Abstract:
A collector module ( 1 ) is described with a collector manifold ( 20 ) having two chambers. This collector module ( 1 ) has at least one collector tube ( 2 ), which has an absorber tube ( 4 ) and a tubular jacket ( 3 ). A connector ( 40 ) for each collector tube is provided which embraces the collector manifold ( 20 ) and receives the end of its tubular jacket ( 3 ). The connector ( 40 ) has a cup-shaped receiving part ( 41 ) glued on its collector tube and a U-shaped connecting part ( 45 ) formed on the cup-shaped receiving part ( 41 ), which engages the collector manifold ( 20 ). A sealing device ( 60 ) is arranged on the U-shaped connecting part ( 45 ). A torsion-stiff, self-supporting device is provided accordingly by this structure, in which each collector tube is not loaded with external forces, during to thermal expansion, transport, mounting or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a collector module comprising a collector device having two chambers, especially a collector manifold, which has at least one nipple arranged perpendicular to the collector device; at least one collector tube, which comprises an absorber tube and a tubular jacket, the absorber tube being slipped on the nipple; a coaxial tube being arranged in the nipple, which is fixed at one end in the absorber tube and at the other end in the collector device; and a connector surrounding the collector device and receiving the open end of the tubular jacket.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    A collector module of this type is known from German Utility Model G 201 01 139. The collector tube with its absorber tube is inserted in the nipple. Also the connector is constructed so that the collector tube can be inserted in it. All component parts are thus connected with each other by a plug connection. Because of this feature there is certain movability during thermal expansion of the parts. Different embodiments are described, which relate, among other things, to a force-locking and form-locking reception of the collector tube in the connector.  
           [0005]    Although the collector tube is fixed in the connector that is designated a housing, rotation or twisting of the collector tube cannot be completely prevented. The housing receives the collector tube and forms a rigid framework with it. This structure has inherent disadvantages. The unavoidable pressing forces of the nipple via the O-rings and the hydraulic pressure of the heat transfer medium disadvantageously act on the collector tube. Also exterior forces act on the rigid housing due to thermal expansion of the collector tube, because the housing presses perpendicularly to the nipple on the collector tube. These types of forces can also occur during transport or mounting. Furthermore the nipple inserted in the collector tube can tilt or tip due to the existing degrees of freedom. These forces, which always act on the sensitive connection between the nipple and the collector tube, can increase the risk of breakage for the collector tube. If the degrees of freedom required to take care of that are provided, the required strength or rigidity for a self-supporting frameless structure for the module cannot be guaranteed without more.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a collector module of the above-described kind, which is improved so that a torsion-stiff, self-supporting device is provided and the collector tube—in the region where it connects with the collector device—is not loaded by external forces, resulting from thermal expansion, transport, mounting or assembly.  
           [0007]    This object and others, which will be made more apparent hereinafter, are attained in a collector device having two chambers, especially a collector manifold, which has at least one nipple arranged perpendicular to the collector device; at least one collector tube, which comprises an absorber tube and a tubular jacket, the absorber tube being slipped on the nipple; a coaxial tube being arranged in the nipple, which is fixed at one end in the absorber tube and at the other end in the collector device; and a connector surrounding the collector device and receiving the open end of the tubular jacket.  
           [0008]    According to the invention a respective connector is provided for each collector tube, which comprises a cup-shaped receiving part, in which the tubular jacket is glued in place, and a U-shaped connecting part, which embraces the collector device. Furthermore a sealing device is arranged in the U-shaped connecting part.  
           [0009]    Because each collector tube has its own connector, external forces, e.g. because of thermal expansion of the collector device, are not transferred to the collector tube. In all cases during length changes of the collector device itself change the spacing of the collector tubes, or the connector itself shifts its position along the collector device.  
           [0010]    The sealing device is constructed and arranged on the connector so that the collector device, especially the collector manifold, is either clamped or held slidably between the connector and the sealing device, whereby a torsion-stiff connection is formed with the collector device in all cases. The clamped or slidable attachment is adjusted by means of the internal dimensions of the connecting element and the sealing device in relation to the outer dimensions of the collector device.  
