Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7202457 | Device that automatically tracks the position of the sun A sun-position tracking system for a solar module has a base on which a rotary plate is supported. Several generally parallel fixed rods fixed to the plate have outer ends extending outward past the plate. A planar frame is pivoted on the rod outer ends about a gene... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7192146 | Solar concentrator array with grouped adjustable elements A ground-based tracking heliostat array comprises a first plurality of elongate row mounts. The elongate row mounts are positioned at least partially between, and are supported by, a first side bracket and a second side bracket. The row mounts are rotatable in a fir... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7115851 | Heliostat device Heliostat devices are disclosed. A disclosed heliostat device comprises planar reflectors and their frame, an azimuth angle adjusting mechanism and an altitudinal angle adjusting mechanism, and a sunlight tracking sensor. This device can perform sun tracking and acc... | 10/03/2006 |
| 6953038 | Concentrating solar energy system A concentrating solar energy system with a reflector having a specularly reflecting inner side and realized as a parabolic mirror with two axis steering which is carried by a base frame arranged in a support plane and which is provided with a receiver arranged in op... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6820611 | Solar radiation concentrator and method of concentration solar radiation A solar radiation concentrator rotated about a straight line vertical to the reflector arrangement surfaces so that the incident solar radiation can be led onto the reflector arrangement surface along the specified direction and a method of concentrating solar radia... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6617506 | Power generation equipment using sunlight Power generation equipment using sunlight, allowing a solar cell panel to follow and rotate at a required time to follow a movement of the sun and allowing a level support base to rotate slowly at a required time so as to adapt a direction and time of the... | 09/09/2003 |
| 6089224 | Apparatus for orientation of solar radiation collectors An apparatus for orientation of solar radiation collectors includes one or more solar cells fixed to a rotary axle of the apparatus and connected directly to an electromotor joined with a rotary axle. The solar cell is arranged on the rotary axle in such ... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6067982 | Collection of solar radiation and its conversion into electrical power Apparatus and methods for collecting and concentrating solar radiation for the generation of electrical power, the apparatus comprising a rotatable reflector dish which is pivoted to one side so as to be positioned between a vertical position or lowered t... | 05/30/2000 |
| 6018122 | Tracking solar module To provide a tracking-type solar module capable of high-performance sunlight-tracking with a simple configuration while simultaneously performing highly effective cooling of a solar cell, a solar cell is movably installed within a transparent cooling tube... | 01/25/2000 |
| 5977475 | Converging solar module There is provided a converging solar module of a simple structure which can accurately track the sun and efficiently generate electricity. A converging solar module comprises an electricity generating converging lens (10) made of resin having a flat shape... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5798517 | Sun tracker system for a solar assembly The known sun tracker system with helical groove guide that works according to the gravity force principle is not operational without the daily intervention of an operator, limits the weight of the solar collectors, given the muscular strength required, a... | 08/25/1998 |
| 5699785 | Solar energy collector A solar energy collector (14) which comprises a heat absorbing structure (16) which takes in radiant energy and transfers the radiant energy to water carried therein. A main body (18) encompasses the heat absorbing structure (16). The radiant energy will ... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5600124 | Sun tracker system for a solar assembly The known sun tracker system with helical groove guide that works according to the gravity force principle is not operational without the daily intervention of an operator, limits the weight of the solar collectors, given the muscular strength required, a... | 02/04/1997 |
| 5374939 | Radiation gathering and focusing apparatus An apparatus for gathering and focusing or for transmitting radiation including a reflecting surface formed by portion of a right circular cone, a linear collector/transmitter located within the cone and connected to a vertex of the cone. An adjustable su... | 12/20/1994 |
| 5347986 | Solar powered high pressure steam generator A point focus distributed receiver system for generating high-pressure steam by means of solar energy collection is disclosed. The cradle within which a gimbal mounted concentrator dish rotates is designed to withstand high wind forces by delivering all f... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5191875 | High efficiency solar boiler A solar boiler of improved energy efficiency that includes a solar panel for receiving solar energy and converting a liquid to steam and a highly accurate tracking system to maintain the panel substantially perpendicular to the sun. The panel includes a p... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5191876 | Rotatable solar collection system Applicant's invention is a lightweight solar collection system, supported overhead, having a parabolic reflecting trough which continuously rotates about a fluid-filled collection conduit located at the trough's focal point. The system is supported overhe... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5148012 | Solar tracking device having three sensors separated by four semicircular vanes The solar tracking device disclosed herein is for use on a solar energy collection apparatus and facilitates optimal performance by insuring that the collection apparatus is continuously aligned with the source of the greatest amount of solar flux. The de... | 09/15/1992 |
