US4074482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiation reflecting building
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-09
•
Granted: 1978-02-21
•
Expires: 1996-01-09
Abstract
Abstract This invention comprises structures for providing shelter at low cost by reflecting a high fraction of the optical and thermal radiation incident on the walls from the outside, or by reflecting a high fraction of the thermal radiation incident on the walls from inside. The structures are composed of translucent container modules attached to a framework, said container modules holding a translucent liquid, foam or gel medium with a dispersion of microparticles which can reflect or absorb the spectrum of radiation impinging on it. These containers incorporate into themselves thermal insulators for minimizing thermal conduction and means for minimizing thermal convection.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl N. Klahr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:29
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/66; E06B3/67; E06B3/6715; E06B3/6722; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/74; E04B1/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A radiation reflecting building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, (c) at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, supported by said structural framework, (d) a translucent dispersion medium within said container module, and (e) a quantity of microparticle material in the form of microparticles dispersed within said dispersion medium, wherein the index of refraction of the microparticle material differs substantially from that of said dispersion medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient of less than 0.2, and wherein the concentration of microparticles in the dispersion medium and the container internal dimension perpendicular to said container surface provide an optical path length through said dispersion medium layer of at least four scattering lengths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A radiation reflecting building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, (c) at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, supported by said structural framework, (d) a translucent dispersion medium within said container module, and (e) a quantity of microparticle material in the form of microparticles dispersed within said dispersion medium, wherein the index of refraction of the microparticle material differs substantially from that of said dispersion medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient of less than 0.2, and wherein the concentration of microparticles in the dispersion medium and the container internal dimension perpendicular to said container surface provide an optical path length through said dispersion medium layer of at least four scattering lengths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is a gel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is a foamed solid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the microparticles are dispersed in a translucent polymerized plastic foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispersion medium is a gel whose sol material is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, agar-agar and silicic acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the microparticle material is in the form of liquid drops and the dispersion is an emulsion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is a foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one said container module includes an air space region containing translucent thermal insulating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 including a multiplicity of container modules fitting together to comprise a reflecting wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein said translucent surface of said container module is composed of a polymerized plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein said container modules are fabricated of translucent material selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose proprionate, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl ester, polyester, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate and polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein said microparticles are liquid drops.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 7 wherein the microparticle material is titanium dioxide and the liquid is water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the microparticles are in the size range of 0.1 to 10 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 including means of stirring and agitating said microparticle dispersion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 7 wherein said liquid dispersion is circulated through said container modules by means of inlets and outlets in said container modules.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the microparticle material is selected from the group consisting of rutile, anatase, white lead, basic lead sulphate, zinc oxide, lithopane, antimony oxide, magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the microparticle sizes, the microparticle concentration, and the dispersion layer thickness are selected for transmission of short optical wavelengths and reflection of long optical wavelengths.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the microparticle sizes, the microparticle concentration and the dispersion layer thickness are selected for transmission of long optical wavelengths and reflection of short optical wavelengths.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said container modules has air flow deflectors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one said container has at least two separate compartments, each for an independent microparticle dispersion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is selected from the group consisting of foamed liquid, emulsion, gel, and foamed solid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is selected from the group consisting of water, water with added sol material, water with added emulsifier, and foamed polymeric plastic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, mineral oil with added sol material, and mineral oil with added emulsifier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is selected from the group consisting of water, water with added sol material, and water with added emulsifier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is water with an additive selected from the group consisting of foaming agent, sol material and emulsifier material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium is water with an additive selected from the group consisting of soap, albumin, saponin, gelatin, agar agar, silicic acid, emulsifier material and surfactant material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 including means for insertion and removal of alternate microparticle dispersions corresponding to varying external conditions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein surfactant chemicals are included in said dispersion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one said translucent container module has at least one transparent surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
119 words
A building partition panel comprising a structural framework; at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, said module being supported by said framework; a translucent dispersion medium within said module; and a quantity of microparticle material in the form of microparticles dispersed within said medium, the index of refraction of the microparticle material differing substantially from that of said medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient of less than 0.2, and wherein the concentration of microparticles in the dispersion medium and the container internal dimension perpendicular to said container surface provide an optical path length through said dispersion medium layer of at least four scattering lengths.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
A building partition panel comprising a structural framework; at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, said module being supported by said framework; a translucent dispersion medium within said module; and a quantity of microparticle material in the form of microparticles dispersed within said medium, the index of refraction of the microparticle material differing substantially from that of said medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient of less than 0.2, and wherein the concentration of microparticles in the dispersion medium and the container internal dimension perpendicular to said container surface provide an optical path length through said dispersion medium layer of at least four scattering lengths.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
131 words
A radiation reflecting building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, (c) at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, supported by said structural framework, (d) a translucent dispersion medium within said container module, (e) a quantity of microparticles dispersed within said dispersion medium, wherein the index of refraction of the microparticle material differs substantially from that of said dispersion medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient of less than 0.2, and (f) means of stirring and agitating said microparticle dispersion, wherein pneumatic pressure is utilized as the means for agitation by formation of air bubbles which move upward through said microparticle dispersion within said container module.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
131 words
A radiation reflecting building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, (c) at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, supported by said structural framework, (d) a translucent dispersion medium within said container module, (e) a quantity of microparticles dispersed within said dispersion medium, wherein the index of refraction of the microparticle material differs substantially from that of said dispersion medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient of less than 0.2, and (f) means of stirring and agitating said microparticle dispersion, wherein pneumatic pressure is utilized as the means for agitation by formation of air bubbles which move upward through said microparticle dispersion within said container module.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
123 words
A radiation reflecting building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, (c) at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, supported by said structural framework, (d) a translucent foam dispersion medium within said container module, (e) a quantity of microparticles dispersed within said dispersion medium, wherein the index of refraction of the microparticle material differs substantially from that of said foam dispersion medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient is less than 0.2, and wherein pneumatic pressure is utilized to produce said foam by bubbling air through a dispersion of microparticles in a liquid containing a surfactant foaming agent.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
123 words
A radiation reflecting building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, (c) at least one container module with at least one translucent surface, supported by said structural framework, (d) a translucent foam dispersion medium within said container module, (e) a quantity of microparticles dispersed within said dispersion medium, wherein the index of refraction of the microparticle material differs substantially from that of said foam dispersion medium and wherein the microparticle material has a ratio of optical absorption coefficient to optical scattering coefficient is less than 0.2, and wherein pneumatic pressure is utilized to produce said foam by bubbling air through a dispersion of microparticles in a liquid containing a surfactant foaming agent.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radiation reflection building as defined in claim 31 wherein said liquid is water and said surfactant foaming agent is saponin.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
A radiation reflecting building as defined in claim 31 wherein said liquid is water and said surfactant foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of soaps, albumin, gelatin and saponin.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
63 words
A modular building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, and (c) a multiplicity of container modules fitting together to comprise a wall section, supported by said structural framework, and wherein said container modules contain a foamed liquid thermal insulating material and wherein said container modules are fabricated from a polymerized plastic.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
63 words
A modular building comprising in combination: (a) a basic support structure, (b) a structural framework attached to said basic support structure, and (c) a multiplicity of container modules fitting together to comprise a wall section, supported by said structural framework, and wherein said container modules contain a foamed liquid thermal insulating material and wherein said container modules are fabricated from a polymerized plastic.
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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) | 1981-02-20 | 1981-08-22 | 1982-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-20 | 1985-08-22 | 1986-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-20 | 1989-08-22 | 1990-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |