Solar energy collector

A solar energy collector comprising:

• a) a heat absorbing structure which takes in radiant energy and transfers the radiant energy to water carried therein;
• b) a main body to encompass said heat absorbing structure, whereby the radiant energy will enter a transparent top portion of said main body to reach said heat absorbing structure;
• c) means for carrying the water into and out of said heat absorbing structure;
• d) means for supporting opposite ends of said heat absorbing structure within said main body on a roof of a building;
• e) means for covering said transparent top portion of said main body;
• and
• f) an insulated gravity driver system for automatically opening and closing said covering, said gravity driver system including:
• i) a horizontal counterbalance member extending rearwardly from said covering means;
• ii) a horizontal uninsulated canister mounted on said covering means;
• iii) a horizontal insulated canister for holding a refrigerant liquid therein mounted on said counterbalance member;
• and
• iv) a capillary tube extending between said uninsulated canister and said insulated canister, so that when sunlight shines on said uninsulated canister, the refrigerant liquid will expand to go through said capillary tube into said insulated canister causing said covering means to go into the open position, and when darkness comes the refrigerant liquid will condense to go back through said capillary tube to said uninsulated canister causing said covering means to go into the closed position.

A solar energy collector comprising:

• a) a heat absorbing structure which takes in radiant energy and transfers the radiant energy to water carried therein;
• b) a main body to encompass said heat absorbing structure, whereby the radiant energy will enter a transparent top portion of said main body to reach said heat absorbing structure;
• c) means for carrying the water into and out of said heat absorbing structure;
• d) means for supporting opposite ends of said heat absorbing structure within said main body on a roof of a building;
• e) means for covering said transparent top portion of said main body;
• and
• f) an expanding inner tube system for automatically opening and closing said covering, said inner tube system including:
• i) a cylindrical container made out of a flexible material that resists hydrocarbon chemical degrading and permeability, placed in a rear hinged part of said covering means at said transparent top portion of said main body;
• ii) a small copper solar plate filled with refrigerant liquid;
• and
• iii) a capillary tube extending between said cylindrical container and said small copper solar plate, so that when said solar plate is exposed to heat and light, the refrigerant liquid will expand to go through said capillary tube to said cylindrical container, causing said cylindrical container to expand and said covering means to open, and when said solar plate is exposed to darkness, the refrigerant liquid will condense to go back through said capillary tube to said solar plate, causing said cylindrical container to contract and said covering means to go into the closed position.

A solar energy collector comprising:

• a) a heat absorbing structure which takes in radiant energy and transfers the radiant energy to water carried therein;
• b) a main body to encompass said heat absorbing structure, whereby the radiant energy will enter a transparent top portion of said main body to reach said heat absorbing structure;
• c) means for carrying the water into and out of said heat absorbing structure;
• d) means for supporting opposite ends of said heat absorbing structure within said main body on a roof of a building, said supporting means including a pair of end cap plates, in which each said end cap plate has an aperture therethrough and a flat base, so that a pipe extending from an end of said heat absorbing structure can extend through one said aperture, while said flat base can be placed in a stationary position onto the roof of the building;
• e) means for covering said transparent top portion of said main body;
• and
• f) an end cap plate driver system for automatically opening and closing said covering, said end cap plate driver system including:
• i) a ball bearing wheel mounted on one end cap plate of said supporting means;
• ii) a pivot arm connected to said ball bearing wheel;
• iii) an uninsulated canister/solar panel mounted to a top end of said pivot arm;
• iv) an insulated canister for holding a refrigerant liquid therein mounted to a bottom end of said pivot arm;
• v) a lid arm affixed transversely to a rear portion of said covering means;
• vi) a counterbalance member attached to a lower end of said lid arm;
• vii) a pair of transfer rods spaced apart and affixed at one end to said pivot arm, so that said transfer rods will engage with said lid arm;
• and
• viii) a capillary tube extending between said uninsulated canister/solar panel and said insulated canister, so that when sunlight shines on said uninsulated canister/solar panel, the refrigerant liquid will expand to go through said capillary tube to said insulated canister, causing said pivot arm to swing up with said transfer rods moving away from said lid arm and said counterbalance member pulling said lid arm up with said covering means going into the open position, and when darkness comes the refrigerant liquid will condense to go back through said capillary tube to said uninsulated canister/solar panel, causing said pivot arm to swing down with said transfer rods pushing said lid arm down with said covering means gong into the closed position.