FR2461086A1 - WINDOW PANEL ALLOWING OPTIMAL USE OF SOLAR ENERGY - Google Patents

Abstract

A window pane consists of an inner plate and a parallel outer plate which are joined to each other by inclined horizontal ribs. At least some of the ribs are impermeable to the solar radiation and consist of white thermoplastic material. The remainder and the plates are made of a clear transparent thermoplastic material. The angle of the horizontal ribs is chosen to suit the geographical latitude where the windows are to be used. The angle is such that solar rays are transmitted at low altitude of the sun and are prevented at high altitude. Such window panes insulate in winter and allow the sun to heat a room; in summer they prevent excessive insulation. They are easy to install.

Description

WINDOW PANEL ALLOWING USE
OPTIMAL SOLAR ENERGY
The present invention relates generally to the field of passive systems using solar energy, and more particularly relates to a solar window panel having properties of transmission and reflection of light which vary according to the seasons of the year. 'year.

An efficient solar window for a passive solar heating structure must have the following characteristics, in particular for the volume heating of this structure
1. During the winter months, solar radiation must be able to pass through the window and enter the structure
2. During the summer months, solar radiation must not be able to pass through the window and enter the structure
3. At all times, but particularly during the winter months, the solar window must insulate against heat loss by conduction / convection / re-radiation from the structure
4.At all times, but especially during the summer months, the solar window must insulate against heat gain inside the structure, by conduction / convection / re-radiation, when the outside ambient temperature is higher than the desired temperature inside the structure.

Ordinary single-glazed panels (glass or plastic) offer only the first characteristic and do not offer the other characteristics.

 Multiple glazing panels have been manufactured to improve this situation. A double-glazed panel offers the first characteristic mentioned above and contributes, at least in part, to obtaining the third and fourth characteristics. However, it does not offer the second characteristic.

A triple glazed panel improves the results obtained by using a double glazed panel, but still does not offer the second feature. In addition, the cost of manufacturing a triple glazed panel, using current manufacturing techniques, becomes prohibitive, which reduces its economic benefit as an energy harvesting system.

In an attempt to further improve the performance of multi-glazed panels, double-walled, ribbed glazing panels have also been manufactured. Two examples of such commercially available structures are manufactured by CY / RO Industrie (sheet in "Acrylite SDP11 (acrylic material) and a Wpolycarbonate SDP") and by Rohm and Haas Co. (polycarbonate of the "Tuffak Twinwall" type). Although these structures offer the first, third and fourth characteristics, they still do not offer the second characteristic.

 Whichever glass panel is used among the above panels, a structure is invariably overheated during the warmer months, especially if it is a structure that has vertical walls or roofs or sloping, facing south and with windows. Advance building elements, reflective curtains, venetian blinds or the like have been used to try to reduce this problem of excessive heating. However, these measures are only partially effective, they use relatively complex and costly structures and, in certain applications, such as greenhouses, they cannot be used easily.

 Faced with the drawbacks of the glass panels mentioned above, panels have been developed which have light transmission and reflection properties which are a function of the height of the sun.

These panels generally include an interior glass panel or face and an exterior glass panel or face between which a number of longitudinally directed fins extend. These fins are provided with means which reflect or filter the solar radiation, and the interaction between these means and the fins and the glass panels ensures, at least in part, the four characteristics which have been indicated above.

Examples of such panels are found, among others, in U.S. Patents 4,091,592, 4,035,539, 3,940R896, 3,642,557, 3,077,643, 3,059,537, 2,874,611 and 2,849,762.

 Although these finned glazed panels give better results with regard to obtaining the four characteristics which are necessary to achieve an efficient solar window, they have several drawbacks which strongly impair their final utility as a passive collection system. solar energy.

 The main disadvantage of these panels is that they invariably require the assembly of separate elements to obtain the desired result. These panels generally include two separate glass panels between which is positioned a third assembly which is constituted by a number of fins manufactured separately. This leads to the assembly of a large number of elements to make a single solar window. Such a situation has many drawbacks.

The cost is an extremely important factor in the realization of a passive solar energy collection system of commercial interest. The manufacturing costs necessarily increase in proportion to the number of discrete elements necessary to manufacture the panel, as well as to the number of operations which are necessary to assemble this panel. As a result, the cost of these multi-element panels is too high to be offset by the heating and cooling savings they can ultimately provide.

Another factor related to cost is the useful life of these panels. For a panel to have commercial interest, it must have a useful life sufficient to avoid unnecessary repetitive replacements. However, the panels mentioned above consist of an assembly of separate elements, many of which are formed by different materials, which creates a risk of uneven expansion and retraction of these elements when the temperature of their environment varies. . These uneven expansions and retractions can ultimately lead to deterioration of these panels, reducing their useful life. This problem is even more serious when the panels are mounted in rigid window frames which further restrict their expansion and retraction, or when the panels are used as roof elements, to form a roof window.

In addition to the above problems are those of the initial installation as well as the repair of these panels. A panel formed by a set of separate elements requires additional precautions at the time of its installation, to ensure correct alignment of the elements, as well as correct operation of the window.

These problems also exist when a given panel needs to be replaced. These additional problems increase the costs of installing and repairing such a system, which further reduces its commercial interest.

 A final factor relates to aesthetics. Ideally, the functional character of a window should not be obtained at the expense of its aesthetics, and this objective is not easy-to-achieve.

 A solar window panel of commercial interest has not yet been produced which is capable of offering all of the four properties of energy transmission, energy reflection and thermal insulation which are necessary for the good operation of the resulting passive solar energy collection system.

The invention relates generally to the field of passive solar energy collection systems, and more particularly relates to a solar window panel which is of commercial interest and whose properties of transmission and reflection of light and the properties thermal insulation vary with the seasons of the year.

 According to the invention, a window panel comprises at least one inner face and one outer face, and a set of ribs positioned between these faces, in longitudinal directions, this panel having a unitary structure. This is preferably achieved by forming the panel by an extrusion process, which eliminates the need to make a panel from a set of separate elements.

The interior and exterior faces of the panel, as well as the ribs which are placed between the faces, are geometrically positioned and are treated so as to allow the passage of direct solar radiation for low heights of the sun, to prevent the passage of direct solar radiation. for high heights of the sun, and to establish dead spaces filled with air intended to delay the transfer of heat through the panel. In this way, all four characteristics are obtained which are necessary to make a passive solar energy collection system that works properly. In addition, the unitary structure of the panels that are used to form such a system gives this system the commercial advantage that the systems of the prior art cannot offer.

 To obtain the light transmission and reflection properties described above, the faces and the ribs of the panel are formed by two materials.

One of these materials is practically colorless and allows direct passage of solar radiation through the panel. The other material used is practically opaque and prevents the direct passage of solar radiation through the panel. The opaque material is preferably white to avoid overheating of the ribs, especially in summer. This is another distinguishing characteristic compared to active solar collector panels in which the interior partitions (which are dark) act as collectors of solar energy, while here the ribs are reflective and preferably produce diffuse light.

The white opaque parts and the colorless parts meet along borders between colors which have a continuous and seamless structure, thus forming a window panel with unitary structure. The absence of such physical discontinuities is permitted by the manufacture of the panels using the co-extrusion process, this process using two extruders, one containing a colorless thermoplastic and the other containing a white thermoplastic, with only one sector. The boundaries between colors are thus formed simultaneously and continuously, while retaining their effectiveness.

 The reduced costs of making a window panel in this manner, as well as the increased useful life and reduced maintenance costs of such a panel structure, allow such solar window panels to be combined to form a passive solar energy collection system of commercial interest which can be used in a wide variety of applications.

 The invention therefore aims to achieve a solar window panel that can be used to achieve a passive solar energy collection system having a commercial interest.

 The invention also aims to produce a solar window panel of commercial interest which allows the passage of solar radiation in a structure during the winter months and prevents the passage of solar radiation in the structure during the summer months. , and which insulates against heat gain or loss by conduction / convection / re-radiation from a construction.

 The invention also aims to provide a solar window panel of commercial interest which allows the passage of direct solar radiation for low heights of the sun, which prevents the passage of direct solar radiation for high heights of the sun and which establishes insulating dead spaces filled with air to delay heat transfer through the panel.

 The invention also aims to produce a solar window panel of commercial interest which has a unitary structure.

The invention also aims to produce a window panel of commercial interest which does not significantly reduce the amount of sunlight admitted inside the structure which is provided with the panel.

The invention also aims to produce a window panel of commercial interest which has an appropriate useful life and which can be easily installed, repaired or replaced.

 The invention also aims to produce a window panel of commercial interest which has all the above advantages and which also has an aesthetic appearance for a person who looks through this window panel.

 One aspect of the invention relates to a panel intended to be used as a window for a structure, characterized in that it combines properties of transmission and reflection of light to allow the passage of direct solar radiation for a height weak of the sun, and to prevent the passage of direct solar radiation for a high height of the sun; in that it has insulating dead spaces filled with air to delay the transfer of heat through the panel; and in that it comprises an inner face and an outer face, each of them being practically flat and capable of being positioned along respective inner and outer parts of the structure to which the panel is coupled, and a certain number of ribs which connect to the inner face and the outer face and extend between these faces, at least some of the ribs being practically opaque to solar radiation, the ribs which are not practically opaque to solar radiation being practically transparent, these ribs being placed in a geometric relationship such that solar radiation can enter the structure or cannot enter the structure, depending on the height of the sun, and the inner face, the outer face and the ribs forming a unitary whole.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of embodiments, given without limitation. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which
Figures 1 and 2 are partial sections showing two different embodiments of double glazed window panels corresponding to the invention.

 Figures 3, 4 and 5 are partial sections showing three different embodiments of triple glazed window panels.

 Figure 6 is a partial section showing a quadruple glazed window panel.

 Figure 7 is a partial section showing a triple glazed window panel with offset opaque ribs.

Figure 8 is an enlarged partial section of the window panel of Figure 3, also showing the vapor barrier layer.

Figure 9 is a partial section of a window panel having perpendicular edges.

 Figure 10 is a partial section of a window panel having interlocking ends.

 FIG. 11 is a partial isometric perspective representation of a group of window panels and of means for mounting the group of window panels on a structure.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are partial sections of window panels having ribs whose configuration is intended for mounting the window panel on the roof of a structure.

 Figures 15 and 16 are partial sections of window panels with ribs which have a zig-zag configuration.

 Although specific terms are used for the sake of clarity in the description which follows, it should be noted that these terms apply only to the particular configuration of the invention which we have chosen to represent in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

 We will now refer to the drawings in which FIGS. 1 and 2 represent two embodiments of window panels corresponding to the invention, which are double-glazed panels. Each window panel 1, 2 comprises two faces 3, 4, namely a first, internal face, 3, which is placed on the side of the interior of the structure equipped with the panel 1, 2, and a second, external face, 4, which is placed on the outside of the structure equipped with the panel 1, 2; and a set of ribs 5, 6 which are connected to the inner face 3 and to the outer face 4 of the panel 1,2 and extend between these faces.

 The faces 3, 4 are shown with a cross section which corresponds to a practically flat shape.

A flat and smooth surface is preferable because the panels 1, 2 are intended to take the place of ordinary windows of a structure. It is therefore desirable to simulate this configuration of the window type when forming the panels 1, 2. However, other forms can be used, if desired: one could for example use curved shapes to produce a window panel 1 , 2 curved. One could similarly produce panels 1, 2 having other shapes.

 The ribs 5, 6 are also shown with a practically flat shape when considered in section. Flat ribs 5, 6 are preferable for reflecting and uniformly diffusing the solar radiation which strikes the surface of the ribs 5, 6. However, it may be desirable in certain applications to use ribs 5, 6 having a shape which is not plane, in order to disperse the solar radiation which strikes the ribs 5, 6, instead of uniformly reflecting this solar radiation. Thus, the ribs 5, 6 could have a curved shape, or a shape corresponding to a series of rectilinear segments oriented differently, or other shapes, depending on the application considered.

 The panel 1 of FIG. 1 has ribs 5 which are oriented obliquely with respect to the inner face 3 and to the outer face 4. The orientation angle of the ribs 5 is preferably varied as a function of the height of the sun (which is represented by the arrow bearing the reference 7 in FIG. 1) for a given region, this angle varying typically as a function of the latitude at which the panel 1 is to be used. Generally, a lower rib angle should be used at high latitudes, and a higher rib angle at low latitudes.

 It is also possible, although less preferable, to use ribs positioned perpendicularly to the faces 3, 4. The ribs 6 which are shown in FIG. 2 illustrate such a panel. In this case, the orientation of the ribs 6 is not a function of the height of the sun or the latitude at which the panel is to be used.

 In either case, the distance between the respective adjacent ribs 5, 6 of the panels 1, 2 is preferably determined as a function of the minimum height of the sun from which the panel must not transmit any direct solar radiation ( this height is represented by the arrows 8 in Figures 1 and 2).

