Patent US3620206A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3620206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid heating by radiation
Assignee: United States Department of the Interior
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Filing: 1970-03-24
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1990-03-24
Abstract
Abstract Radiant energy is used to heat a liquid by passing the liquid between two level, flat, heat exchange surfaces, the top surface resting freely on the lower surface and being exposed to the radiant energy. Liquid flows between the surfaces and is maintained in a thin, continuous and substantially uniform film by operation of Bernoulli''s Theorem. In a preferred embodiment, water is heated by solar radiation and the heat exchange surfaces float on a reservoir of the water being heated.
Inventors
- 👤 William B Harris Jr
- 👤 William B Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:23
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A device for extracting heat from incident radiant energy comprising: a. a basal, relatively rigid, flat member normally disposed in a substantially horizontal attitude; b. a flat, relatively rigid plate conforming generally to the size and shape of the basal member and resting on that member, said plate being adapted for exposure to incident radiant energy; c. means to pass a liquid between the basal member and the plate; and d. means at the periphery of the plate and basal member to recover the liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A device for extracting heat from incident radiant energy comprising: a. a basal, relatively rigid, flat member normally disposed in a substantially horizontal attitude; b. a flat, relatively rigid plate conforming generally to the size and shape of the basal member and resting on that member, said plate being adapted for exposure to incident radiant energy; c. means to pass a liquid between the basal member and the plate; and d. means at the periphery of the plate and basal member to recover the liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the basal member is adapted to absorb radiant energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the basal member is constructed of a material having thermal insulation properties and having buoyancy relative to said liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the plate is substantially transparent to the incident radiant energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 4 wherein liquid storage means are disposed below said basal member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the basal member is buoyantly supported on the surface of the liquid in said storage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 6 including sensing means adapted To control the passage of liquid between the basal member and the plate responsive to the intensity of incident radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 7 including a second transparent member spaced above the plate and forming in cooperation with that plate an insulating dead air space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 8 including spacer means on the periphery of said basal member to provide a channel for liquid to return to said storage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A process for heating water by means of solar radiation which comprises passing a flow of water between two relatively rigid, flat surfaces, said surfaces being disposed in a substantially level attitude, the bottom surface comprising a radiation absorbing member and the upper surface comprising a radiation transmitting member, the upper surface being freely supported by the bottom surface, thereby maintaining a compressed, continuous and substantially uniform flowing film of water between the two surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A process for heating water by means of solar radiation which comprises passing a flow of water between two relatively rigid, flat surfaces, said surfaces being disposed in a substantially level attitude, the bottom surface comprising a radiation absorbing member and the upper surface comprising a radiation transmitting member, the upper surface being freely supported by the bottom surface, thereby maintaining a compressed, continuous and substantially uniform flowing film of water between the two surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the flow of water between the two surfaces is controlled responsive to the intensity of incident solar radiation striking the upper surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR994106A
Cited
US3077190A
Cited
US3146774A
Cited
US3200820A
Cited
US3215134A
Cited
US3252456A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |