The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 01, 2014
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2011
Fintan J. Doyle, Silverthorne, CO (US);
Fintan J. Doyle, Silverthorne, CO (US);
Sulas Industries, Inc., Silverthorne, CO (US);
Abstract
A solar tracking device that uses thermal actuation to rotate a solar energy device to track movement of the sun for improved solar energy output of the solar energy device. Thermal actuation is generated by concentrating solar radiation using a solar collector and solar receiver. A medium that expands when heated is in thermal communication with the solar receiver and drives an actuator for rotating the solar tracking device to follow the movement of the sun. The medium may be a phase change material such as Paraffin wax. Rotational actuation may be performed using helical slots in a main housing and cam followers coupled to a shaft extended out of the main housing. At the end of the day, a combination of gravity and/or mechanical return forces may assist in returning the system to an initial position such that it is ready to receive solar radiation the next day.