| SkyFuel, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20100199972 | Apparatus and Method for Building Linear Solar Collectors Directly from Rolls of Reflective Laminate Material - Provided herein are linear solar reflectors and collectors, and methods of efficiently constructing such reflectors and collectors. The reflectors are made using reflective laminate sheets, which can be reinforced by tension-bearing strips. Methods and apparatuses for installing the sheets from a roll dispensing the sheets carried on a deployment vehicle are disclosed, as well as methods and apparatuses for assembling and constructing various collector components, methods and apparatuses for tensioning the reflective laminate sheets, methods and apparatus for passively changing the focal length of the reflectors while controlling their movement to track the sun, and methods and apparatuses for compensating for temperature changes in system components for moving the collectors, are provided. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100043776 | Hydraulic-Based Rotational System for Solar Concentrators that Resists High Wind Loads Without a Mechanical Lock - A rotational system is provided for controlling rotation of one or more solar collectors to track the movement of the sun, to automatically keep the collectors locked in stow position during high wind conditions, and advantageously also to prevent damage to the rotational system due to high pressures caused by high temperature conditions. The system utilizes a bi-directional hydraulic rotational actuator hydraulically connected to a control system. The actuator advantageously includes a system of helical gears and a piston, and the control system includes hydraulic lines equipped with check valves that prevent circulation of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic lines and the actuator when backpressure is exerted in one of the hydraulic lines as a result of high wind force on the collectors. In addition, the control system advantageously comprises a pressure-relief system to prevent damage to the actuator during high temperature conditions. A single actuator can be used to operate up to sixteen or more large solar collectors. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100005752 | Space Frame Connector - A space frame connector is provided for attaching an oblique strut tube to an axial chord of a space frame. The space frame connector includes a collar adapted to fit over an axial chord. The collar is equipped with one or more attachment flanges. The space frame connector also includes a strut tube having an extrusion flange formed in at least one of its ends. The extrusion flange is made up of two parallel leaves that define a slot between them. The slot is sized and shaped to fit over an attachment flange on the collar that is positioned over the axial chord. The extrusion flange can be formed using simple press and punch tools. Space frames used to support solar energy collector arrays can be assembled in the field, including formation of the extrusion flanges on the oblique strut tubes, or multiple strut tubes can be attached to axial chords and compactly packed and transported to the field for use in constructing space frames, for example for supporting large parabolic trough solar collectors. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090205637 | Sun-Tracking Controller for Multiple Solar Collectors - A solar collector tracking system is provided for maintaining orientation of multiple solar collectors to the sun to provide optimal focusing of solar radiation on a receiver. The system includes a local controller circuit board that contains a sun-tracking algorithm to control the movement of multiple solar collectors to keep them optimally focused on the sun. The system also comprises a separate motor controller for each collector in data line connection with the local controller, and a motor for each collector in power connection with its motor controller. This isolates the local controller from the motor and protects the circuit board against power surges. The local controller allows effective field maintenance using field-replaceable components. Its circuit board is preassembled in a rugged, weather-proof cabinet to minimize the time and work required to prepare and install it in the field. The typical service life of this durable local controller is expected to be 30 years. | 08-20-2009 |
