Patent ID: 6440019
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: F16H,F24S,Y02E

Abstract:
A solar reflector assembly comprising:a reflector; a pedestal; and an azimuth drive unit including a housing, an input shaft, an output shaft and a multi-stage chain drive, the reflector being mounted on the housing, the input shaft being rotatably supported by the housing, the input shaft adapted to receive an input torque for altering the azimuth of the solar reflector, the output shaft being rotatably supported by the housing and fixed to the pedestal, the multi-stage chain drive having an input stage, an idler stage and an output stage, the input stage including an input sprocket that is coupled for rotation with the input shaft, a first idler sprocket and a first chain rotatably coupling the input sprocket and the first idler sprocket, the idler stage including a second idler sprocket coupled for rotation with the first idler sprocket, a third idler sprocket and second chain rotatably coupling the second and third idler sprockets, the output stage including at least one fourth idler sprocket coupled for rotation with the third idler sprocket, at least one output sprocket coupled for rotation with the output shaft and at least an output chain rotatable coupling the fourth idler sprocket to the output sprocket; wherein a torque input received by the input shaft is multiplied by the multi-stage chain drive and output to the output shaft to cause the housing to rotate about the output shaft to thereby affect the azimuth of the reflector.