US 4,066,062 AGranted

Solar heating system

OwnerElmer Houstoninventor

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for utilizing the head from the sun's rays as a source of energy for heating a liquid which may be stored and/or circulated through a heating system for heating homes or other areas by providing a plurality of individually adjustable lenses divided into groups, each group adapted to focus the sun's rays on a heat absorbing member at consecutive periods during the daylight hours as the sun changes its position.

Claims2

Dependent claims

In an improved apparatus for heating a liquid supply by collecting heat from the sun's rays, in combination:

a. an angle mounted flat heat exchange unit having an upper end and a lower end, and a liquid intake at its upper end and a liquid outlet at its lower end, said heat exchange unit having a liquid-tight compartment associated therewith, said liquid-tight compartment comprising a fixed upper plate and a fixed bottom plate, said bottom plate being spaced outwardly from the upper plate, lateral baffles within the area between the top and bottom plates forming channels to guide a liquid laterally from side to side of the heat exchange liquid-tight compartment throughout the area of the liquid-tight compartment from its intake end to its outlet end;
b. a tank for storing the said liquid supply and means for connecting the liquid supply tank with the liquid-tight compartment through fixed conduits connected to said tank including means for pivotally connecting said conduits to the liquid-tight compartment of the heat exchange unit;
c. means for circulating the liquid in the liquid supply tank and the liquid-tight compartment of the heat exchange unit for heating said liquid;
d. said heating apparatus comprising a plurality of individual universally adjustable lenses mounted upon a lens-supporting plate, said plate being mounted above the upper plate of the heat exchanger unit at a distance to focus the sun's rays through the said lenses on the upper plate of the heat exchange unit, said lenses being formed in groups, wherein each group of lenses is adjusted to concentrate the sun'rays at different time periods as the angle of the sun's rays change relative to the upper surface of the upper plate of heat exchange unit;
e. supporting means for each of said lenses comprising, a first supporting means fixed to said lenses and diametrically attached thereto, a second lens-supporting member diametrically attached to the lens-supporting plate at 90.degree. from the attachment of the first lens-supporting member to the second lens-support and means for securing each of the first and second lens-supporting members in adjusted position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

In an improved apparatus for heating a liquid supply by collecting heat from the sun's rays, in combination:

a. an angle mounted flat heat exchange unit having an upper end and a lower end, and a liquid intake at its upper end and a liquid outlet at its lower end, said heat exchange unit having a liquid-tight compartment associated therewith, said liquid-tight compartment comprising a fixed upper plate and a fixed bottom plate, said bottom plate being spaced outwardly from the upper plate, lateral baffles within the area between the top and bottom plates forming channels to guide a liquid laterally from side to side of the heat exchange liquid-tight compartment throughout the area of the liquid-tight compartment from its intake end to its outlet end;
b. a tank for storing the said liquid supply and means for connecting the liquid supply tank with the liquid-tight compartment through fixed conduits connected to said tank including means for pivotally connecting said conduits to the liquid-tight compartment of the heat exchange unit;
c. means for circulating the liquid in the liquid supply tank and the liquid-tight compartment of the heat exchange unit for heating said liquid;
d. said heating apparatus comprising a plurality of individual universally adjustable lenses mounted upon a lens-supporting plate, said plate being mounted above the upper plate of the heat exchanger unit at a distance to focus the sun's rays through the said lenses on the upper plate of the heat exchange unit, said lenses being formed in groups, wherein each group of lenses is adjusted to concentrate the sun'rays at different time periods as the angle of the sun's rays change relative to the upper surface of the upper plate of heat exchange unit;
e. supporting means for each of said lenses comprising, a first supporting means fixed to said lenses and diametrically attached thereto, a second lens-supporting member diametrically attached to the lens-supporting plate at 90.degree. from the attachment of the first lens-supporting member to the second lens-support and means for securing each of the first and second lens-supporting members in adjusted position.

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