Patents by Inventor Martin E. Nix

Martin E. Nix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10648458
    Abstract: A downdraft-tornado-wind-chimney and a updraft-tornado-wind-chimney create the compressed-and-high-velocity-air for a rotating-turbine. A photovoltaic-powered-blower and a high-temperature-solar-collectors create the compressed-and-high-velocity-air. A downdraft-tornado-wind-chimney inject the compressed-and-high-velocity-air into a photovoltaic-powered-blower, a high-temperature-solar-collectors and a rotating-turbine. A updraft-tornado-wind-chimney extract the compressed-and-high-velocity-air from a photovoltaic-powered-blower, a high-temperature-solar-collectors and a rotating-turbine. The combination of the updraft-tornado-wind-chimney, a downdraft-tornado-wind-chimney, a photovoltaic-powered-blower, and a high-temperature-solar-collectors drive a rotating-turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Martin E Nix
  • Patent number: 8984839
    Abstract: A revolution-of-a-parabolic-curve is sliced by two planes to form a reflecting-parabolic-splice-solar-smelter so as to focus the sun's noon light to a crucible for smelting rocks, glass and metals and for processing of chemicals, using zero degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20140251312
    Abstract: A revolution-of-a-parabolic-curve is sliced by two planes to form a reflecting-parabolic-splice-solar-smelter so as to focus the sun's noon light to a crucible for smelting rocks, glass and metals and for processing of chemicals, using zero degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20140251307
    Abstract: A tilt-able-central-planar-reflector, a tilt-able-auxiliary-left-planar-reflector, and a tilt-able-auxiliary-right-planar-reflector are hingely attached to a solar-absorbing-thermal-mass. The sun's light is made horizontal to reflect to the interior wall of a reflecting-curved-overhang, capturing the sun's sunrise light and sun's sunset light, and to reflect to the interior wall of a reflecting-parabolic-half-shell capturing the sun's noon light, so as to redirect the sun's light to a solar-absorbing-thermal-mass. The net result provides heat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for utilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Patent number: 8776785
    Abstract: Invented is a solar smelter that also manufactures hot air or hot fluids. A curved parabolic-half-shell and curved-overhang focuses the sun's rays, sunlight, unto a crucible, which is buried into a thermal-mass, or the ground. Using a planar-reflector, or heliostat, the sunlight is reflected horizontally unto an interior reflective wall of the curved parabolic-half-shell and curved-overhang. Surrounding the crucible is a thermal-mass with embedded pipes, that manufacture hot and compress air, or heat a gas or fluid. On top of the thermal-mass is a clear transparent-and-insulating floor that captures any stray solar rays, sunlight, adding heat to the thermal-mass. At the foci of the parabolic-half-shell and curved-overhang is a crucible for melting rocks, sand, glass or metals, or processing chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Martin E Nix
  • Patent number: 8360052
    Abstract: Melting metals using the sun's energy is not new, but is new is making the technology ergonomic, and easy to use. Invented is a half-circular-planar-reflector with a cut-a-way-triangle, hinged and attached a half-shell-parabolic-reflector. When the sun is overhead, the sun's energy reflects off the flat half-circular-planar-reflector to a half-shell-parabolic-dish-reflector, which redirects the sun's energy to a crucible for smelting metals, which is also the focus of the sun's energy. The entire assembly rotates on top of a turntable, which can be steel wheel, floating on compressed air, bicycle wheels, or other suitable methods. The entire assembly rotates about a crucible located at the focal of the sun's energy. A smaller version of the smelter can be used for solar cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Martin E Nix
  • Patent number: 8127759
    Abstract: Developed is a solar cooker with triangle reflective sides. Above and below are two movable solar reflecting panels that can be adjusted to focus light onto a frying pan using a glass lid, an insulating pad, and a surrounding plastic bag to trap solar light for cooking. The triangle reflective sides are used also to adjust and support the two movable solar reflecting panels via movable pegs. In the corners adjacent to the triangle sides, back reflective plate and reflective floor plate is an invented reflective-tilted-equilateral-triangle-plate with each of the three angles at 60 degrees in all three horizontal and vertical dimensions, to capture and reflect light towards the solar cooking area dishware. At night the entire solar cooker can be folded down to form a storage space. The entire solar cooker is foldable for shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20120037152
    Abstract: Invented is a solar smelter that also manufactures hot air or hot fluids. A curved parabolic-half-shell focuses the sun's rays unto a crucible, which is buried into the ground. Using a heliostat, the sunlight is reflected horizontally unto an interior reflective wall of the curved parabolic-half-shell. Surrounding the crucible is a thermal-mass with embedded pipes, that manufacture hot and compressed air, or heated gas or fluid. On top of the thermal-mass is a clear transparent-and-insulating-glazing that captures any stray solar rays, adding heat to the thermal-mass. At the foci of the parabolic-half-shell is a crucible for melting rocks, sand, glass or metals, or processing chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20110005515
