Solar heat exchange system
AssigneeEnvironmental Resources, Inc.
InventorAllan W. Simcox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar heat exchange system is fabricated from a manifold and a plurality of elastomeric tubular elements which are longitudinally connected into a mat. A one-piece molded plastic manifold having at least six parallel aligned radially extending nipples is mounted on a cylindrical tubular header. The spacing of the nipples is designed to correspond to the spacing of the tubular elements in the mat. The unit is assembled by applying liquid adhesive to the exterior of the nipples, and sliding the tubular elements of the mat simultaneously over the nipples while the adhesive is still fluid, and allowing the adhesive to set.
Claims18
In combination
- a header comprising a conduit having an exterior wall,
- at least one aperture in the header wall,
- a one-piece molded manifold having a base portion and a plurality of aligned tube-connecting means extending therefrom,
- channel means in a rear portion of the manifold communicating with the tube-connecting means,
- the base portion having a rear surface adapted to conform to the exterior wall of the header and being affixed thereto such that the channel means communicates with the bore means, and
- a plurality of aligned, longitudinally connected tubular elements attached to the tube-connecting means.
A method of assembling a solar heat exchange system comprising the steps of
- forming at least one aperture in a wall of a tubular header,
- bonding a one-piece manifold to the header, the manifold comprising a base portion having a plurality of aligned hollow nipples extending forwardly therefrom, the base portion having a rear surface adapted to conform to the header wall and containing a longitudinal channel communicating with the nipples, the channel being oriented over the aperture in the header wall,
- applying a hardenable liquid adhesive to all of the nipples on the manifold, and
- attaching a mat having a plurality of parallel tubular elements to the manifold by sliding ends of all of the tubular elements of the mat substantially simultaneously over the nipples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.