# US 4,391,269 A · Controlled solar heating and heat retention of liquid

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- Number: US 4,391,269 A
- Document ID: US4391269A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/305,970
- Filed: 1981-09-28
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1981-09-28
- Inventors: W. Keith R. Watson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391269A

## CPC

- F24S 23/77: with flat reflective plates
- F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis
- F24S 60/30: storing heat in liquids
- F24S 2030/16: {Hinged elements; Pin connections}
- Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking
- Y10S 126/907: Absorber coating
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Solar heating apparatus comprises (a) a generally horizontally elongated tank to contain liquid, (b) a generally longitudinally extending horizontally elongated container extending about the tank, the container defining glazing facing one side of the tank and a top portion of the tank, adapted to receive impingement of solar radiation, the glazing spaced from the tank, (c) and a solar radiation auxiliary reflecting panel projecting generally away from a region below the level of the lower extent of the tank and exteriorly of the container to reflect solar radiation toward and through the glazing for impingement on the tank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In solar heating apparatus:
(a) a generally horizontally elongated tank to contain liquid, the tank being solar radiation absorbing,
(b) a generally longitudinally extending horizontally elongated container extending about said tank, the container defining glazing facing one side of the tank and top portion of the tank, adapted to received impingement of solar radiation, the glazing spaced from the tank, and being insulative,
(c) and solar radiation auxiliary reflecting panels including at least one panel projecting generally away from a region below the level of the lower extent of the tank and exteriorly of the container to reflect solar radiation toward and through said glazing for impingement on the tank, said panels being hinge supported and having alternate positions in which they have been swung to extend adjacent the glazing facing the side and top portion of the tank to block heat loss from the tank at night,
(d) the container being polygonal in lateral upright planes, and having planar generally rectangular sections of said glazing, the panels sized in correspondence to said glazing sections to which they extend respectively adjacent, in said alternate positions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel includes at least two sections which are hingedly interconnected, and insulative.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the glazing sections define planes which intersect along an axis which extends longitudinally.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the glazing comprises at least two parallel overlying transparent synthetic resinous sheets which are rigidly interconnected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 including a radiation reflecting surface facing the opposite side of the tank and spaced therefrom, and insulation between said surface and the container, there also being insulation beneath the tank.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said radiation reflecting surface is inside the container.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 including a liquid supply source connected with said tank.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said source comprises a liquid supply reservoir at a higher elevation than said tank.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the container includes sections carrying solar ray reflecting surfaces located to reflect solar rays in the container back toward the opposite side of the tank.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 including adjustable holder means to adjustably hold one or more of the hinged panels at selected angularity relative to the container.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 including a selective black coating on the tank.