Solar energy collector

• US 5,555,878 A
• Filed: 01/30/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott Sparkman
• Original Assignee: Scott Sparkman
• Inventors: Sparkman, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US08/380,635
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 126/652-657
• US Class Current: 126/657
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/45 the enclosure being cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

An improved solar energy collector comprising a heat absorber to take in radiant energy and transfer the radiant energy to a heat transfer fluid carried thereby. A transparent jacket is to receive the heat absorber therein. The jacket will allow the radiant energy to pass therethrough and reach the heat absorber. Components are for hermetically sealing the jacket and to form a chamber about the heat absorber. A facility is for allowing the heat transfer fluid to enter and exit from the heat absorber. A structure is for exhausting air out of the chamber, so as to produce a vacuum between the jacket and the heat absorber and to insulate the heat absorber from an external environment.

Claims

1. An improved solar energy collector comprising:

a) a heat absorber to take in radiant energy and transfer the radiant energy to a heat transfer fluid carried thereby, said heat absorber including an elongated cylindrical storage tank, and a black nickel/selective coating placed upon an outer surface of said storage tank;

b) a transparent jacket to receive said heat absorber therein, whereby said jacket will allow the radiant energy to pass therethrough and reach said heat absorber, said transparent jacket being an elongated clear plastic tubular body having an internal diameter larger than an external diameter of said storage tank, so that when said storage tank is concentrically positioned within said tubular body, the chamber will longitudinally extend therebetween;

c) means for hermetically sealing said jacket and to form a chamber about said heat absorber, said hermetically sealing means including a pair of end capping assemblies, each of which is affixed to one end of said tubular body;

d) means for allowing the heat transfer fluid to enter and exit from said heat absorber, said heat transfer fluid enter and exit allowing means being a coaxial main port manifold which extends through one said end capping assembly, said manifold having an outer pipe fluidly connected to a first end of said storage tank and an inner narrow pipe extending through said outer pipe internally within said storage tank to approximate a second end of said storage tank, so that the heat transfer fluid can enter said outer pipe cold and then exit the inner narrow pipe hot; and

e) means for exhausting air out of the chamber, so as to produce a vacuum between said jacket and said heat absorber and to insulate said heat absorber from an external environment, said air exhausting means including a vacuum tube which extends through one said end capping assembly and into the chamber, and a valve outlet on a distal end of said vacuum tube in the external environment, so that a vacuum pump can be attached to said value outlet and withdraw the air from the chamber to create the vacuum therein, each said end capping assembly including an end plate, an annular indium wire seal, and means for attaching said end plate transversely to an end of said tubular body with said annular indium wire seal therebetween.

2. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 1, wherein each said end plate includes a flat support base, so that said collector can be mounted in a stationary position onto a roof without slipping or rolling on the roof.

3. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 2, wherein said attaching means is glue.

4. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 3, wherein said end capping assembly with said coaxial main port manifold includes:

a) said end plate having a central aperture therethrough, to allow said coaxial main port manifold to pass therethrough;

b) a metal sheet affixed to said outer pipe of said manifold;

c) an O-ring gasket/indium wire on said outer pipe between said metal sheet and said end plate;

d) a plurality of flange bolts radially molded into said end plate;

e) a compression flange having a central opening therethrough and a plurality of openings thereabout, so that said compression flange can slide upon said outer pipe with said flange bolts extending through said openings; and

f) a plurality of nuts to thread onto said flange bolts, so that when tightened, said compression flange will press against said metal sheet, thus creating an airtight seal with said O-ring gasket/indium wire.

5. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 4, further including:

a) a reflective foil paper liner placed longitudinally on an inner lower surface of said tubular body; and

b) a serrated prism formed longitudinally on an inner upper surface of said tubular body to help deflect back escaping radiant energy to said storage tank.

6. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 2, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) a plurality of cleats radially affixed about the end of said tubular body; and

b) a plurality of bolts, whereby each said bolt is threaded longitudinally through one said cleat and into said end plate.

7. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 2, wherein said tubular body includes a plurality of longitudinal flat segments thereabout to help deflect back escaping radiant energy to said storage tank, as well as increasing lateral strength to said tubular body.

8. An improved solar energy collector as recited in claim 2, wherein said tubular body has a plurality of honeycomb voids that are filled with a pressurized insulating fluid via a connecting channel in one said end plate, to help deflect back escaping radiant energy to said storage tank, as well as increasing lateral strength to said tubular body.