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US 4,048,981 AGranted
Solar heater
OwnerJames C. Hobbs, IIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The apparatus to absorb solar radiant energy including means to circulate an energy absorbing liquid through a shallow passageway between two substantially flat members while maintaining the static pressure of the liquid not greater than atmospheric pressure.
Claims13
A system utilizing solar energy for heating purposes comprising:
- a. a heat absorber to be exposed to sunlight and through which heat exchange liquid can flow, said absorber having an inlet for said liquid at one elevation and an outlet for said liquid at a higher elevation;
- b. a liquid supply for the absorber, open to the atmosphere and communicating with the absorber inlet, said supply being at an elevation no higher than the elevation of the heat absorber inlet;
- and
- c. a pump having an inlet operatively connected to the absorber outlet;
- d. whereby liquid will be drawn through the absorber by the pump and be introduced to the absorber from the supply at no greater than atmospheric pressure.
2 more elements
A system utilizing solar energy for heating purposes comprising:
- a. a heat absorber to be exposed to sunlight having an inlet at one elevation and an outlet at a higher elevation;
- b. a vessel having an opening to the atmosphere, an inlet, and an outlet through which liquid is supplied to the absorber inlet, said vessel being locatad no higher than the elevation of the heat absorber inlet;
- c. a pump having an inlet operatively connected to the absorber outlet;
- and
- d. means to supply liquid to be heated to the vessel inlet,
- e. whereby liquid will be drawn through the absorber by the pump and be supplied to the absorber from the vessel at no greater than atmospheric pressure.
3 more elements
A system utilizing solar energy for heating purposes comprising:
- a. a heat absorber to be exposed to sunlight having an inlet at one elevation and an outlet at a higher elevation;
- b. a liquid supply for the absorber open to the atmosphere and communicating with the absorber inlet;
- c. means limiting the elevation of said supply to no higher than the elevation of said inlet;
- d. a pump having an inlet operatively connected to the absorber outlet;
- and
- e. means to replenish said supply;
- f. whereby liquid will be drawn through the absorber by the pump and be introduced to the absorber from the supply at no greater than atmospheric pressure.
4 more elements
A system utilizing solar energy for heating purposes comprising:
- a. a heat absorber to be exposed to sunlight having an inlet at one elevation and an outlet at a higher elevation;
- b. heat exchange liquid within the absorber at a static pressure no greater than atmospheric;
- c. a supply of heat exchange liquid for the absorber open to the atmosphere and communicating with the absorber inlet;
- d. a pump having an inlet operatively connected to the absorber outlet to cause liquid to flow through the absorber;
- and
- e. means to maintain said supply by recirculating the liquid.
3 more elements
A system for heating liquid by solar energy comprising:
- a. an absorber to be exposed to sunlight having a bed portion with ribs on an upper surface, a cover on said bed portion to define a liquid passageway therebetween, an inlet to said passageway at one elevation and an outlet from said passageway at a higher elevation;
- and
- b. means to establish a flow of liquid through the absorber at a static pressure no greater than atmospheric, said means including:
- i. a vessel having an opening to the atmosphere, an inlet for receiving a supply of liquid, and an outlet connected to said passageway inlet;
- and
- ii. a pump having an inlet operatively connected to said passageway outlet to draw liquid from said vessel through said absorber and to discharge the liquid through an outlet.
3 more elements
An absorber for heating liquid by solar energy comprising:
- a. a frame member having a bed portion and an outer edge surrounding said bed portion;
- b. a cover on said bed portion having an outer surface exposed to atmospheric pressure, and an inner surface opposed to said bed portion, extending over a part of and having a fluid tight engagement with said outer edge;
- c. ribs on said bed portion having upper edges abutting but not secured to the inner surface of said cover along substantially line contacts to form an elongated passageway for fluid flow between said bed portion and said cover;
- d. means maintaining liquid under subatmospheric pressure between the cover and bed portion;
- and
- e. an inlet and an outlet to said passageway, the inlet being at a lower elevation than the outlet.
3 more elements
An absorber for heating liquid by solar energy comprising:
- a. a unitary fluid impervious frame member having a bed portion and an outer edge surrounding said bed portion;
- b. a cover on said bed portion having an outer surface exposed to atmospheric pressure, an inner surface opposed to said bed portion, extending over a part of and having fluid tight engagement with said outer edge;
- c. ribs on said bed portion having upper edges abutting but not secured to the inner surface of said cover along substantially line contacts to form an elongated passageway for fluid flow between said bed portion and said cover;
- d. means maintaining liquid under subatmospheric pressure between the cover and bed portion;
- e. air space above said cover defined by transparent means extending over said cover and sealed to said outer edge portions;
- and
- f. insulation within the frame member on the opposite side of said bed, isolated by said frame and bed portion from said air space.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.