With concentrating reflector

A system for steering a mirror, comprising a mirror mounted on a gimbal provided with a steering rod and incorporated into an articulated spatial parallelogram linkage to allow for steering the mirror in a precise and controlled manner.

The solar energy collector system of the present invention comprises a multi-element collector combined with an optical radiation concentrator system, which system is designed to permit optimization of the energy collection process by proper sequential flow of a heat-transfer fluid through the multi-elements...     

High efficiency, low cost solar energy conversion is facilitated by using tubular photovoltaic solar cells situated at the focus of a line-generated paraboloidal reflector. Advantageously, each solar cell comprises a pair of concentric glass tubes that are hermetically sealed at the ends. A photovoltaic...     

A solar energized steam generator includes a flux collector or projection lens for collecting and concentrating solar energy, and a reflector funnel for enhancing and concentrating the solar energy still further. The lower end of the funnel is connected by means of a conduit to an insulated vault, made...     

A solar furnace of dish-shaped configuration for the reflection of solar rays toward a heat exchanger through which passes a heated medium. The reflective surface of the furnace comprises a multitude of mirror elements incorporated into a fiber glass reinforced plastic structure with each of the mirror...     

An electromagnetic energy collection device is provided which does not require a solar tracking capability. It includes an energy receiver positioned between two side walls which reflect substantially all incident energy received over a predetermined included angle directly onto the energy receiver.

Disclosed are non-imaging systems and devices for collection and concentration of electromagnetic energy and particularly solar energy including one or more longitudinally-extending, generally trough-shaped bodies having curving inner reflective walls for concentration of energy from a relatively large...     

A solar heat collector is formed by a unitary top plate having spaced apart downwardly extending tabs, a unitary bottom plate having spaced apart upwardly extending tabs, a frame holding the plates together in spaced apart relationship with the tabs intermeshed, and a backing plate held in the frame...     

A solar collector includes an elongated heat exchange element onto which the sun's rays are to be directed. A compound concentration lens system is mounted to direct the sun's rays onto the heat exchange element and includes a center refractor extending the length of the element for refracting the sun's...     

An infrared solar energy collector is disclosed. The collector comprises a heat absorber which in a first embodiment is a tube through which a heat transfer fluid is circulated. The heat absorber is disposed within a larger glass tube. In a modified embodiment, the heat absorber is in the form of a heat...     

An apparatus and method for separating hydrogen and oxygen from water molecules. A solar reflecting means reflects solar energy onto a water containing tank to boil water contained therein and form steam. The steam is transferred either to a turbine-generator assembly for producing power, or to a dissociating...     

A system for collecting solar energy consists of a target for absorbing solar radiation positioned above a plurality of independently positionable reflectors, each reflector including a base, a concave circular reflecting surface, and means responsive to incident solar radiation for positioning the reflector...     

A solar air heater is vertically disposed and composed of a plurality of parallel, horizontally disposed slats resembling a venetian blind. The slats are positioned with their upper faces facing the sun and at an acute angle relative to the horizontal such that the winter sun will produce multiple heat...     

A multi-purpose solar collector - heat exchanger that is susceptible of usage other than the heating of a house or similar premises. The heat exchanger comprises at least three flat metallic sheets and two sheets having longitudinal grooves therein. One of the grooved sheets is interposed between an...     

A window portion is interposed between the incident light and a heat absorbing portion and at least one of the heat absorbing and window portions has a plurality of spaced apart reflecting surfaces, separate ones of which face each other and transmit the incident light by multiple reflections to the...     

A solar heat concentrator-collector comprising, in combination, solar radiation concentrator means and collector means for receiving the concentrated solar energy and providing for conversion of the energy into usable or more readily convertable form. The concentrator means may be any of a variety of...     

The invention has for its object a solar boiler comprising a surface exposed to radiations, having a plurality of cavities or cells acting as black bodies. Each of the cavities is formed by a blind tube protruding in a space in which a heat conveying fluid is allowed to circulate. The invention may be...     

A sun screen structure is disclosed which consists of a covering for external building surfaces that reflect sunlight during summer months and admit it during winter months to help stabilize internal building temperatures. The covering consists of a planar array of short focal length optical lenses....     

A solar energy conversion device is provided with simplified means for tracking a source of solar energy. In the preferred embodiment, the tracking means is a predeterminedly shaped, heat expandable device operatively connected to an energy concentrator. The energy concentrator is movably mounted and...     

An installation for cultivating plant cultures comprising a cover device for protecting the ground at which the plants are grown from damaging radiation of the sun, and a support device for supporting the cover device. The cover device comprises a number of pivotable, substantially cylindrical parabolic...     

