Patent US4142514A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4142514A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solar heat collector
Assignee: SOLATION PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1977-05-03
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Granted: 1979-03-06
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Expires: 1997-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A solar collector utilizing elongated channel-shaped reflector members which comprise modified parabolas in cross-section to reflect sun rays onto straight sections of a tubular conductor of heat-transfer fluid located substantially along the focal lines of said reflector members and being oval in cross-section to intercept the rays of the sun as the position of the sun rises above and falls below the central axes of said reflector members, a series of said reflector members and conductors being horizontal in use for gravity drain and flow and the ends of the straight sections being connected to provide a sinous tube system. An insulating frame supports said reflector members and tube systems and a transparent cover extends across the outer face in use.
Inventors
- 👤 Alwin B. Newton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:36
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/80; F24S2023/83; F24S2023/838; F24S2023/87; F24S2023/872; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A solar heat collector comprising in combination, a frame including opposite parallel side panels, a sinuous tube system having parallel straight sections elliptical in cross-section and spaced transversely apart substantially even distances within a common plane and the ends of said straight sections being connected by reversely turned end portions respectively supported by said side panels of said frame, inlet means at one end of said tube system and outlet means at the opposite end of said tube system, said sinuous tube system being adapted to contain heat-transfer fluid, similar parallel channel-shaped reflector members extending stationarily along each of said straight sections of said tube and having a curved apex and opposite side reflecting surfaces extending therefrom adjacent opposite sides of said elliptical straight tube sections adapted to reflect solar rays onto said tube sections and said elliptical straight tube sections being spaced a limited distance from the apex of said reflector members but coincident with the focal axes thereof and the major axis of said tube sections being coincident with a plane bisecting said reflector members, said reflecting surfaces in cross-section being generated surfaces comprising the opposite continuously smoothly curved sides of a modified parabola in which the midportions of said curved sides are spaced apart a limited distance greater than the opposite sides of a true mathematical parabola, said spacing on a line extending through the center of said elliptical straight tube sections transversely to said bisecting plane being substantially 1.05 times the width of a true parabola along said transverse line and the outer ends of said reflecting surfaces being coincident with the corresponding outer ends of a true parabola at a distance greater than twice the major axis of the tube section beyond the apex of the reflector members but not in excess of three times said distance, whereby said reflector members are adapted in use to reflect solar rays onto said tube system as the sun varies its position above and below the centerline of said channel-shaped reflector members to utilize heat from solar rays as much as possible during daylight hours.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A solar heat collector comprising in combination, a frame including opposite parallel side panels, a sinuous tube system having parallel straight sections elliptical in cross-section and spaced transversely apart substantially even distances within a common plane and the ends of said straight sections being connected by reversely turned end portions respectively supported by said side panels of said frame, inlet means at one end of said tube system and outlet means at the opposite end of said tube system, said sinuous tube system being adapted to contain heat-transfer fluid, similar parallel channel-shaped reflector members extending stationarily along each of said straight sections of said tube and having a curved apex and opposite side reflecting surfaces extending therefrom adjacent opposite sides of said elliptical straight tube sections adapted to reflect solar rays onto said tube sections and said elliptical straight tube sections being spaced a limited distance from the apex of said reflector members but coincident with the focal axes thereof and the major axis of said tube sections being coincident with a plane bisecting said reflector members, said reflecting surfaces in cross-section being generated surfaces comprising the opposite continuously smoothly curved sides of a modified parabola in which the midportions of said curved sides are spaced apart a limited distance greater than the opposite sides of a true mathematical parabola, said spacing on a line extending through the center of said elliptical straight tube sections transversely to said bisecting plane being substantially 1.05 times the width of a true parabola along said transverse line and the outer ends of said reflecting surfaces being coincident with the corresponding outer ends of a true parabola at a distance greater than twice the major axis of the tube section beyond the apex of the reflector members but not in excess of three times said distance, whereby said reflector members are adapted in use to reflect solar rays onto said tube system as the sun varies its position above and below the centerline of said channel-shaped reflector members to utilize heat from solar rays as much as possible during daylight hours.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The solar heat collector according to claim 1 in which said similar parallel reflector members each comprise reflective sheet material shaped into said modified parabola and each having outer edges and an apex portion positioned to afford maximum reflection of solar rays onto said straight sections of said tube system, said straight sections of said tube system being positioned substantially coincident with the focal axes of said modified parabolic reflector members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The solar heat collector according to claim 1 in which said reflector members have opposite sides which comprise said sides of a modified parabola computed empirically to afford a wider range of reflection of rays of the sun onto said straight tube sections within said reflector members than afforded by mathematically accurate parabolic side surfaces and permit such reflection of rays substantially 231/2° above and below the latitude angle to within 16° of the horizontal at the geographical location of said collector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The solar heat collector according to claim 1 further including means to support said frame at an acute angle to the horizontal and wherein planes bisecting said reflector members through the axes of said tubes are disposed substantially at an angle of approximately 40° to the horizon and thereby maximize the time during daylight hours in which said reflector members will reflect solar rays onto said tube system of said solar heat collector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
The solar heat collector according to claim 1 in which the shape of each half of said modified parabolic reflector member comprises an involute of one-half of said elliptical sections of tubing constituting the apex portion of said modified parabolic shape and wider than a corresponding true parabola, the outer ends of said reflector members being coincident with the ends of a corresponding true parabola having a central axis substantially between 1.6 and 1.75 times the major axis of said elliptical sections of tubing beyond the outer end of the same, and the outermost sides of said modified parabolic reflector members extending from said outer ends of a true parabola to a point of tangency with said involute apex portions of said reflector members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The solar heat collector according to claim 5 in which said apex portion of each reflector member includes a barrier point portion comprising part of the involute and contacting the adjacent end of said elliptical tubing to prevent reflected solar rays from passing between opposite sides of said reflector members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The solar heat reflector according to claim 5 in which said sides of said reflector members between said outer ends and the point of tangency with said involute apex portions comprise a shallow curve bowed outwardly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The solar heat reflector according to claim 5 in which said sides of said reflector members extend outwardly beyond a corresponding true parabola a limited distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The solar heat reflector according to claim 5 in which the distance between the outer ends of said reflector members is substantially four times the length of the major axis of said elliptical sections of tubing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-05 | 1982-09-04 | 1983-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-05 | 1986-09-04 | 1987-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-05 | 1990-09-04 | 1991-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |