Parabolic trough solar energy collector assembly
AssigneeAcurex Corporation
InventorWilliam S. Kennedy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parabolic trough solar energy collector including an elongated support with a plurality of ribs secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom. One surface of said ribs is shaped to define a parabola and is adapted to receive and support a thin reflecting sheet which forms a parabolic trough reflecting surface. One or more of said collectors are adapted to be joined end to end and supported for joint rotation to track the sun. A common drive system rotates the reflectors to track the sun; the reflector concentrates and focuses the energy along a focal line. The fluid to be heated is presented along the focal line in a suitable pipe which extends therealong.
Claims10
A solar energy collector comprising a collector assembly including a central elongated rib support, a plurality of spaced parallel ribs formed of sheet material secured to and extending outwardly in opposite directions from said rib support with the upper edges of said ribs defining an elongated parabolic surface, a thin sheet of reflecting material supported on the upper edge of said spaced ribs to conform to said parabolic surface to form a parabolic reflector for collecting solar energy and focusing the collected energy along a focal line, and retainer means cooperating between the ends of said ribs and adjacent edges of said sheet to hold the sheet in engagement with said ribs;
- support means for engaging said elongated rib support to support the collector assembly;
- and, means disposed at the focal line of said parabolic reflector to receive energy collected and reflected by said parabolic reflector.
A solar energy reflector comprising a collector assembly including an elongated rib support, a plurality of spaced parallel ribs formed of sheet material secured to and extending outwardly in opposite directions from said support with the upper edges of said ribs defining an elongated parabolic trough surface, a thin reflective sheet disposed to contact said edges of said ribs to be supported thereby and form a parabolic trough reflector for collecting solar energy and focusing it along a line, means cooperating with the edges of said reflective sheet serving to urge the sheet against the upper edges of the ribs to force the sheet against the upper edges thereof to conform the sheet to the parabolic surface;
- support means for engaging said elongated rib support to support the collector assembly;
- and, means for presenting fluid to be heated along the focal line of said parabolic trough reflector.
A solar energy collector comprising an elongated rib support, a plurality of spaced ribs formed of stamped sheet material extending outwardly from said rib support with the upper edges thereof defining a surface, a thin sheet of reflecting material supported on said edge of said ribs to conform to said surface, means for holding said sheet of reflecting material in intimate contact with the upper edge of said ribs, means disposed to receive energy reflected by said sheet of reflecting material, and support means for engaging said rib support to support said collector.
A solar energy collector including a plurality of in-line spaced supports, a plurality of spaced shafts rotatably carried in-line on said supports;
- a plurality of solar reflector assemblies each including an elongated rib support, ribs formed of sheet material secured to and extending outwardly therefrom with the upper edges of said ribs defining an elongated curved reflecting surface, and a reflective sheet in contact with the upper edges of said ribs to collect, reflect and concentrate solar energy;
- means carried at adjacent ends of pairs of said spaced shafts for engaging opposite ends of the elongated rib support of an associated reflector assembly to support in-line a plurality of reflector assemblies whereby when the shafts are rotated the reflector assemblies move in unison;
- and, means for presenting fluid to said solar collector to receive the concentrated solar energy from a plurality of in-line reflectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.