Solar energy collecting apparatus
OwnerWilliam H. McArthurinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar energy collecting apparatus which is integrally incorporated into a conventional building structure so that it does not protrude from the normal contour of the building, and which utilizes components of the building structure as a part of the collecting apparatus to thereby minimize the cost thereof. The collecting apparatus includes a solar energy absorptive panel which is adapted to be mounted between the conventional support members in the wall or roof of a building, and which includes an outwardly facing dark collecting surface, and an opposite inner surface having fins integrally formed therein to facilitate transfer of heat to air passed therealong.
Claims17
A wall structure adapted to form an exterior wall or roof of a building and having a solar energy collector integrally incorporated therein, and wherein the solar energy collector is characterized by the absence of components which protrude outwardly beyond the normal contour of the wall structure, and comprising
- a plurality of parallel, spaced apart structural support members,
- exterior panel means which are transparent to solar radiation mounted along the outside edges of two adjacent support members and overlying a substantial portion of the area therebetween,
- interior panels means mounted along the inside edges of said two adjacent support members and being parallel to and transversely aligned with said exterior panel means,
- solar energy absorptive panel means mounted to extend between said two adjacent support members and underlying substantially the full area of said transparent exterior panel means, and such that said two adjacent support members, interior panel means, and solar energy absorptive panel means collectively define an air passageway,
- additional exterior panel means mounted along the outside edges of the support members and such that said transparent panel means and additional panel means are substantially co-planar and collectively define the exterior surface of said wall structure, and
- means for conveying air along said passageway, whereby solar energy is able to pass through said transparent exterior panel means and warm said solar energy absorptive panel means, and the air passing along said solar energy absorptive means absorbs heat therefrom.
A building structure having a solar energy collector integrally incorporated therein, and wherein the solar energy collector is characterized by the absence of components which protrude outwardly beyond the normal contour of the building structure, and comprising
- a plurality of parallel, spaced apart structural beams,
- a plurality of parallel, spaced apart support members attached to and extending perpendicularly between said structural beams to define an exterior wall structure of said building structure,
- exterior panel means which are transparent to solar radiation mounted to the outside edges of two adjacent support members and overlying a substantial portion of the area therebetween,
- interior panel means mounted to the inside edges of said two adjacent support members and being generally parallel to and transversely aligned with said exterior panel means,
- solar energy absorptive panel means mounted parallel to and intermediate said exterior and interior panel means, such that said two adjacent support members, interior panel means, and solar energy absorptive panel means collectively define an air passageway, and
- means for conveying air along said air passageway and in heat transfer relationship with said solar energy absorptive panel means, whereby the solar energy is able to pass through said exterior panel means and warm said solar energy absorptive panel means, and the air passing through said passageway absorbs heat from said solar energy absorptive panel means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.