Solar heating collector assembly

A solar heating collector assembly employing at least one collector panel which utilizes a collector plate formed of a plurality of long overlapping fins to absorb solar energy. Each absorber fin is coated with a substance having a predetermined selectivity and has soldered lengthwise thereto an absorber pipe in which a heat transport fluid is heated as the fluid circulates through the collector panel. The collector absorber plate is mounted on a collector frame over a plywood base having an aluminum foil vapor barrier covering the base. A double glazed glass assembly is mounted over the absorber plate and forms the top surface of the collector panel. The collector panel is disposed between a pair of installation tracks which define a pair of plumbing channels at opposite ends of the absorber pipes. Located within the plumbing channels are input and output pipe manifolds which are respectively connected to opposite ends of the absorber pipes. When a plurality of collectors panels are employed, input and output header pipes are respectively connected to the input and output manifold pipes to integrate fluid flow through the solar heating collector assembly. Side tracks are disposed perpendicular to the installation tracks and in combination therewith defines the perimeter of the collector assembly. Each collector panel frame is provided with a metal lining around the periphery thereof in contact with the glass assembly to provide heat sinking of the peripheral seal of the glass assembly and to provide a condensation surface for the collector panel. Likewise, the installation tracks and the side tracks are also provided with metal linings. Metal caps having mitered corners are then riveted to the metal liners of the collector frame, the installation tracks and the side tracks to securely fasten the collector assembly, the metal liners thus also serving as rivet anchors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to solar heating, and more particularly to a low 
cost solar heating collector assembly which can be used for a wide variety 
of domestic or commercial applications. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
As is common knowledge, the recent energy crisis caused by acute shortages 
of conventional fuel sources has precipitated a considerable amount of 
interest in solar energy as an alternate energy source. Thus, in recent 
years a wide variety of solar energy heating systems and components have 
evolved to harness solar energy for use in both domestic and commerical 
heating and air conditioning applications. 
A critical component of all previous solar heating systems is the solar 
collector employed to absorb solar energy. As is well known, these 
collectors must not only be thermally efficient, but also strongly 
constructed since these collectors must withstand the extremes of wide 
ranges of temperature, wind, rain, and various other elements of weather. 
A further constraint on the design and fabrication of solar collectors is 
that the collectors must be relatively inexpensive if solar heating is to 
successfully compete with conventional sources of energy. Hence, it is 
commercially imperative that readily available materials be utilized in 
the fabrication of solar collectors. 
Although various heating fluids have been employed by prior solar 
collectors to absorb impinging solar energy, it appears that liquids, and 
particularly water, are most commonly employed. Therefore, most solar 
collectors employ plumbing systems of varying sophistication in which to 
circulate the heating fluid through the interior of the collector. While 
serpentine plumbing configurations are often used interior to the 
collector in order to increase the volume of water within the zone of 
energy absorption and to reduce the plumbing connections, serpentine 
plumbing unfortunately is less reliable from a draining standpoint, as is 
necessary in the event of reduced temperatures. On the other hand other 
collectors of the prior art have employed heat exchange tubes which extend 
in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship between headers within 
the interior of the collector under the glazing. While such a plumbing 
configuration is significantly more reliable from a draining standpoint, 
it nevertheless results in a number of plumbing connections within the 
interior of the collector. These plumbing connections are satistically 
susceptible to leakage which adversely affects collector performance and 
for repair requires virtually complete disassembly of the individual 
collector, in order to remove the glazing to make the connections 
accessible. 
A further consideration in the design of solar collectors is the solar to 
thermal energy conversion effectiveness of the individual collector 
panels. This performance characteristic is generally controlled by using 
an energy absorbing surface with a predetermined selectivity, which is 
discussed in somewhat more detail hereinafter. It is noted, however, that 
for most domestic applications, energy absorbing surfaces with a 
relatively low selectivity are acceptable. On the other hand, certain 
applications, such as air conditioning, do require higher selectivity. For 
the most part, however, the construction techniques employed in collectors 
of the prior art have produced a finished product in which it is 
relatively difficult to precisely match the selectivity of the collector 
with the required selectivity of the particular application. Since 
collector selectivity is directly related to collector cost as a result of 
the different materials employed, the desirability of producing a 
collector in which the selectivity can be carefully selected is readily 
apparent. 
