Solar energy collector
AssigneeEnvironmental Research Institute of Michigan
InventorReed A. Maes, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar energy heated structure, such as an occupied building or greenhouse, includes a walled structure enclosing space volume. A movable insulated panel with a reflective surface is pivotably supported within the space volume. In a first position the panel cooperates with an insulated portion of the walled structure to enclose a lower portion of the space volume containing the occupied portion or plant bed and prevents loss of heat therefrom. In a second position the panel is disposed in an upper portion of the space volume, so that solar energy entering the overall space volume through a light transmitting portion of the walled structure is reflected onto the solar energy user by the reflective surface of the panel.
Claims13
A solar energy collection device comprising:
- a walled structure having a plurality of walls with upper and lower portions defining a first lower space volume and a second upper space volume, at least the lower portions of the walls being insulated, one of said walls being light transmitting for substantially its entire height and having its lower portion insulated with light transmitting material;
- an insulated panel in the upper space volume and having a reflective major surface;
- means for generally horizontally supporting the panel in a first position to enclose the lower space volume in cooperation with the insulated lower portions of the walls to prevent heat loss therefrom;
- and
- means for pivoting said panel into an inclined second position with said reflective surface of the panel facing the lower space volume for diverting substantial amounts of the solar radiation passing through the upper portion of said light transmitting wall directly into the lower space volume to thereby increase the amount of solar radiation therein.
A method of collecting solar radiation comprising:
- mounting an insulated panel with a reflective surface within the upper confines of a walled structure having one substantially completely light transmitting wall;
- insulating lower portions of the walls while maintaining the light transmitting nature of said one wall;
- moving said panel to a position in which substantial amounts of the solar radiation passing through upper portions of said one wall is diverted by the reflective panel surface into the lower confines of the structure;
- and
- pivoting said panel to a generally horizontal position in which the panel cooperates with the insulated wall portions to enclose the lower confines of the structure to prevent heat loss therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.