Apparatus for focusing and using solar energy

Claim 1

Apparatus for focusing by reflection and for using solar energy and comprising: outer reflectors and inner back-reflectors arranged according to an invariable geometry and distributed symmetrically with respect to an axis; means adapted to maintain said axis directed towards the sun during daylight hours; and heat-collecting means situated along said axis at a position such that said means receive the solar rays reflected by said reflectors and back-reflectors, each of said reflectors and back-reflectors having a rectilinear appearance in section through any plane passing through said axis and being arranged so that said heat-collecting means are placed beyond the arrangement of said reflectors and back-reflectors, in the direction of arrival of the incident solar rays; said reflectors being grouped so as to form a practically continuous surface whose general appearance is that of a truncated cone or pyramid but whose section through said plane is a broken line whilst the back-reflectors are staggered axially and radially so that solar rays reflected directly by said reflectors and reflected a second time by said back-reflectors arrive at the heat-collecting means without being intercepted by another of said reflectors and back-reflectors.