Patent ID: 9673751
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: F24S,H01L,H02S,Y02E

Claim:
1. A device for terrestrial use for collecting solar energy, comprising: a lightweight reflector frame that is capable of being rotated about a central vertical axis; and one of more primary spools that are each supported by said reflector frame; and a furling actuator; and a trough reflector comprising one or more primary reflective sheets, wherein each of said one or more primary reflective sheets is capable of being protectively furled by being substantially fully wrapped on said one or more primary spools by virtue of linkage to said furling actuator, wherein each of said one or more primary reflective sheets is capable of being unfurled from said one or more primary spools by virtue of linkage to said furling actuator to expose reflective surface area along a catenary curve by gravity, wherein during unfurling the rate of unfurling of said primary reflective sheets differs from the rate of translation of translatable edges of said primary reflective sheets, wherein said one or more primary spools comprise one or more translating spools capable of being translated relative to said reflector frame or said one or more primary spools comprise one or more non-translating spools that are not translatable relative to said reflector frame, wherein said trough reflector reflects concentrated light rays along a line focus rotating in unison with said reflector frame.