| 4921580 | Solar water distiller A solar water distiller is set forth utilizing a spherical boiler formed with an underlying concave reflective lens arranged for tracking of the position of the sun to effect boiling of water provided within the solar boiler. Water vapor is forcibly remov... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4922088 | Automatic solar lighting apparatus having a solar following sensor An automatic solar lighting apparatus having a reflecting means for reflecting the sunlight and a solar following sensor composed of an X-shape cross member having four side grooves, a light shielding top plate disposed on the front end of the X-shape cro... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4883340 | Solar lighting reflector apparatus having slatted mirrors and improved tracker A solar lighting apparatus for illuminating the interior of a roofed building includes a reflector assembly rotatable about a vertical axis for tracking daily movements of the sun. The reflector assembly includes multiple planar reflector panels each exte... | 11/28/1989 |
| 4791533 | Natural lighting apparatus A natural lighting apparatus includes a mirror for reflecting light, and a supporting mechanism for supporting the mirror for rotation about both a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A first sensing mechanism is provided for sen... | 12/13/1988 |
| 4723826 | Lens type solar collector requiring no orientation system A conventional fiber optic solar collector employs a matrix of lenses mounted in an enclosure similar to that of a conventional flat plate collector. Each lens focuses a solar image upon the open end of a respective optical fiber. The fibers are bundled t... | 02/09/1988 |
| 4590920 | Focussing solar collector A solar collector comprising a substantially hemispherical reflector a collecting arrangement supported above the reflector be pivotable about the center of curvature of the reflector, one end of said collecting arrangement being slidably supported on a p... | 05/27/1986 |
| 4440149 | Radiation collectors A radiation collector includes a flexible inflatable unit having a portion constructed to concentrate radiation at generally a predetermined location when the unit is inflated, and including a structure positioned to absorb or receive the concentrated rad... | 04/03/1984 |
| 4440155 | Solar concentrating lens and receiver A solar concentrating lens and receiver operating on azimuth and altitude axes according to the position of the sun and characterized by an array of elongated transparent slats spaced for ventilation and each of prism-lens configuration with a reflective ... | 04/03/1984 |
| 4429952 | Tracking reflector assembly for a skylight A tracking reflector assembly for a skylight includes a ring-shaped base member rotatably supported above the skylight by a plurality of rollers which engage a channel formed within an annular wall of the ring. A reflector is pivotally coupled to the ring... | 02/07/1984 |
| 4365618 | Heliostatic solar energy conversion system A heliostatic solar energy conversion system in which a plurality of multi-faceted heliostats are supported on one or more platforms that move in a segment of a circular path about a central receiver as a center. The heliostats are mounted in frames that ... | 12/28/1982 |
| 4355630 | Concentrating solar collector with tracking multipurpose targets A parabolic solar concentrator whose focused solar rays impinge as a line focus upon one or more daily and seasonably tracking target collectors made to move generally parallel along two or more tracks through the use of sensor activated motors.... | 10/26/1982 |
| 4343294 | Solar collector assembly A plurality of individually adjustable flat mirrors on a common bed of a solar collector assembly reflect the sun's rays into a tubular collector where water is converted to steam for selectively either driving a motor of refrigeration system which cools ... | 08/10/1982 |
| 4335707 | Solar energy collector and energy storage cell An improved sun-tracking solar energy collector in constant focal communication with the rays of the sun during daylight hours and in which the moving element is made compact and inexpensive by incorporating therein only the function of receiving and redi... | 06/22/1982 |
| 4332239 | Sun powered automatic sun following reflector A solar ray reflector of semi-hemispherical form is joined at its periphery to one end of a short rigid cylindrical support member fixed to trunnion tubes extending through diametrically opposite sides of the support member and rotating in bearings on an ... | 06/01/1982 |
| 4316448 | Solar energy concentrator system Solar energy concentrator system employs structure permitting ready adjustability of flexible sheet concentrators to maximize solar radiation reflectability therefrom in accordance with seasonal posture of the sun. The invention utilizes structural compon... | 02/23/1982 |
| 4243018 | Solar energy concentrator A solar energy concentrator comprises an elongated, linear collector for receiving concentrated solar energy, mounted to extend longitudinally in an East-West direction and spaced above a supporting surface. An array of separate, elongated solar energy re... | 01/06/1981 |
| 4161942 | Solar energy collector A solar energy collector comprising a circular paraboloid mirror formed from a plurality of flexible reflective film strips stretched over a plurality of concentrically arranged support rings being arranged to position the film in a circular paraboloid. T... | 07/24/1979 |
| 4108154 | Solar energy collection system A solar energy collection system is provided in which a parabolic trough is oriented by a drive mechanism to reflect the rays of the sun onto an energy collector located at the parabolic focus. The system is constructed to track the sun to maintain focusi... | 08/22/1978 |
| 4106485 | Solar energy reflecting system A solar energy reflecting system which can modify its reflector configuration in accordance with the movement of the sun across the sky. The system includes a circular dish-like housing with upper and lower circular hoops in spaced relationship within the... | 08/15/1978 |
| 4061130 | Solar energy device A solar energy device for converting solar energy to a usable form of energy which includes a solar energy collector arranged adjacent a solar energy collector surface in sun energy transferring relation and tracking means to orient the face in perpendicu... | 12/06/1977 |
| 4034735 | Solar energy system A system for collecting solar energy consists of a target for absorbing solar radiation positioned above a plurality of independently positionable reflectors, each reflector including a base, a concave circular reflecting surface, and means responsive to ... | 07/12/1977 |
| 4031444 | Solar collector control system A system for controlling the movement in azimuth and elevation of a large mber of sun following solar energy collectors from a single central controller. The system utilizes servo signal generators, a modulator and a demodulator for transmitting the servo... | 06/21/1977 |
