US4170984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar energy heat collector
Assignee: Atlantic Research Corp
•
Filing: 1977-02-17
•
Granted: 1979-10-16
•
Expires: 1997-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A gravity-flow, sheet-flow solar heat collector wherein the heat-absorbent medium is a dark fluid having a minimum viscosity of about 10 centipoise at 120 DEG F.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Scheffee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:49
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S80/00; F24S80/20; F24S10/00; F24S10/60; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 73
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In a gravity-flow, sheet-flow, solar-energy collector including a bottom fluid-flow surface lateral and end walls, a fluid inflow header, a fluid outflow chamber and a first solid, substantially rigid transparent sheet or window which extends across the entire fluid flow area of the collector at a spaced distance from the bottom fluid-flow surface and is peripherally, sealingly attached to the lateral and end walls of the collector, the improvement wherein the fluid flowing in the collector is a dark liquid having a predetermined viscosity which is at least about 10 Cp at 120° F.; said first transparent solid sheet is at a predetermined distance from the bottom fluid-flow surface; the space between said bottom surface and said transparent first sheet is flooded with said fluid; and said fluid inflow header is provided with overflow means to produce a desired head and to equalize pressure in said header and outflow chamber; said predetermined viscosity being sufficiently high, given other variable operating conditions of said collector, to provide a desired temperature differential per unit length of said collector over a tilt angle range up to about 90°.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a gravity-flow, sheet-flow, solar-energy collector including a bottom fluid-flow surface lateral and end walls, a fluid inflow header, a fluid outflow chamber and a first solid, substantially rigid transparent sheet or window which extends across the entire fluid flow area of the collector at a spaced distance from the bottom fluid-flow surface and is peripherally, sealingly attached to the lateral and end walls of the collector, the improvement wherein the fluid flowing in the collector is a dark liquid having a predetermined viscosity which is at least about 10 Cp at 120° F.; said first transparent solid sheet is at a predetermined distance from the bottom fluid-flow surface; the space between said bottom surface and said transparent first sheet is flooded with said fluid; and said fluid inflow header is provided with overflow means to produce a desired head and to equalize pressure in said header and outflow chamber; said predetermined viscosity being sufficiently high, given other variable operating conditions of said collector, to provide a desired temperature differential per unit length of said collector over a tilt angle range up to about 90°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collector of claim 1 wherein the minimum viscosity is about 20 Cp at 120° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 1 wherein the liquid is water containing material which increases viscosity and imparts a dark color to the liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 2 wherein the liquid is water containing material which increases viscosity and imparts a dark color to the liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collector of claim 1 wherein the dark color is imparted by finely divided carbon or graphite.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collector of claim 2 wherein the dark color is imparted by finely divided carbon or graphite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collector of claim 3 wherein the dark color is imparted by finely divided carbon or graphite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collector of claim 4 wherein the dark color is imparted by finely divided carbon or graphite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 1 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 2 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 3 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 4 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 5 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The collector of claim 6 has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 7 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The collector of claim 8 which has a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal channels separated each from the other by longitudinal dividers which are substantially perpendicular to the botom fluid-flow surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 9 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 10 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 11 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 12 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 13 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 14 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 15 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collector of claim 16 wherein said transparent sheet covers said channels in substantially abutting relationship to the upper ends of said dividers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 1 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 2 wherein said overfflow means is a baffle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 3 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 4 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 5 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 6 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 7 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 8 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 9 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 10 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 11 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 12 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 13 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 14 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 15 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 16 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 17 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 18 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 19 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 20 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 21 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 22 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 23 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
The collector of claim 24 wherein said overflow means is a baffle.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 1 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 2 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 3 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collctor are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 4 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 9 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 10 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 11 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 12 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 17 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 18 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 19 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 20 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 25 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 26 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 27 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 28 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 33 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 34 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 35 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 36 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 41 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 42 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 43 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collector of claim 44 wherein the fluid and the fluid flow surfaces of said collector are mutually substantially non-wettable.
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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) | 1982-10-15 | 1983-04-16 | 1983-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-15 | 1987-04-16 | 1987-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-15 | 1991-04-16 | 1991-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |