Patent Application
20100313878
The present invention relates to improved resource harnessing and/or management systems, and to methods of producing and using such resources harnessing and/or management systems, wherein the harnessed and/or managed resource may include, as non-limiting examples, solar energy, wind energy, rain or other precipitation, and/or other renewable or non-renewable resources.
A primary embodiment of the present invention comprises an improved concentrating reflector apparatus operable to concentrate solar energy and/or other radiant electromagnetic energy, wherein the apparatus is further characterized a having one or more improved features that enhance functionality, performance, ease-of-use, safety, and/or economy.
Related embodiments of the present invention comprise one or more improved methods of using a concentrating reflector apparatus to process foodstuffs and/or other materials.
Other related embodiments of the present invention comprise accessory elements incorporating improved features that enhance functionality, performance, ease-of-use, safety, and/or economy.
Note that while such external surfaces absorb radiant energy, these heated surfaces also tend to loose a significant amount of heat energy through conduction, convection, and radiation, thus reducing overall heating efficiency of the heat-absorbing device. To improve heating efficiency, each of the various heating vessels or cooking accoutrements noted above (or other radiant-energy-absorbing heating devices) optionally may have a heat-absorbing surface which is conductively and/or convectively insulated by enclosing or encasing the energy-absorbing surface in a transparent or clear enclosure 921, wherein an insulating gap 923 is provided between the heat-absorbing surface and the transparent enclosure. The gap optionally can fluidically communicate via opening or ports with the surrounding atmosphere, whereby the gap is typically filled with air. Alternatively, the gap can be sealed, whereby it may be filled with a less-conductive gas, or be evacuated. Note that such an insulating enclosure also promotes safety by reducing heat transfer from the vessel to the enclosure, thus keeping the external surface cooler under one or more operating conditions, such as when resting the vessel on a table after removal from the source of energy. Note that the other surfaces of the vessel can be insulated by any suitable means.
The preceding descriptions and related figures provide only a few non-limiting examples of the present invention, and numerous other configurations are anticipated without departing from the nature of the present invention.
Summarized below are some the more salient aspects of the present invention, many of which are reiterated in the claims of the present application.
Inventive aspects of the present invention relate to, among other items, a concentrating reflector comprising a reflector reflective to radiant electromagnetic energy and operable to produce a concentration of electromagnetic energy; and a safety member disposed to provide a physical barrier at least partially surrounding a concentration of electromagnetic energy at a focal point or focal zone defined by the reflector, wherein the apparatus is further characterized as having a radiant-energy-absorbing structure of one or more material-processing devices positioned in proximity to the focal point or focal zone.
More specifically, material-processing devices my include, among other devices, one or more of the follow food-processing devices: (a) a beverage-brewing device such as for brewing coffee or tea; (b) a kernel-popping device such as a popcorn popper; (c) a steamer device; (d) a grilling device; (e) a griddle device; (f) a multi-sided iron device; (g) a baking device such as an oven; (h) a pasteurizing device; and (i) a coverable vessel. Each of these items may further incorporate an insulating transparent envelope 921 covering at least a portion of the energy-absorbing structure to enhance performance and/or safety. Of course, various a combinations are anticipated.
In still greater detail, note that the material-processing device can be a beverage-brewing device comprising a pulse-type or “drip-type” coffee maker having a heating element with a radiant-energy-absorbing surface positioned in proximity to the focal point or focal zone.
Similarly, the material-processing device can be a kernel-popping device comprising a vessel having a radiant-energy-absorbing surface positioned in proximity to the focal point or focal zone and a kernel stirring device. Note that the stirring device can be manually powered, mechanically powered, and/or electrically powered (such as by a PV panel, battery, or other source of electrical power).
Alternatively, the kernel-popping device may comprise an air-popper type popcorn popper, for which a radiant-energy-absorbing air-heating device is positioned in proximity to the focal point or focal zone of the reflector to provide a source of heated air, and a solar-powered fan device is configured to provide both a kernel stirring function and a popped-kernel extraction function.
The apparatus can also incorporate one or more material-processing devices having various features, non-limiting examples of which include: (a) a vessel or compartment having a radiant-energy-absorbing air-heating device, such as for heating an oven, dehydrator, etc.; (b) a vessel with a steam-activated signal device; (c) a vessel with a temperature-activated signal device; (d) a vessel with a pressure-activated signal device; (e) a vessel with a temperature-activated control device; (f) a pressurizable vessel with a temperature-activated control device; (g) a pressurizable vessel with a pressure-activated control device; (h) a pressurizable vessel with a pressure-relief valve; (i) vessel having an insulating transparent envelope covering at least a portion of the energy-absorbing structure; (j) a vessel having a solar-powered stirring device; (k) a vessel having a solar-powered fan device; and (l) a combination thereof.
To further enhance safety, the concentrating reflector apparatus may further incorporate an off-axis light attenuator device. Further, the structure comprising the safety member may be configured to also provide the off-axis light attenuation, such as by creating a safety cage using a plurality on thin concentric tubes oriented parallel to the focal axis of the reflector, or by using a light attenuating grid.
Another major aspect of the present invention is to provide an easily collapsible and stackable (optionally nesting) concentrating reflector. In particular, another inventive aspect the present invention relates to a concentrating reflector apparatus comprising: (a) a reflector reflective to radiant electromagnetic energy and operable to produce a concentration of electromagnetic energy; (b) a safety member disposed to provide a physical barrier at least partially surrounding a concentration of electromagnetic energy at a focal point or focal zone defined by the reflector; and (c) a support structure for supporting and orienting the reflector, wherein the apparatus is further characterized as being collapsible, and wherein the apparatus, when in a collapsed condition, is stackable to facilitate portage and storage.
In greater detail, the present invention may incorporate a rigid concentrating reflector; wherein the safety member and support structure comprise one or more collapsible frameworks, and wherein, when in a collapsed state, a first incidence of the apparatus is nestably stackable in relation to a second incidence of the apparatus to enhance portage and storage (i.e., the convex side of one rigid reflector can nest within the concave side of a second concentrating reflector, whereby a plurality of collapsed reflector apparatuses can be stacked very compactly).
Collapsible frameworks suitable for this application are well known by those skilled in the art and, thus, shall not be further elaborated herein.
Of course, such apparatus may further include a focal point support for supporting an item in proximity to the focal point or focal zone defined by the apparatus.
In addition to the aforementioned concentrating reflector apparatuses, the present invention also anticipates improved methods for using radiant solar energy.
In particular, the present invention hereby discloses a method of enabling solar energy to be used to prepare edible material for human consumption, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing or deploying, or providing and deploying, a container of pre-packaged edible material, the container having a radiant-energy-absorbing surface, wherein, when the container is deployed by exposing the radiant-energy-absorbing surface to radiant solar energy, the edible material is prepared for consumption via heating as radiant solar energy striking the radiant-energy-absorbing surface warms the container and the edible material contained therein.
Further, this method can be characterized as having a providing step, and wherein the providing step further includes providing instructions for using radiant solar energy to prepare the pre-packaged edible material. Instructions can be provided directly on the container, on a layer of removable outer packaging, with the container as a separate set of instructions, by other means of communication, or combinations thereof.
Similarly, this method can be characterized as having a providing step, within which the provided container further comprises an insulating transparent envelope 921 disposed over the radiant-energy-absorbing surface to enhance heating performance, to enhance safety, or both.
For this method (or any versions thereof) the radiant solar energy can be in the form of concentrated radiant solar energy, but also in the form of non-concentrated radiant solar energy.
Of particular note for those interested in performing compelling solar demonstrations for the general public
the pre-packaged edible material may, as a non-limiting example, comprise un-popped kernels of corn wherein, when the container is exposed to concentrated radiant solar energy, the un-popped kernels of corn explode or pop to become popped corn suitable for human consumption. For this application, the container of pre-packaged edible material is deployed by exposing the radiant-energy-absorbing surface of the container to concentrated radiant solar energy.
For this method, the concentrated radiant solar energy can be provided by a concentrating reflector apparatus. Optionally, the concentrating reflector apparatus can have a detuned surface to limit the degree of concentration, to enhance uniformity of heating, or both.
To further enhance safety, the concentrated radiant solar energy may be provided by a concentrating reflector apparatus comprising: (a) a reflector reflective to radiant electromagnetic energy and operable to produce a concentration of electromagnetic energy; and (b) a safety member disposed to provide a physical barrier at least partially surrounding a concentration of electromagnetic energy at a focal point or focal zone defined by the reflector.
Once again, for this method (or any versions thereof) the pre-packaged edible material may comprise un-popped kernels of corn, wherein, when the container is exposed to concentrated solar radiation, the un-popped kernels of corn explode or pop to become popped corn suitable for human consumption.
The present invention anticipates many other variations of apparatus and methods which beyond those specifically exemplified herein or within the examples contained in the materials included by reference, but which are nonetheless intended to be covered within the scope of the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/797,226 of John R. Essig Jr and James M Essig filed 1 May 2007 (now scheduled to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,906 on 1 Jun. 2010), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/254,023 of John R. Essig Jr and James M Essig filed 20 Oct. 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,612,735 issued 3 Nov. 2009), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/729,145 filed 4 Dec. 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,382,332 issued 3 Jun. 2008), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/156,814 filed 30 May 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,832 issued 24 May 2005). The entire specification and application (including Description, Drawing, and Claims) contained within each of these related applications, both as filed and as amended (where applicable), are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11797226 | May 2007 | US |
| Child | 12801287 | US | |
| Parent | 11254023 | Oct 2005 | US |
| Child | 11797226 | US | |
| Parent | 10729145 | Dec 2003 | US |
| Child | 11254023 | US | |
| Parent | 10156814 | May 2002 | US |
| Child | 10729145 | US |
