Solar energy is collected by using a vertical deflector assembly, a stationary reflector and a horizontally mounted solar collector. The deflector assembly contains a plurality of vanes which change the direction of the solar energy to the vertical, while constantly keeping the same side of the deflector facing the sun. The vertical rays are then reflected off the stationary reflector and are then absorbed by the collector

Black, D. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

United States Patent [I91 
Black 
I541 HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED SOLAR 
COLLEmOR 
[75] Inventor: Dolphw H. Black, Owens Cross 
Roads, Ala. 
[73] Assignee: The United States of America as 
represented by the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics md Space 
Administration, Washington, D.C. 
(211 Appl. No.: 823,061 
[22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1977 
[51] Int. Cl.2 ................................................. F24J 3/02 
[52] U.S. CI. ..................................... 126/270; 126/271 
[58] Field of Search ............... 126/270, 271; 237/1 A; 
60/641 
12 
P11 4,148,295 
[45] Apr. 10, 1979 
[561 References Cited 
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
811,274 1/1% Carter .................................. 126/271 
4,030,890 6/1977 Diggs ................................... 126/271 
4,040,411 8/1977 Rust ..................................... 126/271 
Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague 
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George J. Porter; John R. 
Manning; L. D. Wofford, Jr. 
A horizontally mounted solar collector for collecting 
solar energy utilizing a vertical deflector assembly, a 
stationary reflector and a collector. The deflector as- 
sembly contains a plurality of vanes which change the 
direction of the solar energy to the vertical, while con- 
stantly keeping the same side of the deflector facing the 
sun. The vertical rays are then reflected off the station- 
ary reflector and are then absorkd by the collector. 
E571 ABSTRACT 
8 13 Drawing Figures 
PUN RAYS 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19790015310 2020-03-20T18:46:44+00:00Z
U.S. Patent Apr. io, 1979 Sheet 1 of 5 4,148,295 
FIG I! 
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PUN RAYS 
12 FIG. 2. 
U.S. Patent Apr. io, 1979 Sheet 2 of 5 
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i L !  \ '\ 
4,148,295 
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0 
U.S. Patent Apr. io, 1979 Sheet 3 of 5 4,148,295 
FIG 3B. 
31 
25 
/- 
SUN - ' 
31 
/ 
U.S. Patent Apr. io, 1979 Sheet 4 of 5 4,148,295 
F lG. 61 26 
FIG. 9. 
FIG 8. 
9 
Q e I 
US. Patent Apr. io, 1979 Sheet 5 of 5 4,148,295 
FIG IO. 
26 
17 
1 
HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED SOLAR 
C O u E c M l R  
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION 
The invention described herein was made by an em- 
ployee of the United States Government and used by or 
for the Government for governmental purposes without 
payment of any royalties thereon or therefor. 
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a device for col- 
lecting soh energy without utilizing a rotating reflec- 
tor. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The known prior art of solar collection includes col- 
lectors which must always be pointed directly at the 
sun. While these collectors are reasonably efficient, 
they have the disadvantage of requiring repositioning as 
the sun moves a c r w  the sky thereby increasing the c a t  
and restricting the practical size of the collector. This 
size restriction increases the number of collectors re- 
quired for power plants and the cost of the solar collect- 
ing assembly. Additionally, many of the solar collection 
schemes either built as prototype or as conceptualized 
models, include collectom that are pointed at the sun via 
a motorized assembly. While these collectors are effi- 
cient by virtue of their sophisticated tracking mech- 
nisms, they are limited to 8ome prsctical (usually small) 
size to reduce strain on the tracking motors. To offset 
the increased number of collectors needed to equal the 
collection efficiency of a much larger tracking colle 
tor, a greater number of solar collectors is required. 
This increasa5 the total cost of the solar collecting array 
and also is a less efficient scheme, especially when usad 
to generate large quantities of energy as at a commercial 
elcctrical genclnting plant. 
Rcpresu~tative of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 
3,906,927 issued to Harry Caplm. This pnmt dacribe 
a solar-thermal power system employing adjustable 
curvature reflective panels. The reflective p e l s  ut 
movably sup@ on yoke structures allowing the 
4,148,295 
2 
U.S. Pat. NOS. 412,724; 509,390, 1,367,472; 2,969,918; 
3,466,119 and 3,905,352 describe solar beaten which 
employ movable reflectors. No patent or other prior art 
reference was discovered in which the reflectors remain 
5 substantially immovable and a plurality of vanes are 
u t i l i  to direct the solar energy in a vertical direction 
to the reflectors in an economical and efficient manner. 
The art cited herein is the closest prior art known to the 
Applicant. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a method and 
apparatus for collecting solar energy in an economical 
and efficient manner. This apparatus includes a horizon- 
15 tally mounted solar collector utilizing a vertical deflec- 
tor assembly, a stationary reflector and a collector. The 
deflector assembly contains a plurality of vanea which 
alter the direction of the solar energy to the vertical, 
while constantly keeping the same side of the deflector 
the stationary reflector and are then absorbed by the 
collector. This particular configuration reduces the cost 
of the reflector by enabling the reflector to remain rela- 
tively immobile while still allowing the reflector to be 
The novel features which are considered as charac- 
teristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the 
appended claims. The invention itself, however, both 
to its m n s W o n  and its method of operation, together 
30 with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be 
best understood from the following description of spe- 
cific embodiments when read in conaects ‘on with the 
accompanyiag drawings. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a side view of the horizontally mounted 
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vertical deflectoc 
FIG. 3A is a sectional view of one embodiment of the 
FIG. 3B is a dd view of a second embodiment 
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of 
10 
20 frcing the sun. The vertical rays am then reflected off of 
25 adjusted for fine focusing. 
35 
solar collectoq 
0 vatical deflector taken through lines 3A-3AY 
of the vertical deflector taken through lines 3-B; 
the vertical deflector taken throuJ& lines u; 
panels to be moved as the sun assumes a plurality of 4s 
plurality of individual panels which extend in a sideby- 
side relationship to form a Substantidly cor~tinuous Sur- 
face. The individual panels arc secured to support mem- 
tured plywood gusset plates. The indiwdual panels are 
moved towad and away from the support m d ~ r s  
through the use of adjustment nuts, thereby aChieVbg 
fine tuning of the reflector ~ u r f a ~ e  Ctlwatufe. CQIUSC 
tuning of the reflects is accomplished by a motor which 5s through line es; 
operates to automatically keep the reflecton properly 
aligned. 
A second prior art reference directed to an apparatus 
for collecting solar energy is U.S. Pat. NO. 3,884,217 
issued to Lloyd Wartes. This patent shorn a collecting 60 
system employing a plurality of individual reflector 
units which rotate about their horizontal axis of elonga- 
tion as the elevation of the sun changes, thereby main- 
taining a convergence of the reflected rays at the re- 
ceiving means. Similarly, the U.S. Pat. No. 1<386,781 65 
issued to Walter Harvey describes a solar energy collec- 
tion system utilizing a number of reflects to “track” the 
sun. 
FIG. s is a s a i d  view of thZ first embodiment of 
FIO. 6 is a sectional view of the i h t  embodiment of 
~ 0 . 7  &OW various vane -ding to the 
by a Pldi tY of threaded rods e v d  bY aPer- K) position of the sun utilizing the second embodiment of 
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the re- 
FIG. 9 is a s e c t i d  view of the reflector 
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the second embodiment 
of the vertical ddlector taken through lines 10-10 
FIG. 11 is a sactional view of the second embodiment 
of the vertical deflector taken through lines 11-11; and 
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the second embodiment 
of the vertical reflector taken through lines 12-12. 
 position^ in the &y. Eech Of t h e  & i d *  a the vert id  Mector  taken through lina, s-5;  
the v d c a l  deflector through lines 66; 
the vertical deflector; 
flector and support assembly; 
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED 
EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1, the solar energy collection appa- 
ratus 10 of the presmt invention consists of a vertical 
deflector U, a reflector assembly 14 and a collector 16. 
The reflector assembly 14 consists of a plurality of re- 
4,148,295 
3 4 
flector plates constructed of standard reflectional mate- the position denoted in solid lines to a position denoted 
rial. The plates are attached to a collection apparatus by the dashed lies. 
frame including vertical supports 18. The plates are The wires 32 are of standard strength and gauge and 
conical so that the solar energy will be focused to the are kept at a predetermined tension through the use of 
center of a reflector member contained upon the collec- 5 wire adjustment bolts 56, located along one side of the 
tor 16. The collector 16 is supported Within the collec- flat surface of the vertical deflector 12. Vertical move- 
tion apparatus by a sturdy support 22 constructed of any ment of the Wires is made easier by rollers 62 Situated 
heavy duty, light-weight material. Alternatively, the beh~een an outside Vane position Plate 64 and the flat 
support 22 can be eliminated entirely and the collector Surface Of the vertical deflector u. It Can appreciated 
16 itself may be as both a collecting and sup- 10 that there are wire adjustment bolts 56 and rollers 62 for 
porting member. each of the wires. The vanes are kept at a predeter- 
The vertical deflector 12 (best shown in FIG. 2) mined tension by Springs 49 Which are attached be- 
changes the direction of the incoming solar energy to tween the lower edge of the vane and the cross beams 
vertical and consists of a flat horizontal mounted struc- 
roll-out slats containing reflective material on one side by the 
vanes change the direction of the solar energy from any as "Own in FIG* 12* the second embodiment includ~ 
ne vanes rollers 58 and 60 as well as roller 61 for incurring any 
traverse the entire area of the deflector 12, although, for loads presented by the 
FIGS. 3B, 10, 11 and 12 show the second embodi- simplicity sake, only a portion of the vanes are shown in 
FIG. 2. Vertical deflector 12 is a flat horizontally ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ f ~ a n ~ ~ ~ ~  mounted surface containing a number of parallel cross - 25 (FIG. 3B) located above and below each crags beams each cross beam being perpendicular to the 25 beam 26. These arms 25 extend and retract the vanes 24. vanes 24. Each vane 24 consists of a flexible material && vane 24 is attached to a vane support plate 31, 
having a reflective and non-reflective side. The vanes which extends between the vane control afms and 
extend from One cross beam 26 to another cross attaches to the vane controls 25 through the use of vane beam. The vertical deflector 12 is rotated to keep the support 33. These bearings 33 allow the  van^ same side of the deflector facing the sun at all times and 30 24 to and change their angle With respect to the 
the entire structure to rotate approximately 180' and of the vane is to a 66window shade" type 
back to the starting position each day. spring loaded roller 27 located inside a slotted cylinder 
As the structure rotates to follow the sun, the angle of 28. protective cylinder is pa around the roller 
the vanes 24 is changed to direct the solar raw down to 35 for protecting the vane from environmental hazards 
the reflector 14. For efficient operation, it has been such 88 u, sleet, freeing and dust. T~~ rollers n 
discovered that the vane angle should vary between 5' and cylidem 28 are to a frame 3 ~ ,  for erch 
and 80' (maximum sun angle). An automatic W X h  vane 24 that extends betweea the c m  beams M. A 
system (not described her&) tracks the Sun and guide 30 extends the width of the vane 24 and wwes &p 
changes the angle of the vanes accordingly. 40 a direction change guide to the vane 24. This frame 32 
the angle of the vanes 24 are altered. This angle is a attached to the cTos8 beams 26 by suppofi bearings 
changed through the 29 which allows the frame 32' to rotate 88 the VMC 
other elongated flexible member 32. These wires are control 25 a extended and r m .  A reflective 
attached to the Vanes 24 (One Wire for each row of 45 surface is provided on one side of the frame 32' to assist 
vanes) and move in a Vertical plane. The Wires are the vane 24 in deflecting the sun rays. 
moved through the use Of an electric Vane Position AS shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the vane support plates 
motor driving a drive shaft. The drive S h a f t  Cuts the 25 are extended and retracted by spline mating ShaRS 
deflector 12 roughly in half and is attached to a drive M that are driven by a motor 35 and chain drives 36. 
chain 38 on each of the cross beams 26. 50 The angle of the vanes 24 are changed to ddlect the sun 
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drive chain 38 rotates rays to a vertical direction, a% shown in FIG. 7, when 
a vane position arm 40 which in turn moves a vane the vane control arms 25 are extended and retracted. 
p i t i on  plate 42. The vane position arm 40 contains a The reflmtor assembly 14 conaists of many large 
front piece 46 and an end piece 48, with end piece 48 (each approximately 4'x8') plates 66 located on a sup- 
containing a slot or groove 50 therein. A swivel pin 44 55 port frame 68. The plates 66 we attached to frame 68 
is connected between the vane position arm 40 and the with adjustment bolts 70 that allow each plate 66 to be 
vane position plate 42 and is allowed to slide in the slot adjusted for the proper focus. The focusing is -om- 
or groove 50 of end piece 48. Vane position plate 42 is plished by using a vertical light at night and adjusting 
restricted to only vertical movements through the the reflection plate 66 to focus on the collector 16. 
movement of the swivel pin 44 in a guide slot 52, said 60 Plates 66 are conical in configuration so that the solar 
guide slot located in the cross beam 26. One wire 32 for energy will be focused upon the collector 16. The col- 
each row of vanes is routed through Wire slots 54 in the lector 16 can be a cylinder having a diameter sized to 
cross beams 26 and vane position plates 42. The angle give the desired temperature or the optimum diamettr 
(and therefore the height) of the vanes 24 is controlled for the deflector 12 and reflector 14 misalignment. 
