GB2049157A - Solar panel - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a simplified method of construction of solar panels and allows greater flexibility in the manufacturing of a range of panel sizes. The solar panel frame is formed as an extrusion of simple profile, and is designed to accept a 'snap in' front sealing strip (7) which retains the transparent front cover (8) in a deep slot. The rear of the panel frame extrusion is of such a profile as to retain the rear insulation back panel (2) in a deep wide recess. The panel frame is secured at the corners (see Fig. 1) by inserting a small corner locking angle in a narrow external recess formed at the front and rear of the panel frame extrusion. This recess is also used to retain the front end of the solar panel holding down clamps when securing the panel on the site. The heat absorber is formed by a flat strip extrusion (see Fig. 3) which has a flange running along one edge. This flange is curved to suit the fluid or gas heat absorbing tube diameter, to which it is in intimate contact due to the matching radii of the flange and the tube. Two strips are secured to each tube and held in contact with the tube by a spring clip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION This invention relates to the construction of solar thermal panels The use of this main frame design as an aluminium or plastic extrusion, together with a heat absorber wing design, overcomes a number of collector assembly and insulation problems associated with solar thermal panel manufacture.

The system allows greater flexibility in the production of a range of panel sizes, ie, production is not totally dependant upon the use of standard material sheet sizes.

The basis of the frame configuration is shown in Fig. No.2., sheet No.1 of 2. notation No.1.

No. 1.

Rear Panel Fixing.

The rear insulation panel -2- comprises of a foil faced isocyanurate foam board which is pressed tightly between the frame channels recess faces -3.

No. 2.

Side Insulation Fixinng.

The side insulation -4- is obtained by inserting a strip of foil faced isocyanurate foam insulation material between the inside faces 5-5. and is held in position due to an interference fit between the faces -5-5. and the insulation strip edges.

No. 3.

Sealing strip for glazing.

The bevel edged channel recess -6- formed along the top edge of the extruded frame is manufactured to recieve a U.V. inhibited flexible moulded sealing strip -7- which can be assembled to the glazing -8. The assembled glazing -8- and sealing strip -7- is then pressed into the recess -6- and is retained by the 'barbs' on the sealing strip which lock to the under side of the top frame flange edge.

Frame Mounting Bracket System.

The mounting brackets -9- and -10- fit into the external groove running along the outer edges of the frame, and are retained and locked into position by the length of the bracket limbs -11- and -12- which are dimensionally greater in length than the distance between the groove faces -13- and -14-.

When tightening the mounting bracket bolt in hole -15-, the bracket limbs -11- and -12 'extend' in length, locking the ends tight in the groove base -13- and -14-, this method of bracket mounting gives greater flexibility on site for mounting the solar panel.

No. 5.

Corner Locking Angles.

The corner locking angle -16- forms a locked and weather proof action at the corner of the main frame mitre joint by fitting the corner angle ends into the frame grooves -13and -14- and securing it with an adhesive.

No. 6.

Heat Absorber.

This heat absorber, Fig. No. 3. sheet No. 22. is formed by two halves of an extrusion -1-, each half has a radius shaped seating -2-along one edge to form a snug, close fitting seat to the fluid conveying tube -3- and thus presenting a large area of contact to facilitate heat transfer. The heat absorbers are held in close contact with the tube by spring clips -4-evenly pitched along the tube length.

1. A design configuration for a high efficeincy thermal solar panel which can easily be assembled.

2. That the panel as claimed in paragraph 1. is manufactured from an extruded material in a section which forms a recess at its base internal rear edge to receive and retain the back insulation material without the necessity of such items as nuts, bolts, and rivets etc.

3. That along the 'top' edge of the frame extrusion, a sloping sided slotted channel is provided to accept a weather proof sealing strip of such a configuration as to allow the complete assembly of the weather proof sealing and transparent front cover to be a 'snap in' fit into a recess for the retention of the said cover.

4. That by making the extruded frame with a narrow recess grove on both the outer edge corner side edges of the solar panel frame at the front and rear of the panel, a small locking angle can be fitted into this recess at the corner of the frame and secured with adhesive to lock the two adjacent 90 frame sides together.

5. The narrow recess described at paragraph 4 on the rear face of the frame extrusion is also used to accept the tongue of a panel 'site' mounting bracket.

6. That each of the heat absorbing tubes used in this panel are held in intimate contact with a heat absorbing strip fin which runs along each side of the tube. (Two fins are fitted to each tube.) 7. The fin refered to in paragraph 6 has a curved flange on one edge to which the internal curved surface of this flange is exactley of the same radi as the heat absorbing tube refered to in paragraph 6.

8. That the curved flanges of the two heat absorbing strips are held in intermate contact with each heat absorbing tube by the use of spring clips.

9. That the solar panel is substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings Figs. No's. 1 and 2 and 3.

10. That the solar panel is substantially as

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION This invention relates to the construction of solar thermal panels The use of this main frame design as an aluminium or plastic extrusion, together with a heat absorber wing design, overcomes a number of collector assembly and insulation problems associated with solar thermal panel manufacture. The system allows greater flexibility in the production of a range of panel sizes, ie, production is not totally dependant upon the use of standard material sheet sizes. The basis of the frame configuration is shown in Fig. No.2., sheet No.1 of 2. notation No.1. No. 1. Rear Panel Fixing. The rear insulation panel -2- comprises of a foil faced isocyanurate foam board which is pressed tightly between the frame channels recess faces -3. No. 2. Side Insulation Fixinng. The side insulation -4- is obtained by inserting a strip of foil faced isocyanurate foam insulation material between the inside faces 5-5. and is held in position due to an interference fit between the faces -5-5. and the insulation strip edges. No. 3. Sealing strip for glazing. The bevel edged channel recess -6- formed along the top edge of the extruded frame is manufactured to recieve a U.V. inhibited flexible moulded sealing strip -7- which can be assembled to the glazing -8. The assembled glazing -8- and sealing strip -7- is then pressed into the recess -6- and is retained by the 'barbs' on the sealing strip which lock to the under side of the top frame flange edge. Frame Mounting Bracket System. The mounting brackets -9- and -10- fit into the external groove running along the outer edges of the frame, and are retained and locked into position by the length of the bracket limbs -11- and -12- which are dimensionally greater in length than the distance between the groove faces -13- and -14-. When tightening the mounting bracket bolt in hole -15-, the bracket limbs -11- and -12 'extend' in length, locking the ends tight in the groove base -13- and -14-, this method of bracket mounting gives greater flexibility on site for mounting the solar panel. No. 5. Corner Locking Angles. The corner locking angle -16- forms a locked and weather proof action at the corner of the main frame mitre joint by fitting the corner angle ends into the frame grooves -13and -14- and securing it with an adhesive. No. 6. Heat Absorber. This heat absorber, Fig. No. 3. sheet No. 22. is formed by two halves of an extrusion -1-, each half has a radius shaped seating -2-along one edge to form a snug, close fitting seat to the fluid conveying tube -3- and thus presenting a large area of contact to facilitate heat transfer. The heat absorbers are held in close contact with the tube by spring clips -4-evenly pitched along the tube length. CLAIMS

1. A design configuration for a high efficeincy thermal solar panel which can easily be assembled.

2. That the panel as claimed in paragraph 1. is manufactured from an extruded material in a section which forms a recess at its base internal rear edge to receive and retain the back insulation material without the necessity of such items as nuts, bolts, and rivets etc.

3. That along the 'top' edge of the frame extrusion, a sloping sided slotted channel is provided to accept a weather proof sealing strip of such a configuration as to allow the complete assembly of the weather proof sealing and transparent front cover to be a 'snap in' fit into a recess for the retention of the said cover.

4. That by making the extruded frame with a narrow recess grove on both the outer edge corner side edges of the solar panel frame at the front and rear of the panel, a small locking angle can be fitted into this recess at the corner of the frame and secured with adhesive to lock the two adjacent 90 frame sides together.

5. The narrow recess described at paragraph 4 on the rear face of the frame extrusion is also used to accept the tongue of a panel 'site' mounting bracket.

6. That each of the heat absorbing tubes used in this panel are held in intimate contact with a heat absorbing strip fin which runs along each side of the tube. (Two fins are fitted to each tube.)

7. The fin refered to in paragraph 6 has a curved flange on one edge to which the internal curved surface of this flange is exactley of the same radi as the heat absorbing tube refered to in paragraph 6.

8. That the curved flanges of the two heat absorbing strips are held in intermate contact with each heat absorbing tube by the use of spring clips.

9. That the solar panel is substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings Figs. No's. 1 and 2 and 3.

10. That the solar panel is substantially as described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification and the accompanying drawings.