    Abstract: Developed is a solar cooker with triangle reflective sides. Above and below are two movable solar reflecting panels, that can be adjusted to focus light onto an invented frying pan using a glass lid, an insulating pad, and a surrounding plastic bag to trap solar light for cooking. The triangle reflective sides are used also to adjust and support the two movable solar reflecting panels via movable pegs. In the corners adjacent to the triangle sides, back reflective plate and reflective floor plate is an invented reflective equilateral triangle, to capture and reflect light towards the solar frying pan assembly. At night the entire solar cooker can be folded down to form a storage space. The entire solar cooker is foldable for shipping. (123 words).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20100078012
    Abstract: Melting metals using solar energy is not new, but is new is making the technology ergonomic, and easy to use. Invented is a half-shell-parabolic-dish reflector, which has in front an adjustable flat planar reflector. When the sun is overhead, the sunlight reflects off the flat planar reflector to a half-shell-parabolic-dish, which redirects the light to a crucible for smelting metals, which is also the focus of the sunlight. The entire assembly rotates on top of a turntable, which can be steel wheel, floating on compressed air, bicycle wheels, or other suitable methods. The entire assembly rotates about a crucible located at the focal of the sun's rays. A smaller version of the smelter can be used for solar cooking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20100071686
    Abstract: Developed is a solar cooker with triangle reflective sides. Above and below are two movable solar reflecting panels, that can be adjusted to focus light onto an invented frying pan using a glass lid, an insulating pad, and a surrounding plastic bag to trap solar light for cooking. The triangle reflective sides are used also to adjust and support the two movable solar reflecting panels via movable pegs. In the corners adjacent to the triangle sides, back reflective plate and reflective floor plate is an invented reflective equilateral triangle, to capture and reflect light towards the solar frying pan assembly. At night the entire solar cooker can be folded down to form a storage space. The entire solar cooker is foldable for shipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Publication number: 20080131830
    Abstract: Invented is a method of making combustion air for a fossil fuel burner, as a coal burning power plant, oil refinery or gas fired household appliance. Combustion air is made from solar, wind, biomass, hydropower or geothermal. A staged progression using lower cost greenhouses, or flatplates, or solarponds, feed warm air to higher cost concentrator solar collectors. Wind energy, biomass, geothermal energy heat and compress combustion air. Hydropower also heats and compresses combustion air. Solar evaporation from salt or impure water creates water or local rain for the hydropower system. Combustion air thus is made economically hot, compressed and high velocity, and placed into a heavily insulated pipes for long distance transmission to a distant power plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Patent number: 5488801
    Abstract: Designed is a system for recycling abandoned appliances as refrigerators, for conversion into solar applications. Designed is a converted refrigerator into a solar greenhouse, thus extending the growing season in cold climates. Illustrated is a solar powered fan, a skylight with a back reflector, a door window, screen to provide an insect barrier and a recycled refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Patent number: 5417282
    Abstract: Described is a method of insitu conversion of coal formations to oil, natural gas, and alcohol fuels, and a method of tertiary oil recovery using lightning as an energy source. Lightning rods which are insulated from other geologic strata conduct lightning to an embedded metal block, the embedded block located in the coal or oil bearing geologic strata. The metal block attracts lightning via the lightning rod, but also serves as capacitance. The conductance of electricity from one lightning rod (+) to another lightning rod (-) through the hydrocarbon bearing strata converts the coal and water to oil, natural gas, and alcohols or secondarily extracts oil as tertiary recovery. The oil, natural gas and alcohols are extracted via traditional pumping methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Patent number: 5308187
    Abstract: A method of making hot air in the range of 200 degrees (F) from the sunlight striking the paved surface of a parking lot is described. The transparent surface is above an opaque surface forming a homogeneous solid. Beneath the pavement are parallel pipes for the movement of air. The air is compressed into the pipe and sucked out of the pipes via photovoltaic powered fans. Due to the heat transfer through the walls of the pipes, ambient air is made hot. The hot air can then be used economically as precombustion air to a typical fossil fuel burner as oil, coal or gas. While the hot air would not be able to provide enough heat to power an entire power plant or oil refinery, the net result is more efficient fuel burning, with less air pollution produced, perhaps reducing fuel consumption by 5 to 10 percent. While the parking lot pavement may be made of recycled materials as glass or plastic, the pavement is still capable of supporting the weight of an automobile while also producing hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix
  • Patent number: 5113845
    Abstract: A concave parabolic reflector receiving solar rays directly and by reflection from an angularly adjustable auxiliary collecting plate and from a stationary side plate reflects such solar rays to a line focus at which material to be heated is located, which may be liquid, gas or food to be cooked. Such food may be placed in a container having a cast iron heat sink cover and such container may be an inner container enclosed in an outer container spaced from the inner container a distance sufficient to form a cooking chamber for cooking food in the outer container at a temperature lower than the temperature within the inner container. The degree of tilt of the auxiliary reflecting plate can be adjusted depending on the elevation of the sun and such plate can be swung to horizontal position to serve as a dining table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Martin E. Nix