Abstract: A solar energy collector is disclosed including a housing forming a receptacle across which a fluid to be heated can flow and which is divided into a pair of chambers in the direction of fluid flow by a heat exchanging mat including a layer formed partially from an absorbent material and partially from a material having capillarity so as to retain a liquid fed into the layer and cause heating of the liquid by radiation impinging into the receptacle of the housing. A fluid medium, such as air, can be passed through the chamber formed below the aforementioned heat exchange mat to pick up heat from the mat for distribution as desired.

Abstract: A hold-down clamp has a longitudinally extending element provided with a first rail and a second rail spaced from one another, with the first rail being engageable with a circumferential edge of a framework on which the second rail clamps an edge of a sheet of material, such as glass. A securing arrangement anchors the longitudinally extending element to the framework so as to create the desired clamping action. The securing arrangement advantageously includes a plurality of fasteners disposed in spaced relation along the longitudinal extent of the element.