Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080203678 | Jointed head with temporary clamp for stirling machine allowing head access during testing and facilitating subsequent close-out welding - A clamping apparatus for allowing pre-close-out access to the head of a Stirling machine and facilitating subsequent close-out welding of the head. The head is axially separable into removable and fixed portions, each portion having an end that engages the other. Each portion has an annular flange extending radially outwardly at its engaging end, and each flange has an annular groove. O-rings are seated in the grooves. A temporary sealing ring surrounds and engages the O-rings. Clamping rings, having axially facing end surfaces along their interfacing axial edges, seat against axially opposite sides of the abutting annular flanges. The clamping rings have a plurality of holes spaced annularly around the rings and the holes of one ring are axially aligned with the holes in the other. Fasteners pass through each pair of holes and draw the rings together when tightened, thereby drawing the fixed and removable portions of the head together and securing them against relative axial movement. For close-out of the machine, the clamping rings, temporary sealing ring, and O-rings are removed and the grooved annular flanges serve as weld reliefs for final hermetic close-out welding. | 08-28-2008 |
20080237454 | STACKABLE HELIOSTAT FRAME STRUCTURE - A heliostat includes a pedestal, a transmission system, a frame assembly, and a mirror assembly. The frame assembly generally includes a first frame set and a second frame set mounted to the transmission system which is mounted upon the pedestal. Each frame set includes a stackable inner frame assembly and a stackable outer frame assembly. Each stackable inner frame assembly is identical and each stackable outer frame assembly is identical such that a multiple of inner frames and a multiple of outer frames are readily stackable in a nested arrangement for storage and transport. | 10-02-2008 |
20090007562 | DUAL-FUNCTION STIRLING ENGINE SYSTEM - A dual-function system comprising a heat source and a Stirling engine movably secured to a motorized machine, where the Stirling engine is positionable to operate in a refrigeration mode and in a power generation mode. The Stirling engine is configured to transfer heat from an exhaust pipe of the motorized machine in the refrigeration mode, and to transfer heat from the heat source to generate electrical power in the power generation mode. | 01-08-2009 |
20090320900 | PLANAR SOLAR CONCENTRATOR - A solar concentrator includes a plurality of separate panels positioned between opposed support rods. Tension elements extend between the support rods and mount the plurality of panels. | 12-31-2009 |
20100028725 | FUEL CELL INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM - An instrumentation system utilizes a single light source collimated through windows through a gas line in communication with a fuel cell. As each beam passes through each window, the gas stream will attenuate each beam. A diffraction grating disperses each attenuated beam and transmits particular wavelength bands through a focusing system to a detector. The measured concentration in the gas stream may then be utilized by a controller to determine the amount of power produced by the cell, determine potential leaks, or determine incomplete reaction. | 02-04-2010 |
20100078061 | Solid state heat pipe heat rejection system for space power systems - A heat rejection system includes a plurality of panel subassemblies and a solid state heat pipe flex joint. Each panel subassembly includes a fin, a solid state heat pipe manifold, a first solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold and secured to the fin, a second solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold adjacent to the first solid state heat pipe and secured to the fin. The solid state heat pipe flex joint operably connects the solid state heat pipe manifolds of two of the plurality of panel subassemblies in a hermetically sealed configuration, and is configured to permit repositioning of the two panel subassemblies relative to each other. | 04-01-2010 |
20100170498 | AIR INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM FOR CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS - An air quality instrumentation system for a concentrated solar power generation system using a fluid heat transfer medium includes a pipe, a window and a spectroscope. The pipe extends from the concentrated solar power generation system and contains system air from within the concentrated solar power generation system. The window is positioned within the pipe to permit light to pass through the pipe and the system air. The spectroscope is positioned adjacent the window to assess concentration of a constituent within the system air, the concentration of the constituent providing an indication of an operating condition of the concentrated solar power generation system. | 07-08-2010 |
20110168164 | IN SITU REGOLITH GAS RECOVERY SYSTEM - A system for releasing and capturing gases from a regolith material has a frame that is movable to define a capture space on a regolith material. A mirror captures solar energy, and focuses energy through a lens and on a regolith defined within the captured space. Apparatus is provided for capturing released gas. A method of operating such a system is also disclosed and claimed. In addition, a method of forming structural material is also disclosed and claimed. | 07-14-2011 |