Solar energy collector

Claim 1

Solar energy collection apparatus, comprising: a. an impervious surfaced, foamed plastic, thermally insulating, open-topped relatively shallow liquid container body having an integrally formed continuous, recessed inner ledge sealing surface; b. said liquid container body having at least one inlet and one outlet aperture for admitting and removing liquid to and from the interior of said body; c. a cover means for covering said open top of said container body, said cover comprising at least two parallel layers of light transmissive material, said layers being separated from one another by at least one quarter inch of open space, the lower layer of said cover being continuously sealed to said recessed inner ledge sealing surface of said rim in a liquid-impervious fashion; d. said cover and said container body forming an overall liquid-impervious, thermally insulated liquid container vessel; and e. means for sealing said cover to said inner ledge sealing surface to retain liquid within said vessel in contact with the interior surfaces thereof.

Claim 5

A method of collecting solar energy comprising the steps of: exposing an optically opaque liquid energy absorbing medium to the direct rays of the sun; and confining said liquid in a continuous, relatively shallow, broad volumetric expanse during said exposing step within a thermally insulative vessel having a top opening having a dimension at least three times the depth of said vessel, said vessel being closed by at least one light transmissive, thermally insulative face of a dimension at least equivalent to said top opening; contacting the inner surface of said light transmissive face continuously during said exposing step with said relatively shallow volume of liquid energy absorbent medium; and circulating said liquid into and out of said vessel continuously to collect, thereby, the solar energy contained in said direct rays of sunlight impinging upon said relatively broad and shallow volume of said liquid.

Claim 6

A method of collecting solar energy comprising the steps of: exposing an optically opaque liquid energy absorbing medium to the direct rays of the sun; and confining said liquid in a continuous, relatively shallow, broad volumetric expanse during said exposing step within a thermally insulative vessel having a top opening having a dimension at least three times the depth of said vessel, said vessel being closed by at least one light transmissive, thermally insulative face of a dimension at least equivalent to said top opening; contacting the inner surface of said light transmissive face continuously during said exposing step with said relatively shallow volume of liquid energy absorbent medium; and circulating said liquid into and out of said vessel continuously to collect, thereby, the solar energy contained in said direct rays of sunlight impinging upon said relatively broad and shallow volume of said liquid.