Patent US1303477A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4173304A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4173304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Building structure with heat storage and recovery
Assignee: Energy Conservation Partnership Ltd
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Filing: 1977-10-14
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1997-10-14
Abstract
Abstract In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,246, a double-walled structure collects solar heat with air as the heat transfer medium, which heat is stored in subterranean gravel pits. In the present invention, (1) the design of the gravel pits is improved, (2) the efficiency of the solar collectors is improved, whereby needed collection area is reduced, (3) seepage into the pits is minimized, and (4) novel modes of operation using ambient air are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur F. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:41
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F5/00; F24F5/0046; F24F5/005; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/006; F24D11/007; F24S; F24S10/00; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/0056; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/27; Y02A30/272; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B10/40; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/54; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Heat storage means for a building structure comprising: peripheral trenches beneath the perimeter of said building filled with gravel, said gravel supporting the building foundations; a plurality of spaced parallel buried trenches extending between opposed peripheral trenches at the bottom thereof and also filled with gravel; a layer of gravel underlying the floor of said structure; all of said gravel being sized to have a minimum diameter of about 1.5 inches; and means for blowing air through said gravel for storage and retrieval of heat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Heat storage means for a building structure comprising: peripheral trenches beneath the perimeter of said building filled with gravel, said gravel supporting the building foundations; a plurality of spaced parallel buried trenches extending between opposed peripheral trenches at the bottom thereof and also filled with gravel; a layer of gravel underlying the floor of said structure; all of said gravel being sized to have a minimum diameter of about 1.5 inches; and means for blowing air through said gravel for storage and retrieval of heat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heat storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gravel has a size range of 1.5 to 3 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heat storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peripheral trenches are from 10 to 15 feet deep.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The heat storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blowing means comprise fans, dampers and ducts, whereby air may be selectively blown through said peripheral and buried trenches or said gravel layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heat storage means as claimed in claim 1 and additionally comprising means adapted to prevent groundwaters from contacting said heat storage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heat storage means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said groundwater prevention means comprise rainwater deflectors and deep-well pumps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A building structure including solar energy collection and storage means comprising: wall and roof elements including solar energy collectors having air passages whereby air may be used as a heat transfer medium; heat storage means beneath said structure comprising: peripheral trenches beneath the perimeter of said building filled with gravel, said gravel supporting the building foundations; a plurality of spaced parallel buried trenches extending between opposed peripheral trenches at the bottom thereof and also filled with gravel; a layer of gravel underlying the floor of said structure; all of said gravel being sized to have a minimum diameter of about 1.5 inches; and means for blowing air through said passages for heat collection, blowing heated or ambient air through said gravel for heat storage or retrieval, and blowing heated air through the interior of said building.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A building structure including solar energy collection and storage means comprising: wall and roof elements including solar energy collectors having air passages whereby air may be used as a heat transfer medium; heat storage means beneath said structure comprising: peripheral trenches beneath the perimeter of said building filled with gravel, said gravel supporting the building foundations; a plurality of spaced parallel buried trenches extending between opposed peripheral trenches at the bottom thereof and also filled with gravel; a layer of gravel underlying the floor of said structure; all of said gravel being sized to have a minimum diameter of about 1.5 inches; and means for blowing air through said passages for heat collection, blowing heated or ambient air through said gravel for heat storage or retrieval, and blowing heated air through the interior of said building.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said gravel has a size range of 1.5 to 3 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said peripheral trenches are from 10 to 15 feet deep.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said blowing means comprise fans, dampers and ducts, whereby air may be selectively blown through said peripheral and buried trenches or said gravel layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 7 and additionally comprising means adapted to prevent groundwaters from contacting said heat storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein said groundwater prevention means comprise rainwater deflectors and deep-well pumps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said solar energy collectors comprise: air preheating passages beneath radiation-absorbent wall or roof sections; and air superheating passages beneath radiation-trapping wall or roof sections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The building structure as claimed in claim 10, and additionally comprising means for saturating cool air prior to blowing same through said passages for heat collection.
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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) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |