The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1988
Roger H Appeldorn, Grant Township, Washington County, MN (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A solar energy concentrator including a thin flexible Fresnel lens for focusing incident solar radiation not normal to the lens onto a target area by refraction. The Fresnel lens is supported or suspended above the target area by a frame and folded along at least one line or region parallel to the refractive prisms of the lens which are generally parallel to the axis of the target area whereby the Fresnel lens opens toward the target area. Thus the Fresnel lens is so positioned so as to allow it to bow and flex under wind loads, gravity and other environmental factors without causing significant deterioration in the efficiency of the system.