Replaceable solar bulb assembly for use with a solar receiver array

Abstract

A replaceable solar bulb assembly generates electrical energy that includes a photo voltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy. A housing includes at least one reflector for focusing the solar energy on the photo voltaic cell. A connector removably and mechanically connects the housing to a solar receiver array and electrically connects the photo voltaic cell to the solar receiver array.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar bulb assembly for installation in a solar receiver array including a plurality of solar bulb assemblies, comprising:
 a photo voltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy;   a housing for containing the photo voltaic cell;   a connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the solar bulb assembly to the solar receiver array, the connector comprising:
 at least one member extending from the housing having a first end connected to the housing and a second end; and 
 at least one split ring spring contact, the at least one split ring spring contact opening to receive the second end of the at least one member responsive to the second end of the at least one member pressing against the at least one split ring spring contact, wherein the second end of the at least one member is secured by the at least one split ring spring contact to provide the electrical and mechanical connection between the solar bulb assembly and the solar receiver array. 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar bulb assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 a primary reflector having an open side for receiving the solar energy and defining an opening for receiving focused solar energy; and   a secondary reflector for receiving solar energy reflected from the primary reflector and providing the focused solar energy on the opening of the primary reflector.   
     
     
         3 . The solar bulb assembly of  claim 2 , further including a transparent cover enclosing the open side of the primary reflector and supporting the secondary reflector above a surface of the primary reflector. 
     
     
         4 . The solar bulb assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting plate for supporting the photovoltaic cell below the housing; and   a heat sink connected to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         5 . The solar bulb assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one member further comprises a pair of members for mechanically and electrically connecting the housing to the solar receiver array and electrically connecting the photo voltaic cell to the solar receiver array. 
     
     
         6 . A solar receiver array comprising:
 a plurality of solar bulb assemblies for converting solar energy into an electrical signal, wherein each of the plurality of solar bulb assemblies further comprising;
 a photo voltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy; 
 a housing for containing the photo voltaic cell; 
   a plurality of support rails for supporting the plurality of solar bulb assemblies in an X by Y array;   a plurality of docking connectors for mechanically and electrically connecting each of the plurality of solar bulb assemblies to one of the plurality of support rails, each of the plurality of docking connectors further comprising;
 at least one member extending from the housing of each of the plurality of solar bulb assemblies having a first end connected to the housing and a second end; and 
 at least one split ring spring contact, the at least one split ring spring contact opening to receive the second end of the at least one member responsive to the second end of the at least one member pressing against the at least one split ring spring contact, wherein the second end of the at least one member is secured by the at least one split ring spring contact to provide the electrical and mechanical connection between the solar bulb assembly and the solar receiver array. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 a primary reflector having an open side for receiving the solar energy and defining an opening for receiving focused solar energy; and   a secondary reflector for receiving solar energy reflected from the primary reflector and providing the focused solar energy on the opening of the primary reflector.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further including a transparent cover enclosing the open side of the primary reflector and supporting the secondary reflector above a surface of the primary reflector. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a mounting plate for supporting the photovoltaic cell below the housing; and   a heat sink connected to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one member further comprises a pair of members for and mechanically and electrically connecting the housing to the solar receiver array and electrically connecting the photo voltaic cell to the solar receiver array. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the connectors further comprises a pair of connector blocks separated by a selected distance, wherein a portion of the primary reflector is received within the selected distance between the pair of connector blocks, each of the pair of connector blocks defining an opening for receiving the at least one member, the pair of connector blocks electrically and mechanically connecting the replaceable solar bulb assembly to the plurality of support rails. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of connector blocks provide the electrical signal from the replaceable solar bulb assembly to the electrical cables. 
     
     
         13 . A solar bulb assembly for installation in a solar receiver array including a plurality of replaceable solar bulb assemblies, comprising:
 a photo voltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy;   a primary reflector housing having an open side for receiving the solar energy and defining an opening for receiving focused solar energy;   a secondary reflector for receiving solar energy reflected from the primary reflector and providing the focused solar energy on the opening of the primary reflector;   a transparent cover enclosing the open side of the primary reflector and supporting the secondary reflector above a surface of the primary reflector;   a mounting plate for supporting the photovoltaic cell below the primary reflector housing;   a heat sink connected to the mounting plate;   a housing integrating the photovoltaic cell, the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, the transparent cover, the mounting plate and the heat sink into a single removable solar bulb assembly;   a connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the solar bulb assembly to the solar receiver array, the connector comprising:
 at least one member extending from the housing having a first end connected to the housing and a second end; and 
 at least one split ring spring contact, the at least one split ring spring contact opening to receive the second end of the at least one member responsive to the second end of the at least one member pressing against the at least one split ring spring contact, wherein the second end of the at least one member is secured by the at least one split ring spring contact to provide the electrical and mechanical connection between the solar bulb assembly and the solar receiver array. 
   
     
     
         14 . The solar bulb assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one member further comprises a pair of members for and mechanically and electrically connecting the housing to the solar receiver array and electrically connecting the photo voltaic cell to the solar receiver array. 
     
     
         15 . The solar bulb assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one split ring spring contact further comprises a pair of split ring spring contacts, a first spit ring spring contact opening to receive the second end of the member responsive to the second end of the member pressing against the first split ring, wherein the second end of the member is secured between the first split ring spring contact and a second split ring spring contact to provide the electrical and mechanical connection between the solar bulb assembly and the solar receiver array.