Abstract:
Briefly stated, floating rings which rotate around their vertical axis with predetermined relation to the azimuthal velocity of the sun are prevented from getting out of range by maintaining a desired spatial orientation between at least three fixed rollers circumferentially positioned. The present disclosure keeps floating rings together by encircling them.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and full Paris Convention Priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/795,666, filed Apr. 27, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, as if fully set forth herein. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Solar power plants with floating rings have been known which rotate around their vertical axis with the azimuthal velocity of the sun. A method to prevent the rings from getting out of range is to keep the rings between three fixed rollers arranged at the circumference. Prior to the advent of the instant teachings, this need remained unaddressed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Briefly stated, floating rings which rotate around their vertical axis with predetermined relation to the azimuthal velocity of the sun are prevented from getting out of range by maintaining a desired spatial orientation between, for example, at least three fixed rollers circumferentially positioned. 
         [0004]    According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided in a solar power plant with floating rings rotating about vertical axes with the azimuthal velocity of the sun, the improvement comprising: connecting brackets to fix the position of a ring floating on a water layer, characterized in that the ring is held between rollers whose axes run almost vertical. 
         [0005]    According to the embodiment of a novel at least two rings enhanced bracket system for floating rings, comprising, in combination; at least two rings; a connecting bracket fixed to the ground; and a gear motor and sprocket arrangement linked operatively to a roller chain on the outer periphery, rollers on the bracket contacting the inner circumference; whereby floating rings are prevented from travel outside of a specified range. 
         [0006]    According to a connecting bracket set for a floating ring based solar energy system, which comprises, in combination, a connecting bracket for fixing the position of at least a ring floating of a water layer, said at least a ring being held between rollers having a substantially vertical axis: whereby tracking of the azimuthal velocity of the sun is enabled by preventing the at least a ring from migrating outside of a predetermined range, by encircling the same. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows an arrangement with only one connecting bracket; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a vertical cross-section; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an arrangement, which holds two rings together; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a vertical cross section of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a group of floating tubes, which supports the connecting bracket; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a group of three rings, which are kept together by three connecting brackets. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present inventors have discovered that solar power plants with floating rings rotating about their vertical axis with the azimuthal velocity tracking of the sun are functional to harvest solar energy, and herewith provide optimized systems to maintain a proper spatial orientation of the floating rings. 
         [0015]    Expressly incorporated by reference as if fully satisfied herein are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,772,791; 5,665,174 and 5,445,177. Likewise, PCT/EP93/00368; PCT/EP2002/011309; CN 1,568,550; and DE 10302 746 A1; DE 10318036; DE 103 46164; and U.S. 2005/0284146, each assigned to the present inventors, are expressly incorporated by reference herein, as if each was set forth herein. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a connecting bracket according to the invention which is fixed to the ground and which takes care of the movement needed to compensate for the azimuthal velocity. Thereby the gear motor  2  will drive the sprocket  1 . Sprocket  1  transfers the torque to the ring  3 , which is only partially shown. The teeth of the sprocket  1  engage into the roller chain  4  at the outer periphery. Sprocket  1  is positioned below a bracket  5  on which rollers  6 , which are positioned close to each other are also fixed. These rollers contact the inner circumference and prevent the floating ring  3  from moving in direction  7 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the device in  FIG. 1  in a schematic presentation. The connecting bracket is positioned above a water body  20  and is connected to the ground. The floating ring  23  is fixed in radial direction between sprocket  21  and rollers  26 . The bracket  25  clamps sprocket  21  and gear motor  22  together. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the bracket  35  of a connecting bracket, which keeps the two adjacent floating rings  33  and  37  together and at the same time, transfers the rotating movement of the gear motor  32  via sprocket  31  to the two floating rings  33  and  37 . Rollers  36  prevent movement in radial direction as long as the ring is kept in its horizontal position by the water body. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 3  in a vertical cross-section. Sprocket  41  is driven by gear motor  42  and transfers the torque onto sprocket  45  formed by a roller chain. Sprocket  41  and rollers  46  clamp floating rings  43  and  47  together to make a connection between the horizontally aligned rings in the water body  40 . Below this device a hollow rectangular tube  48  is positioned whose buoyancy supports the connecting brackets. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows the floating tube  48  of  FIG. 4  in cross-section  58 . Tube  55  is connected to plate  50  in the central region between the three platforms. The end of the tube is connected to a concrete weight  51 , which prevents it from getting out of place. The tube submerges into the water body to line  52 . The water body is separated from the ground by a plastic film  54 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows an arrangement where three platforms  60 ,  61 ,  62  are combined into a triad. Connecting brackets  63 ,  64  and  65  are positioned at the area of contact; they are supported by the buoyancy of tube  66 . At the end of each tube there is a concrete weight  67 . 
         [0022]    While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modification and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.