US4061267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar heating system and operation thereof
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-08-18
•
Granted: 1977-12-06
•
Expires: 1995-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A solar heating system, using a pebble bed as a heat storage, includes an auxiliary heater, providing heat for the system and/or for the pebble bed during times of low solar heat accumulation and during off-peak use loading of the public utility network system in the area of the solar heating system. A plurality of temperature sensors are provided in various levels of the pebble bed to determine the availability of stored heat and to actuate the auxiliary heating system according to heat requirements and to the time of day.
Inventors
- 👤 George O. G. Lof
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:38
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D19/00; F24D19/10; F24D19/1084; F24D19/109; F24D11/00; F24D11/006; F24D11/007; F24H; F24H7/00; F24H7/02; F24H7/04; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/0056; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B10/70; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A heating system for a building comprising: a. solar heat collector means for air heat transfer medium; b. heat storage means including an elongated bed of solid particulate matter arranged for air passage therethrough and including a plenum chamber; c. duct means for circulating air from said solar heat collector through said plenum chamber and then through said bed of particulate matter from one end in one direction for heating the same and from the opposite end in the opposite direction through said bed of particulate matter for heating air to be used to heat said building; d. auxiliary heater means mounted in said plenum chamber for heating air passing therethrough; e. means for moving air through said ducts and said bed of particulate matter; f. temperature sensor means in said bed of particulate matter; g. means for actuating said means for moving air through said ducts and said bed of particulate matter in response to said temperature sensor means; h. control means for actuating said auxiliary heater means in response to said temperature sensor means and during a predetermined period corresponding to a low power load interval during a day so as to pass heated air to said heat storage means in the same direction as heated air from said solar heat collector; i. temperature sensor means in said building; and j. means for directing air through said bed of particulate matter so as to heat air directed into said building in response to a predetermined setting of said temperature sensor means in said building.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A heating system for a building comprising: a. solar heat collector means for air heat transfer medium; b. heat storage means including an elongated bed of solid particulate matter arranged for air passage therethrough and including a plenum chamber; c. duct means for circulating air from said solar heat collector through said plenum chamber and then through said bed of particulate matter from one end in one direction for heating the same and from the opposite end in the opposite direction through said bed of particulate matter for heating air to be used to heat said building; d. auxiliary heater means mounted in said plenum chamber for heating air passing therethrough; e. means for moving air through said ducts and said bed of particulate matter; f. temperature sensor means in said bed of particulate matter; g. means for actuating said means for moving air through said ducts and said bed of particulate matter in response to said temperature sensor means; h. control means for actuating said auxiliary heater means in response to said temperature sensor means and during a predetermined period corresponding to a low power load interval during a day so as to pass heated air to said heat storage means in the same direction as heated air from said solar heat collector; i. temperature sensor means in said building; and j. means for directing air through said bed of particulate matter so as to heat air directed into said building in response to a predetermined setting of said temperature sensor means in said building.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary heater means is deactuated during heated air flow to said building.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary heater means is continuously activated during heated air flow to said building.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said control means is arranged to operate said auxiliary heater means during a predetermined time period corresponding to off-peak power periods of a utility providing power to said auxiliary heater means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said control means is arranged to actuate said auxiliary heater during a time period in response to a signal from a central utility.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary heater means is an electric heater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary heater means is a gas heater.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said bed of particulate material has sufficient heat storage capacity to heat said building for a predetermined period of time of at least about 12 hours in the absence of solar heat collection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A heating system according to claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor means includes a plurality of sensors in said bed spaced apart in the flow of air therethrough.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of operating a heating system for a building which includes a solar heat collector for supplying hot air to heat storage means including solid particulate material having a nominally hot end and a cool end and an auxiliary heater, and including temperature sensors in the building to be heated and temperature sensor means in the heat storage means spaced from end to end in the storage means which comprises: a. passing air from the cool end of said storage means to said solar heat collector during times of effective solar radiation and then to the hot end of the collector; b. passing air through the heat storage means with the exit air from the hot end of said storage means on demand of the temperature sensors in the building to be heated; c. operating the auxiliary heater in response to need signals from the temperature sensor means in the storage means and during predetermined time periods as set by time determining means; and d. circulating air through said storage means, during operations of said auxiliary heater, from hot to cool end thereof to store heat in said storage means supplied by said auxiliary heater.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of operating a heating system for a building which includes a solar heat collector for supplying hot air to heat storage means including solid particulate material having a nominally hot end and a cool end and an auxiliary heater, and including temperature sensors in the building to be heated and temperature sensor means in the heat storage means spaced from end to end in the storage means which comprises: a. passing air from the cool end of said storage means to said solar heat collector during times of effective solar radiation and then to the hot end of the collector; b. passing air through the heat storage means with the exit air from the hot end of said storage means on demand of the temperature sensors in the building to be heated; c. operating the auxiliary heater in response to need signals from the temperature sensor means in the storage means and during predetermined time periods as set by time determining means; and d. circulating air through said storage means, during operations of said auxiliary heater, from hot to cool end thereof to store heat in said storage means supplied by said auxiliary heater.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the operation of the auxiliary heater is intermittent with the passing of air from the storage means to the building.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the operation of the auxiliary heater is concurrent with the passing of air from the storage means to the building.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the time determining means is a clock mechanism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the time determining means includes a signal from the central utility company.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2680565A
Cited
US2434574A
Cited
US2856506A
Cited
US2677243A
Cited
US3412728A
Cited
US3902474A
Cited
US3931806A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |