초록 ▼

Apparatus and methods for assembling solar receiving tubes in the field are described. In one embodiment, a welder is provided having longitudinally adjustable clamps that permit the easy restraining and adjustment of tube position for welding. In another embodiment, a system for moving along the le

Apparatus and methods for assembling solar receiving tubes in the field are described. In one embodiment, a welder is provided having longitudinally adjustable clamps that permit the easy restraining and adjustment of tube position for welding. In another embodiment, a system for moving along the length of a solar collector and sequentially welding tubes is described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for welding heat collection elements (HCEs), where each HCE includes an outer tube and an inner tube, where the inner tube of each HCE has an inner diameter and at least one open end, where the outer tube of each HCE has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter, said

1. An apparatus for welding heat collection elements (HCEs), where each HCE includes an outer tube and an inner tube, where the inner tube of each HCE has an inner diameter and at least one open end, where the outer tube of each HCE has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter, said apparatus comprising: an orbital weld head having an electrode positioned to weld along a weld diameter that is equal to the inner diameter of the inner tube of an HCE;a first mechanism including a first clamping surface slidably attached to the orbital weld head, where said first clamping surface is adapted to restrain the outer diameter of the outer tube of a first HCE; anda second mechanism including a second clamping surface slidably attached to the orbital weld head, where said second clamping surface is adapted to restrain the outer diameter of the outer tube of a second HCE;where said first mechanism and said second mechanism are adjustable to translate the first clamped HCE and second clamped HCE along their respective longitudinal axis,such that the first HCE and the second HCE are clamped at a diameter that is greater than the weld diameter. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, where said first mechanism or said second mechanism includes a lead screw that moves a respective clamping surface relative to the weld head. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, where said first mechanism and said second mechanism are removably attached to said weld head. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, where said first mechanism and said second mechanism each includes an outer portion connected to the weld head and an inner portion including a respective clamping surface. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, where said weld head includes a first clamp and a second clamp, where said outer portion of said first mechanism is attached to the first clamp, and where said outer portion of said second mechanism is attached to said second clamp. 6. An apparatus for welding heat collection elements (HCEs), where each HCE includes an outer tube and an inner tube, where the inner tube is concentric with the outer tube, where the inner tube has an inner diameter and at least one open end, and where the outer tube has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter, said apparatus comprising: a weld head having an electrode positioned to weld tubes along a weld diameter that is equal to the inner diameter of the inner tube of an HCE;a first means for clamping the outer diameter of the outer tube of a first HCE and longitudinally positioning the open end of the inner diameter of the tube of the clamped first HCE; anda second means for clamping the outer diameter of the outer tube of a second HCE and longitudinally positioning the open end of the inner diameter of the tube of the clamped second HCE;such that said first means for clamping and said second means for clamping permit abutting the inner diameter of the open ends of the first clamped HCE and the second clamped HCE, andsuch that the first HCE and the second HCE are clamped at a diameter that is greater than the weld diameter. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, where said first means for clamping includes a first clamping surface for clamping the outer diameter of the outer tube of the first HCE, where said second means for clamping includes a second clamping surface for clamping the outer diameter of the outer tube of the second HCE, and where said apparatus further includes a lead screws that longitudinally translates the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface relative to the weld head. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, where said first means for clamping and said second means for clamping each includes an outer portion connected to the weld head and an inner portion including the respective clamping surface. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, where said weld head includes a first clamp and a second clamp, where said outer portion of said first means for clamping is attached to the first clamp, and where said outer portion of said second means for clamping is attached to said second clamp. 10. The apparatus of claim 6, where at least a part of said first means for clamping is removably attached to said weld head. 11. An apparatus for welding heat collection elements (HCEs), where each HCE includes an outer tube and an inner tube, where the inner tube is concentric with the outer tube, where the inner tube has an inner diameter and at least one open end, and where the outer tube has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter, said apparatus comprising: a first mechanism for contacting the outer diameter of the outer tube of a first HCE;a second mechanism for contacting the outer diameter of the outer tube of a second HCE; anda weld head positioned to weld at a weld diameter that is equal to the inner diameter of the first contacted HCE and second contacted HCE,where said first mechanism and second mechanism are attached to said weld head, andwhere at least one of said first mechanism and said second mechanism is adjustable to translate the corresponding contacted HCE in a longitudinal HCE direction,such that the first and second HCEs are translatable to abut the open end of the tube of the first contacted HCE and the open end of the tube of the second contacted HCE, andsuch that the first HCE and the second HCE are contacted at a diameter that is greater than the weld diameter. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, where said first mechanism includes a first clamping surface adapted to restrain the outer tube of the first HCE, and where said second mechanism includes a second clamping surface adapted to restrain the outer tube of the second HCE. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, where said at least one of said first mechanism and said second mechanism includes a lead screw that moves a respective clamping surface relative to the weld head. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, where said first mechanism and said second mechanism each includes an outer portion connected to the weld head and an inner portion including a respective clamping surface. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, where said weld head includes a first clamp and a second clamp, where said outer portion of said first mechanism is attached to the first clamp, and where said outer portion of said second mechanism is attached to said second clamp. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, where said first mechanism and said second mechanism are adapted for attachment to the weld head. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, where said weld head is an orbital weld head. 18. An apparatus for welding heat collection elements (HCEs) using a weld head having an electrode for welding at a weld diameter, where each HCE includes an outer tube and an inner tube, where the inner tube has a diameter that is the inner diameter and has at least one open end, and is concentric with the outer tube, where the outer tube has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter, and where the weld diameter is equal to the inner diameter, said apparatus comprising: a first mechanism for accepting the outer diameter of the outer tube of a first HCE and adapted for attachment to the weld head; anda second mechanism for accepting the outer diameter of the outer tube of a second HCE and adapted for attachment to the weld head;where, when said first mechanism and said second mechanism are attached to said weld head, at least one of said first mechanism and said second mechanism is adjustable to translate the corresponding accepted HCE in a longitudinal HCE direction,such that the first and second HCEs are translatable to position the ends of the inner tube of the first accepted HCE and second inner tube of the second accepted HCE for welding by said weld head at the weld diameter, andsuch that the first accepted HCE and the second accepted HCE are contacted at a diameter that is greater than the weld diameter. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, where said first mechanism includes a clamping surface adapted to restraining the outer tube of the first HCE, and where said second mechanism includes a clamping surface adapted to restrain the outer tube of the second HCE. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, where said at least one of said first mechanism and said second mechanism includes a lead screw that moves a clamping surface relative to the weld head. 21. The apparatus of claim 19, where said first mechanism and said second mechanism each includes an outer portion connected to the weld head and an inner portion includes a clamping surface. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, where said weld head includes a first clamp and a second clamp, where said outer portion of said first mechanism is attached to the first clamp, and where said outer portion of said second mechanism is attached to said second clamp. 23. An apparatus for welding heat collection elements (HCEs) in a solar energy system at a height above the ground, where each HCE includes an outer tube and an inner tube, where the inner tube is concentric with the outer tube, where said inner tube has an inner diameter and at least one open end, and where the outer tube has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter, said apparatus comprising: a vehicle including the apparatus of claim 1, a welding power supply, and a platform to enable a user to reach the HCEs for welding. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, where said vehicle includes arms for supporting HCEs for welding. 25. The apparatus of claim 23, where said vehicle includes an automatic self-leveling outrigger.