Patent US4148298A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4148298A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hemispherical collector of direct dispersed and reflected waves
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-06-14
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Granted: 1979-04-10
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Expires: 1998-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A collector of waves, such as of solar radiations entering from any direction, concentrates them upon a receiver that converts them to useful purposes. Moderate concentration factors are achieved without the necessity of tracking the sun. The reflective surface of the collector is a semicircular arc developed by rotation about an axis either in the plane of the arc passing through the center of curvature to form a hemisphere, or in the plane of the arc and tangent to one end to form a hemitoroid with a central cusp, or about some other axis; or some combination of these shapes. The device is compounded to provide an increased concentration factor. Means are taught for adapting the device to heat-collecting plates, heat pipes, or photovoltaic conversion devices (solar cells) of either disc, ribbon, or tube construction and for installing the device on surfaces of buildings with or without the capability of tracking the sun.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin F. Sherman, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7861; F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/90; F24S10/95; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/80; H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/488; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/10; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E10/47; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A hemispherical collector of direct, indirect, dispersed and reflected radiations from a remote source, such as from the sun, comprising: A. at least one reflector having: a. at least one hemispherical concavity with an inner reflective surface; b. said reflector forming a collector aperture defined by the largest plane area through which radiations pass to enter the collector, said aperture being the collector opening exposed to incoming radiations; B. means to absorb the radiations received, including at least one radiation receiver mounted about within the boundaries of the concavity and having: a. at least one radiation receiving surface at a location in opposition to said reflector, b. a shape and dimensions of surface areas in proportion to the reflector to intercept and absorb substantially all radiations from any direction reflected from the reflector. c. an areal ratio of collector aperture to receiver of about at least four to one and greater; d. having at least one additional surface to intercept also all direct nonreflected radiations entering the collector from the said source; and means to convert the absorbed radiations into energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A hemispherical collector of direct, indirect, dispersed and reflected radiations from a remote source, such as from the sun, comprising: A. at least one reflector having: a. at least one hemispherical concavity with an inner reflective surface; b. said reflector forming a collector aperture defined by the largest plane area through which radiations pass to enter the collector, said aperture being the collector opening exposed to incoming radiations; B. means to absorb the radiations received, including at least one radiation receiver mounted about within the boundaries of the concavity and having: a. at least one radiation receiving surface at a location in opposition to said reflector, b. a shape and dimensions of surface areas in proportion to the reflector to intercept and absorb substantially all radiations from any direction reflected from the reflector. c. an areal ratio of collector aperture to receiver of about at least four to one and greater; d. having at least one additional surface to intercept also all direct nonreflected radiations entering the collector from the said source; and means to convert the absorbed radiations into energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 1, said inner reflective surface being a hemisphere, developed by the rotation of a semicircle about its central axis and facing with its concave side toward the source; said reflector further comprising: at least one radial skew ray deflector plate with at least two reflective surfaces; said at least one radial skew-ray deflector plate conforming to the contour of the hemisphere and extending from the outer perimeter toward the central axis; said radiations receiver being mounted along the central axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 2, each said plate mounted to the concave surface of the reflector to extend from the receiver to the outer perimeter of the reflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 3, there being two sets of said plates, an outer set of plates mounted symmetrically on the concave surface starting at the outer rim and extending part way toward the central axis, and an inner set of plates also mounted symmetrically on the concave surface and extending from the receiver at the central axis twoard the outer plates but skewed angularly so that each inner plate bisects the angle between two outer plates and vice versa.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 4, said radial, skew-ray deflector plates comprising: two groups of plates spaced symmetrically angulrly from each other; a first group extending from the receiver radially a portion of the way toward the outer perimeter of the reflector; and a second group extending from the outer perimeter of the reflector a portion of the way radially toward the receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 2, said hemisphere being in its outer perimeter extended into the shape of a regular polygon; said skew-ray deflector plates conforming to the distorted contours of the distorted hemisphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 6, said regular polygon having rounded corners.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
A plurality of collectors as claimed in claim 6, the hemisphere of each collector being in its upper periphery extended into a polygonal shape with rounded corners, the collectors being assembled with their rims adjacent to each other in the plane of said rims; each said rim being provided with means to mate in assembly with the rim of the adjoining collector; the receiver of each collector having a conduit connection with the conduits of the adjacent collectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 1, said means to absorb said radiations including a receiver with means to convert the radiations to heat energy; said conduits being fluid conduits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 9, said receiver being an elongated tube mounted axially centrally extending from the upper opening of the hemisphere into it.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 1, said means to absorb the radiations including a receiver with means to convert the radiations to electrical energy, said conduits being electrical conduits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 11, said receiver comprising at least one solar cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 12, said solar cell being a silicon tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 12, and means to wire the solar cells in a plurality of separate segments along their lengths with each segment isolated by a blocking diode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 12, said solar cell being at least two solar cell ribbons mounted adjacent to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 15. said solar cell being three solar cell ribbons mounted in a triangular cross section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 11, said means to absorb the radiations being a solar cell; said solar cell being circular in cross section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 1, said hemisphere being in its upper periphery extended into a polygonal shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 18, said hemisphere being in its upper periphery extended into a hexagonal shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A collector of radiations as claimed in claim 18, said hemisphere being extended in its upper periphery into a squarish shape with rounded corners.
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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) | 1982-04-09 | 1982-10-09 | 1983-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-10-09 | 1987-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-09 | 1990-10-09 | 1991-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |