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US 4,571,812 AGranted
Method for making a solar concentrator and product
AssigneeIndustrial Solar Technology
InventorRandall C. Gee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar concentrator of substantially parabolic shape is formed by preforming a sheet of highly reflective material into an arcuate section having opposed longitudinal edges and having a predetermined radius of curvature and applying a force to at least one of the opposed edges of the section to move the edges toward each other and into a predetermined substantially parabolic configuration and then supporting it.
Claims10
A method for making a solar concentrator comprising:
- forming a sheet member into a substantially self-sustaining arcuate section of a predetermined constant radius of curvature having opposed longitudinally extending edges;
- forming at least one reinforcing rib into a substantially self-sustaining arcuate section having a constant radius of curvature substantially the same as said radius of curvature of said sheet member and having opposed longitudinally extending edges;
- securing said formed sheet member to said formed reinforcing rib;
- applying a force to at least one of said edges of said reinforcing ribs to move said edges of said reinforcing rib and said edges of said formed sheet member closer together;
- and
- continuing the application of said force until said formed sheet member and said formed reinforcing rib have been cnanged to a predetermined substantially parabolic configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.