Solar energy collecting system

Claim 2

A solar energy collecting system comprising: A. stationary solar energy collector means having a radiant solar energy collecting surface mounted at an angle to the horizon and generally facing the sun's position at solar noon to receive radiant solar energy; B. means for conveying collected energy away from said solar energy collecting surface, C. stationary, curved reflector means also mounted at an angle to the horizon for reflecting solar energy to said collector; and D. walkway means between said collector means and reflector means for providing drainage from and access for maintenance to both of said collector and reflector means.

Claim 3

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collector means comprises a plurality of elongate rows of solar energy collector panels each having an upper and a lower edge; said reflector means comprises a plurality of elongate rows of reflectors each having an upper and a lower edge, said upper edge of each reflector row being adjacent an upper edge of a collector panel row to define an inverted, generally V-shaped peak; said lower edge of the reflector forming part of one peak being spaced from the lower edge of the collector panel forming part of a peak adjacent said one peak to define a valley; and said walkway means comprises a plurality of walkways each associated with one of said valleys defined between adjacent reflector-collector peaks; said panel rows, reflector rows and walkways being arranged to give a sawtoothed appearance.

Claim 4

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the height of each of said peaks and the horizontal distance between said peaks are such that substantially no shadow from said peaks falls on said collector panels during the energy collecting hours near noon on the winter solstice.

Claim 5

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plane tangent to the surface of each reflector at its upper edge makes an angle with the horizon greater than one-half the solar altitude at noon during the season when greatest solar energy collecting system performance is desired.

Claim 6

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plane tangent to the surface of each reflector at its upper edge makes an angle with the horizon greater than one-half the solar altitude at noon on the summer solstice to yield greatest solar energy collecting system performance during the summer.

Claim 7

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein each reflector is contoured to reflect solar radiation from its entire length to said collector panel forming part of an adjacent peak for selected limits of solar position.

Claim 8

A solar energy collecting system comprising A. a substantially horizontal base B. a plurality of elongate rows of solar energy collecting panels mounted on said base, each panel having 1. a stationary radiant solar energy collecting surface mounted at an angle to the base and generally facing the sun's position at noon to receive radiant solar energy, 2. an upper horizontal edge and 3. a lower horizonal edge C. means for conveying collected energy away from said solar energy collecting surface, D. a plurality of elongate rows of stationary curved reflectors also mounted on said base, each having 1. an upper horizontal edge and 2. a lower horizontal edge; said upper edge of each reflector row being adjacent to an upper edge of a collector panel row to define an inverted, generaly V-shaped peak, said lower edge of the reflector row forming part of one peak being spaced from the lower edge of the collector panel row forming part of an adjacent peak to define a valley, and E. a plurality of walkways positioned on said base each associated with one of said valleys defined between adjacent reflector-collector peaks to provide drainage for and access for maintenance to said panel rows and reflector rows; said collector panel rows, reflector rows, and walkways being arranged to give a sawtoothed appearance.

Claim 9

A solar energy collecting system comprising A. a substantially horizontal base B. a plurality of elongate rows of solar energy collecting panels mounted on said base, each panel having 1. a stationary radiant solar energy collecting surface mounted at an angle to the base and generally facing the sun's position at noon to receive radiant solar energy, 2. an upper horizontal edge and 3. a lower horizonal edge C. means for conveying collected energy away from said solar energy collecting surface, D. a plurality of elongate rows of stationary curved reflectors also mounted on said base, each having 1. an upper horizontal edge and 2. a lower horizontal edge; said upper edge of each reflector row being adjacent to an upper edge of a collector panel row to define an inverted, generaly V-shaped peak, said lower edge of the reflector row forming part of one peak being spaced from the lower edge of the collector panel row forming part of an adjacent peak to define a valley, and E. a plurality of walkways positioned on said base each associated with one of said valleys defined between adjacent reflector-collector peaks to provide drainage for and access for maintenance to said panel rows and reflector rows; said collector panel rows, reflector rows, and walkways being arranged to give a sawtoothed appearance.

