CA1130671A - Solar energy collector/reflector arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting arrange-ment has a pair of concavely arcuate reflectors constructed for side-by-side-interlocking relation, the adjacent sides of the reflectors having respective interfitting connectors thereon, the connector on one of the reflectors being a male connector unit and the connector on the other reflector being a female connector unit.

Description

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This is a division of Patent Application 291,361 filed November 21, 1977.
This invention relates to a solar energy concentrating and collecting arrangement, and more particularly to such an arrangement having a movable collector which is moved to various positions for maximizing of the collected solar energy as a function of the solar angle throughout the year and during each day.
Various solar energy collection arrangements are known.

~any utilize a parabolic mirror or mirrors with a collector located at the focus. These mirrors and collectors convention-ally move as a unit for pointing at the sun.
Several other prior arrangements employ a stationary mirror or mirrors with a movable collector or collectors. Among these are a spherical mirror construction with a movable central-ly spaced collector arranged to angularly move about a fulcrum according to the position of the sun and the season of the year.
The spherical mirror employs a complex curvature which is diffi-cult, expensive, and impractical for large manufacture. A second arrangement as shown in German Patent 517,417, issued February 4, 1931, uses an oblong laterally symmetrical parabolic mirror with its horizontal focus line directly vertically above the center of and symmetrical with the oblong parabolic reflector.
To accommodate small variations in sun angle away from the vertical, the collector is moved both laterally and vertically through a pivoted telescoping arm and cam guideway arrangement.
The compass orientation of this sytem is not clear in view of various inconsis-tencies in the description. However, in any event it appears that as a practical matter very little angular movement of the sun away from the vertical (as viewed from the ~3'r3~

end of the reflector and collector) can be accommodated with this sytem, and certainly not the extent of annular change of sun angle relative to the horizontal. In addition the system is relatively complex and to a considerable extent, unwieldy on a large scale in view of the guide cam and -telescoping arm requirements. It appears that to utilize this arrangement over any extended period of days or seasons, and even during large changes of sun angle during some days of the year, the reflector , would also require some form of rocking or pivoted reorientation to vary the angular position of the mirror, in addition to utilizing the cam and telescoping collector-support arm arrange-ment.
The invention of the above-mentioned Patent Applica-tion 2911361 provides a relatively simple solar energy concentra-ting and collection arrangement which enables the employment of a fixed reflector and simply movable collector while provid-ing for practical year-round utilization during the major in-solation periods in each day of the year.
It is an objPct of the present invention to provide a novel and improved arrangement for connecting a pair of con-cavely arcuate reflectors in a multiple reflector solar energy reflecting arrangement.
According to the present invention, there is provided a multiple reflector solar energy reflecting arrangement com-prising first and second concavely arcuate reflectors con-structed for side-by-side-interlocking relation, the adjacent sides of the reflectors having respective interfitting connectors thereon, the said connector on the first of the reflectors being a male conn4ctor unit, and the said connector on the second 3~ of the reflectors being a female connector unit.

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The invention will become more readil~ apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a physical embodiment and mode of practice of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-ings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a building, such as a house, factory, school, etc. embodying the inventioni Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the roof/reflector-concentrators and collectors of the embodiment of Figure 1, illustrating the general layout;
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, illustrating : in more detail the collector support and movement-imparting arrangement;
Figure 3A is a further enlarged cross-sectional view ; of the collector;
Figure 4 illustrates a modified collector support ; - arm connecting arrangement;
Figure 5 (which appears on the same sheet as Figure 1) illustrates a preferred arrangement for connecting adjoining reflector-concentrators;
Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a representa-tive portion of the reflector-concentrators and collectors of the embodiment of Figures 1-3, with the ganged collectors being held horizontal during the parallelogram drive motion thereof, while Figure 6A.is a similar schematic representation illustra-ting the arcuate tilting motion of the ganged collectors in the modification of Figure 4; and Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic illustrations of the mode of operation of a single reflector-concentrator and collector of the arrangement of Figure 1 at various times during -~3 ~i7~

the year, Figure 8 also showing various angle and dimensional relationships for a given preferred embodiment of a single re-flector-concentrator and collector.
ReEerring now in detail to the Figures of the draw-ings, a heat utilization building structure, such as a house, school, factory, etc. generally indicated at 11, has a roof/
reflector-concentrator surface 21, formed by a plurality of individual reflector-concentrators 31 and may also have a further roof surface or surfaces of any desired configuration if so desired. The extent of roof/reflector-concentrator surface 21 is generally dependent upon the amount of solar energy needed for a given desired use. For maximum energy collection from ; a given roof size, the entire roof may be formed as a reflector-concentrator assembly 21, as generally illustrated in the il-lustrative embodiment. Windows 15 and doors 17 may be provided in walls 13, as desired.
The roof/reflector-concentrator surface 21 is formed by a plurality of l~terally adjacent individual reflector-connectors 31 which form effective water-tight roof sections and which are connected together at their lateral edges in sub-stantially laterally adjoining relation to effect a water-tight roof construction. The interconnected reflector-connectors may be suitably mounted and carried on the various upright and cross members forming the load-bearing building framework 101, as through the medium of complementary concave cradles generally indicated at 36, which may be suitably spaced at the ends of the individual reflectors 31, and otherwise located if desired or needed for a given size or load. Side and end covers 32, 32a may be suitably secured along the respective sides and ends of the roof/reflector-concentrator surface 21 in order to 1~3~;7~

effectively seal the sides and ends of the roof against rain entry, and gutters lll may be provided along the ends of each bank of reflector-concentrators 31, the illustrative embodiment having two banks of reflector-concentrators 31 forming the roof 21, with three gutters at the respective outboard opposite and adjacent opposing ends of the two banks of reflectors. Rain wa-ter will thus be drained along the troughs formed by the re-flectors 31 and into the gutters, from which the drain water may be discharged to the ground as through suitable downspouts or down-guttering (not shown~ as necessary or desired.
A suitable facia generally indicated at l9 may be provided as an aesthetic enclosure and wind break around the reflector-concentrator roof 21, as desired, although there will be a small sacrifice in overall efficiency due to end shadowing from the facia on the reflectors 31 with the facia extending above the reflectors to any appreciable e~tent.
Each reflector-concentrator 31 may be formed of any ~ suitable solar reflective material, such as metal, glass, plastic, - and such materials may be of load-bearing type and provide some, a major portion, or all of the roof surface construction strength or may be of nonload-bearing substrate. The desired curvature of each roof/reflector-concentrator 31 may be formed as a smooth curve or as straight or curved line segments. For instance, a curved metal roof surface may be formed in one continuous sweep, or in several panels, or various normally straight panels of metal, glass, plastic, etc. may be utilized in suitable joined relation to form the desired overall curved shape roof/
reflector-concentrator surface 31. The roof 21 may also be only partially reflective in parts thereof or in whole, if so desired, in order to provide for natural lighting of the in-3L~3't~~7~L

terior of the building by light passage through the roof 21 Similarly, the section 31 of the roof may also transmit light to the building interior if so desired.
The roof/reflector-concentrators 31 face upwardly preferably with their opposite ends orlented directly East-West for maximum energy utilization, although other compass orientations may be utilized with less efficient operation.
Each roof/reflector-concentrator 31 reflects and con-centrates solar energy into a zone of maximum confluence which varies in position as a function of the angle of the sun with respect to the horizontal, as measured in a North-South vertical plane passing through the roof 21. A solar energy collector 51 is movably mounted, as by pivot arms 45, for back-and-forth movement in a North-South direction above each respective reflector-collector 31.
The collector pivot support arms 45 are pivoted along a hoirzontal East-West line which may extend beneath, above or at the surface of the respective ref].ector-concentrator 31, with generally only small differences in effectiveness o~ the reflector/collector assembly 31, 51. In the illustrative em-bodiment, the arms 45 are mounted on pivot support bearings 81c which lie beneath the surface of the roof reflector ~1.
In the illustrative embodiment, as generally shown, the ratio of the reflector chord/length subtended area versus the effective collection area of the collectors 51 is approximately 15 to 1, thereby providing a maximum feasible concentration or ampli-fication factor of no more than appro~imately 15 for an in-dividual reflector/collector unit 31, 51 considered alone, al-though some spurious reflection from adjoining reflectors 31 may increase the pickup to some extent. Other factors, such ~3l3~ 7~

as angle of inclination, interference of the collector 51 in passage of the sun's rays to the reflector 31 (as at summer periods), reduce the maximum possible value to a lesser possible value for various solar angles. This factor further depends upon the exten-t of interception of the zone of solar reflection confluence by the collector 51, as will be subsequently dis-cussed in more detail.
The pivoted support arms 45 are preferabl~ suitably ganged together as by linkage rods or beams 71 or the like to ~ 10 provide simultaneous ganged motion of the various collectors 51 relative to their respective reflector-concentrators 31.
Ganged parallelogram movement of the pivoted support arms and horizontal linkage beams 71 may be sutiably effected as by pivoted drive arms 81 connected through a torque tube 91 and pivotally mounted in pivot support bearings 81c on cross-members of the building framework 101, under one of the reflector-concentrators 31, as more particularly shown in Figure 3. A
support brace 83 may extend to aid in stabilizing the pivot pin 81a for drive arm 81. Pivoted back-and-forth motion of the drive arm 81 about its pivot 81a may be suitably effected by a drive motor M and screw jack 84, the screw jack being preferably of the circulating ball screw motion type, and this assembly M, 83 may be pivotally pinned and carried between a pivot pin 83a carried by the building framework and a pivot pin 83b at the lower short legend of the drive arm 81.
The pivoted support arms 45 may be suitably pivotally mounted as indicated at 45a in respective bearings secured to the building framework 101, and the upper ends of the arms 45 may be pivotally secured to the horizontal linkage 71 through respective pivot pins 45b. The effective lengths and angles ~L~ 3~;67~.~

of arms 45 and 81 are the same, whereby effective p~rallelograrn motion may be effected for this collector movement assembly.
In the preferred embodiment of Figures 1-3 and 6, the collectors 51 are maintained horizontal in their various positions above the respective reflector-concentrators 31, through the securement of the ends of the collectors 51 to the horizontal linkage beams 71, as through the medium of bolts 73. This horizontal facing of the collectors 51 down toward their respective reflectors aids in energy retention by the collectors 51 by minimizing heat losses particularly from con-vection loss which is greater with a tilted altitude of the collector receiving face.
Alternatively, though less desirably, the collectors 51 may be secured to the respective pivoted arms 345, as shown in Figures 4 and 6A, and parallelogram motion of the arms 345 and ganging linkage beam 371, pivotally interconnected as by pin 345b, will effect tilting movement of the collectors 51 as a function of pivoted movement of the arms 345.
A preferred reflector-concentrator construction is illustrated in Figure 3, in which glass mirror segments 31a are cemented to a suitably curved sandwich formed of sheet metal 33, rigid insulating foam 35, and sheet metal 37. This con-struction enables the formation of a suitably rigid mirror re-flector with a desired curvature, and which will withstand the necessary weather loads. The various layers of the curved sandwich 31a, 33, 35 and 37 may be suitably bonded together as a unit through cement or the like, and multiple layers of foam 35 may be employed to enable ease of curve formation thereof particularly if such is not precast in the desired curvature.
The glass mirror segments 31a may be omitted, with decrease ~3g~6~

in reflection efficiency being ef~ected for most other effective-ly utilizable surfaces such as polished aluminum, steel, or other sheet metal or the like as the reflector surface which might thus be formed by the sheet 33 of the reflector 31 sand-wich construction. Other constructions for reflector-concentra-tors may be utili~ed, as desired.
The reflector-concentrators 31 are suitably inter-connected at their adjoining edges to effect a water-tight joint.
A suitable connecting arrangement is illustrated in Figure 5, including male and female edge moldings 41, 43, which may be formed as metal (e.g. aluminum, magnesium, steel, etc.) ex-trusions extending along all or a major portion of the length of the adjoining reflector-concentrators 31. The male edge molding 43 has an upper male edge 43a which nests within a rubber sealing gasket 44b disposed within a reverse lip 41a of the female edge molding 41, and interfitting spacer ridges 41Q, 43Q run along the intermediate lower ends of the respective moldings. A further rubber sealing and mounting gasket 44a is compressed between the moldings 41, 43 within the space above ridges 411, 431, and the entire assembly 41, 43, 44a, 44b is secuxed together through multiple longitudinally spaced bolts 47 and nuts 47a. The longitudinal edges of adjoining reflector-concentrators 31 are retained between upper and lower angled flanges 41fu, 41fu and 43fu, 43fu on the respective interfacing edge moldings 41 and 43.
Each collector 51 may be suitably formed with a plurality of laterally side-by-side fluid flow heat transfer tubes 57a, 57b through which a suitable fluid, such as water, gas, etc. may be flowed for collection of the reflected solar energy from its respective reflector-concentrator 31. These ~3~7 1 tubes 57a, 57b may be connected for in-flow at one end and out-flow at the other end of the collector 51, or preferably as shown, may be reverse-flow interconnected~at one end of the collector for increased fluid flow path length within the con-centrator as well as simplified external fluid interconnection thereto and therefrom. The parallel flow tubes 57a, 57b may be suitably connected, as through flexible hose conduits 49a, 49b carried in a common pro-tective insulating sheath or jacket 49 with common feed and return conduits 47a, 47b. Feed and return conduits 47a, 47b may be connected in parallel with in-flow and out-flow side-by-side conduits 57a, 57b of each of the collectors 51, and a heat exchange fluid, preferably liquid, such as water may be pumped through the conduits 47a, 47b, ~9a, 49b, and 57a, 57b.
As shown in Figure 3, the collectors 51 are formed with their respective reflected energy absorption elements 59, 57a, 57b facing downward toward the respective reflector-concen-trator, and thereby enabling the interception of the solar re-flection thereto from reflector 31 at a given proper angle of this assembly. Collectors 51 preferably are insulated at their outer surfaces facing away from reflector 31, as by rigid or other plastic foam or other suitable insulation 55, with a rigid opaque wrap-around generally U-shaped structural beam-like cover element 53, which may suitably be formed as a metal extrusion.
A solar energy transparent cover glass plate or plates 58 may be secured beneath the energy absorption tubes 57a, 57b, with a downwardly finned black body heat-absorbing heat-sink block 5~ secured in spaced relation above the cover glass 58, as by anchoring in the plastic foam insulation with a longitudinal ridge anchor connector running along the length of the block ~l3 ~7~1 59. Elastic shock-resistant seals such as soft rubber gasket seals 56 may suitably retain the cover glass 58 within the beam cover element 53. The fluid conduit tubes 57a, 57b are carried in intimate direct contact with the finned black body heat-sink block 59, as by embedding in the heat-sink block 59 or laying the tubes 57a, 57b in longitudinal grooves in the upper side of the block 59 and crimping longitudinal lips adjoining the grooves down around the tubes 57a, 57b, as illustrated. Heat adsorbed by the black body finned heat-sink block will be con-ducted directly to thè intimately held fluid passage tubes 57a,57b and the fluid passing therethrough. This construction to-gether with the horizontal positioning of the collectors 51 in their various lateral positions aids in effecting à desired ef-ficiency of energy collection and transfer at the collectors while also minimizing energy losses which may occur through con-vection with a tilted collector altitude.
Fluid feed and return lines 47a, 47b may be suitably connected to a desired heat utilization system, such as a heat storage and building interior heating arrangement, and/or a cooling system, such as one based on absorption cooling principles.
Alternatively, various machinery may be caused to perform work by the solar heat transferred to the fluid in col-lectors 51, or other desired and suitable heat derived work may be performed. With this invention, fluid temperatures, such as for water as the fluid, may be raised to as high as 3~0F or more, dependent on fluid flow rate, relative sizes of collector and reflector, etc. Practical heating and absorption cooling may be accomplished well within and below this tempera-ture extent for the fluid 1, flowed through the collector 51.

