Solar heating apparatus

Claim 2

In a solar collector, the improvement comprising: (a) at least one fluid-conducting strip of flexible synthetic rubber having an undersurface opposite a radiation-receiving surface, and comprising i. a plurality of spaced parallel hollow tube portions, ii. a plurality of web portions joining adjacent pairs of said tube portions, and iii. a plurality of deflectable projections on the undersurface of said strip defining a plurality of inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to said synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said strip and within said recesses; (c) whereby said strip is securable to a base by said cement and is removable by pulling the strip away from the base so that the cement emerges from the recesses.

Claim 3

A solar collector according to claim 1 wherein said synthetic rubber is of EPDM material.

Claim 4

A solar collector according to claim 1 wherein the inside configuration of said hollow tube portions is non-circular.

Claim 5

A solar collector according to claim 1 wherein said web portions are longitudinally severable.

Claim 6

A solar collector according to claim 1 wherein said deflectable projections are in extended pairs and extend toward each other from respective adjacent hollow tube portions.

Claim 7

A solar collector according to claim 5 wherein the cement deposit is in spaced strips arranged transverse to the extended pairs of deflectable projections.

Claim 8

In a solar collector, the improvement comprising: (a) a plurality of flexible fluid-conducting strips of EPDM synthetic rubber having an undersurface and an opposite radiation-receiving surface, each strip comprising i. a plurality of equally spaced parallel hollow tube portions of non-circular cross-section, ii. a plurality of longitudinally severable extended web portions joining adjacent pairs of said tube portions, and iii. a plurality of extended deflectable projections on the undersurface of said strip in pairs extending toward each other from adjacent tube portions and defining a plurality of inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to said synthetic rubber disposed in spaced strips against the undersurfaces of said fluid-conducting strips and within said recesses; (c) whereby said fluid-conducting strips are securable to a base by said cement and are removable by pulling said strips away from the base so that the cement emerges from the recesses.

Claim 9

In a solar collector, the improvement comprising: (a) a plurality of flexible fluid-conducting strips of EPDM synthetic rubber having an undersurface and an opposite radiation-receiving surface, each strip comprising i. a plurality of equally spaced parallel hollow tube portions of non-circular cross-section, ii. a plurality of longitudinally severable extended web portions joining adjacent pairs of said tube portions, and iii. a plurality of extended deflectable projections on the undersurface of said strip in pairs extending toward each other from adjacent tube portions and defining a plurality of inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to said synthetic rubber disposed in spaced strips against the undersurfaces of said fluid-conducting strips and within said recesses; (c) whereby said fluid-conducting strips are securable to a base by said cement and are removable by pulling said strips away from the base so that the cement emerges from the recesses.

Claim 10

In a solar collector having edges across which is disposed a translucent panel, the improvement comprising: (a) at least one extrusion assembly of flexible synthetic rubber for sealing the edges of the collector comprising i. first and second legs joining each other and having an undersurface, ii. said first leg defining means for accepting an edge of said panel, iii. a plurality of deflectable projections on the undersurface of the first and second legs defining a plurality of inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said first and second legs and within said inwardly diverging recesses; (c) whereby said extrusion assembly is securable to a base by said cement and is removable by pulling the assembly away from the base so that the cement emerges from the inwardly diverging recesses.

Claim 11

In a solar collector having edges across which is disposed a translucent panel, the improvement comprising: (a) at least one extrusion assembly of flexible synthetic rubber for sealing the edges of the collector comprising i. first and second legs joining each other and having an undersurface, ii. said first leg defining means for accepting an edge of said panel, iii. a plurality of deflectable projections on the undersurface of the first and second legs defining a plurality of inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said first and second legs and within said inwardly diverging recesses; (c) whereby said extrusion assembly is securable to a base by said cement and is removable by pulling the assembly away from the base so that the cement emerges from the inwardly diverging recesses.

Claim 12

A solar collector according to claim 8 wherein said first and second legs are substantially perpendicular.

Claim 13

A solar collector according to claim 8 wherein said first and second legs are substantially parallel.

Claim 14

A solar collector according to claim 8 wherein said extrusion assembly is of EPDM synthetic rubber.

Claim 15

A solar collector according to claim 8 wherein said first and second legs adjoin each other adjacent the first recess, said means on the first leg for accepting an edge of said panel being a second recess, and a key strip removably insertable in said first recess to compress said edge of said panel in said second recess.

Claim 16

A solar collector according to claim 12 wherein said extrusion assembly includes a third recess extending into said second leg to accept an edge of a panel.

Claim 17

A solar collector according to claim 13 wherein said extrusion assembly includes a fourth recess extending parallel to said first recess, and a second key strip is removably insertable into said fourth recess.

Claim 18

In a solar collector assembly wherein a plurality of rigid members form raised edges around the perimeter of a base surface and a translucent panel extends across said edges, the improvement comprising (a) at least one fluid-conducting strip of flexible synthetic rubber having an undersurface opposite a radiation-receiving surface, and comprising i. a plurality of spaced parallel hollow tube portions, ii. a plurality of longitudinally severable web portions joining adjacent pairs of said tube portions, and iii. a plurality of first deflectable projections on the undersurface of said strip defining a plurality of first inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a first deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to said synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said strip and within said first recesses; (c) whereby said strip is securable to the base surface by said cement and is removable by pulling the strip away from the base so that the cement emerges from the first recesses; (d) at least one extrusion assembly of flexible synthetic rubber for sealing the edges of the collector comprising i. first and second legs joining each other adjacent a first recess and having an undersurface, ii. said first leg defining a second recess for accepting an edge of said panel, iii. a plurality of second deflectable projections on the undersurface of the first and second legs defining a plurality of second inwardly diverging recesses; and (e) a second deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said first and second legs and within said second inwardly diverging recesses; and (f) a key strip removably insertable in said first recess to compress said edge of said panel in said second recess; (g) whereby said extrusion assembly is securable to the base surface by said cement and is removable by pulling the assembly away from the base so that the cement emerges from the second inwardly diverging recesses.

Claim 19

In a solar collector assembly wherein a plurality of rigid members form raised edges around the perimeter of a base surface and a translucent panel extends across said edges, the improvement comprising (a) at least one fluid-conducting strip of flexible synthetic rubber having an undersurface opposite a radiation-receiving surface, and comprising i. a plurality of spaced parallel hollow tube portions, ii. a plurality of longitudinally severable web portions joining adjacent pairs of said tube portions, and iii. a plurality of first deflectable projections on the undersurface of said strip defining a plurality of first inwardly diverging recesses; and (b) a first deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to said synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said strip and within said first recesses; (c) whereby said strip is securable to the base surface by said cement and is removable by pulling the strip away from the base so that the cement emerges from the first recesses; (d) at least one extrusion assembly of flexible synthetic rubber for sealing the edges of the collector comprising i. first and second legs joining each other adjacent a first recess and having an undersurface, ii. said first leg defining a second recess for accepting an edge of said panel, iii. a plurality of second deflectable projections on the undersurface of the first and second legs defining a plurality of second inwardly diverging recesses; and (e) a second deposit of cement which does not substantially bond to synthetic rubber disposed against the undersurface of said first and second legs and within said second inwardly diverging recesses; and (f) a key strip removably insertable in said first recess to compress said edge of said panel in said second recess; (g) whereby said extrusion assembly is securable to the base surface by said cement and is removable by pulling the assembly away from the base so that the cement emerges from the second inwardly diverging recesses.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 16 wherein the base surface is a surface of a solar collector.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 16 wherein the synthetic rubber is of EPDM material.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 16 wherein the deflectable projections are in extended pairs.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 16 wherein cement is applied first to the base surface and then the strip and extrusion undersurfaces are applied to the cement.

Claim 28

A method according to claim 21 wherein the base surface is a surface of a solar collector.

Claim 29

A method according to claim 21 wherein the synthetic rubber is of EPDM material.

Claim 30

A method according to claim 21 wherein the deflectable projections are in extended pairs.

Claim 31

A method according to claim 21 wherein the cement deposit is in spaced strips arranged transverse to the extended pairs of deflectable projections.

Claim 32

A method according to claim 21 wherein the cement is applied first to the base surface and then the undersurface of the fluid-conducting strip is applied to the cement.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 27 wherein said base surface is a surface of a solar collector.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 27 wherein the synthetic rubber is of EPDM material.

Claim 37

A method according to claim 27 wherein the deflectable projections are in extended pairs.

Claim 38

A method according to claim 27 wherein the cement is applied first to the base surface and then the undersurface of the extrusion is applied to the cement.