초록 ▼

Tracking modules are effectively provided that can be arranged as systems for positioning devices, such as reflectors. A preferred reflector is small and light in comparison to prior art reflectors so that components can be utilized within reflector construction and support structure that are suffic

Tracking modules are effectively provided that can be arranged as systems for positioning devices, such as reflectors. A preferred reflector is small and light in comparison to prior art reflectors so that components can be utilized within reflector construction and support structure that are sufficiently stiff to accurately hold a reflector in place under expected operational drive-torque, gravity and wind loads. At the same time, a single person can install a reflector, easily overcoming a retention mechanism spring force so as to positively engage a reflector in position. This is achieved without the need for any tools, through a combination of a retention mechanism and a spring feature design. Arrangements of tracking modules are included for easier manufacture, transport of systems and installment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A kit for supporting and providing a controlled range of motion to a device including a tracker module and the device, the tracker module comprising: a frame structure including at least a mast; a tip/tilt mechanism supported by the frame structure and comprising a housing for operatively support

1. A kit for supporting and providing a controlled range of motion to a device including a tracker module and the device, the tracker module comprising: a frame structure including at least a mast; a tip/tilt mechanism supported by the frame structure and comprising a housing for operatively supporting a tip shaft that is rotational along a tip axis and a tilt shaft that is rotational along a tilt axis that is oriented at an angle to the tip axis;a first mounting feature on the tip/tilt mechanism that is rotational with one of the tip shaft and the tilt shaft, that is mounted at an end of such one shaft with a spring bias to connect the tip/tilt mechanism to the device, and that is shaped to engage and disengage with a complementary feature of the device to be supported by the tracker module by flexing of at least a portion of the first mounting feature; anda second mounting feature on the tip/tilt mechanism that is also rotational with the same one shaft as the first mounting feature, that is mounted at an opposite end of said same one shaft with a spring bias configured to connect the tip/tilt mechanism to the device, and that is also shaped to engage and disengage with a complementary feature of the device to be supported by the tracker module, and wherein the second mounting feature is cantilevered from the tip/tilt mechanism and flexes to pass a cam surface on the device, providing a deflection of the second mounting feature when the device is installed on the tip/tilt mechanism, and wherein the second mounting feature snaps into the complementary feature after passing the cam surface to provide a biased connection between the tip/tilt mechanism and the device;wherein a spacing between the first and second mounting features as axially positioned along the one of the tip shaft and the tilt shaft causes a bias force to be created between the flexing first mounting feature and second mounting feature when the device is assembled to the tracker module. 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a reflector and a reflector support structure, the reflector support structure including a third mounting feature that is complementary to the first mounting feature and a fourth mounting feature that is complementary to the second mounting feature, and wherein the third and fourth mounting features are spaced from one another within the reflector support structure so as to cause a flexing of the first mounting feature as the device is mounted to the tracker module and to cause the first mounting feature to remain flexed sufficiently to create the bias force between the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature. 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature are connected with the tilt shaft, which tilt shaft is rotational coupled to the tip axis and is rotatable about the tip axis. 4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the first mounting feature comprises a blade element and a first leaf spring that connects the blade clement to the tip/tilt mechanism and wherein the leaf spring flexes for a biased engagement to the third mounting feature that is complementary to the first mounting feature of the device to be supported by the tracker module. 5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the second mounting feature comprises a pair of spring flanges that are mounted to the tip/tilt mechanism at an axially spaced location from the first mounting feature, which spring flanges interact with a complementary feature of the device to flex inward during connection of the device to the tip/tilt mechanism and snap outward to provide a snap-fit connection of the device to the tip/tilt mechanism. 6. The kit of claim 2, wherein the first mounting feature comprises a blade element and a first leaf spring element that connects the blade element to the tip/tilt mechanism and wherein the leaf spring flexes to create a biased force between the first and second mounting features and wherein the third mounting feature comprises a receiving slot within the reflector support structure that is sized and shaped similarly to the blade element of the first mounting feature so that a torque applied to the reflector is transmitted to the tilt shaft by way of the receiving slot and the blade element. 