Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7357132 | Positioning system and method of orienting an object using same A system (22) for orienting an object (28) relative to a base (24) to which the object (28) is rotatably coupled includes a braking surface (46) in fixed relation with the base (24). A brake (48) is engaged with the b... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7290598 | Heat exchange device A heat transfer device having a heat source for collecting waste heat from a heat-generating system, the heat transfer device having fins in which the shape of the sides of the fins is preferably circular according to the general expression | 11/06/2007 |
| 7231128 | Hybrid solar lighting systems and components A hybrid solar lighting system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid luminaire. A... | 06/12/2007 |
| 6964488 | Reflector dish Reflector dish having a reflective surface for reflecting incident radiation to a focal region and a receiver for receiving radiation reflected by the reflective surface. A reflective surface support (26) supports the reflective surface. A receiver support ( | 11/15/2005 |
| 6775999 | Solar reflector for heat pump evaporator A solar reflector for an evaporator in a heat pump system. The evaporator has heat transfer plates and is located in an outdoor environment. The solar reflector has a curved surface configured to reflect solar radiation to the heat transfer plates of the evaporator.... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6769427 | Solar water heater A solar water heater comprising a water tank, a solar heating compartment for heating water, and an air pump. The water tank and the solar heating compartment are both substantially cylindrical, and the bottom surface of the heating compartment overlaps the top surf... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6708687 | Thermally controlled solar reflector facet with heat recovery A method and high concentration central receiver system provide improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6620995 | Non-imaging system for radiant energy flux transformation A non-imaging energy flux transformation system including a concentrator incorporating a set of nested, ring-like, concave reflective elements, and a receiver. The system efficiently concentrates radiant energy, such as sunlight, by means of focusing the ... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6603069 | Adaptive, full-spectrum solar energy system An adaptive full spectrum solar energy system having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one hybrid luminaire, at least one hybrid photobioreactor, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator, each hyb... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6541694 | Nonimaging light concentrator with uniform irradiance A nonimaging light concentrator system including a primary collector of light, an optical mixer disposed near the focal zone for collecting light from the primary collector, the optical mixer having a transparent entrance aperture, an internally reflectiv... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6530369 | Solar energy plant A solar radiation concentrating system (1) comprises at least two reflectors (12, 16) successively arranged along an optical path (4) of the system (1) so that a first (12) of the two reflectors (12, 16) reflects the radiation towards a second (16) of the... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6425391 | Electromagnetic radiation collector system A collection device for capturing and transmitting electromagnetic radiation utilizing a reflector having a concave reflecting surface for concentrating electromagnetic radiation to a focal point. The reflector also includes an opposite surface, a flexibl... | 07/30/2002 |
| 6336452 | Solar powered fluid heating system A solar powered fluid heating system for providing a user with a cost and energy saving advantage when heating fluids includes a solar dish which includes a mirrored concave surface. A power head assembly coupled to the solar dish by a support pole extend... | 01/08/2002 |
| 6286504 | Apparatus for capturing light energy An apparatus for capturing solar radiation of tracking type including a matrix array of a number of light receptors is disclosed. A first set of four shafts are disposed parallel to each other and parallel to a floor surface on which the apparatus is inst... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6220241 | Buoyant platform for radiant energy collecting apparatus Radiant energy collecting apparatus (11) which includes a platform assembly (13) floating on a body of liquid, the top side of which supports reflectors (16) of a solar concentrator and the underside of which is provided with a series of compartments (31)... | 04/24/2001 |
| 5961739 | Hemispheric moving focus power plant apparatus and method A hemispheric moving focus power plant (10) has a hemispheric solar reflector (12) for reflecting solar energy. A receiver (14) for receiving reflected solar energy and producing power therefrom is movably connected to the hemispheric solar reflector (12)... | 10/05/1999 |
| 5882434 | Solar concentrator having an offset parabolic configuration The solar concentrator system includes a generally parabolic-shaped primary reflector having a flat region at the center thereof, so that the focus of the primary reflector is a ring about the center axis of the reflector, in the plane of the rim thereof.... | 03/16/1999 |
| 5645693 | Plant for sea water desalinizing using solar energy An apparatus for desalination of sea water by the utilization of solar energy, advantageously accompanied by electric power generation, containing a heat caption unit (1) serving as a heat source, a sea water collecting tank (10), a pre-heating tank (11),... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5640950 | Simplified cradle and dish for a solar powered high-pressure steam generator A cradle and concentrator dish for solar powered high pressure steam generation is described. The cradle permits the dish to rotate around the declination axis to follow the sun through its seasonal motions. The cradle with the dish rotates around the pol... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5437265 | Gas heating apparatus A radiant gas heating apparatus of the present invention includes a cylindrical member of a porous ceramic material adapted to be heated by radiation, and a flow passageway which directs gas radially through the pores of the ceramic material from one cyli... | 08/01/1995 |
