Particular material

A solar water heating device and construction for heating the water in a swimming pool from the heat derived from the rays of the Sun. The pool is constructed with a border platform or coping around its edges with a hollow passageway under the metal top surface of the coping. The passageway has water...     

A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected...     

Disclosed is an improved flat plate solar collector module for use in a solar energy utilization system. Each collector has a housing with an evacuated chamber defined therein. A transparent planar wall forms one side of the chamber and a radiant energy absorber with flow passages therein is supported...     

A device is described for concentrating solar radiation upon the surface of a helicoidal tube assembly containing a circulating heat transfer medium whereby the energy of said radiation may be collected and utilized. The device consists of a rectangular container wherein is supported a longitudinal plurality...     

A solar heater for heating a fluid passing through a plurality of side by side positioned solar panels. The solar panels are formed of heat conducting material with an upper solar energy exposed surface covered with a radiant heat absorbing material with high heat absorbing characteristics. A V shaped...     

A solar heat collector is disclosed having an outer cover plate, an intermediate cover plate and a solar radiation absorber mounted in spaced relation to each other by edge packing. The edge packing (1) removes moisture from the air space between the cover plates and absorber and (2) prevents moisture...     

A solar heat energy collecting device and system embodying the same is disclosed where the devices are used in multiple to provide the required heating capacity, and where each device includes a housing member supportable on a roof between adjacent joists or on a separate structure. A solar energy collector...     

Disclosed is a solar heat collector having a cover plate mounted in spaced relation to a solar energy absorber. The cover plate has a transmittance coefficient (t) for solar radiation e.g., in the wavelength range of about 0.3 to 2.1 microns, and a reflectance coefficient (r) for infrared energy in the...     

A solar heating panel with a heat collector mounted on an insulating base and an arched cover over said collector mounted in clips at the edges of the base. One or two flexible covers slidingly positioned in channels of the mounting clips, with a cover in sealing engagement with the insulating base and...     

A solar heat collector unit includes a solar heat collector having thermal-insulating material, e.g., fiber glass, provided against the outer absorber surface and a protective sheet over the insulating material. A generally U-shaped channel member is provided around the peripheral edges of the collector...     

A solar heat collector includes a solar energy absorber having a pan-shaped configuration and a cover plate. The sidewalls of the absorber supports the cover plate in spaced relation to the base of the pan-shaped absorber thereby eliminating the need of a spacer frame.

A modular solar collector unit is arranged for symmetrical connection to other similar collectors to form a solar energy collection system. The individual units are arranged to be interlocked without special tools and without special know-how on the part of the person constructing the system. The units...     

A solar panel construction including an elongated, sealed, flat, polygonal case or receptacle within which is supported a metal solar energy collector panel on rigid permeable insulation material and also relatively soft yieldable permeable insulation material and a radiant energy transmitting means...     

This invention relates to an air supported double wall structure and a method of making same, including the preparation of a first and second plastic sheet; providing said plastic sheets with a multiplicity of predeterminedly located paired holes which determines the configuration of the final inflated...     

Herein is disclosed a flat plate solar heat collector unit. The solar collector is integrated as a structural unit so that the collector also functions as the building roof. The functions of efficient heat collection, liquid coolant flow passages, roof structural support and building insulation are combined...     

A greenhouse or the like comprising a frame formed from water carrying conduits which support panels capable of transmitting heat and light from the sun whereby radiant energy from the sun will pass through the panels and heat the space inside the house as well as the water in the conduits. The heated...     

A system is described for storing near infrared heat energy of the sun for use in a building including at least one glazing panel for transmitting the light and near infrared heat energy of the sun into the building. The system comprises a first tank capable of being completely filled with a heat absorbing...     

There is disclosed a solar energy collector assembly in which the working media is a liquid circulated through the several tubular collectors in series. The manifold device is of a design that is inexpensive to fabricate for detachably inserting tubular collectors into opposite sides of the liquid manifold....     

A solar energy collector is made up of a first flat flexible sheet preferably of silicone, and a first sinuous sheet also preferably of silicone, sealingly adhered to the first sheet along a plurality of spaced parallel lines to provide a series of substantially parallel ducts which carry a liquid heat...     

A heliothermal heating and cooling system of the type using a heat transport fluid such as water is disclosed. The energy collector comprises an assembly of individual solar collector panel modules in a series/parallel configuration and function to heat water flowing therethrough. Each solar collector...     

A solar collector of the type embodying a collector plate with fluid conduits disposed in heat-conductive relation to the plate, and a transparent cover spaced above the plate-conduit assembly, with venting devices being provided in opposite end portions of the assembly for permitting cool air circulation...     