This is determined by positioning the opposite ends of the adjacent ribs 5, 6 in the manner which is respectively represented at 9 and 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For the heights of the sun higher than those represented by the arrows 8, the solar radiation cannot enter directly into the structure. For the heights of the sun which are lower than those which are represented by the arrows 8, the solar radiation can enter the structure.

 Because the panels 1, 2 are intended to be used as windows, these windows also having to function as a passive system for collecting solar energy, the faces 3, 4 of the panels 1, 2 are preferably transparent to the solar radiation. Although transparent faces 3, 4 are preferable, it is also possible to use tinted faces 3, 4 to a certain extent. However, tinted faces 3, 4 reduce the amount of solar radiation which the panels 1, 2 can transmit and which can penetrate into the structure. This reduction may be desirable in certain applications.

 At least some of the ribs 5, 6 of the panels 1, 2 must be opaque to solar radiation. This is necessary to obtain the desired light transmission and reflection properties of the passive solar energy collection system.

In the panels of Figures 1 and 2, all the ribs 5, 6 are opaque to solar radiation. However, as shown in Figure 9, it is not mandatory that all the ribs 5, 6 are opaque. It is also possible to place additional ribs 11 between the opaque ribs 5, these additional ribs 11 being transparent to solar radiation. The additional ribs 11 define a panel 39 which has practically the same light transmission and reflection properties as the panel 1 in FIG. 1.

The additional ribs 11 which are positioned between the faces 3, 4 of the panel reduce convection and increase the mechanical resistance of the panel.

 The panels 1, 2 shown in section, can be manufactured with various lengths. Co-extrusion is a continuous process, so panels 1, 2 can be made of any desired length. The width of the panel 1, 2, as well as its shape, are determined by the width and the shape of the co-extrusion die.

Although you can choose any width for manufacturing, a width of around 1.2 m is particularly interesting.

 The co-extrusion process is used to manufacture the panels 1, 2 in order to be able to form the transparent and opaque surfaces without requiring an assembly of separate elements. The transparent and opaque surfaces are joined along borders between colors which do not exhibit physical discontinuities, to form a panel 1, 2 in one piece, without joints.

 Two extruders are used to form the panels 1, 2. An extruder forms the transparent parts of the panel. These parts are preferably made of a colorless thermoplastic material. The other extruder forms the opaque parts of the panel. These parts are preferably made of a white thermoplastic material. The colorless and white elements of the panel are thus formed simultaneously and continuously, as the panel is extruded.

 Various materials can be used to form unitary window panels 1, 2 in this manner.

Acrylic polymers, and mainly polymethyl methacrylate, are particularly interesting, in various standard quality and impact resistant. Polycarbonate is also of interest, in transparent compositions stabilized with respect to the action of ultraviolet rays, and in white pigmented compositions. Polyvinyl chloride is another material of some interest with an optional surface coating to reduce degradation by photo-oxidation.

The panels 1, 2 described above offer all the characteristics which are necessary for the correct operation of a passive solar energy collection system. The ribs 5, 6 are positioned so that during the winter months, when the height of the sun is minimum, the solar radiation can largely enter directly into the structure, to heat this structure. During the summer months, when the height of the sun is maximum, the direct entry of solar radiation into the structure is largely prevented, which reduces unwanted heating of the structure during hot periods.

 The channels 12 which are formed by the ribs 5, 6 and the faces 3, 4 define dead spaces filled with air which delay the transfer of heat through the panel 1, 2 during the winter periods as during the periods summer.

 There is therefore a solar window panel which has all the desirable characteristics mentioned above and which has a unitary structure and must not be mounted from an assembly of separate elements.

 Figures 3 and 4 show two preferred embodiments of the window panels of the invention. The panels 13, 14 which are represented essentially consist of triple-glazed panels which function in a similar manner to that of the panels 1, 2.

 The panel 13 which is shown in Figure 3 comprises an inner face 3 and an outer face 4 between which are placed a number of ribs 15, 16, connected to the faces. Among these ribs, the ribs 15 are opaque to solar radiation while the ribs 16 are transparent to solar radiation. The opaque ribs 15 here again have an orientation and a spacing which are a function of the height of the sun, and therefore of the latitude at which the panel 13 must be used, as described above.

 For example, the opaque ribs 15 are oriented at an angle of 280 in the panel 13 which is shown in FIG. 3. This corresponds to a maximum direct solar transmission for a solar height of 280, that is to say the height found at 400 north latitude at noon in mid-January and early December, and at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on November 4 and February 8 (this height is represented by arrow 17 in Figure 3).

