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US4144873A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for refracting, concentrating and collecting solar radiation

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-21
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Granted: 1979-03-20
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Expires: 1996-06-21
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Abstract

Abstract A solar energy collection device includes an oblong pedestal with a heat absorbing hollow cylinder carried upon the pinnacle of the pedestal through which a heat absorbing fluid is moved. A transparent, generally cylindrical member is carried by the pedestal and encircles at least a portion of the cylinder for concentrating and transferring radiant energy incident to the periphery of the member to the heat absorbing cylinder, and thence to the fluid passing therethrough.

Inventors

  • 👤 C. Kenneth Blanton

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 07:34
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/30; F24S25/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
A device for refracting, concentrating and collecting radiant solar energy comprising: an oblong pedestal having a generally triangular cross section and plural spacing elements extending along the pinnacle of said pedestal; a heat absorbing hollow cylinder carried by said spacing elements of said pedestal; a transparent, generally cylindrical member comprising a solid, refractive material of uniform thickness carried by said pedestal and encircling at least a portion of said cylinder for concentrating and transferring substantially all of the radiant energy incident to the periphery of said member to said heat absorbing cylinder, said refractive member being relatively thicker than the cross sectional dimension of said hollow cylinder; said refractive member comprising a cylinder having a section removed, with said pedestal occupying said removed section, the axis of said refractive member being substantially coaxial with the axis of said hollow cylinder; a plurality of said pedestal-cylinder-refractive member combinations, each combination lying with axes of said cylinders substantially parallel with one another and substantially normal to the mean inclination of radiation of the sun.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 172 words
A device for refracting, concentrating and collecting radiant solar energy comprising: an oblong pedestal having a generally triangular cross section and plural spacing elements extending along the pinnacle of said pedestal; a heat absorbing hollow cylinder carried by said spacing elements of said pedestal; a transparent, generally cylindrical member comprising a solid, refractive material of uniform thickness carried by said pedestal and encircling at least a portion of said cylinder for concentrating and transferring substantially all of the radiant energy incident to the periphery of said member to said heat absorbing cylinder, said refractive member being relatively thicker than the cross sectional dimension of said hollow cylinder; said refractive member comprising a cylinder having a section removed, with said pedestal occupying said removed section, the axis of said refractive member being substantially coaxial with the axis of said hollow cylinder; a plurality of said pedestal-cylinder-refractive member combinations, each combination lying with axes of said cylinders substantially parallel with one another and substantially normal to the mean inclination of radiation of the sun.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The device recited in claim 1 further comprising means for defining a partial vacuum interposed between said cylinder and said member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The device recited in claim 1 further comprising means for moving a heat absorbing fluid through all of said cylinders simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The device recited in claim 3 further comprising: turbine means for receiving a heated fluid output from all of said cylinders and being driven thereby; a generator coupled to a driven output of said turbine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The device recited in claim 4 further comprising means coupled to an output of said generating means for separating water into constituent hydrogen and oxygen.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US893060A Cited
US1068650A Cited
US1345758A Cited
US1588214A Cited
US1989999A Cited
US3529117A Cited
US3841738A Cited
US3915147A Cited
US4030890A Cited
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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) 1982-03-19 1982-09-18 1983-03-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-03-19 1986-09-18 1987-03-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-03-19 1990-09-18 1991-03-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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