Abstract: There is provided a chemical vapor deposition apparatus including: a chamber including a reactor where a deposition object is deposited; a first supplier including a plurality of gas pipes allowing a first gas to be jetted into the reactor in a substantially horizontal direction; a second supplier including a plurality of holes of a predetermined size having the gas pipes inserted therein, respectively; a supply flow path formed between each of the gas pipes and each of the holes, the supply flow path allowing a second gas to be supplied into the reactor in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A portable milking apparatus configured according to principles of the invention includes a platform configured to maintain an animal and an elevator that positions the platform in at least a lowered position, wherein the platform is generally aligned with the ground, and a raised position that enables milking at an ergonomically optimal height. A portable milking method includes elevating the animal sufficiently to enable milking at an ergonomically optimal height, wherein the elevating excludes inclined traversing.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided in a milking system for simultaneous milking of a plurality of milking animals, wherein the milking system comprises a plurality of milking positions (P1-P24) and an arrangement for establishing identities of and expected milking times for the milking animals. Each of the milking positions is provided with teat cups, which are attached to the teats of a milking animal and are connected to a source of vacuum to milk the milking animal. The inventive arrangement comprises means (10) for determining a milking position, at which the milking animal having the longest expected milking time is present, based on the established identities and expected milking times; and a device (11, 13, 17; 20) for performing an action with respect to the milking system in response to the determination.

Abstract: In a feeder for dispensing flowable feed material, such as potable liquids and particulate solids, to birds and other animals, in which a hopper supplies such feed material to an access port in a feeding station positioned below the hopper, a refilling feature permits facilitated replacement of feed stock, as necessary. A hopper, for example a feed containing reservoir, is mountably receivable on a feeder support structure, which, while mounted thereto, is pivotable between an inverted position, in which an opening therein is appropriately located to permit outflow of feed therethrough while actively providing feed material to the feeding station for animal access, and another position in which the reservoir opening is oriented to prevent outflow of feed, thereby permitting removal of the reservoir from the feeder for refilling, or replacement thereof with a pre-filled replacement reservoir, without significant spillage of the contents.

Abstract: A bird feeder has a bird food storage container, an upper feeding station platform, and a feeder base assembly located below and spaced apart from the container and the platform. The base assembly is attached to the container by an elongated bolt and threaded nut attachment, so it is thus easily separated from the container for ease of cleaning and food replenishment. The base assembly is made up of a feeder tray which catches and collects fallen food from the container, and a tray holder. The feeder tray, removeably mounted within the tray holder, has a perforated bottom with holes sized for water drainage, but which are sized small enough to retain bird food on the tray. The feeder tray also has a circumscribing upper rim which allows for easy removal and replacement of the tray from and into the tray holder. The tray holder has a circumscribing upper perch rim, spaced apart from the rim of the feeder tray when the tray is positioned within the holder.

Abstract: A pet litter box including a body defined by a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including a portion that is hingedly connected to other portions of the litter box to allow at least a portion thereof to be pivoted away from other portions of the body, the top including an opening for allowing a pet to enter an interior defined by the body of the cat litter box is provided.

Abstract: A pet toilet 10 having a toilet box 13, a drainboard 14 partitioning the toilet box into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, an excreta treating material 15 laid in the upper compartment, and an urine absorbent member 11 laid in the lower compartment. The drainboard is an integral structure formed of a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 17 spaced parallel with each other and a plurality of transversely extending ribs 18a and 18b intersecting the longitudinally extending ribs 17 and spaced parallel with each other to have drain holes 12. Each drain hole 12 has a longitudinal dimension S2 at least twice its transverse dimension S. The transversely extending ribs include ribs 18a with a smaller height H1 from the drainboard surface 14a downward and ribs 18b with a larger height H2 from the drainboard surface 14a downward, the ribs 18a and the ribs 18b alternating with each other.

Abstract: A cage for small animals includes a generally closed base having an open top; a grating structure upon the base forming a closed structure for containing an animal therein; and a refuse catcher surrounding the grating structure and removably fastened to the base so as to permit the refuse catcher to be removed from the base by being detached from the base and moved upward away from the base without removing the grating structure from the base. The cage can be a bird cage, wherein the refuse catcher is a seed catcher that is formed of a plurality of mating parts, the parts being releasable attached to each other and to the base.

Abstract: An animal run line cornering mechanism with a corner component and leash component. The corner component is dumbbell shaped with a narrow body, a ball at one end with an aperture for the line, and a support attachment. The leash component has a tubular line ring with a shaped gap so that it appears C-shaped in end view, and leash ring attached to the line ring. The gap is wider than the corner component body and narrower than the line so that it is captured by the line. The line ring diameter is larger than the corner component ball and line diameters so that it moves freely along the line. The gap is defined by opposed edges of the line ring walls that taper to a rounded apexes. When the body hits the a tapered line ring wall, the body slides along the wall until it slides through the gap.

Abstract: An animal lead (1) particularly adapted for use as a dog lead, comprising a cushioning element (2) in the form of a rubber bar (3) and a protective sleeve (5) which surrounds the cushioning element (2). The protective sleeve (5) is in the form of a flexible bite-resistant chewing band of braided stretchable plastics material.

Abstract: A boiler furnace avoids NOx and increases thermal efficiency with a small boiler. The boiler furnace has an outer water wall and an inner water wall with flared top and bottom portions.

Abstract: A hot water tank mounted on a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, a vending machine, or the like, is provided. The separable hot water tank has a separable structure to facilitate its cleaning and is provided with a vacuum space formed on an outer wall thereof to improve heat resistance. In the separable hot water tank, a cover is separably engaged with a body provided with a water storage space formed therein. A cover screw part and a body screw part, which are formed on the cover and the body, respectively, are screw-engaged with each other, or a fastening part provided on the cover and a locking part provided on the body are separably engaged with each other. A sealing means is interposed between the body and the cover to seal the interior of the hot water tank.

Abstract: In a steam generator, a flow resistance adjusting unit for a primary cooling water is provided in an inlet nozzle provided at an incoming water chamber or an outlet nozzle provided at an outgoing water chamber.

Abstract: Carbonaceous fuel is combusted with an oxidant gas in a furnace of a boiler system to generate power. Oxidant gas is fed into the furnace for combusting the fuel to produce exhaust gas, the exhaust gas is discharged from the furnace via an exhaust gas channel, a stream of feedwater is conveyed from a final economizer arranged in the exhaust gas channel to evaporating and superheating heat exchange surfaces arranged in the furnace and in the exhaust gas channel for converting the feedwater to superheated steam, the superheated steam is converted in a high-pressure steam turbine for generating power, a first portion of steam is extracted from the high-pressure steam turbine for preheating the feedwater, a second portion of steam is conveyed from the high-pressure steam turbine to reheating heat exchange surfaces arranged in the exhaust gas channel for generating reheated steam, and the reheated steam is expanded in an intermediate pressure steam turbine for generating power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger for cooling a fluid for an internal combustion engine, in particular, a gas, for example, in the form of a charge fluid such as exhaust gas, charge air, mixtures thereof or similar, in particular for an internal combustion engine on a motor vehicle, said exchanger preferably being a gas cooler, comprising an inner tubular piece (1) with a least one channel (3) and an outer tubular piece (2). According to the invention, a web (7) is arranged on at least one of the inner tubular piece (1), or outer tubular piece (2), said web (7) running to the other of the inner tubular piece (1) or outer tubular piece (2).

Abstract: Device for air intake of a heat engine including: —a main circulation system (105) which connects a supercharging apparatus (106) or an air intake manifold (107) which incorporates a heat exchanger (108), —a bypass system (109) linked to the main circulation system along the exchanger, the bypass system incorporating a heating apparatus (29), —a circuit selection device mounted between the main circulation system and the bypass system to channel at least some of the air into one or the other system.

Abstract: A cylinder head having a coolant passage therein includes a coolant inlet, an exhaust valve seat portion, intake valve seat portion, and a spark plug mounting portion formed centrally in the cylinder head, wherein a guide rib is formed close to the coolant inlet for coolant to flow near the spark plug mounting portion along around the exhaust valve seat portion and a coolant outlet is disposed near to a corner of the intake valve seat portion.

