Solar heating device

In a solar heating device, a housing having a window transparent to solar energy, an absorber mounted within the housing including an elongated flow passageway for fluid to be heated, and a cylindrical reflector mounted within the housing generally parallel to the absorber and facing generally toward the window for directing solar energy passing through the window toward the reflector, said reflector being disposed along a path extending spirally through an angle on the order of 330.degree. to 350.degree. from a first point proximate to the outer periphery of the absorber to a second point spaced a predetermined distance from the absorber and extending parabolically from the second point to a third point spaced from the absorber by a distance greater than the predetermined distance.

A solar heating device having an absorber defining an axially extending flow passageway for carrying fluid to be heated and a cylindrical reflector for directing solar energy to the absorber, characterized in that the reflector includes a first section comprising an inner portion extending spirally from a point proximate to the periphery of the absorber and an outer portion extending parabolically outward from the inner portion and a second section extending spirally from the point proximate to the periphery of the absorber to a point generally opposite to the inner portion of the first section.

In a solar heating device, first and second absorbers defining generally parallel axially extending flow passageways, a first generally cylindrical reflector having a first section including an inner portion which extends spirally from a point proximate to the first absorber and an outer portion which extends parabolically from the inner portion, the first reflector also having a second section which extends spirally from the point proximate to the first absorber, and a second generally cylindrical reflector having first and second sections extending spirally from a point proximate to the second absorber and disposed tangentially of the outer portion of the first section of the first reflector, the second section of the second reflector having an outer portion extending parabolically from the spirally extending portion thereof and generally parallel to the outer portion of the first section of the first reflector.

In a solar energy collector, first and second absorbers defining generally parallel axially extending flow passageways, and first and second generally cylindrical reflectors each comprising first and second sections extending spirally in opposite directions from a point proximate to the periphery of respective ones of the absorbers to points spaced from the absorbers, the first sections of the reflectors also including outer portions which extend parabolically from the points spaced from the absorbers, the two reflectors being disposed back-to-back with the spirally extending portions of the first reflector tangent to the spirally extending portions of the second reflector and the outer edges of the parabolic portions spaced apart to define an aperture through which solar energy can enter the collector and be directed toward the absorbers.