Solar heat collector

Abstract

A heat collector for absorbing solar energy includes a hollow panel with an insulated backwall connected to a cover plate by insulated spacer side walls. A conduit extends to and fro between opposed side walls in the space between the cover plate and the backwall. Spaced-apart heat transfer fins are in intimate heat conductive contact with the conduit. The fins extend in a generally radial direction from the conduit and include bent fin portions that project in a coplanar manner along the space between the conduit and the backwall within a plane which is generally normal to incident beam radiation. In one embodiment, the unbent portion of the fins projects within an included acute angle from the face surface of the conduit; while in the second embodiment, the included angle is a right angle. Heating means, controlled by a thermostat responsive to the ambient temperature, is provided within the collector panel to maintain a predetermined temperature within the panel and thereby prevents freezing of the fluid media within the conduit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.