JOHN ZDEB
Architects in Clifton Park Center, NY

4209236, Jun 24, 1980

Oct 21, 1977

5/844400

Richard H. Horton - Schenectady NY
John J. Zdeb - Clifton Park NY

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

G02B 508

353 3

A heliostat reflector assembly for a solar central receiver system comprises a light-weight, readily assemblable frame which supports a sheet of stretchable reflective material and includes mechanism for selectively applying tension to and positioning the sheet to stretch it to optical flatness. The frame is mounted on and supported by a pipe pedestal assembly that, in turn, is installed in the ground. The frame is controllably driven in a predetermined way by a light-weight drive system so as to be angularly adjustable in both elevation and azimuth to track the sun and efficiently continuously reflect the sun's rays to a focal zone, i. e. central receiver, which forms part of a solar energy utilization system, such as a solar energy fueled electrical power generation system. The frame may include a built-in system for testing for optical flatness of the reflector. The preferable geometric configuration of the reflector is octagonal; however, it may be other shapes, such as hexagonal, pentagonal or square.

4283887, Aug 18, 1981

Oct 21, 1977

5/844401

Richard H. Horton - Schenectady NY
John J. Zdeb - Clifton Park NY

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

E04B 1345, F24J 302

52 2

A heliostat enclosure that is particularly well suited for enclosing and protecting a heliostat either flat or parabolic, preferably comprising a light-weight, generally hemispherically shaped, enclosure bubble that is formed of readily assemblable and disassemblable segments, including some transparent segments, and supported by a foundation in the form of a soil filled, plastic ring bag that is mounted in the ground at the heliostat site. The enclosure bubble is inflatable by pressurized air and supportable in operation, such as during windy or inclement weather. A multi-legged, tubular, step frame is mounted within the enclosure bubble and is configured to support the enclosure bubble in nearly fully inflated condition when the bubble is not supported by pressurized air. The frame is electrical conducting and grounded, thereby also serving as a lightning protection means for the heliostat. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of interconnected enclosures are formed by a factory-made preshaped continuous plastic cover sheet that facilitates the automatic and continuous installation of a row of enclosures at the site by a machine.