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US 7,878,192 B2Granted
Adjustable solar collector and method of use
OwnerTheodore Edward Larseninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar collector has operably connected reflective panels that can be positioned to substantially form a parabolic trough that concentrates solar radiation onto a tube running along the focal line of the trough. A folding mechanism can be manually or automatically operated to selectively fold and unfold the panels into open and closed positions and into any number of intermediate positions, including the position characterized by formation of a parabolic trough. A rotating mechanism can be manually or automatically operated to selectively rotate the solar collector about an axis parallel to the focus line of the parabolic trough.
Claims21
A solar collector for redirecting solar radiation, the solar collector comprising:
- a first reflective panel having a first reflective panel inner surface for reflecting solar radiation and a first reflective panel outer surface, the first reflective panels shiftable between first and second folding positions with respect to an axis of rotation;
- a second reflective panel having a second reflective panel inner surface for reflecting solar radiation and second reflective panel outer surface, the second reflective panel shiftable between first and second folding positions with respect to the axis of rotation;
- a first lift arm operably coupled to the first reflective panel;
- a second lift arm operably coupled to the second reflective panel;
- a first actuator operably coupled to the first lift arm, the first actuator operable to provide infinitely adjustable positioning of the first reflective panel from the first folding position to the second folding position and further operable to substantially secure the first reflective panel in the first folding position, the second folding position, and infinite positions between the first and second folding positions;
- a second actuator operably coupled to the second lift arm, the second actuator operable to provide infinitely adjustable positioning of the second reflective panel from the first folding position to the second folding position and further operable to substantially secure the second reflective panel in the first folding position, the second folding position, and infinite positions between the first and second folding positions;
- a third actuator operably coupled to the first and second reflective panels, the third actuator operable to substantially simultaneously rotate the first and second reflective panels about the axis of rotation from a first rotational position to a second rotational position and further operable to substantially secure the first and second reflective panels in the first rotational position, the second rotational position, and infinite positions intermediate the first and second rotational positions;
- wherein the first and second reflective panels are configured to form a substantially parabolic trough in a parabolic position intermediate the first and second folding positions, the parabolic trough presenting a focus line.
5 more elements
A system for generating electricity, the system comprising:
- a first reflective panel having a first reflective panel inner surface for reflecting solar radiation and a first reflective panel outer surface, the first reflective panel shiftable between first and second folding positions with respect to an axis of rotation;
- a second reflective panel having a second reflective panel inner surface for reflecting solar radiation and second reflective panel outer surface, the second reflective panel shiftable between first and second folding positions with respect to the axis of rotation;
- a first lift arm operably coupled to the first reflective panel;
- a second lift arm operably coupled to the second reflective panel;
- a first actuator operably coupled to the first lift arm, the first actuator operable to provide infinitely adjustable positioning of the first reflective panel from the first folding position to the second folding position and further operable to substantially secure the first reflective panel in the first folding position, the second folding position, and infinite positions between the first and second folding positions;
- a second actuator operably coupled to the second lift arm, the second actuator operable to provide infinitely adjustable positioning of the second reflective panel from the first folding position to the second folding position and further operable to substantially secure the second reflective panel in the first folding position, the second folding position, and infinite positions between the first and second folding positions;
- a third actuator operably coupled to the first and second reflective panels, the third actuator operable to substantially simultaneously rotate the first and second reflective panels about the axis of rotation from a first rotational position to a second rotational position and further operable to substantially secure the first and second reflective panels in the first rotational position, the second rotational position, and infinite positions intermediate the first and second rotational positions;
- and
- a generator;
- wherein the first and second reflective panels are configured to form a substantially parabolic trough in a parabolic position intermediate the first and second folding positions, the parabolic trough presenting a focus line.
7 more elements
A method of positioning a solar collector having a tube, the method comprising the step of:
- actuating a first actuator to shift a first reflective panel between first and second folding positions with respect to an axis of rotation;
- substantially securing the first reflective panel in the second folding position with the first actuator;
- actuating a second actuator to shift a second reflective panel between first and second folding positions with respect to the axis of rotation;
- substantially securing the second reflective panel in the second folding position with the second actuator;
- actuating a third actuator to substantially simultaneously rotate each of the first and second reflective panels about the axis of rotation from a first rotational position to a second rotational position;
- and
- substantially securing each of the first and second reflective panels in the second rotational position with the second actuator.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.