US4452047A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reciprocating solar engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-07-30
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Granted: 1984-06-05
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Expires: 2002-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A reciprocating solar engine includes at least one cylinder 3 which has an essentially transparent head 4 and a pistion 12 disposed in the cylinder 3. A gas-particle mixture 7, 8 is injected into the cylinder 3 between the piston 12 and the transparent head 4. Radiant solar flux is directed through the transparent head 4 so that the gas-particle mixture 7, 8 is heated and the piston 12 is pushed away from the transparent head 4. The engine further includes a device for allowing the radiant energy flux to be directed at the transparent head 4 during only a portion of the operating cycle of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Arlon J. Hunt
- 👤 Patricia G. Hull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:18
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/0435; F03; F03G; F03G6/00; F03G6/06; F03G6/062; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/79; F02G2254/00; F02G2254/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E10/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for producing power from radiant energy including the steps of: disbursing radiant energy absorbing particles in a gas stream; exposing the gas stream and radiant energy absorbing particles to intermittent radiant flux to heat said particles and gas for a portion of the operating cycle; allowing the heated gas to expand against a reciprocating piston to produce mechanical power.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for producing power from radiant energy including the steps of: disbursing radiant energy absorbing particles in a gas stream; exposing the gas stream and radiant energy absorbing particles to intermittent radiant flux to heat said particles and gas for a portion of the operating cycle; allowing the heated gas to expand against a reciprocating piston to produce mechanical power.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of vaporizing the particles after they have absorbed substantially all the radiation incident upon them.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
Reciprocating radiantly heated engine comprising: at least one cylinder with one end closed by a substantially transparent head; a piston in said chamber; means of injecting a gas-particle mixture into said cylinder into the volume between said piston and said transparent head; means of directing radiant solar flux through said transparent head whereby said gas-particle mixture is heated and said piston is pushed away from said transparent head; means of controlling the radiant energy flux so that it enters said cylinder for only a portion of an operating cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
Reciprocating radiantly heated engine comprising: at least one cylinder with one end closed by a substantially transparent head; a piston in said chamber; means of injecting a gas-particle mixture into said cylinder into the volume between said piston and said transparent head; means of directing radiant solar flux through said transparent head whereby said gas-particle mixture is heated and said piston is pushed away from said transparent head; means of controlling the radiant energy flux so that it enters said cylinder for only a portion of an operating cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in claim 3 including the step of using solar flux as the radiant source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in claim 3 including a shaped transparent window to redistribute the radiant flux incident upon said window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 3 wherein more than one said transparent element is used to redirect the radiant flux to any number of heat receiving portions of a heat engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
An optical valve assembly for controlling radiant flux in a heat engine comprising: a substantially transparent element shaped so as to redirect radiant flux incident upon it towards one heat receiving portion of a heat engine; means of moving said element so as to cause another portion of the element to intercept the radiant flux and direct it towards another heat receiving portion of a heat engine; means of synchronizing the motion of the said element with the operation of the heat engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
An optical valve assembly for controlling radiant flux in a heat engine comprising: a substantially transparent element shaped so as to redirect radiant flux incident upon it towards one heat receiving portion of a heat engine; means of moving said element so as to cause another portion of the element to intercept the radiant flux and direct it towards another heat receiving portion of a heat engine; means of synchronizing the motion of the said element with the operation of the heat engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
141 words
Reciprocating radiantly heated engine comprising: at least first and second cylinders with one end of each cylinder closed by substantially transparent heads; a piston in each said chamber; means of injecting a gas-particle mixture into each said cylinder into the volume between each said piston and each said transparent head; means of directing radiant solar flux through each said transparent head whereby said gas-particle mixture is heated and said piston is pushed away from said transparent head, said means including an optical valve assembly having a substantially transparent element shaped so as to direct radiant flux incident upon it towards one of said transparent heads; means of moving said element so as to direct the radiant flux towards the other transparent head; means of synchronizing the motion of the said element with the operation of the pistons of the heat engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
Reciprocating radiantly heated engine comprising: at least first and second cylinders with one end of each cylinder closed by substantially transparent heads; a piston in each said chamber; means of injecting a gas-particle mixture into each said cylinder into the volume between each said piston and each said transparent head; means of directing radiant solar flux through each said transparent head whereby said gas-particle mixture is heated and said piston is pushed away from said transparent head, said means including an optical valve assembly having a substantially transparent element shaped so as to direct radiant flux incident upon it towards one of said transparent heads; means of moving said element so as to direct the radiant flux towards the other transparent head; means of synchronizing the motion of the said element with the operation of the pistons of the heat engine.
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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) | 1987-06-05 | 1987-12-05 | 1988-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-05 | 1991-12-05 | 1992-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-05 | 1995-12-05 | 1996-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |