Photovoltaic cell array with light concentrating reflectors

Claim 2

A solar battery array comprising: a succession of first and second mutually spaced, elongate, electrical conductors, said first and second conductors alternating with each other and being generally parallel, each of said conductors being substantially rigid and having a configuration adapted to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space; a series of mutually spaced solar batteries positioned between successive conductors such that each of said series is bracketed by a first and a second conductor; each of said solar batteries including a photovoltaic cell carried by an electrically insulating cell holder, and a reflector spaced from said cell, said reflector being shaped to concentrate incident light on a light receiving cell surface; each of said cell holders bridging the bracketing pair of conductors and being fastened thereto to form a substantially rigid cell support structure therewith; and the cells in each of said series of batteries having terminals of opposite polarity connected to respective conductors of the bracketing conductor pair such that all cells in a given series are connected in parallel with each other and the respective series of batteries are connected seriatim; whereby the voltage potential of said array varies with the total number of said battery series in the array, and the current capacity of said array varies with the number of solar batteries per series.

Claim 3

The array of claim 1 wherein said conductors are positioned substantially in a common plane.

Claim 4

The array of claim 2 wherein in each of said series said cells are substantially aligned in a row, successive rows of cells being parallel to each other, and the cells in successive rows being equidistantly spaced and aligned to form parallel columns.

Claim 5

The array of claim 3 wherein each of said conductors comprises successive, rigidly connected support struts, each of said struts including a central bend of substantially 90° positioned proximate a corresponding central bend of a strut belonging to a neighboring conductor; and each of said cell holders being fastened to a pair of said proximate central bends of a bracketing pair of conductors.

Claim 6

The array of claim 4 wherein at least some of said conductors comprise successive pairs of said struts, each of said strut pairs having opposed central bends to form a lozenge-shaped link, successive links of said conductor being rigidly connected to each other.

Claim 7

The array of claim 5 and further comprising: a substantially planar panel; a frame structure mounted on said panel to support said array at a spaced distance from said panel; said reflectors being positioned proximate said panel; and said frame structure and said panel being configured to reject substantial quantities of heat by radiation to space.

Claim 8

An array of substantially identical, mutually attached photovoltaic assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising: a frame structure generally in the shape of a multilateral right prism including first and second mutually spaced, parallel prism bases; a photovoltaic cell; means for supporting said cell within said frame structure substantially along an axis through the center of said prism bases, said supporting means including at least first and second electrically conductive support struts each having a configuration adapted to reject heat by radiation to space, said struts extending from respective corners of said first prism base towards said base center, said first and second struts being electrically connected to opposite polarity terminals of said cell; means for attaching said support struts to said frame structure at said respective corners in a manner whereby said struts are electrically insulated from said frame structure; and a reflector positioned proximate said second prism base, said reflector being configured to concentrate incident light on said cell.

Claim 9

An array of substantially identical, mutually attached photovoltaic assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising: a frame structure generally in the shape of a multilateral right prism including first and second mutually spaced, parallel prism bases; a photovoltaic cell; means for supporting said cell within said frame structure substantially along an axis through the center of said prism bases, said supporting means including at least first and second electrically conductive support struts each having a configuration adapted to reject heat by radiation to space, said struts extending from respective corners of said first prism base towards said base center, said first and second struts being electrically connected to opposite polarity terminals of said cell; means for attaching said support struts to said frame structure at said respective corners in a manner whereby said struts are electrically insulated from said frame structure; and a reflector positioned proximate said second prism base, said reflector being configured to concentrate incident light on said cell.

Claim 10

The array of claim 7 wherein each of said cells includes a light-receiving face directed towards its corresponding reflector, said faces lying substantially in a common plane positioned between said prism bases and substantially parallel thereto.

Claim 11

The array of claim 8 wherein said cell supporting means further includes means positioned substantially at said base center for holding said cell within said assembly so as to substantially protect it from external particle radiation, said holding means being mechanically connected to said struts and electrically insulated therefrom.

Claim 12

The array of claim 9 wherein each of said first and second prism bases has substantially the shape of a square; said struts extending from opposite pairs of corners of said first prism base and forming a pair of mutually spaced bends proximate each other at said base center; and said holding means substantially enclosing said pair of bends.

Claim 13

The array of claim 10 wherein each of said bends takes substantially the form of a 90° arc.

Claim 14

The array of claim 10 wherein in each of said assemblies said frame structure includes a plurality of discrete frames each defining one of the lateral faces of said prism and forming a common partition between adjacent assemblies; each of said frames having a configuration adapted to reject substantial quantities of heat by radiation to space; and the frames in each of said assemblies jointly defining said first and second prism bases.

Claim 15

The array of claim 12 wherein said assemblies are positioned relative to each other such that said solar cells form mutually perpendicular rows and columns.

Claim 16

The array of claim 13 wherein said attaching means includes an electrical isolator positioned at each corner of said first prism base; each of said isolators including a pair of oppositely facing, mutually aligned, blind slots positioned in first and second mutually perpendicular planes, each of said blind slots being adapted to receive one of said frames in edgewise relationship; each of said isolators further including at least one through slot positioned in each of third and fourth mutually perpendicular planes, said third and fourth planes being rotationally displaced by 45° from said first and second planes respectively, said through slots being adapted to receive a pair of struts from opposite directions in each of said third and fourth planes respectively; and means positioned at the center of each of said isolators for electrically interconnecting the struts received by said isolator, said interconnecting means establishing respectively a parallel connection of all the cells in any given row and a series connection of all the cells in any given column; whereby the voltage and current capacity of said array is increased.

Claim 17

The array of claim 14 wherein each of said isolators takes the form of an octogonal prism having a hollow cylindrical center; each of said third and fourth planes containing a mutually aligned pair of through slots extending from opposite lateral faces of said octogonal prism to said hollow center.

Claim 18

A photovoltaic assembly comprising: a frame structure generally in the form of a multilateral right prism including first and second mutually spaced, parallel prism bases; a solar cell including a light receiving, planar face positioned between said prism bases and substantially parallel thereto; means for supporting said cell within said frame structure along an axis extending substantially through the center of said prism bases, said supporting means including at least first and second electrically conductive support struts each having a configuration adapted to reject substantial quantities of heat by radiation to space, said struts extending from opposite corners of said first prism base towards the base center, said first and second struts being electrically connected to opposite polarity terminals of said cell; said supporting means further including means positioned substantially at said base center for holding said cell, said holding means being mechanically connected to said struts and electrically insulated therefrom; means for attaching said struts to said frame structure at said opposite base corners in a manner whereby said struts are electrically insulated from said frame structure; and a reflector positioned proximate said second prism base, said reflector being configured to concentrate incident light on said cell face.

Claim 19

A photovoltaic assembly comprising: a frame structure generally in the form of a multilateral right prism including first and second mutually spaced, parallel prism bases; a solar cell including a light receiving, planar face positioned between said prism bases and substantially parallel thereto; means for supporting said cell within said frame structure along an axis extending substantially through the center of said prism bases, said supporting means including at least first and second electrically conductive support struts each having a configuration adapted to reject substantial quantities of heat by radiation to space, said struts extending from opposite corners of said first prism base towards the base center, said first and second struts being electrically connected to opposite polarity terminals of said cell; said supporting means further including means positioned substantially at said base center for holding said cell, said holding means being mechanically connected to said struts and electrically insulated therefrom; means for attaching said struts to said frame structure at said opposite base corners in a manner whereby said struts are electrically insulated from said frame structure; and a reflector positioned proximate said second prism base, said reflector being configured to concentrate incident light on said cell face.

Claim 20

The assembly of claim 16 wherein each of said first and second prism bases has substantially the shape of a square; each of said struts including a central bend of approximately 90° and being fastened to said frame structure at a pair of adjacent corners of said first prism base opposite the pair of corners where the other strut is fastened, said bends being mutually spaced and proximate each other at said base center; and said holding means substantially enclosing said pair of bends.

Claim 21

The assembly of claim 17 wherein said frame structure includes a plurality of discrete frames each defining one of the lateral faces of said prism, each of said frames having a configuration adapted to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space; said attaching means including an isolator positioned at each corner of said first prism base; each of said isolators comprising a pair of oppositely facing blind slots positioned in first and second mutually perpendicular planes, each of said blind slots being adapted to receive one of said frames in edgewise relationship; and at least one through slot positioned in each of third and fourth mutually perpendicular planes, said third and fourth planes being rotationally displaced by 45° from said first and second planes respectively, said through slots being adapted to receive a pair of struts from opposite directions in each of said third and fourth planes respectively.

