Abstract A solar heater having a helix of tubing contained within a transparent box, the box being contained within a second transparent box, forming an air gap between the two boxes on all six sides. The cavity of the internal box around the tubing is filled with a particulate heat adsorbing material such as a mixture of magnetite, perlite and lampblack. The helix is connected to a heat exchange device by tubing sections which extend through walls of the boxes. In one embodiment the boxes are essentially cubes. A further absorber is also disclosed in which a relatively tall, thin box containing a sinuous tubular array is provided with means for mounting the box on a roof of a house. The box is similarly filled with a particulate heat absorbing material and can be provided with double walls.
An apparatus for utilizing solar radiation energy to heat a fluid comprising a first internal container having transparent substantially vertical side walls and top and bottom walls defining a closed interior cavity; a second external container having transparent vertical side walls and top and bottom walls, the walls of said external container being larger than the walls of said first container; means for supporting said internal container within said external container with the walls of said containers in substantially parallel, spaced relationship defining aircontaining spaces therebetween; fluid conducting means contained within said internal container in heat exchanging relationship with the interior cavity thereof; conduit means passing through one of said walls and connecting to said fluid conducting means for conducting heated fluid to a remote location; and particulate radiation and heat absorbing material contained within said internal container, surrounding said fluid conducting means and substantially filling said interior cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for utilizing solar radiation energy to heat a fluid comprising a first internal container having transparent substantially vertical side walls and top and bottom walls defining a closed interior cavity; a second external container having transparent vertical side walls and top and bottom walls, the walls of said external container being larger than the walls of said first container; means for supporting said internal container within said external container with the walls of said containers in substantially parallel, spaced relationship defining aircontaining spaces therebetween; fluid conducting means contained within said internal container in heat exchanging relationship with the interior cavity thereof; conduit means passing through one of said walls and connecting to said fluid conducting means for conducting heated fluid to a remote location; and particulate radiation and heat absorbing material contained within said internal container, surrounding said fluid conducting means and substantially filling said interior cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said particulate material comprises an admixture of perlite, magnetite and lampblack, the components being present in relative ratio of 4:2: 1, by weight.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for utilizing solar radiation energy to heat a fluid comprising a box having a plurality of walls joined at their edges to define a polygon enclosing an interior volume, two of said walls being significntly larger than the remaining walls and being on opposite sides of said box forming major faces thereof, said two walls being transpareNt to visible radiation; means for supporting the box such that said major faces are substantially vertical; a sinuous array of tubing disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said major faces within said interior volume; particulate radiation and heat absorbing material contained within said interior volume and surrounding said tubing; and fluid conduit means passing through one of said walls and connected to said tubing for conducting fluid thereto.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for utilizing solar radiation energy to heat a fluid comprising a box having a plurality of walls joined at their edges to define a polygon enclosing an interior volume, two of said walls being significntly larger than the remaining walls and being on opposite sides of said box forming major faces thereof, said two walls being transpareNt to visible radiation; means for supporting the box such that said major faces are substantially vertical; a sinuous array of tubing disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said major faces within said interior volume; particulate radiation and heat absorbing material contained within said interior volume and surrounding said tubing; and fluid conduit means passing through one of said walls and connected to said tubing for conducting fluid thereto.