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US 4,231,351 AGranted
Method and apparatus for solar heating a building
OwnerDavid R. Pheils, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a building having a central unit defined and enclosed by a peripheral main section therearound. The central unit has a transparent roof to permit the passage of solar energy therethrough to heat the air and other contents of a courtyard thereunder. The central unit also has a heat storage mass under the courtyard for storage and retrieval of energy during selected periods. The edges of the dome rest upon the walls of the main section defining the courtyard. Such walls rest upon the foundation walls defining the heat storage section containing the heat storage mass.
Claims6
A building comprising:
- a plurality of sections, having walls arranged to enclose a central unit, said central unit having a courtyard bounded by a roof adapted to permit the passage of solar energy therethrough to heat the courtyard and a floor spaced from the roof;
- a heat-storage section located within the central unit and below said floor;
- means for selectively moving the air within the courtyard through said heat storage means in a heat-exchanging relationship when the temperature of the air at a predetermined location within said courtyard is outside a predetermined range of temperatures;
- an alternate heat source to provide heat for said sections;
- and
- means for selectively moving air from said sections through the courtyard in a mixing relationship with the air therein before being heated by said alternate heat source when the temperature of the air at a preselected point in the courtyard exceeds the temperature of the air being moved from the sections to the alternate heat source and moves such air directly to the alternate heat source to be heated therein when the temperature of the air being moved from the sections to the alternate heat source exceeds the temperature of the air at a preselected point of the courtyard.
3 more elements
A building comprising:
- a solar energy collection section;
- a main section having inner walls enclosing the energy collection section;
- an energy storage section under the energy collection section, the storage section being defined by foundation walls, said inner walls resting upon said foundation walls;
- a roof covering the energy collection section adapted to permit the passage of solar energy therethrough to heat the energy collection section, said roof having a peripheral edge thereof resting upon said inner walls;
- a floor spaced from the roof to separate the storage section from the collection section;
- means for selectively moving air within the energy collection section through the energy storage section in a heat-exchanging relationship when the temperature of the air at a predetermined location within said courtyard is outside a predetermined range of temperatures;
- an alternate heat source to provide heat for said sections;
- and,
- means for selectively moving air from said sections through the courtyard in a mixing relationship with the air therein before being heated by said alternate heat source when the temperature of the air at a preselected point in courtyard exceeds the temperature of the air being moved from the sections to the alternate heat source and moves such air directly to the alternate heat source to be heated therein when the temperature of the air being moved from the sections to the alternate heat source exceeds the temperature of the air at a preselected point of the courtyard.
6 more elements
A building comprising:
- a solar energy collection section;
- a main section having inner walls enclosing the energy collection section;
- an energy storage section under the energy collection section, the storage section being defined by foundation walls, said inner walls resting upon said foundation walls;
- a roof covering the energy collection section adapted to permit the passage of solar energy therethrough to heat the energy collection section, said roof being attached at and resting upon said inner walls;
- a floor spaced from the roof to separate the storage section from the collection section;
- a subfloor spaced from and below said floor contiguous with the foundation walls to further define the energy storage section;
- a first foraminous wall spaced from one of said foundation walls extending from the floor to the subfloor to define a first zone between the first foraminous wall and such foundation wall;
- a second foraminous wall spaced from the foundation wall opposite the foundation wall defining the first zone to define a second zone between the second foraminous wall and the foundation wall opposite the foundation wall defining the first zone, said second foraminous wall extending from the floor to the subfloor, the floor having a first passageway communicating with the first zone and the collection section and having a second passageway communicating with the second zone and the collection section;
- a heat storage mass within the storage section and between the first and second zones;
- means for selectively moving air within the energy collection section through the heat storage mass and back to the energy collection section, the first and second zones and foraminous walls cooperating to distribute such moving air throughout the heat storage mass;
- an alternate heat source for supplying heated air to said main section;
- and
- means for controlling the air flow in the building such that the air from the main section can be moved through the courtyard in a mixing relationship with the air therein before being heated by said alternate heat source.
10 more elements
The method of controlling the movement of air from an energy collection section to an energy storage section and a main section of a building comprising:
- (a) sensing the temperature of the air within the energy collection section;
- (b) sensing the temperature of a heat storage mass;
- (c) moving the air within the collection section through the mass when the temperature differential between the air of the collection section and the mass is greater than a preselected value in response to items "a" and "b";
- (d) sensing the temperature of the air within the main section;
- and
- (e) moving the air from the main section (i) through the collection section if the temperature of the air in the collection section is greater than the preselected temperature in the main section or (ii) directly to an alternate heat source for heating in the absence of moving such air through the collection section if the temperature of the air in the collection section is less than the preselected temperature in the main section in response to said sensings of items "a" and "d."
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.