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US 6,485,152 B2Granted
Matrix solar dish
OwnerDoug Woodinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerDoug Woodinventor
Estimating the term…
A matrix solar dish concentrator with flexed glass mirrors is patterned from orthogonal planes parallel to the axis of symmetry of a paraboloid and intersecting the paraboloid, this pattern making all parabolic trusses uniform. Parabolic trusses are made by flexing linear truss members with lateral forces creating accurate parabolic member curves, restraining the flexed members with rigid webbing to form an orthogonal paraboloid frame. Parabolic glass mirrors are made by flexing slender flat glass mirrors with lateral forces creating accurate parabolic mirror curves, restraining the flexed mirrors with tension buttons connected to the orthogonal paraboloid frame to form a solar dish. Glass mirror structural substrates are not used. The solar dish tracks the solar azimuth with a bicycle wheel and tracks the solar zenith with a television satellite dish actuator. A solar receiver is supported with a low shade structure outside a cone of concentrated sunlight. Uniform flux is greater than 1000 suns and suitable for high-intensity photovoltaic cells and district heating systems.
A method for making a paraboloid space frame for directly supporting rectangular mirrors on a solar dish concentrator, said paraboloid space frame containing parabolic trusses with substantially identical focal lengths, said method comprising the steps of:
A paraboloid frame for supporting mirrors in a solar dish concentrator, said paraboloid frame comprising uniform components, said paraboloid frame further comprising:
A system for making rectangular parabolic glass mirrors for use in solar dish concentrators, said system further comprises:
A method for making rectangular parabolic glass mirrors for use in solar dish concentrators, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.