SOLAR PARASOL

Abstract

A method of reducing solar irradiance the Earth receives includes placing a solar parasol in sun-synchronous orbit between the Earth and the Sun. The solar parasol provides a reflective shield that faces the Sun. The reflective shield is supported by a frame and a method of positioning the solar parasol in sun-synchronous orbit. The shield may include a coating layer and a gold film layered over the coating layer on the sun-facing surface of the shield, while a heat sink is provided on an opposing surface of the shield.

Claims

1. A method of reducing solar irradiance the Earth receives, the method comprises placing a solar parasol in sun-synchronous orbit between the Earth and the Sun.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the solar parasol is located over the equator of the Earth.

3. A solar parasol for a sun-synchronous orbit, the solar parasol comprising: a frame; a positioning system controlling a position of the solar parasol in the sun-synchronous orbit; and a shield covering a center of the frame wherein the shield includes a reflective coating on a surface facing the Sun.

4. The solar parasol of claim 3, wherein the positioning system comprises a positioning rocket on each corner of the frame.

5. The solar parasol of claim 3, wherein the reflective coating is mylar film.

6. The solar parasol of claim 3, wherein a surface of the shield facing the Earth is entirely black in surface color.

7. The solar parasol of claim 3, wherein the shield comprises a plurality of film blocks joined by hook and loop fasteners.

8. The solar parasol of claim 3, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of connecting rods.

9. The solar parasol of claim 8, wherein the shield comprises a plurality of sheets connected to the plurality of connecting rods by way of hook and loop fasteners.

10. The solar parasol of claim 8, further comprising a triangular reinforcement plate at each corner of the frame.

11. An aluminum parasol positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit, the aluminum parasol comprising: a frame; and a plurality of aluminum panels interconnected forming a shield that covers a center of the frame; wherein an interconnection between adjacent aluminum panels is formed by hook and loop fasteners or magnets.

12. The aluminum parasol of claim 11, wherein each aluminum panel has a handle on one end and a lip on an opposing end, wherein each handle is dimensioned to operatively associated with, separately, each lip forming the interconnection.

13. The aluminum parasol of claim 12, wherein each handle has a lap joint for operatively associating with, separately, each lip.

14. The aluminum parasol of claim 13, wherein each aluminum panel comprises, along the shield: a coating layer; and a gold film layered over the coating layer, wherein the gold film faces the Sun in the sun-synchronous orbit.

15. The aluminum parasol of claim 14, wherein the coating layer comprises beryllium.

16. The aluminum parasol of claim 15, wherein each aluminum panel comprises a heat sink along a surface of the shield that faces the Earth in the sun-synchronous orbit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a solar parasol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a detail view of a connector rod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a corner of the frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a front view of a fluted grip knob according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the connector rod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an aluminum parasol panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a front view of the aluminum parasol panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a detail view of FIG. 8;

[0032] FIG. 10 is a detail view of the aluminum parasol panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 11 is a detail view of the aluminum parasol panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a detail view of the aluminum parasol panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0035] FIG. 13 is a detail view of the aluminum parasol panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 14 is an elevation view of the aluminum parasol assembled by four connected aluminum parasol panels according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0038] Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows a solar parasol 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The solar parasol 10 may be one mile by one mile in length and width. A positioning rocket 11 may be in each corner 12 of the solar parasol 10. A frame 20 may surround the solar parasol with a sheet 14 in a center.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sheet 14 connected to the frame 20. The frame includes a connector rod 22. The sheet 14 is composed of mylar film. The sheet 14 wraps around the connector rod 22 and attaches to itself via a hook and loop fastener 16, thereby the sheet 14 may extend between opposing frame rods 22.

[0040] FIGS. 3 and 6 show detail views of the connector rod 22. The connector rod 22 may have a length 90 that may be between eight or twelve feet or greater or lesser lengths. Multiple connector rods 22 may be joined to form the frame 20. The connector rod 22 has a male connector 24 and a female connector 26. The male connector 24 and female connector 26 may be joined to connect multiple connector rods.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a corner 12 of the frame 20. The corner 12 is reinforced with a triangular plate 28. A fluted grip knob 30, as shown in FIG. 5, may be used to tighten or loosen the connector rods 22 in the frame 20. The fluted knob 30 may inserted through the frame 20 and into the triangular plate 12. Each triangular plate 12 and connector rod 22 has holes 99 (that align during assembly) that are threaded and tapped or otherwise configured to receive or otherwise operatively associate with the threaded shaft of part 30 for tighten or loosen the connector rod 22 relative the triangular plate 12. The triangular plate 12 enable the positioning rocket 11 to engage the triangular plate 12 necessitating, in some situations, the use of the fluted grip knob 30 tightening.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a top view of an aluminum parasol panel 40. The aluminum parasol panel 40 may be approximately 10′-0″ by 10′-0″ aluminum plate that will lock onto other similar plates to form a rigid, long-term parasol. When fully constructed, it will be of the same dimensions as the solar parasol 10 displayed in FIG. 1. This aluminum parasol may replace or complement the solar parasol 10. Its construction will be able to withstand small meteors with little loss of form or function. The aluminum parasol panel 40 may have a length of ten feet and be connected to a frame 42 approximately four inches in width.

[0043] FIG. 8 is a front view an embodiment of an aluminum parasol panel 41. The panel 41 may have a handle 50 at a first end. FIG. 9 is a detail view of the panel 41 of FIG. 8. An aluminum panel 40, 41 may connect to another aluminum panel 40, 41 with either a hook and loop fabric or with magnets until a firm connection is formed by bolting each plate via the handle 50. The handle 50 connection will ensure each aluminum panel 40, 41 remains a rigid construction of the aluminum parasol. The panel 41 is composed of a gold layer 52, a coating layer 54, aluminum 56, and a thermal heat sink 58. The coating layer 54 may be beryllium, polished mylar, or polished aluminum. A second end of the panel 41 contains a lip 60. The lip 60 may fit into a lap joint 70 shown in FIG. 10. The gold layer 52 is placed onto of a beryllium layer 54 on the side facing the Sun. The opposite side, facing towards the Earth, has a hard heat dissipation sheet 58 on it to allow all heat collected to be transferred harmlessly into space.

[0044] FIGS. 10 and 12 are a detail view of the aluminum parasol panel 40. The aluminum parasol panel 40 comprises a thermal heat sink 58 and a lap joint 70. As shown in FIG. 12, the lap joint 70 houses a magnet 72. Alternatively, a hook and loop fastener may be housed in the lap joint 70.

[0045] FIGS. 11 and 13 are a top view of the aluminum parasol panel 40. Screw holes 74 may accommodate a connection of a handle. A fastener 76 such as a hook and loop fastener or a magnet is on an outside end of the aluminum parasol panel 40.

[0046] As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

[0047] For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

[0048] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

[0049] In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0050] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention