AUTONOMOUS SYSTEM FOR TRACKING MOVEMENT OF THE SUN ACROSS THE DOME OF THE SKY Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC F24J2/38 

FIELD: solar engineering, in particular, devices for ensuring orientation of an object relatively to the Sun.

SUBSTANCE: autonomous system for tracking movement of the Sun across the dome of the sky uses thermal drives in form of torsions, made of metal with shape memory effect. Orientation relatively to the Sun is ensured by rotation of two axes - zenith axis and azimuth axis. The system represents a two-level structure. On upper rotation axis, direction panel is held, and on lower axis - carrying frame of upper axis. Rotation of upper axis ensures azimuth turn of panel from west to east, and rotation of lower axis ensures zenith turn from north to south. Thermal drives of rotation axes operate due to thermal energy emitted by the Sun. Thermal drives are interconnected in pairs according to differential scheme and in case of non identical lighting degree (with skewed falling of beams due to arranged screens) have different temperature, due to which difference of deformations occurs between them, which is transformed to turn of panel towards the Sun, as a result of which automatic orientation takes place relatively to the star.

EFFECT: high specific serviceability of the system and precision of orientation provide for its usage for servicing any solar engineering objects: solar batteries and collectors, focusing mirrors and lenses, actinometers, etc, and biologically inert material used in the making of thermal drives ensures ecological safety.

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