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US 2012/0073625 A1Published application
Air supported photovoltaic system
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorStephen R. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air supported photovoltaic system includes a primary inflatable member with at least one facet thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the inflatable member and change the orientation of the facet to angle it towards the sun. A flexible array of photovoltaic cells is applied to the facet.
Claims27
An air supported photovoltaic system comprising:
- a primary inflatable member including at least one facet thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the inflatable member and change the orientation of the facet to angle it towards the sun;
- and
- an array of photovoltaic cells applied to the facet.
An air supported photovoltaic system comprising:
- a plurality of primary inflatable members including at least one facet thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the inflatable member and change the orientation of the facet to angle it towards the sun;
- a flexible array of photovoltaic cells applied to the facet;
- and
- a secondary inflatable member including a facet thereon receiving the plurality of primary inflatable members thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the secondary inflatable member to orient its facet parallel or substantially parallel to the earth's rotational axis.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- constructing a primary inflatable member to include at least one facet thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the inflatable member and change the orientation of the facet to angle it towards the sun;
- applying an array of photovoltaic cells to the facet;
- deflating the primary inflatable member for storage and/or transport;
- inflating the primary inflatable member in the field;
- and
- adjusting the orientation of the facet as the sun moves across the sky.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.