Abstract: A method of forming an optical surface on a solar collector that is made from a composite material adds epoxy to the collector. The epoxy is applied to a mandrel that has an outer surface shaped to conform to a concave side of the collector. The concave side of the collector is laid over the mandrel and into contact with the epoxy. The collector is set on the mandrel by first aligning one of the elongate edges of the collector with an elongate edge of the mandrel. Pivoting the collector about the interface defined between the edges of the collector and mandrel produces a wave front in the epoxy, so that when the collector is laid down onto the mandrel, a substantially uniform layer of epoxy is disposed between the collector and mandrel. Heating the resin bonds it to the collector and forms a substantially smooth optical quality surface.

Abstract: A solar collector for use in concentrating solar rays into a high flux density image is formed from laminate plies. Electricity is produced by superimposing the image onto a concentrated photovoltaic cell. Plies are cut from a composite sheet that is made up of carbon fibers in a thermoset polymer, where the carbon fibers run generally parallel with one another. By varying how the plies are cut from the sheet, carbon fibers in different plies are oriented at alternating angles in the plies. The plies arc stacked to form a laminate, where the carbon fibers in each ply are at an angle with carbon fibers in adjacent plies. The plies may include alignment tabs to control the angle between adjacent plies. Pressing the laminate in a heated die and cooling the die with forced convection and then a fluid bath forms a shell for the solar collector.

Abstract: A method for marketing a product to one or more customers includes retrieving a profitability score for the customer from a customer database. The product is selectively marketed to the one or more customers based on the profitability score. In a particular embodiment, a plurality of products can be bundled together to generate a bundle of products. The bundle of products can be selectively marketed to the customer. Further, the profitability score for the customer can be determined by determining a billed revenue for the customer over a predetermined time period and determining a collected revenue for the customer over the predetermined time period. Thereafter, the collected revenue is divided by the billed revenue to yield a percentage paid. Additionally, the percentage paid can be scaled to an integer between 1 and 999 to yield the profitability score.

Abstract: A carbon fiber reinforced composite mirror (100) is provided and includes a core layer (140) of carbon fiber composite material sandwiched between a front shell (120) and a rear shell (110). The front shell (120) and rear shell (110) are both formed of carbon fiber composite material. A reflective layer (130) is adhered to the outer surface of shell (120) and the mirror (100) may be mounted on a support structure (12) for use in optical display systems.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner which is convertible for floor cleaning and above the floor cleaning, has a housing mounted on a floor nozzle in which a vacuum is drawn. A hose extending from the housing is insertable into a conduit which leads into the floor nozzle for floor cleaning. The hose also receives tools for above the floor cleaning. These tools are removably held in a tool holder on the rear wall of the housing with recesses and lands in the wall which is flexible. The recess at one end of the wall is defined by a member which overlaps the wall to define a lip. A nozzle for above the floor cleaning snaps over the lip and is held in the compartment between the wall and the end of a land between the recesses with the mouth of the nozzle behind the lip and the open end of the nozzle opposite its mouth on a rib on the end of that land which catches the open end of the nozzle.The flexible wall can readily be depressed so as to release the nozzle when it is to be used.