Yet another important consideration is the ease in which a collector 
assembly is installed, and the degree of safety afforded to the workmen 
performing the installation. Since collectors are commonly employed on 
steeply inclined roofs, it is highly important that the individual 
collectors of an assembly be prevented from sliding or slipping prior to 
the rigid fastening of the collector to the roof. However, since in the 
prior art most collectors are simply nailed or bolted directly to the roof 
surface, difficulty has been experienced in preventing dangerous collector 
slippage during installation. 
While enumerable solar collectors are found in the prior art, typical 
examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,208; 3,980,071; 3,974,822; 
4,003,363, 4,011,856; 4,063,545 and 4,066,063. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly one object of this invention is to provide a novel solar 
heating collector assembly which is inexpensively fabricated of readily 
available materials. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel solar heating 
collector assembly ruggedly constructed and capable of withstanding 
adverse weather conditions. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel solar heating 
collector assembly which is easily and safely installed. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a novel solar heating 
collector assembly which is easily maintained. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel solar heating 
collector assembly in which a predetermined selectivity ratio of an 
individual collector is flexibly implemented for a particular application. 
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a solar 
heating collector assembly constructed of at least one solar collector 
panel which utilizes a flat energy absorbing plate made of a plurality of 
long overlapping copper fins. Soldered lengthwise to each fin is a copper 
heat exchange pipe for circulating a heat transport fluid, such as water, 
in close proximity to the fins and thereby producing heat exchange 
therebetween. The surface of each fin is provided with a coating of a 
particular selectivity such that the overall selectivity of the collector 
panel is determined by the selectivity of the individual panel fins. 
Each collector panel is constructed of a plywood base to which is fastened 
a metal lined stepped peripheral frame which forms the exterior walls of 
the panel. An aluminum foil reflective surface is applied to the plywood 
base to serve as a vapor barrier and as an initial layer of insulation. 
The panel energy absorbing plate is then supported on a first step of the 
peripheral frame with the heat exchange pipe exiting opposite ends of the 
panel frame through insulated spacer holes designed sufficiently large to 
accommodate thermal expansion of the pipes. On a second step of the frame 
above the panel energy absorber is supported a double glazed glass 
assembly formed of two glass sheets separated by a desiccant substance, 
with the glazed glass assembly serving as the top surface of the collector 
panel. 
The heat exchange pipes of the collector panel energy absorber plate are 
interconnected exterior to the collector panel at opposite ends thereof by 
means of top and bottom manifolds. The manifolds of the individual 
collector panels are then connected to a header system to integrate system 
fluid circulation. 
Prior to installation of the individual collector panels, L-shaped metal 
lined installation tracks are fastened to the roof above and below where 
each collector panel is to be situated. Collector panels are then seated 
between installation tracks with the base of each collector panel mounted 
flush with the tracks. Thus, between the tracks and the panel frame are 
formed channels for containing the manifold and header plumbing. After 
interconnection of system plumbing and the application of appropriate 
sealants around the panel glazing, mitered sheet matal caps are 
horizontally and vertically riveted to the metal liners of adjacent 
installation tracks and the collector panel frame, thereby completing the 
collector assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate 
identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more 
particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the solar heating collector assembly 10 of 
the invention is shown in perspective mounted on an inclined roof 12. As 
seen in FIG. 3, the assembly 10 includes a plurality of identical 
collector panels 14 seated between L-shaped top and bottom installation 
tracks 16 and 18 respectively, and a middle T-shaped installation track 
20. The L-shaped installation tracks 16 and 18 are formed of a base 22 and 
a leg 24. Similarly, the T-shaped installation track 20 situated centrally 
between the L-shaped installation tracks 16 and 18 is formed of a base 26 
and a leg 28. Each of the installation tracks 16, 18 and 20 is provided 
with a sheet metal lining 29 rigidly fastened by conventional techniques 
to the legs 24 and 26 of the tracks 16, 18 and 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 
7. 
Prior to installation of the collector panel 14, the installation tracks 
16, 18 and 20 are fastened to the roof 12 by conventional means, such as 
by nailing or screwing thereto. Thereafter, these installation tracks form 
a convenient ledge by which workmen can safely and comfortably manuever 
themselves across the roof while handling the collector panels during 
installation thereof. The collector panels 14 are then themselves seated 
in top and bottom rows between the top installation track 16 and the 
middle installation track 20, and between the middle installation track 20 
and the bottom installation track 18. 