A solar energy reflecting system which can modify its reflector configuration in accordance with the movement of the sun across the sky. The system includes a circular dish-like housing with upper and lower circular hoops in spaced relationship within the housing which can be displaced relative to each...     

A heated stock tank with insulated walls and a drinking trough on a side is surrounded by a larger stock tank to protect it from livestock. The heated stock tank has a steel plate above the water. Copper tubes depending from the plate are immersed in the water within the heated tank. A transparent covering...     

A solar energy powered heat generator is especially designed for economical manufacture and maintenance by incorporating a plurality of triangular shaped mirrors interconnected into an inverted cone for collecting solar energy. A coiled length of tubing is disposed centrally of the cone for heat transfer....     

A small-area focus solar concentrator comprising a linear echelon refractor and a linear echelon reflector. The increments of the refractor are crossed at approximately 90.degree. to the increments of the reflector. The refractor and reflector cooperate to focus solar radiation incident on the front...     

Heliostat apparatus for concentrating solar energy comprising support structure disposed in a first plane and supporting a plurality of mirror units having freedom of substantial universal articulation thereon, each of the plurality of mirror units carrying at an upper portion thereof reflective element...     

This invention features a mechanism within a flat plate solar collector for modulating the temperature therein by reflecting incident solar radiation with a solar reflective surface and as a function of the temperature within the flat plate collector. The mechanism comprises a movable solar reflective...     

Apparatus is disclosed for utilizing the energy of the sun to heat a rotatable round metal tank. The tank is cradled upon two sets of wheels, of which one set of wheels is powered by an electric motor. The tank is placed in horizontal position upon the two sets of wheels which are near ground level....     

In order to reduce energy losses by convection and/or thermal radiation from the radiation-absorbing surface of a photothermal energy converter for the utilization of solar energy, the said surface is provided with a multiplicity of projecting fibres sufficiently close to one another to suppress convection,...     

A solar energy collector for collecting, concentrating, and utilizing solar energy, including a target for transferring solar energy into another useable energy form and reflector positioned to increase the amount of solar energy reaching the target and prevent solar energy from escaping around the target,...     

A method for making a large trough reflector of cylindrical shape comprises the step of exerting twisting moments on the opposing longitudinal edges of a flexible reflective sheet. The twisting moments are exerted in equal but opposite increments until the shape of the reflector is governed mainly by...     

An improved long-life design for solar energy receivers provides for greatly reduced thermally induced stress and permits the utilization of less expensive heat exchanger materials while maintaining receiver efficiencies in excess of 85% without undue expenditure of energy to circulate the working fluid....     

An evacuated, double-walled, tubular housing contains a sheet metal fin which is biased against the inner tube. A metal tube carrying the fluid to be heated is placed in heat transfer relationship with the fin. A plurality of collectors can be placed in an array with the fluid carrying tubes the only...     

A solar oven of improved efficiency wherein an octagonal radiation absorbing base is provided with eight primary reflectors and eight secondary reflectors to direct the solar energy thereupon. Each primary reflector is affixed to one side of the base at an angle of about 55.degree. thereto. The triangular...     

A method of making a solar reflector from a flat rectangular sheet of reflecting material into a substantially a parabolic cross-sectional shape to form a part of a solar heat collecting system wherein the reflector is supported to concentrate the rays of the sun on a pipe through which liquid is circulated...     

A solar energy collector comprising a transparent container containing a particulate or fibrous radiation absorbing material and having a transparent outer cover through which a heat conveying fluid can pass before passing through the container.

A solar stove having a casing with four rectangular reflective panels foldably attached and surrounding the perimeter of the upper edge of the casing, the panels being foldable against the casing to form a neat package. Each panel is attached to an opposite panel by a flexible cord, the cords crossing...     

Low cost solar collectors are constructed by stretching a thin elongate, flexible reflective sheet (such as metallized polyethylene terephthalate film) over a frame so as to provide a ridged surface of desired geometric shape. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the frame comprises a plurality...     

A cylindrical arc reflector of electromagnetic radiation which is a rectangular sheet of material having a radiation reflective surface composed of longitudinal segments that reflect substantially all of the impingent radiation to a longitudinal focal line when the reflective surface is held in the form...     

The invention relates to apparatus for collecting solar radiation rays and for converting the radiation rays into a concentrated beam of parallel rays having a fixed orientation. The apparatus includes an optical system for collecting and concentrating the solar radiation rays and for converting the...     

A system of mirrors which focuses solar radiation onto a receiver by means of controlled flexural deformations of supporting beams using controls which tilt the mirrors with respect to the beams. This combination of flexure and tilt causes the mirrors to track the sun using an inexpensive system of controls....     

