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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8161962 | Sun tracking system A sun tracking system includes a reduction device of a servo motor, multiple shafts, multiple couplers, and at least two rows of cylinders and each row having at least two cylinders, a solar panel, multiple pivotal connection units and multiple sliding units. The re... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8136518 | Sun-tracking solar energy collector apparatus A sun-tracking solar energy collector apparatus includes an east-west driving shaft body and a south-north driving shaft body which are coupled in the shape of a cross. A first driving member of an east-west shaft sleeve of the east-west driving shaft body is actuat... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8122878 | Solar concentrator with camera alignment and tracking The invention in the preferred embodiment features a solar concentrator that can align and/or track based on images from a video camera, for example. The concentrator preferably includes one or more optical elements for directing light to a receiver, a camera for ca... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8001960 | Method and control system for operating a solar power tower system A solar energy collection system includes a primary solar receiver and a secondary solar receiver. The secondary solar receiver generates steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. The primary solar receiver receives the generated steam from the secon... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7958886 | Torque arm assembly and method A torque arm assembly, used with a solar collector mounted to a drive shaft, comprises a torque arm with first and second ends and a torque arm coupling assembly including a drive shaft enclosure defining an open-ended channel sized to house the drive shaft. The cha... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7950386 | Carrier for a solar energy reflector element A reflector element carrier structure is disclosed for use in a solar energy reflector system. The structure comprises a reflector element (11), a corrugated platform (12) which carries the reflector element and a skeletal frame structure (13) w... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7836879 | Tracker drive system and solar energy collection system A tracker drive system is provided for rotatably driving one or more objects, for example solar panels or other equipment. The system comprises a torque element mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, wherein the torque element can support one or mor... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7677241 | Apparatus for redirecting parallel rays using rigid translation An accurate and cost effective heliostat array and method of use is disclosed. The heliostat array in the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of mirrors arrayed in a common plane, a plurality of reflector positioning arms, and a rigid positioning plate. The p... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7677242 | Solar-panel unit A solar-panel unit is provided with: an attachment structure; at least one solar panel, which is delimited by an extensive plane surface of incidence of the solar radiation and is connected to the attachment structure; and a hinging assembly, set between the attachm... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7647924 | System for supporting energy conversion modules A structure (26) for supporting an array (22) of solar panels (24) in a solar energy collection system (20) includes a support assembly (42) formed from a rigid subassembly (44). The subassembly (44) includes a truss ... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7607427 | Solar tracking device with springs A solar tracking device for overcoming the disadvantages of a conventional solar energy system utilizing motors and to lower electricity consumption and decrease cost is provided. The device includes a solar module or solar collector supported by two springs under b... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7568479 | Fresnel solar concentrator with internal-swivel and suspended swivel mirrors This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (mirrors) of a Fresnel reflector solar concentrator tracking heliostat array wherein the elements are suspended with the center of mass below the swivel point, or... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7380549 | Solar energy concentrator for power plants A solar concentrator includes a mirror 24 having a frame 27 connected with a lever 55, a train 36 supporting the frame 27 and the lever 55, a first control cable 28 connected with the frame 27, and a second con... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7319189 | Solar concentrator A space solar concentrator based on deployable reflectors attached to a panel base is described. Each of the reflectors includes sides coated with reflective coating on surfaces facing away from the base. In one embodiment, the sides of the reflector have thicker po... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7311409 | Two axis independent driven single hinged gimbaled mirror beam steerer A beam steerer comprising a mirror, a joint, and two linear actuators. The joint, which is attached to a periphery of the mirror is rotatable about two perpendicular axes. The linear actuators control rotational movement of the mirror about the two axes. A laser bea... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7252083 | Structure for supporting energy conversion modules and solar energy collection system A structure (26) for supporting an array (22) of solar panels (24) in a solar energy collection system (20) includes a support assembly (42) formed from a rigid subassembly (44). The subassembly (44) includes an elong... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7240674 | Solar tracking apparatus A solar tracking apparatus which is movable from a morning position to an evening position, the apparatus comprising a support means to which a solar device can be supported, a cylinder, the cylinder including a ram which is extendable from and retractable into the ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7227077 | Light element with a translucent surface A light element with a translucent surface includes an energy converter, wherein the translucent surface is so formed as to direct only that portion of the radiation onto the energy converter that impinges on the translucent surface. The energy converter may be a so... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7213931 | Method for reflecting radiation emanating from a source A method for effecting solar radiation in space prior to the solar radiation reaching Earth. The method includes the steps of choosing a location between the Earth and the sun, focusing reflected solar radiation from two reflectors upon the location, monitoring sola... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7207327 | Feedback control method for a heliostat An instrument for a solar energy system including a receiver and a heliostat to reflect solar energy on to the receiver. The instrument includes a first element adapted to form an image of the sun, a second element adapted to form an image of the receiver, and a det... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7195208 | Multi-device controller for model aircraft Control system for radio-controlled aircraft. The control system includes a control master for simultaneously controlling a group of flight control means, for example, a group of ailerons. A control bar is slidably mounted in the control master and connected to a se... | 03/27/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7055519 | Solar collector and method An apparatus and method for collecting solar energy are provided. The apparatus is a trough-type solar collector having one or more mirrors and lenses for directing solar radiation toward a receiver configured to receive a heat transfer fluid therein. The amount of ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7051529 | Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage A solar power system capable of storing heat energy and converting sun light to electrical power. The solar power system includes a solar collection system which gathers and transmits concentrated solar energy to an absorber/cavity. The thermal energy is extracted f... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7040773 | Self contained and powered traffic signal using natural and artificial light An traffic light capable of utilizing both natural sunlight and artificial light for illuminating selective traffic signals. Natural light is directed to a natural light router or switch and to a color switch for providing a red, amber or yellow, and a green light f... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7000608 | Solar energy system A solar plant with at least two solar units (10xx) where each of the solar units (10xx) comprises a securing device (12) and a swivel-located supporting structure (14) mounted on it, on which solar modules and/or solar collectors (16 | 02/21/2006 |
| 6960717 | Adjustable solar panel A nonrotating adjustable solar panel for optimizing cell charging of a portable message sign, comprising a movable frame, a message sign, a solar panel, a support post attached to the underside of the solar panel by a universal joint, and a mechanism for adjusting t... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6957650 | Electromagnetic radiation collector and transport system The present invention includes a radiation collector configured to collect incident radiation. The radiation collector includes a radiation directing component configured to redirect the incident radiation, a buffer component configured to receive the radiation redi... | 10/25/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6945660 | Device for capturing and emitting radiations The disclosure is a radiation collecting/emitting device to/from different spatial directions, the apparatus in the preferred design is manufactured in a single piece and the work surface is modified to obtain a reflective surface for the radiations of interest. In ... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6923174 | Device which follows the position of the sun A solar installation is described. It has a solar element and a diffractively and/or refractively operating optical apparatus by way of which the incident sunlight is passed directedly perpendicularly on to the solar element. The optical apparatus is caused to track... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6857426 | Absorber element for solar high-temperature heat generation, and a method for its production The present disclosure relates to an absorber element for solar high-temperature heat generation. The absorber element includes a light focusing unit, an outer tube composed of a translucent material and an absorber which is arranged in the absorber element. The abs... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6848442 | Solar panel tilt mechanism A tilt mechanism associated with a solar panel assembly whereby effort required to tilt panel assemblies comprising the solar panel assembly is reduced or minimized by appropriate placement of first and second tilt axes with respect to the center of mass and/or cent... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6722357 | Fixed angle solar collector arrangement A solar collector array is formed of multiple parallel rows of solar panels, each said row being made of one or more building blocks with an east-west oriented torsion tube defining an east-west axis for the row, an array of flat generally rectangular solar panels, ... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6696637 | Conversion of solar energy An array of elongated concave parabolic trough-shaped reflectors is disclosed. The orientation of the array is biaxially kept essentially perpendicular to rays of the sun by an optical control such that sunlight is reflected and concentrated along a focal... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6691701 | Modular solar radiation collection and distribution system A solar radiation collection and distribution system includes a solar collection system which includes a primary reflector, a secondary reflector and a planar reflector. The focal points of the primary and secondary reflectors are offset by the same numbe... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6688303 | Method and system for controlling operation of an energy conversion device A method and system is described for controlling a solar collector. A microprocessor receives inputs from one or more sensors in the system and determines the level of operation of an energy conversion device. If the level of operation reaches a predeterm... | 02/10/2004 |
| 6663750 | Multi-unit, distributive, regenerable, in situ desalination system, apparatus and method Cultivated field water is desalinated by a series of independent units that float on the water surface, taking up the saline water with a wick, evaporating the water from the wick in desalinating relation by concentrating incident solar radiation with a c... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6662801 | Celestial tracking apparatus and method of controlling wind stow therefor A celestial tracking apparatus (20) has a support (26), a tracking assembly (28) coupled to the support (26) by an azimuth pivot (36), a collector assembly (30) coupled to the tracking assembly (28) by an elevation pivot (38), a wind-speed sensor (172), a... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6656326 | Apparatus and method for water purification using solar energy An apparatus for the desalination or purification of water includes a non-solid vessel (3) having a bottom defining an opening, the vessel (3) capable of being partially submerged below the surface of a body of water, a pan (5) located within the vessel (... | 12/02/2003 |
