Patent ID: 8757143

Claim:
A solar powered furnace array comprising: a first solar powered furnace comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall substantially opposite and parallel to the first sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall substantially opposite and parallel to the third sidewall, wherein the first sidewall defines a first port; a second solar powered furnace comprising a fifth sidewall, a sixth sidewall substantially opposite and parallel to the fifth sidewall, a seventh sidewall, and an eighth sidewall substantially opposite and parallel to the seventh sidewall, wherein the fifth sidewall defines a second port; an array interconnect comprising: a first receiver at least partially inserted in the first port, wherein the first receiver comprises a first receiver outer surface, a first receiver inner surface, a first lip extending substantially normal outward from the first receiver outer surface, and a second lip extending substantially normal inward from the first receiver inner surface, and wherein a surface of the first lip contacts the first sidewall to form a seal between the first receiver and the first sidewall; a second receiver at least partially inserted in the second port, wherein the second receiver comprises a second receiver outer surface, a second receiver inner surface, a first lip extending substantially normal outward from the second receiver outer surface, and a second lip extending substantially normal inward from the second receiver inner surface, and wherein a surface of the second lip contacts the fifth sidewall to form a seal between the second receiver and the second sidewall; and an array interconnect stent at least partially inserted in each of the first receiver and the second receiver to fluidically couple the first solar powered furnace and the second solar powered furnace, wherein the second lip of the first receiver contacts a first edge of the array interconnect stent to form a seal between the first receiver and the array interconnect stent, wherein the second lip of the second receiver contacts a second edge of the array interconnect stent to form a seal between the second receiver and the array interconnect stent, and wherein the array interconnect stent comprises at least one cross support that helps maintain the shape of the array interconnect stent to create contact between an outer surface of the array interconnect stent and the first receiver inner surface and between the outer surface of the array interconnect stent and the second receiver inner surface.