US4421101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal energy storage system
Assignee: Kalwall Corp
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Filing: 1979-10-30
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Granted: 1983-12-20
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Expires: 1999-10-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a sealed thermal energy storage container device including front and rear walls which together are partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance in the range between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%. Retained within the container between the front and rear walls is an at least partially light transmissive energy storage substance that experiences a liquid-solid phase change between 45° F. and 190° F. After being strategically positioned for exposure to solar radiation, the energy storage substance accumulates a substantial quantity of energy when changed to a liquid state by incident sunlight and subsequently releases that energy when again freezing. In addition to sequentially and alternatively storing and releasing thermal energy, the container device transmits a predetermined level of incident sunlight. Furthermore, the partially absorptive walls are heated by sunlight and function as efficient sources of heating for the retained energy storage substance.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Stice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:37
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F24; F24S; F24S60/00; F24S60/10; F28D2020/0004; F28D2020/0008; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S126/00; Y10S126/907; Y10S126/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A thermal energy storage unit comprising: a sealed container comprising a front wall portion and a rear wall portion, said front and rear wall portions together being partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%; and a thermal energy storage substance retained by said container between said front and rear wall portions, said energy storage substance being at least partially transmissive of visible light and experiencing a liquid-solid phase change at a predetermined temperature condition between 45° F. and 190° F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A thermal energy storage unit comprising: a sealed container comprising a front wall portion and a rear wall portion, said front and rear wall portions together being partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%; and a thermal energy storage substance retained by said container between said front and rear wall portions, said energy storage substance being at least partially transmissive of visible light and experiencing a liquid-solid phase change at a predetermined temperature condition between 45° F. and 190° F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A unit according to claim 1 wherein the thermal storage capacity of said substance is between 100 and 2000 Btu per square foot of each of said front and rear wall portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A unit according to claim 1 wherein the visible light transmittance of said rear wall portion is greater than that of said front wall portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A unit according to claim 1 wherein said front wall portion comprises a plastic substrate having a given visible light transmittance, and a light absorptive coating having a lesser visible light transmittance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
A unit according to claim 1 wherein said substance is inorganic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A thermal energy storage unit comprising: a container having front and rear walls formed of a rigid self-supporting plastic material, said front wall having a peripheral marginal portion sealed to a peripheral marginal portion of said rear wall so as to provide said container with a sealed interior, wherein said front and said rear walls together are partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%, and said plastic material having a modulus of elasticity in flexure of between 0.75×10 6 psi and 1.25×10 6 psi; and a thermal energy storage substance substantially filling said interior and deflecting said front and rear walls outwardly in a diaphragm action, said storage substance experiencing a liquid-solid phase change at a predetermined temperature condition between 45° F. and 190° F. without external influences other than temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
A thermal energy storage unit comprising: a container having front and rear walls formed of a rigid self-supporting plastic material, said front wall having a peripheral marginal portion sealed to a peripheral marginal portion of said rear wall so as to provide said container with a sealed interior, wherein said front and said rear walls together are partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%, and said plastic material having a modulus of elasticity in flexure of between 0.75×10 6 psi and 1.25×10 6 psi; and a thermal energy storage substance substantially filling said interior and deflecting said front and rear walls outwardly in a diaphragm action, said storage substance experiencing a liquid-solid phase change at a predetermined temperature condition between 45° F. and 190° F. without external influences other than temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said front and rear walls are spaced apart by a maximum distance in a central region of said interior and gradually taper inwardly to said sealed marginal portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the square root of the area defined by said sealed together marginal portions is between 14 and 20 times said maximum distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the slopes of said inwardly tapered front and rear walls do not exceed 30°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said maximum distance is between 6 and 30 times greater than the combined thickness of said front and rear walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the thermal storage capacity of said substance is between 100 and 2000 Btu's per square foot of the area enclosed by said sealed marginal portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said rear wall has a visible light transmittance that is less than that of said front wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said front wall comprises a plastic substrate having a given visible light transmittance, and a light absorptive coating having a lesser visible light transmittance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said marginal portions possess openings adapted to receive hook support means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said plastic material is a fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 15 wherein each of said front and rear walls have a thickness in a range between 0.020 and 0.070 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
A thermal energy storage system comprising: an enclosure defining an interior space and comprising a glazing portion transmissive of solar energy; and an array of modular, individually detachable units positioned between said glazing portion and said interior space, each of said container units being filled with an energy storage substance experiencing a liquid-solid phase change at a predetermined temperature condition between 45° F. and 190° F. and having a front wall facing said glazing portion and a rear wall facing said interior space, and wherein said energy storage substance is at least partially transmissive of visible light and each of said containers is partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
A thermal energy storage system comprising: an enclosure defining an interior space and comprising a glazing portion transmissive of solar energy; and an array of modular, individually detachable units positioned between said glazing portion and said interior space, each of said container units being filled with an energy storage substance experiencing a liquid-solid phase change at a predetermined temperature condition between 45° F. and 190° F. and having a front wall facing said glazing portion and a rear wall facing said interior space, and wherein said energy storage substance is at least partially transmissive of visible light and each of said containers is partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein said array is coextensive with said glazing portion and positioned so as to form therewith a closed intermediate space isolated from said interior space.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein said container means is coextensive with said glazing portion and positioned so as to form therewith a closed intermediate space isolated from said interior space.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein each of said front and rear walls is formed of a rigid plastic material and said front wall has a peripheral marginal portion sealed to a peripheral marginal portion of said rear wall so as to provide said container with a sealed interior.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said front and rear walls are spaced apart by a maximum distance in a central region of said interior and gradually taper inwardly to said sealed marginal portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein the square root of the area defined by said sealed together marginal portions is between 14 and 20 times said maximum distance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein the slope of said inwardly tapered front and rear walls does not exceed 30°.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said front and said rear walls together are partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance of between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said plastic material has a modulus of elasticity in flexure of between 0.75×10 6 psi and 1.25×10 6 psi.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said maximum distance is between 6 and 30 times greater than the combined thickness of said front and rear walls.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein the thermal storage capacity of said substance is between 100 and 2000 Btu per square foot of the area enclosed by all of said sealed marginal portions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein the visible light transmittance of said rear wall is greater than that of said front wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 28 wherein said front wall comprises a plastic substrate having a given visible light transmittance, and a light absorptive coating having a lesser visible light transmittance.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said plastic material is a fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 30 wherein each of said front and rear walls have a thickness in a range between 0.020 and 0.070 inches.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said marginal portions of said individual units overlap said marginal portions of adjacent units so as to create seals that isolate said interior space from said intermediate space.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said array is stationary.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 32 wherein said marginal portions on said units possess attachment openings, and said array further comprises hook support means and a plurality of hooks retained by said support means and received by said openings so as to detachably fix said units to said support means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein said storage substance inherently experiences said phase change without external influences other than temperature.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 17 including support means supporting said array, said support means comprising spaced apart support members that retain opposite edges of said units.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 36 wherein said support members comprise channels that receive said opposite edges of said units.
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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) | 1986-12-19 | 1987-06-20 | 1987-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-19 | 1991-06-20 | 1991-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-19 | 1995-06-20 | 1995-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |