Solar heat collecting apparatus

Abstract

A solar heat collecting device is provided which is modular in design and easily removable from its location adjacent the roof or wall of a structure, into the interior thereof for maintainance without disturbing the exterior surface of the roof or wall and thereby eliminates many of the difficulties associated with removal and maintainance of prior art collectors which are only removable from the exterior of the structure. The present invention reduces the possibility of leakage in the roof or wall where normal solar collectors would be secured and removed. The device includes a box-like housing having a substantial planar base portion and four upstanding side walls, an insulation disposed inside the housing and extending coextensive with the base portion, a solar heat collection member disposed within the housing which has associated conduits for circulating heat conducting fluid therethrough for use at a remote location, a transparent cover member permanently securable to the outer surface of the wall or roof of the structure to become a part thereof and which overly covers an opening defined in the wall or roof of substantially coextensive dimensions with the housing and in which the housing is inserted from the inside of the structure, and brackets mounting the housing within the opening defined in the wall or roof for easy removal into the interior of the structure for service or maintainance of the solar heat collection device without removal of the transparent cover member which is permanently secured to the outer surface of the structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.