As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, each collector panel 14 is provided with a 
heat absorbing plate 30 made of a plurality of long overlapping copper 
fins 32. Soldered lengthwise to each fin 32 is a copper heat exchange pipe 
34 through which is circulated a heat transport fluid, such as water. The 
absorber pipes 34 are thus in close thermal proximity to the fins 32, 
thereby producing heat exchange between the fins 32 and the heat transport 
fluid. The surface of each fin 32 is provided with a coating which 
promotes a predetermined selectivity, where selectivity as is well known 
in the art is defined as the ratio of the absortivity to the emissivity, 
and where the absortivity is defined as the degree to which a surface 
converts light to heat, and where emissivity is defined as the degree to 
which a surface re-radiates heat to its environment. Typically, 
selectivity of the absorber fin can be varied from as high as 15 by 
plating the fin with black chrome, but for most applications a black flat 
paint coating providing a selectivity of 1.06 is perfectly adequate. It is 
noted, however, that a desired selectivity for any collector panel can 
easily be achieved by coating the individual absorber fins 32 of a heat 
absorbing plate 30 with different substances such that the combined effect 
of the individually coated absorber fin 32 produces the desired 
selectivity. 
As shown in FIGS. 2a, 3, 4, 6 and 7, each collector panel 14 is constructed 
of a base 36 and peripheral frame 38 fastened to the base 36. The base 36 
of each collector panel 14 extends beyond the top and bottom horizontal 
ends 40 and 42, respectively of the collector frame 38, with the top and 
bottom edges 44 and 46 respectively of the collector base 36 abutting 
against the adjacent installation tracks. Thus, between the leg of each 
installation track and the horizontal end of each collector panel 14 is 
formed a channel 47 wherein is located plumbing interconnections 
hereinafter described in more detail. 
As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the peripheral frame 38 of the collector plate 14 is 
provided with a pair of steps 48 and 50 which respectively support the 
heat absorbing plate 30 discussed above and a glazing assembly 52. The 
step 48 which supports the heat absorbing plate 30 at the top periphery 
thereof includes a plurality of spacer blocks 54 which are spaced apart to 
form a plurality of spacer openings 56 through which the plurality of 
absorber pipes 34 exit the collector panel 14. Interior to the collector 
panel 14, the absorber fins 32 are supported by the spacer blocks 54 such 
that the fins 32 are essentially parallel to the base 36. The spacer 
openings 56 have a height generally corresponding to the outer diameter of 
the absorber pipe 34 such that each absorber pipe 34 is vertically clamped 
loosely within the spacer opening 56. The width of each spacer opening 56 
is, however, considerably wider than the outer diameter of the absorber 
pipe 34 in order to accommodate movements of the pipes 34 resulting from 
thermal expansion of the pipe 34 and the manifold 84 or 85. Fiberglass 
insulation 58 is stuffed in the excess space between the absorber pipe 34 
and the spacer blocks 54 in order to minimize convective airflow in order 
to maintain a moisture-free environment within the collector panel 14. As 
shown in FIGS. 2a and 6, the step 48 continues along the sides 60 of the 
collector panel 14. A continuous piece of wood without spacer openings is 
used along the sides 60 of the panel 14 in forming side portions of the 
step 48. 
As shown in FIGS. 4-7, a metal liner 62 is provided on the peripheral frame 
38. The metal liner 62 includes a portion 64 resting on the glazing step 
50 and a U-shaped portion 65 extending around the frame 38 and the 
exterior thereof. A silicone gasket 66 is laid on the metal liner 62 
resting on the glazing step 50 shown in detail in FIG. 2a. Seated on the 
silicone gasket 66 is the glazing assembly 52 which consists of a pair of 
3/16 inch glass sheets 68 and 70 separated by a desiccant-filled spacer 
72. The glazing assembly is readily commercially available and is produced 
by Fourco Glass Company under the Trade name "Clearlite II". Between the 
glazing assembly 52 and the U-shaped portion 65 of the metal liner 62 is 
provided an extruded gasket 74. Thereafter along the seam between the 
extruded gasket 74 and the top glass plate 68 of the glazing assembly 52 
is provided a butyl sealant 75 which can be of the bead installation or 
tape type. It is noted that the silicone gasket 66, the extruded gasket 
74, and the butyl sealant 75 are provided around the complete periphery of 
the frame 38. Therefore, each of these elements is seen in the respective 
views shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7. 
