Patent US4124017A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4124017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Collimating solar radiation collector
Assignee: JAMES B PAULL AND CO Inc
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Filing: 1977-06-17
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Granted: 1978-11-07
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Expires: 1997-06-17
Abstract
Abstract This invention describes an improved solar energy collector which passively concentrates the rays of the sun. The collector comprises a transparent cover which collimates incident rays of light and directs such collimated sunlight towards an absorbing target wherein the radiation's energy is received and utilized. The transparent collector cover consists of a lamination of transparent plastic or glass elements. Sunlight incident on the cover over a range of angles is reflected internally between the sides of the elements. These elements are so shaped that internal reflections result in the sunlight becoming collimated. Specifically, the elements are curved so that the horizontal distance between the sides of adjacent elements remains constant whereas the length of a normal between the sides increases along the path of incident light. The effect of these apparently diverging surfaces is to cause each subsequent internal reflection at a particular internal surface to occur at a successively lower angle of incidence, thus tending to collimate the light's rays. The resulting collimated rays are then reflected upon leaving the bottom of the collector cover in such a way that they are directed towards the absorbing target.
Inventors
- 👤 James B. Paull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:08
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/70; F24S10/75; F24S80/00; F24S80/50; F24S80/58; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A collimating solar radiation collector comprising: a. a transparent cover consisting of a plurality of contiguous laminated elements, said elements being curved so that the horizontal distance between the sides of adjacent elements remains substantially constant while the length of a normal between the sides increases along the path of incident light and so as to collimate sunlight incident upon said cover and direct the resulting collimated sunlight in a desired direction; b. an absorbing target upon which said collimated sunlight is directed and wherein solar energy is transformed to thermal energy; and c. a means for supporting said cover with respect to said absorbing target for the purpose of receiving said collimated light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A collimating solar radiation collector comprising: a. a transparent cover consisting of a plurality of contiguous laminated elements, said elements being curved so that the horizontal distance between the sides of adjacent elements remains substantially constant while the length of a normal between the sides increases along the path of incident light and so as to collimate sunlight incident upon said cover and direct the resulting collimated sunlight in a desired direction; b. an absorbing target upon which said collimated sunlight is directed and wherein solar energy is transformed to thermal energy; and c. a means for supporting said cover with respect to said absorbing target for the purpose of receiving said collimated light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A collimating solar radiation collector of claim 1 wherein said elements are composed of glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A collimating solar radiation collector of claim 1 wherein said elements are composed of acrylic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A collimating solar radiation collector of claim 1 wherein the side edges of said elements are of a curved shape of the general form Y=X n (X ≧ 0), the maximum slope of the curve of the long edge of said elements is greater than 8, and the bottom edge of said elements is angled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A collimating solar radiation collector in accordance with claim 4 wherein n ≧ 1.7.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A collimating solar radiation collector in accordance with claim 4 wherein 2 ≦ n ≧ 3.5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A collimating solar radiation collector in accordance with claim 4 wherein the initial X chosen for the curve is such that 0 ≦ dy/dx ≧ 1.3.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A transparent cover consisting of a plurality of contiguous laminated transparent elements, said elements being curved so that the horizontal distance between the sides of adjacent elements remains substantially constant while the length of a normal between the sides increases along the path of incident light and so as to collimate sunlight incident upon said cover and direct the resulting collimated sunlight in a desired direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A transparent cover consisting of a plurality of contiguous laminated transparent elements, said elements being curved so that the horizontal distance between the sides of adjacent elements remains substantially constant while the length of a normal between the sides increases along the path of incident light and so as to collimate sunlight incident upon said cover and direct the resulting collimated sunlight in a desired direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 8 wherein said elements are composed of glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 8 wherein said elements are composed of acrylic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 8 wherein the side edges of said elements are of a curved shape of the general form Y=X n (X ≧ 0), the maximum slope of the curve of the long edge of said elements is greater than 8, and the bottom edge of said elements is angled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 11 wherein n ≧ 1.8.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 11 wherein 2 ≦ n ≦ 3.5.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 11 wherein the initial X chosen for the curve is such that 0 ≦ dy/dx ≦ 1.3.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transparent cover in accordance with claim 8 wherein the elements are separated by a reflective material interposed beween the surfaces of the contiguous laminated transparent elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3985116A
Cited
US3970070A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-06 | 1982-05-08 | 1982-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-06 | 1986-05-08 | 1986-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-06 | 1990-05-08 | 1990-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |