Method and apparatus for selective solar control

• US 20060288645A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CPI Daylighting Inc.. (Kingspan Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: CPI International, Inc. (CPI International Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Konstantin, Moshe, Konstantino, Eitan
• Application Number:
  US11/450,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/92.100
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/543 Hollow multi-walled panels with integrated webs
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2003/0856 locked by screws, bolts or pins
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2003/285 with specially profiled marginal portions for connecting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/08 with metal glazing bars
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/28 of glass or other translucent material
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/10 collapsible or extensible; metallic Florentine blinds; awnings with movable parts such as louvres; shutters E06B9/04; louvre windows E06B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/264 Combinations of lamellar blinds with roller shutters, screen windows, windows, or double panes; Lamellar blinds with special devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/00 Non-electric lighting devices or systems using daylight roofs with sky-light opening E04D13/03; sun blinds for windows with means for redirecting light onto ceiling of a room E06B9/00; hybrid lighting devices combining artificial and natural light F21S19/00; solar heat collectors F24S; solar cells or solar cell modules H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/08 by movement of the screens or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/04 for filtering out infrared radiation dichroic reflectors F21V7/22; using liquid-filled chambers F21V9/12
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 for filtering out ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

This invention is a system of transparent or translucent panel units that permit selective transmission of light and solar radiation or glare across the system and can be adjusted and controlled according to a user'"'"'s varying needs using light-controlling members mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axes. The system can illuminate the interior space by reflected sunlight, conducting both light from the brightest part of the sky and low-angle sunlight efficiently into the interior space, and also shading or deflecting the intense light found when the sun is at high elevation. Alternatively, the amount of a selected portion of the radiation spectrum passed through the system can be set at will, and can be amplified to allow increased light passage and transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling solar radiation passing through a glazing panel comprising:

a rotatable light controlling member positioned below the glazing panel; and

selective solar control means associated with the rotatable member for selectively controlling the solar radiation passing through the panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which the rotatable member is positioned between two generally parallel glazing panels.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the rotatable member rests on one of the glazing panels and the other glazing panel is supported by at least one cross-member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light-controlling member has a circular outer rotation surface extending at least about 180 degrees about its circumference.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rotatable member comprises an elongated tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rotatable member comprises a series of annular rings disposed generally perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light-controlling members is a generally elongated transparent or translucent tube and the selective solar control mean is disposed across the diameter of the tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rotatable member is an elongated generally hemispherical tube and the selective solar control means is disposed along the flat surface thereof.

9. That apparatus of claim 1 in which the solar control means is curved.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means is a cold mirror.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means is a hot mirror.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the solar control means blocks UV radiation while transmitting visible light.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means transmits UV radiation while reflecting visible light and/or infrared radiation.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means absorbs UV radiation while reflecting visible light and infrared radiation.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means is a retro-reflective member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the retro-reflective member carries micro-optical prisms on its surfaces.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means comprises microprismatic mirrors.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means is segmented into portions that selectively control light and/or solar radiation in differing ways.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the selective solar control means comprises a coating on the rotatable member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the coating selectively reflects a portion of the infrared radiation spectrum.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light controlling member includes a photovoltaic solar cell that, with the movement of the rotatable members, follows the movement of the sun across the sky to maximize its output.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the glazing panel includes a selective solar controlling layer.

22. A method for controlling light and/or solar radiation passing through a glazing panel comprising:

providing a rotatable light-controlling member positioned below a glazing member, the rotatable member having a selective solar control member associated therewith; and

rotating the rotatable member to vary the orientation of the selective solar control member.

24. A panel of controllable solar radiation transmissivity comprising:

a plurality of rotatable light controlling members, each of the members being adapted for selectively controlling solar radiation; and

means for rotating the light controlling members, the members when rotated being adapted to vary the passage of solar radiation through the panel,

characterized by a plurality of substantially transparent tubular cells, the light controlling members being mounted for rotation in at least some of the tubular cells.