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US 4,364,532 AGranted
Apparatus for collecting solar energy at high altitudes and on floating structures
AssigneeNorth American Construction Utility Corp.
InventorVirgil Stark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is apparatus for collecting solar energy with means of producing electricity by concentrating solar energy on sets of photovoltaic cells to be either positioned at high altitudes and which may be fitted to balloons or to structures floating on water.
Claims34
An apparatus for collecting solar energy comprising a collector means including a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
- at least one concentrator having a plurality of lenses disposed in spaced relation to said collector means;
- means for positioning said collector means and said concentrator at high altitudes above the earth;
- and
- means for moving at least said lenses along a sinuous curved path independently of said photovoltaic cells and of said positioning means to track the sun.
1 more element
In combination,
- a navigable balloon;
- at least one electric motor mounted on said balloon for propelling said balloon;
- and
- an apparatus mounted on said balloon for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy, said apparatus including a collector means including a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected to said motor to deliver electrical energy thereto, at least one concentrator having a plurality of lenses disposed in spaced relation to said collector means for concentrating a plurality of solar rays onto said photovoltaic cells, and means for moving at least said lenses along a sinuous curved path independently of said photovoltaic cells and said balloon to track the sun.
1 more element
In combination,
- a first balloon adapted to be filled with a lighter than air gas;
- an apparatus mounted on said first balloon for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy, said apparatus including a collector means including a plurality of photovoltaic cells for converting radiant energy into electricity and at least one concentrator having a plurality of lenses disposed in spaced relation to said collector means for concentrating a plurality of solar rays onto said photovoltaic cells;
- means for moving at least said lenses along a sinuous curved path independently of said photovoltaic cells and said first balloon to track the sun;
- a second balloon filled with a lighter than air gas and being of smaller size than said first balloon;
- an electric motor mounted on said second balloon for propelling said second balloon, said motor being connected to said cells to receive electricity therefrom;
- and
- means connecting said second balloon to said first balloon for towing of said first balloon behind said second balloon.
4 more elements
An apparatus for collecting solar energy comprising
- a collector means including a plurality of photovoltaic cells for producing electricity;
- at least one concentrator having a plurality of lenses disposed in spaced relation to said collector means;
- means for positioning said collector means and said concentrator at an elevated position to permit cooling of said cells by cool air;
- and
- means for automatically moving said lenses independently of said means for positioning and said photovoltaic cells to track the sun, said means for moving including a plurality of sinusoidal rails for guiding said lenses thereon along a sinusoidal path.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.