Patent US4026267A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4026267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solar energy apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-12-11
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Granted: 1977-05-31
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Expires: 1995-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A solar energy apparatus for gathering and transmitting solar radiation to an energy storage area. Wide-angle lens apparatus is used to focus solar radiation on an end of an optical fiber bundle. The other end of the optical fiber bundle is placed in the energy storage area and has a radiating device attached thereto to more efficiently remove the solar energy from the optical fiber bundles. A heat sink is advantageously utilized as a storage means for the solar energy thus gathered and transmitted.
Inventors
- 👤 Rich F. Coleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:33
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/12; F24S23/30; F28; F28F; F28F1/00; F28F1/10; F28F1/12; F28F1/14; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A solar energy apparatus comprising: transmitting means and lens means for focusing solar energy on the transmitting means, said transmitting means comprising a plurality of optical fiber waveguides incorporated into a plurality of optical fiber bundles, at least a first optical fiber bundle accommodating absorption of solar energy as thermal energy, a radiating fins means attached to the first optical fiber bundle for radiating the thermal energy from the first optical fiber bundle, at least a second optical fiber bundle accommodating transmission of the solar energy; and utilization means comprising a heat sink means and means for circulating heat from the heat sink means, the heat sink means comprising a heat storage enclosure and a heat sink in the heat storage enclosure, the means for circulating heat from the heat sink means comprising a duct means communicating with the heat storage enclosure, an electric motor, a blower in the duct means, the blower driven by the electric motor, a storage battery for operating the electric motor, a switch means supplying electrical energy from the storage battery to the electric motor, and a photoelectric cell means inside the heat storage enclosure for recharging the storage battery from solar energy transmitted by the second optical fiber bundle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A solar energy apparatus comprising: transmitting means and lens means for focusing solar energy on the transmitting means, said transmitting means comprising a plurality of optical fiber waveguides incorporated into a plurality of optical fiber bundles, at least a first optical fiber bundle accommodating absorption of solar energy as thermal energy, a radiating fins means attached to the first optical fiber bundle for radiating the thermal energy from the first optical fiber bundle, at least a second optical fiber bundle accommodating transmission of the solar energy; and utilization means comprising a heat sink means and means for circulating heat from the heat sink means, the heat sink means comprising a heat storage enclosure and a heat sink in the heat storage enclosure, the means for circulating heat from the heat sink means comprising a duct means communicating with the heat storage enclosure, an electric motor, a blower in the duct means, the blower driven by the electric motor, a storage battery for operating the electric motor, a switch means supplying electrical energy from the storage battery to the electric motor, and a photoelectric cell means inside the heat storage enclosure for recharging the storage battery from solar energy transmitted by the second optical fiber bundle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A solar energy apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the lens means comprises a plurality of discrete lenses formed in lateral nested array in a panel, each lens having a predetermined focal point lying in essentially the same plane which is parallel to the plane of the panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A solar energy apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein an end of each optical fiber waveguide bundle is interposed in proximity to a focal point of each of said lenses, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
199 words
A solar energy apparatus comprising: a heat sink means comprising a heat storage room and a heat sink enclosed in spaced relationship within the heat storage room; a plurality of fiber optic bundles in thermal and optical contact with the heat sink means and comprising at least a first fiber optic bundle and a radiating fins means attached to the first fiber optic bundle, the first fiber optic bundle accommodating the absorption of solar energy as thermal energy, the radiating fins means being at least partially embedded in the heat sink with the remainder of the radiating fins exposed to the ambient in the heat storage room, the radiating fins means accommodating conduction of thermal energy from the fiber optic bundle into the heat sink and the heat storage room and between the heat sink and the heat storage room, at least a second fiber optic bundle characterized by the absence of radiating fins and terminating in optical communication with the heat storage room, the second fiber optic bundle accommodating the transmission of solar energy into the heat storage room; and a lens means for focusing solar energy on each of the respective ends of the optical fiber bundles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
199 words
A solar energy apparatus comprising: a heat sink means comprising a heat storage room and a heat sink enclosed in spaced relationship within the heat storage room; a plurality of fiber optic bundles in thermal and optical contact with the heat sink means and comprising at least a first fiber optic bundle and a radiating fins means attached to the first fiber optic bundle, the first fiber optic bundle accommodating the absorption of solar energy as thermal energy, the radiating fins means being at least partially embedded in the heat sink with the remainder of the radiating fins exposed to the ambient in the heat storage room, the radiating fins means accommodating conduction of thermal energy from the fiber optic bundle into the heat sink and the heat storage room and between the heat sink and the heat storage room, at least a second fiber optic bundle characterized by the absence of radiating fins and terminating in optical communication with the heat storage room, the second fiber optic bundle accommodating the transmission of solar energy into the heat storage room; and a lens means for focusing solar energy on each of the respective ends of the optical fiber bundles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for utilizing solar energy by directing the solar energy to an energy storage area and withdrawing the energy therefrom comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of optical fiber bundles, at least a first optical fiber bundle having a radiating fin means attached to the first optical fiber bundle, at least a second optical fiber bundle terminating inside a heat storage enclosure for transmitting solar energy into the heat storage enclosure; exposing one end of the optical fiber bundles to a lens means, the lens means focusing solar energy on the ends of the bundles, the optical fiber bundles transmitting the solar energy and absorbing a first portion of the same thereby converting the first portion of solar energy to thermal energy; converting a second portion of the transmitted solar energy into electricity by exposing a photoelectric cell means to the second portion of transmitted solar energy; providing thermal contact between the first optical fiber bundle and a heat sink means comprising the heat storage enclosure and a heat sink in the heat storage enclosure, the radiating fin means being at least partially embedded in the heat sink and exposed to the ambient in the heat storage enclosure thereby providing the thermal contact therebetween, the heat sink absorbing thermal energy and re-radiating the thermal energy into the heat storage enclosure; and utilizing the thermal energy in the heat sink means by circulating air through the heat storage enclosure thereby absorbing thermal energy from the heat sink means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for utilizing solar energy by directing the solar energy to an energy storage area and withdrawing the energy therefrom comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of optical fiber bundles, at least a first optical fiber bundle having a radiating fin means attached to the first optical fiber bundle, at least a second optical fiber bundle terminating inside a heat storage enclosure for transmitting solar energy into the heat storage enclosure; exposing one end of the optical fiber bundles to a lens means, the lens means focusing solar energy on the ends of the bundles, the optical fiber bundles transmitting the solar energy and absorbing a first portion of the same thereby converting the first portion of solar energy to thermal energy; converting a second portion of the transmitted solar energy into electricity by exposing a photoelectric cell means to the second portion of transmitted solar energy; providing thermal contact between the first optical fiber bundle and a heat sink means comprising the heat storage enclosure and a heat sink in the heat storage enclosure, the radiating fin means being at least partially embedded in the heat sink and exposed to the ambient in the heat storage enclosure thereby providing the thermal contact therebetween, the heat sink absorbing thermal energy and re-radiating the thermal energy into the heat storage enclosure; and utilizing the thermal energy in the heat sink means by circulating air through the heat storage enclosure thereby absorbing thermal energy from the heat sink means.
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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) | 1980-05-30 | 1980-11-29 | 1981-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-30 | 1984-11-29 | 1985-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-30 | 1988-11-29 | 1989-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |