US4850337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar energy apparatus with apertured shield
Assignee: Sundstrand Corp
•
Filing: 1986-12-31
•
Granted: 1989-07-25
•
Expires: 2006-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A protective apertured shield for use about an inlet to a solar apparatus which includesd a cavity receiver for absorbing concentrated solar energy. A rigid support truss assembly is fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projects radially inwardly therefrom to define a generally central aperture area through which solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver. A non-structural, laminated blanket is spread over the rigid support truss in such a manner as to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area toward the periphery of the inlet. The outer surface area faces away from the inlet and the inner surface area faces toward the cavity receiver. The laminated blanket includes at least one layer of material, such as ceramic fiber fabric, having high infra-red emittance and low solar absorption properties, and another layer, such as metallic foil, of low infra-red emittance properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger J. Collings
- 👤 David G. Bannon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:44
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/42; B64G1/44; B64G1/446; F; F24; F24S; F24S20/00; F24S20/20; F24S40/00; F24S40/10; F24S80/00; F24S80/60; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
In an apparatus for absorbing a beam of concentrated solar energy and which includes a cavity receiver with an inlet for transmission thereinto of solar radiation, a protective apertured shield means about the inlet comprising: rigid support means fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projecting radially inwardly therefrom to define a generally central aperture area through which the solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver; and non-structural blanket means spread over the rigid support means between the periphery of the inlet and the aperture area, the material having a high temperature capability and providing for infra-red radiation insulation, while remaining relatively cool when subjected to solar radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
In an apparatus for absorbing a beam of concentrated solar energy and which includes a cavity receiver with an inlet for transmission thereinto of solar radiation, a protective apertured shield means about the inlet comprising: rigid support means fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projecting radially inwardly therefrom to define a generally central aperture area through which the solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver; and non-structural blanket means spread over the rigid support means between the periphery of the inlet and the aperture area, the material having a high temperature capability and providing for infra-red radiation insulation, while remaining relatively cool when subjected to solar radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The protective shield means of claim 1 wherein said rigid support means include truss means projecting inwardly from the periphery of the inlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protective shield means of claim 2 wherein said truss means include a component surrounding the aperture area and fixed to distal ends of the truss components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective shield means of claim 2 wherein said truss means include an outer ring component around the periphery of the inlet, an inner ring component defining the aperture area and span components diverging outwardly from the inner ring component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The protective shield means of claim 4 wherein said non-structural blanket means are spread over the truss means and wrapped about said inner ring component to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area, the outer surface area facing away from the inlet and the inner surface area facing toward the cavity receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The protective shield means of claim 2 wherein said non-structural blanket means are spread over the truss means to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area, the outer surface area facing away from the inlet and the inner surface area facing toward the cavity receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective shield means of claim 1 wherein the material of said non-structural blanket means is laminated and includes at least one layer of high infra-red emittance and low solar absorption properties and another layer of high radiation insulation properties.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective shield means of claim 7 wherein said laminated material include two of said one layers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective shield means of claim 7 wherein said one layer is fabricated of a ceramic fiber fabric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protective shield means of claim 7 wherein said other layer is fabricated of metal foil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective shield means of claim 10 wherein said one layer is fabricated of a ceramic fiber fabric.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The protective shield means of claim 7 wherein said laminated material is spread over the rigid support means in such a manner as to provide an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area, the outer surface area facing away from the inlet and the inner surface area facing toward the cavity receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The protective shield means of claim 12 wherein said laminated material is oriented such that said one layer is on the outside of the outer surface area to face away from the inlet and on the inside of the inner surface area to face toward the cavity receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective shield means of claim 13 wherein said one layer is fabricated of a ceramic fiber fabric.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protective shield means of claim 14 wherein said other layer is fabricated of metal foil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective shield means of claim 15 wherein said one layer is fabricated of a ceramic fiber fabric.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective shield means of claim 16 wherein said laminated material include two of said one layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an apparatus for absorbing concentrated solar energy and which includes a cavity receiver with an inlet for transmission thereinto of solar radiation, a protective apertured shield means about the inlet comprising: rigid truss means fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projecting radially inwardly therefrom and including a support component surrounding and defining a generally central aperture area through which the solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver, the rigid truss means diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area; and a laminated blanket spread over the truss means and wrapped about said support component between the periphery of the inlet and the central aperture area to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging from the central aperture area, the outer surface area facing away from the inlet and the inner surface area facing toward the cavity receiver, the material of the laminated blanket including at least one layer of high infra-red emittance and low solar absorption properties and another layer of low infra-red emittance properties.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an apparatus for absorbing concentrated solar energy and which includes a cavity receiver with an inlet for transmission thereinto of solar radiation, a protective apertured shield means about the inlet comprising: rigid truss means fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projecting radially inwardly therefrom and including a support component surrounding and defining a generally central aperture area through which the solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver, the rigid truss means diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area; and a laminated blanket spread over the truss means and wrapped about said support component between the periphery of the inlet and the central aperture area to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging from the central aperture area, the outer surface area facing away from the inlet and the inner surface area facing toward the cavity receiver, the material of the laminated blanket including at least one layer of high infra-red emittance and low solar absorption properties and another layer of low infra-red emittance properties.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective shield means of claim 18 wherein said truss means include an outer ring component around the periphery of the inlet, an inner ring component defining the aperture area and span components diverging outwardly from the inner ring component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective shield means of claim 18 wherein said laminated material include two of said one layers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective shield means of claim 18 wherein said one layer is fabricated of a ceramic fiber fabric.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protective shield means of claim 21 wherein said other layer is fabricated of metal foil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective shield means of claim 22 wherein said one layer is fabricated of a ceramic fiber fabric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3006818A
Cited
US3234931A
Cited
US3927659A
Cited
US4090498A
Cited
US4426995A
Cited
US4479485A
Cited
US4502466A
Cited
US4552212A
Cited
US4598695A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-24 | 1993-01-23 | 1993-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-24 | 1997-01-23 | 1997-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-24 | 2001-01-23 | 2001-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |