Self-inflating solar curtain

Patent · Tue Feb 02 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5186965

Shore, R H

This invention relates to a self-inflating solar curtain and to the mechanism for automatically raising and lowering same between its operative and inoperative positions in response to the direction of heat flow into and out of a confined space within which the temperature is to be controlled. The curtain comprises at least one double walled air-entraining envelope folded along its lower edge to provide a cradle supporting a rigid combination spreader, weight and guide member effective to maintain a permanent air pocket at the base thereof. Vents are provided in the envelope for taking air into the pocket as well expelling air therefrom as the curtain is raised into its inoperative position through the gap left between a pair of pinch rollers mounted overhead. The sides of the envelope are left open but confined and sealed within the opposed channels of a pair of tracks mounted alongside thereof. The curtain is wound and stowed on a storage drum above the pinch rollers that is driven by a reversible motor preferably automatically controlled by a sensor responsive to temperature differentials on opposite sides of the curtain. A heating/cooling switch functions to reverse the action of the curtain for a given response of the sensor.

• Assignee: EDB-82-140056
• Patent Number(s): US 4313484
• OSTI ID: 5186965
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
142000 -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
AUTOMATION
CONTROL
DESIGN
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HEATING SYSTEMS
INFLATABLE COLLECTORS
PASSIVE SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMAL INSULATION
VENTS