           [0011]    The sealing device can be formed so that it can be opened or closed according to other embodiments, so that exchange or replacement of individual tubes is possible.  
           [0012]    The gluing of the collector tube in the cup-shaped receiving element prevents the hydraulic pressure from pushing the collector tube away from the nipple. Also rotation of the collector tube around the central axis of the nipple is prevented. Furthermore the seal of the absorber tube, which occurs by means of one or two O-rings on the nipple, is not loaded with external forces, which increases the operational safety and service life. All forces, which are not directed parallel to the nipple axis, are considered to be external forces, including e.g. snow loads, unsuitable mounting or the like.  
           [0013]    Preferably the collector tube is glued into the cup-shaped receiving part of its connector, so that the entire circular gap between the collector tube and the wall surrounding the collector tube is filled over its entire circumference. An adhesive is preferably used, which shrinks only slightly on hardening, in order to avoid tears or release. Especially a one or two-component glue with a silicone base should be considered for this purpose.  
           [0014]    Although the collector tube is glued in the cup-shaped receiving part, this adhesive together with the O-ring seal at the nipple still provides a sufficiently flexible connection, so that the breakage risk during assembly and operation is reduced.  
           [0015]    Another advantage of the adhesive connection of the collector tube in the cup-shaped receiving part is that the heat transfer liquid flows into the hollow space, which is formed by the tubular jacket, in every case of breakage of the interior tube (coaxial tube) in the absorber tube. This is also true in the case of nipple breakage. Thus the heat transfer medium is prevented from flowing out of the system.  
           [0016]    The adhesive provides further that the required holding force is distributed uniformly over the circumference of the collector tube. Inequalities, which relate to small manufacturing-dependent tube curvature, are compensated.  
           [0017]    The connecting part does not come in contact with the heat transfer medium and thus is not exposed to chemically reactive substances. This allows use of mostly economical plastic materials, which of course are heat-resistant, however are sensitive during contact with the heat transfer liquid, such as glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide.  
           [0018]    In preferred embodiments of the invention the sealing device is a slider movable in the longitudinal direction of the collector device, particularly the collector manifold. The U-shaped connecting element preferably has two arms with respective locking elements on their free ends cooperating with corresponding locking elements of the slider.  
           [0019]    These locking elements, for example, can be tongues and grooves, which extend preferably in the longitudinal direction of the collector device.  
           [0020]    In an alternative embodiment the sealing device is a pivoting element pivotally connected to the U-shaped connecting part. This pivoting element preferably pivots about a pivot axis that extends in the longitudinal direction of the collector device on opening, so that replacement or exchange of the collector tube together with the connecting part is possible. Providing a pivoting or hinge element has the advantage that the sealing device remains on the U-shaped connecting part and cannot be lost during the replacement or exchange. This pivoting element is preferably pivotally connected to an arm of the U-shaped connecting part by means of a hinge. It preferably locks in a suitable member on the opposite arm of the U-shaped connecting part. Also this pivoting element is formed so that the collector device, especially the collector manifold, is held clamped or slidable in the locked state.  
           [0021]    Preferably the width of the U-shaped connecting part extending in the longitudinal direction of the collector device is less than the outer diameter of the cup-shaped receiving element. The width may not be selected so that it is so small that no torsion-stiff connection is provided. Preferably the width B of the U-shaped connection part is in a range from D/3 to D, where D is the diameter of the cup-shaped receiving part.  
           [0022]    The space required in the longitudinal direction of the collector device is thus determined by the cup-shaped receiving element. This has the advantage that a free space remains between the connecting parts on the collector device, so that two collector devices can be connected with each other without difficulties and without requiring considerably larger spacing of the collector tubes on the collector devices. The connection between the two collector modules does not lead to substantially larger tube spacing than within a single module. Because of the equal tube spacing in the collector field the entire arrangement of several collector modules is compact and thus the thermal yield per gross surface area is increased.  
