Leonard E Lowe

US Patent:

42236657, Sep 23, 1980

Filed:

Mar 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/776874

Inventors:

Leonard A. Lowe - Euclid OH

Assignee:

Stellar Industries, Inc. - Mentor OH

International Classification:

F24J 302

US Classification:

126449

Abstract:

A solar energy collector unit includes an air heating chamber including an insulating cover which transmits solar energy and an array of solar energy collectors spaced from the insulating cover. Each solar energy collector is formed by a tubular member having good heat transfer characteristics between its inner and outer surfaces. An opening in each collector faces the insulating cover so that solar energy transmited through the insulating cover impinges on the inner surface of the collector and serves to heat the collector's inner surface, and the heat is then quickly transferred to the collector's outer surface. Air is directed into and through the air heating chamber and into contact with the outer surface portions of the tubular members to effect heating of the major volume of air without bringing the heated air into contact with the relatively cold underside of the insulating cover. The array of tubular members are preferably disposed with their outer surface portions spaced apart and defining an air flow passage for enabling free flow of air therearound and through the air heating chamber. The air is directed into and through the air heating chamber by means of an air inlet which directs cool air into the air heating chamber in a plane that intersects the outer surfaces of the tubular members and which plane is spaced apart from the insulating cover, and further by means of an air outlet which directs heated air from the air heating chamber and in a plane which intersects the outer surfaces of the tubular member and which plane is also spaced from the cover.