1. A switch comprising:
a base;
a support terminal which is assembled in the base;
a movable contact piece which is made of a belt-like electroconductive material bent into a substantial J-shape in section, the movable contact piece including a movable contact provided in one end portion thereof an intermediate portion of the movable contact piece being turnably supported by a turning support portion of the support terminal;
a plunger which is accommodated in an internal space while being able to be vertically moved, the internal space being formed by fitting a housing in the base; and
a coil spring which is turnably supported by the plunger,
wherein the plunger is slid while vertically moved press-contact one end portion of the coil spring against the other end edge portion of the movable contact piece, whereby the movable contact piece is reversed to bring the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact or to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact.
2. A switch comprising:
a base;
a support terminal which is assembled in the base;
a movable contact piece which is made of a straight electroconductive material, the movable contact piece including a movable contact provided in one end portion thereof an intermediate portion of the movable contact piece being turnably supported by a turning support portion of the support terminal;
a plunger which is accommodated in an internal space while being able to be vertically moved, the internal space being formed by fitting a housing in the base; and
a coil spring which is turnably supported by the plunger,
wherein the plunger is slid while vertically moved press-contact one end portion of the coil spring against the other end portion on the upper surface of the movable contact piece, whereby the movable contact piece is reversed to bring the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact or to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact.
3. A switch comprising:
a base;
a support terminal which is assembled in the base;
a movable contact piece which is made of a belt-like electroconductive material bent into a substantial J-shape in section, the movable contact piece including a movable contact provided in one end portion thereof, an intermediate portion of the movable contact piece being turnably supported by a turning support portion of the support terminal;
a plunger which is accommodated in an internal space while being able to be vertically moved, the internal space being formed by fitting a housing in the base; and
a leaf spring which is made of a belt-like elastic material bent into a substantial V-shape in section, the leaf spring being turnably supported by the plunger,
wherein the plunger is slid while vertically moved press-contact one end portion of the leaf spring against the other end edge portion of the movable contact piece, whereby the movable contact piece is reversed to bring the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact or to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact.
4. A switch comprising:
a base;
a support terminal which is assembled in the base;
a movable contact piece which is made of a straight electroconductive material, the movable contact piece including a movable contact provided in one end portion thereof, an intermediate portion of the movable contact piece being turnably supported by a turning support portion of the support terminal;
a plunger which is accommodated in an internal space while being able to be vertically moved, the internal space being formed by fitting a housing in the base; and
a leaf spring which is made of a belt-like elastic material bent into a substantial V-shape in section, the leaf spring being turnably supported by the plunger,
wherein the plunger is slid while vertically moved press-contact one end portion of the leaf spring against the other end portion on the upper surface of the movable contact piece, whereby the movable contact piece is reversed to bring the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact or to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact.
5. The switch according to claim 1, wherein a forced disjunction pawl portion is provided in one end portion of the spring, the forced disjunction pawl portion being latched in an edge portion of the other end portion of the movable contact piece to perform forced disjunction between the fixed contact and the movable contact.
6. The switch according to claim 1, wherein an assembling bent portion is provided in one end portion of the spring, the assembling bent portion being able to be assembled by sliding the assembling bent portion on an edge portion of the other end portion of the movable contact piece.
7. The switch according to claim 1, wherein a position regulating projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the position regulating projected strip being latched in an upper surface edge portion of the movable contact piece to regulate a position during return.
8. The switch according to claim 1, wherein a positioning projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the positioning projected strip laterally press-contacting the spring to perform positioning.
9. The switch according to claim 2, wherein a forced disjunction pawl portion is provided in one end portion of the spring, the forced disjunction pawl portion being latched in an edge portion of the other end portion of the movable contact piece to perform forced disjunction between the fixed contact and the movable contact.
10. The switch according to claim 3, wherein a forced disjunction pawl portion is provided in one end portion of the spring, the forced disjunction pawl portion being latched in an edge portion of the other end portion of the movable contact piece to perform forced disjunction between the fixed contact and the movable contact.
11. The switch according to claim 3, wherein an assembling bent portion is provided in one end portion of the spring, the assembling bent portion being able to be assembled by sliding the assembling bent portion on an edge portion of the other end portion of the movable contact piece.
12. The switch according to claim 5, wherein an assembling bent portion is provided in one end portion of the spring, the assembling bent portion being able to be assembled by sliding the assembling bent portion on an edge portion of the other end portion of the movable contact piece.
13. The switch according to claim 2, wherein a position regulating projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the position regulating projected strip being latched in an upper surface edge portion of the movable contact piece to regulate a position during return.
14. The switch according to claim 3, wherein a position regulating projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the position regulating projected strip being latched in an upper surface edge portion of the movable contact piece to regulate a position during return.
15. The switch according to claim 4, wherein a position regulating projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the position regulating projected strip being latched in an upper surface edge portion of the movable contact piece to regulate a position during return.
16. The switch according to claim 5, wherein a position regulating projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the position regulating projected strip being latched in an upper surface edge portion of the movable contact piece to regulate a position during return.
17. The switch according to claim 2, wherein a positioning projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the positioning projected strip laterally press-contacting the spring to perform positioning.
18. The switch according to claim 3, wherein a positioning projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the positioning projected strip laterally press-contacting the spring to perform positioning.
19. The switch according to claim 4, wherein a positioning projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the positioning projected strip laterally press-contacting the spring to perform positioning.
20. The switch according to claim 5, wherein a positioning projected strip is projected from an inside surface of the housing fitted in the base, the positioning projected strip laterally press-contacting the spring to perform positioning.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A trough collector system, comprising:
a first module comprising a first reflector having a first reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation onto a linear tube, and a first three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the first reflector opposite the first reflective front surface;
a second module comprising a second reflector having a second reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation onto the linear tube, and a second three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the second reflector opposite the second reflective front surface, wherein the first and second modules are constrained to rotate about a common axis of rotation parallel to the linear tube; and
a torque transfer connection directly connecting the first three-dimensional structural lattice to the second three-dimensional structural lattice at a location removed from the axis of rotation, wherein the torque transfer connection is compliant in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and is substantially rigid in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation.
2. The trough collector system of claim 1, wherein the torque transfer connection comprises a link that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.
3. The trough collector system of claim 2, wherein the link telescopes.
4. The trough collector system of claim 1, wherein:
the first module further comprises a first axle segment at the common axis of rotation; and
the second module further comprises a second axle segment at the common axis of rotation.
5. The trough collector system of claim 1, further comprising a common axle along the common axis of rotation, the common axle extending from the first module to the second module.
6. The trough collector system of claim 5, wherein each module is attached to the common axle such that the common axle can transmit torque from one module to the other.
7. The trough collector system of claim 5, wherein at least one module is rotatable with respect to the common axle, such that the common axle does not transmit torque from one module to the other.
8. The trough collector system of claim 1, further comprising means for accommodating thermal expansion and contraction of the modules.
9. The trough collector system of claim 1, wherein the rotational alignment of the modules is adjustable.
10. The trough collector system of claim 1, wherein the torque transfer connection comprises an adjustable-length link having first and second ends, the first end rotatably coupled to the first three-dimensional structural lattice, the second end rotatably coupled to the second three-dimensional structural lattice, and the adjustable-length link extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
11. The trough collector system of claim 1, wherein the reflective surfaces are parabolic.
12. The trough collector system of claim 1, further comprising:
a pylon between and at least partially supporting the first and second three-dimensional structural lattices; and
a latch, configured to releaseably latch at least one of the modules to the pylon or a base of the pylon.
13. The trough collector system of claim 12, wherein the latch is automatically latchable.
14. The trough collector system of claim 12, wherein the latch is manually releaseable.
15. The trough collector system of claim 12, wherein the latch is automatically releaseable.
16. The trough collector system of claim 1, further comprising at least one member that flexes to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the modules.
17. The trough collector system of claim 1, further comprising a drive system that rotates the modules about the common axis of rotation, the drive system comprising an arm that is driven to rotate about the common axis of rotation, and that imparts torque to the first three dimensional structural lattice near an edge of the first module.
18. A trough collector system, comprising:
a first module comprising a first reflector having a first reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on a linear tube, and a first three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the first reflector opposite the first reflective front surface;
a second module comprising a second reflector having a second reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on the linear tube, and a second three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the second reflector opposite the second reflective front surface, wherein the first and second modules are constrained to rotate about a common axis of rotation parallel to the linear tube; and
a torque transfer connection directly connecting the first three-dimensional structural lattice to the second three-dimensional structural lattice at a location removed from the axis of rotation, wherein the torque transfer connection comprises a spanning member that attaches to the first three-dimensional structural lattice a first distance from the first reflective surface and attaches to the second three-dimensional structural lattice a second distance from the second reflective surface, and wherein the first and second distances are different.
19. The trough collector system of claim 18, wherein the spanning member is substantially rigid.
20. The trough collector system of claim 18, wherein the spanning member is a first spanning member, the trough collector system further comprising a second spanning member that attaches to the first three-dimensional structural lattice a third distance from the first reflective surface and attaches to the second three-dimensional structural lattice a fourth distance from the second reflective surface, wherein the third distance is different from the fourth distance.
21. The trough collector system of claim 18, further comprising:
a pylon between and at least partially supporting the first and second three-dimensional structural lattices; and
a latch, configured to releaseably latch at least one of the modules to the pylon or a base of the pylon.
22. The trough collector system of claim 18, further comprising a drive system that rotates the modules about the common axis of rotation, the drive system comprising an arm that is driven to rotate about the common axis of rotation, and that imparts torque to the first three dimensional structural lattice near an edge of the first module.
