Patents by Inventor Leslie Clark Ashton

Leslie Clark Ashton 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: 7337843
    Abstract: A method to enhance oil shale, oil sand, asphaltic crude oil, or other high viscosity crude oil production by using a solar blackbody waveguide to heat these formations in situ. A parabolic mirror collects and directs the solar flux into a vertical shaft of a well drilled into the formation. This vertical shaft is lined with a reflective sleeve that reflects nearly all of the sunlight down into the well bore. The reflective sleeve ends at the top of the formation so that below this point, the solar flux is permitted to make successive reflections with the interior of the metal well casing or solar blackbody waveguide coil. The coil absorbs the solar flux, converting it to heat. Heat from the coil is transferred by conduction into the formation and allowing the formation to be produced by traditional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Travis W. Mecham, Leslie Clark Ashton