Patent ID: 7640931

Claim:
A solar collecting system for generating electrical power, heat energy, and!or steam, said system comprising: (a) a parabolic solar collector panel having a predetermined radius capable of receiving rays of the sun moving along a first path; (b) a first arm for mounting said panel for receiving said rays and reflecting said rays along a second path to one of a focal point, which is approximately ½ said predetermined radius, and a sub-focal point, which is less than ½ said predetermined radius, where said rays become at least partially condensed; (c) a second arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said arm extending above and in a parallel plane with a portion of said solar collector panel; (d) a cross-beam extending between and connecting said first arm and said second arm to form a frame assembly; (e) at least one deflecting mirror mounted at said first end of said second arm at substantially one of said focal point and sub-focal point for receiving said condensed rays and redirecting said rays along at least a third path different from said first and second paths; (f) a gear assembly, the center of which is attached to a second end of said second arm, said gear assembly having a center portion inline with one of said focal point and said sub-focal point to form an imaginary axis wherein said at least one deflecting mirror is mounted inline with said imaginary axis at a fixed spatial location with respect to one of said focal point and said sub-focal point and said collector panel; (g) means for operating said gear assembly to rotate said frame assembly including said at least one deflecting mirror according to movement of the sun such that said collector panel travels over an arc path, the center of which is one of said focal point and said sub-focal point of said collector panel, said collector panel traveling over said arc path wherein said center of said arc path is ½ said radius or less than ½ said radius of said collector panel, said collector panel traveling over said arc path which is perpendicular with respect to said imaginary axis extending from said center portion of said gear assembly, one of said focal point and said sub-focal point, and substantially a center portion of said deflecting mirror, said means for operating said gear assembly maintaining said collector panel in a position which is perpendicular with said sun's rays and rotating said deflecting mirror upon itself to maintain said deflecting mirror inline with said imaginary axis and at said fixed spatial location with respect to one of said focal point and said sub-focal point and said collector panel during rotation at said imaginary axis; and (h) a final target for receiving said condensed rays from said third path and converting said rays into one of electrical power, heat energy and/or steam.