Abstract: A device for variably adjusting the control times of gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The device has a drive input element and a drive output element, The drive input element is placed in driving connection with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, the drive output element is arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to the drive input element, and the device is fastened to a camshaft which has a hollow shaft and an inner shaft which is arranged concentrically with respect to the hollow shaft. An improved mounting arrangement of the concentrically arranged shafts with respect to one another is proposed.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To prevent generation of heat by friction in a phase varying device of the engine of an automobile. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The phase varying device of an engine comprises an outer casing section (10) having a sprocket (12) for transmitting rotation of the crankshaft of the engine, an inner casing section (20) capable of rotating relatively to the outer casing section and coupled with a cam shaft (2) for opening/closing the intake valve or the exhaust valve of the engine, and an intermediate member (30) meshing with the outer casing section and the inner casing section through a helical spindle, wherein relative rotation is generated between the outer casing section and the inner casing section by moving the intermediate member in the axial direction thus varying the open/close timing of the intake valve or the exhaust valve.

Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a housing, a vane rotor, and a fluid path arrangement. The fluid path arrangement is provided inside the housing. The fluid path arrangement opens to air outside the housing. The fluid path arrangement is communicated with a specific fluid chamber that is one of an advance fluid chamber and a retard fluid chamber defined within the housing. A rotational phase of the vane rotor relative to the housing is changed in one of advance and retard directions when hydraulic oil is introduced into the specific fluid chamber. The valve timing adjusting apparatus controls the fluid path arrangement to be opened and closed.

Abstract: A fuel ignition system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel ignition system is adapted to allow a photocatalyst to ignite a mixture by using a light energy irradiated from a light generator. The fuel ignition system includes: a combustion chamber; the photocatalyst provided in the combustion chamber; and a light generator for flatly irradiating the light energy to the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A two-piece piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper piece and a lower piece, the lower piece having an upper base part with an opening lying coaxial to the piston axis into which a pin on the upper piece is inserted. The upper piece is connected to the lower piece with a hexagonal nut screwed onto the pin. A resilient sleeve is arranged between the upper piece and the lower piece comprising an inwardly directed collar on the against which the upper face of the hexagonal nut lies and in the region facing away from the piston crown, a contact surface facing the piston crown lying on a surface on the inner side of the opening. An economically produced two-piece piston results with a resilient sleeve between both screwed piston pieces which exerts a pre-tensioning and thus provides security for the screw connection.

Abstract: A piston for in-cylinder fuel-injection type internal combustion engine includes a piston body, a low thermal conductor, and a piston head. The low thermal conductor is disposed on the top of the piston body. The low thermal conductor includes a low thermally-conductive substrate, and a coating layer. The low thermally-conductive substrate has opposite surfaces. The coating layer includes alumina fine particles (Al2O3). The coating layer is adhered on at least a part one of the opposite surfaces of the low thermally-conductive substrate that makes a cast-buried or enveloped surface to be cast buried or enveloped in the piston head.

Abstract: An engine that is lighter in weight includes a crankcase, a crankshaft, a body cylinder, a head cylinder, a piston, a piston ring and a cylinder fixing bolt. The piston ring is arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the piston. One end portion of the cylinder fixing bolt extends toward the head cylinder and an other end portion of the cylinder fixing bolt extends toward the crankcase. The cylinder fixing bolt connects the head cylinder, the body cylinder and the crankcase to one another. A lower section of the body cylinder is located within the crankcase. The piston ring abuts on the lower section when the piston is located at a bottom dead center.

Abstract: A carburetor assembly includes a carburetor, a fuel supply valve, a valve member and a normally open switch. The fuel supply valve is coupled to the carburetor housing and is fluidly connected to the carburetor. The fuel supply valve includes a lever pivotable between first and second positions. The valve member is configured to move in response to the lever such that fuel is allowed to flow to the carburetor when the lever is in the first position and fuel is not allowed to flow to the carburetor when the lever is in the second position. The normally open switch is adjacent the fuel supply valve and includes a switch actuator. The lever is configured to engage and release the switch actuator to move the switch actuator between a non-actuated position and an actuated position respectively when the lever moves between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A fuel injector, especially for the direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, includes a nozzle body able to be inserted into a recess of a cylinder head, a valve housing, a plug abutting the valve housing, and at least one fixation element, which fixes the nozzle body in its position in the recess, the fixation element extending from a connection region (28) between the valve housing and the plug on the spray-discharge side. The at least one fixation element has a reinforcement having a spherical contour at an outer periphery, the reinforcement being formed by at least one outwardly projecting element having an outwardly curving end face and/or having a planar end face.

Abstract: An arrangement with a piezoelectric actuator is disclosed, made up of a piezoelectric element with a multilayer construction of piezoelectric layers. The piezoelectric actuator is surrounded by an inner chamber at least surrounding the layers, which filled with a fluid insulation medium. The inner chamber is sealed from a fluid medium in an outer chamber an elastic sleeve which can change shape. The sleeve is sealed with sealing elements being provided at the axial ends thereof in the region of an actuator base and an actuator head. By a shape and/or positional change of the sealing elements, corresponding to the elasticity of the sleeve, a volume equalization in the inner chamber with the insulation medium is achieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fuel injector. The fuel injector may include a casing substantially aligned along a central axis of the fuel injector. The fuel injector may also include a control valve configured to control a flow of fuel through the fuel injector. The fuel injector may also include a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing and associated with the control valve. The fuel injector may further include a motion coupler disposed between the control valve and the piezoelectric element the motion coupler configured to affect shock to reduce microscopic fractures within the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A fuel pump module for an ethanol fuel vehicle, which is mounted on a fuel tank for storing ethanol fuel and is provided with a pump and a supply portion for pressure-feeding the ethanol fuel stored in the fuel tank to an engine, may include a heater unit that is disposed therebetween and is fluid-communicated to the pump and the supply portion through a connection hose so as to heat by electrical resistance the ethanol fuel supplied to the heater unit through the pump.

Abstract: A method for operation of a fuel delivery system in an internal combustion engine including a lower pressure pump, a higher pressure pump fluidly coupled downstream of the lower pressure pump, and a fuel rail fluidly coupled downstream of the high pressure pump. The method including initiating a mitigating action based on a fuel rail pressure response, the fuel rail pressure response occurring after an engine shut-down, where the mitigating action includes disabling vehicle operation if fuel rail pressure drops below a threshold value after activation of one of the pumps, the activation occurring before a subsequent engine start, the subsequent engine start occurring after the engine shut-down, and where the mitigating action includes adjusting operation of one of the pumps during the subsequent engine start if fuel rail pressure achieves at least the threshold value after or during the activation.

Abstract: A canister for a vehicle may include a cover member covering a hole formed at a floor panel corresponding to a fuel pump module mounted on a fuel tank, and a main body integrally formed at a lower surface of the cover member, and connected to the fuel pump module through a hose so as to collect evaporation gas generated in the fuel tank and supply the evaporation gas to an intake line.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine with a supercharger includes a bypass valve control module controlling a bypass valve for the supercharger having a bypass flow area in response to a desired manifold absolute pressure, an inlet valve control module controlling an inlet throttle for a supercharger in response to a bypass flow area and a port throttle control module controlling a port throttle in response to the desired mass airflow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-pass heat exchanger for an EGR system, comprising a casing housing at least one cooling chamber for gas circulating through a plurality of pipes and heads on its ends coupled to the gas inlet pipe coming from the exhaust manifold and to the gas outlet pipe connected to the intake manifold of the engine, which is configured as a three-pass heat exchanger, i.e. with three differentiated areas for gas circulation from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe being located at opposite ends of the exchanger. The exchanger can include a bypass valve and two cooling chambers at different temperatures.

Abstract: A compression ignition engine comprising at least one combustion chamber, an air intake system, a fuel system, an exhaust system and an exhaust gas recirculation system. The air intake system conveys air to the chamber. The exhaust system conveys exhaust gases from the combustion chamber. The exhaust gas recirculation system is capable of recirculating a portion of the exhaust gases into air intake system. The exhaust gas recirculation system comprises a cooler package and a valve. The valve controls the amount of air flow through the cooler package. The cooler package includes a first portion, a second portion and a control valve. The control valve of the cooler package is configured to control whether the air that flows through the cooler package flows only through one of the first or the second portion or through both of the first portion and the second portion in parallel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a transition from fueling an engine with hydrogen to another fuel. That other fuel may be gasoline, a gasoline and alcohol mixture, or gaseous fuels, as examples. The other fuel has the capability of providing higher BMEP than the hydrogen because of better air utilization and because the other fuel occupies less volume of the combustion chamber. Because a desirable equivalence ratio to burn hydrogen is at 0.5 or less and a desirable equivalence ratio to burn other fuel is at 1.0, when a demand for BMEP that leads to a transition change from hydrogen fuel to the other fuel, the amount of air supplied to the engine is decreased to provide more torque and vice versa. During a transition in which liquid fuel supply is initiated, it may be desirable to continue to provide some hydrogen, not leaner than 0.1 hydrogen equivalence ratio.

Abstract: A system for overcurrent threshold correction in an ignition system. The system includes a control circuit and a current detection circuit. The control circuit has a first and second output. The first output of the control circuit charges a first ignition coil, the second output of the control circuit charges a second ignition coil. The overcurrent detection circuit adjusts the detection of an overcurrent condition, when the charging of the first coil overlaps with the charging of the second coil. Further, the control circuit is in communication with the overcurrent detection circuit to disable the first and second output, when the overcurrent condition is detected.

Abstract: A housing of an ignition coil has an approximately rectangular shape. A central core is in parallel with both side surfaces of the housing. The peripheral core has a larger size than the central core in a direction of a height of the housing. A first and second side portions of the peripheral core are opposed to both axial end surfaces of the central core, respectively. A third and fourth side portions of the peripheral core interpose the central core, a primary coil and a secondary coil therebetween to magnetically connect the first side portion to the second side portion. A terminal treatment portion for electrically connecting the primary coil to an external electric power source is arranged above or below the first side portion of the peripheral core. The peripheral core is positioned off-center with respect to the central core in the direction of the height of the housing.

Abstract: A bow capable of mitigating a bad motion occurring in an initial stage of an arrow shootings includes a handle gripped by a user's hand; upper and lower limbs respectively coupled to upper and lower portions of the handle; a string having ends coupled to the upper and lower limbs; and a vibration damper coupled to the handle, the vibration damper being installed within a ±7 cm distance range in the up-down direction from a distance center point of the handle with the upper and lower limbs coupled thereto and positioned on a front surface of a grip portion of the handle.

Abstract: A paintball gun comprises: a body defining a gas storage chamber for connection to a source of pressurized gas, a breech into which paintballs can be loaded, and a hammer chamber; a bolt slidable in the breech and having a bolt inlet port; a hammer slidable in the hammer chamber and connected to the bolt; and a poppet valve comprising a valve body defining a valve inlet connected to the storage chamber, a valve outlet connected to the breech, and a blow back port connecting the inlet to the hammer chamber, and a valve member slidable in the valve body and movable between an open position, in which it allows gas to flow from the storage chamber through the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and a closed position in which it closes the valve, and a pair of magnets arranged to bias the poppet towards the closed position.

Abstract: A pitching machine configured for adjustment by a user, and including a pitching head, a first macro-adjustment device and a first micro-adjustment device. The pitching head is situated atop a stand. The pitching head includes a first wheel spaced apart from an opposing surface and a first motor for driving the first wheel. The first macro-adjustment device is coupled to the pitching head and includes a first locking assembly that, when loosened, allows manual rotation of the pitching head about a first pivot axis. The first micro-adjustment device is coupled to the pitching head, and includes a first adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the pitching head about the first pivot axis. The first micro-adjustment device configured for operation by a single hand of a user, and the first macro-adjustment device retaining the pitching head in a secure position during adjustment of the first micro-adjustment device.

Abstract: A ball projecting machine having a C-shaped arm that provides the ability to adjust the length or elevation of pitched balls. The C-shaped arm connects a ball projecting head to a stand, with the ball projecting head affixed to one end of the C-shaped arm, and the C-shaped arm is slidably engaged through a frame atop the stand to allow rotation of the ball projecting head about a horizontal axis. A center of gravity of the ball projecting head in combination with the C-shaped arm facilitates stability of the ball projecting machine when the C-shaped arm is slid up or down. A locking device, when loosened, allows the C-shaped arm to slide up or down through the frame.