A solar radiation energy concentrator adapted to convert solar radiation into useful forms of energy, comprising a base member with a longitudinally extending hollow chamber, said chamber having an open end therein for admission of solar radiation therethrough; integrally affixed in said open end is...     

Apparatus for concentrating radiant energy such as solar radiation, collected over a large area, to a smaller area for more efficient conversion of the radiant energy to a more useful form of energy. Fluorescent material in a thin film form is optically bonded by an adhesive or viscous, transparent medium...     

A solar heat collector uses elongated, tubular, outer casings, in a fixed position with respect to the solar orbit, surrounding inner tubular sections, carrying heat-conductive fluid. The outer casings are highly transparent and the walls of the outer casings are of substantial thickness and of a high...     

A solar thermal electric energy system utilizes a solar receptor having a double paned glass window with cooling liquid circulating therethrough. This serves as a window for a solar heat receptor cavity having a number of water or steam carrying tubes therein. A portion of the tubes operate at a temperature...     

There has been provided a concentrating solar receiver of the type including a closed envelope having a window and reflective portions. A photocell is disposed at a focal zone for the reflector. Heat and/or electricity may be produced from received solar energy and the envelope is manufactured in the...     

An improved solar concentrator characterized by a plurality of elongated supporting members arranged in substantial horizontal parallelism with the axis thereof intersecting a common curve and a tensioned sheet of flexible reflective material disposed in engaging relation with the supporting members...     

This invention provides for an unusually efficient, lightweight, economical and durable solar collector employing a fibrous absorber in an evacuated-tube type solar collector. The depth of the absorber, measured in centimeters more efficiently traps radiation than the shallow depth of a plate absorber...     

An improved solar collector system includes a moveable surface to receive solar radiation. The moveable collector surface is supported by at least one load bearing universal joint. The movement of the collector surface is accomplished by a hydraulic actuated tracking system to enable the collector surface...     

A solar-heat-collector apparatus providing a means for gathering and concentrating solar radiation at a maximum collecting rate, regardless of the incident angle of the solar radiation impinging on the apparatus. The apparatus comprises an outer housing and an inner housing arranged in spaced relation...     

A solar heating system for a structure in which a matrix of beverage containers of the convenient opening variety is mounted on a generally flat support member. The beverage containers extend through holes in the support member formed from alternating polygons of a generally checkerboard surface design....     

A solar heating system for a building that utilizes a duct arrangement for heated air, wherein the ducts are located, so as to induce flow of the heated air through the system.

A solar collector using air as its heat transfer medium having a top member containing a plurality of transparent sealed air pockets allowing passage of radiant energy but preventing conductive and convective heat losses generated inside the collector; a central black-coated absorbent plastic member...     

A system for generating electrical power from sunlight, comprising a focussing diffraction grating or other focussing, spectrally dispersive means and a photocell array. The diffraction grating focuses sunlight into a spectrally dispersed band. The photocell array is composed of cells with different...     

A solar collector has a body member in the form of an inverted frustum of a cone provided with an upwardly opening recess. A light absorbing layer conformingly covers the frustoconical surface of the recess, with a tube being coiled so as to spiral along the light absorbing layer and permit a heat transfer...     

The invention provides a solar receiver able to transform the incident solar energy into a thermal energy for heating a suitable fluid up to the temperatures required by the present thermoelectric plants and water dissociation processes.

Thermal energy storage apparatus has a heat-insulating casing containing a length of flexible material extending between a pair of driven mandrels so that the material can be wound on either mandrel selectively. Between the mandrels the unwound material is heated as it passes a window in the casing through...     

The hereinproposed solar power unit comprises a solar energy collector made up of mirror facets and a solar energy receiver. A sun-light-sensitive surface of the receiver is exposed to a radiation flux reflected by the collector. Each facet of the collector is hermetically enclosed in a radiation-transparent...     

A generally rectangular solar heat collector block or module adapted to operate with its narrow side in a generally vertical position. One face of the collector block is adapted to receive direct sun rays. The ray receiving face having a reflector surface commencing at a position closely adjacent the...     

A solar heat collector is an integral internal part of the structure of a building and has base beams, sunward beams extending up from and over the base beams, rear beams extending down from the sunward beams to the base beams and forming an equilateral triangle, central beams truncating an apex between...     

Disclosed are radiant energy transmitting devices operative selectively in concentrative and emissive modes, having transmitting elements including radiant energy transmitting and guiding surfaces at the interface of media of differing indices of refraction for radiant energy. Surfaces generally are...     

