Tensioning device for a stretched membrane collector

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865256

Murphy, Lawrence M ^[1]

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1. Lakewood, CO

Disclosed is a solar concentrating collector comprising an elastic membrane member for concentrating sunlight, a frame for holding the membrane member in plane and in tension, and a tensioning means for varying the tension of the membrane member. The tensioning means is disposed at the frame and is adapted to releasably attach the membrane member thereto. The tensioning means is also adapted to uniformly and symmetrically subject the membrane member to stretching forces such that membrane stresses produced thereby are distributed uniformly over a thickness of the membrane member and reciprocal twisting moments are substantially prevented from acting about said frame.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-01-4042
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4483323
• OSTI ID: 865256
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

tensioning
device
stretched
membrane
collector
disclosed
solar
concentrating
comprising
elastic
sunlight
frame
holding
plane
tension
means
varying
disposed
adapted
releasably
attach
thereto
uniformly
symmetrically
subject
stretching
forces
stresses
produced
distributed
thickness
reciprocal
twisting
moments
substantially
prevented
acting
collector comprising
stretched membrane
tensioning device
releasably attach
substantially prevent
concentrating sunlight
elastic membrane
/126/38/359/