Grate sunshade

• US 20110056135A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horace J. Cochran Jr
• Original Assignee: Horace J. Cochran Jr
• Inventors: Cochran, Horace J. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/62
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/08 Louvre doors, windows or grilles shutters E06B9/04; louvre awnings E04F10/08 - E04F10/10
• 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

Abstract

An energy saving grate system installed outside a building or structure in warm weather that reduces heating due to infrared radiation (IR) from sunlight. For a window application the grate acts as a sunshade to block or diffuse the IR and ultraviolet (UV) portions of sunlight while passing visible light. The grate cell size, depth, cell surface characteristics, and mounting details near the sash determine system performance of sunlight control, of the view through the grate, and of the exterior appearance. The grate is removable for cool weather. The grate system can cool various surfaces and requires no operating adjustments. It can be applied near most windows (including skylights) on all sides of a building where impinging sunlight causes unwanted heating. Compared to external solar thin mesh screens the grate system can provide more open area for a given performance in reduced IR heating.

Claims

1. An energy saving window cover system for controlling impinging sunlight (that would otherwise impinge directly on the windowpane) and at an angle determined by the position of the sun with respect to the horizon and with respect to the window, comprised of:

a. a frame (or combination of frames) able to be mounted and constrained near the window sash.

b. an egg crate grate fitting within said frame and controlling the sunlight so as to block or diffuse sunlight at a functional angle (or greater) and to pass as well as block and diffuse sunlight at less than a functional angle.

c. a grate whose cell geometry, cell slant angle, grate depth, external position with respect to the window, and angle of impingement of sunlight allow it to produce a shadow pattern for much of the daylight hours when the sun impinges said grate.

d. a grate wherein both horizontal cell walls and vertical cell walls are working surfaces as described in claim 1b.

e. a grate that passes indirect light and diffused light.

f. a grate that can be removed and stored.

2. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, wherein the grate surfaces are coated to improve the selectivity of light wavelengths absorbed or diffused.

3. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, wherein the grate surface is textured to improve the selectivity of light wavelengths absorbed or diffused.

4. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the grate blocks or diffuses the ultraviolet (UV) component of sunlight impinging on the grate so that less UV enters the building interior through said window.

5. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the grate diffuses visible light and passes it into the building interior through said window.

6. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the grate blocks, absorbs, or diffuses the infrared (IR) component of sunlight so that less IR enters the building interior through said window.

7. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the open area of the grate permits a view from the interior to objects outside the building not masked by the grate.

8. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, capable of attenuating visible light from outside and passing it to the building interior.

9. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the grate depth can be increased by stacking and anchoring another egg crate of similar or different cell pattern and similar or different depth.

10. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where a grate cell (or cells) contains at least one cell wall that is molded with a non-zero slant angle instead of the more common perpendicular cell wall with slant angle of 0 degrees.

11. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the grate is assembled from egg crate segments and the segments secured to each other to achieve a wide variety of grate assembly lengths and widths.

12. An energy saving rate as in claim 1, where the grate cell structure is longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction.

13. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where mounting hardware on an opening casement window allows a grate to be installed or removed from inside the building or structure.

14. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where a grate is installed in series with a selective, reflective surface inside the sash that reflects especially IR back through the window and grate to the outside.

15. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the cell wall is porous.

16. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the exterior of the grate plane is covered by a transparent sheet, comprised of:

a. a lightweight plastic such as acrylic.

b. a sheet that passes sunlight to the grate.

c. a sheet that reflects some visible light to create images at its exterior and similar to the way a glass windowpane reflects light at its exterior.

d. a thin sheet that is rigid enough (with the grate) to reflect images without little or no distortion.

e. a sheet and grate assembly that transfers absorbed heat to the surroundings.

17. An energy saving grate as in claim 1, where the grate serves as its own frame.

18. An energy saving cover system for controlling impinging sunlight and at an angle determined by the position of the sun with respect to the horizon and with respect to the window, comprised of:

a. a frame or combination of frames able to be mounted and constrained in position near the window.

b. a grate fitting within said frame and controlling the sunlight so as to block or diffuse sunlight at a functional angle (or greater) and to pass as well as block or diffuse sunlight at less than a functional angle.

c. a grate with cell structure of interlinked and contiguous cells.

d. a cell structure part of a repeating or non-repeating pattern of cells.

e. a grate whose cell geometry, cell slant angle, grate depth, external position with respect to the window, and angle of impingement of sunlight allow it to produce a shadow pattern for much of the daylight hours when the sun impinges on said grate.

f. a grate that passes indirect light and diffused light.

h. a grate that can be removed and stored

19. An energy saving window cover system for controlling impinging sunlight and at an angle determined by the position of the sun with respect to the horizon and with respect to the window, comprised of:

a. a shutter system where the plane of the shutter contains a grate that is parallel to or within 30 degrees of parallel to the plane of the shutter.

b. a shutter system where the shutter forms a frame for the grate.

c. an egg crate grate fitting within the shutter frame or attached to it wherein the grate controls the sunlight so as to block or diffuse sunlight at a functional angle (or greater) and pass as well as block or diffuse sunlight at less than a functional angle.

d. a grate whose cell geometry, cell slant angle, grate depth, external position with respect to the window (in the working position), and angle of impingement of sunlight allow it to produce a shadow pattern for much of the daylight hours when the sun impinges on said grate.

e. a grate that passes indirect light and diffused light.

f. a shutter system that can be moved from the stored position to the working position while remaining constrained.

g. a shutter system that can be stored in place or removed for storage.

20. An energy saving window cover system as in claim 19, where the shutter forms a shell to house and conceal the grate when in the stored position and releases the grate to move to the working position.

21. An energy saving window cover system for controlling impinging sunlight and at an angle determined by the position of the sun with respect to the horizon, and with respect to the window, comprised of:

a. an awning system where the awning structure contains a grate (or grates) as a working surface.

b. an awning system where the awning forms a frame for the grate.

c. an egg crate grate attached to an awning structure wherein the grate controls the sunlight so as to block or diffuse sunlight at a functional angle (or greater) and pass as well as block or diffuse sunlight at less than a functional angle.

d. a grate whose cell geometry, cell slant angle, grate depth, external position with respect to the window, and angle of impingement of sunlight allow it to produce a shadow pattern for much of the daylight hours when the sun impinges on said grate.

e. a grate where both horizontal cell walls and vertical cell walls are working surfaces as described in claim 21c.

f. a grate that passes indirect light and diffused light.

g. a grate that can be stored in place or removed for storage.