US4028008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar energy operated air compressor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-18
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Granted: 1977-06-07
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Expires: 1996-06-18
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure pertains to tanks, operated in pairs disposed above the surface of the earth. Each is adapted with sunshading deflectors selectively operated so as to permit the air contained within one such tank to be heated and thus elevated in pressure, by the rays of the sun. A receiving tank, disposed below the surface of the earth, collects the pressurized air and enables the cooling thereof. Condensation occurs while the pressure level within the receiving tank is elevated. A plurality of such units comprising above ground pairs of tanks and below ground cooled receiving tanks are arranged in a series circuit so as to increase the available air pressure at the last receiving tank. A centralized condensate tank collects all the water condensed within each receiving tank and utilizes the elevated air pressure therewithin to discharge the water as required. The air pressure at the last receiving tank may be utilized to drive a motor which in turn can operate an electric generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert P. Shelton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:21
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B35/00; F03; F03G; F03G6/00; F03G6/003; F04D; F04D23/00; F24; F24S; F24S90/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A solar energy operated air compressor and condenser comprising at least two tanks, said at least two tanks being disposed above the grade of the earth and to the sun's rays, a first receiving tank, said first receiving tank being disposed below said grade and shilded from said sun's rays, means to alternately shield each of said at least two tanks from said sun's rays, first means to communicate compressed air from within said each of said at least two tanks to within said first receiving tank when the pressure level within said each of said at least two tanks exceeds the pressure level within said first receiving tank, a condensate tank, said condensate tank being disposed below said grade, first means to drain condensate water from said first receiving tank into said condensate tank when said condensate water reaches a pre-determined level within said first receiving tank, a first heating tank, said first heating tank being disposed above said grade and to said sun's rays, second means to communicate compressed air from within said first receiving tank to within said first heating tank when said pressure level within said first receiving tank exceeds the pressure level within said first heating tank, a second receiving tank, said second receiving tank being disposed below said grade and shielded from said sun's rays, third means to communicate said compressed air within said first heating tank to within said second receiving tank when said pressure level within said first heating tank exceeds the pressure level within said second receiving tank, second means to drain condensate water from said second receiving tank into said condensate tank when said condensate water within said second receiving tank reaches a pre-determined height within said second receiving tank, means to supply atmospheric air to within said each of said at least two tanks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
A solar energy operated air compressor and condenser comprising at least two tanks, said at least two tanks being disposed above the grade of the earth and to the sun's rays, a first receiving tank, said first receiving tank being disposed below said grade and shilded from said sun's rays, means to alternately shield each of said at least two tanks from said sun's rays, first means to communicate compressed air from within said each of said at least two tanks to within said first receiving tank when the pressure level within said each of said at least two tanks exceeds the pressure level within said first receiving tank, a condensate tank, said condensate tank being disposed below said grade, first means to drain condensate water from said first receiving tank into said condensate tank when said condensate water reaches a pre-determined level within said first receiving tank, a first heating tank, said first heating tank being disposed above said grade and to said sun's rays, second means to communicate compressed air from within said first receiving tank to within said first heating tank when said pressure level within said first receiving tank exceeds the pressure level within said first heating tank, a second receiving tank, said second receiving tank being disposed below said grade and shielded from said sun's rays, third means to communicate said compressed air within said first heating tank to within said second receiving tank when said pressure level within said first heating tank exceeds the pressure level within said second receiving tank, second means to drain condensate water from said second receiving tank into said condensate tank when said condensate water within said second receiving tank reaches a pre-determined height within said second receiving tank, means to supply atmospheric air to within said each of said at least two tanks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an additional plurality of receiving tanks, an additional plurality of heating tanks, said additional plurality of heating tanks being disposed in a series pneumatic circuit with said additional plurality of receiving tanks, each of said additional plurality of heating tanks being interposed pneumatically communicating between adjacent pairs of said additional plurality of receiving tanks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a pipe, said pipe communicating from one of said at least two tanks to said first receiving tank, a check valve, said check valve being interposed between the ends of said pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein said alternate shielding means comprises a piston, a plurality of louvres, said each of said at least two tanks having one of said plurality of louvres disposed intermediate said sun's rays and said each of said at least two tanks, means to link the shaft of said piston to said one of said plurality of louvres, means to operate said piston responsive to the opening of said check valve, said means to link including said one of said plurality of louvres being disposed in a shielding position shielding said one of said at least two tanks from said sun's rays when said check valve is in an open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first means to drain comprises a float switch being disposed within said first receiving tank, said float switch being responsive to said pre-determined level within said first receiving tank, means to operate said water valve when said float switch responds to said pre-determined level, a drain pipe fluidly communicating from said first receiving tank to said condensate tank, said water valve being disposed intermediate the ends of said drain pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second means to communicate comprises a pipe communicating from said first receiving tank to said first heating tank, a check valve being disposed intermediate the ends of said pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third means to communicate comprises a pipe communicating from said first heating tank to said second receiving tank, a check valve being disposed intermediate the ends of said pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second means to drain comprises a float switch being disposed within said second receiving tank, said float switch being responsive to said pre-determined height within said second receiving tank, means to operate said water valve when said float switch responds to said pre-determined height, a drain pipe fluidly communicating from said second receiving tank to said condensate tank, said water valve being disposed intermediate the ends of said drain pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The solar energy operated air compressor and condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means to supply comprises a pipe, a check valve, said pipe having one end thereof communicating to said atmospheric air, the other end of said pipe communicating to the interior of one of said at least two tanks, said check valve being disposed said one end and said other end of said pipe.
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) | 1980-06-06 | 1980-12-06 | 1981-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-06 | 1984-12-06 | 1985-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-06 | 1988-12-06 | 1989-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |