Abstract A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a unique heat-collecting bed which is insulated from the ambient environment by the glass face. Conditioning pump means are provided within the housing to circulate conditioning air through the collector and the heat retaining material in the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the material in the housing. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump. Both the collector and the interior of the housing are provided with appropriately positioned baffles to optimally expose the conditioning air to the heat collecting bed and to heat retaining material in the housing. Reflective solar amplifiers are pivotally connected to the housing in a manner such that they are movable from an open operative position wherein they reflect solar radiation into the collector and a closed protective position overlying the glass face of the collector. Utility pump means are also provided in the apparatus for withdrawing air from the interior of the housing and circulating it through a building structure to be heated thereby. The method of collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes the steps of absorbing solar heat on a collector surface wherein the collector surface is insulated from the ambient environment, passing air across the collector surface in a heat transfer process whereby the heat absorbed by the collector surface is transferred to the air, passing the hot air leaving the collector surface through a horizontal duct disposed at a lower elevation than the collector surface, and passing the hot air flowing from the duct into an elevated storage chamber containing material with heat absorbent and heat retaining characteristics whereby the heat in the hot air is transferred from the hot air to the material and retained by said material until it is removed therefrom by a relatively cool air flow.
In a solar furnace system having a solar furnace adapted to be connected to a forced air furnace system wherein said forced air furnace system includes a forced air furnace with an outlet therefrom in fluid communication with circulating duct work, and wherein the outlet from the solar furnace is connected to the duct work at a location immediately adjacent to the outlet from said forced air furnace, the improvement comprising at least one valve means normally closing said outlet from the forced air furnace and adapted to open said outlet when air is emitted from the outlet of the forced air furnace.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a solar furnace system having a solar furnace adapted to be connected to a forced air furnace system wherein said forced air furnace system includes a forced air furnace with an outlet therefrom in fluid communication with circulating duct work, and wherein the outlet from the solar furnace is connected to the duct work at a location immediately adjacent to the outlet from said forced air furnace, the improvement comprising at least one valve means normally closing said outlet from the forced air furnace and adapted to open said outlet when air is emitted from the outlet of the forced air furnace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
In the solar furnace system of claim 1, wherein said valve means is at least one pivotally mounted plate and said outlet from the solar furnace is positioned relative to said plate so as to blow air across the pivotal mounting of the plate before crossing the plate itself whereby the plate is urged into its normally closed position when air is emitted from the outlet of the solar furnace.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
In the solar furnace system of claim 1 wherein said valve means consists of a plurality of plate members pivotally mounted across the top of the outlet from said forced air furnace so as to pivotal about parallel horizontal axes, each plate member being of a size to overlap an adjacent plate member whereby the pivoted mounting of one plate member can support the free edge of an adjacent plate member to close the outlet from the forced air furnace when air is not being emitted from the forced air furnace outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
In the solar furnace system of claim 3 further including stop members affixed to said duct work and positioned to engage respective ones of said plate members to limit pivotal movement thereof when air is being emitted from the outlet of the forced air furnace.