Abstract: The self-compensating solar collector comprises a base tray having inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends covered by a thin metallic diaphragm also serving as an heat absorbing plate. The interior of the tray includes inter-digitating walls or ribs defining a labyrinth channel, fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports being confined to this labyrinth channel when the top absorber plate is resting on the top of the ribs or walls. Under high heating conditions such as bright sunlight, the plate will heat up and by thermal expansion deflect upwardly with the result that fluid flow can pass over the labyrinth in an expanded flow path directly between the inlet and outlet ports. This increased fluid flow rate results in a cooling of the collector and also in more efficient heat transfer.

Abstract: The system makes use of a plurality of side-by-side parallel water troughs for exposing water in the troughs to solar radiation as well as the night sky. The troughs are arranged to be positioned on either a flat roof or a pitched roof. Water storage tanks in side-by-side spaced relationship are positioned beneath the water troughs and appropriate pumps provided for transferring water between the troughs and the water storage tanks. Air ducts in turn are defined between the storage tanks so that the ducts have common walls with the storage tank to effect efficient heat transfer between air in the ducts and water in the storage tanks. Heating of rooms is accomplished by transferring water from the troughs at sundown to the storage tanks, the heat accumulated during the daylight hours being transferred to air in the ducts which air is then directed to one or more rooms.

Abstract: A tubular wall is axially telescoped over an end closure and a wall outer end portion is secured to the end closure so that complete separation between the wall and end closure will not take place up to internal reservoir pressures spaced above a predetermined pressure, but at the same time, such securement permitting fluid flow outwardly between the wall and end closure at reservoir pressures at least as low as the predetermined pressure. A wall inner end portion is formed in an annular zone arcuately inwardly against a resilient sealing ring positioned in an end closure arcuate recess compressing the sealing ring against the end closure.