Patent ID: 7950387

Claim:
A concentrating solar energy collector comprising: a) a heat collector located on or approximately on a rotational axis of the concentrating solar energy collector and extending between first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector; a housing comprising: 1b) a first bracket extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector; 2b) first and second identical or substantially identical panels forming at least a portion of a wall of a housing, which housing extends between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector, the first and second panels being connected via the first bracket; 3b) a first reflector connected to a first side of said first bracket and offset from said wall and positioned within said housing to receive solar radiation and concentrate at least a portion of said solar radiation on said heat collector; 4b) a second reflector connected to a second side of said first bracket and offset from said wall and positioned within said housing; 5b) a second bracket extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector, said second bracket offset from and substantially parallel to said first bracket; 6b) a third bracket extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector, said third bracket offset from and substantially parallel to said first bracket; 7b) a first rib extending between the first and second brackets; 8b) a second rib extending between the first and third brackets; and c) a first heat collector support having a first stanchion and a second stanchion supporting a first region of the heat collector; wherein the first bracket has first and second notched portions for receiving portions of the first and second reflectors, respectively; the second bracket has a notched portion for receiving the first reflector; and the third bracket has a notched portion for receiving the second reflector; wherein the first reflector is held in compression such that a surface of the first reflector is releasably forced against the first rib by the first notched portion of the first bracket and the notched portion of the second bracket, and the second reflector is held in compression such that a surface of the second reflector is releasably forced against the second rib by the second notched portion of the first bracket and the notched portion of the third bracket such that the compression of the first and second reflectors against the first and second ribs, respectively, shapes the first and second reflectors into substantially continuous curved portions; and wherein the housing is pivotably mounted such that the housing is rotatable about the heat collector.