Solar heat collector system, parts therefor and methods

In a method of operating a solar heat collector system having a fluid storage means that is interconnected to the inlet of a solar heat collector by a pump means and is also interconnected to the outlet of the collector by a return means, the improvement comprising the steps of operatively interconnecting a temperature sensor to said pump means to turn on said pump means when said sensor senses a temperature above a first certain magnitude above the temperature of the fluid in said storage means and to turn off said pump means when said sensor senses a temperature below a second certain magnitude above the temperature of said fluid in said storage means, and directing fluid from said return means to adjacent said sensor with directing means to change the temperature thereof.

A sensor unit for a solar heat collector system having a solar heat collector provided with an inlet and an outlet, a pump means and a return means, said unit comprising a container means that is at least partially transparent, a temperature sensor disposed in said container means for operating said pump means of said system in relation to temperature sensed by said sensor, and means for directing fluid from said return means of said solar heat collector, said means having a part disposed in said container means adjacent said temperature sensor to change the temperature thereof.

A sensor unit as set forth in clam 21 wherein said temperature sensor is blackened to absorb radiation passing through said container means.

A method of making a sensor unit for a solar heat collector system comprising the steps of providing a container means that is at least partially transparent, disposing a temperature sensor inside said container means for operating a collector pump of said system in relation to temperature sensed by said sensor, and disposing a part of a means for directing fluid from a return means of a solar heat collector inside said container means adjacent said temperature sensor to change the temperature thereof.

An aspirator unit for a solar heat collector system having a solar collector provided with an inlet and an outlet, a return means, a pump means interconnected to said inlet and by said return means to said outlet, and a temperature sensor to operate said pump means, said unit comprising directing means for directing fluid from said return means of said solar heat collector adjacent said temperature sensor of said system to change the temperature thereof, said directing means having an aspirator means therein adapted to be responsive to fluid flow through said return means to cause some of said fluid in said return means to flow through said directing means.

A method of making an aspirator unit for a solar heat collector system comprising the steps of providing directing means for directing fluid from a return means of a solar heat collector adjacent a temperature sensor of said system to change the temperature thereof, and forming said directing means with an aspirator means therein adapted to be responsive to fluid flow through said return means to cause some of said fluid in said return means to flow through said directing means.