rigid, elongate vertical member into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and   isolating the drive mechanism from torsional forces between the drive mechanism and the vertical member above a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         29 . A method for operating a heliostat comprising the steps of:
 operatively connecting a first end region of a rigid, elongate vertical member to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection arrangement;   driving a second end region of the rigid, elongate vertical member into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat;   stabilising with at least one stabilising structure comprising a rigid interconnection between a first vertical member of a heliostat support and a second vertical member of another heliostat support, and   adapting the vertical member and the at least one stabilising structure to form a portion of the heliostat drive mechanism power supply circuit.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of driving the second end region of the rigid, elongate vertical member into frictional contact with the ground is achieved by driving equipment. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of driving the second end region of the rigid, elongate vertical member into frictional contact with the ground is achieved without use of concrete. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claims 28  wherein the step of affixing the at least one anti-torsion member is achieved by a fastener system. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claims 27  wherein the method of affixing the heliostat drive mechanism is achieved by a fastener system. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus or device as herein described. 
     
     
         35 . A method or protocol as herein described.