Solar collector system
AssigneeSunearth Construction Company, Inc.
InventorsHoward S. Katz, P. Richard Rittelmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar collection system is disclosed wherein first and second solar collectors of the fluid circulating type are supported by opposite sides of a mounting member having a recess for receiving a substructure. A header on one collector is coupled to a header on an adjacent collector by way of a flexible conduit extending through openings in the mounting member. The system is designed so that minimum assembly is required at the job site.
Claims13
A solar collector system comprising a rigid mounting member having a recess on one side for receiving a substructure, first and second solar collectors, said collectors being on opposite sides of said member and partially supported by said member, each collector having an inlet header and an outlet header interconnected by fluid passages, a conduit coupled at one end to a header of said first collector and coupled at its other end to a header of said second collector, said mounting member having openings at a location above said recess, said conduit extending through said openings, and at least one layer of transparent material above each collector partially supported by and sealed with respect to the end portion of said mounting member which is remote from said recess.
A solar collector system comprising first and second mounting members having a recess on one side for receiving a substructure, each mounting member being generally U-shaped with its open end and extending downwardly to at least partially define said recess, the depth of the recess being defined by an intermediate wall, said members having a top wall, said top walls having a depending channel, each member having a flange adjacent the entrance of its recess, a solar collector supported on one side of a rigid layer of insulation, a vapor barrier on the opposite side of said layer supported by and sealed to said flanges on said members, said solar collector having an inlet header and an outlet header interconnected by fluid passages, at least one layer of transparent material overlying said solar collector while being supported by and sealed with respect to the top wall of said mounting members, said transparent layer being supported at opposite sides by said top walls by means of a discrete gasket mounting strip having a portion partially extending into its respective channel, a second layer of transparent material having opposite sides supported by said members at an elevation below and spaced from said first layer of transparent material but above said solar collector, and at least one of said members having passage means through which a conduit may extend to one of said headers.
An article of manufacture for use in a solar collector system for supporting adjacent solar collector panels and at least one overlying sheet of transparent material from substructure comprising a rigid inverted U-shaped member having side walls interconnected by a top wall, outwardly directed flanges at the free end of said side walls, a channel extending inwardly from said top wall, an intermediate wall cooperating with at least one of the side walls to define a recess for receiving a portion of substructure, each side wall having an opening at a location between said intermediate wall and said channel for receiving a conduit adapted to extend therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.