Solar heat collector

Abstract

A solar heat collector having an enclosure, a first receptacle for a heated liquid medium, and a second receptacle for a cooled liquid medium. Heat transfer means within the enclosure provide for the transfer of heat either to or from a liquid medium therein. Additionally, the heating enclosure may include a closure member which is transparent to radiant energy from the sun. Means may be provided to move the closure member between an opened and a closed position in response to the intensity of radiant energy which impinges on the closure member. First means may then be provided to convey a liquid medium from the first receptacle through the heat transfer means and back to the first receptacle with the closure in a closed position. Also, second means may be provided to convey a liquid medium from the second receptacle through the heat transfer means and then back to the second receptacle with the closure member in an opened position. Thus, heat from radiant energy may be transferred to a liquid medium by the heat collector with the radiant energy passing through the closure in its closed position. Also, the collector may function to transfer heat from a liquid medium with the heat being radiated to a darkened sky with the closure in its opened position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.