| 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 |
| 5325844 | Lightweight, distributed force, two-axis tracking, solar radiation collector structures A solar radiation collector system includes a curved rim, a collector assembly including a plurality of solar radiation transducer elements passing through the plane of and connected to the curved rim, and a plurality of relatively small diameter tension ... | 07/05/1994 |
| 5323764 | Central solar receiver A central solar receiver comprising a housing with a window for the admission of incident concentrated solar radiation, a volumetric solar absorber within the housing comprising a base body holding an array of absorber members spaced from each other and p... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5309893 | Solar energy collecting apparatus A radiant energy collecting apparatus including a fluid reservoir, a platform floating on said fluid reservoir, a drive structure for moving the platform on the reservoir, radiant energy collectors supported on the platform, reflectors for concentrating r... | 05/10/1994 |
| 5214921 | Multiple reflection solar energy absorber This invention the multiple reflection solar energy absorber makes possible the direct absorption of solar energy into a transparent working fluid, thereby heating the fluid and discharging it through a nozzle to produce power. The invention comprises a m... | 06/01/1993 |
| 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 |
| 5154163 | Radiation concentrator device A device for focusing parallel rays on a receiving element (20). The device is characterized in that it comprises at least one focusing element on either side of a principal plane, each said element comprising a cylindrical primary reflector the base of w... | 10/13/1992 |
| 5090399 | Solar cooker with a parabolic reflector Solar cooker with a fold-up parabolic reflector comprising two stacks of reflecting flexible strips (19, 20) unfoldable so as to form a reflector. Strips of each stack are connected to one another by means of a pliable band fastened to the back of each of... | 02/25/1992 |
| 5054466 | Offset truss hex solar concentrator A solar energy concentrator system comprises an offset reflector structure made up of a plurality of solar energy reflector panel sections interconnected with one another to form a piecewise approximation of a portion of a (parabolic) surface of revolutio... | 10/08/1991 |
| 4979494 | Method and apparatus for generating thermal energy A solar cooking apparatus, and method for its use, wherein the apparatus comprises an offset focus reflecting parabolic dish and a food receptacle located at or outside of a cylinder defined by the periphery of the dish. The dish is rotatably affixed to a... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4875467 | Support and maneuvering apparatus for solar energy receivers A support and maneuvering apparatus is disclosed for a solar energy receiving device adpated for receiving and concentrating solar energy and having a central axis extending through the center thereof. The apparatus includes a frame for mounting the perim... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4870949 | Wind resistant two axis tracker for energy or radiation concertrators A wind resistant, two axis tracker is used to direct a solar reflector, heliostat, or dish antenna. An elevation drive ring is supported in a vertical orientation by dolly wheels rotatably attached to a base. The reflector is attached at two points along ... | 10/03/1989 |
| 4788555 | Combined solar and signal receptor device A parabolic reflector for combined use as a solar concentrator and communications antenna having both a shared and joint use mode. In both the joint and shared use mode, the dish concentrates the electromagnetic energy at the focal point where a signal re... | 11/29/1988 |
| 4785632 | Solar energy concentrator Continuous concentration of solar heat on a fluid contained in a fixed, spherical boiler chamber, whereby the fluid is vaporized and thus drives a turbine, is effected by means of a paraboloidal reflector to which solar countermotion about the boiler cent... | 11/22/1988 |
| 4784700 | Point focus solar concentrator using reflector strips of various geometries to form primary and secondary reflectors A point focus solar concentrator which uses various geometries of cylindrical reflector strips some of which are tilted to simulate a point focus by overlaying the line focii of each segment at a coincident point. Several embodiments of the invention are ... | 11/15/1988 |
| 4756301 | Linear collector for a parabolic reflector A parabolic reflector having support structure, mounted upon a rotatable track, for supporting a parabolic dish framework to which is mounted one or more support panels to which, in turn, are pivotally mounted a plurality of reflectors for focusing rays o... | 07/12/1988 |
| 4706649 | Selectively switched shading for daylighting and the like A unitary structure is provided comprises a frame, including perimeter portions, transparent panels, a pair of spaced rollers rotatable about parallel axes, and a sheet rolled up on the rollers. The sheet has separate and distinct portions which have vary... | 11/17/1987 |
| 4700690 | Solar apparatus Solar apparatus includes a base portion, a supporting portion, a reflecting portion, a collecting portion and an actuating portion. The base portion includes a major surface disposed in a generally horizontal plane with a pivot member extending upwardly t... | 10/20/1987 |
| 4696285 | Solar cooker A solar cooker that includes an insulated oven, a main reflector joined to the oven which reflects solar radiation to a secondary reflector that in turn reflects the radiation into the oven; a gimbal, arcuate track and subframe arrangement mounting the ov... | 09/29/1987 |
| 4672948 | Solar radiation collector A solar radiation collector comprises a receiver (2-5) through which passes a medium to be heated by solar radiation, and a concentrator (2-1, 2-4) for concentrating solar radiation onto the receiver (2-5). The receiver (2-5) is an elongate structure of p... | 06/16/1987 |
