Patent US1306752A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4099515A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4099515A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabrication of trough-shaped solar collectors
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-06-29
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Granted: 1978-07-11
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Expires: 1997-06-29
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a radiant energy concentration and collection device formed of a one-piece thin-walled plastic substrate including a plurality of nonimaging troughs with certain metallized surfaces of the substrate serving as reflective side walls for each trough. The one-piece plastic substrate is provided with a seating surface at the bottom of each trough which conforms to the shape of an energy receiver to be seated therein.
Inventors
- 👤 William W. Schertz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:55
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/80; F24S2023/83; F24S2023/834; F24S2023/84; F24S2023/87; F24S2023/872; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A cylindrical radiant energy concentration and collection device comprising: a plurality of rigid energy absorbers, a one-piece thin-walled plastic substrate having a plurality of pairs of opposing wall portions forming troughs, each wall portion being of predetermined contour and having thereon a material making said wall portion reflective for directing radiant energy incident thereupon, said substrate including a seating surface between each pair of opposing wall portions, each seating surface being adapted to receive one of said absorbers such that radiant energy is directed by said wall portions to said absorber, each of said seating surfaces being of such shape that said seating surface grasps said absorber and fits around said absorber received by said seating surface, said rigid absorbers thereby giving structural strength to said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A cylindrical radiant energy concentration and collection device comprising: a plurality of rigid energy absorbers, a one-piece thin-walled plastic substrate having a plurality of pairs of opposing wall portions forming troughs, each wall portion being of predetermined contour and having thereon a material making said wall portion reflective for directing radiant energy incident thereupon, said substrate including a seating surface between each pair of opposing wall portions, each seating surface being adapted to receive one of said absorbers such that radiant energy is directed by said wall portions to said absorber, each of said seating surfaces being of such shape that said seating surface grasps said absorber and fits around said absorber received by said seating surface, said rigid absorbers thereby giving structural strength to said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 1 further including a containment box within which said substrate and said absorbers are mounted, said box including one pair of ports associated with each absorber, one port of each of said pairs of ports being adapted to receive one end of said absorber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said box further includes at least one rib extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of said troughs and adapted with cutouts, each of said cutouts being so positioned along said rib to receive one of said troughs in the preferred spaced apart relation for said troughs, said rib thereby providing support for said substrate and maintaining the proper spacing for the troughs of said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said substrate includes end wall portions at the end of each trough which are reflective.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 3 further including an end wall piece of such shape as to fit on top said absorbers and providing end wall surfaces corresponding to end walls for each trough, said end wall surfaces being reflective.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 3 further including a second one-piece thin-walled plastic substrate, said substrates being positioned adjacent each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 6 wherein one end of one of said substrates transverse to the troughs thereof is inset so that the other substrate may be placed in overlapping relation thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 6 wherein both of said substrates end on a side longitudinal to the troughs thereof along a seating surface so that said substrates can thereby be placed adjacent each other in proper alignment by cupping said ends one within the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said absorbers are tubular and said seating surfaces are circular with circumference slightly larger than a semicircle, said cutouts are also circular to receive said seating surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said absorbers are evacuated tubes containing an energy absorbing apparatus, said evacuated absorbers insulating said absorbing apparatus from said plastic substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said absorbing apparatuses are vertical flat plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said seating surfaces are made reflective.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the inside surface of each of said tubular absorbers adjacent said seating surface is reflective.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said flat plate includes means for removing the heat absorbed thereby.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said absorbers are rectangular and said seating surfaces and said cutouts are half rectangles, said seating surfaces each including at least one projection overlapping said rectangular absorber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 3 further including a cover glass coupled to said containment box above said troughs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-10 | 1982-01-09 | 1982-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-01-09 | 1986-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-10 | 1990-01-09 | 1990-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |