Apparatus for producing electricity from solar energy
OwnerAldon E. Holton, Sr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention is concerned with an apparatus of potentially large size for producing electrical energy from the rays of the sun. The apparatus utilizes an air housing mounted on a hillside exposed to sunlight. The air housing, having a roof of light admitting panels, causes air to be heated and transported upwardly in a convergent manner to an apex opening which communicates with a tunnel. A bladed member mounted within the tunnel and rotated by the flow of air therein activates an electrical generator. The exit extremity of the tunnel communicates with a collector chamber which in turn communicates with a vertically oriented chimney stack which intensifies the velocity of air passing through the tunnel.
Claims6
An apparatus for producing electrical energy from sunlight comprising:
- (a) an upwardly convergent air housing having a floor and a roof comprised of interengaged flat panels capable of transmitting sunlight, said housing positioned on a hillside exposed to sunlight and causing air therein to be heated and directed upwardly to an apex opening,
- (b) at least one elongated tunnel positioned above said air housing and having opposed entrance and exit extremities, said entrance extremity being coupled in airtight manner to said apex opening,
- (c) a bladed structure rotatively mounted within said tunnel and mechanically coupled to an electrical generator,
- (d) a collector chamber coupled in airtight manner to the exit extremity of said tunnel, and p1 (e) a chimney stack communicating with said collector chamber and vertically oriented in a manner such that the longitudinal center axes of said stack and tunnel intersect at a substantially right angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.