Typically, this angle of the ribs varies under the effect of large differences in latitude, and increases for lower latitudes and decreases for higher latitudes. In addition, we would choose a higher angle of the ribs if we wanted to obtain the maximum direct solar transmission at noon for a date further from the winter solstice. For example, a rib angle of 350 would correspond to the maximum transmission at noon on November 4 and February 8.

The distance between the ribs 15 for a given angle of the ribs is determined by the minimum solar height for which no direct radiation must be transmitted inside the building. In FIG. 3, total blocking must occur for a height of the sun of 550 (which is represented by the arrow 18 in FIG. 3). As a result, there is no direct transmission of solar radiation between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., between May 11 and August 3, in the example above (at 400 north latitude).

 As shown in Figure 3, the channels defined by the faces 3, 4 and the ribs 15 are further divided by the ribs 16, the latter being transparent to solar radiation. Two sets of channels 19, 20 are thus formed, namely a group of external channels 19 and a group of internal channels 20. This gives a panel 13 which effectively has triple glazing, giving a higher insulation power than that of a double-glazed panel, without appreciably modifying its characteristics of light transmission and reflection. In addition, due to the small channels 19, 20, blocking the convection, which are formed, the convection currents inside the channels 19, 20 are reduced, even compared to simple triple-glazed panels, of the conventional type. .

The panel 14 which is shown in FIG. 4 comprises an inner face 3 and an outer face 4, a number of opaque ribs 15 and an additional face 21 which is in an intermediate position between the inner and outer faces 3, 4. The opaque ribs 15 are positioned, with respect to the faces 3, 4 and with respect to each other, in the same way as the ribs 15 of the panel 13 of FIG. 3, described above. As a result, the panel 14 has essentially the same operating characteristics as the panel 13 in FIG. 3.

 The light transmission and reflection properties are identical, as are the thermal insulation properties. This is due to the presence in the panel 14 of the additional face 21 between the faces 3, 4, which defines a panel 14 with triple glazing. The additional face 21 is preferably transparent to solar radiation. However, as for the faces 3, 4, the face 21 could be tinted if desired, which would correspondingly modify the light transmission and reflection characteristics of the panel 14. The additional face 21 is shown in the middle position between the faces 3, 4 and parallel to the latter. Other positions can be used if desired, but the position shown is the most advantageous.

Thus, each panel 13, 14 is a triple glazed panel which has the characteristics of light transmission and reflection and the insulation characteristics which are necessary to achieve an efficient passive system for collecting solar energy.

Each panel makes it possible to achieve this result but, because of its structure with triangular ribs, the panel 13 in FIG. 3 is slightly more rigid than the panel 14 in FIG. 4.

There are many variations of the previous configurations, and some examples of them are shown in Figures 5 to 7.

 FIG. 5 represents a panel 22 with double glazing. The panel 22 has ribs 23 which are perpendicular to the inner and outer faces 3, 4, and an additional face 24 which is parallel to and located between the inner face 3 and the outer face 4. The ribs 23 are opaque and the additional face 24 is transparent. These elements combine to form practically rectangular channels 25 which give insulating power to the panel 22.

Figure 6 shows a panel 26 which has quadruple glazing. The panel includes an inner face 3 and an outer face 4, a set of opaque and oblique ribs 26, and two additional faces 28, 29 which are transparent to solar radiation. These elements combine to form three groups of thermal insulation channels 30, 31, 32, to give better thermal insulation power. The channels 30 are on the outside of the panel 26, the channels 32 are on the inside of the panel 26 and the channels 31 are placed between the groups of channels 30, 32.

 FIG. 7 represents a panel 33 which has triple glazing. The panel 33 includes an inner face 3 and an outer face 4, a set of opaque and oblique ribs 34, and an additional face 35 which is placed between the faces 3, 4 and parallel to them. These elements combine to form two groups of channels 36, 37, namely a group of external channels 36 and a group of internal channels 37. The panel 33 has ribs 34 which are positioned so that the ends of the ribs 34 which are connected on either side of the additional face 35 are not mutually juxtaposed. Therefore, the channels 36, 37 are also not juxtaposed over their entire length.

All the preceding panels 22, 26, 33 have ribs which are positioned as a function of the height of the sun, as described above. All the panels 22, 26, 33 have the characteristics of light transmission and reflection and the thermal insulation characteristics which have been considered previously. The relationship between these characteristics depends to a large extent on the type of glazing chosen. For example, a double glazed panel transmits more winter solar radiation than a triple or quadruple glazed panel, but it also allows a higher heat transfer through the panel than a triple or quadruple glazed panel. The converse is also true.

The configuration chosen depends to a large extent on the application and the location of the installation.

Figure 8 is an enlarged representation of the panel 13 which is shown in Figure 3. Similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 8 also shows the use of a thin layer 38 of a polymer which has a very low rate of transmission of water vapor, this layer being formed on the exterior side of the interior face 3 of the panel 13. This contributes to avoiding the condensation which can occur on the internal surface of a cold external face 4, in the case of multiple glazings in plastic material, under the effect of the transfer of water vapor, by diffusion, through the glazing, from inside the building. Among the vapor barrier materials of interest are certain polymers of halogenated hydrocarbons (such as, for example, the ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer or the fluorinated propylene-ethylene copolymer).

This layer 38 can also be formed on the inside of the face or wall 3 of the panel 13, if desired.

Figures 9 to 11 illustrate various means for mounting window panels on a structure. The panel 39 which is shown in FIG. 9 has ends at right angles (edges) 40; its sun card and its lower part. The fact of giving ends at right angles 80 to the Danneau 39 completely closes the channels 41 which extend at the end of the panel 39, in order to have the appropriate insulating effect for these channels. In addition, this gives an edge configuration
square which is well suited for mounting in a suitable chassis, for final attachment to a structure.

 The panels 42, 43 which are shown in FIG. 10 have mutual locking ends 44, 45. In this way, two panels 42, 43 can be directly coupled to one another, without the need for d '' use additional fasteners. In addition, the mutual locking ends 44, 45 have the function of forming structural elements at right angles entirely enclosing the channels 46 which extend at the end of the panels 42, 43.

 A first mutual locking end 44 includes a base portion 47 which is substantially perpendicular to the interior and exterior faces 3, 4 of the panel 42 and a pair of locking lips 48 which extend outward from the portion of base 47 and inner and outer faces 3, 4 of the panel 42, and which are practically perpendicular to the inner and outer faces 3, 4 of the panel 42.

 A second interlocking end 45 includes a base portion 49 which is substantially perpendicular to the interior and exterior faces 3, 4 of the panel 43, and a pair of recessed portions 50 which extend inward from the portion base 49 and inner and outer faces 3, 4 of panel 43, and which are practically parallel to inner and outer faces 3, 4 of panel 43.

 The base parts 47, 49 are intended to close the channels 46 which are at the ends of the respective panels 42, 43. The lips 48 of the panel 42 are designed so as to come into contact with the recessed parts 50 of the panel 43, so as to mutually couple the respective ends of the panels 42, 43.

The remaining ends of the panels 42, 43 may have lips 48 or additional recesses 50 intended to be used for coupling with additional adjacent panels, or these ends may have edges at right angles of the type shown in the Figure 9, which can be mounted in a frame to establish a suitable fixing on a structure.

 FIG. 11 represents a chassis 51 which is suitable for fixing a panel or a group of panels 52, 53, 54 to a structure. The panels are shown attached to the wall 55 of a construction. However, one can similarly mount a panel or group of panels on the roof of a building as well as on various other types of structures. We can for example use these panels for individual houses, warehouses, factories, barns or constructions intended for livestock, schools, covered swimming pools, shelters intended for the passengers of public transport, covered walkways, showrooms, caravans, trucks, garages, greenhouses, or any other structure with windows.

The chassis 51 which is represented uses two types of chassis elements 56, 57.

 A first type of frame element 56 is used to fix a panel to a structure, and this element comprises a base part 58 and two branches 59 which are connected to the base part 58. The base part CR is of nraforence nernendicularrs to the X, 4 faces of the ring 53 and defines a right-angled section - so as to establish uniform contact with the right-angled edges of the panel 53. The branches 59 extend outward from the part of base 58 and they are preferably positioned so as to be practically parallel to the faces 3, 4 of the panel 53, and so as to be separated by a distance practically equal to the thickness of the panel 53. In this way, the base part 58 can be coupled to the wall 55 of the structure, after which the panel 53 can be positioned on the base part 58 and between the branches 59, so as to be in contact with the frame element 56.

