Reflector support

An elongated solar heat collector is formed by means of a heat exchanger having two thin-walled tubes arranged coaxially of one another, a cylindrical, transparent heat shield positioned coaxially around the tubes and an elongated parabolic reflector mounted to locate the focal axis of the reflector...     

A solar energy powerplant has a group of tall, vertical towers open at both ends and containing a plurality of wind-powered impellers mounted in vertically spaced locations within each tower, such that thermal updrafts in the tower drives the impellers. Vertically spaced, radially projecting heating...     

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...     

Intensified infrared cooling of a restricted region is achieved by locating the region in the path defined by a geometric configuration, in which a small infrared radiation sink and a large infrared radiation condenser are axially related.

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...     

An apparatus for collecting solar energy, the apparatus including a parabola shaped reflector around a pipe enclosed in a glass tube, the pipe being located at the focal point of the parabola shaped reflector, so that sunlight rays are reflected thereagainst, so to concentrate their heat thereagainst,...     

A solar radiation reflector, including a parabolic-trough reflecting surface, transmits solar radiation in a general line reflection on an upright heat absorber during the winter and early spring months of low to moderate sun angles and a juxtaposed overhanging heat absorber above the upright absorber...     

A solar energy collecting system, which may be operated to provide usable energy throughout the year, comprises a plurality of rows of elongate radiant solar energy collecting panels, each having upper and lower edges, being mounted to form an angle to the horizon and to face the sun's position at solar...     

A system including a non-tracking reflector-collector for the concentration and collection of solar energy. An energy-collecting plate is disposed upright along a substantially horizontal axis substantially coincident with the east-west direction of the earth. The collector plate is positioned within...     

A solar heat boiler apparatus has a base frame, a turning body rotatably mounted on the base frame for turning movement about a horizontal axis, a reflector mounting frame rotatably mounted on the turning body for rotation around an axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis, and turning mechanisms coupled...     

A concave, mirrored solar collector includes a concave shell, a series of mirrored strips disposed in the shell and acting as the reflecting surface, a support for the shell and a cover. The reflecting surface serves to focus sunlight on a water-carrying pipe located along a longitudinal axis of the...     

The present invention includes a solar energy collector for concentrating the sun's rays on a conduit having a fluid flowing therethrough. A primary reflector is oriented in a north-south direction. The sun's rays are reflected from the primary reflector to a smaller secondary reflector located thereabove,...     

The invention provides for a linear reflective device having a plurality of concave reflective regions disposed along a reference line, such that normal incident light is focussed to a focal region by all of the reflective regions. The reflective device may be curved in a direction normal to the reference...     

The servo tracker of the instant invention comprises an apparatus for positioning of a major reflector to compensate for relative movement between the Earth and Sun. A base member supports a movable major reflector and a fixedly positioned minor reflector. The major reflector is movable in both a north/south...     

A system for supporting a plurality of reflective surfaces in an arrangement for reflecting the rays emitted from a source of energy and converging the reflected rays to concentrate the heating effect thereof at a receptor, whereby a plurality of pairs of long tension members extend under tension between...     

The solar energy collector concentrates the sun's rays on a liquid medium that is used to power a mechanical energy device such as a positive displacement steam engine. A reflective surface of the solar energy collector is made from an arcuate portion of a circle having a trough-like surface to reflect...     

A solar heating device for the cooking of food, consisting of a parabolic trough reflector and having support legs attached at the approximate center of gravity of the reflector and oven assembly. The reflector longitudinal supports serving to hold a cooking oven consisting of a bottom of transparent...     

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...     

There is provided a radiant energy concentration and collection device formed of a one-piece thin-walled plastic substrate including a plurality of nonimaging troughs with certain metallized surfaces of the substrate serving as reflective side walls for each trough. The one-piece plastic substrate is...     

A system for collecting solar energy comprising a plurality of collecting units pivotally mounted to a shiny support surface. Each unit has a first plate member with at least one reflecting side, a second plate member joined to the first plate member and pivotally mounted to the support surface, and...     

A reflecting solar heat collector. A stationary cylindrical receiver surface absorbs sunlight. An array of reflecting mirror strips are rotatably mounted in substantially parabolic arrangement having the receiver surface substantially at its focus. Motor means are connected for pivotally rotating said...     

A solar concentrator is provided having means allowing for deformation and precise adjustment of a cylindrical parabolic solar energy reflecting surface of the concentrator. The aforesaid means produces a geometrically correct concentrator surface which can be adjusted after fabrication to provide a...     

A solar energy collection system is provided in which a parabolic trough is oriented by a drive mechanism to reflect the rays of the sun onto an energy collector located at the parabolic focus. The system is constructed to track the sun to maintain focusing of reflected solar radiation during daylight...     

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...     

A parabolic reflector is supported so that it can track the sun. The support for this reflector comprises an azimuth frame supported on two wheels and a central pivotal point which are positioned in a substantially triangular configuration. The two wheels rotate on tracks. On top of the azimuth frame,...     

The concave reflector of a solar-ray heating apparatus is supported on a vertical post by an arcuate rod fixed to the center of the reflector, on its concave side and disposed on a circular arc centered about the focal point of the reflector. This arcuate rod is slidably received in openings of the post...     

A tool is provided for manufacturing parabolic solar reflectors. The tool employs an improved smooth convex parabolic surface terminating in edges remote from the parabolic vertex which are preferably placed under elastic tension tending to draw the edges toward each other. The improved convex surface...     

A solar collector system uses a hexagonal field module of heliostatic mirrors with each heat receptor tower being located outside of its associated module. Each mirror includes a reflecting film held down electrostatically (for easy replacement) and protected by wind guards.

A solar energy collector is disclosed herein which comprises a pipe interconnecting lower and upper headers, the upper header structurally supporting the pipe. The pipe extends within an opening in the lower header and includes an exterior shoulder which rests upon the lower header. The other end of...     

Modular structures for the collection, concentration and conversion of solar energy to another usable form such as electrical energy. The structures feature three conic section reflective surfaces, two of which focus in front of a receiver element and off the axis of the structure. The third reflective...     

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...     

This invention provides a solar energy collector including a Fresnel lens substantially fixed in orientation and position relative to the Earth, a receiver situated at a focal point of the said Fresnel lens, a mounting mechanism which constrains the receiver to move along the focal surface of the Fresnel...     

A horizontally mounted solar collector for collecting solar energy utilizing a vertical deflector assembly, a stationary reflector and a collector. The deflector assembly contains a plurality of vanes which change the direction of the solar energy to the vertical, while constantly keeping the same side...     

A fixed, linear, ground-based primary reflector having an extended curved sawtooth-contoured surface covered with a metalized polymeric reflecting material, reflects solar energy to a movably supported collector that is kept at the concentrated line focus of the reflector primary. The primary reflector...     

An apparatus for concentrating solar energy upon the surface of a collector containing a circulating heat transfer medium, whereby the radiant energy may be absorbed and utilized. The apparatus includes a housing supporting a hemispherical reflector for gathering incident solar radiation and directing...     

A solar energy collector comprising a circular paraboloid mirror formed from a plurality of flexible reflective film strips stretched over a plurality of concentrically arranged support rings being arranged to position the film in a circular paraboloid. The support rings are supported by a plurality...     

A fixedly supported, low cost solar energy collecting device having an elliptical solar reflector is provided which is capable of efficiently collecting and concentrating solar energy during all seasons and sun declinations notwithstanding complete elimination of mechanism for shifting the reflector...     

A solar collector comprising liquid-containing elements and a reflector. The reflector comprises overlapping plates which can be shifted into a first extended position imparting an approximately semicylindrical shape to the reflector and into a second collapsible position. The liquid-containing elements...     

A solar energy device comprising a body having a plurality of spaced focusing lenses to concentrate direct and reflected rays from the sun. A heat receiving member is inside of said body. One of the body and the member is expansible and contractible so as to direct the member into exact convergence with...     

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...     

An articulated receiver particularly adapted to collect energy from a fixed, substantially spherical concave collector, the reciever being an elongated member having radiant energy absorbing means, and preferably a conduit therein for a heat transfer medium, and a radiation transparent enclosure in the...     

A support structure, such as for use in supporting a solar panel-reflector panel system on a roof top, said structure having a generally V-shaped cross-section and comprising opposed wing members which are commonly supported by an elongate tubular member of rectangular cross-section which comprises the...     

A solar energy collecting system is disclosed, especially adapted for suspended installation from overhead support members at a roof or other enclosure which includes energy-transmissible portions for enabling the solar energy to be rendered incident on the system. The system comprises a flexible, relatively...     

This invention relates to the construction of a solar collector reflector surface which permits the use of semi-rigid or flexible materials for the reflector surface. The basic principle involves the use of curved support members and methods for forming same whereby the members support and restrain said...     

A solar energy collection system including a reflector composed of a plurality of discrete planar reflector segments, each of uniform area and supported on a frame in an array having a substantially paraboloidal shape. Rotational movement of the frame about first and second axes is produced, respectively,...     

A system for collection of solar energy by one or more reflectors which concentrate the suns rays on liquid circulating pipes which is part of a collecting and storing system for solar heated liquid to replace or supplement usual sources of heat in heating systems. More specifically, the system comprises...     

The Inert Focusing "Photon" Energy Collector is a device used to focus the sun rays (or photons) on a piece of metal properly arranged geometrically for the greatest concentration of available photons for the purpose of absorbing, transferring, and, depending on the intent, for temporary or permanent...     

A radiant electromagnetic energy collector has an elongated non-imaging concentrator which concentrates and directs radiant energy onto an elongated absorber having a helical conduit for a heat exchange fluid mounted in an evacuated glass tube. The concentrator has rounded ends which also function as...     

Individual collector cells are fitted together in series along a heat transfer medium tube. The cells have a cylindrical housing with mating interconnecting flanges at the ends, through which the tube also passes. The flanges may have sealing gaskets. The housing has a transparent front side and a reflective...     

A plurality of solar collectors including at least a solar energy to electrical energy transducer and a solar energy to heat transducer positioned on a single pole. The electrical energy transducer comprises a plurality of solar cells arranged with their faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the...     

A device is provided for efficiently collecting and concentrating the sun's radiant energy, which comprises a semi-tubular concave helix reflector with up to a 360 degree turn or turns in its length, to concentrate the sun's rays on a central collecting core continuously as the sun moves through its...     

A solar energy concentrator comprises an elongated, linear collector for receiving concentrated solar energy, mounted to extend longitudinally in an East-West direction and spaced above a supporting surface. An array of separate, elongated solar energy reflectors are provided for reflecting received...     

A parabolic cylindrical trough solar concentrator shell is disclosed having a pair of oppositely disposed end support members jointed by spanning structural support members which may be in the form of individual elongated generally triangular polygon members to form the parabolic cylindrical trough....     

A focussing solar collector is described including a solar-radiation reflector and a solar-radiation absorber disposed to receive the solar-radiations directly and those reflected from the reflector, characterized in that the reflector is of a cylindrical configuration having a semi-circular cross-section...     

A grille pan hangs within the focal region of an angularly adjustable parabolic solar collector and is substantially horizontally disposed in all positions of the collector. An aperture in the collector and a screen mounted on the collector supporting structure are aligned along a line of sight parallel...     

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...     

A solar tracking point concentrator for a solar energy system comprises a light weight reflector in the shape of a paraboloid dish having a rim angle of approximately 109.degree., whereby the center of gravity of the reflector mass is coincident with the focal point of the paraboloid. The reflector is...     

A solar energy collector having a plurality of elongated upwardly-open trough-shaped reflectors placed side by side and each having facing reflective surfaces joined by a curved section disposed about a medial axis of each trough and supported by a series of templates spaced along the reflectors and...     

Solar energy collector construction wherein the collector is composed of a skeleton framework, preferably of I-beam configuration interconnected so that it may be folded into a compact configuration for storage and shipment and which may be erected and locked into expanded configuration at the erection...     

A highly efficient, open-ended solar energy receiver is disclosed having a porous element through which air passes and a conventional heat exchanger positioned above and immediately adjacent to the porous element such that when solar energy is focused onto the porous element, a constant controlled temperature...     

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 flexible concave reflector having a solar energy absorbing means at the focus is maintained in its concave shape by an inflatable cushion on the convex surface and by a donut shaped chamber about the periphery of the reflector. The donut shaped chamber is maintained at high pressure and makes the entire...     

Individual collector cells are fitted together in series along a tube through which a heat transfer medium flows. Each cell has a cylindrical housing shell with openings at both ends offset from the cylindrical axis and bordered by flanges, so that the narrow opening of one cell may fit into the wider...     

An improved electromagnetic radiation collector system for concentrating electromagnetic radiation emitted from a source to a collecting mechanism. The radiation collector system includes a plurality of primary reflectors which are moveably actuated responsive to a displacement of the electromagnetic...     

A solar furnace apparatus including a reflector portion, a collector portion and a fluid transfer portion; the reflector portion including a generally dish-shaped reflective member, the reflective member having a conic section configuration with a large open face and a highly reflective internal surface,...     

A concentrating solar collector includes a radiation reflective surface having the configuration of a paraboloid of translation, the axial extent of the paraboloid being the portion between the apex and the plane perpendicular to the axis and passing through the focus. A receiver of reflected radiant...     

An extended width parabolic trough solar collector (12) is supported from pylons (14). Collector (12) is formed from a center module (30) and two wing modules (32) joined together along abutting edges by connecting means. A stressed skin monocoque construction is used for each of the modules.

Solar tracking apparatus is disclosed which utilizes received solar energy to effect tracking movements, the apparatus comprising focussing means, mounting means mounting the focussing means for tracking movements of the sun, drive means including heat expansible members movable with the focussing means,...     

A system for concentrating electro-magnetic radiation, such as solar radiation, by means of a plurality of reflectors mounted on a common frame and aimed at a radiation absorber that is rigidly coupled to the frame by an intermediate support. The combined frame, reflectors, absorber and intermediate...     

A solar energy collector is shown which is comprised of an underlying support, a support surface, and a combined reflector and heat absorber. The combined reflector and heat absorber is formed from a continuous sheet of material to provide contiguous parabolic reflectors, each reflector having an upstanding...     

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 porous surface receiver and concentrator of reflected solar radiation. The receiver is part of a moderately or strongly concentrating solar collector such as a solar power tower system. In the latter, radiation is reflected by a plurality of heliostats disposed about the tower on which the receiver...     

A solar energy concentrator is provided which includes a flexible reflective surface to focus solar flux on absorber tubes. The surface is mounted above a plurality of partially evacuated chambers. As the relative position between the sun and the concentrator change, the position of the absorber tubes...     

A solar collector formed of lightweight concrete wherein zones of higher and lower density concrete are used to form the integral unitary structure. The collector is suspended from an absorber pipe by support means included in the high density zones of concrete.

A solar heat collector utilizing an elongated vertical mast to support a rectangular parabolic reflector and a transparent cover. The mast is located at the focal point of the parabolic reflector, and the fluid to be heated enters the unit at the bottom, is partially heated as it rises by convection,...     

A solar concentrator having an open framework formed as a geodesic dome. A rotatable support axle extends substantially diametrically across the dome and has the opposite ends thereof supported on the framework. The support axle defines a first rotational axis which is oriented to extend substantially...     

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 heating assembly includes a fluid receiver movable between a thermally insulated compartment and a transparent enclosure for exposure to the rays of the sun. The transparent enclosure is adjacent the reflecting surface of a reflector for focusing the rays of the sun on the fluid receiver. An...     

A solar reflecting panel for use with a variety of apparatus for concentrating solar radiation on a close range or distant receiver for producing high temperatures at the receiver in order to commercially utilize the heat energy thereby generated. The solar reflecting panel has a relatively large area,...     

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 heliostatic solar energy conversion system in which a plurality of multi-faceted heliostats are supported on one or more platforms that move in a segment of a circular path about a central receiver as a center. The heliostats are mounted in frames that pivot on the platform on an edge of each heliostat....     

An extended width parabolic trough solar collector (12) is supported from pylons (14). Collector (12) is formed from a center module (30) and two wing modules (32) joined together along abutting edges by connecting means. A stressed skin monocoque construction is used for each of the modules.

A hollow cylindrical energy accumulator having a helically encircling fluid circulating conduit is exposed to direct solar radiation and to radiation redirected by an arcuate reflector.

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...     

A solar boiler whereby the rays of the sun are reflected off of variable numbering discreet mirror sections onto a central metal disc. A fan placed in the diffuser at the end of the distribution hose directs the heated air. A tracking system, powered by solar cells and coordinated by clocks assures maximum...     

This specification discloses a reflective trough structure suitable for use in solar energy collecting apparatus. The trough structure comprises an initially flat sheet of aluminium which is resiliently deformed into engagement with concave ribs so that the sheet assumes a parabolic configuration without...     

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...     

A solar energy collector comprising a collector core located within a longitudinal parabolic reflector and formed of a series of spaced tubes exposed to the direct rays of the sun and to rays reflected by the reflector and arranged in a cylindrical array extending longitudinally to form a fluid path...     

A parabolic collector (10) is disclosed as including a plurality of molded plastic panels (12) secured to each other to define a dish type parabolic shape having a central axis A. Each panel (12) has sides including lugs (14,16) that snap into engagement with the lugs on the adjacent panels to secure...     

A tracking system is provided for pivotally mounted spaced-apart solar collectors. A pair of cables is connected to spaced-apart portions of each collector, and a driver displaces the cables, thereby causing the collectors to pivot about their mounting, so as to assume the desired orientation. The collectors...     

A trough-like concentrator having a reflective surface contoured to image the sun at a linear focus. The reflective surface is supported by a structural tube having plural ribs. A microcomputer is programmed to exclusively aim the concentrator at the sun. A stationary vacuum-insulated linear solar energy...     

A solar powered reactor for collecting and converting solar energy into heat energy in the form of a heated fluid, such as steam, comprising a reactor vessel for containing a heat transfer fluid, such as water, and having an inlet and outlet for introduction of the fluid and discharge of the heated fluid...     

A composite mirror panel comprises a front flexible vitreous sheet 1 whose rear face is provided with a reflective coating 2 to form a mirror 3. A flexible waterproof backing sheet 5 is watertightly bonded at 4 to the rear of the mirror 3 to form a laminate 6. A corrugated backing sheet 8 is bonded to...     

A sunrays focusing apparatus for obtaining highly condensed solar energy. The apparatus includes a first trough-shaped parabolic reflector mounted for rotation about both vertical and horizontal axes. A first elongated refractor is mounted to the first parabolic reflector along or adjacent to the focal...     

A hemispherical oven body is formed from two concentric, spaced apart hemispherical shells having thermal insulation between and with spacing maintained by thermally insulating spacers in a triangular array. A single elongated fastener through the center point of each shell holds the shells together...     

A solar energy concentrator system having a plurality of concentrator arrays with each of the arrays being made up of a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending concentrator modules. Each of the concentrator modules has a semi-cylindrically-shaped housing and a semi-cylindrically-shaped cover in...     

A modular solar radiation concentrator consists of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere. The panels (1) are mass produced, mounted between a pair of horizontal beams (2) so they can partially rotate about two orthogonal axes, and aligned...     

An improved heliostat comprises a focusing reflector having a toroidal configuration. Mounting means for the reflector comprises means defining a first axis parallel to the earth's polar axis, and means defining a declination axis perpendicular to the first axis. The reflector is mounted for rotation...     

A modular solar radiation concentrator consists of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere. The panels (1) are mass produced, mounted between a pair of horizontal beams (2) so they can partially rotate about two orthogonal axes, and aligned...