Abstract: An improved absorber unit is provided for a solar collector, said absorber unit being comprised of a unitary conductive perforated sheet, folded so that segments thereof are disposed adjacent one another and perforated so that air flow is facilitated along both sides of the absorber sheet, thereby greatly increasing convective heat transfer and efficiency of the absorber.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a solar heater apparatus for a swimming pool which incorporates a submersible suspendible black body sheet to serve as a device to absorb solar radiation and transfer the collected energy to the pool water so that the pool water can be efficiently heated.

Abstract: A valve for provided for installation in the auxillary duct of a furnace stack pipe. The valve prevents flow of air through the damper plate in the auxillary duct when the furnace is switched off. The valve is controlled by a temperature responsive bimetallic strip which is impinged upon by flue gases to move the valve to an open position upon the furnace being ignited and producing combustion gases.

Abstract: A concrete roofing tile (10) has a thermal conduction device in the form of metal sheets (20a, 20b) attached to its underside. Planar metal contacts (30a, 30b) project from the underside of the sheets and are adapted to clip on a pipe (40) which extends up the roof and carries a heat carrier medium. The pipe is part of grid fixed to a roof structure for collecting heat absorbed by the tiles. The tiles have the appearance of ordinary roofing tiles from the outside.

Abstract: An amplifying pneumatic switch which is responsive to low pressure signals includes a first chamber for receiving an input signal from a first pneumatic pressure source at a first pressure. The first chamber includes a wall formed by a movable, highly resilient diaphragm. A diaphragm plate is disposed generally coextensive with the diaphragm and is responsive to diaphragm movement. A nozzle is coupled to a second source of pneumatic pressure and is sealable for generating a pneumatic output signal at a second pressure. A sealing mechanism including a lever and a plunger coact between the diaphragm and the nozzle for sealing the nozzle in response to the input signal. A spring is provided for biasing the diaphragm plate to a quiescent position in the absence of an input signal.

Abstract: The apparatus of the disclosed invention uses solar energy that impinges upon it for the purposes of distilling water from solutions and mixtures and for drying out of agricultural produce and other materials containing water.In a single apparatus, the multiple effects of heating, vaporization, condensation, and circulation of an air-vapor mixture are made to take place. The result of this integrated action is to produce distilled water and/or dried produce at the expense of the solar energy captured on the collector of the apparatus.The apparatus of the invention comprises a closed, inclined box-like structure with a large window facing the sun.

Abstract: A length of longitudinally extending duct assembly for heated corrosive gases includes an outer support duct and a substantially gas-tight liner. The liner is spaced from the outer support duct by a relatively yielding spacer material that accommodates expansion of the liner in directions parallel to the inner surface of the outer support duct and in directions normal to the inner surface of the outer support duct without imposing any substantial resistance to such thermal expansion.

Abstract: A solid fuel furnace which includes a housing enclosing a firebox and a heat exchanger chamber. An open grate in the firebox supports solid fuel thereon. Combustion air is admitted to the area below the grate and is preheated and passes upwardly through the grate and fuel and mixes with volatile gases released from the fuel. The air/gas mixture is drawn downwardly through the fuel and exits the firebox through an inlet to an insulated burn-out chamber which is behind the firebox. A metal screen covers the inlet and serves to ignite the air/gas mixture. Hot flue gases exit the burn-out chamber to the heat exchanger chamber.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an improved collector means for a solar energy collector system having an absorber plate and a glazing panel spaced from at least one side of the absorber plate in which a cap means is coupled to and extends along one edge of the absorber plate and a depending leg extends over the complimentary edge of the glazing panel, the cap means having formed therein at least one air channel conforming in shape to the cross-sectional shape of the cap means and having air inlet means adjacent the bottom of a leg of the cap means in communication with the channel and an air outlet means adjacent the top of the cap means and in communication with the channel and adapted to permit currents of cooling air to pass therethrough from the inlet to the outlet, thereby maintaining said complimentary edge of the glazing panel relatively cool.

Abstract: A gas furnace is described which is of conventional design except for the means by which combustion air is supplied to the burner assembly. The gas furnace includes a cabinet having a burner assembly, heat exchanger and flue provided therein. The flue is in communication with a chimney extending upwardly from the building. An enclosure extends around the chimney and is spaced therefrom to define an air passageway. The upper end of the air passageway is in communication with the atmosphere outside of the building. Duct work connects the lower end of the air passageway with the combustion air opening formed therein so that combustion air for the burner assembly will be drawn from the outside atmosphere downwardly through the air passageway rather than from the interior of the building. As the air passes downwardly through the air passageway, the air is heated by the chimney.

Abstract: An outdoor furnace including a conditioned air chamber surrounding a fire box and having an air inlet and outlet connected to the space to be heated within the building. The furnace is characterized by a pre-heat chamber for the combustion inlet air as well as deflectors and baffles for maximizing contact of conditioned air flow over the fire box for maximizing the efficiency of the furnace. The furnace may also include an after-burner chamber and a damper for varying the degree of combustion within the after-burner chamber. The furnace also preferably includes an exhaust damper having a thermal control for exhausting excessively heated air from the conditioned chamber.

