Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Apparatus for redirecting parallel rays using rigid translation
- Patent Title (中): 用于使用刚性平移来重定向平行射线的装置
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Application No.: US11058023Application Date: 2005-02-14
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Publication No.: US07677241B2Publication Date: 2010-03-16
- Inventor: Kevin P. Hickerson
- Applicant: Kevin P. Hickerson
- Applicant Address: US CA Pasadena
- Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Pasadena
- Agent Andrew S. Naglestad; Michael Blaine Brooks, PC; Michael B. Brooks
- Main IPC: F24J2/38
- IPC: F24J2/38 ; F24J2/46

Abstract:
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 positioning plate, which is coupled to each of the reflectors via a positioning arm, is adapted to simultaneously aim each reflector using as few as one or two actuators. When the positioning arms forms the base of an isosceles triangle with one leg aligned with a ray directed to the sun and the other equal length leg aligned with a ray directed to the receiver, the positioning plate has the shape of a Conchoid of Nicomedes surface of revolution, which enables the heliostat array to simultaneously orient all of the mirrors to precisely focus incident sunlight from anywhere in the celestial hemisphere onto a common focal point.
Public/Granted literature
- US20060060188A1 Apparatus for redirecting paraller rays using rigid translation Public/Granted day:2006-03-23
Information query