US4236937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar collector device
Assignee: BP Solar International LLC
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Filing: 1978-05-24
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1998-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A solar collector device such as a solar receiver or solar panel, the device including a substrate comprising a base member having a major surface including a plurality of generally planar platform areas, each platform area being in a different plane than adjacent platform areas, and at least one photovoltaic cell mounted on each of the platform areas, a portion of each of the cells extending beyond the platform area upon which it is mounted. The collector device tends to maximize the utilization of light received by the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred G. Wihl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:05
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/90; H10F19/902; H02; H02S; H02S20/00; H02S20/20; H02S40/00; H02S40/20; H02S40/22; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A solar collector device which includes a substrate and at least one photovoltiac cell mounted on said substrate, said substrate comprising an elongated base member having a generally semi-circular cross-section and including a multiplicity of separate generally planar elongated platform areas formed in the curved periphery thereof so as to form doubly descending columns with adjacent areas of each column being in different planes, each said photovoltaic cell mounted on said substrate being mounted on one of said platform areas, and each said photovoltaic cell being of such a size as to tangentially extend beyond the platform area upon which it is mounted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A solar collector device which includes a substrate and at least one photovoltiac cell mounted on said substrate, said substrate comprising an elongated base member having a generally semi-circular cross-section and including a multiplicity of separate generally planar elongated platform areas formed in the curved periphery thereof so as to form doubly descending columns with adjacent areas of each column being in different planes, each said photovoltaic cell mounted on said substrate being mounted on one of said platform areas, and each said photovoltaic cell being of such a size as to tangentially extend beyond the platform area upon which it is mounted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The solar collector device of claim 1 wherein said base member includes means therein for the passage of cooling fluid therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solar collector device of claim 1 wherein said base member is made of a metal-containing material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The solar collector device of claim 1 wherein the planes of said platform areas are equally spaced from one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The solar collector of claim 1 wherein photovoltaic cells are mounted on each separate platform area of said base member, each cell from one platform area including electrical connecting means for connecting it to a corresponding cell in an adjacent platform area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The solar collector of claim 1 wherein photovoltaic cells are mounted in a side-by-side relationship along the elongated length of each separate platform area of said base member, each cell from one platform area including electrical connecting means for connecting it to a corresponding cell in an adjacent platform area.
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) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |