ERNEST F ROOT
Engineering in Nashua, NH

4068361, Jan 17, 1978

Jan 26, 1976

5/652023

Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH

Itek Corporation - Lexington MA

B23P 1526

291573R

A solar energy collector of low cost and high thermal efficiency is disclosed having a heat trap produced by zigzagging a thin strip of polyethylene terephthalate between opposite sides of the trap while wrapping the strip about rows of dowels positioned at opposite sides of the frame of the solar collector. A window of soda lime glass filters UV radiation to inhibit discoloration of the plastic heat trap walls. An absorber plate having fluid pipes therein is positioned underneath the heat trap and a first layer of fiberglass, and a second layer of polyurethane foam are positioned below the absorber plate. The fiberglass layer prevents overheating of the polyurethane foam layer to in turn inhibit the formation of toxic fluids, which may condense upon the underside of the window to reduce the efficiency of the collector.

4044754, Aug 30, 1977

May 10, 1976

5/684519

Paul W. Cronin - Andover MA
Peter H. Ottmar - Attleboro MA
Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH
Harry M. Simmons - Reading MA

Itek Corporation - Lexington MA

F24J 302

126271

An automatic freeze protection system for solar energy collector apparatus. The apparatus includes a solar collector for circulating water or another fluid to be heated by the sun. Sensor means are provided within the collector to monitor the temperature of the water, and whenever it approaches the freezing point, the sensor will automatically actuate a valve means to rapidly drain the water from the collector. When the temperature within the collector thereafter rises to a predetermined safe level, the sensor means will again automatically actuate the valve means to refill the collector with fresh water to be heated. The system provided thus avoids the need for anti-freeze or other freeze protection materials suggested by the prior art as well as isolated water loops, heat exchangers and other expensive safety equipment necessitated thereby.

4046135, Sep 6, 1977

Jan 30, 1976

5/653819

Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH
Serge Kunica - Wellesley MA
Harry M. Simmons - Reading MA

Itek Corporation - Lexington MA

F24J 302

126271

A solar energy collector of low cost and high thermal efficiency is disclosed having a heat trap produced by zigzagging a thin strip of polyethylene terephthalate between opposite sides of the trap while wrapping the strip about rows of dowels positioned at opposite sides of the frame of the solar collector. A window of soda lime glass filters UV radiation to inhibit discoloration of the plastic heat trap walls. An absorber plate having fluid pipes therein is positioned underneath the heat trap and a first layer of fiberglass, and a second layer of polyurethane foam are positioned below the absorber plate. The fiberglass layer prevents overheating of the polyurethane foam layer to in turn inhibit the formation of toxic fluids, which may condense upon the underside of the window to reduce the efficiency of the collector.

4480914, Nov 6, 1984

Sep 13, 1982

6/417819

Duane T. Thompson - Franklin MA
Edwin L. Karas - Sharon MA
Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH
Fredrik Schlyter - Fairfield CT

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01B 902

356346

An interferometer mirror drive system compensates for velocity and tilt errors induced by ambient vibration, as well as providing long-term automatic alignment of the mirrors. A uniquely configured. lambda. /8-thick step on the fixed mirror of the interferometer introduces a 90-degree phase shift in one of two reference light beams, to produce quadrature signals which characterize the relative motion between the fixed and the driven mirrors. An electronic circuit extracts velocity and tilt data from the quadrature signals and develops error signals indicative of deviations from the desired coordinates of the moving mirror. The error signals are used to generate a set of control signals which in turn are supplied to an arrangement of drive coils attached to the moving mirror, to restore the mirror to the desired coordinates.

4248088, Feb 3, 1981

May 24, 1979

6/042162

James B. McGown - Attleboro MA
Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01F 2310, G01F 2312

73319

A float is disclosed for use in tank gauging systems of the type having a vertically supported guide. The float includes a donut-shaped body member adapted to be positioned about the guide to ride freely with the liquid surface. A discharged tube is positioned concentrically with the body member by a number of support members. The discharge tube is positioned below the liquid surface and acts as a discharge electrode to maintain the path of least resistance for an electrostatic discharge of the float below the liquid surface.

D370250, May 28, 1996

Aug 11, 1994

D/027043

John P. Fawcett - Palm Bay FL
Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH

D23213

D342779, Dec 28, 1993

Feb 6, 1992

7/831389

Ernest F. Root - Nashua NH

D23304