Patent US4085732A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4085732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for heating a liquid using solar energy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-07
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1996-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for heating a liquid using solar energy. Through the use of an absorber plate made of a sheet of copper or any other similar conductive metal, the heat from the sun is captured. The front surface of the plate is covered with a dark absorbent coating. The heat absorbed by the copper sheet is conducted to a thin film of liquid such as water which is fed by gravity down the backside of the plate from a supply line disposed adjacent to the top of the backside of the plate. The liquid absorbs the heat from the plate as it flows downward covering the backside of the plate and is discharged at the bottom of the plate into a drain line. The drain line removes the heated liquid from the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Ervin E. Hysom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:23
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/60; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y10; Y10S; Y10S126/00; Y10S126/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for heating a liquid using solar energy, the apparatus comprising: an absorber plate with horizontal corregations and having a frontside and a backside, the frontside of said plate positioned at an angle to face the sun, the corregations of said plate positioned transverse to the flow of a liquid as the liquid is fed across the backside of said plate and downwardly along the length of the backside of said plate; a supply line for distributing a thin film of liquid onto the backside of said plate, the liquid flowing downwardly by gravity across the corregated surface of the backside of said plate and along the length of the backside of said plate; and a drain line disposed adjacent the bottom of the backside of said plate, said drain line receiving the heated liquid therein and discharging the liquid from the apparatus; the top portion of said plate curved upwardly and below a portion of said supply line, said supply line disposed above the curved top portion of said plate and adjacent a vertical plane tangent to the backside of said plate at a position where the top portion of said plate starts to curve upwardly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for heating a liquid using solar energy, the apparatus comprising: an absorber plate with horizontal corregations and having a frontside and a backside, the frontside of said plate positioned at an angle to face the sun, the corregations of said plate positioned transverse to the flow of a liquid as the liquid is fed across the backside of said plate and downwardly along the length of the backside of said plate; a supply line for distributing a thin film of liquid onto the backside of said plate, the liquid flowing downwardly by gravity across the corregated surface of the backside of said plate and along the length of the backside of said plate; and a drain line disposed adjacent the bottom of the backside of said plate, said drain line receiving the heated liquid therein and discharging the liquid from the apparatus; the top portion of said plate curved upwardly and below a portion of said supply line, said supply line disposed above the curved top portion of said plate and adjacent a vertical plane tangent to the backside of said plate at a position where the top portion of said plate starts to curve upwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the front side of said absorber plate is covered with a dark absorbent coating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said supply line includes a plurality of apertures therein for feeding the liquid across the top of the backside of said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The appartus as described in claim 1, further including an insulated housing for receiving said absorber plate therein, said housing having an open front portion with a transparent cover mounted therein, said transparent cover disposed parallel and adjacent the front side of said absorber plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein said housing includes a plurality of transparent covers disposed in a spaced relationship to each other and parallel and adjacent the front side of said absorber plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the bottom of said absorber plate is curved rearwardly and upwardly forming a U-shaped collector for receiving the heated liquid therein and feeding the liquid into said drain line.
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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) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |