US5477848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar collector expansion assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-09-20
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Granted: 1995-12-26
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Expires: 2014-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A solar energy collector expansion assembly including means for reducing having axial thermal expansion in the riser tube is described in which each riser tube has a pair of solar collecting panels attached thereto by a removable elongated "C"-shaped connection member. The "C"-shaped connection member is deliberately made from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than does the material from which the solar collecting panel and the riser tube are formed thereby influencing the dimensional thermal expansion of the riser tube-connection member assembly into a radial rather than axial direction thereby reducing the weakening and failure of the bonds which join the riser tube to adjoining members. Each riser tube-connection member assembly is curved slightly from linear into a cambered shape to further influence the path of thermal expansion of the assembly from a direction other than axial.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter D. Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:21
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S40/00; F24S40/70; F24S10/00; F24S10/70; F24S10/75; F24S40/80; F24S80/00; F24S80/30; F24S25/00; F24S25/60; F24S2025/6004; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A solar energy collector comprising: a base frame; a plurality of riser tubes made from thermally conductive materials and operatively mounted in said base frame in generally parallel spaced relationship to each other; a plurality of collector panels, each said panel made from a thermally conductive material and operatively interposed between adjacent riser tubes, each said panel having a curvilinear channel defined on a longitudinal edge thereof for overlaying said riser tube associated therewith; and a plurality of elongated "C"-shaped connection members, each said connection member adapted to press fit over and compressively secure said curvilinear channel of said collector panel to said riser tube in thermally conductive heat exchange relationship thereto, each said elongated "C"-shaped connection member being made from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than that of said riser tubes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A solar energy collector comprising: a base frame; a plurality of riser tubes made from thermally conductive materials and operatively mounted in said base frame in generally parallel spaced relationship to each other; a plurality of collector panels, each said panel made from a thermally conductive material and operatively interposed between adjacent riser tubes, each said panel having a curvilinear channel defined on a longitudinal edge thereof for overlaying said riser tube associated therewith; and a plurality of elongated "C"-shaped connection members, each said connection member adapted to press fit over and compressively secure said curvilinear channel of said collector panel to said riser tube in thermally conductive heat exchange relationship thereto, each said elongated "C"-shaped connection member being made from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than that of said riser tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 1 in which said riser tubes are made from copper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 2 in which said "C"-shaped connection members are made from aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 2 in which said collector panels are made from copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 4 in which said "C"-shaped connection members are made from aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 1 in which said collector panels are made from copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 6 in which said "C"-shaped connection members are made from aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 1 in which said "C"-shaped connection members are made from aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 1 in which each of said riser tubes are formed with an arcuate orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 9 in which each of said elongated "C"-shaped connection members are curved to form the arcuate orientation of said riser tube associated therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solar energy collector as in claim 10 in which each of said connection members and each of said riser tubes are curved into a cambered shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A solar energy collector comprising a thermally conductive riser tube; an elongated, thermally conductive collecting panel having a semicircular flange formed on a longitudinal edge thereof, said semicircular flange being adapted to engage said riser tube in a thermally conductive relationship therewith; a substantially "C"-shaped connection member press-fit on said riser tube and said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel to compressibly hold said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel in thermally conductive engagement with said riser tube, said "C"-shaped connection member having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of said riser tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A solar energy collector comprising a thermally conductive riser tube; an elongated, thermally conductive collecting panel having a semicircular flange formed on a longitudinal edge thereof, said semicircular flange being adapted to engage said riser tube in a thermally conductive relationship therewith; a substantially "C"-shaped connection member press-fit on said riser tube and said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel to compressibly hold said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel in thermally conductive engagement with said riser tube, said "C"-shaped connection member having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of said riser tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 12 in which said riser tube is made from copper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 12 in which said "C"-shaped connection member is made from aluminum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
A solar energy collector comprising a thermally conductive riser tube, said riser tube being arched to present an arcuate shape; an elongated, thermally conductive collecting panel having a semicircular flange formed on a longitudinal edge thereof, said semicircular flange being adapted to engage said riser tube in a thermally conductive relationship therebetween; a substantially "C"-shaped connection member press-fit on said riser tube and said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel to compressibly hold said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel in thermally conductive engagement with said riser tube, said "C"-shaped connection member having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of said riser tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
A solar energy collector comprising a thermally conductive riser tube, said riser tube being arched to present an arcuate shape; an elongated, thermally conductive collecting panel having a semicircular flange formed on a longitudinal edge thereof, said semicircular flange being adapted to engage said riser tube in a thermally conductive relationship therebetween; a substantially "C"-shaped connection member press-fit on said riser tube and said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel to compressibly hold said semi-circular flange of said collecting panel in thermally conductive engagement with said riser tube, said "C"-shaped connection member having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of said riser tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 15 in which said elongated "C"-shaped connection member is curved to form said arcuate shape of said riser tube associated therewith.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 16 in which said connection member and said riser tube are curved into a cambered shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 15 in which said riser tube is made from copper.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 15 in which said collector panel is made from copper.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar energy collector according to claim 15 in which said "C"-shaped connection member is made from aluminum.
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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) | 1998-12-25 | 1999-06-26 | 1999-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-25 | 2003-06-26 | 2003-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-25 | 2007-06-26 | 2007-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |