Solar radiant energy umbrella

• US 4,193,389 A
• Filed: 11/02/1977
• Issued: 03/18/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul H.Y. Ku
• Original Assignee: Paul H.Y. Ku
• Inventors: Ku, Paul H. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US05/847,767
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 126/270, 126/271, 237/1 A, 60/641, 165/105
• US Class Current: 126/681
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/71 with parabolic reflective surfaces with cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces F24S23/74
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, an umbrella has a reflective concave face serving a radiant energy collector when the umbrella is invertedly mounted, and a clamp clamps onto the umbrellas shaft a vessel containing water partially filling the same, the vessel being of narrow thickness and being supported at a point of converging reflected rays of energy, the vessel having upper steam space connected to a heating-vessel for heating typically a cup of coffee by heat-exchange with the coffee cup, and having a drain conduit for draining condensed steam back to the liquid-containing vessel, a steam conduit channeling steam through a liquid trap for removing water droplets carried by the steam, and the umbrella when upright serving as typically a beach umbrella which shifts with the wind by virtue of the shaft being off-set from the center.

Claims

1. A device for harnessing radiant solar energy comprising in combination:

an elongated supporting structure, a concave reflective surface adapted to receive a plurality of rays of radiant energy such that reflected rays converge to a substantially common point substantially coincident with space associated with the concave reflective surface, said elongated supporting structure including a first end extending from said reflective surface in juxtaposition to and spaced-from said common point, and an opposite remaining end of said elongated supporting structure extending from an opposite face of the concave reflective surface and adapted for supporting the concave reflective surface in a predetermined energy ray-receiving position;

clamping means for clamping a liquid-containable vessel onto said first end of said elongated supporting structure, adapted such that a liquid-containable vessel supported by said clamping means is positioned substantially at said common point; and

as the liquid-containable vessel, a liquid-containable vessel of predetermined shape at said common point, the predetermined shape being characterized to maintain liquid adjacent inner wall surfaces of the liquid-containable vessel and within a thickness range below a predetermined maximum layer-thickness such that liquid volume does not exceed volume required for absorbing all energy transmitted through said inner wall surfaces; and

a vaporizable liquid within the liquid-containable vessel in an amount of said thickness range below said predetermined maximum layer-thickness of a volume sufficient to absorb substantially all heat energy transmitted through said adjacent inner wall surfaces, whereby excessive energy dilution is avoided and heat energy is obtainable in high concentration within the thickness range, said amount being insufficient to fill a predetermined minimum of substantially enclosed space above liquid level of said liquid sufficiently to provide for collection of vapor vaporized by heat within said liquid, and vapor channeling means for channeling vapor from said enclosed space to a heating vessel into enclosure space thereof, and as said heating vessel, a liquid-containable heating vessel connected to receive vapor by said vapor channeling means, said vapor channeling means including a liquid-trapping means for trapping liquid physically carried by vapor from the enclosed space passing through said vapor channeling means.

2. A device of claim 1, in which each of opposite ends of said elongated supporting structure is adapted for alternately supporting the concave reflective surface at variable angles, alternately as a ray collector and as a shade-providing umbrella.

3. A device of claim 1, including liquid return means for channeling condensed liquid from said liquid-containable heating vessel into a lower inner space of said heating vessel.

4. A method for harnessing radiant solar energy, comprising in combination:

arranging a concave reflective surface to receive a plurality of rays of radiant energy such that reflected rays converge to a substantially common point substantially coincident with space associated with the concave reflective surface;

positioning a liquid-containable vessel of predetermined shape at said common point, the predetermined shape being characterized to maintain liquid thickness below a predetermined maximum layer-thickness of liquid adjacent inner wall surfaces of the liquid-containable vessel;

maintaining a predetermined amount of liquid within said liquid-containable vessel in an amount sufficient to absorb substantially all heat energy transmitted through said adjacent inner wall surfaces and up to said predetermined maximum layer-thickness sufficient to avoid excessive energy dilution and to obtain concentration of heat energy within said predetermined maximum layer-thickness of liquid, and concurrently maintaining a predetermined minimum substantially enclosed space above liquid-level sufficient for collection of vapor vaporized by heat within said liquid; and

channeling liquid-carrying vapor from said enclosed space to a heating vessel into enclosure space thereof and trapping liquid physically-carried by said liquid-carrying vapor during said channeling.

5. A method of claim 4, including draining condensed liquid from the enclosure space of the heating vessel, into a lower portion of liquid-containable space of the liquid-containable vessel.

6. A method of claim 5, including heating matter removably placed within the enclosure space in heat-transfer relationship with hot vapor within the enclosure space, and thereafter removing the matter in a heated state.

7. A method of claim 6, including placing the matter into a container before said heating, and placing the container with the matter-contents thereof within the enclosure space.

8. A method of claim 4, including placing food matter into said enclosure space in heat-transfer relationship with hot vapor within the enclosure space, and utilizing water as said liquid.