# US 2009/0260620 A1 · Inflatable solar energy collector apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260620 A1 - Document ID: US20090260620A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/386,291 - Filed: 2009-04-16 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-17 - Assignees: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Ian L. Winger; Sean A. Barton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260620A1 ## CPC - G02B 19/0033: {characterised by the use} - F24S 10/45: {the enclosure being cylindrical} - F24S 23/745: {flexible} - F24S 30/422: Vertical axis - F24S 30/452: Vertical primary axis - F24S 80/525: made of plastics - F24S 80/56: characterised by means for preventing heat loss - F24S 80/60: Thermal insulation (transparent coverings F24S80/50) - G02B 19/0028: {refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems} - G02B 19/0042: {for use with direct solar radiation} - H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection} - F24S 2030/145: {Tracks} - Y02E 10/44: Heat exchange systems - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical collector for concentrating incoming rays of light, comprising: a. a middle reflective layer, rectangular in shape, having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge; b. a central axis, parallel to said first and third edges of said middle reflective layer; c. a clear layer, rectangular in shape, having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, with said first and third edges being parallel to said central axis; d. a back layer, rectangular in shape, having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, with said first and third edges being parallel to said central axis; e. wherein said first edges of said clear layer, said middle reflective layer, and said back layer are joined together at a first union running parallel to said central axis; f. wherein said third edges of said clear layer, said middle reflective layer, and said back layer are joined together at a second union running parallel to said central axis; g. a reflector chamber formed by said clear layer and said middle reflective layer; h. a back chamber formed by said back layer and said middle reflective layer; i. wherein said middle reflective layer, said clear layer, and said back layer, are all made of thin and flexible material; j. wherein said reflector chamber is pressurized to a first pressure; and k. wherein said back chamber is pressurized to a second pressure which is lower than said first pressure so that said middle reflective layer deflects toward said back chamber and thereby forms a focusing reflector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, wherein: a. said reflector chamber and said back chamber have open ends; and b. said open ends are closed by a pair of end closures. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second pressures are set so that said middle reflective layer creates an area of focus outside of said optical collector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second pressures are set so that said middle reflective layer creates an area of focus inside said reflector chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising an azimuth pivot joint for pivoting said collector in order to track the motion of the sun. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising an altitude pivot joint for pivoting said collector in order to track the motion of the sun. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An optical collector as recited in claim 5, further comprising an altitude pivot joint for pivoting said collector in order to track the motion of the sun. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a. a first bladder layer attached to said middle reference layer proximate said first edge of said middle reflective layer and attached to said back layer proximate said first edge of said back layer; b. wherein said first bladder layer, said middle reflective layer, and said back layer form a first corrective bladder; c. wherein said first corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; d. a second bladder layer attached to said middle reference layer proximate said third edge of said middle reflective layer and attached to said back layer proximate said third edge of said back layer; e. wherein said second bladder layer, said middle reflective layer, and said back layer form a second corrective bladder; and f. wherein said second corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a. a first corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said first corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; and b. a second corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said second corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An optical collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a. a first corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said first corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; b. a second corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said second corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said first corrective bladder; c. a third corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said third corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; d. a fourth corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said fourth corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said third corrective bladder. ### Claim 11 An optical collector for concentrating incoming rays of light, comprising: a. a pressurized reflector chamber having a central axis, said reflector chamber being made substantially of thin and flexible material, said reflector chamber having a first pressure; b. a pressurized back chamber parallel to said central axis, said back chamber being made substantially of thin and flexible material, said back chamber having a second pressure; c. a thin and flexible middle reflective layer parallel to said central axis, said middle reflective layer separating said reflector chamber from said back chamber; and d. wherein said first pressure is higher than said second pressure so that said middle reflective layer deflects toward said back chamber and thereby forms a focusing trough reflector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, wherein: a. said reflector chamber and said back chamber have open ends; and b. said open ends are closed by a pair of end closures. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second pressures are set so that said middle reflective layer creates an area of focus outside of said optical collector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second pressures are set so that said middle reflective layer creates an area of focus inside said reflector chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, further comprising an azimuth pivot joint for pivoting said collector in order to track the motion of the sun. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, further comprising a altitude pivot joint for pivoting said collector in order to track the motion of the sun. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An optical collector as recited in claim 15, further comprising a altitude pivot joint for pivoting said collector in order to track the motion of the sun. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a. a first corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said first corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; and b. a second corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said second corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) An optical collector as recited in claim 14, further comprising: a. a first corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said first corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; and b. a second corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said second corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An optical collector as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a. a first corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said first corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; b. a second corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said second corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said first corrective bladder; c. a third corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said third corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said reflector chamber; d. a fourth corrective bladder within said back chamber, wherein said fourth corrective bladder is pressurized to a pressure greater than the pressure within said back chamber but less than the pressure within said third corrective bladder.