Abstract This invention provides a solar heating unit constituted of any suitable flexible material, such as plastic, so that when not in use or during transportation it may be rolled into a compact structure easily transported and installed. Further the present solar heating unit consists of a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel relation and connected at their ends to manifolds with the two outermost tubes of the unit and the manifolds having a greater outside vertical diameter than the intermediate tubes, and a transparent envelope enclosing the entire unit and held in spaced relation above and below the surfaces of the tubes between the two outermost tubes, thus providing an insulating pocket of air about the tubes to prevent dissipation of heat by convection into the atmosphere surrounding the unit. The present invention further includes a pump for circulating a fluid at low pressure through the tubes and manifolds together with suitable pressure regulating means and check valve means to prevent reverse flow of fluid from the tubes when the pump is shut down.
A solar heater constructed of flexible material including an inlet and outlet manifold and a second fluid flow guiding manifold, a plurality of tubes of flexible material connecting said manifolds and being oval shaped in cross section, said tubes arranged in parallel relation and all of the tubes between the two outermost tubes being placed with their maximum Diameters in a horizontal position to present a maximum surface to action of solar heat, said inlet and outlet manifold having an inlet thereto for receiving a cold fluid and an outlet at its other end for delivery of heated fluid from the tubes and a partition in the inlet and outlet manifold intermediate its ends for providing the desired direction of flow of fluid through the tubes, with the two outermost tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes connecting said manifolds being placed with their maximum diameters at right angles to the maximum diameters of the intermediate tubes and a transparent flexible envelope enclosing said heating unit and being held by said outermost tubes in spaced relation from the surfaces of the intermediate tubes to provide air insulating spaces between the tubes and the envelope to retard convection of heating from the tubes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A solar heater constructed of flexible material including an inlet and outlet manifold and a second fluid flow guiding manifold, a plurality of tubes of flexible material connecting said manifolds and being oval shaped in cross section, said tubes arranged in parallel relation and all of the tubes between the two outermost tubes being placed with their maximum Diameters in a horizontal position to present a maximum surface to action of solar heat, said inlet and outlet manifold having an inlet thereto for receiving a cold fluid and an outlet at its other end for delivery of heated fluid from the tubes and a partition in the inlet and outlet manifold intermediate its ends for providing the desired direction of flow of fluid through the tubes, with the two outermost tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes connecting said manifolds being placed with their maximum diameters at right angles to the maximum diameters of the intermediate tubes and a transparent flexible envelope enclosing said heating unit and being held by said outermost tubes in spaced relation from the surfaces of the intermediate tubes to provide air insulating spaces between the tubes and the envelope to retard convection of heating from the tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A solar heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the surfaces of the manifolds and tubes exposed directly to solar energy are blackened.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A solar heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubes, manifolds, and envelope are made of sheet plastic.