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US 4,000,734 AGranted
Solar energy converter
OwnerWilliam C. Matlock, Patricia K. Somloinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved solar energy collector and converter comprising a plurality of elongated reflectors mounted for movement each around a heating tube arranged in the linear focus of the reflectors and linked to a tracking mechanism which causes the reflector to be trained toward the location of the sun so that it receives a maximum amount of solar energy.
Claims4
An improved heat exchange means comprising:
- a frame,
- at least a pair of juxtapositioned reflectors,
- each of said reflectors comprises a trough having a reflecting surface of a parabolic configuration,
- means for pivotally mounting each of said reflectors in a parallel arrangement on said frame,
- a fluid bearing tube a portion of which is fixedly mounted on said frame longitudinally of each of said reflectors on said frame and approximately disposed with the axis of the portion in the focal zone of an associated reflector outside of its periphery,
- electrical means for moving said reflectors in unison through a similar arc partially around the portion of the tube associated with said reflectors for maintaining said reflectors with the axis of their curvature approximately in a plane containing the sun's center, and
- means for sensing the position of the sun for energizing said electric means for orienting and maintaining said reflectors with their axes of curvature of their inner surfaces approximately in a plane containing the sun's center,
- whereby the reflection of the sun's rays are concentrated by said reflectors in a line image along said portions of said tubes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.