Automatic guidance system for radiation-responsive systems

• US 4,283,588 A
• Filed: 09/04/1979
• Issued: 08/11/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zitzelsberger, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US06/072,096
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 136/89 PC, 126/422, 126/424, 126/425, 250/203 R, 353/3
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 5/00 Adjusting position or attitude, e.g. level, of instruments or other apparatus, or of parts thereof levels per se G01C9/00; Compensating for the effects of tilting or acceleration, e.g. for optical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

The invention concerns a guidance, or tracking, arrangement which automatically adjusts the alignment of a radiation responsive system in accordance with the position of a movable radiation source. The arrangement utilizes two bodies able to transmit heat expansion forces into linear movements to rotate a rocker about an axis perpendicular to the path plane of the source. The bodies are partially shaded such that exposure to the radiation source controls the extent to which the bodies rotate the rocker. Resilient support means compensate the arrangement for undue forces arising from expansions of the bodies.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the automatic alignment of a radiation responsive system according to the position of a movable radiation source comprising:

(1) a rocker means carrying said radiation responsive system, said rocker means being rotatable about an axis which intersects with the plane of movement of said movable radiation source,

(2) a platform means mounted for reciprocable translation in a direction perpendicular to said axis,

(3) two heat expansion bodies positioned between said rocker and platform means for exposure to said radiation source, said bodies being mounted in spaced-apart fashion on opposed sides of said axis, each body having first and second end portions linearly, longitudinally movable in response to thermal expansion forces occurring within the heat expansion body,

(4) means pivotally connecting respective first ends of said heat expansion bodies to said rocker means and respective second ends of said heat expansion bodies to said platform such that linear movements of said first and second ends serve to rotate said rocker means about said axis and translate said platform means, and

(5) shade means for shading each body from exposure to said radiation source such that relative thermal expansion forces are formed in said bodies.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for resiliently suspending said platform means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shade means partially enclose each said body such that uncovered sides of said bodies generally face one another.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said shade means are formed such that said uncovered sides do not directly face one another.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radiation responsive system comprises an array of solar cells.