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US 4,841,946 AGranted
Solar collector, transmitter and heater
OwnerAlvin M. Marksinventor
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OwnerAlvin M. Marksinventor
Estimating the term…
A Solar Power collector, sunfollower, power transmitter and receiver is described. The Solar power collector is a Cassegrain Reflector optical system mounted on a carriage travelling on a semicircular track. A small photovoltaic cell and rechargeable battery provide the power to position the collector. A computer, sensors, electronic circuit and two servomotors provides accurate alignment of the collector with the sun's rays during the day, and returns it to follow the sun again the next morning. Sun-power is preferably transmitted from the collector via a light-pipe to a cavity where it is converted to heat-power. The heat-power may be stored as heat energy in a phase change material at a suitable temperature for cooking or other uses, such as heat-electric power generation. A plurality of collector-sunfollowers may transmit light-power to a single cavity heat storage depot, from which heat-power may be supplied on demand to various utilities.
In a system for collecting, transmitting and receiving rays of light-power from the sun, a mounting base for said system, a focal point for said rays positioned on said base, a first axis on a first straight line through said focal point, a second axis on a second straight line from said sun through said focal point and focussing said rays concentric with said first axis, a first means to align with first axis with said second axis and the focal point, the optical system thereby intercepting and converging said rays of light power through said focal point, a receiver for said rays on said base, said focal point being located between said optical system and said receiver and a second means for transmitting said rays of light power from said focal point to said receiver, said system further including means for semi-circular motion about the focal point.
A method for collecting, transmitting and receiving sun-power consisting of the steps of concentrating sun-power using an optical system including a means for semi-circular motion about the focal point, refracting said concentrated light-power into a transparent surface on a light-pipe, and transmitting said light power in said light-pipe to a cavity in a receiver.
A method for collecting, transmitting and receiving sun-power consisting of the steps of concentrating sun-power using and optical system including a means for semi-circular motion about the focal point, refracting said concentrated light-power into a transparent surface on a primary light-pipe, transmitting said light power in said light-pipe to a primary cavity in a primary receiver, including the still further step of transmitting light-power from said primary cavity via a secondary light-pipe to a secondary cavity in a secondary receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.