Solar collector system

A solar collector system comprising a conduit having a pair of adjacent channels, each channel having a port;

• a solar collector tube extending generally laterally from said conduit, said solar collector tube including an outer tube having an open end and a closed end, an inner tube having an open end and a closed end, said inner tube being arranged coaxially within said outer tube so as to form a space between said inner and outer tubes, and a cap positioned in said open ends of said inner and outer tubes, said cap including a first passageway extending between said inner tube and said port of one of said channels and a second passageway extending between said inner tube and said port of the other of said channels, whereby fluid in said conduit may be supplied to said inner tube through said first passageway and then returned to said conduit through said second passageway;
• controlling means for controlling the flow of fluid through said first and second passageways, said controlling means including a pair of valves, one of which is continuously and resiliently urged towards a closed position in which said one valve member prevents fluid flow through said port of said one channel and the other of which is continuously and resiliently urged towards a closed position in which said other valve member prevents fluid flow through said port of said other channel;
• and moving means for moveing each of said valve members into an open position from its closed position, said moving means being disabled upon the breakage of said solar collector tube, whereby said valve members automatically assume their closed positions to inhibit the leakage of fluid from said conduit in the event that said solar collector tube breaks.