US4391099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing inflatable pressurized rising conduit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-09-22
•
Granted: 1983-07-05
•
Expires: 2000-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of atmospheric thermal energy conversion is disclosed utilizing pressurized inflatable rising conduit. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing warm or cold gas at a predetermined elevation; (b) transporting the gas vertically from the predetermined elevation to a different elevation through a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit, thereby providing gas within the conduit with a density which causes the gas to flow through the conduit; (c) converting the energy of the flowing gas by passing the gas through a transducer; (d) pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Jens O. Sorensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:44
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G6/00; F03G6/02; F03G6/04; F03G6/045; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising the steps of: (a) providing warm gas at a low elevation, (b) transporting the warm gas upwards from the low elevation to a high elevation through a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit thereby providing gas within the conduit with a low density which causes the upward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) converting the energy of the flowing gas by passing the gas through a transducer, (d) pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable rising conduit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising the steps of: (a) providing warm gas at a low elevation, (b) transporting the warm gas upwards from the low elevation to a high elevation through a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit thereby providing gas within the conduit with a low density which causes the upward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) converting the energy of the flowing gas by passing the gas through a transducer, (d) pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable rising conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises: (e) providing gas at the low elevation, (f) heating the gas at an elevation which is lower than the high elevation to thereby provide the warm gas at the low elevation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: (g) providing a liquid, (h) dissolving the liquid in the gas to provide a humid gas at an elevation which is lower than the higher elevation to retard adiabatic cooling by liquid condensing in the gas as the gas rises upwards within the conduit, thereby decreasing the density of the gas within the conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein step (f) comprises: (g) heating the gas by solar energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises: (e) providing a gas in the rising conduit with a density which is lower than the density of the ambient air whereby the low density gas causes a high pressure in the conduit in relation to the ambient pressure outside the conduit at the same elevation, thereby pressurizing the conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein step (d) comprises: (f) pressurizing the conduit by pumping said gas into the conduit at the low elevation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising the steps of: (a) providing cold gas at a high elevation, (b) transporting the cold gas downwards from the high elevation to a low elevation through a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit thereby providing gas within the conduit with a high density which causes the downward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) converting the energy of the flowing gas by passing the gas through a transducer, (d) pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising the steps of: (a) providing cold gas at a high elevation, (b) transporting the cold gas downwards from the high elevation to a low elevation through a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit thereby providing gas within the conduit with a high density which causes the downward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) converting the energy of the flowing gas by passing the gas through a transducer, (d) pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein step (a) comprises: (e) providing gas at the high elevation, (f) cooling the gas at an elevation which is higher than the low elevation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of: (g) providing a liquid, (h) introducing the liquid as particles into the gas to provide humid cold gas at an elevation which is higher than the lower elevation to retard the adabatic heating by the action of the liquid particles dissolving into the gas as the gas sinks downwards within the conduit, thereby increasing the density of the gas within the conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein step (f) comprises: (g) providing a liquid, (h) cooling the gas by combining the liquid with the gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein step (d) comprises: (e) providing a gas in the rising conduit with a density which is higher than the density of the ambient air, whereby the high density gas causes a high pressure in the conduit in relation to the ambient pressure outside the conduit at the same elevation, thereby pressurizing the conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein step (d) comprises: (f) pressurizing the conduit by pumping said gas into the conduit at the high elevation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to claims 1 or 7 further comprising the step of: (e) holding up and supporting the conduit by connecting thereto enclosed pockets of low density gas.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to claims 1 or 7 further comprising the step of: (e) pressurizing the conduit by providing pressurized gas in the conduit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
21 words
A method according to claims 1 or 7 wherein step (a) comprises the step of: (e) providing air as the gas.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to claims 3, 9, or 10 wherein step (g) comprises the step of: (i) providing water as the liquid.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising: (a) means for providing warm gas at a low elevation, (b) a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit for transporting the warm gas upwards from the low elevation to a high elevation, thereby providing gas within the conduit with a low density which causes the upward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) a transducer for converting the energy of the flowing gas, (d) means for pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising: (a) means for providing warm gas at a low elevation, (b) a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit for transporting the warm gas upwards from the low elevation to a high elevation, thereby providing gas within the conduit with a low density which causes the upward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) a transducer for converting the energy of the flowing gas, (d) means for pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein the providing means comprises: (e) means for providing gas at the low elevation, (f) means for heating the gas at an elevation which is lower than the high elevation to provide the warm gas at the low elevation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system according to claim 18 further comprising: (g) means for providing a liquid, (h) means for dissolving the liquid in the gas to provide a humid gas at an elevation which is lower than the higher elevation to retard adiabatic cooling by liquid condensing in the gas as the gas rises upwards within the conduit thereby decreasing the density of the gas within the conduit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein the heating means comprises: (g) means for heating the gas by solar energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein the pressurizing means comprises: (e) a transducer for converting the energy at the high elevation whereby the low density gas causes a high pressure in the conduit in relation to the ambient pressure outside the conduit at the same elevation, thereby pressurizing the conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein the pressurizing means comprises: (f) means for pressurizing the conduit by pumping said provided gas into the conduit at the low elevation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising: (a) means for providing cold gas at a high elevation, (b) a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit for transporting the cold gas downwards from the high elevation to a low elevation, thereby providing gas within the conduit with a high density which causes the downward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) a transducer for converting the energy of the flowing gas, (d) means for pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for atmospheric thermal energy conversion utilizing pressurized rising conduit comprising: (a) means for providing cold gas at a high elevation, (b) a thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit for transporting the cold gas downwards from the high elevation to a low elevation, thereby providing gas within the conduit with a high density which causes the downward flow of the gas through the conduit, (c) a transducer for converting the energy of the flowing gas, (d) means for pressurizing the conduit from the inside with the transported gas to thereby inflate and support the thin-walled, inflatable, rising conduit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 23 wherein the providing means comprises: (e) means for providing gas at the high elevation, (f) means for cooling the gas at an elevation which is higher than the low elevation to thereby provide the cold gas at the high elevation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system according to claim 23 further comprising: (g) means for providing a gas, (h) means for introducing the liquid as particles into the gas to provide humid cold gas at an elevation which is higher than the lower elevation to retard the adabatic heating by the action of the liquid particles dissolving into the gas as the air sinks downwards within the conduit thereby increasing the density of the gas within the conduit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 24 wherein the cooling means comprises: (g) means for providing a liquid, (h) means for cooling the gas by combining the liquid with the gas.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 23 wherein the pressurizing means comprises: (e) means for converting the energy at the low elevation whereby the high density gas causes a high pressure in the conduit in relation to the ambient pressure outside the conduit at the same elevation, thereby pressurizing the conduit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 27 wherein pressurizing means comprises: (f) means for pressurizing the conduit by pumping said provided gas into the conduit at the high elevation.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
28 words
A system according to claims 17 or 23 further comprising: (e) enclosed pockets of low density gas connected to the conduit to lift up and support the conduit.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
23 words
A system according to claims 17 or 23 further comprising: (e) means for pressurizing the conduit by providing pressurized gas in the conduit.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
18 words
A system according to claims 17 or 23 further comprising: (e) means for providing air as the gas.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
19 words
A system according to claims 19, 25 or 26 further comprising: (i) means for providing water as the liquid.
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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) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |