The solar heating apparatus has a base box and a main axle mounted on the base box. At least one mirror support arm is mounted orthogonal to the main axle and supports a plurality of mirrors. In a first embodiment, a circular plate on the side of the base box rotates the main axle to bank the mirrors to track azimuth and a belt or chain drive rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a second embodiment, the main axle is a beam mounted on a rotating circular plate on top of the base box to track azimuth and bevel gears drive a belt or chain drive that rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a third embodiment, the mirror support arms are driven to rotate by bevel gears and the main axle through belt or chain drives.

The solar heating apparatus has a base box and a main axle mounted on the base box. At least one mirror support arm is mounted orthogonal to the main axle and supports a plurality of mirrors. In a first embodiment, a circular plate on the side of the base box rotates the main axle to bank the mirrors to track azimuth and a belt or chain drive rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a second embodiment, the main axle is a beam mounted on a rotating circular plate on top of the base box to track azimuth and bevel gears drive a belt or chain drive that rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a third embodiment, the mirror support arms are driven to rotate by bevel gears and the main axle through belt or chain drives.

The solar heating apparatus includes at least one optical element and a drive assembly for selectively moving the at least one optical element along multiple axes of rotation, the drive assembly having an elevation shaft and an azimuth rotation shaft. The solar heating apparatus also includes a support frame positioned in communicating relation with the drive assembly, the support frame being configured for supporting the at least one optical element. The support frame includes a main shaft, at least one branch holder pivotally attached to an end of the main shaft, the at least one branch holder being adapted for supporting the at least one optical element, and at least one belt drive for pivoting the at least one branch holder, the at least one belt drive being actuated by the elevation shaft.

The solar heating apparatus has a base box and a main axle mounted on the base box. At least one mirror support arm is mounted orthogonal to the main axle and supports a plurality of mirrors. In a first embodiment, a circular plate on the side of the base box rotates the main axle to bank the mirrors to track azimuth and a belt or chain drive rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a second embodiment, the main axle is a beam mounted on a rotating circular plate on top of the base box to track azimuth and bevel gears drive a belt or chain drive that rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a third embodiment, the mirror support arms are driven to rotate by bevel gears and the main axle through belt or chain drives.

The present invention relates to an improved solar energy concentrating system. The system comprises a dual axis sun tracking paraboloid dish collector on a polar mount, with a re-reflecting mirror in top of the paraboloid dish, which reflects the concentrated solar irradiation into an opening in the paraboloid dish into a light pipe and with a movable third mirror redirects the light into a second light pipe along the polar axis, which with a fourth fixed mirror, sends the concentrated solar irradiation into a third light pipe to the cavity receiver. The invention replaces the need of flexible connectors to accommodate the movement of the mirror, with a combination of mirrors and light pipes, transferring the solar irradiation to a cavity-receiver. Dual axis tracking systems can capture more solar energy, on a more constant basis throughout the day and the year, and by reflecting directly into the cavity-receiver, thermal losses are minimized.

A heliostat apparatus includes one mirror frame supporting a reflecting mirror; a pair of north-south rotational shafts to rotate the mirror frame in the north-south direction; an east-west rotational shaft to rotate the mirror frame in the east-west direction with the north-south direction as the rotational axis direction; a pair of arms projecting from the east-west rotational shaft to the east and west; an east-west rotational shaft support allowing east-west rotational shaft axial rotation; and the north-south rotational shafts positioned to face each other on the ends of the arms. The mirror frame rotation, etc. as an integrated unit in the east-west direction with the east-west rotational shaft as the rotational axis adjusts a reflecting mirror reflecting surface east-west angle. With the north-south rotational shaft as the rotational axis, the mirror frame rotation in the north-south direction adjusts the north-south angle of at least one reflecting mirror reflecting surface.

A solar thermal collector is disclosed. The solar thermal collector has side surfaces and a bottom supported by a support frame shaped into a square shifter and installed tilted on a rooftop of a building by means of a plurality of angle connections. The solar thermal collector includes a reverse bias circuit. The top of a lower surface of the support frame is level with a tilted surface of the solar thermal collector or the support frame includes a tilted surface tiled downward, which is formed along a horizontal direction, lower than the surface of the solar thermal collector.

A dual axis solar array tracker for supporting a plurality of solar energy harvesting elements at a plurality of solar collector nodes. Two perpendicular axes of movement, specifically a rotation axis at a rotatable transverse beam and a tilt axis relative to the axis of the transverse beam, enable accurate orientation in a stable configuration. The dual axis design of the solar tracker enables the movement of solar collectors such that they can be directed towards the sun wherein incoming solar rays are perpendicular to the solar cell element of the solar collector to optimize collection of solar radiation. The present solar tracker array also enables integrated solar, electrical and/or thermal energy cogeneration.

Under one aspect, a system is provided for rotating photovoltaic modules arranged in a row. The system can include an elongated structural member extending along and parallel to the row; protrusions coupled to the elongated structural member; an actuator; and drive mechanisms coupled to the photovoltaic modules. Actuation of the actuator can move the elongated structural member, the movement of the elongated structural member can move the protrusions, the movement of the protrusions can move the drive mechanisms, and the movement of the drive mechanisms can rotate the photovoltaic modules.

A solar tracking system with torsion tubes having solar panels (modules) mounted thereon. Columns support the system and have bearings for rotation of the torsion tubes. A flexible transmission shaft is connected at one end to a mechanical drive mechanism for rotating the torsion tubes and thereby rotating at least an individual row of modules to follow the sun's diurnal motion. The torsion tubes can be rotated in an opposite direction, or backtrack, to prevent shadowing from one individual row of modules to another. The flexible transmission shaft is connected to a single motor at its other end and is constructed of flexible materials to compensate for misalignment due to uneven terrain or staggered row of module configuration. Dampers are also employed and affixed to the row of modules to decouple wind forces imposed on the row of modules.