Primary locating feature

Abstract

A solar collector assembly with at least one primary locator feature. The solar collector assembly has housing having at least one wall and at least one mirror for directing rays of light toward a secondary objective. Each mirror of the solar collector assembly has a back side and a reflective side and at least one primary locating feature for connecting the mirror to the housing. The primary locating feature has a guide bushing that is operably connected to the at least one wall of the housing. A stud of the primary locating feature has a first end connected to a mirror bracket and second end extending through the guide bushing. The stud has a longitudinal axis that extends between the mirror bracket and the guide bushing for allowing the mirror to be positioned along the longitudinal axis relative to the at least one wall of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar collector assembly with at least one primary locating feature comprising:
 a housing having at least one wall;   a mirror having a back side and a reflective side;   a mirror bracket connected to the back side of the mirror; and   at least one primary locating feature having a guide bushing operably connected to said at least one wall of said housing, a stud having a first end connected to said mirror bracket and a second end extending through said guide bushing, wherein said stud has a longitudinal axis extending between and substantially perpendicular to said mirror bracket and said guide bushing allowing said mirror to be positioned along said longitudinal axis relative to said at least one wall of said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener connectable along said longitudinal axis of said stud for locking said stud at a selected position along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 2  wherein said fastener further comprises one selected from the group comprising:
 jack screw adhesives, jam nut, rachet type stud nut and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         4 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 1  wherein said guide bushing is one selected from the group comprising rivet nut, drilled aperture, and a sealed rivet-nut. 
     
     
         5 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an actuator connectable to said second end of said stud for moving said stud along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a ball formed on said first end of said stud and a socket formed on said mirror bracket for receiving said ball. 
     
     
         7 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a socket formed on said first end of said stud and a ball formed on said mirror bracket for receiving said socket. 
     
     
         8 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 1  wherein said guide bushing is disposed through a support member connected to said at least one wall of said housing. 
     
     
         9 . A solar collector assembly with at least one primary locating feature comprising:
 a housing having at least one wall;   a mirror having a back side and a reflective side;   a mirror bracket connected to said back side of the mirror;   at least one primary locating feature having a guide bushing operably connected to said at least one wall of said housing, a stud having a first end connected to said mirror bracket and a second end extending through said guide bushing, wherein said stud has a longitudinal axis extending between and substantially perpendicular to said mirror bracket and said guide bushing allowing said mirror to be positioned along said longitudinal axis relative to said at least one wall of said housing;   a secondary objective mounted to said housing, said secondary objective having a lens facing said reflective side of said mirror, wherein said reflective side of said mirror is positioned to focus reflective light toward said secondary objective and said secondary objective receives said reflected light and converts the light into stored energy.   
     
     
         10 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a fastener connectable along said longitudinal axis of said stud for locking said stud at a selected position along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 10  wherein said fastener further comprises one selected from the group comprising:
 jack screw adhesives, jam nut, rachet type stud nut and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         12 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 9  wherein said guide bushing is one selected from the group comprising rivet nut, drilled aperture, and a sealed rivet-nut. 
     
     
         13 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 9  further comprising an actuator connectable to said second end of said stud for moving said stud along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a ball formed on said first end of said stud and a socket formed on said mirror bracket for receiving said ball. 
     
     
         15 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a socket formed on said first end of said stud and a ball formed on said mirror bracket for receiving said socket. 
     
     
         16 . The solar collector assembly of  claim 9  wherein said guide bushing is disposed through a support member connected to said at least one wall of said housing.