Pressure-shaped reflector apparatus

Claim 2

A lightweight pressure-shaped reflector apparatus for use in collecting and concentrating electromagnetic radiation waves and the like to provide a concentrated source of energy comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical frame member having an open top and an open bottom end; (b) a resilient deformable enclosure carried between said open top and bottom having an enclosed interior space; (c) said enclosure having an upper reflective surface co-extensive with said open top and a lower surface co-extensive with said open bottom end; (d) means for evacuating air from the interior space of said enclosure creating a partial vacuum therein deforming said upper reflective surface inwardly to form a highly reflective surface of spherical curvature; and (e) said enclosure including a side wall surface connecting said upper lower surfaces to define said interior space whereby said partial vacuum created therein causes all of said surfaces to deform inwardly.

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said hollow cylindrical frame member includes an upper cylindrical hoop member and a lower cylindrical hoop member having a plurality of non-contacting strut members carried therebetween spacing said hoop members apart.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient deformable enclosure is constructed of a polyester film.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said reflective surface includes an aluminized coating carried on said surface.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper reflective surface includes a plurality of sectional pieces extending between seamed joints formed at the junctures of said sectional pieces.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said seamed joints define a substantially rigid rib of a desired radius of curvature.

Claim 8

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said sectional pieces have greater flexibility than said seamed joints whereby evacuation of a controlled amount of air from said enclosure interior causes said sectional pieces to deform inwardly to assume the curvature of said seamed joints providing a substantially true spherical curvature to said reflective surface.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said sectional pieces are gore-shaped.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said seamed joints are formed by over-lapping adjacent edges of respective sectional pieces and cementing said edges together.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said seam joints are formed by placing adjacent edges of said sectional pieces together and placing an adhesive strip thereover.

Claim 12

A lightweight pressure-shaped reflector apparatus for use in collecting and concentrating electromagnetic radiation waves and the like to provide a concentrated source of energy comprising: (a) an upper open cylindrical hoop member; (b) a lower open cylindrical hoop member; (c) a plurality of strut members carried between said upper and lower hoop members spacing said hoop members apart; said strut members being spaced circumferentially about said hoop members and out of contact with adjacent strut members; (d) a resilient deformable enclosure carried between said upper and lower hoop members having an enclosed space within the interior thereof; (e) said enclosure having an upper reflective surface co-extersive with said upper hoop member; and (f) means for evacuating air from said enclosed interior space creating a partial vacuum therein deforming said upper reflective surface inwardly to form a concave surface providing a highly reflective surface of spherical curvature.

Claim 13

A lightweight pressure-shaped reflector apparatus for use in collecting and concentrating electromagnetic radiation waves and the like to provide a concentrated source of energy comprising: (a) an upper open cylindrical hoop member; (b) a lower open cylindrical hoop member; (c) a plurality of strut members carried between said upper and lower hoop members spacing said hoop members apart; said strut members being spaced circumferentially about said hoop members and out of contact with adjacent strut members; (d) a resilient deformable enclosure carried between said upper and lower hoop members having an enclosed space within the interior thereof; (e) said enclosure having an upper reflective surface co-extersive with said upper hoop member; and (f) means for evacuating air from said enclosed interior space creating a partial vacuum therein deforming said upper reflective surface inwardly to form a concave surface providing a highly reflective surface of spherical curvature.

Claim 14

A lightweight pressure-shaped reflector apparatus for use in collecting and concentrating electromagnetic radiation waves and the like to provide a resource of energy comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical frame member having an open top and an open bottom end; (b) a resilient deformable enclosure carried between said open top and bottom having an enclosed interior space; (c) said enclosure having an upper reflective surface co-extensive with said open top; (d) means for evacuating air from the interior space of said enclosure creating a partial vacuum therein deforming said upper reflective surface inwardly to form a highly reflective surface of spherical curvature; (e) said upper reflective surface including a plurality of gore-shaped sectional pieces extending between seamed rib joints formed at the junctures thereof; and (f) said rib joints being pre-constructed of a desired radius of curvature and having less flexibility than said sectional pieces so that evacuation of a controlled amount of air from within said enclosure causes said sectional pieces to deform inwardly to conform to the curvature of said rib joints providing a substantially true spherical curvature to said reflective surface.

Claim 15

A lightweight pressure-shaped reflector apparatus for use in collecting and concentrating electromagnetic radiation waves and the like to provide a resource of energy comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical frame member having an open top and an open bottom end; (b) a resilient deformable enclosure carried between said open top and bottom having an enclosed interior space; (c) said enclosure having an upper reflective surface co-extensive with said open top; (d) means for evacuating air from the interior space of said enclosure creating a partial vacuum therein deforming said upper reflective surface inwardly to form a highly reflective surface of spherical curvature; (e) said upper reflective surface including a plurality of gore-shaped sectional pieces extending between seamed rib joints formed at the junctures thereof; and (f) said rib joints being pre-constructed of a desired radius of curvature and having less flexibility than said sectional pieces so that evacuation of a controlled amount of air from within said enclosure causes said sectional pieces to deform inwardly to conform to the curvature of said rib joints providing a substantially true spherical curvature to said reflective surface.