Solar energy collecting device

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a solar energy collecting device and, more particularly, an improved solar energy collecting device which is simple in structure, light in weight and less expensive to manufacture when compared with the conventional devices of the type incorporating a number of metal tubes.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the solar energy collecting device according to the present invention;

#FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views along lines II--II, III--III and IV--IV in FIG. 1 respectively;

#Referring to FIG. 1, 1 designates a relatively flat housing box of a rectangular plan shape, in which are mounted a pair of headers 6. The headers 6 are arranged along two opposite edges of the housing box. Also in the housing box 1, are positioned two hollow plastic panels 3. The hollow plastic panels 3 are provided in a manner to bridge said pair of headers. The hollow plastic panel has opposite ends which converge to provide tubular end portions 5a and 5b (FIGS. 2 and 3) while the header 6 is provided with two tubular studs 6a extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof. The tubular end portion 5a or 5b of the hollow plastic panel 3 is inserted into the tubular sutd 6a of the header 6. In this case, the inner diameter of the tubular stud 6a is made slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular end portion 5a or 5b so that the latter is axially slidably supported by the former when the latter has been inserted into the former as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

#The tubular stud 6a is provided with external threads at its end portion and adapted to receive a union nut 7 screwed thereon. An annular elastic sealing element 8 is mounted to be fastened between the union nut and the outer end of the tubular stud 6a so as to seal the connection between the tubular end portion 5a or 5b and the tubular stud 6a while allowing for a slight axial relative movement between the tubular end portion 5a or 5b and the tubular stud 6a due to a thermal expansion or contraction of the plastic panel 3.

#The headers 6 are mounted to the housing box 1 in a manner to penetrate openings (not shown) provided at opposite end portions of opposite side walls of the housing box so that opposite end portions of the header project from the side walls of the housing box as shown by 12 in FIG. 1. The end portion 12 of the header may preferably be provided with an internal thread so that the header is easily connected with a conduit element provided with an external thread at an end portion thereof for connection with a solar energy heating system.