An apparatus for collecting solar energy wherein a heat exchange array of plastic or the like is protected against damage by excessive heat buildup. The array is housed in a normally closed chamber having a portion transparent to solar rays and the chamber is periodically vented by means responsive to...     

An improved form of flat plate collector of the type used for heating a fluid, such as water, using solar energy. The structure comprises a cast or molded body having a surface which is absorptive to solar radiation, above which is positioned a sheet of material transparent to solar radiation forming...     

A solar collector adapted to be conveniently installed on a roof or similar structure includes a casing having a continuous bottom flange adapted to be secured to the roof and providing flashing for suitable roofing material. A continuous side wall extends upwardly from the flange and a continuous shoulder...     

A solar water heating panel having a base sheet and a metallic absorber sheet affixed in close parallel relationship to one another. The water passes between the two sheets and is heated by solar heat transfer through the absorber sheet into the water. The use of copper clad stainless steel in solar...     

A solar heater comprising two or more containers nested one within the other for the solar heating of a gaseous medium such as air therein. Each container is provided, near its lower end, with a solar radiation absorbing metal sheet which, when it becomes hot, raises the temperature of the air within...     

A system for extracting energy from the sun's rays including a bank of solar energy cells which generate electrical current when exposed to the rays of the sun, immersed in a bath of liquid formed to serve as a lens, concentrating the sun rays on the cells, and transmitting heat away from the cells.

A Solar Heat Collector unit having a series of parallel convex metal heat collector interconnected liquid channels, a series of transparent domes in sealed and spaced parallel relationship thereover, and an air suction pump connected with the dome for taking the air from under the dome for creating a...     

A solar heating system is disclosed of the type used to heat hot water or like fluid for domestic or industrial use comprising a collector assembly including fluid storage facilities formed on the interior thereof and exterior portion surrounding the fluid storage facilities. A collector unit including...     

A heat transfer element having a plurality of parallel channels is formed from at least two interconnected metal foils or sheets, at least one of which is corrugated and at least one of which is flat, wherein the surfaces of the foils or sheets facing each other are coated with a weldable or sealable...     

A modular flat plate solar collector for fluid such as air or water includes a plurality of stacked, separable solar collector elements or sub-assemblies. Removable fastening members maintain the sub-assemblies in intimate contact with each other during operation and permit access and replacement of...     

A solar energy collecting system of the liquid type where conduits in individual collectors of a system are in contact with an absorbing panel and the conduits of each panel are connected between liquid external input and exit manifolds, and where provision is made to accommodate differential expansion...     

A light weight, high efficiency solar energy collector which utilizes a shallow, open-topped, foamed, integrally skinned or otherwise sealed plastic vessel with a multiple layer, light transmissive cover is described. The cover is sealed to the inner edges of the continuous rim of the vessel to contain...     

An air solar heating collector assembly is provided having a framework covered by a back plate and a transparent front cover with a thin metal absorber plate mounted centrally therebetween. Baffle members are mounted on both surfaces of the absorber plate and are arranged for alternately splitting and...     

Disclosed is an improved solar energy collection device and method of making the device. A low shear strength solid, a thixotropic or approximately solid coagulum of black energy absorbing material is used to fill an open topped insulated tray, the top of which is glazed with one or more panels of light...     

A solar heating assembly including a radiant energy collector having a casing where fluid conduit is mounted therein in substantially suspended fashion relative to the interior space of the casing and angularly oriented, reflective wall surfaces disposed to essentially concentrate the radiant energy...     

A system for collecting solar energy comprising a plurality of collecting units pivotally mounted to a shiny support surface. Each unit has a first plate member with at least one reflecting side, a second plate member joined to the first plate member and pivotally mounted to the support surface, and...     

A solar collector using a basic element suitable for modular construction is described, comprising an absorber panel including a plurality of metal extrusions attached together in the direction of the width of the panel, and further metal extrusions each cut along a diagonal line and attached to the...     

A solar energy collector having a hollow, pyramidal-shaped body made of insulation material and a fluid conducting coil of heat conducting tubing extending around the inside of the body. The outer case or shell has a fluid coil to sense heat and cold of liquid flowing to the fluid bed. A plurality of...     

A solar energy powered heat generator is especially designed for economical manufacture and maintenance by incorporating a plurality of triangular shaped mirrors interconnected into an inverted cone for collecting solar energy. A coiled length of tubing is disposed centrally of the cone for heat transfer....     

A modular unit collector for collecting radiant solar energy to heat a fluid such as water is adapted to be mounted at an inclination to better receive radiant solar rays and to permit gravity drainage of the fluid from the unit. The components include an upper surface and a lower surface forming a cavity....     

A tool is provided for manufacturing parabolic solar reflectors. The tool employs an improved smooth convex parabolic surface terminating in edges remote from the parabolic vertex which are preferably placed under elastic tension tending to draw the edges toward each other. The improved convex surface...     

A solar energy collector having an insulated enclosure with at least one transparent wall, a thin planar collecting member supported in the enclosure under peripheral tension and fluid means transmitting energy from the member.

An improved solar collector has a one piece monolithic fiberglass frame and back assembly in which all of the collector components are mounted. A mounting flange integral with the frame facilitates securing the collector in place on a roof or other support. The frame has a double wall construction forming...     

A solar energy collector for heating liquids such as water through absorption of the sun's energy. The solar energy collector comprising an enclosure structured to operatively house at least a pair of serpentine fluid conduits disposed in substantially parallel relationship relative to each other. The...     

A housing for a solar energy collector which is formed of one-piece wall sections having integral flashing reglets and so formed as to provide lifting surfaces for the housings, help define an alignment and securing channel on the housing, aid in positioning a transparent cover retaining cap on the walls,...     

A solar energy collection system for a building is described. A solar energy collector is disposed at the exterior surface of the building and includes a solar energy absorbent body having a surface which is exposed to sunlight and from which solar energy can be transmitted as sensible heat. A panel...     

A heat absorbing window which can receive solar energy and transmit the illumination part of the solar energy, while utilizing the heat part of such energy to provide a source of heat for useful purposes. The window includes a frame with three window panes. The outermost pane faces the exterior and is...     

A solar energy collector in which one or more sheets of thin transparent material are positioned in the collector housing. The sheets are tensioned on frames which are supported within the housing and the uppermost frame supports a glass cover member.

A solar air heat collector includes a generally rectangular box-like housing of thermal insulating material and having an open front closed by a transparent plate. A corrugated solar heat absorber panel is supported in predetermined spaced relationship to the housing back wall in a location intermediate...     

A panel intended for use as a vacuum enclosure, comprising a pair of spaced sheets defining between them opposite walls of the enclosure, and a spacer assembly located between the sheets and adapted to maintain the sheets at the desired spacing, said spacer assembly comprising a pair of bearing pads...     

Simplicity is the height of invention. Glazing is simplified and reduced in cost by substantially eliminating framework for glass or other glazing material. And yet, long-life is retained, by use of an adhesive-sealant to secure the glazing to the solar absorber sheet. Differential expansion and contraction...     

A relatively low cost and lightweight solar energy collector of the type in which air is used as the heat transfer medium is provided by a frame member having the general form of an upwardly open box formed of relatively low density rigid thermal insulating slabs, a solar insulation absorber plate within...     

A solar heating panel includes a unitary rectangular shell having a low thermal conductivity urethane foam liner sandwiched between inner and outer fiberglass boxes. The inner box is impregnated with a dark coloring and has spaced raised support and expansion ridges extending traversely across its bottom....     

A solar energy collector for the entrapment of radiant energy from the sun or other energy source and the conversion thereof to usable heat energy comprises a radiant energy-transmitting cover panel assembly having an edge rail attached to at least a portion thereof and a radiant energy absorber held...     

A solar collector for collecting radiant energy and transferring it as heat to a moving air stream. A housing has means to provide an air stream through the housing. At least one translucent cover is mounted on the housing for the entrance of radiation into the housing. A plurality of spaced apart partially...     

A device for collecting solar heat energy in which a transparent glass or plastic member, preferably extruded, is provided with the body having upper and lower and peripheral walls with integral passages extending therethrough parallel and spaced from the top and bottom walls and through which fluid...     

An apparatus for concentrating solar energy upon the surface of a collector containing a circulating heat transfer medium, whereby the radiant energy may be absorbed and utilized. The apparatus includes a housing supporting a hemispherical reflector for gathering incident solar radiation and directing...     

An air-heating solar collector having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, substantially coextensive translucent sheets and a convoluted air passage passing in succession between successive pairs of said sheets, the air finally passing over a blackened absorber plate, whereby heat escaping from the...     

A solar energy collector comprising a pair of manifolds for coupling one or more solar energy collectors thereto. The manifolds are provided with connectors including "O" ring sealing means for slideably receiving and connecting the open ends of collector tubes thereto. The manifolds are maintained within...     

A solar radiation collector for generating useful heat in a liquid, comprising an essentially horizontal liquid infeed line and a liquid outfeed line. A heating device for heating the liquid incorporates radiation absorbing, mutually spaced tubes interconnecting the infeed line with the outfeed line,...     

A solar heating panel has a rectangular frame to receive a rectangular metal pan which supports a continuous coil of water tubing which is attached thereto by strips of metal attached to the pan. Preferably, the frame is divided into quadrants by rails. Each quadrant is closed off by a pane of glass...     

A gravity-flow, sheet-flow solar heat collector wherein the heat-absorbent medium is a dark fluid having a minimum viscosity of about 10 centipoise at 120.degree. F.

A solar heat roofing system including a plurality of waterproof heat absorbing panels covering substantially the entire roof of a building. The panels are formed by a pair of waterproof sheets connected to each other by elongated spacers thereby forming a plurality of fluid channels extending between...     

A solar collector is provided comprising a cover assembly which employs a flexible polymeric cover sheet and means for stretching the cover sheet and maintaining it taut under various ambient temperature conditions, a simple and economical peripheral supporting structure, and support means for a solar...     

An inflatable solar energy collector utilizes flexible materials and is adapted to be inflated by a flow of pressurized gas therethrough. Inflation positions a solar energy collecting panel at an appropriate predetermined angle for effectively collecting solar energy. The solar collector includes an...     

The apparatus of the invention includes a heat collector which utilizes a dark-colored, conductive, fibrous heat absorber positioned to receive the sun's rays and to absorb heat therefrom. The apparatus also includes heat-transfer means which passes through or flows over the fibrous heat collector and...     

A solar energy collecting and storing unit comprises a single housing having a glass-covered collector chamber on one face of a gravel-filled heat storage chamber, the chambers being separated by an insulated partition. The collector comprises an array of L-shaped metal fins over which air is caused...     

Disclosed is a solar powered heat pump useful for both heating and cooling building space and for providing refrigeration. The device operates on a chemical effect (adsorption) intermittent heat pump cycle in which the moderately high temperature heat generated by insolation is used to drive the desorber....     

A solar energy receiving surface having a heat exchange fluid conduit for circulating a heat exchange fluid in contact with the energy receiving surface is positioned between and thermally insulated from an upper and a lower cover, the lower cover serving as a base, and the upper cover, serving as a...     

A solar heating system for space air heating of a building has a solar energy collector in air flow communication with underground heat storage structure. The collector has an elongated frame defining a plurality of air passages. A plurality of solar energy absorption panels are arranged in ascending...     

This invention provides a solar collector construction consisting of two spaced-apart rigid panels with aligned edges, and a flexible web structure with a width substantially the same as the desired spacing between the panels. The web is strung in tension between spacing elements at the edges of the...     

A modular solar collector comprises a plurality of detachably interconnected modules forming a closed structural surface. Each module comprises a solar collector unit with a cavity receiving a heat carrier fluid through an inlet and delivering the heated fluid through an outlet, the inlet and out each...     

A solar energy collector structure has been provided which comprises a plurality of at least partially evacuated tubular members arranged in a group lying in parallel axial alignment. Each tubular member is joined to a next adjacent tubular member of the group to form a self supporting structure having...     

Solar heat energy collectors of the gaseous heat exchange type where the absorber is in the form of a duct completely out of thermal contact with the collector housing and extending between openings in opposite sides of the housing. Resilient seals are provided about the housing openings and compressively...     

A solar collector device generally comprises two laterally spaced apart frame arms with sockets located therein for the reception and support of solar collector pipes transversely extending therebetween. Within each frame arm, selected pairs of sockets are placed in fluid communication by means of intersecting...     

A structural support assembly and its method of formation for collecting solar energy, regulating heat gain and loss, controlling light transmission and being adapted to be interconnected with other structural elements to form a building. The support system includes an elongated rigid support member...     

A solar energy collector including an enclosure provided with a glazing closure or panel and a detachable retainer assembly securing the glazing panel in place. The retainer assembly includes a retainer cap mechanically interlocked with internal protrusions formed on the enclosure walls and a spring...     

A solar heat collector is an integral internal part of the structure of a building and has base beams, sunward beams extending up from and over the base beams, rear beams extending down from the sunward beams to the base beams and forming an equilateral triangle, central beams truncating an apex between...     

Apparatus and process for utilizing solar heat for dehydrating all form of vegetable matter.

The solar-exposed cover portion of conventional solar panel boxes are subject to variation depending upon customer choice, cost, heat insulation requirements and other factors, whereas the interiors of the boxes are standard. Thus, the cover portion may be a panel of plastic, or glass, or a combination...     

A solar energy collector having a plurality of elongated upwardly-open trough-shaped reflectors placed side by side and each having facing reflective surfaces joined by a curved section disposed about a medial axis of each trough and supported by a series of templates spaced along the reflectors and...     

Solar furnace support apparatus including frame member, furnace holding member and actuating mechanism, the frame member including a base portion and an upstanding portion; the furnace holding member being pivotally carried by the frame member, the furnace holding member including spaced longitudinal...     

An independent, self-contained solar energy module for transportation and fixed accurate positioning, including an expandable transport trailer chassis, adapted to receive interchangeable types and sizes of solar energy modules having integral support frames which also engage with the transport trailer...     

A solar heat collector having an elongated housing, a segmented absorber plate, inlet and outlet header pipes fluidly connected by a plurality of riser pipes for conducting heat transfer fluid through the collector, multilayered insulation for minimizing heat losses from the collector and at least one...     

A solar panel installation comprising a plurality of solar panel structures each having a multiplicity of elongated thin wall sections defining a multiplicity of parallel passages extending between the ends of the panel structure, a plurality of mounting assemblies for mounting the plurality of panel...     

The pneumatic structure comprises a pneumatic compression ring having a top cover under tension and being suspended from support columns by means of a cable system, the structure being suitably stiffened. A lower membrane can be attached to the lower portion of the pneumatic compression ring to create...     

A solar radiation absorbing structure including a plate comprising a plurality of co-planar fluid passageways joined side by side and having at least one radiation transmissive cover extending over the passageways. The opposite longitudinal edges of the plate parallel to the passageways and the corresponding...     

A resilient sealing member for use about the marginal edge of a glazing panel mounted in a solar energy collector. The sealing member is cup-shaped for receiving the marginal edge portion of the panel and is formed with a sealing lip bearing against the outboard surface of the glazing panel to provide...     

A solar energy collector is disclosed including a housing forming a receptacle across which a fluid to be heated can flow and which is divided into a pair of chambers in the direction of fluid flow by a heat exchanging mat including a layer formed partially from an absorbent material and partially from...     

An integrated system and the process of its manufacture for the absorption of solar energy and for the release of that energy for utilization as required using modular elements that are pre-cast out of low-cost building materials and which can be designed for use with others of the like kind to form...     

A solar energy collector of the air heat exchange type in which the absorber forms the upper wall of an air duct and a heat exchanger in the duct transfers heat from the absorber to air in the duct, thereby providing increased heated surface area to the air passing therethrough.

A tracking solar energy collector comprising a plurality of internally defined, spaced-apart channels for containing a working medium to be heated with solar energy. In a preferred form the invention comprises a rigid, generally rectangular frame, a foam insulation layer confined within the frame forming...     

A solar collector (10) is disclosed which is tiltable about a horizontal axis so as to vary the angle at which solar radiation is received by the collector (10). The solar collector (10), which uses air as the heat transfer medium, has connected to it a pair of fixed, well-insulated air transfer passages...     

A forced air solar heating system including a solar panel unit having an elongated base member, a corrugated absorber member disposed over the base member, an end cap disposed over a first end of the base and absorber members, another cap disposed over the other end of the base and absorber members,...     

A solar heat collector that pre-heats water for a household hot water heating system, and also heats the air inside a house; the device including solar heating panels set into an A-shape, and enclosing an area therein containing a water tank and a wristatic fan that utilize the heat of the enclosed air,...     

A solar-energy collector has a frame receiving a double-pane unit consisting of a pair of transparent panes hermetically sealed together and defining the flow chamber for the heat-collecting fluid. The frame also supports a cover pane which defines, with the aforementioned unit, a heat-insulating dead-air...     

A ready-to-assemble kit for a solar air heater including (a) a prefabricated, substantially closed heating chamber to be disposed upon a base member, (b) guide strips to be secured to the base member around the perimeter of the chamber, and (c) glazing supports having elongated slots along their bottoms,...     

A lightweight flat plate heat exchanger comprised of two or more essentially parallel flat plates which are formed and arranged to provide fluid flow passages between the plates. New combinations of plastic plates include the usage of transparent plastic foam and honeycomb structures. Improved shapes...     

A solar energy collector includes a housing having a cover transparent to solar energy. A solar energy absorber is enclosed within the housing just beneath the cover. The absorber is formed to define a plurality of narrow fluid channels of triangular cross section which are disposed in close proximity...