US3832853A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wind and solar energy conversion system for multi-story buildings
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-26
•
Granted: 1974-09-03
•
Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Kinetic wind energy is converted to potential energy for use in a multi-story building by employing the wind energy to rotate wind wheel assemblies mounted on the building. The wheel assemblies are in turn employed to compress air which is stored in a chamber contained within the associated building. The compressed air is employed to drive an electric generator which provides supplemental electricity for the building. A solar energy conversion system is included with the building whereby radiant solar energy is employed to heat air in vertical columns contained between spaced walls of glass which form the sides of the building. The rising air is employed to rotate a squirrel cage type assembly on the building roof which in turn is employed to power an air compressor for supplying pressurized air to the compression chamber. When storage is not required, the kinetic energy acting on the system may also be converted to mechanical energy which is employed to directly power electrical generators and/or air conditioning compressors.
Inventors
- 👤 T Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:19
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F5/00; F24F5/0046; F03; F03D; F03D13/00; F03D13/20; F03D9/00; F03D9/20; F03D9/25; F03D9/30; F03D9/34; F03D9/35; F03D9/37; F24S; F24S10/00; F05; F05B; F05B2240/00; F05B2240/90; F05B2240/91; F05B2240/911; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/27; Y02A30/272; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B10/30; Y02B10/70; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72; Y02E10/728; Y10; Y10S; Y10S415/00; Y10S415/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An energy conversion system associated with an edifice for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to potential energy comprising: a. first converting means including wind-driven means, for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to mechanical power; b. compressing means driven by said mechanical power for compressing a gaseous medium; c. storage means connected with said compressing means for containing said gaseous medium at a pressure vAlue above the ambient atmospheric pressure value; and d. second converting means connected with said storage means for converting the potential energy of said pressurized, stored gaseous medium to kinetic energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An energy conversion system associated with an edifice for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to potential energy comprising: a. first converting means including wind-driven means, for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to mechanical power; b. compressing means driven by said mechanical power for compressing a gaseous medium; c. storage means connected with said compressing means for containing said gaseous medium at a pressure vAlue above the ambient atmospheric pressure value; and d. second converting means connected with said storage means for converting the potential energy of said pressurized, stored gaseous medium to kinetic energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first converting means further includes: a. solar conversion means for converting radiant solar energy to heat for heating a gaseous substance; and b. gas driven means powered by the movement of said heated gaseous substance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said edifice includes a multi-sided building wherein said sides intersect to form corners; and b. said wind driven means includes means positioned along at least one or more of said corners whereby wind moving past said edifice causes said wind driven means to rotate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said wind driven means includes multibladed wind wheels extending vertically along at least one of said corners.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said wind driven means includes radially extending, vertically positioned propeller blade means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein: a. said edifice includes a multi-sided building wherein said sides intersect to form corners; and b. sand wind driven means includes means positioned along at least one or more of said corners whereby wind moving past said edifice causes said wind driven means to rotate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said solar conversion means includes: a. transparent, spaced walls formed along at least a portion of the external side surfaces of said edifice; b. air conducting passage means extending vertically between said spaced walls; and c. heat absorbing means contained within said passage means for absorbing solar energy and converting it to heat for heating air in said passage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said gas driven means includes a rotatable fan assembly mounted on the top of said edifice operable to convey rotary mechanical motion to said second converting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said storage means includes a vertically extending pressure chamber centrally disposed within said edifice.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 6 further including means for selectively conveying said mechanical power to said compressing means, an electrical generating means or an air conditioning compressor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said fan assembly is rotatably floated in a circular, fluid containing mounting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said solar conversion means includes: a. transparent, spaced walls formed along at least a portion of the external side surfaces of said edifice; b. air conducting passage means extending vertically between said spaced walls; and c. heat absorbing means contained within said passage means for absorbing solar energy and converting it to heat for heating air in said passage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said transparent spaced walls include a first wall section formed of two glass windows spaced by an evacuated area and a second wall section, spaced from said first section, and formed of two glass windows spaced by an evacuated area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said heating means include a plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced slats.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
The combination of an energy conversion system for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to mechanical and electrical energy and a multi-sided building with plural corners employed for housing or sheltering comprising: a. first converting means, including winddriven means positioned along one or more of said corners, whereby wind moving past said building causes said wind-driven means to rotate for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to mechanical power; b. power linking means for conveying said mechanical power to power using facilitIes employed within said building; c. power converting and storage mean included in said linking means for converting and selectively storing said mechanical power; d. solar conversion means included in said first converting means for converting radiant solar energy to heat for heating a gaseous substance; and e. gas driven means included in said first converting means powered by the movement of said heated gaseous substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
The combination of an energy conversion system for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to mechanical and electrical energy and a multi-sided building with plural corners employed for housing or sheltering comprising: a. first converting means, including winddriven means positioned along one or more of said corners, whereby wind moving past said building causes said wind-driven means to rotate for converting naturally occurring kinetic energy to mechanical power; b. power linking means for conveying said mechanical power to power using facilitIes employed within said building; c. power converting and storage mean included in said linking means for converting and selectively storing said mechanical power; d. solar conversion means included in said first converting means for converting radiant solar energy to heat for heating a gaseous substance; and e. gas driven means included in said first converting means powered by the movement of said heated gaseous substance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as defined in claim 15 wherein said solar conversion means includes: a. transparent, spaced walls formed along at least a portion of the external side surfaces of said edifice; b. air conducting passage means extending vertically between said spaced walls; and c. heat absorbing means contained within said passage means for absorbing solar energy and converting it to heat for heating air in said passage means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said gas driven means includes a rotatable fan assembly mounted on the top of said edifice operable for conveying mechanical motion to said second converting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 17 further including means for selectively conveying said mechanical power to said compressing means, an electrical generating means on an air conditioning compressor means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said fan assembly is rotatably floated in a circular, fluid containing mounting means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said transparent spaced walls include a first wall section formed of two glass windows spaced by an evacuated area and a second wall section, spaced from said first section, and formed of two glass windows spaced by an evacuated area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said heating means includes a plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced slats.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |