NZ202944A

NZ202944A - Solar panel: peripheral frame with internal support surfaces

Info

Publication number: NZ202944A
Application number: NZ202944A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Vavasseure P Le
Original assignee: Colt Nz Ltd
Priority date: 1983-01-06
Filing date: 1983-01-06
Publication date: 1987-11-27
Also published as: AU2306784A; AU573556B2

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 202944 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 202944 Date: 6 January 1983 /V fV 1 22 DEC 1983 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN/OR RELATING TO SOLAR PANELS K/We, COLT (N.Z.) LIMITED, a New Zealand company, of 44 Braddon Street, Christchurch, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which k/ we pray that a patent may be granted to pat/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - - 1 - x 202944 - 2 - This Invention relates to solar collector panels and/or method of manufacturing such solar collector panels. With the Increased recognition of the Importance of alternative energy sources there have been many designs of solar col lectors. The basic operational criteria of all panel collectors are similar but It Is Important to produce a panel which Is comparatively cheap and easy to make and maintain. It Is an object of the present Invention to provide solar collector panels and/or a method of manufacturing solar collector panels which will go some way to meeting the abovementloned requirements or which will at least provide a useful choice over known panels and methods. Accordingly In one aspect the Invention consists In: a collector unit having header pipes with riser pipes located there between fluid Inlet and outlet means and a radiant heat collector In contact with said riser pipes a base a transparent or translucent top and a peripheral frame having seating surfaces to locate or support said collector unit, said base and said transparent or translucent top so that the peripheral frame positions the collector unit and provides seating surfaces for said base and said transparent or translucent top with said base being fixed to the frame and a retaining clip means engageable with the peripheral frame to removably clip In place on one said seating surface In the peripheral frame the transparent or translucent top. In a further aspect the Invention consists In: a method of manufacturing a solar collector panel, said method comprising the steps of using an extruded section for a peripheral frame of said solar collector panel, said extruded section having seating surfaces designed to locate or support the panel base, the collector unit and the transparent or translucent top, and assembJ^J^nj^CQflti^onents !so that « -6 OCT1987mi the assembled frame positions the collector unit and provides seating surfaces for the base and the transparent or translucent top with the base being fixed to the frame and the transparent or translucent top being removably clipped In place with a removable clip engaging with the peripheral frame. The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples. One preferred form of the Invention will now be described with reference to the accompany Ing drawings In which: Figure 1 Is an exploded view of the components used in a solar collector panel according to the present Invention; Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view through some of the assembled components; Figure 3 Is a detail of the extruded section used In the peripheral fram of the solar collector panel; Figure 4 is a detail showing the fixing clip being removed; and Figure 5 Is a view of an alternative preferred clip. The solar collector panel 1 has an extruded section 2 used to fabricate a peripheral side frame by engaging cut lengths of the extrusion 2 using joining techniques known to aluminium joiners such as screw pipes or joining plates. A suitable plastics extrusion could also be used. The peripheral side frame has fixed to a lower flange 3 of the extrusion 2 a base 4. Rivets, screws or adhesive are some of the possible means of doing this. In the space 5 Immediately above the base 4 Is located an insulating material, such as, for example, polys^^ycene or polyurethane k G <£ i> 4 4 - 4 - A collector unit Is located with the frame above the Insulating material and has two parallel header pipes 6 and 7 with a plurality of parallel riser pipes 8 extending therebetween. The ends of the header pipes 6 and 7 project through appropriate apertures 9 In the peripheral frame and have attached thereto appropriate couplings for the fluid being heated. The pipes may be made of copper or aluminium but can be made of other metals or even plastics materials. Mounted on top of the riser pipes 8 Is a collector sheet 10, for example, a copper col lector sheet designed to collect and transmit heat to the riser pipes and hence to the fluid passing through these pipes 8 in the conventional manner. The collector sheet is preferably in close contact with the riser pipes which may even be set within channels or corrugations In the collector sheet and may be welded thereto. The collector sheet could instead be located under the riser pipes if desired. It may be provided with a darkened or black radiant absorber surface. The peripheral side frame 2 has an outwardly opening recess 11 towards the top thereof with a platform 12 and an upwardly directed lip 13. The platform 12 Is used to support the transparent or translucent sheet 14 which may be glass or a plastics sheet. This sheet Is held In place using one or more fixing clips 15 each having an arm 16 engaging In the recess 11 and an arm 17 engaging over the top surface of the transparent or translucent sheet with a rib or protrusion 18 on the arm 17 engaging over the lip 13 and holding the clip In place. In use the clip may be sprung off the transparent or translucent sheet by using a tool such as a screwdriver 19 as shown In figure 4 to release the rib or protrusion 18 over the lip 13 and t1ius~~dTs^nga§e-,d-Jie_ - 5 - 2G2S44 fixing clip. Figure 5 shows an end view or cross-section of an alternative, preferred clip which Is designed to have a greater "springiness" than the clip shown In Figure 4. The clips are preferably made from aluminium or plastics extrusions cut to length and may have their ends cut at 45° so as to make neat joints with the clips on the adjacent sides of the solar panel. Thus each clipping strip runs the length of the side of the panel. The present Invention thereby provides a convenient means of manufacturing a solar collector panel which Is comparatively simple and hence has cost advantages. The above descrtbes the preferred form of the invention and Indicates some possible modifications. However, other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the Invention as broadly defIned. Side extrusions having other sectional shapes may be used though it Is necessary that the extrusion shape be such as to provide seating surfaces designed to locate or support the components of the collector. The components may be fixed to the seating surfaces by suitable fastening means, or by the support offered by adjacent components. The header and riser pipes and the collector sheet preferably have minimal contact with or are substantially thermally Insulated from the frame to minimise heat loss. Insulation may be placed about the Inner surfaces of the frame extrusion wherever possible for this same purpose. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 202944 6 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A solar collector panel comprising: a collector unit having header pipes with riser pipes located there between fluid Inlet and outlet means and a radtant heat collector In contact with said riser pipes a base a transparent or translucent top and a peripheral frame having seating surfaces to locate or support said collector unit, said base and said transparent or translucent top so that the peripheral frame positions the collector unit and provides seating surfaces for said base and said transparent or translucent top with said base being fixed to the frame and a retaining clip engageable with the peripheral frame to removably clip In place on one said seating surface In the peripheral frame the transparent or translucent top.

2. A solar col lector panel as claimed In claim 1 wherein the peripheral frame Is formed from extruded components each having a cross-sectional shape providing a side, an Inwardly directed arm at the lower part of the side, an outwardly opening recess adjacent to the top of the side with the top of the recess providing a support platform for the transparent or translucent top and an upwardly directed lip over which the retaining clip engages.

3. A solar panel as claimed In claim 2 wherein each said extruded component side Includes screw pipes to allow the component sides of the frame to be screwed together.

4. A solar panel as claimed In any one of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said retaining clip has a first arm engageable in the said recess In the extruded side and a second arm engageable over the top surface of the transparent or translucent sheet with a protuberance on said cf—- engageable over the upper lip to hold said clip In place. 202944 - 7 -

5. A solar panel as claimed fn claim 4 wherein the second arm of said clip Is resilient so that the clip can be levered away from the transparent or translucent sheet to disengage the protrusion from the lip and allow the clip to be removed and thus free the transparent or translucent top.

6. A solar panel as claimed In any one of the preceding claims wherein the removable clip Is provided as an extruded section with continuous strips along each side of the transparent or translucent panel being held In position.

7. A solar panel as claimed In any one of the preceding claims wherein theremal Insulation Is placed between the base and the underside of the col lector unit.

8. A solar panel when constructed arranged Inoperable substantially Is herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of manufacturing a solar collector panel, said method comprising the steps of using an extruded section for a peripheral frame of said solar collector panel, said extruded section having seating surfaces designed to locate or support a panel base, a collector unit and a transparent or translucent top, and assembling components so that the assembled frame positions the collector unit and provides seating surfaces for the base and the transparent or translucent top with the base being fixed to the frame and the transparent or translucent top being removably clipped fn place with a removable clip engaging with the peripheral frame.

10. A method of manufacturing a solar col lector panel and performed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS DAY OFOo/obc-r is"?! A. J. PARK & SON • PEF AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS O </div>