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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 6704607 | Method and apparatus for controllably positioning a solar concentrator A method, apparatus, control system and computer program product are provided for controllably positioning the solar concentrator. The method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine the respective errors generated by more and dif... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6442937 | Solar receiver adaptive tracking control A solar power system having a solar concentrator for concentrating solar energy, a receiver for converting the solar energy into another form of energy, and a control system for controlling the flux input to the solar receiver. The control system includes... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6443145 | Solar seeker A solar seeker that automatically or manually tracks the sun for a maximum daily intake of solar energy to supply a predetermined amount of direct current electricity for various applications. The solar seeker includes a solar panel carriage assembly, a m... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6284968 | Solar-tracking system A solar-tracking system that provides a polar rotation at a constant velocity of 366.25 revolutions clockwise per year, and orbital revolution that is one revolution per year in the counter-clockwise direction. The support for the orbital drive system is ... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6281485 | Maximum power tracking solar power system A maximum power tracker maximizes the power deliverable from a power source, such as a solar array using increasing, decreasing and maintaining states controlled by a set point signal modulated by a dither signal for stabilized regular power tracking duri... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6191352 | Device for projecting a defined light beam onto a photosensitive area A device for directing a defined light beam onto a photosensitive area, for testing the performance of a photovoltaic module including said photosensitive area, comprising a support structure (1) which can be turned about a vertical central axis (4) in ac... | 02/20/2001 |
| 6123067 | Solar collector tracking system A solar collector tracking system that has a solar collection device having multiple lens assemblies mounted on its front surface. An exoskeleton structure is secured to the rear surface of the solar collection device and it is pivotally secured about a h... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6033716 | Animal feeds comprising formulated poultry bio-solids and growing house litter Animal feeds and methods of forming animal feeds are provided wherein the feeds are formed by mixing poultry house litter and slaughterhouse wastewater sludges, followed by drying of the resulting mixture in a hot air convection rotary drum dryer. The res... | 03/07/2000 |
| 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 |
| 5787877 | Solar energy concentrating system having a novel focal collection zone The present invention relates to an improved solar energy concentrating system having a novel focal collection zone. In general, the system comprises a moveable solar energy collector supported above a cylindrically arcuate solar energy concentrating refl... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5655515 | Tracking solar energy concentrating system having a circular primary and a compound secondary The present invention relates to a solar energy concentrating system that uses a combination of a circular arcuate primary reflector and a linear compound parabolic secondary collector. The secondary collector can track by swinging in a circular are above... | 08/12/1997 |
| 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 |
| 4856494 | Solar heating installation with failure-protected heating medium hose To prevent snap-over of a flexible connecting tube conducting solar-heated liquid to a mirror which follows the travel of the sun through the sky and then changes to an inverted "night" position, as shown in FIG. 1 at (a), a flexible corrugated or pleated... | 08/15/1989 |
| 4765309 | Solar tracking device A solar tracking device for causing a solar collector to track the sun during the course of the day and for automatically reorienting the collector to the east at the end of the day. The device (11) includes a pivotal support (13, 17) having a center of g... | 08/23/1988 |
| 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 |
| 4646718 | Combined pressurized air solar heat sensing head assembly and a pressurized water drive system used to move solar energy collectors in tracking the sun In moving solar energy collectors to track the sun, there are combined: a pressurized air solar heat sensing head assembly, utilizing compressed air in adjacent and opposing chambers, each chamber having a flexible diaphragm closely contacting an actuator of a... | 03/03/1987 |
| 4644933 | Solar system This invention is an improved solar collector which combines a magnifying lense with separate reflectors to obtain maximum solar energy collection. The collector also tracks celestial movement so as to constantly maintain maximum solar exposure.... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4601282 | Automatic solar collector system An automatic solar collector system useful for heating and storing a heating fluid such as, for example, water. The automatic solar collector system of this invention is characterized by its construction including a photo cell-actuated hydraulic cylinder ... | 07/22/1986 |
| 4458670 | Orientation mount for a solar heating module The present invention relates to an elevation orientation mount for a parabolic mirror reflector of a solar heating module. The altazimuthal orientation mount according to the invention is adapted to a solar heating module comprising a parabolic mirror re... | 07/10/1984 |
