US3908753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freezing-warming apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-04-19
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1994-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A freezing-warming apparatus cell which operates on a liquid convection principle in part, as well as by means of a mechanical propeller mounted in the cell. Circulation of the heat-exchange liquid in the cell occurs either because of the temperature differential between the upper and lower portions of the cell, or by the propulsion force provided by a mechanical device such as a propeller in the cell driven by an external source of energy, such as a small wind turbine, an electric motor, or the like, controlled by a thermostatic device responsive to the ambient temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph C Balch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:29
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A heat transfer device for conveying heat between the ambient atmosphere and a sub-surface region comprising an elongated bottom heat-conducting conduit member disposed in said subsurface region, an elongated top heatconducting container exposed to the ambient atmosphere and having depending conduits at its opposite ends, said conduits extending downwardly and being connected to the respective opposite ends of said bottom conduit member, forming a closed-circuit circulation cell, a liquid heattransfer medium in said closed-circuit circulation cell and filling said cell sufficiently to allow circulatory convection flow through said closedcircuit cell responsive to exposure of said top heat-conducting container to temperatures lower than that of the subsurface region containing said bottom conduit member, propeller means rotatably mounted in a portion of said closed-circuit cell for forcing circulation, drive means mounted on the cell and being drivingly connected to said propeller means, and temperature-responsive mechanical detent means mounted on the cell in a position exposed to the ambient temperature and being at times lockingly engageable with said drive means so as to control said drive means in accordance with the ambient temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A heat transfer device for conveying heat between the ambient atmosphere and a sub-surface region comprising an elongated bottom heat-conducting conduit member disposed in said subsurface region, an elongated top heatconducting container exposed to the ambient atmosphere and having depending conduits at its opposite ends, said conduits extending downwardly and being connected to the respective opposite ends of said bottom conduit member, forming a closed-circuit circulation cell, a liquid heattransfer medium in said closed-circuit circulation cell and filling said cell sufficiently to allow circulatory convection flow through said closedcircuit cell responsive to exposure of said top heat-conducting container to temperatures lower than that of the subsurface region containing said bottom conduit member, propeller means rotatably mounted in a portion of said closed-circuit cell for forcing circulation, drive means mounted on the cell and being drivingly connected to said propeller means, and temperature-responsive mechanical detent means mounted on the cell in a position exposed to the ambient temperature and being at times lockingly engageable with said drive means so as to control said drive means in accordance with the ambient temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, wherein said depending conduits extend vertically and respective surface-engaging supporting bracket members adjustably secured to said depending conduits for supporting the cell in an upright position with the bottom conduit member at a desired depth below the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, wherein said cell is provided at its top portion with a removable closure member and wherein said drive means comprises a rotary wind vane member rotatably mounted on the cell and driving shaft means extending rotatably through said closure member and drivingly connecting said wind vane member to the propeller means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, and heat insulation means partially covering at least one of the depending conduits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, and heat insulation means in the interior of and in thermal shielding relation with at least one of the depending conduits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, and heat insulation means partially covering said bottom heat-conducting conduit members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, and heat insulation means mounted in thermal shielding relation with a portion of the conduit circuit branch comprising said depending conduits and said bottom conduit member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat transfer device of claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a rotary wind vane member rotatably mounted on the cell adjacent said top container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The heat transfer device of claim 8, and wherein said detent means comprises a heat-responsive expansible member mounted on the cell adjacent said wind vane member and having a detent element at times engageable with said wind vane member to inhibit rotation of the wind vane member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The heat transfer device of claim 9, wherein said wind vane member is coaxially mounted relative to one of said depending conduits and said propeller means comprises a screw propeller rotatably mounted coaxially in said one of the depending conduits and having a common shaft with said wind vane member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat transfer device of claim 9, wherein said wind vane member includes a bottom disc element having detent recesses located to receive said detent element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat transfer device of claim 11, wherein said expansible member is vertically mounted and said detent recesses are located in the bottom surface of said disc element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The heat transfer device of claim 12, wherein said wind vane membEr is provided with a top cover element of sufficient size to overlie said disc element and to substantially protectively overlie the heat-responsive expansible member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2282013A
Cited
US2764943A
Cited
US2761292A
Cited
US3291203A
Cited
US3648767A
Cited
US3618569A
Cited
US3757854A
Cited
US3822740A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |