Solar collector having integral structure

Abstract

A solar collector includes a radiant energy heat exchanging panel having two lateral tube, and a number of intermediate pipes disposed between the lateral tubes and each having a longitudinal bore communicating with the longitudinal bores of the lateral tubes for allowing the longitudinal bores of the lateral tube and the intermediate pipes to be coupled together to form a sealed working fluid flowing system, the lateral tubes and the intermediate pipes are made of synthetic materials and formed with a molding process for allowing the lateral tubes and the intermediate pipes to be easily and quickly made or manufactured. A number of fins may be coupled between the intermediate pipes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a solar collector, and more particularly to a solar collector including an integral structure having no couplers or joints formed or provided or coupled between vertical tubes and lateral tubes for preventing or avoiding water or fluid leaking problems.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical solar energy collectors comprise a number of tubes or collectors disposed parallel to each other, and one or more ducts or manifolds coupling the end portions of the tubes or collectors together for forming a water sealed working fluid flowing passage or system.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,318 to Pei discloses one of the typical solar energy collectors also comprising one or more ducts or manifolds coupled between the end portions of the tubes or collectors, and one or more helical baffles attached onto the delivery tube for increasing the solar energy collecting effect.

However, the coupling between the end portions of the tubes or collectors and the ducts or manifolds may have water or fluid leaking problems occurred. In addition, it is difficult to attach or to secure the helical baffles onto the delivery tubes of the ducts or manifolds.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,059 to Ford discloses another typical solar energy collector comprising six evacuated tubes of the left array, and six evacuated tubes of the right array, and protective rubber or plastic caps attached to the end portions of the evacuated tubes for protecting the evacuated tubes, and a fluid carrying system having two continuous metal tube stems and branches joined and coupled together.

However, the end portions of the metal tube stems and branches are required to be welded together and are then required to be engaged into the evacuated tubes, such that the typical solar energy collector includes a complicated structure that may not be easily and quickly manufactured.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,326 to McAlister discloses a further typical solar energy collector comprising a radiant energy heat exchanging panel structure having a multiplicity of parallel passages extending longitudinally therethrough defined by a multiplicity of longitudinally extending integrally interconnected exterior and interior thin wall sections.

However, the end portions of the longitudinally extending integrally interconnected exterior and interior thin wall sections are required to be coupled or sealed together with couplers or fasteners, such that water or fluid leaking problems may also be occurred or generated between the end portions of the multiplicity of parallel passages.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,150 to Lai discloses a still further typical solar energy collector comprising one or more tubes disposed a reflective plate for accommodating water or working fluid.

However, the tubes are required to be coupled or secured or attached or disposed between the reflective plate and the supporting mesh grid with posts.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional solar energy collectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a solar collector including an integral structure having no couplers or joints formed or provided or coupled between vertical tubes and lateral tubes for preventing or avoiding water or fluid leaking problems.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a solar collector comprising a radiant energy heat exchanging panel including a first lateral tube having a longitudinal bore formed therein, a second lateral tube having a longitudinal bore formed therein, and a number of intermediate pipes disposed between the first lateral tube and the second lateral tube and each having a longitudinal bore formed therein, the longitudinal bores of the intermediate pipes being communicating with the longitudinal bore of the first lateral tube and the longitudinal bore of the second lateral tube for allowing the longitudinal bore of the first lateral tube and the longitudinal bore of the second lateral tube and the longitudinal bores of the intermediate pipes to be coupled together to form a sealed working fluid flowing system, the first lateral tube and the second lateral tube and the intermediate pipes being made of synthetic materials and formed with a molding process for allowing the first lateral tube and the second lateral tube and the intermediate pipes to be easily and quickly made or manufactured.

The radiant energy heat exchanging panel includes a number of fins formed and coupled between the intermediate pipes. The fins are formed and coupled between the first lateral tube and the second lateral tube.

A receptacle may further be provided and include a chamber formed therein for receiving the radiant energy heat exchanging panel. The first lateral tube includes at least one rib extended outwardly therefrom for engaging with the receptacle and for anchoring the first lateral tube to the receptacle. The second lateral tube may also include at least one rib extended outwardly therefrom for engaging with the receptacle and for anchoring the second lateral tube to the receptacle.

A container may further be provided and coupled to the second lateral tube of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel for receiving and collecting a heated working fluid. It is preferable that the intermediate pipes are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the lateral tubes.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar collector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a radiant energy heat exchanging panel of the solar collector;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating a portion of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel of the solar collector, in which a portion of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel has been cut off for showing an inner structure of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the other portion of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel of the solar collector, in which a portion of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel has also been cut off for showing an inner structure of the radiant energy heat exchanging panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a solar collector 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing or receptacle 10 including a chamber 11 formed therein for receiving a radiant energy heat exchanging panel 30, and a container 50 coupled to the radiant energy heat exchanging panel 30 for receiving or collecting the heated water or working fluid and for supplying the heated water or working fluid to the required places or facilities (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the radiant energy heat exchanging panel 30 includes a lower or first lateral tube 31 having a longitudinal bore 32 formed therein, an upper or second lateral tube 33 also having a longitudinal bore 34 formed therein, and a number of vertical or intermediate pipes 35 disposed between the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 and preferably perpendicular to the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33.

The vertical or intermediate pipes 35 each also include a longitudinal bore 36 formed therein and intersecting or communicating with the longitudinal bore 32 of the lower or first lateral tube 31 (FIG. 3) and the longitudinal bore 34 of the upper or second lateral tube 33 (FIG. 4) for allowing the longitudinal bore 32 of the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the longitudinal bore 34 of the upper or second lateral tube 33 and the longitudinal bores 36 of the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 to be coupled together to form a sealed working fluid flowing passage or system 80.

It is to be noted that the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 and the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 may be made of rubber or plastic or synthetic materials and may be formed or secured or coupled together with such as a blowing and/or molding process for allowing the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 and the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 to be easily and quickly made or manufactured with a greatly decreased manufacturing cost and with a greatly increased competition.

In addition, no coupling portions or welding portions will formed between the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 and the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 such that no water or fluid leaking problems will be generated or occurred between the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 and the vertical or intermediate pipes 35, and such that the radiant energy heat exchanging panel 30 may include a solid or integral structure having no couplers or joints formed or provided or coupled between the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 and the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33.

It is further to be noted that the water or working fluid may be heated and expanded or cooled and shrunk, and the solid or integral coupling between the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 and the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 will not be affected by the water or working fluid. It is preferable that the radiant energy heat exchanging panel 30 further includes a number of flaps or fins 37 (FIG. 4) formed or secured or coupled between the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 and/or the lower or first lateral tube 31 and the upper or second lateral tube 33 and the vertical or intermediate pipes 35 for increasing the solar energy collecting effect.

The lower or first lateral tube 31 may include one or more ends or ports 38 for coupling to a cold water or working fluid reservoir (not shown) for receiving the cold water or working fluid and for allowing the cold water or working fluid to flow into longitudinal bore 32 of the lower or first lateral tube 31 and then into the longitudinal bores 36 of the vertical or intermediate pipes 35, and then into the longitudinal bore 34 of the upper or second lateral tube 33.

The upper or second lateral tube 33 may include one or more ends or ports 39 for coupling to the container 50 which may be provided for receiving or collecting the heated water or working fluid. The lower or first lateral tube 31 and/or the upper or second lateral tube 33 may include one or more ribs 40 extended outwardly therefrom for engaging with the receptacle 10 and for anchoring or securing the lower or first lateral tube 31 and/or the upper or second lateral tube 33 to the receptacle 10. The ribs 40 may also be easily and quickly made or formed onto the lower or first lateral tube 31 and/or the upper or second lateral tube 33 with the blowing and/or molding process.

Accordingly, the solar collector in accordance with the present invention includes an integral structure having no couplers or joints formed or provided or coupled between vertical tubes and lateral tubes for preventing or avoiding water or fluid leaking problems from being generated or occurred.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A solar collector comprising:

a radiant energy heat exchanging panel including a first lateral tube having a longitudinal bore formed therein, a second lateral tube having a longitudinal bore formed therein, and a plurality of intermediate pipes disposed between said first lateral tube and said second lateral tube and each having a longitudinal bore formed therein,

said longitudinal bores of said intermediate pipes being communicating with said longitudinal bore of said first lateral tube and said longitudinal bore of said second lateral tube for allowing said longitudinal bore of said first lateral tube and said longitudinal bore of said second lateral tube and said longitudinal bores of said intermediate pipes to be coupled together to form a sealed working fluid flowing system, and

said first lateral tube and said second lateral tube and said intermediate pipes being made of synthetic materials and formed with a molding process for allowing said first lateral tube and said second lateral tube and said intermediate pipes to be easily and quickly made or manufactured.

2. The solar collector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radiant energy heat exchanging panel includes a plurality of fins formed and coupled between said intermediate pipes.

3. The solar collector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fins are formed and coupled between said first lateral tube and said second lateral tube.

4. The solar collector as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a receptacle including a chamber formed therein for receiving said radiant energy heat exchanging panel.

5. The solar collector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first lateral tube includes at least one rib extended outwardly therefrom for engaging with said receptacle and for anchoring said first lateral tube to said receptacle.

6. The solar collector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second lateral tube includes at least one rib extended outwardly therefrom for engaging with said receptacle and for anchoring said second lateral tube to said receptacle.

7. The solar collector as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a container coupled to said second lateral tube of said radiant energy heat exchanging panel for receiving and collecting a heated working fluid.