US 4,191,168 AGranted

Solar energy converting apparatus

OwnerPeyton S. Allen, Norman G. Bellinventors

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Abstract

A base plate having a predetermined perimetral configuration supports a planar coil of tubing surrounding a central space and overlying the plate. A core reflector having a reflective surface is fitted within the central space and is attached to the plate centrally thereof. A base of low thermal conductivity has the same configuration as the plate and underlies the plate in congruity therewith. A transparent enclosure defines a dead air space above the coil and has a flange with the same configuration as and overlies said plate. A frame having channel shaped sides slidably receives the edge portions of the contiguous plate, base and enclosure to maintain the edges superposed to provide for an insulated chamber for the coil. The tubing has interiorly thereof a pair of oppositely extending vanes which are spirally configured along the tube length to cause rotation of the fluid moving through the tube so that the fluid will be evenly heated.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Solar energy conversion apparatus comprising a flat plate of thermally conductive material, a planar heat-absorbing device in the form of a flat spirally wound coil of tubing superposed on said plate, said coil having an open space centrally thereof which receives a radiation-reflective member, a cover element transmissive of solar radiation disposed in spaced relation over said device and peripherally mounted on said plate thereby defining a dead-air space therewith, a flat base of material of low thermal conductivity, said plate being superposed on said flat base, means for securing said plate, said base, said cover element and said heat-absorbing device together, said cover elements including a material that is also reflective of some of the solar radiation whereby radiation reflected from objects within said dead-air space onto said cover element is further reflected internally thereby contributing heat energy to the air within said space, to said cover element, to said heat absorbent element and to said plate, said coil having opposite ends to which fluid-conducting connections may be made, said tubing interiorly having at least one inwardly projecting helically extending vane which imparts rotation to fluid circulated through said tubing.

Solar energy conversion apparatus comprising a flat plate of thermally conductive material, a planar fluid carrying heat absorbent device formed of a length of tubing superposed on said plate, a cover element transmissive of solar radiation disposed in spaced relation over said heat absorbent device and peripherally mounted on said plate thereby defining a dead-air space therewith, a flat base of material of low thermal conductivity, said plate being superposed on said flat base, means for securing said plate and said elements together, and said length of tubing having two end portions which project beyond the perimeter of the assembled plate and base to which fluid conducting connections may be made, said cover element including a material that is also reflective of some of the solar radiation whereby radiation reflected from objects within said dead-air space onto said cover element is further reflected internally thereby contributing heat energy to the air within said space, to said cover element, to said heat absorbent element and to said plate,

said heat absorbent element being in the form of a tubing having planar arranged convolutions provided with an open space centrally thereof, and a member disposed in said open space and secured to said plate, said member having a radiation-reflective surface whereby radiation impinging thereon is reflected in directions toward and away from said coil.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.