Patent ID: 7665459

Claim:
A solar collector comprising in combination: a plurality of elongated reflectors of substantially parabolic transverse cross-section defining an axis of generation, a fluid-conducting tube supporting each of said reflectors along said axis of generation for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis; a mounting system supporting said tubes, said mounting system including an enclosed box having a top glass plate overlying said reflectors; a motor drive and linkage interconnecting said motor drive to said reflectors to incrementally pivot said reflectors, the linkage comprising; a transverse link pivotally mounted directly to each of said reflectors at one end of said reflectors; a connecting link pivotally connected at a first end directly to the transverse link at an off-center point of the transverse link; a drive link pivotally connected to a second end of the connecting link and to a drive shaft of said motor drive; wherein said motor drive and linkage causes the transverse link to swing in an arcuate manner in a forward and reversible movement, thereby pivoting the plurality of elongated reflectors about said longitudinal axis; and a solar switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing said motor drive, the solar switch comprising: a base having a longitudinal reference line; a pair of laterally spaced solar cells being on opposite sides of said longitudinal reference line; wherein said base further comprises a wall between said solar cells coincident with said reference line; and an arcuate solar radiation blocking bar mounted on said base and extending along said reference line, said blocking bar to cast a shadow on both of said solar cells when the solar radiation is coming from directly above said switch.