Solar heat collector

A solar heat collector that pre-heats water for a household hot water heating system, and also heats the air inside a house; the device including solar heating panels set into an A-shape, and enclosing an area therein containing a water tank and a wristatic fan that utilize the heat of the enclosed air, and transmit the thermal energy therefrom through a water line and an air line into the house.

This invention relates generally to solar heat collecting apparatus. 
It is well known, that numerous solar heat collecting devices have been 
developed heretofore, and which generally transmit the thermal heat into 
hot water for circulating into a house. 
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a solar heat 
collector, which, in addition to the hot water supply for a house, also 
provides heated air for heating the air space within the house. 
Another object is to provide a solar heat collector, wherein the solar heat 
collecting panels enclose a central air space that is heated thereby, and 
thus serves as a secondary heat supply, in addition to the heat 
transmitted to the water lines circulating through the collecting panels. 
Another object is to provide a solar heat collector, that utilizes a 
wristatic fan, wherein the movement of hot air can be adjusted to volume 
and pressure, as wished. 
Still another object is to provide a solar heat collector, wherein sheets 
of sheet metal are placed over the top of insulating rip rap rock, and 
then covered by sawdust, so as to help sealing against the loss of heated 
air; and also, wherein a course of polyethylene down, placed under the 
glass panels, raises the heat efficiency of the collector. 
Other objects are to provide a SOLAR HEAT COLLECTOR which is simple in 
design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, 
and efficient in operation.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, the reference numeral 10 
represents a solar heat collector, according to the present invention, 
wherein an A-frame type structure 11 includes upwardly inclined, opposite 
side frames 12, extending ten feet high, and each of which includes a 
plurality of double glass, flat panes 13 fitted therein. Sheets of sheet 
metal are placed over the top of the rip rap rock, and are then covered by 
sawdust. A course of polyethylene down 13a is placed under the glass 
panes. A panel of collector cells 14 is located directly behind each of 
the set of double glass panes 13. The A-frame structure includes 
triangular end walls 15, so that the structure 11 thus encloses a central 
air space 16, of generally corresponding shape, above the ground 17. 
A water tank 18 and a wristatic fan 19 are placed inside the air space 16, 
under the collector cell unit 20 thus formed. The water tank is connected 
to a water line 21, that supplies fresh water thereto from a well. Another 
water line 22, from an upper portion of the tank, runs underground in an 
insulated manner from the solar heat collector 10, and to an electric hot 
water heater inside a house. 
The fan 19 is in a hot air line 23, that also circulates between the solar 
heat collector and the house. As shown in FIG. 2, it is to be noted that 
the hot side of the water line may run through the center of the hot side 
of the hot air line. 
The rip rap rock 24 comprises twelve tons, and is located under the 
collector unit. One foot of sawdust 25 covers sheets of sheet metal 26, 
placed over the rock. 
One side wall of the structure is hinged along an upper edge thereof, so as 
to provide access to an interior of the device. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the above-described device may be provided with 
outwardly pivotable frames 27 on each opposite inclined sides thereof, the 
frames being pivotable about hinges 28, so that they may be pivoted 
outwardly, as shown by arrow 29, until a flexible, transparent plastic 
sheet 30, between an apex 31 of the structure and an upper edge of each 
frame 27, is taut. Each frame surrounds a transparent plastic sheet 32. 
Triangular side panels 33, of flexible, transparent plastic, extend 
between the side edges of the structure and frames, so as to enclose an 
insulating air space on each side of the structure, and thus increase the 
efficiency of the device in cold, windy weather. 
While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is 
understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the 
present invention, as is defined by the appended claims.