Patent Publication Number: US-10788201-B2

Title: Solar powered boiler assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The disclosure and prior art relates to boiler devices and more particularly pertains to a new boiler device for producing steam with solar energy. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bowl that is positioned in the ground. A boiler is positioned in the bowl and the boiler has a fluid therein. A dome is removably positioned on the bowl. A plurality of lenses each extends through the dome such that each of the lenses is exposed to sunlight. Each of the lenses focuses the sunlight onto the boiler to heat the boiler. In this way the boiler produces steam by heating the fluid therein. A reflector is coupled to the dome and the reflector is comprised of a light reflecting material for reflecting sunlight onto the lenses. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a solar powered boiler assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional partial view taken along a central front to back axis line of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new boiler device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the solar powered boiler assembly  10  generally comprises a pad  12  that is positioned below ground  14  and is horizontally oriented. The pad  12  has an upper surface  16  and the pad  12  is comprised of a rigid material such as concrete or the like. A plurality of supports  18  is included and each of the supports  18  is coupled to and extends upwardly from the upper surface  16  of the pad  12 . A first one  20  of the supports  18  is centrally positioned on the pad  12  and a second one  22  of the supports  18  is positioned between the first support  20  and an outer edge of the pad  12 . Additionally, the second support  22  has a height that is greater than a height of the first support  20 . 
     A bowl  24  is provided and the bowl  24  is positioned in the ground  14 . The bowl  24  has an inside surface  26 , an outside surface  28  and a perimeter edge  30  extending therebetween. The outside surface  28  rests on each of the supports  18  having the perimeter edge  30  being aligned with the ground  14 . The inside surface  26  is comprised of a light reflecting material and the inside surface  26  is concavely arcuate with respect to the perimeter edge  30 . Thus, the inside surface  26  directs reflected light toward a focal point with respect to the bowl  24 . The bowl  24  is comprised of a thermally insulating material to inhibit thermal communication between an interior of the bowl  24  and ambient air. 
     A plurality stands  32  is provided and each of the stands  32  is coupled to and extends upwardly from the inside surface  26  of the bowl  24  and each of the stands  32  is vertically oriented. Each of the stands  32  has a distal end  34  with respect to the inside surface  26 . A first one  33  of the stands  32  is aligned with the first support  20  and a second one  35  of the stands  32  is aligned with the second support  22 . Moreover, the distal end  34  of each of the stands  32  is spaced downwardly from the perimeter edge  30  of the bowl  24 . 
     A boiler  36  is provided and the boiler  36  is positioned in the bowl  24 . The boiler  36  has an inlet  38 , an outlet  40  and a plurality of chambers  42  within the boiler  36  that are each fluidly connected between the inlet  38  and the outlet  40 . Moreover, the boiler  36  is comprised of a thermally conductive material such as steel or the like. The boiler  36  is positioned on the distal end  34  of each of the stands  32  such that the boiler  36  is horizontally oriented in the bowl  24 . An outer surface  43  of the boiler  36  black colored with a very low gloss, thereby facilitating the outer surface  43  of the boiler  36  to absorb the maximum amount of solar energy. 
     The first stands  32  transfers the weight of the boiler  36  into the first support  20  and the second stand transfers the weight of the boiler  36  into the second support  22 . In this way the bowl  24  is inhibited from supporting the weight of the boiler  36  and potentially breaking, cracking or otherwise structurally failing as a result of the weight of the boiler  36 . The boiler  36  is aligned with the focal point with respect to the bowl  24  such that the inside surface  26  of the bowl  24  directs the reflected light onto the boiler  36 . Additionally, the boiler  36  is oriented at an angle such that the inlet  38  is positioned lower than the outlet  40 . 
     A fluid conduit  41  is fluidly coupled to the inlet  38  of the boiler  36  and the fluid conduit  41  is in fluid communication with a fluid source  44  to direct a fluid into the boiler  36 . The fluid source  44  may be a water line or the like and the fluid may be water or other steam producing fluid. A fluid valve  45  is provided and the fluid valve  45  is coupled to the fluid conduit  41 . The fluid valve  45  is positionable in a closed position to inhibit the fluid from passing through the fluid conduit  41 , and the fluid valve  45  is positionable in an open position to facilitate the fluid to pass through the fluid conduit  41 . The fluid valve  45  may be a ball valve or any other type of manually manipulated fluid valve  45 . 
     An evacuation conduit  46  is fluidly coupled to the outlet  40  of the boiler  36  and an evacuation valve  48  is fluidly coupled to the evacuation conduit  46 . The evacuation valve  48  is positionable in a closed position to inhibit air from passing through the evacuation conduit  46 , and the evacuation valve  48  is positionable in an open position to facilitate air to pass through the evacuation conduit  46 . The evacuation valve  48  may be any manually operated valve that forms a fluid impermeable seal with the valve is closed. Additionally, the evacuation valve  48  may be capable of withstanding a vacuum pressure of at least 0.03 ATM. Each of the fluid conduit  41  and the evacuation conduit  46  are comprised of a thermally insulating material. 
     An evacuation pump  50  is provided and the evacuation pump  50  is fluidly coupled to the evacuation conduit  46 . The evacuation pump  50  urges air outwardly from the boiler  36  when the evacuation pump  50  is turned on. In this way air in the boiler  36  is removed to increase thermal communication between the fluid and the boiler  36 . The evacuation pump  50  may be an electric air pump  62  or the like that is capable of lowering the air pressure within the boiler  36  to at least 0.03 ATM. 
