Stoves and furnaces – Solar heat collector – Solar collector supported on existing roof structure
Patent
1990-10-19
1995-04-18
Flanigan, Allen J.
Stoves and furnaces
Solar heat collector
Solar collector supported on existing roof structure
521733, F24J 242
Patent
active
054069360
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE ART
This invention relates to a roof structure for collecting solar energy.
BACKGROUND ART
There are two types of roof-mounted known structures for collecting solar energy, one in which a heating medium sealed in a transparent sheet is heated by means of solar energy to make use of the resultant heat; and another, in which a solar energy collection member made of amorphous silicon or crystalline silicon is mounted on the back side of a light-transmitting sheet.
However, when the entire surface of a roof is covered with solar energy collection members, the cost goes up and a large number of solar energy collection members of different dimensions are required to be in combination with each other to correspond to the size of the roof surface. Also, the roof increases in weight, so that rafters and sheathing boards have to bear substantial weight. Since each of these conventional structures is complicated in structure and includes a large number of members, the erection of such conventional roofmounted roof structures is troublesome, and the correction of dimensional errors is troublesome, so that it has been impossible to provide a roof with a sufficient surface for use in collecting solar energy.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The objects of the present invention are to provide a solar energy collecting structure, which can accommodate errors in dimension between a roof and the solar energy collecting roof member due to thermal expansion, which is simple to erect so as to be capable of easily providing a large-scale energy collecting structure which does not need to cover the entire roof surface with lighting frames, which is arranged to accommodate the dimension of a portion of the roof for collecting solar energy according to a desired value, which permits erection of a structure using standard-sized light transmitting frames, which reduce the weight on the roof itself and avoids burdening rafters or sheathing boards with excessive weight, and which has an excellent external appearance.
In order to attain the above objects, a solar energy collection structure according to the present invention is mounted on a roof surface having an eaves part and a gable part covered with usual roof members, and a predetermined part enclosed by overlying roof members and covered with solar energy collection members.
According to the invention, a roof-mounted solar energy collection structure is arranged on a predetermined part of an associated roof surface with a cross-piece arranged parallel to the eaves line. The cross-piece is placed on overlying roof members of the predetermined part of the associated roof surface at regular intervals. Connecting members are mounted on the crosspieces at regular intervals so as to be orthogonal to the crosspieces. The solar energy collection members are laid between the connecting members The overlying roof members of the roof are arranged so as to enclose the predetermined part of the roof surface. Support members are mounted at peripheral edges of the predetermined part of the roof surface to cover upper side and outside surfaces of the crosspieces. The lower end of each support member is brought into contact with an upper side of the overlying roof members and receiving portions formed at outside lower ends of connecting members are disposed in close proximity to side edges of the predetermined part of the roof surface. Each of the receiving portions is open to receive one of the support members.
According to the solar energy collection structure of the present invention, since the usual roof members occupy the eaves part and the gable part, and the solar energy collection roof members are laid on the predetermined part enclosed with the overlying roof members, it is not necessary to cover the entire roof surface with the lighting frames. Consequently, the dimension of the roof portion for collecting the solar energy are defined according to a desired value, the erection of the roof structure is done with the standard-sized light-transmitting frames, and the weight
REFERENCES:
patent: 3636577 (1987-01-01), Peterpaul
patent: 4194325 (1980-03-01), Chalpin, Jr.
patent: 4223667 (1980-09-01), Paymal
patent: 4228791 (1980-10-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 4233085 (1980-11-01), Roderick et al.
patent: 4336413 (1982-06-01), Tourneux
patent: 4426813 (1984-01-01), Buzzi, Jr.
patent: 4638613 (1987-01-01), Tonsmann
patent: 4677248 (1987-06-01), Lacey
patent: 4680905 (1987-07-01), Rockar
patent: 4936063 (1990-06-01), Humphrey
Hirai Takashi
Kaneko Yoshio
Flanigan Allen J.
Hirai Engineering Corporation
LandOfFree
Roof does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Roof, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Roof will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-61521