7. The kit of claim 2, wherein the second mounting feature comprises a pair of spring flanges that are mounted to the tip/tilt mechanism at an axially spaced location from the first mounting feature, which spring flanges interact with the fourth mounting feature of the reflector, which fourth mounting feature comprises (i) at least one cam surface of the reflector support structure for guiding and deflecting at least one of the spring flanges during a snap-fit connection of the reflector to the tip/tilt mechanism; and (ii) a shaped recess of the reflector support structure into which a spring flange snaps to lock the reflector to the tip/tilt mechanism. 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting features are shaped to engage and disengage with the respective complementary features without the need for any tools. 9. The kit of claim 2, wherein the device is configured to be slidably disengaged from the tracker module while squeezing and flexing the pair of spring flanges toward one another. 10. A heliostat comprising a reflector, a reflector support structure, and a tracker module for providing a controlled range of motion to the reflector, the heliostat comprising: as the tracker module: a frame structure including at least a mast;a tip/tilt mechanism supported by the frame structure and comprising a housing for operatively supporting a tip shaft that is rotational along a tip axis and a tilt shaft that is rotational along a tilt axis that is oriented at an angle to the tip axis;a first mounting feature on the tip/tilt mechanism that is rotational with one of the tip shaft and the tilt shaft, that is mounted at an end of such one shaft with a spring bias to connect the tip/tilt mechanism to the reflector support structure and that is shaped to engage and disengage with a complementary feature of the reflector support structure to be supported by the tracker module by flexing of at least a portion of the first mounting feature; anda second mounting feature on the tip/tilt mechanism that is also rotational with the same one shaft as the first mounting feature, that is mounted at an opposite end of said same one shaft with a spring bias to connect the tip/tilt mechanism to the reflector support structure, and that is also shaped to engage and disengage with a complementary feature of the reflector support structure to be supported by the tracker module, and wherein the second mounting feature is cantilevered from the tip/tilt mechanism and flexes to pass a cam surface on the reflector support structure, providing a deflection of the second mounting feature when the reflector support structure is installed on the tip/tilt mechanism, and wherein the second mounting feature snaps into the complementary feature after passing the cam surface to provide a biased connection between the tip/tilt mechanism and the reflector support structure;wherein a spacing between the first and second mounting features as axially positioned along the one of the tip shaft and the tilt shaft causes a force to be created between the flexing first mounting feature and second mounting feature when the reflector support structure to be supported by the tracker module is assembled to the tracker module;and as the reflector support structure configured to be mounted to the reflector: a third mounting feature that is complementary to the first mounting feature; anda fourth mounting feature that is complementary to the second mounting feature,wherein the third and fourth mounting features are spaced from one another so as to cause a flexing of the first mounting feature as the reflector is mounted to the tracker module and to cause the first mounting feature to remain flexed sufficiently to create the force between the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature. 11. The heliostat of claim 10, wherein the first mounting feature comprises a blade element and a first leaf spring that connects the blade element to the tip/tilt mechanism and wherein the leaf spring flexes to create a biased force between the first and second mounting features and wherein the third mounting feature comprises a receiving slot within the reflector support structure that is sized and shaped similarly to the blade element of the first mounting feature so that a torque applied to the reflector is transmitted to the tilt shaft by way of the receiving slot and the blade element. 12. The heliostat of claim 11, wherein the second mounting feature comprises a pair of spring flanges that are mounted to the tip/tilt mechanism at an axially spaced location from the first mounting feature, which spring flanges interact with the fourth mounting feature of the reflector, which fourth mounting feature comprises (i) at least one cam surface of the reflector support structure for guiding and deflecting at least one of the spring flanges during a snap-fit connection of the reflector to the tip/tilt mechanism; and (ii) a shaped recess of the reflector support structure into which a spring flange snaps to lock the reflector to the tip/tilt mechanism. 13. The heliostat of claim 10, wherein the first and second mounting features are shaped to engage and disengage with the respective complementary features without the need for any tools. 14. The heliostat of claim 12, wherein the reflector support structure is configured to be slidably disengaged from the tracker module while squeezing and flexing the pair of spring flanges toward one another.