Solar water heater

Claim 2

A solar water heating panel for heating liquids by sunlight, said panel comprising: a base sheet fabricated from a corrosion resistant material comprising stainless steel; a metallic absorber sheet fabricated from a sheet of stainless steel having at least one surface thereof coated with copper affixed in water-tight relationship along its outer edges to said base sheet and separated therefrom, said absorber sheet being positioned in a parallel relationship with respect to said base sheet and spaced between 1/16th and 1/4 of an inch from said base sheet; and means for introducing the water to be heated and for removing the heated water.

Claim 3

The panel of claim 1 wherein said metallic absorber sheet is spaced about 1/8 of an inch from said base sheet.

Claim 4

The panel of claim 1 where said absorber sheet is a sheet of stainless steel having each surface thereof coated with a layer of copper.

Claim 5

The panel of claim 1 wherein said absorber sheet has a plurality of dimples in its surface extending between 1/16 and 1/4 inch below the outer surface of said absorber sheet said dimples being adhered at the base thereof to said base sheet.

Claim 6

The panel of claim 4 wherein said base sheet is fabricated from stainless steel and spot welded to said base sheet.

Claim 7

The panel of claim 1 wherein said base sheet is affixed to and spacd from said absorber sheet by plurality of resilient spacers placed between said base sheet and said absorber sheet and held together by holding means located through said spacer means.

Claim 8

The panel of claim 1 wherein said absorber sheet is positioned from said base sheet by at least one reinforcing member held along the outer surface of said absorber sheet.

Claim 9

In a solar water heating panel of the type having an absorber sheet coated with a selective solar coating and having water flowing under the surface of said absorber sheet the improvement which comprises: a generally flat base sheet fabricated from stainless steel; a stainless steel absorber sheet having at least one surface thereof coated with copper, said absorber sheet being affixed in water-tight relationship along its outer edges to said base sheet and separated therefrom in a fixed parallel relationship; an inlet header affixed along one edge of said absorber sheet; and an outlet header affixed along an opposite edge of said absorber sheet wherein said absorber sheet and said base sheet are spaced apart between 1/16 and 1/4 inches.

Claim 10

In a solar water heating panel of the type having an absorber sheet coated with a selective solar coating and having water flowing under the surface of said absorber sheet the improvement which comprises: a generally flat base sheet fabricated from stainless steel; a stainless steel absorber sheet having at least one surface thereof coated with copper, said absorber sheet being affixed in water-tight relationship along its outer edges to said base sheet and separated therefrom in a fixed parallel relationship; an inlet header affixed along one edge of said absorber sheet; and an outlet header affixed along an opposite edge of said absorber sheet wherein said absorber sheet and said base sheet are spaced apart between 1/16 and 1/4 inches.

Claim 11

The solar water heating panel of claim 1 further including insulation means positioned below said base sheet.

Claim 12

The panel of claim 8 wherein said absorber sheet contains a plurality of dimples having a depth of about 1/8 inch.

Claim 13

The panel of claim 10 wherein said dimples are spaced on about 71/2 inch centers.

Claim 14

The panel of claim 8 wherein said absorber sheet is fabricated from stainless steel having a thickness of about 0.016 inches and a copper layer on each surface of the stainless steel each copper layer having a thickness of about 0.002 inches.