ACTUATOR-BASED DRIVE SYSTEM FOR SOLAR COLLECTOR
First Claim
1. An actuator-based system for controlling the rotational position of a solar collector trough, said trough being rotatably supported for movement over an angular range of motion based on the relative position of the sun to the trough, said position controlling system comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder having an output end;
a linkage assembly interconnecting the output end of said cylinder and said trough, said linkage assembly comprising;
at least one linkage member; and
a pair of pivot arms attached to said at least one linkage member, said pair of pivot arms including a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm, said first pivot arm being pivotally attached to a fixed portion of said trough at one end of said arm and pivotally attached to said at least one linkage member at an opposite end thereof, said second pivot arm being pivotally attached to a rotatably supported portion of said trough at one end and being pivotally attached to said at least one linkage member at an opposite end, said linkage member being pivotally attached to said output end of said cylinder at one end and pivotally attached to each of said first and second pivot arms wherein axial movement of said output end enables said trough to be rotated over said angular range of motion; and
a hydraulic pressurization system for controlling the displacement of said output end of said cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling the rotational position of a solar collector trough includes a hydraulic cylinder having an output end and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly includes at least one linkage member and a pair of pivot arms attached to the at least one linkage member. The pair of pivot arms is defined by a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm, each arm being pivotally attached to the at least one linkage member and the trough. The first and second pivot arms form respective parallel horizontal first and second pivot axes enabling the trough to be entirely movable over an angular range of motion extending over 180 degrees based totally on the linear movement of the output end of the hydraulic cylinder and in which an actuator control circuit controls the relative displacement of the cylinder output end.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An actuator-based system for controlling the rotational position of a solar collector trough, said trough being rotatably supported for movement over an angular range of motion based on the relative position of the sun to the trough, said position controlling system comprising:
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a hydraulic cylinder having an output end; a linkage assembly interconnecting the output end of said cylinder and said trough, said linkage assembly comprising; at least one linkage member; and a pair of pivot arms attached to said at least one linkage member, said pair of pivot arms including a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm, said first pivot arm being pivotally attached to a fixed portion of said trough at one end of said arm and pivotally attached to said at least one linkage member at an opposite end thereof, said second pivot arm being pivotally attached to a rotatably supported portion of said trough at one end and being pivotally attached to said at least one linkage member at an opposite end, said linkage member being pivotally attached to said output end of said cylinder at one end and pivotally attached to each of said first and second pivot arms wherein axial movement of said output end enables said trough to be rotated over said angular range of motion; and a hydraulic pressurization system for controlling the displacement of said output end of said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for controlling the rotational position of a solar collector trough, said trough being rotatably supported for movement over an angular range of motion based on the relative position of the sun to the trough, said position controlling system comprising:
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a hydraulic cylinder having an output end; a linkage assembly interconnecting the output end of said cylinder and said trough, said linkage assembly comprising; at least one linkage member; and a pair of pivot arms attached to said at least one linkage member, said pair of pivot arms including a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm each pivotally attached to said at least one linkage member and said trough, wherein the attachment of said first pivot arm and said second pivot arm form respective parallel horizontal first and second pivot axes enabling said trough to be entirely movable over said range of motion based totally on the linear movement of the output end of said hydraulic cylinder; and a hydraulic pressurization system for controlling the displacement of said output end of said cylinder.
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Specification