As was stated above, heat absorbing plate 30 is supported on the step 48 of 
the peripheral frame 38 with the individual absorber pipes 34 exiting the 
interior of the collector panel 14 through the spacer openings 56. 
Interior to the collector panel 14 in contact with the base 36 and beneath 
the plate 30 is provided a sheet 82 of aluminum foil reflective material 
which acts both as a vapor barrier and as an initial layer of insulation. 
Optionally, an additional layer of fiberglass insulation can be provided 
between the absorber fins 32 of the absorber plate 30 and the base 36 of 
the collector panel 14. The collector panels 14 as thus described are 
positioned in top and bottom rows 15 and 17, respectively, between the 
installation tracks 16, 18 and 20 and are ready for plumbing 
interconnection and final installation as hereinafter described. 
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, the plumbing interconnections are now 
described. Each of the absorber pipes 34 of each absorber plate 30 extends 
through the spacer openings 56 into the plumbing channel 47 which is 
formed between the frame 38 and the leg 24 or 28 of the adjacent 
installation tracks 16, 18 or 20. The opposite ends of the absorber pipes 
34 of a collector panel 14 of are then respectively interconnected by 
means of an input manifold 84 and an output manifold 85. The input 
manifolds 84 of the bottom row 17 of collector panels 14 are connected to 
an input header 86, while the output manifolds 85 of the collector panels 
14 of the top row 15 are connected to an output header 88. As shown in 
FIG. 8, the output manifold 85 of each collector panel 14 in the bottom 
row 17 is connected to the input manifold 84 of the vertically adjacent 
panel 14 in the top row 15 by the pipe segments 90 which are disposed 
generally horizontally in order to utilize the natural flexing of these 
pipe segments 90 during connection to the manifolds 84 and 85. The pipe 
segments 90, however, are provided with a slight vertical tilt to assure 
total drainage of the collector panels 14 when draining thereof is 
necessary. As shown in FIG. 8, it is seen that heat transport fluid from a 
supply line 92 enters the input header 86 which directs essentially equal 
quantities of fluid to each of the input manifolds 84 of each of the 
collector panels 14 of the bottom row 17 of collector panels 14. The input 
manifolds 84 then proportionately provides heat transport fluid to each of 
the absorber pipes 34 connected thereto. Fluid proceeds through the 
individual absorber pipes 34 and is recombined at the output manifold 85 
of each collector panel 14. The fluid output of the output manifold 85 of 
the bottom row 17 is then serially directed to the input manifold 84 of 
the top row 15 of collector panels 14, to the individual absorber pipes 34 
contained therein, and then recombined at the output manifold 85 of the 
top row 15 of collector panels 14. The outputs of each output manifold 85 
are likewise also recombined at the output header 88 into a single return 
line 94. Thus, heat transport fluid is supplied to the solar heating 
collector assembly 10 via the supply line 92, absorbs heat as the fluid 
passes through the absorber pipes 34 of the serially connected vertically 
adjacent collector panels 14, and enters the solar heating system return 
line 94 which directs the heated transport fluid to a heat exchanger or 
the like (not shown) for utilization of the absorbed energy. 
After installation of the manifold/header plumbing, the solar heating 
collector assembly 10 is ready for final installation wherein each of the 
collector panels 14 is mechanically interconnected and permanently 
fastened to the roof. At each corner of the collector base 36 is provided 
a fastening hole 110 by means of which the collector panel 14 is either 
screwed, nailed, bolted or otherwise fastened to the roof 12. The 
fastening of the collector panels 14 to the roof 12 is done prior to 
installation of the system plumbing and the external flashing. The loose 
clamping of the pipes 34 provides a degree of mechanical flexibility 
during the plumbing interconnections. After completion of the plumbing 
installation, and after the panels 14 are fastened to the roof 12, metal 
lined side tracks 96 are fastened to the roof 12 at the opposite ends 100 
and 102, respectively, of the collector assembly 10. The side tracks 96, 
only one of which is shown in FIG. 2a, have a generally rectangular 
cross-section and extend along the entire sides of the opposite ends 100 
and 102 in abutting relationship with the adjacent collector panels 14. 
