Solar collector

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FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the operation of this

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to solar collectors and in par therein Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated ticular to solar collectors having a higher efficiency a plurality a roof 9 of a building. Mounted on the roof are than those previously described. of units 10 made in accordance with this invention.

There is extensive prior art on solar collectors. The by movable pistons Each unit 10 includes a support 14 supported prior art most pertinent to the present invention is found 10 frame 16 holding a 9a. On the support 14 is a movable plurality of solar arrays 10b, each in Class 126, Sub-classes 440, 443 and 900. Representa array comprising an upper elongated lens 11 and an tive examples of this prior art comprise the following evacuated transparent tube 12. Extending through tube U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,069,810; 4,186,725; 4,188,941; 12 is a transparent fluid conduit 15 containing as its fluid 4,287,882; 4,307,710; 4,311,131; 4,287,882; 4,299,201; finally divided carbon dispersed in kerosene. The fluid and 4,413,616; and the publication "Performance of a 15 conduits 15 interconnect to form a network and can be Black Liquid Solar Collector' by Minardi and Chuang opaque where they do not pass through the evacuated of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Univer tubes. The network can include storage means, pumps, sity of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, in the book entitled heat exchangers and similar equipment for utilizing the “Solar Energy” Volume 17, Pages 179 to 183 published heated fluid.

in 1975 by Pergamon Press. 20 On the back surface of the evacuated tube 12 and There are many functional, mechanical and economic facing the lens 11 is a reflector surface 13. Frame 16 difficulties with the prior art. What appear to be appro comprises vertical member 16b, horizontal member 16a priate in a theoretical sense turn out to be impractical attached at 16d, transverse bottom member 11a and means pivotally supporting the lenses 11. The conduit commercially.

One object of the present invention is to provide a 25 network 15 extends through orifices 16c in vertical novel solar collector which is relatively inexpensive members to support the tubes 12. and commercially feasible. Other objects and advan 11 The sun's rays are focused by the double convex lens tages of this invention will be apparent from the de of the fluid 16lenswhile or Fresnel 18 so as to concentrate in one portion scription and claims which follow, taken together with 30 from reflected surfacepermitting the reflected portion 13 to concentrate on another the appended drawings. portion of the fluid.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The motion of frame 16 can adjust the position of the focusing lenses 11 in an arc as the sun's position

The invention comprises generally the combination changes. There are various prior art devices and meth of a transparent conduit, a dark, heat-absorbent fluid 35 ods for tracking the sun which can be used in the prac spaced within the conduit, an evacuated transparent tice of this invention.

chamber surrounding the conduit, a reflective coating I claim:

on one side of the chamber and elongated focusing 1. A solar collector comprising in combination a means aligned with the conduit. The focusing means, transparent conduit, a dark, heat-absorbant fluid within which can be a solid lens or a lens including liquid, is said conduit, an evacuated transparent chamber sur arranged to focus the sun's rays that it receives within rounding said conduit, reflective means on one side of the fluid and also on the reflective coating which in turn said evacuated chamber, and elongated focusing means focuses the rays into the fluid. Lenses that can be used aligned with said conduit; said collector being charac include double convex lenses and Fresnel lenses, as well 45 terized in that said focusing means will focus the sun's as liquid filled lenses of similar construction. The fluid is rays that it receives into an upper focusing line in said preferably a liquid having a high boiling point as for fluid, the rays then passing through to said reflective example, kerosene. The dark color of the fluid can be means which focus said rays back into a second lower obtained by either dissolving or suspending colored focusing line in said fluid. material in the fluid, as for example, a suspension of 50 ing2.means The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said focus is a double convex lens.

finely divided carbon. 3. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said focus BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS ing means is a Fresnel lens.

4. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said fluid is

FIG. 1 is a perspective and diagrammatic form of a liquid having a high boiling point.

application of the present invention to the rooftop of a 55 5. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein said fluid building. comprises finely divided carbon in kerosene. FIG. 2 is a partial, enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein means are 1 along line 2-2. provided for moving said focusing means in an arc FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section. around said conduit,

FIG. 4 shows a modification of part of this invention. 60 k k k k t