 A second type of chassis element 57 is used to fix a first panel 53 on a second panel 52, 54 which is adjacent to this first panel 53. This chassis element 57 is therefore used as an alternative at the mutual locking ends 44, 45 which are shown in FIG. 10. The chassis element 57 or the mutual locking ends 44, 45 can be used interchangeably with the chassis element 56 for fixing several panels to a structure.

The chassis element 57 comprises a base part 60 and pairs of branches 61, 62 which are connected to the base part 60. Here again, the base part is preferably perpendicular to the faces 3, 4 of the panels 52, 53, 54, and defines a right-angled section to establish uniform contact with the right-angled edges of a panel to hold the frame member 57. The legs of each pair 61, 62 extend outwardly from the base part 60 and are preferably positioned so as to be practically parallel to the faces 3, 4 of the panels, and so as to be separated by a distance practically equal to the thickness of the panel with which the frame element must come into contact. In this way, the end of a panel 52, 53, 54 with which frame element 57 comes into contact is retained between the base part 60 and one of the pairs of branches 61, 62, which keeps the panels 52, 53, 54 coupled to each other.

The frame elements 56 and 57 can extend either horizontally or vertically to hold several panels on a structure. If desired, additional support elements 63 can be used to improve the rigidity of the chassis 51.

The chassis elements can advantageously be produced by extrusion.

 The foregoing description relates mainly to the placement of window panels along the walls of a structure. It is also possible to place these panels on the roof of a structure, for example to form a roof window. Figures 12 to 14 show several examples of panels 64, 65, 66 which are designed to be placed on the roof of a structure.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate roof panels 64, 65 which have triple glazing. Figure 14 shows a roof panel 66 which has double glazing. The panels 64, 65, 66 which are represented are practically equivalent, from the point of view of structure as well as operation, to panel 14 represented in FIG. 4, to panel 13 represented in FIG. 3 and to panel 39 represented in FIG. 9, respectively.

To make panels 64, 65, 66 which can be placed on the roof of a structure, the orientation of the ribs 67, 68 must take into account the inclination of the roof on which the panel is mounted, as well as the height from the sun. As a result, the angle of the ribs increases, and the distance between adjacent ribs decreases, as the inclination of the roof increases.

In FIGS. 12 to 14, the ribs 67 are opaque to solar radiation and are preferably white, while the ribs 68 are transparent to solar radiation and are preferably colorless. The additional face 69 is preferably transparent to solar radiation and is placed between the interior and exterior faces 3, 4.

 Figures 15 and 16 show yet another embodiment of the solar window panel of the invention. The panels 70, 71 which are represented include an inner face 3 and an outer face 4, and a set of ribs 72 which have a configuration which prevents the sunlight reaching the ribs 72 from being reflected directly, either specularly or in a way diffuse, inside the structure. Such a ribbed configuration is particularly advantageous when it is very important to avoid excessive heating during the summer, but this configuration also results in a slight decrease in solar heating during the winter.

 The ribs 72 which are shown form a zig-zag configuration and are opaque to solar radiation. As a result, the amount of solar radiation which can pass directly through the structure is reduced, due to the additional thickness of the opaque ribs 72 of the panel 70, 71. The amount of solar radiation which is transmitted by the panels 70, 71 decreases when this thickness increases.

 To avoid direct reflection of sunlight inside the structure, the rectilinear parts 73, 74 of the ribs 72 are oriented so as to converge towards the points at which the immediately lower rib 72 is connected to the inner and outer faces 3, 4 of the panel 70, 71. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the rectilinear parts 73 are oriented so as to converge towards point 75 while the rectilinear parts 74 are oriented so as to converge towards point 76.

The number of rectilinear parts 73, 74 which make up each rib 72 can be varied. The ribs 72 of the panel 70 which is shown in FIG. 15 have fewer rectilinear parts 73, 74 than the ribs 72 of the panel 71 which is shown in FIG. 16. When the number of rectilinear parts 73, 74 constituting the ribs 72 increases, the thickness of these ribs 72 decreases. Therefore, when the number of rectilinear parts 73, 74 increases, the amount of solar radiation which is transmitted directly to the structure, through the panel, also increases.

 As shown in FIG. 16, the panels 70, 71 can also include transparent ribs 77, if desired, to increase their rigidity.

 It can thus be seen that the invention which has just been described makes it possible to achieve the aims indicated above. The solar panels produced have a unitary structure which increases their mechanical resistance and their reliability in operation and which reduces their manufacturing cost. In addition, these panels are light and can be installed or replaced quickly and easily, which provides a passive solar energy collection system of commercial interest.

 It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the device described and shown, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1 - Panel intended to be used as a window for a structure, characterized in that it combines properties of transmission and reflection of light to allow the passage of direct solar radiation for a low height of the sun, and for prevent the passage of direct solar radiation for a high height of the sun; in that it has insulating dead spaces filled with air to delay the transfer of heat through the panel; and in that it comprises an inner face and an outer face, each of them being practically flat and capable of being positioned along respective inner and outer parts of the structure to which the iarnau is coupled, and a number of ribs which are connected to the inner face and to the outer face and are toothed between these faces, at least some of the ribs being practically opaque to solar radiation, the ribs which are not practically opaque to solar radiation being practically transparent, these ribs being pla crées according to a geometrical relation such as the solar radiation can enter the structure or cannot enter the structure, according to the height of the sun, and the interior face, the exterior face and the ribs forming a unitary unit. 2 - Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner and outer faces and those of the ribs which are practically transparent to solar radiation are constituted by a practically colorless thermoplastic material and preferably in that the ribs which are opaque to radiation solar panels are formed by a practically white thermoplastic material. 3 - Panel according to claim 1, or claim 2, characterized in that it is produced by co-extrusion and, preferably, when transparent ribs coexist with opaque ribs, in that the boundaries between colors which are defined by the colorless parts of the panel and by the white parts of the panel are formed at the same time as the panel. 4 - Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that- the angle formed by the ribs with respect to the inner and outer faces varies depending on the latitude at which the panel is to be used and, preferably , in that the distance between adjacent ribs for a given rib angle varies as a function of the minimum height of the sun from which no direct radiation must be transmitted inside the structure. 5 - Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additional face, preferably practiluilly transparent to solar radiation, placed between the inner and outer faces, this additional face can also be connected to at least some ribs. 6 - Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the faces and the ribs extend longitudinally so as to combine to form a set of thermally insulating channels. 7 - Panel according to claim 6, characterized in that the ribs are perpendicular to the faces. 8 - Panel according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a first set of ribs which are connected to the outer face and to the additional face and extend between these faces, and a second set of ribs which are tuned to the additional face and the inner face and extend between these faces; and in that the ends of the ribs of the first set and the ends of the ribs of the second set which are connected to the additional face are not mutually juxtaposed. 9 - Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ribs are positioned in a geometric relationship which practically prevents direct reflection inside the structure of any solar radiation reaching the ribs. 10 - Panel according to claim 9, characterized in that at least some of the ribs - or all the ribs - have a zig-zag configuration, the rectilinear parts of the ribs which have a zig-zag configuration being preferably oriented so as to converge towards the points to which the immediately lower rib is connected to the inner and outer faces of the panel. 11 - Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that it further comprises a vapor barrier layer, such as a vapor barrier layer consisting of a halogenated hydrocarbon polymer, which is placed either at the interior surface of the panel, either on the exterior side of the interior face of the panel, or on the interior side of the interior face of the panel 12 - Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises means intended to establish mutual locking between a first panel and a second panel, juxtaposed end to end. 13 - Panel according to claim 12, characterized in that the mutual locking means comprise two elements, located at a selected end of the first panel, which extend outward from the inner and outer faces of the first panel and which are practically parallel to these faces; and two recessed portions, located at a selected end of the second panel, which extend inward from the inner and outer faces of the second panel and which are substantially parallel to these faces, whereby the elements of the first panel can come into contact with the recessed parts of the second panel, the selected end of the first panel and the two fixed elements A. this first panel coming from airsi in contact with the chosen end of the second panel 14 - Panel according to claim 13, characterized in that it is associated with dee fixing means intended to fix the panel to ur. panel adjacent or to the structure and, where appropriate, in that the fixing means comprise a base part which is practically perpendicular to the internal and external faces of the panel, and at least a pair of branches connected to the base part and extending outwards from the latter, these branches being so designed as to come into contact with one end of the panel situated between them.  15- Panel according to claim 14, characterized in that the fixing means comprise a single pair of branches and in that the base part is coupled to the structure and, if necessary, in that the fixing means further comprise two pairs of branches, each pair of branches being designed so as to come into contact with a panel, said fixing means preferably being produced by extrusion. 16 - Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it consists of a panel with double glazing, triple glazing or quadruple glazing.