US3863710A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchange system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchange system for heating a plurality of separate locations or for dissipating heat from a heat source at a region remote therefrom. A plurality of heat exchange devices in the form of flexible containers or envelopes, are mounted in heat exchange, or thermal, relationship with a conveying means which conveys a heated fluid material from a heat source. The containers are mounted so as to be maintained in a substantially extended relationship with the conveying means so that the heat from the heated fluid is effectively transferred via the heat exchange device to the regions adjacent thereto, substantially primarily by convection.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M Masters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:09
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01G13/06; F28B; F28B9/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0266; F28D15/04; F28F; F28F21/00; F28F21/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A heat exchange system comprising a heat source for heating a fluid material; a plurality of independently operable heat exchange devices, each of said devices being formed as a substantially flexible container capable of dissipating heat; means for conveying said heated fluid material to each of said heat exchange devices in thermal relationship therewith so that heat contained in said heated fluid material is transferred to said heat exchange devices; and means for mounting said heat exchange devices so that each of said flexible containers slopes in a substantially uniform direction from said conveying means independently of the pressure of the heated fluid material in the system and the heat from said heated fluid material is effectively transferred via said heat exchange devices to the regions adjacent thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A heat exchange system comprising a heat source for heating a fluid material; a plurality of independently operable heat exchange devices, each of said devices being formed as a substantially flexible container capable of dissipating heat; means for conveying said heated fluid material to each of said heat exchange devices in thermal relationship therewith so that heat contained in said heated fluid material is transferred to said heat exchange devices; and means for mounting said heat exchange devices so that each of said flexible containers slopes in a substantially uniform direction from said conveying means independently of the pressure of the heated fluid material in the system and the heat from said heated fluid material is effectively transferred via said heat exchange devices to the regions adjacent thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible containers are arranged to be capable of dissipating heat substantially by convection whereby said heat is effectively transferred via said heat exchange devices primarily by convection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heated fluid material is a heated vapor; and the interior of each of said heat exchange devices is directly coupled to said conveying means whereby said heated vapor is inserted into said heat exchange device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 3 wherein each said heat exchange device is mounted so that at least a portion thereof is maintained at a level below said conveying means; and further including an opening in each said heat exchange device located in said portion for permitting condensate resulting from the condensation of said vapors to escape from said heat exchange device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 4 and further including one or more openings in each said heat exchange device located in regions thereof where non-condensible gaseous substances can collect for permitting said non-condensible gaseous substances to escape from said heat exchange device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 4 and further including means for adding fluid material to said heat source to make up for said escaped condensate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said heat exchange devices and said conveying means are mounted so as to slope universally downward toward said heat source, said heat exchange system being sealed whereby condensate resulting from the condensation of said vapors is returned to said heat source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said heat exchange device is formed as a separate sealed flexible container the exterior surface of a first portion thereof being mounted in thermal relationship with a portion of the surface of said conveying means; a working fluid material contained in said sealed container, the portions of said container which are remote from said first portion being effectively progressively more elevated above said conveying means so that condensate resulting during operation from the condensation of said working fluid material in a vapor state collects in a liquid state in the region of said container which is in thermal contact and in heat exchange relationship with said conveying means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said conveying means is a heated pipe; said first portion of said flexible container is wrapped around a portion of said heated pipe; and further including means for clamping said first portion to said pipe to maintain thermal contact therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 8 and further including a wicking material positioned on at least a part of the interior surface of said first portion of said flexible container whereby said working fluid material in its liquid state is effectively caused to be in good thermal relationship with substantially all of said portion of the surface of said conveying means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said working fluid material vaporizes in the existing ambient pressure at a predetermined temperature whereby heat exchange operation occurs above said predetermined temperature and no heat exchange operation occurs below said temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said working fluid material vaporizes in the existing ambient pressure at a temperature significantly lower than that of said heat source, the pressure in said heat exchange device being limited by the relationship of the area of said heat exchange device which is in heat exchange relationship with said conveying means and the area of said heat exchange device which is in heat exchange relationship with said region adjacent thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conveying means is in the form of a pipe comprising a tubular core of thermal insulation material; an outer layer on said core of a fluid and wear resistant material; and an inner layer on said core of a vapor impermeable material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said core material is a polyurethane foam; said outer layer of material is nylon; and said inner layer of material is polyurethane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchange devices are made of a plastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchange device is formed of a metal foil material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 and further including a plurality of separately located elements; and wherein said conveying means comprises at least one main conduit; and a plurality of brand conduits connected to said main conduit; at least one heat exchange device in thermal relationship with each of said branch conduits, each of said heat exchange devices being positioned adjacent one or more of said elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said elements are agricultural plants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said agricultural plants are trees positioned in an orchard array and each of said heat exchange devices are located adjacent one or more of said trees below the branches thereof and substantially adjacent the trunks thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said elements are campsites and said heat exchange devices are adapted to be fixedly mounted in thermal relationship with one or more units located at said campsites.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 20 and further including means for permitting said branch conduits to be connected and disconnected to said main conduit without significanTly disturbing the operation of the remainder of said system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
139 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 for use in dissipating heat from said heat source at a region remote therefrom wherein said conveying means comprises main conduit means for conveying a heated fluid heated at said heat source to said remote region and for returning cooled fluid to the heat source region; a plurality of branch conduits connected to said main conduit for permitting the passage of said heated fluid there-through at said remote region; one or more of said heat exchange devices mounted in thermal relationship to each of said branch conduits, all of said heat exchange devices being located within said region to dissipate the heat from said heated fluid to the atmosphere in said region; and a second conduit connected to said branch conduits for carrying said cooled fluid away from said region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 22 and further including a cooling tower forming said region, said tower having an open supporting structure at the base thereof and an opening at the top thereof; said heat exchange devices being mounted within said open supporting structure thereby forming an array thereof within said cooling tower whereby heat dissipated by said heat exchange devices is transferred to air which is drawn into said tower through said open supporting structure, said heated air being exhausted at said top opening of said tower.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises at least one main conduit; and a plurality of branch conduits connected to said main conduit; at least one heat exchange device in thermal relationship with each of said branch conduits.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 14, wherein only the inner layer of said conveying means is capable of substantially collapsing under conditions, wherein a minimum pressure difference exists between the pressure external to said pipe and the pressure within said inner layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |