Solar energy collector means and method of assembling the same

In a solar collector, the improvement comprising:

• an extruded aluminum rectangular frame having a peripheral inwardly directed flange adjacent the top edge of the frame;
• a plate of light transmitting material having peripheral margins supported by said flange with the top surface of the plate lying in substantially the same plane as the top edge of said frame;
• and
• an adhesive sealant material between the peripheral edges of said plate and the top of said frame for bonding and securing the plate to the frame;
• a back wall of aluminum sheet material;
• said rectangular frame having a bottom outwardly directed peripheral flange provided with a return portion therebeneath defining a peripheral recess opening inwardly and receiving peripheral margins of said back wall;
• means on said bottom flange for crimping engagement with said back wall margins;
• an adhesive sealant bonding said back wall margins to said bottom flange and sealing the bottom joint lines made by said frame and back wall;
• said bonding of said plate and said back wall to said rectangular frame providing a rigid collector structure;
• a solar absorber and coil assembly between said plate and said back wall;
• and means to position and retain said coil assembly within said frame;
• said means for positioning and retaining said coil assembly in said frame including
• a plurality of generally U-shaped cross rib means secured to said frame and bonded to said back wall;
• a plurality of generally U-shaped cross members on said coil assembly;
• said cross members having clip engagement means depending therefrom;
• and a plurality of spaced clip members positioned within said U-shaped cross rib means whereby said coil assembly is adapted to be snapped into assembled relation with said frame and back wall.

In a solar energy collector unit, the combination of:

• a rectangular frame;
• a backwall bonded and sealed to said frame;
• a light transmitting plate bonded and sealed to said frame in spaced relation to said backwall;
• a solar absorber means located between said backwall and plate within said frame;
• a blanket of insulating material between said absorber means and said backwall;
• a means laterally and longitudinally positioning said solar energy absorber means with respect to said frame without metal to metal contact between said frame, backwall, and said absorber means;
• said positioning means including transversly arranged cross rib means secured to said frame to said backwall;
• correspondingly spaced cross members carried by said absorber means;
• and means provided on said cross rib means and on said cross members engageable in snapping relation through said insulating material.

In a solar collector having a receptacle, a solar absorber means therewithin, and a light transmitting plate thereon;

• the provision of:
• an opening in said receptacle;
• a removable desiccant means received within said opening and provided with means for sealing said opening;
• said desiccant means including a breather tube having one end in desiccant material in said desiccant means and having its other end external of said receptacle for air communication between the interior of said receptacle through the desiccant material and the ambient air;
• said desiccant means including
• a porous bag of desiccant;
• and means for releasably gripping said bag.

In a solar collector having a receptacle with sidewalls, a solar absorber means therewithin, and a light transmitting plate thereon;

• the provision of;
• an opening in the sidewalls of said receptacle;
• a removable dessicant means receivable within said opening and provided with means for sealing said opening;
• said dessicant means including a breather tube having one end in dessicant material in said dessicant means and having its other end external of said receptacle for air communication between the interior of said receptacle through the dessicant material and the ambient air;
• said dessicant means including a porous bag of dessicant;
• means releasably gripping said bag;
• a cover plate covering said opening and frame margins adjacent to said opening and connected with said releasable gripping means;
• and
• a double faced adhesive sealing gasket between said cover plate and said frame margins.

In a collector means comprising a rectangular frame provided with a backwall and spaced light transmitting plate, both wall and plate being structurally bonded and sealed to said frame, a solar energy absorber means located between said backwall and light transmitting plate within said frame, a blanket of insulating material between said absorber means and said backwall including, the combination of:

• attachment means on said rectangular frame comprising external juxtaposed spaced ribs providing parallel recesses at least at ends of said rectangular frame;
• and bracket means comprising a bracket element having a depending edge portion at one end receivable in one of said juxtaposed recesses and having a pivotal mounting at its other end
• said bracket element having a seating surface,
• a bracket angle clip seated on said seating surface with one leg of said angle clip extending into the other of said recesses,
• and a securement member extending through the other leg of said clip and said bracket element for releasably retaining said bracket means in assembly with said frame.

In a method of assembling a solar collector for thermal isolation of a frame and back wall providing a receptacle in contact with ambient temperature and a solar absorber and coil assembly within the receptacle and adapted to receive and be heated by solar energy transmitted thereto through a light transmitting plate, the steps of:

• positioning and securing nonmetallic, insulating clip members in said receptacle;
• providing clip engagement means on said coil assembly;
• interposing a blanket of insulating material between said coil assembly and the interior of said receptacle including said insulating clip members;
• placing said coil assembly over said blanket of insulating material;
• and pressing said coil assembly toward said receptacle to cause engagement of said clip engagement means and clip members with said insulating blanket therebetween.