Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Queen of France

Solar Tracker

I keep updating this page, as really there are many different versions:
A very simple method, is with 2 rocks and 2 wheels.
One wheel is vertical, with the second wheel horizontal at the top edge of the vertical wheel.

1 rock is placed at 1 o'clock on the rotating vertical wheel*, and the second rock of a slightly smaller weight is placed at 7 o'clock.

As the 1 o'clock rock is heavier it slowly spins the wheel. The key is that the rocks are close enough in weight that the drop of the 1 o'clock rock takes 48 hours to descend to 6'oclock. (at its final bottom position).

*A simple T or inverted L pin through the hole in the middle of the wheel , attached to a stand supports the spinning wheel off from the ground.

All the while the lower vertical wheel is turning by the dropping rock, the horizontal wheel is indirectly turned. The Fresnel Lens itself is on the horizontal wheel. catching the sunlight as it travels from morning through to the night.
A second method is: A retractable string with a top spinning table:
A Lazy-Susan Time-Retractive, with a draw string or rope pulley works.
Other versions are a top-weighted spring that slowly spins and lowers through its top coil track. That when under pressure at the very top end of the spring, as its going in a downward circular trail of the coil track, the spring compresses.... At the same time, turning the horizontal wheel cog with its spokes out.
The held coil track helps the spring move to turn in a circle, also at the very bottom of the base. A large T or X attached to the bottom (horizontally), will help turn the cog from the inside of the cog base. Like a screwdriver action.
The base horizontal wheel, then subsequently turns the solar tracker, over 48 hours.
Not sure this type-drawing is understandable nor the following instructions, the above methods appear faster:
( "|<O>\" upright wheel(profiled{}))    {}___turning_a_fresnel_or_solar_table__
  |       [r]
  [l]
  .ground.
as a single turn table,
where the  |  is a drop string pully with a weight that lowers slowly, 
(w/a lesser counterbalance weight
on other side of upright profiled wheel, "[r]",
that slows the "[l]" side as it descends.)

the turn table is situated to turn,
at ether the top or bottom of the upright wheel.
 

but, the following design is a roller coaster alternative:

A rolling weight in a vertical spiral railing,
and the railing is at a minimal angle to slow down the rolling weight's action.

The railing is similar to a roller coaster that barely moves, yet it descends over a duration. In the example it is 48 hours.

At the side of the railing an attachment wand descends to the cog base structure that winds the other lazy-susan mechanism.

The wand and ball:
The wand is retractable, and attached to the rolling downhill weight.

The ball is connected to the wand with an internal spin allowability,  (ball bearians or greased-hub center)
yet it allows for the constant rotational pressure of turning the small cog (lazy-susan) surface below.

48 hours to lower the ball:
|---(O)
|
|
\                                                                  "light lens object"
===turning cog===+  +=======lens device turning cog table========


The lens table turns over a specified time frame.
The fresnel type of object on the table can point
at the sunshine in the morning and over the 48 hours,
the table swirls to follow the event.

Assumingly the fresnel hotbox when excessively heated,
is doing something exotic,
such as making a heated ventable area
that turbine powers a propeller to charge batteries
or chamber heat a water tank.
------------------
At the end of the duration the ball is reset manually,
to the top of the railings track device.