Abstract:
A solar collection device is disclosed. The device includes mirrors for intensifying the collected solar energy. The output of the mirrors can be used to heat air or water or other fluids as well as ores or solids. In addition, artificial light can be used to supplement the solar energy.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/201,979 filed Dec. 17, 2008 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to the field of solar energy collecting devices. In particular, the present invention is directed to a mirror configuration that will concentrate solar energy and will efficiently produce high temperature and energy levels. The present invention is used to gather solar energy and, through a unique and novel design, to focus and intensify the solar beams. The output of the present invention can be utilized in conventional devices to heat hot water, air or other fluids and to intensely heat ores, liquids or chemical compounds to produce chemical and physical changes as well as other similar applications. For applications where interruptions in operations must be minimized, such as a plasma converter, the embodiment can include provisions for artificial light to supplement solar energy or substitute for solar energy. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Solar energy is collected and intensified by a system that consists of two stages. The first tracks the sun and gathers and directs the solar energy by means of an optical device, such as an assembly of paraboloidal mirrors or a fresnel lens, to a focal point which corresponds with the focal point of a paraboloidal mirror. This stage will produce parallel radiant energy of greater intensity than the solar energy collected. This parallel stream of radiant energy is transmitted to the second stage which focuses and intensifies the energy by an assembly of metal paraboloidal mirrors. The stationary second stage delivers energy to a focal point where it is utilized to heat fluids or utilized by furnaces or reactors where it produces chemical or physical changes to ore or solid and liquid chemical compounds. The heated fluids are useful to heat or air condition buildings or provide heat for manufacturing processes. The furnaces or reactors are used to provide intense heat for industrial processes. By intensifying the energy levels, materials can be converted to a plasma state without requiring vast areas of conventional reflective mirrors or lenses. By combining stages in parallel or series, the system will provide the amount of energy and the temperature needed for specific applications. The ratio of sizes and focal lengths of the optical device and paraboloidal mirror of stage  1  determine the intensity of the output from stage  1 . In addition, as an element of other systems, the orientation of stage  2  can be reversed so that energy focused at a point can be the input and the output would be parallel beams of energy. This particular use would provide an extension of the systems. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, at times when solar energy levels are too low to normally be used effectively, the system will intensify the energy and elevate the temperatures to a useful level. For installations generally requiring continuous operation, the embodiment includes sources of artificial light with automatic controls to activate and regulate the intensity of the artificial light. 
         [0005]    The solar energy collecting system of the present invention comprises an optical device for collecting solar energy with a first focal point wherein the collecting optical device functions to intensify the solar energy by focusing the solar energy at the first focal point; a paraboloidal mirror with a second focal point for receiving the solar energy from the collecting lens at the first focal point wherein the paraboloidal mirror further intensifies the solar energy by receiving the solar energy at the second focal point and then produces and redirects a parallel stream of solar energy to an optical device with a third focal point for receiving the redirected solar energy from the first paraboloidal mirror for intensifying the solar energy and redirecting the solar energy to a third focal point whereby the solar energy can be utilized for heating purposes and a tracking system such that the collecting lens and the first paraboloidal mirror will rotate during daylight hours to follow the sun and optimize the collection of solar energy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, illustrating the various components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates an optical device assembly of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the second stage of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates artificial light provisions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention will now be described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
         [0011]    The solar collecting system  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Stage  1  consists of the solar collecting system  10  and the tracking system  14 . The system  10  comprises a collecting optical device  12  or similar optical devices such as a fresnel lens or a paraboloidal mirror. In addition, it comprises a paraboloidal mirror  24 . The axis of mirror of  24  is parallel to shaft  11  that passes through the focal point. The plane of the mirror  24  is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft  11 . The collecting lens  12  is connected to a solar tracking system  14  so that the lens  12  can move during the course of a day so as to be optimally positioned to collect solar energy during the daylight hours. Mirror  12  rotates and tilts as it tracks the sun while the paraboloidal mirror  24  rotates by means of shaft  11  but does not tilt. The optical collecting device assembly may include other configurations of the paraboloidal mirrors and flat mirrors which allows parallel streams of energy to enter one end and exit the other end to converge to a single focus point. 
         [0012]    The solar tracking system  14  is also illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The solar tracking system  14  is generally known to those of ordinary skill in the art and comprises a master tracking control  16 , a rotational control electric motor  18 , a gear drive  20 , electric tilt control  22 , and structural support  23 . The collecting mirror  12  is mounted on the arm and gear  19 . The structural support  23  will support the tilt track and control drive  22  and tilt mechanism arm and gear  19 . The gear device turns a shaft  11  that is supported by bearings  13 . As it turns, the shaft  11  will rotate the collecting optical device  12 . In addition, the collecting optical device  12  will tilt about Point B on axis A-A so that the focal point of the collecting optical device  12  will correspond exactly with the focal point of the paraboloidal mirror  24  and Point B thus directing radiant energy from the mirror  24  toward the intensifying mirrors  25  and parallel with the rotational tracking shaft  11 . Mirror  24  is shown offset from the shaft  11  center line however the preferred position of mirror  24  is such that the center line of the output beam of energy from mirror  24  is centered on the shaft  11  center line. 
         [0013]    The collecting optical device  12  and paraboloidal mirror  24  focuses the solar energy received there through onto the parabolic intensifying mirrors  25 . The second stage parabolic reflecting mirrors  25  are further described below in connection with  FIG. 2 . 
         [0014]    The intensifying mirror assembly  25  shown in  FIG. 2  will now be described in detail. The mirror assembly  25  is generally cylindrical in shape and will be mounted on a base  26 . The cylindrical shape provides ring shaped surfaces  28  with dimple shape mirrors  32  on the interior that reflect the solar energy and direct it to a central focus point  30 . Initially, the solar energy will contact parabolic surfaces  28  &amp;  32  located along the central axis of the reflective mirrors  28  &amp;  32 . The energy will then impact the conical surfaces  29  and be reflected to the central focus point  30 . 
         [0015]    The intensifying mirrors  28  and dimple mirrors  32  may be constructed of plastic with a reflective film on the interior in the case of moderate temperature applications. The range of temperatures at the point of focus can reach 2000° F. For higher temperature applications in the range of 30,000° F. at the point of focus, the entire assembly  25  should be comprised of chromium plated stainless steel or other similar materials to withstand the operating temperatures they will be subjected to, in the range of 1,000° F. to 1,100° F. If necessary, fans may be used to circulate cooling air on any mirror or through the cylindrical assembly. Any optical device with parabolic or paraboloidal operational characteristics may be substituted for the corresponding parabolic or paraboloidal mirrors. 
         [0016]    An alternate version of stage  2  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  and comprises a plurality of solar collection and intensifying systems  10 , as described above, can be utilized in a parallel configuration. In this way, several streams of intensified solar energy can be combined and utilized as a heat source for a furnace, hot water heater, etc. The alternate version of stage  2  consists of flat mirrors  33  and paraboloidal mirror  34  with axis  52 . Energy streams from the plurality of systems  10  that will contact mirrors  33  and be reflected to paraboloidal mirror  34  and thence to focus point  35 . The preferred embodiment of mirror  34  is paraboloidal but a Fresnel lens or a spherical mirror can be used. A heat pipe  36  is shown encompassing one of the streams of energy  33 . Heat pipes can be used to encompass any stream of energy. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment for the use of artificial light for night operation or periods of reduced levels of solar energy. A very high level of artificial light is produced by an incandescent clear glass point source of radiant energy or an arc light  38 , an electric power source and support  44 , an automatic electrical control and regulator  45 , a support  50 , Fresnel lenses  37  and  39 , flat plate chrome-plated mirrors  40  and  41 , paraboloidal mirror  43 , support  48 , control circuitry  51  from intensity detector  51  and intensifying mirror  25 . 
         [0018]    Energy from source  38  flows along three (3) paths: (a) to Fresnel lens  37  to intensifying lens  25 ; or (b) to Fresnel lens  39  to flat mirrors  41  and  42  to intensifying mirror  25 ; or (c) to paraboloidal mirror  43  to intensifying mirror  25 . The output of source  38  is regulated by intensity detector  51  via control circuitry  52  and regulator  45 . 
         [0019]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing are merely embodiments of the present invention and many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.