The side tracks 96 are fastened to the roof 12 and are provided with a 
U-shaped sheet metal lining 104. After fastening of the metal lined side 
tracks 96 to the roof 12, sheet metal flashing, e.g. aluminum or 
galvanized iron sheet, generally L-shaped, is fastened to the roof 12 and 
the exterior sides of the side tracks 96, and the installation tracks 16 
and 18. Thereafter, the collector panel 14 is mechanically connected 
either to an adjacent peripheral frame 38 of an adjacent collector panel 
14, or an adjacent installation track 16, 18, or 20, or an adjacent side 
track 96 by means of sheet metal caps 108. The caps 108 are disposed 
horizontally and vertically overlapping the peripheral frame 38 and the 
glazing assembly 52, with the end of the cap 108 overlapping the glazing 
assembly 52 having a slight bend towards the glazing assembly 52 such that 
the cap 108 compresses the butyl sealant 75 and the extruded gasket 74 
between the cap 108 and the glass sheet 68 of the glazing assembly 52. The 
sheet metal caps 108 are cut into horizontal and vertical strips, each 
having mitered corners, such that the overall cap assembly provides an 
airtight moisture seal to the interior of the plurality of collector 
panels 14. As shown in FIG. 2a, the cap 108 is riveted through the sheet 
metal lining 62 to the peripheral frame 38 of the collector panel 14 and 
to the sheet metal lining 104 of the side tracks 96, thereby securing the 
opposite sides 100 and 102 of the collector assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 
7, the sheet metal caps 108 connecting vertically adjacent collector 
panels are riveted to the peripheral frame 38 of each collector panel 14 
and to the leg 28 of the middle installation track 20 through the sheet 
metal liner 62 fastened thereto. As is also shown in FIG. 7, the caps of 
vertically adjacent collector panels 14 are riveted to each other, as well 
as to the metal lining 29 of the middle installation track 20, thereby 
further strengthening the construction of the solar heating collector 
assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the sides 60 of horizontally adjacent 
collector panels 14 are mechanically connected by a common sheet aluminum 
cap 108 which is riveted to the metal liner 62 provided on the peripheral 
frame 38 of each collector panel 14. Thus, the construction and 
installation of the solar heating collector assembly according to the 
invention is completed upon installation of the caps 108 which provide 
moisture sealing of the interior of the individual collector panels 14 and 
which otherwise are believed to present an aesthetically pleasing exterior 
view of the collector assembly 10. 
Optionally, prior to fastening the caps 108, fiberglass insulation (not 
shown) can be stuffed in the plumbing channels 47 around the 
manifold/header plumbing. 
It is noted that the collector assembly 10 of the invention is designed to 
be attached to virtually any conventional truss roof 12 which may have as 
little as 5/8 of an inch thick plywood sheathing or which may be of the 
plank and beam deck construction type, since the static loading added by 
the collector is conservatively estimated at 11 pounds per square foot. 
For truss roofs, 6 inches of fiberglass insulation is normally used 
between the rafters underneath the collectors. For deck roofs, it is 
recommended that 2 inches of rigid glass insulation be installed over the 
roof under the collector panels 14. 
From the above discussion it is seen that the collector assembly of the 
invention is rugged yet inexpensive, and fabricated of readily available 
materials. However, the details of the collector assembly implementation 
present additional advantages which are now described. Firstly, the 
installation tracks 16, 18 and 20 prevent sliding of the collector panels 
14 and thereby promote safe installation. Furthermore, since these 
installation tracks actually become a part of the collector assembly, the 
possiblity of slipping or sliding of the collector panels 14 during the 
life of the collector assembly 10 is further diminished, and the 
structural integrity of the collector assembly thereby is enhanced. Still 
further, since the tracks do become part of the collector assembly 10, 
dismantelment thereof is not made necessary, thereby further facilitating 
installation. It is further noted that the liner/cap construction provides 
not only moisture proofing and mechanical clamping of adjacent collector 
panels 14, but also serves in a heat sinking capacity to minimize 
deleterious thermal effects which otherwise might jeopardize the integrity 
of the moisture seals. Furthermore, the liner/cap construction in addition 
provides a condensation surface against which any moisture vapor interior 
to the collector panel 14 can condensate, thereby minimizing condensation 
of vapor moisture on the glazing assembly 52. Also, the provision of the 
sheet metal liners 29, 62 and 104 advantageously enables riveting of the 
sheet metal cap thereto, thereby promoting structural integrity and speedy 
installation. 
Yet another important advantage of the collector assembly according to the 
invention lies in the fact that no plumbing connections whatsoever are 
made interior to the individual collector panels 14. Instead all plumbing 
connections, whether from the individual absorber pipes 34 to the 
manifolds 84 and 85, or whether from the manifolds 84 and 85 to the input 
or output headers 86 and 88, are made within the plumbing channels 47. As 
a result, in the event of the development of a leak, it would not be 
necessary to dismantel the individual collector panel 14, but merely to 
remove the caps 108 therefrom. Further in that regard, it is noted that 
any moisture entering the collector assembly 10 as a result of leakage 
within a plumbing channel 47 is confined to the plumbing channel 47 as a 
result of the fiberglass insulation 58 surrounding the individual absorber 
pipes 34 in the spacer openings 56. Thus, moisture condensation within the 
interior of a collector panel 14 is again minimized. 
Further advantages of the collector assembly according to the invention 
inhere in the implementation of the absorber plate 30. Since the plate 30 
is formed of a plurality of identical absorber elements, the overall 
selectivity of a collector panel can easily and flexibly be implemented 
simply in terms of the coating applied to the individual absorber fins 32. 
Thus, a simple flat black paint coating can be applied to all the absorber 
fins 32 when a relatively low absorber selectivity would be adequate, and 
when higher selectivities are required, such can be accomplished merely by 
applying a different coating of a higher selectivity to preselected of the 
absorber fins 32 such that the overall required selectivity of the heat 
absorbing plate 30 is thereby achieved. Further with regard to the 
absorber plate 30, and more particularly to the absorber pipes 34, it is 
noted that the pipe 34 extend minimally exterior to the collector panels 
14 and in any event do not extend beyond the base 36 of the collector 
panel 14. Thus, during handling of the collector panel 14, the ends of the 
absorber pipes 34 extending exterior to the collector panel 14 are 
shielded from any bending forces which may be applied to the collector 
panel 14 by the extended base 36 underneath the absorber pipe 34. 
Also, it is noted that the overall installation of the collector assembly 
according to the invention is implemented with a minimum amount of field 
activity. From the above discussion, it is seen that each collector panel 
14 can be virtually entirely fabricated in the controlled environment of a 
factory setting, field installation limited primarily to the installation 
of the installation tracks, the system plumbing, and the collector caps. 
It is specifically noted that although the individual collector panels are 
only loosely assembled prior to installation of the collector caps 108, a 
high degree of structural integrity can be provided to the individual 
panels 14 during installation simply by applying temporary clamps to the 
corners of the panels prior to final installation. 
As stated above, readily available materials are utilized to construct the 
collector assembly of the invention. In particular, plywood is used for 
the base 36, while the frame 38 is generally constructed of wood. The 
absorber fins 32 are formed of 12 oz per square foot copper, while 3/8 
inch outer diameter (0.032 inches inner diameter) pipes are used for the 
absorber pipes 34. Also, 0.040 inch thick sheet aluminum or 24 gauge 
galvanized iron sheet is used for the metal liners 29, 62 and 104 and the 
caps 108. 
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention 
are possible in light of the above teachings. In particular, specific 
construction materials described herein are done so solely for the purpose 
of explanation, and other appropriate materials are obviously available as 
a matter of design choice. Likewise, the dimensions of the various 
collector components can also be selected per the requirements of a 
particular application. In that regard it is specifically noted that for 
installation on deck roofs, it may be desirable to employ side 
installation tracks having an L-shape cross-section, thereby forming 
additional plumbing channels to house the supply/return headers. This 
would avoid the necessity of piercing the roof decking to accommodate 
supply/return plumbing, and would shield this plumbing from view. 
Furthermore, any number of collector panels 14 and installation tracks 16, 
18 or 20 can be employed, depending on the requirements of a particular 
application. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the 
appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as 
specifically described herein.