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AssigneeGossamer Space Frames
InventorsGary Noble Curtis, Dean Robert Hackbarth, Glenn Alan Reynolds
Estimating the term…
A multiplexed torque brake (MTB) system for preventing the accumulation of torsional forces at a center drive and thereby significantly reducing the design load requirements for trough frames of a corresponding solar concentrator assembly (SCA). In one embodiment, an MTB system for an SCA having a plurality of solar reflector frames spaced along a length of the SCA includes a plurality of brake mechanisms arranged at locations spaced apart from each other along the length of the SCA, each of the brake mechanisms coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of supporting pylons and configured to constrain the solar reflector frames from rotating when subjected to torsional loads, the brake mechanisms adapted to transfer the torsional loads to the corresponding supporting pylons.
In a solar-trough solar power generation facility in which each one of a plurality of curved reflective surfaces is supported by a respective one of a plurality of trough frames connected to one another and rotatable about a common axis of rotation, the trough frames rotatable about the common axis of rotation via a torque drive mechanism, wherein the improvement comprises at least one torque brake mechanism s spaced apart from the torque drive mechanism along the common axis of rotation and operatively associated with at least one of the trough frames, the at least one torque brake mechanism being operable to hold the at least one associated trough frame stationary against torsional loads, and wherein the trough frames are coupled to one another via at least one shaft having an axis of rotation coincident with the common axis of rotation, and each torque brake mechanism is configured to engage a corresponding one of the at least one shaft;
A multiplexed torque brake system for a solar concentrator assembly having a plurality of solar reflector frames spaced along a length of the solar concentrator assembly and rotatable about a common axis of rotation via a drive mechanism, the system comprising a plurality of brake mechanisms arranged at locations spaced apart from the drive mechanism and from each other along the length of the solar concentrator assembly, each of the brake mechanisms coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of supporting pylons and configured to constrain the solar reflector frames from rotating when subjected to torsional loads, the brake mechanisms adapted to transfer the torsional loads to the corresponding supporting pylons, wherein the solar reflector frames are coupled to one another via at least one shaft having an axis of rotation coincident with the common axis of rotation, and each brake mechanism is configured to engage a corresponding one of the at least one shaft;
A method of maintaining a solar concentrator assembly in a stowed position utilizing a plurality of torque brakes, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.