Construction
In existing dish models, the frame is located on the exterior of the dish. In the proposed model of Archimedes 1.3, the frame is located on the inside of the dish. The frame can be made of fiberglass (or other type of synthetic material), that can easily be assembled using a segmented structure. At the back (outside) of the dish, only a light construction is needed to handle the diagonal forces. This design has the following advantages:
- The dish can be made stronger, with less construction material.
- The dish looks less bombastic and has a much more elegant design.
- Simple and cheap construction.
- Room for possible advertisement space on the back of the dish.
- Extra protection for the mirrors.
- More support and easier installation/replacement of the mirrors.
The loss of reflection space through this design is minimal because at the places with the largest reflection angles (at the edges) the frame is has a low profile. The frame can be painted in suitable colors.