Heliostat drive-structure mechanical interface

Abstract

A mechanical interface between the drive and support structure of a heliostat assembly for use in concentrated solar power applications. The heliostat drive is mounted to the support structure by inserting a drive post into a structure post, the structure post having grooves for interfacing with bolts or other fasteners attached to the drive post. The structure post has a plurality of grooves to allow for multiple heliostat orientation options. The heliostat assembly further includes a capsule containing a drive motor controller and cable-mounting features, wherein the capsule is inserted into the drive post and has a cable-positioning feature to provide egress of power and communication connectors from the drive through at least one groove.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heliostat assembly for dynamically adjusting the position of a reflector, the heliostat assembly comprising:
 a drive chassis comprising a drive post;   a structure comprising a structure post having an alignment feature, wherein the drive post is inserted into the structure post and is aligned via the alignment feature.   
     
     
         2 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a first tube end having a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         3 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the grooves are spaced equidistant from each other by an offset angle and define multiple heliostat drive orientations relative to the structure post. 
     
     
         4 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the offset angle is 60, 120, or 180 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first tube end comprises six grooves. 
     
     
         6 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drive post attaches to the structure post via a plurality of fasteners that fit into the grooves of the alignment feature. 
     
     
         7 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are spaced equidistant from each other by an offset angle. 
     
     
         8 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the structure post further comprises a contacting region having a smaller diameter than the first tube end, and wherein the drive post makes contact with the contacting region. 
     
     
         9 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a capsule containing cable-mounting components and electronics components, wherein the capsule is inserted into the drive post. 
     
     
         10 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the cable-mounting components comprise a female cable connector and a male cable connector that egress from the capsule. 
     
     
         11 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electronics components comprise a motor controller configured to actuate the heliostat to move to a desired position. 
     
     
         12 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the capsule further comprises a cable-positioning feature. 
     
     
         13 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cable-positioning feature comprises a protrusion that orients the cable-mounting components at an acute angle relative to the capsule. 
     
     
         14 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the drive post further comprises a second tube end having a groove, and wherein the protrusion is positioned within said groove. 
     
     
         15 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the protrusion is positioned within a groove of the alignment feature. 
     
     
         16 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said protrusion is positioned between at least two fasteners and is spaced equidistant from said fasteners by an offset angle. 
     
     
         17 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the capsule comprises at least one recessed exterior surface. 
     
     
         18 . The heliostat assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of nuts are positioned within the recessed exterior surfaces of the capsule, and wherein the nuts interface with said fasteners.