US4447718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar light energy
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-06-29
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Granted: 1984-05-08
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Expires: 2001-06-29
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar light energy comprising; a transparent container; movable lens means in the container, for collecting solar light energy; optical fiber means located at the focus of the lens means and extending to the outside of the container; first and second drive means for rotating the lens means about vertical and horizontal axes; solar cell means connected to the first and second drive means to drive the same; and, means supported by the lens means, for detecting the position of the sun, said detecting means being connected to the drive means to drive the latter in accordance with the position of the sun.
Inventors
- 👤 Kei Mori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7861; F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/12; F24S23/30; F24S30/00; F24S30/40; F24S30/45; F24S30/455; H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/484; H10F77/488; F24S25/00; F24S25/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar light energy comprising; a transparent container; lens means for collecting and concentrating solar light energy; first supporting means for supporting the lens means so as to rotate the lens means about a horizontal axis; second supporting means for supporting the first supporting means so as to rotate the latter about a vertical axis; optical fiber means located at the focus of the lens means and extending to the outside of the container to transmit the collected sunbeams to the outside of the container; first drive means for rotating the lens means about the vertical axis; second drive means for rotating the lens means about a horizontal axis, independently of the drive of the first drive means; solar cell means connected to the first and second drive means to drive the same; and, means movable with and supported by the lens means, for detecting the position of the sun, said detecting means being connected to the drive means to control the driving of the drive means, in accordance with the position of the sun.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar light energy comprising; a transparent container; lens means for collecting and concentrating solar light energy; first supporting means for supporting the lens means so as to rotate the lens means about a horizontal axis; second supporting means for supporting the first supporting means so as to rotate the latter about a vertical axis; optical fiber means located at the focus of the lens means and extending to the outside of the container to transmit the collected sunbeams to the outside of the container; first drive means for rotating the lens means about the vertical axis; second drive means for rotating the lens means about a horizontal axis, independently of the drive of the first drive means; solar cell means connected to the first and second drive means to drive the same; and, means movable with and supported by the lens means, for detecting the position of the sun, said detecting means being connected to the drive means to control the driving of the drive means, in accordance with the position of the sun.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second supporting means comprises a vertical hollow rotating shaft connected to and driven by the first drive means, said optical fiber means extending in the vertical hollow rotating shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens means comprises a single Fresnel lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises two pairs of photosensors, each pair having two photosensors, said photosensors issuing detecting signals only when they receive direct sunbeams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising control means which includes means for comparing the outputs of the photosensors and for giving signals to the drive means to selectively drive the latter in accordance with the signals, said means mounted inside said container and operatively connected to said photosensors and said drive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an additional detecting photosensor which continuously receives sunbeams from sunrise until sunset, said additional sensor being mounted above the lens means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means comprises a divider for dividing the difference between the outputs of the two pairs of photosensors by the output of the additional photosensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal axis and the vertical axis intersect with each other at a center of the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first supporting means includes a first gimbal ring which supports the lens means, and a second gimbal ring which rotatably supports the first gimbal ring about a first horizontal axis, and said second supporting means includes a third support which rotatably supports the second gimbal ring about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis in the same plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said solar cell means comprises a ring solar cell located on the first gimbal ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said solar cell means comprises a ring solar cell located on the second gimbal ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means comprises two pairs of diametrically opposed photosensors located on the first gimbal ring the photosensors being positioned substantially 90 degrees of arc from each other around said first gimbal ring.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar light energy comprising; a transparent container; lens means for collecting and concentrating solar light energy; said lens means including at least two lenses, each said lens having a focus; first supporting means for supporting the lens means so as to rotate the lens means about a horizontal axis; second supporting means for supporting the first supporting means so as to rotate the latter about a vertical axis; optical fiber means located at the respective focuses of said lenses of the lens means and extending to the outside of the container to transmit the collected sunbeams to the outside of the container; first drive means for rotating the lens means about the vertical axis; second drive means for rotating the lens means about a horizontal axis, independently of the drive of the first drive means; solar cell means connected to the first and second drive means to drive the same; and, means movable with and supported by the lens means, for detecting the position of the sun, said detecting means being connected to the drive means to control the driving of the drive means, in accordance with the position of the sun.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar light energy comprising; a transparent container; lens means for collecting and concentrating solar light energy; said lens means including at least two lenses, each said lens having a focus; first supporting means for supporting the lens means so as to rotate the lens means about a horizontal axis; second supporting means for supporting the first supporting means so as to rotate the latter about a vertical axis; optical fiber means located at the respective focuses of said lenses of the lens means and extending to the outside of the container to transmit the collected sunbeams to the outside of the container; first drive means for rotating the lens means about the vertical axis; second drive means for rotating the lens means about a horizontal axis, independently of the drive of the first drive means; solar cell means connected to the first and second drive means to drive the same; and, means movable with and supported by the lens means, for detecting the position of the sun, said detecting means being connected to the drive means to control the driving of the drive means, in accordance with the position of the sun.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said small diameter lenses are regular hexagons so that they are arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
31 words
An apparatus to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said container further includes buoy means for causing the apparatus to float on the sea, said buoy means including a buoy.
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) | 1987-05-08 | 1987-11-07 | 1988-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-08 | 1991-11-07 | 1992-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-08 | 1995-11-07 | 1996-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |