Solar heating shingle roof structure

Claim 2

A solar heating shingle roof structure, comprising: a plurality of parallel rows of longitudinally interconnected and laterally overlapping fluid conducting shingles having means for attachment to a roof structure, each shingle comprising a hollow body of substantially rectangular, thin, flat configuration, having an upper sheet defining an upper surface, a lower sheet defining a lower surface, laterally spaced side walls defining side surfaces, an upper transverse edge and a lower transverse edge, said upper and lower sheets and said side walls being spaced apart and defining a fluid flow passage therebetween, each shingle having at least one fluid inlet defined by socket means adjacent the upper edge having substantially the same width as said fluid flow passage and at least one fluid outlet defined by plug means adjacent the lower edge thereof communicating with said flow passage, and said plug and socket means interconnecting the inlets and outlets of longitudinally adjacent overlapping shingles.

Claim 3

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, wherein said means for attachment comprises a solid portion between the upper and lower sheets of the shingle, for receiving nail holes therethrough.

Claim 4

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, and including an inlet manifold connected to the inlets of the row of shingles at the upper edge of the structure, and an outlet manifold connected to the outlets of the row of shingles at the other edge of the structure.

Claim 5

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 3, wherein said outlet manifold comprises conduit means having a plurality of inlet socket means for connecting to said outlet sockets of the row of shingles at said other edge of the structure.

Claim 6

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, wherein each shingle includes a skirt overlapping the interconnection between longitudinally interconnected panels.

Claim 7

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 5, wherein, said plug and said socket extend longitudinally of said shingle, and said outlet opening is substantially the same width as said flow passage, each of said shingles include a cap flange overlapping a flange on an adjacent shingle, transverse rib means extending across said flow passage for directing said fluid along said passage upward against the underside of said upper sheet, and, a plurality of pillars extending between said upper and said lower sheets for supporting said sheets in spaced apart relationship.

Claim 8

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, wherein said plug and said socket extend longitudinally of said shingle.

Claim 9

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, wherein said outlet openings are substantially the same width as said flow passage.

Claim 10

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said shingles includes a cap flange overlapping a flange on an adjacent shingle.

Claim 11

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 1, comprising transverse rib means extending across said flow passage for directing fluid flowing along said passage upward against the underside of said upper sheet.

Claim 12

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 10, including a plurality of pillars extending between said upper and said lower sheets for supporting said sheets in spaced apart relationship.

Claim 13

A solar heating shingle roof structure, comprising: a plurality of parallel rows of longitudinally interconnected and laterally overlapping fluid conducting shingles having means for attachment to a roof structure, each shingle comprising a hollow body of substantially rectangular, thin, flat configuration, having an upper sheet defining an upper surface, a lower sheet defining a lower surface, an upper transverse edge and a lower transverse edge, said upper and lower sheets being spaced apart and defining a flow passage therebetween, each shingle having at least one fluid inlet defined by socket means adjacent the upper edge and at least one fluid outlet defined by plug means adjacent the lower edge thereof communicating with said flow passage, and said plug and socket means for interconnecting the inlets and outlets of longitudinally adjacent overlapping shingles, an inlet manifold connected to the inlets of the row of shingles at the upper edge of the structure, and an outlet manifold connected to the outlets of the row of shingles at the other edge of the structure, said inlet manifold comprising an upwardly opening channel, a conduit supported by said channel above the opening thereof, and at least one opening in the wall of said conduit communicating with said opening.

Claim 14

A solar heating shingle roof structure, comprising: a plurality of parallel rows of longitudinally interconnected and laterally overlapping fluid conducting shingles having means for attachment to a roof structure, each shingle comprising a hollow body of substantially rectangular, thin, flat configuration, having an upper sheet defining an upper surface, a lower sheet defining a lower surface, an upper transverse edge and a lower transverse edge, said upper and lower sheets being spaced apart and defining a flow passage therebetween, each shingle having at least one fluid inlet defined by socket means adjacent the upper edge and at least one fluid outlet defined by plug means adjacent the lower edge thereof communicating with said flow passage, and said plug and socket means for interconnecting the inlets and outlets of longitudinally adjacent overlapping shingles, an inlet manifold connected to the inlets of the row of shingles at the upper edge of the structure, and an outlet manifold connected to the outlets of the row of shingles at the other edge of the structure, said inlet manifold comprising an upwardly opening channel, a conduit supported by said channel above the opening thereof, and at least one opening in the wall of said conduit communicating with said opening.

Claim 15

A solar heating shingle roof structure according to claim 12, wherein said inlet manifold includes an outlet defined by plug means for connecting into the socket means of a shingle, and skirt means for overlapping the connection of said plug means with the socket of a shingle.

Claim 16

A solar heating roof shingle adapted for longitudinal fluid interconnection with a like shingle, comprising: a hollow body of substantially rectangular, thin, flat configuration having an upper surface defined by an upper sheet, a lower surface defined by a lower sheet, side surfaces defined by longitudinally extending side walls, an upper end, and a lower end, and a fluid passageway defined between said upper, lower, and side surfaces and extending between said ends, said body having at least one fluid inlet defined by a longitudinally extending socket in the upper end having substantially the same width of said fluid passageway, and at least one fluid outlet defined by a longitudinally extending plug in the lower end thereof, and means in said body for attachment to a roof structure.

Claim 17

A solar heating roof shingle adapted for longitudinal fluid interconnection with a like shingle, comprising: a hollow body of substantially rectangular, thin, flat configuration having an upper surface defined by an upper sheet, a lower surface defined by a lower sheet, side surfaces defined by longitudinally extending side walls, an upper end, and a lower end, and a fluid passageway defined between said upper, lower, and side surfaces and extending between said ends, said body having at least one fluid inlet defined by a longitudinally extending socket in the upper end having substantially the same width of said fluid passageway, and at least one fluid outlet defined by a longitudinally extending plug in the lower end thereof, and means in said body for attachment to a roof structure.

Claim 18

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 14, wherein said socket is a generally rectangular opening in said upper end, and said outlet is a corresponding generally rectangular opening in the plug in the lower end.

Claim 19

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 14, wherein said socket extends longitudinally of said shingle, and said plug extends longitudinally from said lower surface.

Claim 20

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 16 including transverse ribs in said fluid passageway for directing fluid in said passageway against said upper sheet.

Claim 21

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 16, including a plurality of support columns extending between said upper and lower sheets.

Claim 22

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 18, wherein said columns are inverted cup shaped members extending from said lower sheet to said upper sheet.

Claim 23

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 14, wherein said attachment means comprises a solid portion of the body extending between the upper sheet and said lower sheet.

Claim 24

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 17, including longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs extending along adjacent the side edges of said body.

Claim 25

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 16, wherein said upper sheet includes a skirt portion overlapping said plug.

Claim 26

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 22, wherein said plug includes longitudinally extending ribs dividing said outlet plug into a plurality of outlet openings.

Claim 27

A solar heating roof shingle according to claim 23, including a cap flange extending longitudinally along one side edge of said shingle for sealingly overlapping a flange on an adjacent shingle.