Solar heat collector

Claim 1

A solar heat collecting assembly comprising: a thin-walled, hollow container including a plurality of attached, metallic side walls and a metallic bottom wall extending between end portions of each of said side walls for partially defining a solar heat collecting space therebetween; a substantially rigid layer of high density plastic foam completely covering surface portions of said side walls and said bottom wall facing said solar heat collecting space for preventing the transfer of heat through said side walls and said bottom wall, respectively; a layer of highly reflective material mounted on all surface portions of said plastic foam facing said heat collecting space; a sheet of heat transmitting material completely covering said heat collecting space and having end portions fixedly attached to confronting end surfaces of said high density plastic foam; a pair of parallel extending screen assemblies positioned within said solar heat collecting space and extending substantially parallel to said bottom wall of said hollow container, each screen assembly having end portions attached to said layer of highly reflective material and each screen assembly having openings sufficient to allow the passage of low micron heat waves therethrough; tube means positioned between said parallel extending screen assemblies, with said tube means having opposite end portions each extending through a separate opening in a wall of said hollow container for providing a liquid flow passageway through said heat collecting space and between said screen assemblies, whereby heat captured by said tube means and said screen assemblies is transferred to the liquid flowing through said tube means.