           [0023]    Preferably the cup-shaped receiving part has opposing side walls on its outer sides in the longitudinal direction of the collector device and respective locking members or elements on these side walls, which cooperate with corresponding locking members or elements on neighboring cup-shaped receiving parts. Neighboring collector tubes in this embodiment are pulled toward each other in this embodiment so that neighboring side walls of the cup-shaped receiving parts bear on each other. The torsion-stiffness is considerably increased because of the locking of the opposite sides. In this embodiment sealing and connecting parts are preferably formed so that the collector device, especially the collector manifold, is slidably held.  
           [0024]    At the same time these locking members or elements permit a release or unlocking without problems. This is especially true when the locking members or locking elements are tongues and grooves, which extend in the longitudinally direction of the collector tube. For replacement of a collector tube the sealing device is opened and the collector tube with the connector is pushed in the longitudinal direction, whereby the locking elements of the cup-shaped receiving part slip out from the locking elements of the neighboring cup-shaped connecting parts. Similarly a new collector tube with suitable connector can be easily inserted into the arrangement.  
           [0025]    Preferably a roof-attaching element is arranged in a transition region between the cup-shaped receiving part and the U-shaped connecting part. This roof-attaching element preferably comprises at least one circular element with a through-going hole extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting part. A bolt or the like may be inserted through this through-going hole and attached, which makes the connection to the roof via a suitable retaining member or device.  
           [0026]    In order to increase the torsion-stiffness further, a foot cap is glued on each collector tube. These foot caps similarly have locking members or elements similar to those on the cup-shaped receiving part, which cooperate with locking members or elements on neighboring foot caps. Preferably these locking members or elements are tongues and grooves, which are preferably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the collector manifold. Because of that the locking members or elements of the cup-shaped receiving part and of the foot caps are released with a single motion during replacement of the collector tube.  
           [0027]    The foot caps preferably have a base with retaining elements, with which the foot caps grip the roof with a suitable attachment device. These retaining elements preferably are fixed to a suitable bar or girder, which is mounted on the roof. This arrangement is preferably designed, so that shifting of the base compensates for length expansion. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0028]    The objects, features and advantages of the invention will now be illustrated in more detail with the aid of the following description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collector module with collector tubes, connectors and foot caps;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a detailed cutaway view of the collector module in the vicinity of the connectors;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a collector tube with connectors and foot caps;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector with sealing device;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a cross-section through the connector shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an underside of a portion of the collector module with means for mounting the collector module on a roof;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 is a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, especially the means for mounting on the roof;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a side view of the collector module with suitable roof mounting means;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a foot cap;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the foot cap shown in FIG. 9 taken along the line X-X;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11 is a cutaway cross-sectional view showing a connection between two collector modules; and  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 12 a  and  12   b  are cross-sectional views through a connector with a sealing device according to an additional embodiment in an open state and in a closed state respectively.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]    A collector module  1  with collector tubes  2  is shown in FIG. 1. The collector tubes  2  have connectors  40  connected individually with each other at their head ends and foot caps  80  connected individually with each other at their foot ends.  
         [0042]    An enlarged view of a portion of the collector module is shown in FIG. 2 in its head region, so that the connectors  40 , described in detail in the following, can be seen more clearly. A connector  40  has a cup-shaped receiving part  41 , in which the collector tube  2  is glued. In the direction of the collector device, which here is shown as a collector manifold  20 , a U-shaped connecting part  45  connects to the collector tube. The U-shaped connecting part  45  embraces the collector manifold  20  and cooperates with a suitable sealing element  60 . As shown in FIG. 2 the width B of the U-shaped connecting part  45  is clearly less than the diameter D of the cup-shaped receiving part  41 , so that a free space remains between two neighboring connecting parts  45 . Thus a collector manifold connection can be arranged there without noteworthy enlargement of the tube spacing along the collector manifold  20 .  
         [0043]    A cross-sectional view through the collector tube  2  with connector  40 , collector manifold  20  and foot caps  80  in place is shown in FIG. 3. The collector tube  2  comprises a tubular jacket  3 , which is connected by fusion with an inner absorber tube  4  by connecting wall  5 . This structure for the collector tube  2  is known in the prior art. The interior of the absorber tube  4  is thus accessible at the opening  6 , so that a coaxial tube  7  and a nipple  24  can be inserted therein.  
         [0044]    The collector manifold  20  comprises an outer tubular wall  21  and a coaxial interior tube  22 , so that two chambers C I  and C O  for inflow and outflow of heat transfer medium are formed in it. Several nipples  24  are arranged on this collector manifold  20 . One of these nipples  24  is shown in FIG. 3, which extends into the absorber tube  4 , where a seal is formed by means of two O-rings  25  arranged on the outside of the nipple  24 . Furthermore the coaxial tube  7 , which at one end sits tightly on the opening of the inner tube  22  and at the other end is braced on a spring  8  arranged in the absorber tube  4 , is inserted in the interior of the nipple. Thus the coaxial tube  7  is securely held in place. The heat transfer medium flows in the direction of the arrow  26  through the coaxial tube  7 , reverses direction in the vicinity of the spring  8  and flows in the direction of the arrow  27  to the outer end of the coaxial tube again into the collector manifold  20 .  
         [0045]    The connector  40  has a cup-shaped receiving part  41 , in which the tubular jacket  3  is glued by means of a layer  9  of adhesive. The adhesive layer  9  does not extend in this embodiment over the entire inner surface of the cup-shaped receiving part  41 , because the tubular jacket  3  has a circumferential bead  10  and an adhesive layer in this region is sufficient in order to guarantee a secure attachment of the collector tube  2 . An opening  43  in the bottom wall  42  of the cup-shaped receiving part  41  is provided for receiving the nipple  24 . On the end opposite from the mouth of the cup-shaped receiving part  41  the U-shaped connecting part  45  is provided. The U-shaped connecting part  45  has two arms  46   a ,  46   b , which engage or embrace the collector manifold  20  like a pair of jaws. Respective locking elements  47   a ,  47   b  are provided on the corresponding free ends of both arms  46   a ,  46   b . In the embodiment shown in the drawing these locking elements are tongues and cooperate with corresponding locking elements  62   a ,  62   b  on the respective legs  61   a ,  61   b  of the sealing element  60 . These latter locking elements  62   a ,  62   b  are grooves. The tongues and grooves extend longitudinally in a longitudinal direction L s  of the collector manifold. A handle  63  is arranged on the exposed outer wall of the sealing element  60 . The sealing element  60 , formed like a slider, can be pushed in the longitudinal direction L s  of the collector manifold by means of the handle  63 , in order to release or unlock it so that the collector pipe  2  together with the connector  40  can be removed from the nipple  24  and the collector manifold  20 .  
         [0046]    The foot caps  80  are arranged on the opposite end of the collector tube  2 . They can comprise a similar cup-shaped receiving part, in principle. The collector tube  2  and/or the tubular jacket  3  of the collector tube  2  is (or are) glued in this foot cap  90  with an adhesive layer  81 . The foot cap  80  has a base  82  at its lower end. The base  82  has a retaining element  88 , which can be used to attach the collector module to a roof. An outlet opening  87  is provided in the lower curved region of the foot cap wall, so that rain water collecting between the collector tube  2  and the foot cap  80  can eventually run away unhindered. This is especially advantageous when the collector module is mounted on a slanting roof in an inclined orientation.  
         [0047]    A perspective view of a connector  40  is shown in FIG. 4. The cup-shaped receiving part  41  has locking elements in the form of grooves and tongues  50   a ,  50   b  on opposite side walls  48  and  49  arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction of the collector manifold  20 . Both side walls  48  and  49  are plane parallel.  
         [0048]    As shown in FIG. 2, neighboring side walls  48  and  49  of two neighboring cup-shaped receiving element  41  bear directly on each other, so that the tongues of one of the adjacent side walls engage in the grooves of the other adjacent side wall. Thus the connectors  40  are locked with each other and form a stable arrangement.  
