US4114596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for tracking the sun for use in a solar collector with linear focusing means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-16
•
Granted: 1978-09-19
•
Expires: 1996-03-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention introduces a coplanar rotational method of tracking the sun for use in a focusing solar collector that comprises of one or more linear focusing means such as cylindrical parabolic mirrors and linear lenses. Such a solar collector has one or more linear focal regions. It is particularly advantageous to use this tracking method in a large panel collector having multitude of linear focusing means. A plane parallel to the linear focal region or regions and perpendicular to the front plane of a solar collector is denoted as a focal plane. In applying the tracking method to the solar collector, the collector is rotated around an axis perpendicular to the front plane so that the sun'rays become parallel to the focal plane. The front plane remains substantially on the same plane during the tracking operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Wei-Yi Chang
- 👤 Chen-yen Cheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:54
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/30; F24S23/31; F24S23/70; F24S23/74; F24S23/80; F24S30/00; F24S30/40; F24S30/42; F24S30/422; F24S2023/87; F24S2023/872; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47; Y10; Y10S; Y10S126/00; Y10S126/909; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having a linear focusing means and a linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so constructed that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction that is perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed toward the linear focal region, comprising rotating the solar collector around an axis that is perpendicular to the front reference plane and adjusting the angle of rotation so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having a linear focusing means and a linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so constructed that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction that is perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed toward the linear focal region, comprising rotating the solar collector around an axis that is perpendicular to the front reference plane and adjusting the angle of rotation so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal region.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having plurality of linear focusing means, each having its linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so arranged that the linear focal regions are substantially parallel to each other and that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed by the linear focusing means to their respective linear focal regions, comprising rotating the solar collector around an axis that is perpendicular to the front reference plane and adjusting the angle of rotation so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal regions.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having plurality of linear focusing means, each having its linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so arranged that the linear focal regions are substantially parallel to each other and that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed by the linear focusing means to their respective linear focal regions, comprising rotating the solar collector around an axis that is perpendicular to the front reference plane and adjusting the angle of rotation so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal regions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having a linear focusing means and a linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so constructed that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction that is perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed toward the linear focal region, comprising means for rotating the solar collector around an axis perpendicular to the front reference plane so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal region.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having a linear focusing means and a linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so constructed that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction that is perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed toward the linear focal region, comprising means for rotating the solar collector around an axis perpendicular to the front reference plane so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal region.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having multitude of linear focusing means, each having its linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so arranged that the linear focal regions are substantially parallel to each other and that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed by the linear focusing means to their respective linear focal regions, comprising means for rotating the solar collector around an axis perpendicular to the front reference plane so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal regions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for tracking the sun for use in a solar collector having multitude of linear focusing means, each having its linear focal region, the linear focusing means being so arranged that the linear focal regions are substantially parallel to each other and that sun's rays that fall on the solar collector in the direction perpendicular to a front reference plane are directed by the linear focusing means to their respective linear focal regions, comprising means for rotating the solar collector around an axis perpendicular to the front reference plane so that a sun's ray incident on the solar collector has a first component perpendicular to the front reference plane and a second component parallel to the front reference plane, the second component being substantially parallel to the direction of the linear focal regions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1946184A
Cited
US1951404A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-18 | 1982-03-20 | 1982-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-18 | 1986-03-20 | 1986-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-18 | 1990-03-20 | 1990-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |