Mounting bracket for solar heat collector

Apparatus for mounting a solar collector to a mounting surface which permits the solar collector to maintain a predetermined orientation with respect to the position of the sun notwithstanding variation in slope and orientation of the mounting surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to mounting apparatus and more particularly to 
apparatus for mounting a solar collector on a surface. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Fossil fuels have in the past provided the bulk of the world's energy 
needs. However, as the price of fossil fuels has increased and their 
supply decreased, increasing attention has been directed towards the 
development of alternate energy sources. One such alternate energy source 
is the solar collector which utilizes the energy from the sun to heat a 
transfer medium. The transfer medium is in turn circulated throughout a 
structure in various well-known ways to provide a heat source for the 
structure. 
In order to achieve maximum efficiency from a solar collector, it is 
necessary that the solar collector be orientated in a predetermined 
position with respect to the position of the sun. It is, of course, 
appreciated that solar collectors are typically mounted on the roof of the 
structure to be heated and that roof slope and orientation may vary 
greatly from one structure to another. Therefore, it is imperative that 
the mounting apparatus utilized to mount a solar collector be adaptable so 
that solar collector orientation with respect to the position of the sun 
can be maintained notwithstanding changes in roof slope and orientation. 
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide solar collector 
mounting apparatus which will maintain solar collector orientation in a 
predetermined position with respect to the sun notwithstanding changes in 
mounting surface slope and orientation. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide solar collector 
mounting apparatus which is inexpensive, readily manufactured and easily 
used. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with a first feature of the invention solar collector 
mounting apparatus includes a stem member interposed between the solar 
collector and the mounting surface and a detachable connection between the 
solar collector and an upper end of the stem member to provide vertical 
movement of said solar collector relative to said stem member, rotational 
movement of said solar collector in a first vertical plane relative to 
said stem member and rotational movement of said solar collector in a 
second vertical plane relative to said stem member, said first vertical 
plane relative to said stem member being perpendicular to said second 
vertical plane relative to said stem member. 
In accordance with another feature of the invention a second detachable 
connection exists between a lower end of the stem member and the mounting 
surface to provide rotational movement of said stem member in a horizontal 
plane relative to said surface, rotational movement of said stem member in 
a first vertical plane relative to said surface and rotational movement of 
said stem member in a second vertical plane relative to said surface, said 
first vertical plane relative to said surface being perpendicular to said 
second vertical plane relative to said surface. 
The foregoing and other objects and features of this invention will be more 
fully understood from the following description of an illustrative 
embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Refer to FIG. 1. Solar collector mounting bracket I is a ship angle 
preferably, four inches long with four apertures in the lower surface 
thereof to be used in fastening a solar collector to the mounting bracket. 
Aperture 2 receives a flat head bolt with a lock washer and nut assembly 
to attach bracket 1 to bracket 3. This pinned connection at 2 permits the 
solar collector connected to mounting bracket 1 to rotate in a vertical 
plane relative to stem member 7 as shown in FIG. 2. Bracket 3 is bolted by 
two hex head bolts with lock washer and nut assemblies 4 for a friction 
fastening to element 5. Element 5 has threaded holes (FIG. 4) to receive 
bolts 4 and a drilled out hole 6 provided for drilling into stem member 7 
once assembly in the field is completed and the connection can be pinned. 
Element 5 has bored therein an aperture to receive stem member 7 
preferably having a 1" outside diameter and a 3/16" wall thickness. The 
solar collector connected to element 1 can thus rotate in a vertical plane 
relative to said stem member as shown in FIG. 1 and can also be moved in a 
vertical direction relative to said stem member until tightening of the 
hex head bolt-nut assembly 4 and pinning 6. Stem member 7 is of varying 
lengths depending on the desired distance between the solar collector and 
the mounting surface. 
Stem member 7 Is connected at its base to the mounting surface. Stem member 
7 fits into a length of aluminum stock 8 that has bored therein an 
aperture to receive stem member 7. An aperture is also provided for a 
pinnint 13. This assembly permits rotation of said stem member in a 
horizontal plane relative to the mounting surface as shown in FIG. 3. 
Stock section 8 is fastened to a box section 9 with a hex head bolt and 
lock washer and nut assembly. Stem member 7 rests on bolt 10. This 
connection permits rotation of stem member 7 in a vertical plane relative 
to the mounting surface as is shown in FIG. 1. Rotation is prohibited when 
bolt and nut assembly (10) is tightened. 
Box section 9 is fastened to two structural angles 11 by a hex head bolt 
with lock washer and nut assembly 12. This connection permits rotation of 
stem member 7 in a second vertical plane relative to the mounting surface 
as shown in FIG. 2 until the connection is tightened. Each structural 
angle 11 is provided with two apertures for easy mounting to the mounting 
surface. 
Although a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and 
described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made 
without departing from the spirit of this invention.