Method of manufacturing mirrors and mirrors so obtained
AssigneeB. F. G. Glassgroup
InventorsJacques Duchateau, Maurice Nicolas
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a mirror which comprises the steps of selecting a former of shape complementary to the shape of the desired mirror surface, applying to such former a plurality of mirror elements each constituted by a glass element having a reflective coating on one face thereof, and applying and adhesively bonding directly to such mirror elements a preformed, substantially rigid, unitary structural support.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a curved mirror having a solar reflective surface of large area sufficient to concentrate solar energy for use as a solar reflective panel, said method comprising the steps of
- selecting a former of large area and curved shape complementary to the large area and curved shape of the mirror solar reflective surface which is to be used for concentrating solar energy,
- applying to such former a plurality of mirror elements in substantially juxtaposed relationship, to form a solar reflective surface each mirror element being constituted by a glass element having a reflective coating on one face thereof, and
- applying and adhesively bonding directly to the so positioned mirror elements a preformed substantially rigid unitary structural support of similar large area and curved shape made from material comprising expanded vitreous material.
A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein said mirror elements are bonded to the support with their reflective coatings located between the support and their glass elements.
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein said tape is applied along the joint lines of the elements on their non-coated face to mask those faces from the adhesive to be used to bond the elements to the support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.