Solar powered method and apparatus for venting gaseous material from an enclosed space to atmosphere

Claim 1

Solar powered apparatus for venting gaseous fluid from a substantially enclosed space to the atmosphere comprising a fluid passage having an intake portion disposed to be placed in fluid communication with the enclosed space, said fluid passage having an exhaust portion, a chamber surrounding the exhaust portion of said fluid passage with the exhaust portion in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber, first pressure sensitive valve means between said exhaust portion and the interior of said chamber, said first pressure sensitive valve means being responsive to the fluid pressures in said fluid passage and in said chamber such that it permits flow of fluid from said fluid passage into said chamber when the fluid pressure in said fluid passage exceeds the fluid pressure in said chamber by a predetermined amount and blocks flow of fluid from said chamber into said fluid passage when the fluid pressure in said chamber exceeds the fluid pressure in said fluid passage by a predetermined amount, second pressure sensitive valve means between the interior of said chamber and the atmosphere, said second pressure sensitive valve means being responsive to the fluid pressure within said chamber and to ambient pressure such that said second pressure sensitive valve means is adapted to open to exhaust fluid material from said chamber to the atmosphere when the pressure within said chamber exceeds ambient pressure by a predetermined amount and said pressure sensitive valve is adapted to close and prevent flow of ambient air into said chamber when fluid pressure within said chamber falls below ambient pressure by a predetermined amount, means within said chamber for absorbing radiant solar energy for heating and expanding gaseous fluid material on the interior of said chamber, said first and second valve means being responsive to the expansion of gaseous fluid which occurs due to solar heating, and being further responsive to the contraction of gaseous fluid material which occurs during periods of cooling of the gaseous fluid material on the interior of said chamber.

Claim 8

A method of venting gaseous fluid from an enclosed space to atmosphere comprising the steps of providing a chamber having a first portion in fluid communication with the enclosed space and a second portion in fluid communication with atmosphere, heating the interior of the chamber by solar energy during periods of exposure of the chamber to sunlight, closing the first portion of the chamber against flow and venting gaseous and liquid fluid from the chamber through the second portion to atmosphere during the heating of the chamber by solar energy, sealing the second portion against backflow of ambient gas into the chamber and venting gaseous fluid material from the enclosed space into the chamber during periods when the chamber is not exposed to sunlight.

Claim 9

A method of venting gaseous fluid from an enclosed space to atmosphere comprising the steps of providing a chamber having a first portion in fluid communication with the enclosed space and a second portion in fluid communication with atmosphere, heating the interior of the chamber by solar energy during periods of exposure of the chamber to sunlight, closing the first portion of the chamber against flow and venting gaseous and liquid fluid from the chamber through the second portion to atmosphere during the heating of the chamber by solar energy, sealing the second portion against backflow of ambient gas into the chamber and venting gaseous fluid material from the enclosed space into the chamber during periods when the chamber is not exposed to sunlight.