23. A method of assembling a solar collector assembly, the method comprising:
placing a first module on first and second pylons, the first module comprising a first reflector having a first reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on a linear tube, and a first three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the first reflector opposite the first reflective front surface; and
placing a second module on the second and a third pylon, the second module comprising a second reflector having a second reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on the linear tube, and a second three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the second reflector opposite the second reflective front surface;
wherein the first and second modules are constrained to rotate about a common axis of rotation substantially parallel to the linear tube, and the method further comprises
directly connecting, at a location removed from the axis of rotation, the first three-dimensional structural lattice to the second three-dimensional structural lattice via a connection that is compliant in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and is substantially rigid in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein directly connecting the first three-dimensional structural lattice to the second three-dimensional structural lattice further comprises:
connecting a link to both the first and second three-dimensional structural lattices, wherein the link extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.
25. A method of assembling a solar collector assembly, the method comprising:
placing a first module on first and second pylons, the first module comprising a first reflector having a first reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on a linear tube, and a first three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the first reflector opposite the first reflective front surface; and
placing a second module on the second and a third pylon, the second module comprising a second reflector having a second reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on the linear tube, and a second three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the second reflector opposite the second reflective front surface;
wherein the first and second modules are constrained to rotate about a common axis of rotation substantially parallel to the linear tube, and the method further comprises
attaching a spanning member to the first three-dimensional structural lattice a first distance from the first reflective surface; and
attaching the spanning member to the second three-dimensional structural lattice a second distance from the second reflective surface;
wherein the first and second distances are different.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the spanning member is a first spanning member, the method further comprising:
attaching a second spanning member to the first three-dimensional structural lattice a third distance from the first reflective surface; and
attaching the second spanning member to the second three-dimensional structural lattice a fourth distance from the second reflective surface;
wherein the third distance is different than the fourth distance.
27. A three-dimensional structural lattice, comprising:
a plurality of interconnected substantially rigid elongate members configured to attach to a concentrating solar collector reflector;
a constraining element that defines an axis of rotation for the three-dimensional structural lattice;
first and second ends displaced from each other along the axis of rotation;
a first connector at the first end, the first connector configured to receive a first torque transfer connecting device, the first connector displaced from the axis of rotation and displaced a first distance from the reflector;
a second connector at the second end, the second connector configured to receive a second torque transfer connecting device, the second connector displaced from the axis of rotation and displaced a second distance from the reflector.
28. The three-dimensional structural lattice of claim 27, wherein the first and second distances are the same.
29. The three-dimensional structural lattice of claim 27, wherein the first and second distances are different.
30. A module for a trough collector system, the module comprising:
a reflector having a reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming radiation on a linear tube;
a three-dimensional structural lattice attached to the reflector opposite the reflective front surface, the three-dimensional structural lattice comprising a plurality of interconnected substantially rigid elongate members configured to attach to the reflector;
a constraining element that defines an axis of rotation for module;
first and second ends displaced from each other along the axis of rotation;
a first connector at the first end, the first connector configured to receive a first torque transfer connecting device, the first connector displaced from the axis of rotation and displaced a first distance from the reflective surface; and
a second connector at the second end, the second connector configured to receive a second torque transfer connecting device, the second connector displaced from the axis of rotation and displaced a second distance from the reflective surface.
31. The module of claim 30, wherein the first and second distances are different.
32. The module of claim 30, wherein the first and second distances are the same.
33. A drive system for a trough collector system, the drive system comprising:
an axle positioned at an axis of rotation of the trough collector system;
a pair of levering elements constrained to rotate about the axis of rotation;
two hydraulic cylinders, each hydraulic cylinder pinned to one of the levering elements such that actuating the cylinders causes the levering elements to rotate about the axis of rotation;
a bar displaced from the axis of rotation and driven by the levering elements to also rotate about the axis of rotation;
an arm constrained to rotate about the axis of rotation and driven by the bar, the arm extending substantially to an edge of a module comprised in the trough collector system, the arm imparting torque to the module through a torque transfer connection near the edge of the module.
34. The drive system of claim 33, wherein the arm imparts torque to a three-dimensional structural lattice comprised in the module.
35. The drive system of claim 33, further comprising a support for receiving a tube that carries working fluid heated by the trough collector system, the support also constrained to rotate about the axis of rotation, thereby maintaining the tube substantially at a focal line of the trough collector system.
36. The drive system of claim 33, configured to drive the trough collector system from an end of an array of modules.
37. The drive system of claim 33, configured to drive the trough collector system from a position within an array of collector modules.
38. The drive system of claim 37, wherein the arm is a first arm, the drive system further comprising a second arm constrained to rotate about the axis of rotation and driven by the bar, the first arm configured to drive a first module on a first side of the drive system, and the second arm configured to drive a second module on a second side of the drive system.