Patents by Inventor Peter D. Reed

Peter D. Reed 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: 5477848
    Abstract: A solar energy collector expansion assembly including means for reducing having axial thermal expansion in the riser tube is described in which each riser tube has a pair of solar collecting panels attached thereto by a removable elongated "C"-shaped connection member. The "C"-shaped connection member is deliberately made from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than does the material from which the solar collecting panel and the riser tube are formed thereby influencing the dimensional thermal expansion of the riser tube-connection member assembly into a radial rather than axial direction thereby reducing the weakening and failure of the bonds which join the riser tube to adjoining members. Each riser tube-connection member assembly is curved slightly from linear into a cambered shape to further influence the path of thermal expansion of the assembly from a direction other than axial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: Peter D. Reed
  • Patent number: 5074282
    Abstract: A solar water heater absorber with controllable freeze damage is described, the absorber having removable heat absorbing panels attached on opposite sides to each riser, each panel having a flat portion to receive the sun's rays and a folded curved portion to reside next to the horizontal pipe riser. An elongated "C" clamp compressing the curved portion of both panels to the riser provides efficient heat conduction. The risers are arranged in a serpentine fashion with manifolds attaching appropriate adjacent ends and vertical freeze expansion pipes attaching to the manifolds through bridge pipes, one freeze expansion pipe at each end of the risers. At one end of each freeze expansion pipe is a test cap. Water flow through the bridge pipe is restricted by an internal plug with orifice, a reduced diameter bridge pipe, or an opening formed in the manifold or into connected freeze expansion pipes encompassed by the bridge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Peter D. Reed