by the vertical movement of the vane position plates 42. 65 The horizontally mounted deflector assembly can be 
The height of the vanes 24 is determined by the maxi- used singularly or in combination with a number of 
mum sun angle. As shown in FIG. 5, the vane position other similar assemblies to power a powerhouse or any 
~ f m  40 and vane position plate 42 can be rotated from other energy utilizing system. Any standard tracking 
ture having a number of vanes 24. ~ h m  vanes me 15 
and non-reflective 
AS shown in FIG. 6, rollers 58 and 60 are to 
Vertical deflector of the h t  embodiment. Additionally, 
any horizontal Or vertical loads 
on the other side. neSe 
angle ofincidence to vertical 
is powered by a motor 17 (FIGS. 6 and 12). This allows horizontal Bs the incoming sun c.gea one end 
FIGS. 3A, 4,s and 6 Show one embodiment in which with the rollers n, cylinders U) along with guides 30 
o f k e s ,  S tkg  Or twine Of 
5 
4,148,295 
6 
system known in the art can be used to "track" the sun 
as it moves through the sky. This tracking system ro- 
tates the vertical deflector 12 as the sun moves across 
the sky. Simultaneously, the angle of the vanes 24 are 
altered as the angle of the sun with respect to the earth 
at the point where the assembly is located is changed. 
FIG. 7 shows the angle of the vanes with respect to sun 
angles of IS", 30", 45" and 60'. The solar rays are de- 
5 
3. A solar energy system in accordance with claim 2 
wherein said means for changing the angles of said 
vanes includes: 
a drive shaft disposed across said deflector means; 
a means operatively connected to said drive shaft for 
powering said drive shaft; 
a drive chain operatively associated with each of said 
cross beams, each of said drive chains connected to 
said drive shaft; 
flected from its various angles and are directed verti- IO a plurality of vane position arms attached to and 
cally to the reflector assembly 14. These rays are then rotated by said drive chains; 
reflected off of the reflector m b l y  14 and are col- a Plurality Of Vane Position Plates, each Of said Plates 
attached to one of said vane position arms; and lected by the collector 16. The collector is in thermal 
flexible elongated means attached to each row of said cooperation with the powerhouse to utilize and/or 15 vanes and said vane position plates for changing 
the angle of said plurality of vanes. store the energy collected. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing Will 80 fully 4, A solar energy system in accordance with claim 3 
reveal the gist of the present invention that others Can, further including @de pins attached to each of said 
by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for vane position plates and guide means in each of said 
various applications without omitting features that, 20 cross beams, whereby said vane position plates are re- 
from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute stricted to movement only in the vertical direction. 
essential characteristics of the generic or specific as- 5. A solar energy system in accodance with claim 3 
p t s  of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations further spring means attached between each 
should and are intended to be comprehended within the Of said vanes and said cross beams for tensioning said 
claims: further including adjustment bolts for maintaining said 
What I claim is: flexible elongated means in the current position. 
1. A solar energy collection system comprising: 7. A solar energy system in accordance with claim 2 
(a) deflector means for receiving incident solar radia- XI wherein said means for changing the angles of said 
a drive spline shaft disposed across said deflector 
25 vanes. meaning and range Of equivalence Of the 6. A solar energy system in -ordance with claim 3 
tion and reflecting it downwardly in a vertical 
direction; 
(b) a reflector in the form of a paraboloid of revolu- 
vanes includes: 
means; 
powering said drive shaft; 
cross beams, e k h  of said drive chains connected to 
said drive shaft; 
a plurality of van control arms attached to and ex- 
tended and retracted by said drive chains; and 
a spring loaded roller means provided in each of said 
cross beams, each roller means being threaded by 
one of said diverting vanes for keeping each of said 
vanes at a predetermined tension and allowing said 
vanes to be extended in length by the unrolling of 
said vane from said roller means. 
8. A solar energy system in accordance with claim 7 
further including a protective cylinder surrounding Said 
spring loaded roller means. 
tion disposed beneath the deflector means for re- 35 a means o~ra t ive lY to said drive shaff for 
d V h g  the downwardly directed Solar energy and a dive operatively associated with each of Said reflecting it upwardly to a focus point; and 
(c) collector means at the focus point for collecting 
the solar energy; and 
(d) said deflector means including a plurality of 40 
moveable solar energy diverting vanes mounted on 
a plurality of cross beams which are padtioned 
over the reflector and which extend as chords with 
respect to the reflector, the plurality of vanes being 
disposed between the cross beams, in rows perpen- 
dicular thereto. 
2. A solar energy system in ~ ~ r d a n c e  with Claim 1 
further including means for changing the angles of said 
Vanes. 50 + * I * +  
45 
55 
60 
I 
65 


Horizontally mounted solar collector

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