Parabolic solar collector body and method
First Claim
1. A parabolic reflector body fabricated on an elongated, convex parabolic mold, the reflector body being of the type which concentrates solar energy along a focal line, comprising:
- an elongated layered structure having a parabolic concave first side, a convex second side opposite said first side and generally parallel longitudinal edges, the layers of said structure includinga reflective layer on said concave first side which contacts and conforms to the mold during fabrication, anda support layer bonded to said reflective layer on said convex second side, said support layer being predominately formed of an amorphous hard-curing adherent material applied over said reflective layer in a moldable state and conformed generally to the convex shape of the mold, anda tubular beam member bonded to said support layer by adherence of said beam member to amorphous hard-curing adherent material along a side of said beam member, said beam member extending longitudinally parallel to said edges of said layered structure.
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Abstract
A solar collector structure and method of fabrication are disclosed, the solar collector being of the linear, parabolic reflector-type. The parabolic reflector body includes an elongated layered structure having a concave parabolic reflective surface. The reflector body is supported and reinforced by a longitudinal beam member bonded to the convex backside of the layered structure. The layered structure includes a first reflective layer and a supporting molded layer formed of an amorphous hard-curing adherent material such as concrete or stucco. The entire reflector body structure is fabricated on an elongated convex mold. The method of fabrication includes forming the mold using a screed-moving apparatus which moves longitudinally along the mold. As the parabolic reflector body is formed on the mold, the screed-moving apparatus is again used to shape portions of the reflector body. A means for fabricating a parabolic reflector body, including both the elongated mold and the molded and reflective portions of the reflector body, together with the reinforcing longitudinal beam member, is also disclosed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A parabolic reflector body fabricated on an elongated, convex parabolic mold, the reflector body being of the type which concentrates solar energy along a focal line, comprising:
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an elongated layered structure having a parabolic concave first side, a convex second side opposite said first side and generally parallel longitudinal edges, the layers of said structure including a reflective layer on said concave first side which contacts and conforms to the mold during fabrication, and a support layer bonded to said reflective layer on said convex second side, said support layer being predominately formed of an amorphous hard-curing adherent material applied over said reflective layer in a moldable state and conformed generally to the convex shape of the mold, and a tubular beam member bonded to said support layer by adherence of said beam member to amorphous hard-curing adherent material along a side of said beam member, said beam member extending longitudinally parallel to said edges of said layered structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A parabolic reflector body fabricated on an elongated, convex parabolic mold, the reflector body being of the type which concentrates solar energy along a focal line, comprising:
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an elongated layered structure having a parabolic concave first side, a convex second side opposite said first side and generally parallel longitudinal edges, the layers of said structure including a reflective layer on said concave first side which contacts and conforms to the mold during fabrication, and a support layer bonded to said reflective layer on said convex second side, said support layer being predominately formed of an amorphous hard-curing adherent material applied over said reflective layer in a moldable state and conformed generally to the convex shape of the mold, and a beam member in the form of a closed-ended length of tubular steel embedded partially into amorphous hard-curing adherent material on said support layer and extending longitudinally parallel to said edges of said layered structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A parabolic reflector body fabricated on an elongated, convex parabolic mold, the reflector body being of the type which concentrates solar energy along a focal line, comprising:
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an elongated layered structure having a parabolic concave first side, a convex second side opposite said first side and generally parallel longitudinal edges, the layers of said structure including a reflective layer on said concave first side which contacts and conforms to the mold during fabrication, and a support layer bonded to said reflective layer on said convex second side, said support layer being predominately formed of an amorphous hard-curing adherent material applied over said reflective layer in a moldable state and conformed generally to the convex shape of the mold, a longitudinally-extending ridge of amorphous hard-curing adherent material disposed centrally on the convex second side of said layered structure, and a beam member partially embedded in said longitudinally-extending ridge on said support layer, said beam member extending longitudinally parallel to said edges of said layered structure.
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10. A parabolic reflector body fabricated on an elongated, convex parabolic mold, the reflector body being of the type which concentrates solar energy along a focal line, comprising:
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an elongated layered structure having a parabolic concave first side, a convex second side opposite said first side and generally parallel longitudinal edges, the layers of said structure including a reflective layer on said concave first side which contacts and conforms to the mold during fabrication, and a support layer bonded to said reflective layer on said convex second side, said support layer being predominately formed of an amorphous hard-curing adherent material applied over said reflective layer in a moldable state and conformed generally to the convex shape of the mold, a beam member bonded to said support layer and extending longitudinally parallel to said edges of said layered structure, and a plurality of structural members extending between said beam member and said second side of said layered structure to provide additional structural support to the reflector body, said structural members being concrete slabs each bonded to said beam member adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof and to said layered structure adjacent an opposite edge thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. Means for fabricating a parabolic reflector body, comprising:
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an elongated mold having a convex top surface with a parabolic cross-section, an elongated reflector body fabricated on said mold and detachable therefrom after fabrication, said body including a layered structure having a parabolic concave first side, a convex second side and generally parallel longitudinal edges, the layers of said body including, a reflective layer on said concave first side in contact with and conforming to said mold, a support layer bonded to said reflective layer, and support layer being predominately formed of an amorphous, hard-curing adherent material applied over said reflective layer in a moldable state and shaped to generally conform to the shape of said mold, a longitudinally-extending central ridge of said amorphous, hard-curing adherent material centrally disposed on said support layer, and a beam member extending longitudinally along said second side of said layered structure embedded in said central ridge. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of fabricating a parabolic reflector body of the type which concentrates solar energy along a focal line, comprising the steps of:
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forming an elongated mold having a convex top surface with a parabolic cross-section by steps including, providing a hard-curable, moldable material on a base surface, guiding a screed having a parabolic shape over said moldable material by means of a screed-moving apparatus which moves longitudinally along said base surface, and allowing said moldable material to cure, and forming an elongated layered structure on the mold by steps including applying a reflective layer of material having a reflective surface on the top of the mold with the reflective surface facing downwardly against the mold, positioning a lattice of reinforcing members over the reflective layer, forming a support layer on the reflective layer by steps which include applying an amorphous, hard-curing adherent material in a moldable state onto the reflective layer to a depth which covers the reinforcing members, and shaping the support layer by guiding a screed over the amorphous, hard-curing adherent material by means of the screed-moving apparatus, whereby said reflective and support layers form the layered structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification