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US3977773A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solar energy concentrator

Assignee: Rohr Inc
•
Filing: 1975-01-17
•
Granted: 1976-08-31
•
Expires: 1995-01-17
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Abstract

Abstract The reflector surface of the concentrator is formed of plastic type material and includes at least one layer of reinforcing material embedded therein. The concentrator has a parabolic concave inner reflective surface and is constructed either as a unitary member or by joining together a plurality of segmented sections. The reflective surface is provided by a plurality of side by side individual rectangular mirror segments at least partially embedded therein. The reflector is constructed by attaching a flexible backing sheet to one surface of a mirror, scoring the opposite surface in the form of a grid, fracturing the mirror along the grid lines, forming the backing sheet in the desired mirror configuration over a male mold member, positioning at least one layer of reinforcing material adjacent the non-reflective surface of the mirror segments spaced therefrom providing an opening or void therebetween, positioning a mating female mold member over and spaced from the reinforcing material thereby creating a void therebetween, sealing the female mold member to the male mold member circumferentially, filling the voids partially with a liquid expansive material that provides a pressure within the mold when expanding thereby providing strength to the base member and aligning the mirror segments to the desired configuration, curing the expanded expansive material and removing the mold members from the completed concentrator structure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Warren M. Hubbard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 07:20
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/82; F24S23/71; F24S30/00; F24S30/40; F24S30/45; F24S30/458; F24S2030/10; F24S2030/13; F24S2030/133; F24S2030/135; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
An improved solar concentrator comprising: a base member having an outer surface and an inner concave surface, said base member constructed of a polymerized resin; a reflective means forming a portion of said concave surface, said reflective means comprising a plurality of side by side flat mirror segments partially embedded in said base member; and at least one layer of reinforcing material embedded within said base member and positioned intermediate said surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 72 words
An improved solar concentrator comprising: a base member having an outer surface and an inner concave surface, said base member constructed of a polymerized resin; a reflective means forming a portion of said concave surface, said reflective means comprising a plurality of side by side flat mirror segments partially embedded in said base member; and at least one layer of reinforcing material embedded within said base member and positioned intermediate said surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said base member is a unitary structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said base member comprises a plurality of interconnected separate panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein said plurality of panels include a plurality of inner panels of like configuration and a plurality of outer panels of like configuration, said inner and outer panels having a different configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said base member is in the form of a paraboloid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 11 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said polymerized resin is polyester.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 11 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said polymerized resin is polyurethane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said polymerized resin is polyurethane foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said polymerized resin is epoxy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein a plurality of spaced apart layers of reinforcing material spaced from said surfaces are embedded in said base member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said reinforcing material is of a mesh construction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 11 words
The invention of claim 11, wherein said reinforcing material is fiberglass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of said base member, free from reflective surface, includes a sealing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 88 words
An improved solar energy concentrator comprising: an expanded polyurethane foam base member having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface; a reflective surface comprised of a plurality of small flat rectangular mirror segments partially embedded in said concave surface; at least one layer of fiberglass mesh screen reinforcing material embedded within said base member and positioned substantially in a parallel spaced relationship with said surfaces for reinforcing said base member; and a sealing means on the outer surfaces of said base member free from reflective surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 88 words
An improved solar energy concentrator comprising: an expanded polyurethane foam base member having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface; a reflective surface comprised of a plurality of small flat rectangular mirror segments partially embedded in said concave surface; at least one layer of fiberglass mesh screen reinforcing material embedded within said base member and positioned substantially in a parallel spaced relationship with said surfaces for reinforcing said base member; and a sealing means on the outer surfaces of said base member free from reflective surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3136674A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-08-31 1980-03-01 1980-08-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-08-31 1984-03-01 1984-08-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-08-31 1988-03-01 1988-08-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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