Solar energy collecting apparatus and methods

In solar energy collecting apparatus mounted on a support structure, the combination comprising:

• an assembly of a plurality of similar solar collector members connected side by side, each collector member having:
• a top collector panel with an intermediate portion providing a solar collector plate having a solar energy absorber surface for collecting solar energy, a pair of opposed sidewall portions projecting up from opposite side edges of said intermediate portion, and an inturned top flange portion at the top of each of said upper sidewall portions;
• a solar energy transmissive core disposed above and in spaced relation to the absorber surface with a dead air space between said absorber surface and cover, the opposite side edges being detachably connected at associated inturned flange portions by means of a thermally insulating connecting member, and end closures at the ends of the dead air space of each collector member;
• a bottom panel nested in each collector panel, said bottom panel having opposed sidewall portions with inturned top flange portions receiving adjacent top flange portions of said top collector panel connected along upper side edges to the upper side edges of the collector panel sidewall portions to define an airflow passage below each collector plate, and duct members at the ends of said airflow passage, said bottom panel being disposed above said support structure;
• a thermally insulating joiner strip extending over the top of the associated thermally insulating connecting members of adjacent collector members joining adjacent collector members, said joiner strip, connecting members, and adjacent top collector panels forming an imperforate weather membrane to protect the support structure from the weather in the absence of a complete cover;
• a pair of laterally spaced attaching members affixed to and upstanding from the support structure, each of said attaching members having a pair of inturned male flange projections leaving overhanging surface portions,
• said sidewall portions of each collector panel having back to back, outwardly facing channels slidably mating with an associated of said male flange portions on said attaching members holding said collector panels against relative vertical and lateral movement while allowing said collector panels to be free to slide longitudinally,
• each collector panel having an extension at one end that is suspended from the support structure leaving said collector members longitudinally free to expand and contract due to temperature changes;
• and
• purlins extending across and in a plurality of vertically spaced rows secured to the support structure to which the attaching members are secured.