A solar reflector having a flexible triangular reflective sheet or membrane for receiving and reflecting solar energy therefrom. The reflector is characterized by the triangular reflective sheet which is placed under tension thereby defining a smooth planar surface eliminating surface deflection which...     

A system for storing heated air in the attic of a building by solar energy and for transmitting the heated air to a heat exchanger. The attic includes a floor, a roof formed of two oppositely inclined portions that meet at a peak, one of the inclined portions being glazed to form a light pervious surface...     

A solar collector composed of at least one transparent, hollow evacuated cover tube having arranged therein at least one absorber, and a reflection layer at least partially covering the inner surface of the cover tube. The absorber extends over part of the inner diameter of the cover tube and has one...     

Solar heat structure comprising a solar collector which may be parabolic and a diffusing element positioned axially of the solar collector for diffusing the sun's rays in the collector to thereby increase the heat collected by the solar collector for any given quantity of sun rays directed thereto.

A system for generating solar energy utilizes a plurality of solar radiation absorption bodies formed as spherical balls which interact with solar radiation focalization devices which constitute paraboloid mirrors in order to effect heating of the spherical balls by the solar radiation which is concentrated...     

A pair of open sided housing halves including corresponding closed and open sides as well as corresponding sets of peripheral sides extending about major portions of the closed sides and extending toward and bounding corresponding major portions of the open sides are provided. Pivot structure pivotally...     

A portable solar heater combines a self-contained hot air and heat storage system having a collector area with adjustable reflectors in a unit that can be moved from room to room as needed. The heater has fans for circulation of the solar heater air and provides both direct and indirect heat transfer...     

A two-sided solar collector is housed between a pair of opposed corrugated translucent plates which define a series of side by side elongated cavities. In alternate ones of the cavities are located integral elongated elastomeric solar energy absorbing elements including a series of side by side tubular...     

In a solar radiation collector composed of a mat formed of a black foil member and a radiation pervious foil member, the two members being joined together along the outer edges of the mat and at interior locations of the mat to form an extended flow path and an inlet and outlet for a fluid heat carrier...     

A solar collector mounting system includes a vertically extending pedestal for supporting a solar collector at a predetermined minimum height above ground level to provide an unobstructed utilization of the space immediately surrounding the pedestal. The pedestal includes a pivoting bracket at the upper...     

The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for collecting solar energy. A housing is provided with an open top, and a solar radiation-transmissive cover is removably mounted on the top of the housing. A plurality of elongated open-ended troughs are mounted side-by-side in the housing, the troughs having...     

A solar energy collector is disclosed. The collector includes a photo-voltaic cell, a reflector for directing solar energy from the sun to the photo-voltaic cell, a mount for the reflector, vacuum means and positioning means for the reflector. The vacuum means separates the photo-voltaic cell and the...     

There is provided a solar collector comprising an absorber, a getter, and a heating element arranged within an evacuated transparent envelope, the heating element being positioned separate and apart from the getter. Associated with the envelope is means to heat the heating element to a temperature of...     

A solar powered water heater including a housing within which are a water storage tank, reflective coated insulation and a solar panel. Pressurized water such as from a municipal water system is fed into the tank interior via a tank supply conduit. A reverse flow of pre-heated water from the tank to...     

Thin solar collecting panels are described made from arrays of small rod collectors consisting of a refracting dielectric rod lens with an absorber imbedded within it and a reflecting mirror coated on the back side of the dielectric rod. Non-tracking collector panels on vertical walls or roof tops receive...     

A system for collecting solar energy which comprises a thin faceplate made of a large number of optical fibers having respectively a diameter ranging from 0.5 micron to 2.0 micron tied up coherently in a bundle vertically to the plane of the faceplate, and a means for focusing the rays departing from...     

A spectral converter which is to be used to produce chemical reactions. Full spectrum solar radiation is received, concentrated and directed into a blackbody collector. The collector converts the energy of solar radiation into heat. The collector then conducts the heat to a vapor phase material, such...     

A solar heat utilization apparatus adapted to focus received sunrays and utilize the focused sunrays as heat energy for heating and cooling purposes and comprising a sunray reflector having a paraboloid and including a vertical rotary shaft extending vertically in the center of the reflector, a plurality...     

A solar collector panel apparatus is provided which can be easily manufactured in different shapes and capacities. A pair of manifolds is supported in a spaced relationship by one or more conductive tubes. Each tube has a helical wound tube wrapped therearound and having each end operatively connected...     

Simple flat plate reflectors, preferably compound of a panel with a reflector surface layer laminated thereto, are pivoted to move with the position of the sun and concentrate additional energy on a solar energy collector panel. The array can take a tented or triangular end view shape for closing to...     