Claim 22

An array of substantially identical, mutually attached photovoltaic assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising: a frame structure in the shape of a right prism configured to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space, said frame structure including a plurality of rectangular frames each defining a lateral face of said prism and forming a common partition between adjacent assemblies, the frames in each of said assemblies jointly defining first and second mutually spaced, parallel, square prism bases; a photovoltaic cell including a substantially planar face for receiving light; means for supporting said cell within said frame structure along an axis through the center of said prism bases, said supporting means including first and second electrically conductive support struts having a configuration adapted to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space, each of said struts extending from a pair of adjacent corners of said first prism base to form substantially a 90° bend near the center of said base; said supporting means further including means for holding said cell relative to said struts and electrically insulated therefrom, said holding means substantially enclosing said bends and positioning said cell within said assembly so as to substantially protect it from external particle radiation; means for electrically connecting said first and second struts to opposite polarity terminals of said cell; an electrical isolator positioned at each corner of said first prism base for attaching said struts to said frame structure, each of said isolators including a hollow cylindrical center and a pair of outwardly facing, mutually aligned, blind slots positioned in first and second mutually perpendicular planes, each of said blind slots being adapted to receive one of said frames in edgewise relationship, each of said isolators further including a pair of mutually aligned through slots positioned on opposite sides of said cylindrical center in each of third and fourth planes respectively, said third and fourth planes being rotationally displaced by 45° from said first and second planes respectively, each pair of said through slots being adapted to receive a pair of said struts endwise from opposite directions; a light concentrating reflector positioned substantially within said frame structure at the approximate location of said second prism base, said reflector having a configuration adapted to concentrate incident light on said cell face; said array of assemblies having the cells thereof positioned in mutually perpendicular rows and columns, said cell faces lying in a common plane with each face oriented towards its corresponding reflector, said common plane being parallel to and positioned between a pair of mutually spaced planes which contain said first and second prism bases respectively; and means in said hollow center of each of said isolators for electrically interconnecting the struts received in said isolator through slots, said interconnecting means being effective to connect all the cells of a given cell row in parallel with each other, and to connect all the cells in a given cell column in series with each other; whereby the voltage and current capacities of said array are increased.

Claim 23

An array of substantially identical, mutually attached photovoltaic assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising: a frame structure in the shape of a right prism configured to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space, said frame structure including a plurality of rectangular frames each defining a lateral face of said prism and forming a common partition between adjacent assemblies, the frames in each of said assemblies jointly defining first and second mutually spaced, parallel, square prism bases; a photovoltaic cell including a substantially planar face for receiving light; means for supporting said cell within said frame structure along an axis through the center of said prism bases, said supporting means including first and second electrically conductive support struts having a configuration adapted to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space, each of said struts extending from a pair of adjacent corners of said first prism base to form substantially a 90° bend near the center of said base; said supporting means further including means for holding said cell relative to said struts and electrically insulated therefrom, said holding means substantially enclosing said bends and positioning said cell within said assembly so as to substantially protect it from external particle radiation; means for electrically connecting said first and second struts to opposite polarity terminals of said cell; an electrical isolator positioned at each corner of said first prism base for attaching said struts to said frame structure, each of said isolators including a hollow cylindrical center and a pair of outwardly facing, mutually aligned, blind slots positioned in first and second mutually perpendicular planes, each of said blind slots being adapted to receive one of said frames in edgewise relationship, each of said isolators further including a pair of mutually aligned through slots positioned on opposite sides of said cylindrical center in each of third and fourth planes respectively, said third and fourth planes being rotationally displaced by 45° from said first and second planes respectively, each pair of said through slots being adapted to receive a pair of said struts endwise from opposite directions; a light concentrating reflector positioned substantially within said frame structure at the approximate location of said second prism base, said reflector having a configuration adapted to concentrate incident light on said cell face; said array of assemblies having the cells thereof positioned in mutually perpendicular rows and columns, said cell faces lying in a common plane with each face oriented towards its corresponding reflector, said common plane being parallel to and positioned between a pair of mutually spaced planes which contain said first and second prism bases respectively; and means in said hollow center of each of said isolators for electrically interconnecting the struts received in said isolator through slots, said interconnecting means being effective to connect all the cells of a given cell row in parallel with each other, and to connect all the cells in a given cell column in series with each other; whereby the voltage and current capacities of said array are increased.