Abstract:
A solar heater for a swimming pool or the like is formed by heat sealing two rectangular sheets of a flexible thermoplastic material, such as black vinyl, around the peripheral edges thereof. A plurality of spaced apart heat sealed seams are formed between the two sheets. The seams have end portions alternately spaced from and joined to the sealed peripheral edge to define a plurality of passageways forming a serpentine water pathway through the collector. Inlet and outlet fittings communicate with the passageways to permit pool water to circulate in the collector to be heated therein.
Abstract:
A connector system for the attachment of component panels along the line of a joint. The panel to be joined has a dovetail shaped channel on the edge to be joined. A flexible connector has a curvilinear cross section containing a major arched portion and a minor arched portion inverted to it. Flattening the major arched portion by exerting a normal force on it drives the minor arched portion into the dovetail shaped channel, forming the joint. Removing the force releases the joint.In the preferred form; a pair of connectors opposed to one another joint two solar/structural building panels. Slots on the inside surfaces of the connectors distribute air to the dovetail channels, and through a corrugated film bonded to the outer panel skin. Air returning to the dovetail channel on the opposite side of the panel is heated by sunlight.
Abstract:
A solar heating panel having a curvilinear flow passageway through which a fluid flows to be heated by solar energy, comprising a top sheet having a plurality of upwardly protruding convex upper-portions shaped to reflect a portion of incident energy from the sun to adjacent upper-portions, and a bottom sheet sealingly engaging the top sheet and having a like plurality of upwardly protruding convex lower-portions which underlie a corresponding one of the upper-portions, and protrude upwardly into such upper-portions of the top sheet thereby defining a hollow space therebetween which has a crescent-shaped cross-section, wherein the hollow spaces thereby formed are interconnected to form the flow channel. As a further refinement, undulations, protuberances or depressions may be further provided along the length of the flow channel to introduce turbulence in the fluid flow to thereby increase the rate of heat exchange between the solar heating panel and the fluid.
Abstract:
A two-ply sheeting material is provided with open ended dimples formed in the lower layer that will trap air and ensure flotation when the sheeting is deployed on a swimming pool as a pool cover. The upper sheet is bonded to the tops of the dimples to form a thin planar cavity. When coupled to a water circulating system, the combined two-layer product can usefully perform both as a pool cover and as a solar absorber adapted to warm the water circulating therethrough.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus for heating water by solar energy, including a container made from a plastic film or sheeting for the water to be supplied to consumers, having a cold water inlet opening preceded by an inlet valve and having a withdrawal opening, wherein the top of the container is transparent and the bottom is dark in color. To further develop a known apparatus of this type such that water can be withdrawn even for relatively large-scale needs and it can be connected to an installed water system, it is provided that the outlet opening is followed by a pump and a check valve, that the inlet valve is electromagnetically actuatable, and that a sensor for measuring the instantaneous water temperature and an adjusting device for adjusting the desired temperature of the water to be supplied are connected to the inlet valve. The higher the instantaneous water temperature, the more cold water the inlet valve admits into the container.
Abstract:
A solar collector, or absorber, panels or a heat storage tank, suitable for heating water using solar energy is formed from two sheets of uncured elastic material, such as EPDM rubber, by simultaneously bonding and curing the peripheral edges of the two sheets and at spaced apart, discrete areas over most of the interior areas of the sheets. In one form one of the sheets is coated with a layer of release agent, over all areas except the discrete areas and the peripheral areas so that only such uncoated areas will bond during cure. In another form, a sheet of non-adherent plastic, slightly smaller than the two sheets and having holes or holidays to form the discrete areas, is bonded between the two sheets. In a third form, the peripheral edges are first sealed to form a chamber, then the chamber is inflated and a forming die presses together the discrete areas only. Reinforcing fibers are employed or molded, into at least one of the uncured sheets. Woven fabric sheets may be stitched or fastened together, coated with a thermosetting plastic and then formed into a panel or tank chamber as above. In the solar collector panel embodiment, at least one of the reinforcing fibers is metal, most preferably, in a metal screen to equalize temperatures between the bonded discrete areas and areas overlying liquid carrying volumes of the panel.
Abstract:
A solar heating device wherein a flexible-walled container of reinforced thermoplastic material serves as a solar fluid heater. The flexible-walled container is formed of fabric reinforced sheets of fluoroplastic material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) fusibly bonded together to provide fluid flow passages therebetween. Fluoroplastic materials are unaffected by outdoor weathering and have almost complete chemical inertness and are the slipperiest of all solids to provide low resistance to flow of fluid through the passages.
Abstract:
A flexible quilt collects and absorbs solar energy, and transfers heat to the underlying ground, water or other medium. It includes insulating gastight compartments which are located between an upper film and a lower film. The upper film has a high transmissability of ultraviolet and infrared energy directed downwardly therethrough, and it is reflective of infrared energy impinging on its lower surfaces. The lower film is absorbtive of solar energy and is modified to enhance the thermal conductivity through its thickness. To promote heat transfer to the underlying medium, the lower film is deformed to increase its surface area, a plurality of downward projections extending from each area of the lower film associated with each gastight compartment.
Abstract:
A method for producing a hollow synthetic resin article, which comprises opening a split mold having an inner molding surface with a contour conforming to the configuration of the desired article, feeding a heated molding material of a thermoplastic synthetic resin in the form of a tube or two parallel-laid sheets into a space between the opposing mold members of the split mold, applying a negative pressure to vacuum suction holes provided in the molding surfaced and the parting surfaces of the split mold to vacuum-form the molding material, and while the negative pressure is being applied or after the application of the negative pressure is stopped, closing the mold to form the molding material into the final desired configuration. A hollow synthetic resin article having a general configuration corresponding to two trays joined at their bottoms with a hollow portion formed at their periphery and including at least one non-hollow first portion resulting from joining of the bottoms of the two trays and at least one hollow second portion resulting from joining of the bottoms of the two trays and being isolated from said peripherally located hollow portion may be produced by the above method using a split mold having mold cavities conforming to the above specified configuration.
Abstract:
A Solar Heater for collecting solar radiation in a fluid having a base, a flexible fluid retaining member connected adjacent the base for retaining a fluid, and for collecting the radiation of the sun, expansion limiting members connected to the base and positioned with respect to the flexible fluid retaining members for limiting the expansion of the flexible fluid collecting member, as a fluid is flowed through said flexible fluid retaining members by introducing the fluid through a flow way for flowing the fluid therein and a flow way for flowing the fluid therefrom.