Claim 10

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the height of each of said peaks and the horizontal distance between said peaks are such that substantially no shadow from said peaks falls on said collector panels during the energy collecting hours near noon on the winter solstice.

Claim 11

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein a plane tangent to the surface of each reflector at its upper edge makes an angle with said base greater than one-half the solar altitude at noon during the season when greatest solar energy collecting system performance is desired.

Claim 12

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plane tangent to the surface of each reflector at its upper edge makes an angle with said base greater than one-half the solar altitude at noon on the summer solstice to yield greatest solar energy collecting system performance during the summer.

Claim 13

The solar energy collecting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein each reflector is contoured to reflect solar radiation incident on its entire length onto said collector row forming part of an adjacent peak for selected limits of solar position.

Claim 14

A solar energy collecting system comprising A. a substantially horizontal base B. a plurality of elongate rows of solar energy collecting panels mounted on said base, each panel having p2 1. a stationary radiant solar energy collecting surface mounted at an angle to the base and generally facing the sun's position at noon to receive radiant solar energy, 2. an upper edge and 3. a lower horizontal edge C. means for conveying collected energy away from said solar energy collecting surface D. a plurality of elongate rows of stationary curved reflectors also mounted on said base, each having 1. an upper horizontal edge and 2. a lower horizontal edge, said upper edge of each reflector row being adjacent to an upper edge of a collector panel row to define an inverted, generally V-shaped peak, said lower edge of the reflector row forming part of one peak being spaced from the lower edge of the collector panel row forming part of an adjacent peak to define a valley, the height of each of said peaks and the horizontal distance between said peaks being such that substantially no shadow from said peaks falls on said collector panels during the energy collecting hours near noon on the winter solstice, and the plane tangent to the surface of each reflector at its upper edge making an angle with said base greater than one-half the solar altitude at solar noon on the summer solstice, and each reflector is contoured to reflect solar radiation incident on its entire length onto said collector row forming part of an adjacent peak for selected limits of solar position, and E. a plurality of walkways positioned on said base each associated with one of said valleys defined between adjacent reflector-collector peaks to provide drainage for and access for maintenance to said collector panel rows and reflector rows; said collector panel rows, reflector rows, and walkways being arranged to give a sawtoothed appearance.

Claim 15

A solar energy collecting system comprising A. a substantially horizontal base B. a plurality of elongate rows of solar energy collecting panels mounted on said base, each panel having p2 1. a stationary radiant solar energy collecting surface mounted at an angle to the base and generally facing the sun's position at noon to receive radiant solar energy, 2. an upper edge and 3. a lower horizontal edge C. means for conveying collected energy away from said solar energy collecting surface D. a plurality of elongate rows of stationary curved reflectors also mounted on said base, each having 1. an upper horizontal edge and 2. a lower horizontal edge, said upper edge of each reflector row being adjacent to an upper edge of a collector panel row to define an inverted, generally V-shaped peak, said lower edge of the reflector row forming part of one peak being spaced from the lower edge of the collector panel row forming part of an adjacent peak to define a valley, the height of each of said peaks and the horizontal distance between said peaks being such that substantially no shadow from said peaks falls on said collector panels during the energy collecting hours near noon on the winter solstice, and the plane tangent to the surface of each reflector at its upper edge making an angle with said base greater than one-half the solar altitude at solar noon on the summer solstice, and each reflector is contoured to reflect solar radiation incident on its entire length onto said collector row forming part of an adjacent peak for selected limits of solar position, and E. a plurality of walkways positioned on said base each associated with one of said valleys defined between adjacent reflector-collector peaks to provide drainage for and access for maintenance to said collector panel rows and reflector rows; said collector panel rows, reflector rows, and walkways being arranged to give a sawtoothed appearance.