Reflective Roof

• US 20140083020A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Goossen, Keith
• Application Number:
  US14/092,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083020A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 1/30 Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles E04D3/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/033 provided with means for controlling the light-transmission or the heat-reflection, (e.g. shields, reflectors, cleaning devices)
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2001/308 for special purposes not otherwise provided for, e.g. turfing tiles, step tiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/00 Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/80 for controlling collection or absorption of solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/20 Working fluids specially adapted for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/50 Elements for transmitting incoming solar rays and preventing outgoing heat radiation; Transparent coverings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/004 based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0289 used as a transflector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

Technologies and implementations for reflective roofs are generally disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising,

sensing an environment condition, using an environmental sensor;

removing, using a computing system, a first fluid from hollow inner compartments of a plurality of roof structures based upon the environmental condition, wherein a plurality of light scattering structures are encompassed within each hollow inner compartment of each roof structure and have a reflective index, wherein the plurality of light scattering structures scatter light or pass light therethrough based upon a fluid stored within the hollow inner compartment, wherein the plurality of light scattering structures scatter light when the fluid has a disparate reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures, wherein the plurality of light scattering to pass light therethrough when the fluid has a similar reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures; and

introducing, using the computing system, a second fluid into the hollow inner compartments of the plurality of roof structures based upon the environmental condition, wherein the first fluid has a similar reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures, and wherein the second fluid has a disparate reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more environmental sensors include one or more of the following sensors:

light-type sensors, humidity sensors, outdoor temperature-type sensors, and indoor temperature-type sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid comprises air.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light scattering structures comprise a plurality of clear beads.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the roof structures comprises a skylight-type roof structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the roof structures comprises a shingle-type roof structure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clear beads include one or more beads of the following shapes:

sphere-shaped beads, faceted-shaped beads, and snow-shaped beads.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clear beads have the same reflective index as the first fluid, and wherein the plurality of clear beads are configured to be substantially invisible when surrounded by the first fluid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid includes one or more of the following substances:

water, ethylene glycol, and mineral oil.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a sensed environment condition from an environmental sensor;

instructions to remove a first fluid from hollow inner compartments of a plurality of roof structures based upon the environmental condition, wherein a plurality of light scattering structures are encompassed within each hollow inner compartment of each roof structure and have a reflective index, wherein the plurality of light scattering structures scatter light or pass light therethrough based upon a fluid stored within the hollow inner compartment, wherein the plurality of light scattering structures scatter light when the fluid has a disparate reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures, wherein the plurality of light scattering to pass light therethrough when the fluid has a similar reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures; and

instructions to introduce a second fluid into the hollow inner compartments of the plurality of roof structures based upon the environmental condition, wherein the first fluid has a similar reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures, and wherein the second fluid has a disparate reflective index as compared with the plurality of light scattering structures.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more environmental sensors include one or more of the following sensors:

light-type sensors, humidity sensors, outdoor temperature-type sensors, and indoor temperature-type sensors.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the second fluid comprises air.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light scattering structures comprise a plurality of clear beads.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein at least one of the roof structures comprises a skylight-type roof structure.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein at least one of the roof structures comprises a shingle-type roof structure.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of clear beads include one or more beads of the following shapes:

sphere-shaped beads, faceted-shaped beads, and snow-shaped beads.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of clear beads have the same reflective index as the first fluid, and wherein the plurality of clear beads are configured to be substantially invisible when surrounded by the first fluid.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first fluid includes one or more of the following substances:

water, ethylene glycol, and mineral oil.