Solar heating device

Claim 2

Apparatus for maximizing the transfer of solar energy to the interior of a structure and minimizing heat loss therefrom, said apparatus comprising: a louver panel forming a portion of the exterior of the structure, said louver panel being pivotable in a first direction about an axis substantially passing through the center of gravity of said panel to open the panel; interior reservoir means fixed to the interior surface of the panel on one side of the pivotal axis of said panel, the weight of said interior reservoir means adapted to bias the panel in said first direction to open the panel; exterior reservoir means fixed to the exterior surface of the panel on the other side of the pivotal axis of said panel, the weight of said exterior reservoir means adapted to bias the panel in a seCond opposite direction to close the panel; a tube providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior reservoir means; and a partially vaporized fluid occupying the tube and the interior and exterior reservoir means, the relative proportions of liquid and vapor in the respective reservoir means being dependent upon the relative vapor pressure in said reservoir means, said vapor pressure being a function of the internal temperature of the associated reservoir means, a higher temperature on the exterior of the structure relative to the temperature on the interior of the structure or direct exposure of the exterior reservoir means to the sun raising the relative vapor pressure in the exterior reservoir means to force liquid through the tube to the interior reservoir means causing the panel to open to allow transfer of solar energy to the interior of the structure, a higher relative vapor pressure in the interior reservoir means resulting in liquid being forced through the tube to the exterior reservoir means to close the panel and minimize heat loss from the structure.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising a plurality of slaved louver panels each pivotable about an axis substantially passing through the center of gravity of each said panel, and means for connecting the slaved louver panels to the first louver panel so that pivoting of the first louver panel dependent upon the relative temperature on the interior and exterior of the structure induces corresponding pivoting motion in the slaved louver panels to open and close the slaved louver panels simultaneously with the first louver panel.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the partially vaporized fluid comprises freon.

Claim 5

Apparatus for maximizing the transfer of solar energy to the interior of a structure and minimizing heat loss from the structure, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of louver panels forming a portion of the exterior of the structure, said louver panels being pivotable in a first direction about an axis substantially passing through the center of gravity of each said panel to open the panels, said louver panels being interconnected so that the respective panels open and close simultaneously; an interior canister fixed to the interior surface of one of the panels on one side of the pivotal axis of said panel, the weight of said canister adapted to bias said one louver panel in said first direction to open all said panels; an exterior canister fixed to the exterior surface of said one panel on the other side of the pivotal axis of the panel from the interior canister, the weight of said exterior canister adapted to bias said one louver panel in a second opposite direction to close all said panels; a tube providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior canisters; and a partially vaporized fluid occupying the interior and exterior canisters, the relative portions of liquid and vapor in the respective canisters being dependent upon the relative vapor pressure in said canisters, a higher vapor in one canister causing liquid to flow through the tube to the other canister, said vapor pressure being a function of the temperature of each said canister, whereby a higher temperature on the exterior of the structure relative to the temperature on the interior of the structure or direct exposure of the exterior canister to the sun results in a relatively higher proportion of liquid being in the interior canister causing the panel to open to allow transfer of thermal energy into the interior of the structure, a lower temperature on the exterior of the structure resulting in a relatively higher proportion of liquid being in the exterior canister causing the panel to close to minimize heat loss from the structure.

Claim 6

Apparatus for maximizing the transfer of solar energy to the interior of a structure and minimizing heat loss from the structure, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of louver panels forming a portion of the exterior of the structure, said louver panels being pivotable in a first direction about an axis substantially passing through the center of gravity of each said panel to open the panels, said louver panels being interconnected so that the respective panels open and close simultaneously; an interior canister fixed to the interior surface of one of the panels on one side of the pivotal axis of said panel, the weight of said canister adapted to bias said one louver panel in said first direction to open all said panels; an exterior canister fixed to the exterior surface of said one panel on the other side of the pivotal axis of the panel from the interior canister, the weight of said exterior canister adapted to bias said one louver panel in a second opposite direction to close all said panels; a tube providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior canisters; and a partially vaporized fluid occupying the interior and exterior canisters, the relative portions of liquid and vapor in the respective canisters being dependent upon the relative vapor pressure in said canisters, a higher vapor in one canister causing liquid to flow through the tube to the other canister, said vapor pressure being a function of the temperature of each said canister, whereby a higher temperature on the exterior of the structure relative to the temperature on the interior of the structure or direct exposure of the exterior canister to the sun results in a relatively higher proportion of liquid being in the interior canister causing the panel to open to allow transfer of thermal energy into the interior of the structure, a lower temperature on the exterior of the structure resulting in a relatively higher proportion of liquid being in the exterior canister causing the panel to close to minimize heat loss from the structure.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the louver panels comprise a foam core, and aluminum skin covering said foam core.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said louver panels are substantially planar.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the partially vaporized fluid comprises freon.