Abstract: A single air or liquid type flat-plate solar collector assembly with a variable area proportion of the hybrid and solar thermal functions, having: a channel having a front, a back, opposite sides, a bottom inlet opening and a top outlet opening; a photovoltaic collector cover disposed across a hybrid portion of the front of the channel; and a transparent glazing covering disposed across a solar thermal portion of the front of the channel. Preferably, the body of the collector utilizes a standard standing seam metal panel with associated mounting expansion clips, and the photovoltaic collector cover and transparent glazing are both held onto the panel by a glazing mounting channel affixed to the standing seam of the metal panel.

Abstract: Solar energy collecting apparatus (21) includes a one-piece collector panel (25) having a flat collector plate (27) with an absorber surface (28) provided by an intermediate wall portion of the collector panel. The collector plate forms both a weather membrane over and a part of an airflow passage (26) with support structure having a channel-shaped exterior surface. The collector panel has upper side edge flanges (31, 32) for connecting adjacent edges together along a continuous seam structure and to the support structure so that the collector panel is an integral part of the support structure. A cover assembly includes an outer sheet (51) and an inner sheet (52) with an air space (53) therebetween, together with side edge connecting members (57) that hold the sheets apart and attach to the seam structure formed by connected collector panels.

Abstract: In solar energy collecting apparatus the problems of leakage due to differential thermal expansion and contraction between different parts of the collector, duplication of parts, fixed factory costs, and the unnecessary use of expensive materials are solved by using collector members made using on-site roll-forming machines, the assembly of parts at the job site, and collector members that connect side by side, each having a sheet metal collector plate (11) as the principal part of a weather membrane above underlying support structure. A unique cover (13) and method of forming the cover enable use of relatively inexpensive film that is supported on side supports held to a pair of opposed sidewall portions (18 and 19) of a collector panel (31) so as to accommodate ready replacement of covers for individual collector members and ready attachment by joiner strips in an assembly of the collector members connected side by side.