Batten for mounting a unitary solar collector panel

Claim 2

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; and a pair of leg members connected to the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the sides of adjacent collector panels and to mount the collector panels onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panels in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panels out of their normally planar configuration; wherein at least some of the solar collector panels have a lip extending outwardly from the bottom, outer edges of the solar collector panels, and then upwardly, for a distance less than the height of the collector panels; and wherein the leg members of the batten engage the lip of the collector panels.

Claim 3

The batten of claim 1 wherein the lip is integrally formed with the collector panel.

Claim 4

The batten of claim 1 wherein the inner face of the leg member of the batten abuts the inner face of the interlocking lip, and wherein the outer face of the leg members engaging the lip and the outer edge of the collector panel are not in contact with each other.

Claim 5

The batten of claim 3 wherein the separation is sufficient to allow the collector panel to expand without its outer edge contacting the outer face of the leg member.

Claim 6

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; a pair of leg members in contact with the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the sides of adjacent collector panels and to mount the collector panels onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panels in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panels out of their normally planar configuration; and a compressible pad positioned between at least one of the leg members and the outer edge of the nearest adjacent collector panel.

Claim 7

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; a pair of leg members in contact with the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the sides of adjacent collector panels and to mount the collector panels onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panels in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panels out of their normally planar configuration; and a compressible pad positioned between at least one of the leg members and the outer edge of the nearest adjacent collector panel.

Claim 8

The batten of claim 5 wherein the pad is a polymer selected from the group consisting of neoprene, polyethylene or an ethylene-propylene diene monomer.

Claim 9

The batten of claim 6 wherein the polymer is a closed cell foam.

Claim 10

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; and a pair of leg members in contact with the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the sides of adjacent collector panels and to mount the collector panels onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panels in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panels out of their normally planar configuration; wherein the leg members are in slidable arrangement with respect to the retention member.

Claim 11

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; and a pair of leg members in contact with the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the sides of adjacent collector panels and to mount the collector panels onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panels in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panels out of their normally planar configuration; wherein the leg members are in slidable arrangement with respect to the retention member.

Claim 12

The batten of claim 8 wherein the compressible pad is sufficiently resilient to permit alignment of the adjacent collector panels during assembly of the solar energy collector system yet sufficiently compressible to permit expansion of the collector panels after assembly of the collector system.

Claim 13

The batten of claim 8 wherein the leg members terminate at their top in an upper portion, the upper portion being in contact with and positioned beneath the retention member along its top edge and in contact with the top portion of the collector panel along its lower edge.

Claim 14

The batten of claim 10 wherein only the leg members and the upper portions connected thereto are in contact with the nearest adjacent collector panel.

Claim 15

The batten of claim 11 which further comprises a seal, located between the leg member and its nearest adjacent collector panel, which is capable of preventing moisture found on top of the collector panels from passing between the leg member and its adjacent collector panel.

Claim 16

The batten of claim 12 wherein the seal also extends along those portions of the upper portion of the leg members that contact the top of the adjacent collector panel.

Claim 17

The batten of claim 10 wherein the retention member does not contact the top of the adjacent collector panel it engages.

Claim 18

The batten of claim 8 further comprising a compressible pad located between the leg members.

Claim 19

The batten of claim 15 wherein the leg members are connected to opposing edges of the compressible pad.

Claim 20

The batten of claim 15 wherein the compressible pad is sufficiently resilient to maintain the interlocking members in contact with the collector panels, yet sufficiently compressible to permit expansion of the collector panels.

Claim 21

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; and a pair of leg members connected to the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the side of the adjacent collector panel and to mount the collector panel onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panel in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panel out of its normally planar configuration; wherein one leg member further extends into a substantially horizontal segment which, in addition to the substantially horizontal retention member, is connected to a side wall, which side wall extends downward from the retention member to engage the structure.

Claim 22

A batten which retains juxtaposed unitary, coextruded, synthetic thermoplastic solar collector panels to a structure for assembly of a solar thermal energy collector system thereon, which batten comprises a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panels which are adjacent to the batten; and a pair of leg members connected to the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the side of the adjacent collector panel and to mount the collector panel onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panel in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panel out of its normally planar configuration; wherein one leg member further extends into a substantially horizontal segment which, in addition to the substantially horizontal retention member, is connected to a side wall, which side wall extends downward from the retention member to engage the structure.

Claim 23

The batten of claim 18 wherein the side wall seals the edge of the structure which is engaged by the batten from external moisture.

Claim 24

The batten of claim 19 wherein the side wall extends downward from the retention member and beyond the plane in which the bottom of the collector panel contacts the structure.

Claim 25

The batten of claim 18 wherein the side wall is substantially linear.

Claim 26

The batten of claim 1, 5, 8 or 18 in combination with a sealing plug, inserted into a space located between adjacent collector panels and adjacent to the transverse edge of the batten, the sealing plug being adapted to seal the interior of the space from the remainder of the solar energy collector system.

Claim 27

The batten of claim 22 wherein the sealing plug is extruded from a polymer selected from the group of materials consisting of neoprene, polyethylene, and ethylene-propylene diene monomers.

Claim 28

The batten of claim 23 wherein the polymer is a closed cell foam.

Claim 29

The combination which comprises: (1) a unitary, coextruded solar thermal collector panel, the panel comprising a first, heat insulating region adapted to allow the passage of solar thermal radiation, the first region being divided into a plurality of first channels of which adjacent first channels are defined by first common ribs; and a second, heat absorbing region juxtaposed from the first region which is capable of absorbing solar radiation and transferring it to a fluid, the second region being divided into a plurality of second channels of which adjacent second channels are defined by second common ribs; and the first and second regions are defined one from the other by a common divider, and (2) a batten, the batten being one of the battens of claim 1, 5, 8 or 18.

Claim 30

The combination which comprises: (1) a unitary, coextruded solar thermal collector panel, the panel comprising a first, heat insulating region adapted to allow the passage of solar thermal radiation, the first region being divided into a plurality of first channels of which adjacent first channels are defined by first common ribs; and a second, heat absorbing region juxtaposed from the first region which is capable of absorbing solar radiation and transferring it to a fluid, the second region being divided into a plurality of second channels of which adjacent second channels are defined by second common ribs; and the first and second regions are defined one from the other by a common divider, and (2) a batten, the batten being one of the battens of claims 1, 5 or 8, and (3) an end batten comprising a substantially horizontal retention member adapted to extend over and engage a top portion of the juxtaposed collector panel adjacent to the end batten; and a pair of leg members connected to the retention member, which, in cooperation with the retention member, are adapted to engage the side of the adjacent collector panel and to mount the collector panel onto the structure while allowing for thermal expansion of the collector panel in a lengthwise and crosswise direction and to minimize bowing of the collector panel out of its normally planar configuration; wherein one leg member further extends into a substantially horizontal segment which, in addition to the substantially horizontal retention member, is connected to a side wall, which side wall extends downward from the retention member to engage the structure.

Claim 31

The batten of claim 1, 5, 8 or 18 which further comprises a seal, coextruded as part of the lower lip of the retention member substantially along its entire length, which seal is capable of preventing moisture found on top of the collector panels from passing between the batten and the collector panels which are contacted by the batten.