Abstract: A system for storing heated air in the attic of a building by solar energy and for transmitting the heated air to a heat exchanger. The attic includes a floor, a roof formed of two oppositely inclined portions that meet at a peak, one of the inclined portions being glazed to form a light pervious surface and the other inclined portion being light impervious. The attic floor beneath the light pervious roof portion is covered with a light reflective surface. Located in the attic beneath the light impervious roof portion is an entrance end of an inlet duct leading from the attic to a heat exchanger and an exit end of an outlet duct leading from the heat exchanger to the attic. A blower is provided to blow air from the attic through the inlet duct, the heat exchanger, and the outlet duct back to the attic.

Abstract: A solar radiation absorbing structure including a plate comprising a plurality of co-planar fluid passageways joined side by side and having at least one radiation transmissive cover extending over the passageways. The opposite longitudinal edges of the plate parallel to the passageways and the corresponding longitudinal edges of the cover are interlocked with longitudinal rails to support the passageway plate and cover spaced from the roof structure. Only one part of each rail and plate and cover is locked in place on the roof; the remainder is free to move in response to thermal expansion and contraction. Manifolds at each end of the plate connect to the passageways to transmit liquid to and from the passageways. At each end of the cover a member, which may be hinged, forms, with the manifolds, a substantially airtight enclosure in cold weather.

Abstract: A heat transfer system for using solar energy to modify the temperatures of conditioned space in a building and to supply domestic hot water for the building. Part of the system is mounted to a core that forms a structural column of the building. The system incorporates selector mechanisms for selectively altering the flow of water in the system to facilitate changes in the functioning of the system.

Abstract: A system for storing in a liquid storage medium a substantial part of the heat for a building. The liquid is contained within a large, vertical, cylindrical tank and is circulated to heat-receiving, or solar heated, structures and back to the tank. The stored heat is transferred to the building by forcing air through a limited passageway of which the cylindrical wall of the tank forms at least a major part. The tank wall thus becomes a major heat-exchanger. The air to be heated flows from a cooler to a warmer part of the tank surface and is then ducted throughout the building. The space within the tank is divided by an internal, heat-insulating, submersible barrier into a smaller, upper section in a larger, lower section. A hot water tank is suspended in the upper section, and the liquid in the upper section is maintained hotter than in the lower section, by additional solar panels, if necessary.

Abstract: An extruded solar panel formed as a unit and including a plurality of co-planar fluid passageways joined side by side and having at least one radiation transmissive cover extending over the passageways. The edges of the cover are joined to the edges of the group of passageways to form a dead-air space over the passageways. The opposite longitudinal edges of the cover and passageway structure have flanges that can be interlocked for ease of assembly, and one or more ribs are provided to support the passageways from the roof structure.