Abstract: An improvement in construction of a casing of a gas firing cooking apparatus which has elements, such as, a burner, control means for gas delivery to the burner, igniter, gas take-off head, etc., superposed on a removable gas cartridge and a surrounding casing with two chambers for separately receiving the superstructure and gas cartridge. An open end is provided at the bottom of the casing for easy access to the casing. A flexible springy member is disposed across the open end with one end thereof pivoted to the open end and other end thereof releasably fastened to the open end for clamping the gas cartridge against the gas take-off head to establish a gas-tight connection.

Abstract: A slow combustion stove having a transparent portion to enable vision into a primary combustion zone so that flames are visible in use has a double burning combustion chamber defined by the primary combustion chamber and a partitioned off secondary burning combustion chamber, an air inlet to enable air to circulate within the stove adjacent a deflector which deflects the incoming air over the transparent portion to cool and resist staining and soot build-up thereon. A majority of the air passes to the primary combustion zone and a proportion of further gases enter the secondary combustion chamber with the gases of primary combustion for combustion of smoke and other unburned gases.

Abstract: A frame for an angled solar panel comprising a rear vertical wall connected along a lower edge to a horizontal bottom wall, the rear vertical wall having its upper portion bent along a substantially horizontal bend line to form a downwardly and forwardly projecting upper edge, the bottom wall having a outer portion spaced from its line of connection with the vertical wall and being bent along a horizontal line to form an upwardly and rearwardly projecting outer edge, the upper and outer projecting edges being bent so as to lie substantially in the same inclined plane.

Abstract: A thermal panel comprises(a) a body including a solar radiation transmitting lens sheet, having opposite surfaces characterized in that solar radiation incident on one surface is focussed at one or more narrow zones at the body opposite surface,(b) a coating on said body opposite surface and defining aperture means in registration with one or more of said narrow zones, whereby solar radiation focussed at said zones may pass through said aperture means, and(c) said coating having a reflective surface facing away from said body.

Abstract: A warm air blow-out device for box-shaped stove is disclosed, which comprises a casing having a warm air flow-out path formed in an upper portion of the casing interior and air withdrawal openings formed in a bottom and a front wall lower portion of the casing and a cross flow fan extending horizontally in an upper portion of the casing interior and rotated by a motor. The opposite sides of the bottom of the casing are provided with respective legs, which include permanent magnets which can be held attracted to the top of the stove. Behind the legs, support members are provided to be in contact with the rear wall of the room heater casing for supporting the casing of the device.

Abstract: A catalytic stove comprised of a housing having a fuel-burning chamber and an effluent chamber. The effluent chamber is separated from the fuel-burning chamber by a common wall. The wall is at the top of the fuel burning chamber and is inclined to form a cathedral or domed chamber ceiling. Air inlet ports are located in the fuel burning chamber and draft air is introduced to burning fuel at substantially the same rate from each port. The effluent from the fuel flows to a catalyst in the top of the fuel burning chamber. The effluent flows substantially directly from the fuel to the catalyst without undersirable eddying thereby preventing the effluent from cooling and condensing into creosotic droplets. The catalyst assists in burning an increased percentage of the flue gases. An air diffuser is provided contiguous to the catalyst and provides an air mix with the effluent from the burning fuel to further facilitate oxidation in the catalyst.

Abstract: A building heat collection, storage and exchange system adapted for use with a solar collector, and featuring a specially designed heat storage tank. The closed system contains both liquid and gas, and is provided with drain reservoirs so that when heat is not being absorbed, the solar collector is drained, and the gas replaces the liquid in the collector. By the use of liquid intake and dispersal devices which eliminate turbulence, the heat storage tank maintains stable temperature zones. The most efficient extraction of stored heat is thus promoted.

Abstract: A modular solar radiation concentrator consists of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere. The panels (1) are mass produced, mounted between a pair of horizontal beams (2) so they can partially rotate about two orthogonal axes, and aligned as part of multi-beam (2) modules (3) on a test fixture so that all panels (1) reflect distant radiation upon a small aperture (36). Spaces occur between all panels (1) when mounted in the concentrator. The reflector support structure (4) has a finite number of identically angled bends so that the overall reflector (47) approximates the surface of a sphere. A solar radiation receiver (34) is hingedly suspended to the support structure (4) at the focal point of each of the panels (1). The reflector (47) is mounted upon an azimuth/elevation mount (6, 46), which rotates reflector (47) 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis.

Abstract: A control regulates the rate of flow of combustion air flowing into an airtight stove or furnace10 containing a fire. A control element 15 or 45 is arranged in communication with the air inflow stream and moves in response to the velocity of the flowing air. The control element 15 or 45 moves to constrict the area of the inflow stream as air velocity increases and to open the area of the inflow stream as air velocity diminishes. Springs 25 and 26 or 60-62 bias the control element toward a maximum opening, and the spring bias is non-linear to provide increasing resistance to movement as the control element approaches a closed position. The spring bias system is preferably adjustable to vary the air inflow rate that is otherwise kept steady by the control element.