In-ground solar trough
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for collecting solar energy comprising:
- a light receiver;
a rail comprising a curved bearing surface on a to surface of the rail;
a reflector configured to redirect light toward the light receiver;
at least one riser coupled to the reflector on a first side of the riser, the at least one riser comprising a first end and a second end, and a curved bearing surface having a length extending from the first end to the second end of the riser on a second side thereof for coupling with the curved bearing surface of the rail,wherein sliding the bearing surface of the at least one riser along the curved bearing surface alters the angular orientation of the reflector,wherein each riser is slidably coupled to the curved bearing surface via a clip, the clip attached to the second side of each riser and slidably coupled with a downward facing portion of the rail, andwherein the curved bearing surface of the riser and the curved bearing surface of the rail comprise an equal radius of curvature such that the curved bearing surface of the riser is in contact with the curved bearing surface of the rail over the entire length of the curved bearing surface of the riser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar trough includes a light receiver for transporting a fluid to be heated by the solar trough, at least one rail partially or fully disposed in a trench, a parabolic light collector slidably mounted on the at least one rail, and a drive unit for rotating the parabolic light collector within the trench. Further, a solar trough system made up of a plurality of the solar troughs.
42 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for collecting solar energy comprising:
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a light receiver; a rail comprising a curved bearing surface on a to surface of the rail; a reflector configured to redirect light toward the light receiver; at least one riser coupled to the reflector on a first side of the riser, the at least one riser comprising a first end and a second end, and a curved bearing surface having a length extending from the first end to the second end of the riser on a second side thereof for coupling with the curved bearing surface of the rail, wherein sliding the bearing surface of the at least one riser along the curved bearing surface alters the angular orientation of the reflector, wherein each riser is slidably coupled to the curved bearing surface via a clip, the clip attached to the second side of each riser and slidably coupled with a downward facing portion of the rail, and wherein the curved bearing surface of the riser and the curved bearing surface of the rail comprise an equal radius of curvature such that the curved bearing surface of the riser is in contact with the curved bearing surface of the rail over the entire length of the curved bearing surface of the riser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A solar trough comprising:
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a light receiver for transporting a fluid to be heated by the solar trough; at least one rail partially or fully disposed in a trench having a curved bearing surface along a length thereof; and a parabolic light collector slidably mounted on the bearing surface of the at least one rail, the parabolic light collector for focusing sun-light on the light receiver; wherein the parabolic light collector includes a plurality of risers and a plurality of mirror segments, each of the risers including at least one of said plurality of mirror segments on a first side thereof and each of the risers having a bottom curved bearing surface for slidably coupling with the curved bearing surface on a second side thereof of the at least one rail, wherein each riser of the plurality of risers is connected in series so as to form a curved shape about the light receiver, wherein each riser is slidably coupled to the curved bearing surface via a clip, the clip attached to the second side of each riser and slidably coupled with a downward facing portion of the rail, and wherein the curved bearing surface of the riser and the curved bearing surface of the rail comprise an equal radius of curvature such that the curved bearing surface of the riser is in contact with the curved bearing surface of the rail over the entire length of the curved bearing surface of the riser.
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8. A method for making a solar trough, the method comprising:
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forming a trench in a ground area; laying at least one rail in the trench; mounting a parabolic light collector on a first side of a riser, wherein the parabolic light collector includes a plurality of risers and a plurality of mirror segments, each of the risers including at least one of said plurality of mirror segments and having a bottom curved bearing surface on a second side thereof; slidably mounting the bottom curved bearing surface of each of the risers on a curved bearing surface formed on a length of the at least one rail; coupling a drive unit to the parabolic light collector, the drive unit for sliding the curved bearing surface of the riser along the curved bearing surface of the at least one rail within the trench; and locating a light receiver at a focal point of the parabolic light collector, the light receiver for transporting a fluid to be heated by the solar trough, wherein each riser of the plurality of risers is connected in series so as to form a curved shape about the light receiver, wherein each riser is slidably coupled to the curved bearing surface via a clip, the clip attached to the second side of each riser and slidably coupled with a downward facing portion of the rail, and wherein the curved bearing surface of the riser and the curved bearing surface of the rail comprise an equal radius of curvature such that the curved bearing surface of the riser is in contact with the curved bearing surface of the rail over the entire length of the curved bearing surface of the riser.
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9. A system for collecting solar energy comprising:
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a light receiver; a rail comprising a curved bearing surface on an upper surface of the rail; a reflector configured to redirect light toward the light receiver; at least one riser coupled to the reflector on a first side thereof, and having a curved bearing surface on a second side thereof, the at least one riser slidably coupled to the curved bearing surface of the rail, wherein sliding the at least one riser along the curved bearing surface alters the angular orientation of the reflector, wherein the at least one riser is slidably coupled to the curved bearing surface, of the rail via a clip, the clip attached to the second side of the at least one riser and slidably coupled with a downward facing portion of the rail, and wherein the curved bearing surface of the riser and the curved bearing surface of the rail comprise an equal radius of curvature such that the curved bearing surface of the riser is in contact with the curved bearing surface of the rail over the entire length of the curved bearing surface of the riser. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification