Patent ID: 8056555

Claim:
A solar energy collection system comprising: a set of rigid ribs spaced apart along the length of the solar energy collection system, each of which rigid ribs has a parabolic curvature on an inner surface; and a set of connection assemblies to which the rigid ribs are connected; and a set of support posts anchored to the ground or other foundation, which support posts are rotatably connected to said connection assemblies to support the connection assemblies and the rigid ribs; and a reflective film supported on the inner surfaces of the rigid ribs, the film having a curvature approximating the curvature of the inner surfaces of the rigid ribs to thereby define a film trough having a parabolic cross section, for reflecting sun rays to a focal line; and a sun-tracking and rigidizing system connected to each of the rigid ribs for rotating the solar energy collection system toward the sun and for providing the solar energy collection system with rotational rigidity, each sun-tracking and rigidizing system comprising an arch having first and second ends connected to a top of the rigid rib and above the trough; and tracking cables attached to the sun-tracking and rigidizing system for imparting a force to the top of the sun-tracking and rigidizing system thereby to rotate the solar energy collection system; and a control system for retracting and letting out the tracking cables for pointing the solar energy collection system toward the sun; and a fluid pipe, at the focal line of the reflected sunlight from the reflective film, for carrying a flowing fluid to absorb the heat of the solar energy; wherein the control system moves the tracking cables in unison to rotate the solar energy collection system toward the sun so that the sunlight striking the reflective film is reflected to the fluid pipe, which heats the flowing fluid within the fluid pipe; and wherein the rigid ribs are connected by a plurality of guy wires running longitudinally along the length of the solar energy collection system, the guy wires helping maintain rigidity of the trough.