Solar heating system

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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work. The tank 1 is surrounded by reflector 14 to reflect soLAR HEATING SYSTEM the sun's rays onto the tank 1. The tank 1 may extend one or two feet beyond the edges of the chimney. The

This invention relates to isolar heating systems, and mounting of the solar tank may be reinforced in conven more particularly to a solar heater, adapted to be tional manner with clamps, guy wires, etc. mounted on an existing chimney. The outer pipe 5 extends down from the upper solar BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tank 1, to a lower heating tank 6. The water in the lower Due to the energy shortage it is desirable that effi heater tank is adapted to be heated by conventional ciency of heating hot water be maximized. Various 10 heater 7, which may be an oil or gas burner. At the solar systems have been proposed. However, the pres apertures 9,of10, upper end the pipe 5 is a cone 8, having a plurality of etc., which permits water from the tank ent invention has new and improved features not shown to flow down the outer pipe 5.

by the prior art. The inner pipe 11 has a cup shaped member 12

mounted on its lower end in contact with the heater 7,

The present invention incorporates a solar heating pipe the cup 12 has apertures 12'. The upper end of the inner device which is adapted to be connected to an existing rising11, extends above the cone 8 so that hot water in the inner pipe 11, will spray out into the tank 1.

heating system. The present invention is a combined The system using a heater plus the additional energy re of a water rises in the inner pipe similarly to the action coffee percolator. The system may be adjusted so

More specifically, the present invention is a solar that water is heated by the heater 7, to a certain temper heating device adapted to be installed in a chimney, a ature, for instance 160' F. and then it is heated to a higher temperture, by the sun's rays passing through the solar tank is mounted on top of the chimney, a translu translucent dome 3. The translucent dome 3 may be cent dome covers the top of the solar tank, an outer pipe made of glass or plastic of a composition which will extends down from the solar tank through the chimney, 25 permit maximum passage of the sun's rays through it. a heating tank is located at the lower end of the chim A source of cold water is connected to the tank 6 ney, the outer pipe extending down to the heating tank, an inner pipe is coaxially mounted in the outer pipe and through the valve 13. Hot water is taken out of the extends from the heater tank up to the solar tank. system through the valve 21, which is connected to the With the present invention, the energy derived from 30 outer pipe 5.

the sun is used to maximum advantage. On a sunny day, In operation, cold water is admitted to the tank 6 and less heating fuel will be required. On a cloudy day, more heated by the heater 7 so that it rises up into the tank 1, heating fuel will be required. where it is additionally heated by the sun's rays. The hot Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to gases rising through the chimney will provide addi provide new and improved solar heating means. 35 tional heat to the tank 1. The heated water from the tank Another object of the invention is to provide new and 1, will flow through the apertures 9, 10, etc., in the cone improved heating means incorporating a combination 8 and pass down through the outer pipe 5 through the of conventional heating and solar heating. valve 14 to the existing hot water and heating system. Another object of the invention is to provide new and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of cone like member improved solar heating system adapted to be installed in 8.

a chimney comprising, a solar tank mounted on top of a FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of tank 1 and reflec chimney, a translucent dome covering the top of the tor 14.

solar tank, an outer pipe extending down from the solar The system may be made substantially fully auto tank through the chimney, a heating tank at the lower matic by adding the water level sensor 17 which oper end of the chimney, the outer pipe extending down to 45 ates a micro switch 18 which controls the valve 13 to the heating tank, an inner pipe coaxially mounted in the control the amount of cold water admitted to the sys outer pipe and extending from the heater tank up to the tem.

solar tank, means connected to admit cold water to the A thermostat 19 may also be added to sense the water heater tank, and means connected to the outer pipe to temperature in the upper tank 1. The thermostat 18 is discharge hot water. 50 connected in conventional manner to a conventional These and other objects of the invention will be ap heater control. 20 to turn on the heater 7, if the water parent from the following specification and drawing. falls below a certain temperature, for instance, 160 F. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING and to turn off the heater 7, if the water exceeds the certain temperature, for instance, 180' F. or 200' F.

FIG. is a side view of an embodiment of the inven 55 If desired, a storage tank may be incorporated in the tion partly in section. system to store heat during sunny days and give up heat FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the embodi during cloudy days.

ment of FIG. 1. Therefore, the present invention provides a new and DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED improved system which is relatively inexpensive and EMBODEMENT easy to install in an existing heating system.

The present system will make maximum use from

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises a solar energy and save on fuel bills.

tank 1, which is adapted to be mounted on an existing It is claimed:

chimney 2, extending above the roof 19. A translucent 1. A solar heating system adapted to be installed in a dome 3, covers the tank 1, for the purpose of admitting 65 chimney comprising:

the sun's rays to add heat to the water in the tank 1. The an open base mounted on top of the chimney, tank 1, is mounted on an open foundation 4, mounted on a solar tank mounted on the open base, top of the chimney, which may be made of open brick a translucent dome covering the top of the solar tank,

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an outer pipe extending down from the solar tank tank, and means connected to the outer pipe to through the chimney, discharge hot water.

a heating tank at the lower end of the chimney, the 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 having a dish connected to outer pipe extending down to the heating tank, the bottom end of the inner pipe, the inner pipe and the an inner pipe coaxially mounted in the outer pipe and 5 extending from the heater tank up to the solar tank, dish causing the heated wateris to rise in the inner pipe.

means connected to admit cold water to the heater