| 4440150 | Heliostat control An improvement in a system and method of controlling heliostat in which the heliostat is operable in azimuth and elevation by respective stepper motors and including the respective steps or means for calculating the position for the heliostat to be at a c... | 04/03/1984 |
| 4433672 | Solar energy modulator A solar energy module characterized by a receiver 14 having a solar energy acceptance opening 22 and supported by a mounting ring 18 along the optic axis A of a parabolic mirror 12 in coaxial alignment therewith for receiving solar energy from the mirror,... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4404961 | Apparatus for collecting solar energy A solar collector has a nonlinear collecting surface, for example, a substantially spherical surface, such collector being positioned perpendicular to the rays of the sun throughout the day thereby providing a constant level of solar energy collection. Th... | 09/20/1983 |
| 4354484 | Solar collection system A solar energy collection system for receiving and collecting a concentrated supply of available energy from the sun includes a reflector having an internal structural frame covered by a thin deformable film at the front and a membrane cover enclosing the... | 10/19/1982 |
| 4349011 | Solar operated shutter A solar shutter system including a pair of insulating panels pivotally mounted adjacent a glazed opening. Insulated and uninsulated counterbalance pressure tanks are mounted at opposite ends of one of the panels. The counterbalance tanks are interconnecte... | 09/14/1982 |
| 4305380 | Solar energy system and solar powered tracking apparatus therefor Solar tracking apparatus for a solar energy system comprises at least one chamber containing a volatile fluid, a shading arrangement for controlling the degree to which the at least one chamber is exposed to the sun in dependence on the position of the su... | 12/15/1981 |
| 4300533 | Design of hydraulic circuits for the automatic operation of heliostats The present invention relates to automatic thermal/hydraulic logic system for continuously positioning a heliostat in alignment with the sun in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Solar radiation is monitored by phials which produce signal pressures ... | 11/17/1981 |
| 4275712 | Sun tracking device employing displaced heating surfaces for automatic morning reorientation The present invention is a device for rotating a collector of solar energy in such a way as to keep it constantly oriented during the day in the best direction for interception of radiation and for returning it to a position from which it will begin colle... | 06/30/1981 |
| 4267824 | Solar concentrator An inflatable solar concentrator comprising an elongate hollow member of relatively thin flexible material inflatable to an upright position in which it is generally in the form of a cone convergent from its upper to its lower end. The inflated member has... | 05/19/1981 |
| 4249516 | Solar energy collection Apparatus and methods for concentrating and collecting solar energy and for lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of solar energy systems are disclosed. Solar energy is concentrated by economical refringent lenses or lens systems including fluid... | 02/10/1981 |
| 4223214 | Solar tracking device An improved solar tracking arrangement is provided for directing a solar energy collector to face the sun. An electrical control mechanism is provided to detect misalignment of the collector as the sun traverses in relative movement across the sky. When t... | 09/16/1980 |
| 4194492 | Solar heating apparatus The solar fluid heater has a frame and a solar collector for collecting and concentrating solar energy movably mounted on the frame. An inclination adjustment system is attached to the frame for rotating the solar collector for different inclinations of t... | 03/25/1980 |
| 4187123 | Directionally controlled array of solar power units A directionally controlled array of solar power units includes a supporting frame having conduits for flow of hot and cold water to each of the units supported on the frame, and each unit includes a solar cell which directly converts solar energy into ele... | 02/05/1980 |
| 4185615 | Solar collector structure The solar collector structure includes a solar collector for deriving heat from the sun for useful heating purposes. The collector structure is pivotally mounted and means are provided to pivot the structure during daylight hours to follow the sun and rec... | 01/29/1980 |
| 4178913 | Solar collector system An improved solar collector system includes a moveable surface to receive solar radiation. The moveable collector surface is supported by at least one load bearing universal joint. The movement of the collector surface is accomplished by a hydraulic actua... | 12/18/1979 |
| 4162825 | Method for adjusting the radius of curvature of a spherical mirror A method and apparatus for controlling the astigmatic focusing of a spherical mirror by adjusting the radius of curvature configuration thereof. Adjustment is made by applying a couple to the outer edge of the spherical mirror. A floating support mechanis... | 07/31/1979 |
| 4159629 | Apparatus for the collection and conversion of solar energy Solar energy is collected by an array of parallel trough-like reflectors of paraboloidal cross-section, and concentrated upon radiation-absorbent pipes positioned along the lines of focus of the reflectors. The array is mounted on a boat which floats on a... | 07/03/1979 |
| 4148301 | Water-borne rotating solar collecting and storage systems A water-borne solar energy collecting and converting system employing an azimuth-tracking, floating platform equipped with reflectors and associated thermal collector tubes.... | 04/10/1979 |