Solar heat collectors resembling stamen of a flower consisting of a bulbous portion and stem collect heat energy. Lens systems, black bodies and focusing mirrors can be used in conjunction with the above mentioned stamen. The stamen are in clusters with each clusters' stems leading into a central core....     

The disclosure is an optical instrument which produces a concentrated beam of light by reducing the size of an incipient beam. An annular incipient solar beam is reflected inward to a concave conical lens which refracts the beam out of the lens in a direction parallel to the incipient beam. The concentrated...     

This invention relates generally to a device for the collection of solar energy and the production and storage of heat for industrial processes, space heating, cooling and other processes where heat of up to approximately 100.degree. C. is required. A solar canal to collect and store solar energy comprising...     

In a solar radiation collector composed of a mat formed of a black foil member and a radiation pervious foil member, the two members being connected together along the outer edges of the mat and at interior locations of the mat to form an inlet and outlet and an extended flow path for a fluid heat carrier...     

This invention relates to solar collectors of the type having associated reflectors to increase their efficiency, and includes a method of establishing the orientation of the collector with respect to the sun such that the unit may be operated at a high level of efficiency with only a semi-annual adjustment...     

The invention relates to a support for a solar receiver element which is adapted to carry the element and accommodate cyclical thermal expansion and contraction by use of roller bearings.

An energy collector and transferring apparatus which in its first embodiment utilizes three connected closed loop conduit systems. The first closed loop conduit system is to include an energy collector which is to collect not only solar energy but ambient energy. The energy is absorbed within a black...     

A single reflective afocal optical module collects and concentrates solar energy onto a receiving surface extending substantially parallel to the focal axis of the optical system and to the central axis of the module. The reflective surface of the collector is shaped to reflect incoming energy and distribute...     

A solar energy collector element which comprises a glass tube which is coated on its exterior surface with a solar selective coating, the coating comprising a metal substrate which has a relatively low infra-red emittance and a composite metal film. The composite metal film comprises a metal-carbide...     

A plurality of individually adjustable flat mirrors on a common bed of a solar collector assembly reflect the sun's rays into a tubular collector where water is converted to steam for selectively either driving a motor of refrigeration system which cools a cool water tank or directly heating a hot water...     

The disclosure illustrates an elongated receiver for a solar energy collector of the focusing type. The heat transfer fluid passage in the receiver contains an element having a plurality of tines to promote turbulence and a tube plugged at both ends to direct the heat transfer fluid only along the walls...     

A solar energy concentrating device for concentrating the intensity of solar radiation impinging on a solar collector includes a plurality of adjacently positioned tapered solar energy passageways having solar energy reflecting walls. These tapered solar energy passageways are disposed in an arcuate...     

A solar hot water heater includes an insulated box having one or more hot water storage tanks contained inside and further having a lid which may be opened to permit solar radiation to heat a supply of water contained within the one or more hot water storage tanks. A heat-actuated control unit is mounted...     

A solar energy reflector useful in space-oriented apparatus for reflecting the rays of the sun to a panel carrying solar cells. The solar cells generate direct current power for conversion into microwave energy for transmission to the earth or other spacecraft. The reflector comprises a rotating mirror...     

An improvement in a heliostat having a main support structure and pivoting and tilting motors and gears and a mirror module for reflecting solar energy onto a collector, the improvement being characterized by an internal support structure within each mirror module and front and back sheets attached to...     

An evacuated, one-wall tubular housing having a reflector positioned at the opposite side of the tubular housing from the radiation energy of the sun. The tubular housing includes a solar energy absorber member of a cylindrical shape, for example, and a metal tube provided for maintaining an energy absorbing...     

A demountable solar oven includes a principal base upon which is mounted a secondary supporting base collar which contains the essential operating parts and which supports two removable arms at their base whose upper end form diametrically opposed pivots for receiving the appropriately disposed pivots...     

A multi-mode solar heat recovery device for use at an interior surface of a window. The device includes heat conductive plates for heat absorption of sunlight, reflected from corresponding light reflective surfaces. Each heat conductive plate includes heat conductive tubing and carrier fluid to convey...     

A solar furnace electricity generating system is provided herein. It includes a concentrator and accumulator for the sun's rays to generate a concentrated high temperature solar beam. A heat hearth is disposed, e.g., in the ground, to absorb the concentrated high temperature solar beam. A plurality of...     

A radiation energy collector system in which an energy absorber is positioned within a pyramidal enclosure of which approximately one-half of the side area is radiation energy transmissive, and the other side and base area having a reflective inner surface, whereby radiation energy passing through the...