US 4,414,958 AGranted

Solar collector

AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

InventorsShiro Hozumi, Shin'ichi Aso, Minoru Tagashira, Kouji Ebisu, Hideo Uchino

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Abstract

A solar collector comprising a heat collecting panel for receiving the sunlight, a cover glass arranged above the panel, and a sunlight-pervious diaphragm disposed between the panel and cover glass to form a closed space between itself and the cover glass, the diaphragm being adapted to expand and contract to vary the volume of the closed space, whereby the pressure in the closed space is kept substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure. With this arrangement, since the collector does not permit the entry of humid ambient air into the closed space, no condensates will be produced on the inner surface of the cover glass. Further, if the diaphragm is adapted to sag and contact the panel due to its expansion at the time of abnormal heating, heat dissipation from the panel is accelerated. Thus damage to the panel due to overheating can be prevented.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A solar collector comprising:

a heat collecting panel for receiving the sunlight and converting the sunlight to heat,
a cover glass arranged a distance apart from and over the panel,
a vessel having thereon the cover glass and accomodating therein the panel,
a sunlight-pervious diaphragm disposed between the panel and the cover glass to form a closed space between itself and the cover glass, the diaphragm being adapted to expand and contract to vary the volume of the closed space in response to temperature variations,
pressure equalizing means provided in the vessel on the side of the diaphragm opposite said closed space, and
means for limitively stretching the central portion of the diaphragm substantially in parallel to and substantially a predetermined distance above the panel whereby said central portion of the diaphragm remains taut below a specified temperature but is allowed to start sagging at said specified temperature.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/213,339Filed 5 Dec 1980
Priority: JP 54-16110411 Dec 1979
Granted: 15 Nov 1983
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F24S 40/42
Preventing corrosion; Protecting against dirt or contamination: preventing condensation inside solar modules
F24S 40/40
Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors: preventing corrosion; Protecting…
F24S 40/52
Preventing overheating or overpressure: by modifying the heat collection, e.g. by defocusing or by changing the position of heat-receiving elements
F24S 40/80
Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors: accommodating differential expansion…