Abstract: A securing device for paint ball gun includes an adjustment member connected to a barrel and a positioning member has an end pivotably connected to the adjustment member. The adjustment member includes a contact end for contacting an end of the air bottle and an operation end which is located outside of the barrel. A curved groove is defined in an outer surface of the adjustment member. The positioning member includes a space defined between two sidewalls thereof such that a part of the air bottle is supported. A pin is fixed to the barrel and engaged with the curved groove. When pivoting the positioning member about the axis of the adjustment member, the adjustment member moved axially due to the engagement of the pin and the curved groove and the air bottle can be removed from the paint ball gun.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus comprises a cooking surface, at least one grate, and a guard. The cooking surface includes at least one heat source and a control panel. The at least one grate is provided over a portion of the cooking surface. The guard is coupled to the at least one grate. The guard includes a first side and a second side. The first side of the guard is configured to deflect heat radiating from the at least one heat source. The second side of the guard corresponds with a sidewall of the cooking surface to form a channel between the guard and the sidewall. The channel is configured to create a thermal barrier between the at least one heat source and the control panel.

Abstract: An improved warmer for feet [1000] is described. The device [1000] allows a person [1] to insert both feet [7] into the warmer [1000]. The collective heat of both feet [7] causes air to circulate equalizing the temperature warming toes [9] which are most sensitive to hypothermia. A rigid member [1103] holds an open end [1101] open to allow insertion of the feet [7] of person [1] without the need for person [1] to use his hands. Alternatively, at least one elastic band [1113] causes open end [1101] to conform to the boots [5] reducing the leakage of heated air for inside of the warmer [1000]. Warmer [1000] is well suited for use during hunting from a tree stand where person 1 is motionless for long periods of time in the cold.

Abstract: A kitchen range subframe includes air channels for passively directing air to and/or from an element enclosure within the kitchen range, and a range component shelf that is configured to mount one or more range components to the kitchen range subframe. The kitchen range subframe provides improved ventilation for the kitchen range, and mounting locations for range components such as gas lines and kitchen range controls.

Abstract: A boiler for generating steam has a substantially enclosed housing configured to contain an amount of water to be boiled, the housing having one or more thermally conductive sidewalls which form a substantially enclosed water chamber and a reflection chamber, the reflection chamber including a closed top portion and a opening through which light rays may pass, the opening being vertically disposed below the top portion of the chamber so that the reflection chamber may trap heat, wherein at least one of the thermally conductive sidewalls is disposed so as to divide the water chamber from the reflection chamber. The boiler also includes a support structure attached to or integral with the housing, which support structure supports the housing in a substantially fixed position during use of the boiler, and reflecting means for reflecting sunlight through the opening of the reflection chamber and onto a focal point on one or more inner surfaces of the top portion of the reflection chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar tracking apparatus for use with a power driving apparatus. The solar tracking apparatus includes: a memory unit for recording a first solar image; an image capturing unit for capturing a second solar image; and an processing unit for obtaining difference between the first solar image and the second solar image; wherein the processing unit activates the power driving apparatus in response to the difference. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a solar power generation system using the solar tracking apparatus. Besides the solar tracking apparatus, the solar power generation system also includes a solar panel; the power driving apparatus for adjusting the position of the solar panel, wherein the processing unit of the solar tracking apparatus activates the power driving apparatus based on the difference so that the solar panel is aligned with the sun to gather the solar energy of the sun.

Abstract: Heliostat operation under significantly reduced infrastructure requirements is disclosed. As part of a larger solar power generation system, a heliostat may function autonomously to track the sun and maintain constant reflection of solar radiation to a collection device for conversion to electrical power. The heliostat employs a local independent solar power supply to provide power to the positioning mechanism and controller for the heliostat. The controller receives sun position information from a sensor and/or a predetermined schedule. In addition, the controller for the heliostat may incorporate a wireless communications device for remote monitoring and directing operations of the heliostat.

Abstract: An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.

Abstract: A curved surface structure for reflecting solar light, heat or electromagnetic radiation is made by scoring two opposing pairs of curved bend lines along one pair of opposing edges of a sheet of bendable material, dividing it into a center section joined by curved bend lines to curved ribs, joined by curved bend lines to respective curved edges; bending the curved ribs down and curved edges up along the bend lines to nominally right angles to form a curved surface supported by two curved ribs and two curved edges. Two straight ribs and respective straight edges may be scored and formed on the other pair of opposing edges of the sheet. A backside sheet may be applied to the four edges. A widthwise corrugated, elongate right angle reinforcement member may be employed for strengthening the formed bend lines.