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US3964464A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solar radiation collector and concentrator

Assignee: OAK RIDGE SOLAR ENGR Inc
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Filing: 1975-04-08
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Granted: 1976-06-22
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Expires: 1995-04-08
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Abstract

Abstract A device is described for concentrating solar radiation upon the surface of a helicoidal tube assembly containing a circulating heat transfer medium whereby the energy of said radiation may be collected and utilized. The device consists of a rectangular container wherein is supported a longitudinal plurality of aligned curved reflectors for gathering and concentrating incident solar radiation, multiple vertical relectors to gather low-angle radiation, a convex radiation concentrating reflector beneath said helicoidal tube and a means for damping excess solar radiation. A method is given for the utilization of said solar radiation collector whereby the heated circulating medium provides the means for heating and cooling buildings.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vernon J. Hockman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 12:19
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/79; F24S40/00; F24S40/50; F24S40/52; F24S2023/83; F24S2023/832; F24S2023/87; F24S2023/878; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y10; Y10S; Y10S126/00; Y10S126/903; Y10S126/904; Y10S126/906

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 218 words
A solar radiation collector and concentrator comprising: a. an enclosure assembly formed from weatherproof metal and defining a generally rectangular mounting surface; b. a transparent cover portion for said enclosure assembly; c. a longitudinal plurality of aligned curved reflective surfaces supported within said mounting surface and being operable to reflect incident solar radiation toward a common focal axis extending longitudinally of said enclosure assembly; d. multiple vertical reflectors positioned perpendicular to said plurality of longitudinal aligned curved reflective surfaces and being operable to reflect low-angle solar radiation toward said common focal axis; e. a helicoidal fluid-bearing tube longitudinally mounted within said enclosure assembly and being positioned at the common focal axis of solar radiation reflected from said longitudinal plurality of aligned curved reflective surfaces and at the common focal axis of low-angle solar radiation reflected from said multiple vertical reflectors; f. a convex radiation reflector longitudinally mounted below and along an axis parallel to said helicoidal fluid-bearing tube and being operable to reflect incident and low-angle solar radiation upward onto said helicoidal fluid-bearing tube; g. a transparent coil housing assembly within said enclosure assembly longitudinally mounted above and along an axis parallel to both the helicoidal fluid-bearing tube and the convex radiation relector; and h. means for preventing excess solar radiation from striking said transparent coil housing assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 218 words
A solar radiation collector and concentrator comprising: a. an enclosure assembly formed from weatherproof metal and defining a generally rectangular mounting surface; b. a transparent cover portion for said enclosure assembly; c. a longitudinal plurality of aligned curved reflective surfaces supported within said mounting surface and being operable to reflect incident solar radiation toward a common focal axis extending longitudinally of said enclosure assembly; d. multiple vertical reflectors positioned perpendicular to said plurality of longitudinal aligned curved reflective surfaces and being operable to reflect low-angle solar radiation toward said common focal axis; e. a helicoidal fluid-bearing tube longitudinally mounted within said enclosure assembly and being positioned at the common focal axis of solar radiation reflected from said longitudinal plurality of aligned curved reflective surfaces and at the common focal axis of low-angle solar radiation reflected from said multiple vertical reflectors; f. a convex radiation reflector longitudinally mounted below and along an axis parallel to said helicoidal fluid-bearing tube and being operable to reflect incident and low-angle solar radiation upward onto said helicoidal fluid-bearing tube; g. a transparent coil housing assembly within said enclosure assembly longitudinally mounted above and along an axis parallel to both the helicoidal fluid-bearing tube and the convex radiation relector; and h. means for preventing excess solar radiation from striking said transparent coil housing assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 64 words
fluid bearing solar radiation collector and concentrator as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for preventing excess solar radiation from striking said transparent coil housing assembly comprises a vertical radiation reflector-damper pivotally mounted perpendicular to and along an axis above and parallel to said helicoidal fluidbearing tube and means for pivoting said vertical radiation reflector-damper to admit or to block incident solar radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
A solar radiation collector and concentrator as recited in claim 2 wherein the means for pivoting said vertical radiation reflector-damper comprises a thermostatically controlled actuating arm and means interconnecting said thermostatically controlled actuating arm whereby said vertical radiation reflector-damper is activated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
A solar radiation collector and concentrator as recited in claim 3 wherein said interconnecting means consists of a temperature sensing probe mounted in the return portion of said helicoidal tube operable to activate said thermostatically controlled actuating arm attached to said vertical radiation reflector-damper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
. A solar radiation collector and concentrator as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent cover portion for said enclosure assembly comprises a high impact material permeable to at least 86 percent of incoming shortwave solar radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
A solar radiation collector and concentrator as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent coil housing assembly comprises a high impact material permeable to at least 86 percent of incoming shortwave solar radiation.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2595905A Cited
US2969788A Cited
US3869199A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-06-22 1979-12-22 1980-06-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-06-22 1983-12-22 1984-06-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-06-22 1987-12-22 1988-06-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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