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As shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8, the indivi-dual reflector-concentrators 31 each have a semi-cylindrical concave reflecting surface which is formed of adjoining arcuate segments SlA, S2, and SlB, the opposite ou-termost arcuate seg-ments being preferably identical in radius and arcuate length and being of lesser radius of curvature Rl, R3 than the radius of curvature R2 ~f the central arcuate segment S2. Thus, the concavely curved trough segments SlA and SlB curve up at a sharper rate than does the central segment S2, and thereby aid in maximizing overall confluence of the reflected solar rays into a zone for interception by the respective collector 51 at various sun angles encountered throughout the year. Also, by providing a symmetrical trough-like concave reflector-concen-trator unit 31 the adjoining reflector-concentrators 31 may be simply interconnected to form a roof of an overall flat, though obviously more detailedly undulating, envelope configua-tion for use on building structures where such a roof is most desirable, including particularly institutional, industrial, and some residential buildings.
The vertically facing symmetrical three-radii re-flector-concentrator configuration is effective to provide a substantial degree of concentration of solar energy onto the collectors 51, the precise degree of concentration varying with the sun angle, and varying generally from approximately 6:1 to approximately 10 or 11:1 concentration ratio in the illustra-tive embodiment for a latitude of approximately 28 North lati-tude. As an illustration of the effective reflected sunlight envelope intercepted by the collectors 51 at various times of the year, Figure 8 diagrammatically shows the effective reflected solar energy evelope zones intercepted by the collector in the -~3~J6;7.~

illustrative embodiment for various periods of the year, narnely at mid-day summer solstice, mid-day spring/fall equinox, and mid-day winter solstice. The zones of effective reflection on the mirror surface of reflector-concentrator 31 are indicated respectively at SESM, SEF/SM and SEWM on this diagram.
~ particular illustrative embodiment of the individual reflector-concentrators 31 and collectors 51 for a latitude of approximately 28, such as generally illustrated, may suitably employ the following relationships, referring to Figure 7 for 10 reference characters and elements:

Radii Rl and R3 of fron-t and rear arc segments SlA and SlB 62 units Radius R2 of center arc segment S2 81 units Effective width CW of collector 51 6 units Length of pivot arm 45 40-3/4 units Length a 24 units Lengths b and c, each 21 units Length d 24 units Length e 15-1/3 units Length f 6-1/4 units Length g 4 units Arc segments SlA and SlB 27 units Arc segment S2 43 units Minimum sun angle MNS desired to be accommodated by collector 51 17 degrees Maximum sun angle MXS d~sired to be accommodated by collector 51104 degrees Minimum required angle MNC for collector/
arm assembly 51, 45 to accommodate maximum desired sun angle (of approximately 104 degrees) 7 degrees Maximurn required angle MXC for collector/
- arm assembly 51, 45 to accommodate minimum desired sun angle (of approximately 18 degrees) 147 degrees For other latitudes, particularly within the range of 0 to 40 or 50 latitudes, the same dimensions of this illus-30 trative reflector may be utilized, if desired, with a simple ~l3'~ 7.~

change in the length of the pivot arm and the location of the pivot position 45a for movement of collector Sl as determined by a plot of the reflection angles of the sun from the various curved surfaces of the reflector-concentrator at the various sun angles encountered at the given latitude, and thereupon selecting the optimum arcuate motion path for the collector 51, which will thus dictate the arm 45 length and pivot 45a position.
For instance, for a latitude of approximately 39 North the ~length of arm 45 is shortened to 32 units, with length f being lengthened to 21 units and length g being zero, in order to ob-tain a desired extent of concentrated energy collection day by day throughout the year, in this latitude location.
Determination of location of collectors 51 for each solar angle may be precisely determined for a given reflector 31, either by empirical plotting, or computer or other mathema-tical analysis of the confluence lines along the front-to-back extent of the reflector with the collector positioned for the particular desired maximizing of reflected solar energy inter-ception at the various sun angles, with such compromises between maximums at various angles as may be desired for a given loca-tion and utilization. Positioning of the arms 45 and collectors 51 may be effected either on a predetermined control basis, or by energy sensin~ and feedback control of the drive means for ¦ movement of the collectors 51. As all of the reflector-concen-trators 31 have preferably substantially identical curva-tures and collectors, a single common control may thus ~e suitably employed for the bank of reflector-concentrators 31 forming the roof 21, with its associated collectors 51, based for instance on reflected energy-sensing pickup at one of the collectors Sl, or several such pickups may be employed and utilized as a common -- 1~ ---~3~ 7~
control. Obviously, each arm 45 and collector 51 might also be separately driven and controlled if so desired, though such will not normally be desirable.
Desirably, arc segments SlA, S2 and SlB are smoothly joined at a common point of tangency, a common tangency radius line extending through the centers of radius RlC and R2C as well as R2C and R3C for the three radii Rl, R2 and R3.
As previously noted, various zones of reflected solar energy confluence for the illustrative embodiment are schematical-ly shown in Figure 8, the zones being only approximately shownand representing the mid-day times at approximately 28N latitude for the sun's position at noon on each of the winter solstice, summer solstice and spring and fall e~uinoxes. I-t has been found that a good ratio of energy concentration and collection can be obtained over the major insolation periods of each day of the year by utilization of three or more radii for respectively three or more of the sections of the roof reflector 21, the radii being lesser in length for arc segments increasingly spaced from the lateral center of the respective reflector-concentrator 31.
In the illustrative example, three radii are satisfactorily em-ployed, the smaller Rl and R3 defining the central vertically facing reflector surface arc segment S2, as shown schematically in Figure 7. Referring again to Figure 8, it will be noted that a~ no sun angle or reflection zone does the multiple-radii gen-erated reflector-concentrator 31 form a single focus line, but instead forms various zones of confluence, and the siæe and loca-tion of the zones of confluence vary with -the sun angle, which in turn varies both over the period of a year and during each day. In this respect, inspection of the sun positions for the illustrative 28~N latitude location readily show the requirements ~3~7.1 imposed on the system in given days over the period of a year.
These zones are illustratively indicated in Figure 8, and designa-ted as daily movement zones for the collectors 51 and their sup-porting pivot arms 45. It will be noted from Figure 8 that the reflector can and does accommodate solar angles to a limited degree behind the 90 vertical. Of course, the side or end angle of inclination must also be considered, and in order to maximize solar energy collection at low end angles the same as measured in the East-West vertical plane, the reflectors 31 and collect-ors 51 should desirably be relatively long along their length,particularly with respect to the distance of the collectors 51 from the reflectors 31.
~ s the days approach the spring and fall equinoxes the daily excursions of movement required for the ganged arm/
collector assemblies 45, 51 decrease, until at the respective two equinoxes the ganged arm/reflector assemblies 45, 51 re~uire no angular movement as the sun rises and sets on the East-West orientation line of the reflector axes, and forms a constant angle throughout the day as measured in a North-South vertical plane passing through the reflectors 31.
In the illustrative embodiment, the solar concentration factors, or amplification factors, vary with the solar angleO
The concentration or amplification factor is a function of the extent of coverage or interception of the zone of confluence of the reflected solar energy at a given sun angle, and it is therefore desirable to maximize this extent of interception at the various angular positions of the sun and the collector/arm assemblies 51, 45, insofar as is practical and economical.
It has been found that by mounting the arms 45 on res-pective pivot axes near the surface of reflectors, as at, above ~3~

or preferably beneath the reflector surface, an adequate extent of interception of the various zones of solar energy confluence may be obtained for the collector 51. In the illustrative em-bodiment the horizontal pivot line for pivot support arms 45 is disposed slightly beneath the effective reflective surface of respective reflectors 31, and is spaced from the center of longitudinal center line of the reflector 31 in a direction away from the Equator, the extent of desired displacement varying with the latitude of the user location. However, this arm pivot line may if desired be otherwise located for a given embodiment, as for instance above or at the surface of reflector 31.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 2A, the com-mon center pivot arms 45 for the longitudinally paired collectors 51 of the two banks of reflectors 31 are replaced by separate individual center zone individual pivot support arms 245, and the respective longitudinally paired collectors 51 of the two side-by-side banks of reflector/collector units are individually tied together only through the common drive torque tube 91 w~ich serves to impart pivotal movement to the parallelogram linkage 45, 81, 71, 245, 271, 81, 245, 271, 81, e-tc. for each end of the ganged groups of collectors 51, 51 etc.
It will, of course, be appreciated that all of the drawings are only illustrative and are not themselves intended to be illustrated necessarily in true size relationships, al-; though such is to some extent approximately the case, as par-ticularly in Figure 7. This observa-tion applies also to the zones of solar reflection confluence and the collector 51 inter-ception zones, although such are shown to give a fairly indica-tive illustration of the principles and mode of operation and practice involved.

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The typical specific illustrative example proportions as previously shown and described, particularly with respect to Figure 7, are, as previously noted, for an embodiment and practice of the invention primarily within a lati-tude of approxi-mately 28~. Also, as noted, the embodiment is arranged such that the concentration factors for summer, spring and fall solar energy collection are maximized, to some extent at the expense of winter concentration factors, in order to maximize available solar-derived heat energy for air conditioning, (although still enabling the satisfaction of miminum requirements for heating during at least the major portion of most winter conditions).
While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to particular illustrative embodiments and modes - of practice, and various possible modifications have been described, it will be appreciated that various further modifica-tions and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, the reflectors 31 may be formed as a single or multiple reflector assembly only, and not as a roof of a building, although this is normally the most advantageous and preferred embodiment. Further, while a pivoted support arm arrangement 45, and particularly a ganged movement arrangement, is illustrated and preferred for supporting and moving the collectors 51 through the desired zone of movement, various other collector supporting and movement arrangements may be employed. Also, while three radii Rl, R2 and R3 are em-ployed in the illustrative example, especially for simplicity of design and construction, more than three radii may be suitably employed, graduating from shortest at the front and rear to the longest at the center zone of the reflector-concentrator 31, and may in fact be constructed with a con-tinuously varying radius ~3 ~?1~7 ~
from front to back of the reflector 31. Such a continuously varying radius reflector 31 may, however, be beyond the desired complexity for normal construction and the triple radius con-struction is considered to be adequate and most easily con-structed from a practical standpoint. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the particular illustrative embodiment and mode of operation and practice, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

IO

Claims (7)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement comprising first and second concavely arcuate reflect-ors constructed for side-by-side-interlocking relation, adjacent sides of said reflectors having respective interfitting connectors thereon, said interfitting connectors being located at opposite upper edges of the concave reflector, the connector on tha first of said reflectors being a male connector unit, and the connector on the second of said reflectors being a female connector unit.

2. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement according to claim 1, said female connector unit having an upper laterally extending concavely downwardly facing hook lip section and a lower laterally extending vertical support lip section, and said male connector unit having an upwardly convexly extending upper section and a lower lip section for interfitting within said female hook lip and female connector unit support lip, whereby said reflectors may be securely interfitted by upwardly tilted insertion into and subsequent downward tilting movement of said male connector unit in said female connector unit for male-female laterally hooked and vertically supporting relationship.

3. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement according to claim 2, and means for securing said connector units in said male-female interfitted relationship.

4. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement according to claim 2 or 3, and a cushion element disposable between said connector units for secure and sealing interfit therebetween.

5. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement according to claim 2, each of said concave reflectors having on opposite upper edges thereof a said male connector unit and a said female connector unit, for connection to additional similar said re-flectors in the same manner as set forth in claim 2.

6. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement according to claim 5, and a plurality of cushion elements for disposition between respective male and female connector units on adjoining said concave reflectors.

7. A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting ar-rangement according to claim 2, and means for securing said reflectors together by securing said male-female connector units in male-female laterally hooked and vertically supporting relationship.