     A dome  52  is provided and the dome  52  is removably positioned on the bowl  24 . The dome  52  has an outer surface  54  and an outer edge  56 , and the outer edge  56  engages the perimeter edge  30  of the bowl  24 . Thus, the dome  52  extends upwardly from the bowl  24  such that the dome  52  and the bowl  24  form an enclosure. The outer edge  56  forms a fluid impermeable seal with the perimeter edge  30  of the bowl  24 . The dome  52  may include a gasket or other compressible member that is positioned on the outer edge  56  of the dome  52  or other means of forming a fluid impermeable seal with the bowl  24 . The dome  52  is comprised of a translucent material such as glass or the like. 
     A plurality of lenses  58  is provided and each of the lenses  58  extends through the dome  52  such that each of the lenses  58  is exposed to sunlight. Each of the lenses  58  focuses the sunlight onto the boiler  36  to heat the boiler  36 . In that way the boiler  36  produces steam by heating the fluid in the boiler  36 . The lenses  58  are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around an entire curvature of the dome  52 . In this way the lenses  58  continually focus sunlight onto the boiler  36  as the sun travels along its ecliptic. Each of the lenses  58  may be convex burning lenses or the like that focuses sunlight to produce a temperature of at least 575 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     An air conduit  60  is coupled to the bowl  24  and the air conduit  60  extends through the outside surface  28  and the inside surface  26  of the bowl  24 . An air pump  62  is fluidly coupled to the air conduit  60  and the air pump  62  urges air outwardly from the bowl  24  when the air pump  62  is turned on. The air pump  62  may be an electric air pump or the like that is capable of lowering air pressure in the bowl  24  to at least 0.03 ATM. An air valve  64  is fluidly coupled to the air conduit  60 . The air valve  64  is positionable in an open position to facilitate air to flow through the air conduit  60 , and the air valve  64  is positionable in a closed position to inhibit air from flowing through the air conduit  60 . The air valve  64  may be a manually operated air valve  64  that forms a fluid impermeable seal when the air valve  64  is closed. Additionally, the air valve  64  may be capable of withstanding a vacuum pressure of at least 0.03 ATM. 
     A reflector  66  is provided and the reflector  66  is coupled to the dome  52 . The reflector  66  is comprised of a light reflecting material for reflecting sunlight onto the lenses  58 . The reflector  66  has a first edge  68 , a second edge  70  and a first surface  72  extending therebetween. The first surface  72  is concavely arcuate between the first  68  and second  70  edges. The first edge  68  rests on the ground and the first surface  72  is spaced from and is co-arcuate with the outer surface of the dome  52 . Additionally, the reflector  66  is oriented on the dome  52  such that the second edge  70  of the reflector  66  is directed toward the ecliptic. In this way the first surface  72  is continuously exposed to sunlight as the sun travels along the ecliptic. 
     A cover  74  is provided and the cover  74  is selectively positioned to cover  74  the dome  52 . The cover  74  is comprised of an opaque material such that the cover  74  inhibits sunlight from striking the lenses  58 . In this way the cover  74  inhibits the boiler  36  from being heated. The cover  74  may be a blanket or other deformable object that is additionally light impermeable. Further, the cover  74  has a first surface  76  that is comprised of a reflective material and the first surface  72  lies on the dome  52  when the cover  74  is positioned on the dome  52 . Thus, the first surface  72  of the cover  74  reflects heat energy back into the bowl  24 . In an alternative embodiment  78  as shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the supports  18  is positioned above ground thusly placing the bowl  24 , the dome  52  and above ground as well. The bowl  24  may be pivotally coupled to the supports  18  for positioning the bowl  24  at a selected angle with respect to the sun. Additionally, the supports  18  may be rotatable thereby facilitating the bowl  24  to follow the sun along the ecliptic. 
     In use, each of the air valve  64  and the evacuation valve  48  is opened and each of the air pump  62  and the evacuation pump  50  are turned to on purge air from the bowl  24  and the boiler  36 . Each of the air valve  64  and the evacuation valve  48  is closed the each of the air pump  62  and the evacuation pump  50  are turned off when the air pressure within the enclosure formed by the dome  52  and the bowl  24 , and the air pressure within the boiler  36 , falls below 0.03 ATM. The lenses  58  focus sunlight into the bowl  24  and onto the boiler  36 . Additionally, the inside surface  26  of the bowl  24  reflects sunlight upwardly on the boiler  36  to heat the boiler  36 . In this way the boiler  36  is heated to a temperature of at least 575 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     The fluid valve  45  is opened and the fluid pump is turned on to urge the fluid into the boiler  36  when the boiler  36  has been heated for producing steam. The evacuation valve  48  is opened to release the steam from the boiler  36  for use in powering a steam turbine or other steam driven mechanism for producing electrical energy. In this way solar energy is harnessed for producing electrical energy in a manner that minimizes impact on the environment as compared to traditional solar fields. The cover  74  is placed on the dome  52  to lower the internal temperature of the bowl  24  and the boiler  36  when the internal temperature reaches dangerously high levels, or to retain heat within the bowl  24  and the boiler  36  when the sun sets. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.