William Wallace Milburn, JR
Architects at 9 St, Boulder, CO

4250871, Feb 17, 1981

Dec 18, 1978

5/970287

William W. Milburn - Boulder CO

F24J 302, G05D 2300

126430

A structure and method for utilizing solar energy for heating including a unitary, preferably modular, unit adapted to form an outer surface of a building, and having therein a reservoir suitable for storing fluid heat storage medium. The structure includes an outer glazing, an energy absorbing surface spaced inwardly from the glazing, and a divider forming an absorber channel adjacent the back side of the absorber. Preferably, the storage reservoir is separated from the back side of the absorber by an insulating divider defining the absorber channel. The structure is preferably self-supporting with a stressed storage reservoir and may be incorporated in a structure as a unitary module supporting at least its own weight and often forming a structural, stressed portion of the building. In operation, air may be selectively conducted through the absorber channel to accumulate heat energy from the back side of the absorber and, optionally, conduct the heat energy directly to the building volume to be heated, or over the storage reservoir to accumulate and store the collected energy. When radiant energy is not available, air may be flowed over the storage reservoir to withdraw heat energy to be utilized for heating purposes.

4597403, Jul 1, 1986

Mar 14, 1983

6/474829

William W. Milburn - Boulder CO

F02B 5900, F16K 31524

137 1

Structure and method for providing timed valving in which a nutating plate having an opening defined therethrough moves relative to at least one other nominally static plate having a complementary opening defined therethrough, the nutating plate at one portion of the nutating travel bringing the opening defined thereto in alignment with the complementary static opening and in another portion of the nutating movement positioning such opening therethrough in a spaced, sealing relationship relative to the complementary static opening. Either the nutating or nominally static plate may be utilized in pairs such that a sandwiched relationship between one type of plate and the other exists. The static and nutating plates may advantageously be biased together. Timing of the opening and closing of the valving structure may be adjusted relative to a nominal rotating shaft such as to provide opening and closing cycles of selected portions of an entire rotation.

4466335, Aug 21, 1984

Nov 18, 1981

6/322502

William W. Milburn - Boulder CO

Milburn Stirling Corporation - Boulder CO

F01B 720, F01L 3302

91173

An improvement for a variable volume device in the form of a rectilinear case having disposed therein a rectilinear outer piston structure and a rectilinear inner piston structure within the outer piston structure, the inner piston being carried for rotation on a crank shaft and in turn inducing a reciprocal movement of the outer piston structure in the case, the improvement comprising rollers positioned between the outer piston structure and the case, and the inner piston structure and outer piston structure to facilatate thrust and force accomodation therebetween, and sealing strip means positioned in sealing relationship between the outer piston structure and rectilinear case, and inner piston structure and outer piston structure, and particularly an embodiment in which the sealing strips means of the inner piston structure bear against the side portion of the outer piston structure sealing ring means and a bearing plate positioned to support the rollers, whereby the rectilinear innerrunning pistons may be effectively and reliably mounted for relative motion ensealed to define variable volume portions in the device.

4338918, Jul 13, 1982

Jan 5, 1981

6/222447

William W. Milburn - Boulder CO

F24J 302

126430

A structure and method for utilizing solar energy for heating including a unitary, preferably modular, unit adapted to form an outer surface of a building, and having therein a reservoir suitable for storing fluid heat storage medium. The structure includes an outer glazing, an energy absorbing surface spaced inwardly from the glazing, and a divider forming an absorber channel adjacent the back side of the absorber. Preferably, the storage reservoir is separated from the back side of the absorber by an insulating divider defining the absorber channel. The structure is preferably self-supporting with a stressed storage reservoir and may be incorporated in a structure as a unitary module supporting at least its own weight and often forming a structural, stressed portion of the building. In operation, air may be selectively conducted through the absorber channel to accumulate heat energy from the back side of the absorber and, optionally, conduct the heat energy directly to the building volume to be heated, or over the storage reservoir to accumulate and store the collected energy. When radiant energy is not available, air may be flowed over the storage reservoir to withdraw heat energy to be utilized for heating purposes.

4147300, Apr 3, 1979

Dec 8, 1976

5/748588

William W. Milburn - Boulder CO

F24J 302

237 1A

A method and structure for utilizing solar energy for heating utilizing a wall of masonry or other cementitious material having preferably vertical channels defined through the central portion thereof. An outer surface, preferably spaced from the wall, is provided with a radiant energy absorbing surface, and transparent or translucent panels are positioned adjacent to but spaced from the wall and outer surface. Inlets and outlets to the channels within the wall are defined in the lower inner and outer surfaces of the wall respectively, and outlets and inlets to such channels are defined at the upper inner and outer surfaces of the wall respectively. The inner outlets communicate with an air distribution system and the inner inlets serve as return air ducts. The outer outlets and inlets serve to convect heat from the radiant energy absorbing surface. Preferably, the inner surface of the wall is insulated and, optionally, heat flow paths, preferably of metal, extend through the central portion of the wall including the channels.

4672989, Jun 16, 1987

Jun 11, 1986

6/872866

William W. Milburn - Boulder CO

Milburn Research Corporation - Boulder CO

F02B 5900, F16K 31524

137 1

Structure and method are disclosed for providing timed valving in which a nutating plate having an opening defined therethrough moves relative to at least one other nominally static plate having a complementary opening defined therethrough, the nutating plate at one portion of the nutating travel bringing the opening defined therethrough in alignment with the complementary static opening and in another portion of the nutating movement positioning such opening therethrough in a spaced, sealing relationship relative to the complementary static opening. Either the nutating or nominally static plate may be utilized in pairs such that a sandwiched relationship between one type of plate and the other exists. The walls of the opening in the static plate are angularly disposed with respect to the walls of the opening defined in the nutating plate and steadily converge in the direction toward the nutating plate thereby restricting the opening in the static plate at the face adjacent to the nutating plate, with the angular disposition and convergence being configured to reduce turbulent flow during opening and closing of the valving structure. Timing of the opening and closing of the valving structure may be adjusted relative to the drive shaft so as to provide opening and closing cycles of selected portions of an entire rotation.