         [0049]    In the transition region between the cup-shaped receiving part  41  and the U-shaped connecting part  45   a  roof-attaching element  70  in the form of a ring element with a through-going opening  71  is provided (see FIG. 4). The through-going opening  71  extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L c  of the connector  40 , so that a bolt or similar attaching element can be inserted through it and thus facilitate attachment to a roof. An additional roof-attaching element  70  can be arranged on the opposite side, but it is usually sufficient to provide one of these roof-attaching elements  70  for each connector  40 . Locking elements  47   a ,  47   b  are arranged on both arms  46   a ,  47   b  of the U-shaped connecting part  45 , which comprise tongues in the embodiment shown in the drawing. The associated sealing element  60  is similarly curved and has two legs  61   a ,  61   b  on whose outer sides two grooves  62   a ,  62   b  are arranged as respective locking elements, in which the corresponding locking elements  47   a ,  47   b  of the U-shape connecting part  45  engage. Thus it is formed like a slider, which can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the collector manifold  20 , in order to release the attachment of the connector  40  from the collector manifold  20 . For this purpose a handle  63  is preferably formed on the outer side.  
         [0050]    In FIG. 5 a cross-section through a connector  40  is illustrated.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 6 shows the underside of a collector module  1  in a cutaway view. Respective bolts  72  are inserted through the through-going holes  71  of the roof-attaching element  70  of two connectors  40 , which are screwed into a L-shaped section  73 . This L-shaped section  73  bears on a bar  74 , which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the collector manifold  20 , and is rigidly attached to it be screwing. When two adjacent collector modules are attached by this L-shaped section  73 , they can shift or slide with respect to each other in collector connection  30  during thermal expansion of the collector manifolds  20 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a top or plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0053]    A collector tube  2  together with a roof-attaching device is shown in FIG. 8. A bolt  72  is fixed in a through-going opening  71  and is screwed into the L-shaped section  73 . This section  73  bears on the bar  74 . The short leg bears on the outer side of the bar  74  and forms a stop. On the foot ends a U-shaped curved bar  75  is provided, on which the foot caps  80  are mounted with their bases  88 . The bar  75  is attached to another bar  74 . In this type of roof attachment the collector tube  2  is held under tension between the bars,  
         [0054]    In FIG. 9 a perspective view of the bottom side of a foot cap  80  is shown. The foot caps have two plane-parallel outer walls  83  and  84  opposite each other, on which locking elements  85  and  86  in the form of respective tongues and grooves are arranged. Thus a suitable arrangement like the arrangement in the case of the cup-shaped receiving part  41  results so that connection with neighboring foot caps  80  is possible. A base  82  is formed on the underside, which can be connected with a U-shaped bar  75  by means of a plate-shaped retaining element  88 . The outlet opening  87  is formed on the rear lower region, which has already been illustrated in connection with FIG. 3 and in FIG. 10.  
         [0055]    The collector connection  30  of two collector tubes  20 , which are inserted in each other, is shown in FIG. 11. The connection  30  is sealed by two O-rings  31 .  
         [0056]    In FIG. 12 an additional embodiment of a connector  40  is shown, which is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. The sealing element  60  is pivotally connected at a free end of the lower arm  46   b  by means of a hinge  64 . A locking element  47   a  is arranged on the upper arm  46   a , which locks with the corresponding locking element  61   a  on folding the sealing element  60  and thus takes the closed position shown in FIG. 12 b.    
         [0057]    The disclosure in German Patent Application 102 12 977.0 of Mar. 19, 2002 is incorporated here by reference. This German Patent Application describes the invention described hereinabove and claimed in the claims appended hereinbelow and provides the basis for a claim of priority for the instant invention under 35 U.S.C. 119.  
         [0058]    While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a collector module, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0059]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.  
         [0060]    What is claimed is new and is set forth in the following appended claims.