Patent ID: 8905016

Claim:
A heliostat comprising: a reflecting mirror configured to reflect sunlight, the reflecting mirror having a center and a back surface; a support mechanism configured to support the reflecting mirror in a tiltable manner, the support mechanism having; a single supporting column having an upper end and a lower portion, the upper end of the supporting column being a fixed point; a first cylinder having an upper end and a lower end, and a second cylinder having an upper end and a lower end, the first cylinder and the second cylinder being expandable and contractable so that the first cylinder and the second cylinder have lengths that are adjustable and the upper ends of the first cylinder and the second cylinder are movable points, the upper end of the first cylinder and the upper end of the second cylinder including connectors connected to the back surface of the reflecting mirror; and a gimbal bearing connecting the supporting column upper end to a connecting position on the back surface of the reflecting mirror, the gimbal bearing being tiltable in two axial directions intersecting with each other and configured to prevent the reflecting mirror from rotating around the supporting column as a central axis; wherein: the reflecting mirror is supported at the back surface thereof by the upper end of the supporting column, the upper end of the first cylinder and the upper end of the second cylinder in a tiltable manner; the connecting position of the upper end of the supporting column, the upper end of the first cylinder and the upper end of the second cylinder are arranged to form a triangle on the back surface of the reflecting mirror; and the first cylinder and the second cylinder are arranged to be parallel when the length of the first cylinder and the length of the second cylinder are the same; the first cylinder, the second cylinder, and the supporting column are arranged so that the first cylinder and the second cylinder appear to be parallel to the supporting column in a front view when the length of the first cylinder and the length of the second cylinder are the same; the first cylinder, the second cylinder, and the supporting column are arranged so that a plane defined by a midpoint between the upper ends of the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the lower end of the first cylinder, and the lower end of the second cylinder, intersects with the supporting column so that the first cylinder and the second cylinder appear to intersect with the supporting column in a side view, whereby the center of gravity of the heliostat is positioned near the center of the reflecting mirror.