Solar furnace and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A solar furnace for heating a target having a heliostat with a reflective surface having a reflective portion, a surface altering mechanism capable of altering the shape of the reflective portion, and a target having a target area, the reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy toward a target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar furnace for heating a target comprising:
 a heliostat having:
 a reflective surface having a reflective portion, 
 a surface altering mechanism capable of altering the shape of the reflective portion, and 
   a target having a target area,   the reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy toward the target.   
     
     
         2 . The solar furnace of  claim 1  wherein the surface altering mechanism allows for the alteration of the size of the target area. 
     
     
         3 . The solar furnace of  claim 1  wherein surface altering mechanism allows for the reflected radiant energy to impinge upon a target area at various distances from the reflective surface. 
     
     
         4 . The solar furnace of  claim 1  wherein the heliostat has a plurality of surface altering mechanisms capable of altering the reflective surface to a multi-curved shape. 
     
     
         5 . The solar furnace of  claim 4  wherein the target comprises a plurality of target areas, and the heliostat comprises a first surface altering mechanism capable of altering the shape of a first reflective portion and a second surface altering mechanism capable of altering the shape of a second reflective portion, the first reflective portion capable of reflecting radiant energy toward a first target area and the second reflective portion capable of reflecting radiant energy toward a second target area. 
     
     
         6 . The solar furnace of  claim 1  wherein the solar furnace has a plurality of heliostats capable of reflecting radiant energy toward a target area. 
     
     
         7 . The solar furnace of  claim 6  wherein the target comprises a plurality of target areas, and the solar furnace comprises at least one first heliostat capable of reflecting radiant energy toward at least one first target area and at least one second heliostat capable of reflecting radiant energy toward at least one second target area. 
     
     
         8 . The solar furnace of  claim 6  wherein the surface altering mechanism of the at least one first heliostat allows for at least one first target size and the surface altering mechanism of the at least one second heliostat allows for at least one second target size. 
     
     
         9 . The solar furnace of  claim 1  wherein the heliostat further comprises a failsafe mechanism capable of decreasing the amount of wind captured by the reflective surface. 
     
     
         10 . The solar furnace of  claim 1  further comprising a directional reflector capable of altering the direction of the radiant energy reflected by the reflective surface. 
     
     
         11 . A solar furnace for heating a target comprising:
 at least one heliostat having a reflective surface having a reflective portion, and   a target having at least one target area,   the reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy toward a target area, an at least one first reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy toward an at least one first target area, and an at least one second reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy toward an at least one second target area.   
     
     
         12 . The solar furnace of  claim 11  wherein the at least one first target area has a first target size and the at least one second target area has a second target size. 
     
     
         13 . The solar furnace of  claim 11  further comprising a directional reflector capable of altering the direction of the radiant energy reflected by the reflective surface. 
     
     
         14 . A solar furnace for heating a target comprising:
 a heliostat having a reflective surface having a reflective portion, the reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy, and   a light pipe capable of receiving the reflected radiant energy and directing the reflected radiant energy toward a target.   
     
     
         15 . The solar furnace of  claim 14  further comprising a collector capable of directing the reflected radiant energy into the light pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The solar furnace of  claim 14  further comprising a recapture area having a plurality of sidewalls defining the periphery of the recaptured area, the sidewalls lined with a reflective surface capable of reflecting radiant energy toward the target. 
     
     
         17 . A method of heating a target utilizing a solar furnace comprising the steps of:
 loading a quantity of moldable material into a target,   altering the shape of a reflective surface utilizing a surface altering mechanism,   reflecting radiant energy toward the target area of the target,   heating the target area with the reflected radiant energy, and   removing the molded product from the target.   
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of placing a target in the focal point of a reflective surface of a heliostat. 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 placing a target in close proximity to a second end of a light pipe, and 
 reflecting radiant energy toward a first end of a light pipe. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 touching a target to a second end of a light pipe, and 
 reflecting radiant energy toward a first end of a light pipe. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of reflecting radiant energy toward a collector. 
     
     
         22 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of placing a target in a recapture area having a plurality of sidewalls defining the periphery of the recaptured area, the sidewalls lined with a reflective material capable of reflecting radiant energy toward the target. 
     
     
         23 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of reflecting radiant energy toward a directional reflector. 
     
     
         24 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of orientating, using a microprocessor, the reflective surface. 
     
     
         25 . A method of  claim 19  wherein the step of altering the shape of a reflective surface utilizing a surface altering mechanism is performed using a microprocessor.