Two-Part Solar Energy Collection System With Replaceable Solar Collector Component
First Claim
1. A two-part solar energy collection system for installation on a planar support surface, the two-part solar energy collection system comprising:
- a permanent positioning component including;
a base structure including a frame and a rotating platform rotatably disposed on the frame such that the rotating platform is rotatable around a rotational axis relative to the frame, anda rotational positioning system including means for adjusting the rotational angle of the rotating platform around the rotational axis; and
a replaceable solar collector component including one or more solar energy collection elements fixedly mounted on a support frame, wherein each of the one or more solar energy collection elements includes an optical element arranged to focus solar radiation onto a focal line, and a linearly-arranged solar energy collector fixedly maintained on the focal line,wherein, when the frame of the base structure is operably secured to the planar support surface, the rotational axis is maintained substantially perpendicular to said support surface, andwherein, when the support frame of the replaceable solar collector component is operably secured to the rotating platform, the focal line of the one or more solar energy collection elements is maintained in a plane that is substantially parallel to the planar support surface while the rotating platform and replaceable solar collector component are collectively rotated around the rotational axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-part solar energy collection system for installation on a planar support surface (e.g., a rooftop) includes a permanent positioning component including a base structure and a replaceable solar collector component including solar energy collection elements fixedly mounted on a support frame. Each collection element includes an optical element arranged to focus solar radiation onto a focal line, and a linearly-arranged solar energy collector (e.g., PV cells) fixedly maintained on the focal line. The replaceable solar collector component is secured to a rotating platform of the base structure such that the focal lines of the solar energy collection elements are maintained in a plane that is substantially parallel to the support surface, and the rotating platform and replaceable solar collector component are collectively pivoted by a positioning system around a rotational axis to align the PV cells) parallel to the received sunlight beams.
105 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A two-part solar energy collection system for installation on a planar support surface, the two-part solar energy collection system comprising:
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a permanent positioning component including; a base structure including a frame and a rotating platform rotatably disposed on the frame such that the rotating platform is rotatable around a rotational axis relative to the frame, and a rotational positioning system including means for adjusting the rotational angle of the rotating platform around the rotational axis; and a replaceable solar collector component including one or more solar energy collection elements fixedly mounted on a support frame, wherein each of the one or more solar energy collection elements includes an optical element arranged to focus solar radiation onto a focal line, and a linearly-arranged solar energy collector fixedly maintained on the focal line, wherein, when the frame of the base structure is operably secured to the planar support surface, the rotational axis is maintained substantially perpendicular to said support surface, and wherein, when the support frame of the replaceable solar collector component is operably secured to the rotating platform, the focal line of the one or more solar energy collection elements is maintained in a plane that is substantially parallel to the planar support surface while the rotating platform and replaceable solar collector component are collectively rotated around the rotational axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A permanent positioning component for a two-part solar energy collection system including both the permanent positioning component and a replaceable solar collector component that is removably connectable to the permanent positioning component, the replaceable solar collector component including one or more solar energy collection elements fixedly mounted on a support frame, wherein each of the one or more solar energy collection elements includes an optical element arranged to focus solar radiation onto a focal line, and a linearly-arranged solar energy collector fixedly maintained on the focal line, wherein the permanent positioning component comprises:
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a base structure including a frame and a rotating platform rotatably disposed on the frame such that the rotating platform is rotatable around a rotational axis relative to the frame, and a rotational positioning system including means for adjusting the rotational angle of the rotating platform around the rotational axis; and wherein, when the frame of the base structure is operably secured to the planar support surface, the rotational axis is maintained substantially perpendicular to said support surface, and wherein, when the support frame of the replaceable solar collector component is operably secured to the rotating platform, the focal line of the one or more solar energy collection elements is maintained in a plane that is substantially parallel to the planar support surface while the rotating platform and replaceable solar collector component are collectively rotated around the rotational axis.
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18. A replaceable solar collector component for a two-part solar energy collection system including both a permanent positioning component and the replaceable solar collector component, wherein the a permanent positioning component includes a base structure including a frame and a rotating platform rotatably disposed on the frame such that the rotating platform is rotatable around a rotational axis relative to the frame, and a rotational positioning system including means for adjusting the rotational angle of the rotating platform around the rotational axis, wherein the replaceable solar collector component comprises:
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a support frame; one or more solar energy collection elements fixedly mounted on the support frame, wherein each of the one or more solar energy collection elements includes an optical element arranged to focus solar radiation onto a focal line, and a linearly-arranged solar energy collector fixedly maintained on the focal line, wherein, when the support frame of the replaceable solar collector component is operably secured to the rotating platform, the focal line of the one or more solar energy collection elements is maintained in a plane that is substantially parallel to the planar support surface while the rotating platform and replaceable solar collector component are collectively rotated around the rotational axis.
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Specification