Tracking reflector assembly having means for accurately synchronizing the movement thereof and for providing quick access to system switches for inspection and repair
First Claim
1. A solar lighting reflector apparatus for illuminating the interior of a roofed building during daylight hours and adapted to follow daily movements of the sum, the roofed building having a light transmissive opening in the roof thereon, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of generally planar reflective panels for reflecting sunlight into the light transmissive opening, each of the reflective panels extending between first and second opposing ends along a generally horizontal longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of reflective panels substantially being parallel to each other, the plurality of reflective panels including at least a frontmost reflective panel and rearmost reflective panel, the rearmost reflective panel being supported at a higher elevation than the frontmost reflective panel to avoid shading of the rearmost reflective panel by the frontmost reflective panel;
means for supporting said reflective panels above said light transmissive openings;
means coupled to said reflective panels for rotating said reflective panels when driven by a rotation force;
a rotatable shaft connected to said coupling means;
means for coupling the output shaft of a d.c. motor to said rotatable shaft whereby the reflective panels are directed to the sun as the sun moves throughout the day; and
a worm gear and stepper wheel mounted to said rotatable shaft.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved system for synchronizing the positioning of a reflector assembly used in solar lighting apparatus for illuminating the interior of a roofed building. The reflector assembly is rotatable about a vertical access for tracking daily movements of the sun. The assembly includes return, track and seek sensors, the return sensor, in the turn-on mode, generating a signal corresponding to sensed sunlight, which energizes the systems motor. The system comprises the master tracking assembly and a plurality of follower units. Each motor shaft extends into a gear box and is coupled to a worm gear. A radial worm gear is mounted to a shaft member and is driven by the worm gear. The shaft member in turn drives the mirror reflector assembly. A stepper wheel having a plurality of indentations formed thereon is also mounted to the shaft member. The roller wheel of an associated switch coacts with the stepper wheel, the motor being intermittently turned off each time the roller wheel falls into a stepper wheel indentation as the shaft member is rotated. The system switches are mounted on a removable plate positioned within a gear box. A cover member encloses the gear box and is removable to allow access to the plate whereby the switches can be inspected and repaired, if necessary, without disassembly of the reflector mirror assemblies or removal of the reflector assembly from the skylight.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A solar lighting reflector apparatus for illuminating the interior of a roofed building during daylight hours and adapted to follow daily movements of the sum, the roofed building having a light transmissive opening in the roof thereon, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of generally planar reflective panels for reflecting sunlight into the light transmissive opening, each of the reflective panels extending between first and second opposing ends along a generally horizontal longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of reflective panels substantially being parallel to each other, the plurality of reflective panels including at least a frontmost reflective panel and rearmost reflective panel, the rearmost reflective panel being supported at a higher elevation than the frontmost reflective panel to avoid shading of the rearmost reflective panel by the frontmost reflective panel; means for supporting said reflective panels above said light transmissive openings; means coupled to said reflective panels for rotating said reflective panels when driven by a rotation force; a rotatable shaft connected to said coupling means; means for coupling the output shaft of a d.c. motor to said rotatable shaft whereby the reflective panels are directed to the sun as the sun moves throughout the day; and a worm gear and stepper wheel mounted to said rotatable shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification