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Description  |
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The present invention relates to an apparatus for converting energy of
electromagnetic waves, especially solar radiant energy which is energy of
electromagnetic waves of short wavelength into heat energy.
As well known, the density of solar radiant energy is less than as 1
KW/m.sup.2 on the land surface perpendicular to the axis of the radiation.
Consequently, for collecting high energy from solar radiant energy, an
extremely large collecting area is required. On the other hand, solar
radiant energy is widely distributed. In this respect, it is more
desirable to collect such energy individually by making use of e.g. a
roof, wall or the like of houses, than by means of an apparatus of a large
scale. Further, solar radiant energy is substantially inexhaustibly
supplied. Therefore, if such energy can be efficiently converted directly
into heat energy, it provides non-pollutant permanent energy. In
conclusion, it is most important to provide a high-efficiency heat
collecting apparatus suitable for making use of solar radiant energy at an
economical cost. However, any sufficiently effective apparatus has not
been proposed yet which can convert solar radiant energy into heat energy
at high efficiency and can be obtained economically.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a solar heat
collecting apparatus of high efficiency, low heat loss and low cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a solar heat
collecting apparatus which is light weight and easily adaptable to various
kinds of buildings and capable of being mounted on a horizontal surface,
which has been impossible in the conventional apparatus.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a solar heat
collecting apparatus which is excellent in mass productivity, reliability,
durability and the like as well as easy to be preserved and inspected.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a solar heat
collecting apparatus comprising at least one solar heat collecting element
comprising a cylindrical outer member in which at least the
circumferential wall of the cylinder is permeable to solar radiant energy
and the two ends faces of the cylinder are closed, a cylindrical inner
member disposed in the outer member with the interposition of a thermal
insulating space with its either end protruding beyond each end face of
the outer member, an absorbing means for absorbing the difference between
the amounts of heat expansion and contraction of the outer and inner
members, the two members and the means being integrally formed.
Solar radiant enegy exhibits the greatest value at the wavelengths near 0.5
.mu.m, as well known. One of materials which have permeability to solar
radiant energy near this region is, for example, glass material. By
forming the outer member from glass material, an extremely well air-tight
space can be obtained. Further, glass material has high workability, and
can provide a vacuum inside the outer member to easily form a highly
thermal insulating space. The whole of the outer member may be formed from
such glass material, but alternatively both of the end faces are formed
from other material e.g. metal material. Thus, inside of the outer surface
defined by the circumferential wall and the closed end faces is forming a
thermal insulating space. For obtaining further excellent thermal
insulating property, the space is made vacuous as abovementioned. In this
vacuous thermal insulating space, the transmission of heat energy due to
convection is reduced to the minimum, resulting in the reduction of escape
of heat energy collected by the inner member. Further, inert gas may be
injected into the thermal insulating space. In this case, glass material
for the outer member may be substituted by plastic material in practice.
The inner member, which is disposed inside the outer member, serves as a
member absorbing solar radiant energy. The inner member is formed from
metal material of high heat conductivity e.g. copper, aluminum or the
like, into a hollow cylindrical shape. In this hollowed section, heat
transmitting medium e.g. water, air and the like is supplied. Further, the
outer surface of the inner member is preferably made selective absorbent
surface. Black chrome, Al-Ni, Al-Cr, Sn, In, black nickel etc. is used as
material for such a selective absorbent surface and applied on the outer
surface of the inner member. The inner member thus preferably provided
with a selective absorbent surface serves as a absorbent member in the
region of the wavelengths of solar radiant energy, but as a radiant member
in the region of the wavelengths of thermal radiant energy from the inside
of the inner member, so that the loss of heat energy due to the radiation
from the inner member is extremely reduced.
The two end portions of the inner member are disposed so as to protrude
beyond the end faces respectively of the outer member. The inner member is
air-tightly supported at the both ends of the outer member so as to form
the abovementioned thermal insulating space. Since the inner and outer
members are formed from different materials e.g. copper and glass as
abovementioned, there is naturally difference between the coefficients of
linear theremal expansion of the members. This difference between the
coefficients causes the inner and outer members to expand at different
degrees when supplied with e.g. solar radiant energy. For example, in case
of the outer member formed from soda glass and the inner member from
copper, the difference between the amounts of thermal expansion of the
members due to the difference between the coefficients of linear thermal
expansion is 1.7 mm/m. Therefore, with a standard heat collecting element
of 2 m in whole length, the difference between the amounts of linear
thermal expansion of the two members is about 3.4 mm. If the inner and
outer members are fixedly supported at both of their ends, the difference
between the amounts of thermal expansion causes either of the members to
be mechanically deformed and finally damaged. Therefore, in order to
eliminate this defect, a means is provided for absorbing the difference
between the amounts of thermal expansion of the inner and outer members.
The said absorbing means is a mechanical deformation absorbing body, and
realized by forming the same from such a material or in such a shape as
absorbing the difference between the amounts of the linear thermal
expansion of the inner and outer members. Further, the absorbing means is
provided on one end face of the outer member. And the outer and inner
members are connected and integrated with each other through the absorbing
means. Furthermore, the absorbing means may be mounted on a member
extended from one end face of the outer member coaxially with the inner
member, so that the inner and outer members are connected and integrated
with each other through the absorbing means. On the other hand, at the
other end, the inner and outer members may be integrally connected
similarly through the absorbing means, but they may be directly attached
to be integrated. The absorbing means can be realized by using flexible
material, forming the same in the shape of a bellows or forming a metal
sheet the same in a flexible shape.
In a heat collecting element thus comprising an inner member, an outer
member and an absorbing means, further a heat collecting member is secured
to the inner member in a heat conductive manner in order to collect more
solar radiant energy. The said heat collecting member may be formed from
the same material as the inner member, and further, preferably provided
with a thin film having a selective absorbent property over the
circumferential surface. The heat collecting member may be in the form of
a flat plate or bladed member. The heat collecting member in the form of a
flat plate is disposed along the length of the inner member, while the
bladed member is mounted radially onto the circumferential surface of the
inner member. The bladed heat collecting member is excellent in that it
collects heat into the inner member due to its own heat conductivity and
besides collects heat due to the heat guide function of the spaces defined
by the bladed member. At at least one end of the inner member within the
thermal insulating space, a bent portion functioning as an auxiliary
absorbing means may be provided. The said auxiliary absorbing means is
formed e.g. in zig-zag or spiral shape. Such an auxiliary absorbing means
has in itself a function of absorbing the difference between the amounts
of thermal expansion of the inner and outer members, similarly to the
abovementioned absorbing means. Further, the auxiliary absorbing means
used in combination with the absorbing means functions effectively when a
plurality of heat collecting elements are arranged in series or in
parallel. That is, when constructing a solar heat collecting apparatus in
which a plurality of heat collecting elements are arranged in series or in
parallel, the auxiliary absorbing means is used for correcting the lengths
of the inner members and thus facilitating the connection between the
inner members to one another. If the inner member has no such auxiliary
absorbing means another member is required for correcting the length of
the member. Further, the auxiliary absorbing means also absorbs the amount
of thermal expansion of the inner member caused during the operation of
the solar heat collecting apparatus.
The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with
reference to the appended drawings. From the description, the present
invention will become more apparent, to prove that many other advantages
thereof than abovementioned are obtainable. In the drawing, similar
numerals indicate similar members and the like, and the similar
description is not repeated.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar heat collecting apparatus according
to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 sectioned along line
A--A;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along
line B--B;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a supporting member shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heat collecting element shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the element of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the element of FIG. 6 taken along line C--C;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the main part of the element of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the main part of a reflecting plate shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the fitting of the reflecting plate
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the main part of a modification of the heat
collecting element;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the main part of another modification of the
heat collecting element;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the main part of another modification of the
heat collecting element;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the main part of the fourth modification of
the heat collecting element;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the main part of the fifth modification of
the heat collecting element;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a part of the heat collecting element;
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the part of the element of FIG.
17;
FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the part of the element of FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a modification of the heat collecting
member;
FIG. 21 is a developed view of the heat collecting member of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the heat collecting element fitted with a
spacer;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the main part of the element of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the element of FIG. 22;
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the main part of a modification of the
heat collecting element of FIG. 22;
FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the element of FIG. 25;
FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a modification of the supporting
member of FIG. 1;
FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the supporting member of FIG. 27;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a modification of a solar heat collecting
apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 30 is a plan view showing the pipe arrangement in the apparatus of
FIG. 29;
FIG. 31 is an enlarged sectional view of the connection in the arrangement
of FIG. 29;
FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the right header in the arrangement of
FIG. 29;
FIG. 33 is a sectional view of the header of FIG. 32;
FIG. 34 is a perspective view of another modification of an apparatus
according to the present invention;
FIG. 35 is an exploded view of a part of the apparatus of FIG. 34; and
FIG. 36 is a sectional view of the main portion of the apparatus of FIG. 34
.
In FIGS. 1-11, a solar heat collecting apparatus comprises a plurality of
solar heat collecting elements 1 and supporting members 2 integrally
connecting the heat collecting elements 1. The solar heat collecting
element 1 comprises an outer cylinder 11, i.e. an outer member, formed
from light-permeable material e.g. soda glass, a heat collecting pipe 12,
i.e. inner member, formed from solar radiant energy absorbent material
e.g. copper and coaxially disposed inside the outer cylinder 11, onto the
heat collecting pipe 12, a copper heat collecting fin 13, i.e. heat
collecting member, being heatconductively attached.
Onto each of end faces of the glass outer pipe 11 a guide pipe 14 formed
from ferronickel of a heat expansion coefficient similar to that of soda
glass is welded through which both ends of the heat collecting pipe 12 are
protruded beyond the outer pipe 11. Further, an expandable member 15, i.e.
absorbing means, formed from phosphorus bronze is attached with wax to the
portion between one of protruding portions of the heat collecting pipe 12
and one of the ends of the guide pipe 14. With the provision of this
expandable member 15, the heat expansion and contraction of the heat
collecting pipe 12 is absorbed, to prevent the glass outer cylinder 11
from being broken. That is, the outer cylinder 11 and the heat pipe 12
formed from different materials have different coefficients of heat
expansion respectively. Since the heat collecting pipe 12 especially
formed from copper has a coefficient of heat expansion of 1.7 .times.
10.sup.-5 /deg., while the outer cylinder has that of 80-100 .times.
10.sup.-7 /deg., the heat collecting pipe, if attached directly to the
outer cylinder 11, is broken down. But according to the present invention,
the heat expansion and contraction is absorbed by the expandable member
15, and thus the outer cylinder can be protected. In FIG. 12, the
expandable member 15 is disposed inside the outer cylinder 11. Thus the
guide pipe 14 extends inwardly.
The absorbing means may be in such a form as shown in FIG. 13 or FIG. 14.
That is, it may comprise, as shown in FIG. 13 or 14, a bellows-shaped cap
100 formed from metal material and provided at one end of the outer
cylinder 11. One peripheral edge of the cap 100 is welded with powdered
lead glass to the outer cylinder 11 while the other peripheral edge is
secured with wax to the heat collecting pipe 12, thereby making air-tight
the thermal insulating space inside the outer cylinder 11. The cap 100 in
FIG. 13 is formed as a whole into a bellows shape, while the cap 100 in
FIG. 14 partly has such a shape.
Further, the expandable member 15 and the cap 100 may be formed from
flexible material, of course, and they are not limited to the
abovementioned bellows shape but may be of any construction that can
absorb the difference between the amounts of thermal expansion and
contraction of the outer cylinder 11 and the heat collecting pipe 12. The
inside of the outer cylinder 11 is made vacuous in order to prevent heat
release of outside due to the convection of gas e.g. air, intrusion of
moisture and the inner circumferential surface being dewed. For these
reasons, by providing and operating getters 16 at the end portions of the
inside of the outer cylinder 11, the inside is made more vacuous. For the
getters 16, barium, chrome, aluminum or the like is used, and by operating
the getters 16, a metal reflecting film 17 is applied on the inner surface
of both of the end portions to be covered with the supporting member 2 of
the outer cylinder 11. This metal reflecting film 17 serves for preventing
heat release from the portions, at the end of the outer cylinder 11, of
the heat collecting pipe 12. That is, since the heat collecting fin 13
attached to the heat collecting pipe 12 is so dimensioned as to be a
little shorter in view of the error of the length of the heat collecting
element 1 caused during manufacturing, the heat collecting fin 13 cannot
be attached to the portions of the heat collecting pipe 12 corresponding
to the end portions of the outer cylinder. By providing the metal
reflecting film 17 on the inner surface of such portions of the outer
cylinder 11, heat radiated from the heat collecting pipe 12 is reflected
by the reflecting film and not released to the outside, which otherwise
would be released. For the provision of the reflecting films, other means
than the getters may be used which can positively provide the same. The
heat collecting fin 13 is secured to the heat collecting pipe 12 by silver
soldering the curved middle portion 13' of the fin 13 to the pipe 12. Both
ends of the fin 13 extend due to heat during the silver soldering
operation and left thermally deformed thereafter, so that the fin 13 is
apt to contact the outer cylinder 11 to break the same, and the
belowmentioned solar radiant energy from the reflecting plate 3 cannot be
effectively received. Therefore, according to the present invention, the
heat collecting fin 13 as a whole is adapted to be held in substantially
flat condition by providing a waved or jagged thermal deformation
absorbing part 13a at each end of the heat collecting fin 13.
Further, the heat collecting pipe 12 is as long as 1 to 2 m in length, and
filled with heat medium e.g. water, to become weighty so that the middle
portion thereof is curved downwardly to contact the outer pipe 11 and thus
heat receiving efficiency is lowered. According to the present invention,
to prevent this, a spacer 4 for supporting the heat collecting pipe 12 in
the middle portion of the axis of the outer pipe 11. This spacer 4 is
constructed by attaching three pins 41 to the heat collecting pipe 12 at
an angle of 120.degree. with respect to one another and then inserting
into each of said pins 41 a thermal insulating pipe 42 of such a length as
substantially reaching the inner surface of the outer cylinder 11.
A plurality of such heat collecting elements 1 are arranged in parallel to
form a heat collecting element group A, and integrated by means of a
supporting member 2 within which the group A is integrally connected to a
header 8 or another heat collecting element group B.
The supporting member 2 comprises a hollow box-shaped member divided into
an upper and lower halves. In the wall at the contacting portion between
the upper and lower halves, recesses 23, 23 are provided for holding the
outer cylinders 11. The head ends of the outer cylinders 11 of the heat
collecting element group A are received by the recesses 23 in one side
wall, while those of the other group B are received by the recesses 23 in
the other side wall, thereby opposing the end faces of the outer cylinders
11, 11 and the heat collecting pipes 12, 12 of the groups A and B to each
other. Then each of the outer cylinders 11, 11 of the groups A and B are
covered with a nonrigid foamy thermal tube 5, inside which one pair of
opposed heat collecting pipes 12, 12 are connected together by means of a
pair of flare joints 6. Between the flare joints 6 and the thermal tube 5
is interposed a thermal insulating holder 7 divided into an upper and
lower halves, thereby preventing heat releasing from the part of the
supporting member 2. In the thermal insulating holder 7 rigid foamy
urethan 73 is filled between the outer and inner layers 71 and 72, and the
middle portion of the inner layer is removed away to form a flare joint
container 74. Further, the inner layer 72 is kept in contact with the
guide pipe 14 attached to the outer cylinder 11 of the heat collecting
element 1. The upper and lower halves 21 and 22 of the supporting member 2
are integrated by fittings 24, so that the heat collecting elements can be
clampedly fixed through the thermal tube 5 at the recesses by the upper
and lower halves 21 and 22 to be integrated into a heat collecting element
group and at the same time connected with the adjacent group of the heat
collecting elements, with sealing the inside of the supporting member 2.
The header 8 is connected and secured to the ends of the heat collecting
elements 1 by means of the supporting member 2 and the flare joints 6 in
the similar manner to that abovementioned and connected to a water or hot
water pipe. The lower half 22 of the supporting member 2 is preliminarily
fixed by means of an anchor bolt 25 onto a horizontal base C. The upper
half 21 is fitted to the lower half 22 by threading the fitting 24 into
the upper end of the anchor bolt 25.
Further, near each recess 23 in the lower half 22, there is provided a slit
26 curved and inclined at a certain angle with respect to the horizontal
base surface C. Into each slit 26 is inserted a curved reflecting plate 3
formed from stainless steel or the like. At each end of the reflecting
plate, there are provided a stopper 31 and a tongue 32 a little spaced
from the stopper 31 and raised from the reflecting plate. The tongue 32 is
inserted into the slit 26 of the supporting member 2 thereby preventing
the reflecting plate 3 from being disengaged.
The heat collecting pipe 12, the heat collecting fin 13 and the reflecting
plate 3 are so spaced that solar radiant energy is received by the
reflecting plate 3 and the reflecting energy is received surely by the
heat collecting pipe 12 and the heat collecting fin 13. Namely, the heat
collecting pipe 12 and the fin 13 are positioned at the focal points of
the reflecting plate 3. If the radius of curvature of the reflecting plate
3 is R, the focal distance is R/2, and consequently, the heat collecting
fin 13 is positioned at a distance of R/2 from the reflecting plate 3 and
in parallel with the plate 3 i.e. at a certain angle with respect to the
horizontal surface.
According to the present invention, a reflecting plate is provided for each
heat collecting element, thereby facilitating the preservation and
inspection of the apparatus. That is, at the time of trouble, only heat
collecting elements or reflecting plates out of order can be exchanged.
In the conventional apparatus, a plurality of heat collecting elements are
contained in an outer casing and if required, a flat reflecting plate is
also contained thereon. Then, whole body of such an apparatus is set to be
inclined so as to face the sun. For this purpose, supporting legs are
required for obtaining such inclination on an inclined roof or a
horizontal base surface, resulting in making troublesome the preservation
and inspection of the conventional apparatus.
As abovementioned, in an apparatus according to the present invention, the
heat collecting pipe is disposed axially of the outer cylinder with both
ends of the pipe protruded beyond the end faces respectively of the outer
cylinder, at least either one of the outer cylinder and the heat
collecting pipe is connected through an expandable member to another outer
cylinder and the collecting pipe. As the result, the possible heat
expansion and contraction of the heat collecting pipe can be absorbed by
the expandable member, thus advantageously affording to protect the outer
cylinder from breaking down, and to retain the vacuum degree in the outer
cylinder.
In FIGS. 15 and 16, there is shown a modification of the heat collecting
element 1, in which the heat collecting pipe 12 i.e. inner member is
provided with a curved portion 101 serving as the auxiliary absorbing
means. The curved portion 101 is obtained by thermally softening the heat
collecting pipe 12 itself and forming into a zig-zag or helical shape.
If the heat collecting elements in the solar heat collecting apparatus are
partly damaged or disordered, only the subject heat collecting elements
have to be exchanged. However, it is extremely difficult to identically
dimension a plurality of heat collecting elements, since more or less
error in dimension is caused. Therefore, it is important how to absorb
such error in dimension during the assembling or exchanging operation.
According to the present invention, the dimensional error is absorbed by
providing a curved portion 101 to the heat collecting pipe per se, thus
facilitating the assembling and exchanging operations. That is, when the
whole length of the pipe is greater, by pushing the heat collecting pipe
12 inwardly, the expandable member 15 contracts and the pushed amount is
absorbed by the curved portion 101, to correct the whole length of the
pipe 12. On the other hand, when the pipe 12 is shorter, by pulling
outwardly the expandable member 15 and the curved portion 101 extend, thus
correcting the length of the pipe as predetermined to permit the
connection by means of the joints 6. Further, since a part of the heat
collecting pipe per se is formed in zig-zag or helical shape as
abovementioned, positions to be silver soldered are decreased in number,
to increase the reliability of the water-tightness of the thermal
insulating space, and to lower the cost. Furthermore, since the heat
collecting pipe per se is curved, the curved portion is prevented from
corroding earlier than other portions. Thus, a heat collecting apparatus
of a stable quality can be obtained.
This auxiliary absorbing means may comprise a part of the heat collecting
pipe formed into other shape than zig-zag or helical one, e.g. a bellows
shape.
The heat collecting pipe 12 and the heat collecting fin 13 of the heat
collecting element 1 are heat-conductively connected preferably in the
manner as follows.
In FIGS. 17 and 19, the heat collecting fin 13 has a groove 103 of semi
circular section for receiving the heat collecting pipe 12 thereinto, U or
V shaped small groove 104 provided along the groove 103 substantially in
the middle portion of the groove 103. Rod-shaped wax material 105 is
mounted on the small groove 104, which is used for weldedly connected the
heat collecting pipe 12 and the heat collecting fin 13.
The pipe 12 is fitted through the wax material 105 into the groove 103.
When the whole thereof is heated in a furnace, the wax material melts and
flows into the small groove 104 and into the clearance between the groove
103 and the pipe 12 to secure the pipe 12 into the groove 103.
Thus the heat collecting pipe 12 and the fin 13 are thermally connected,
which dispenses with the troublesome operation of welding the wax material
by heating the same with a burner, or of particulating the wax material
and applying the same, to improve workability. Further, since the small
groove is provided in the groove, and the wax material is disposed into
the small groove, the positioning of the wax material is achieved by this
small groove, and without uneven distribution of the wax material, the
pipe 12 is uniformly welded.
Uneven distribution of the wax material is hardened into masses, which
causes a space to be formed between the pipe 12 and the groove 103 or the
pipe 12 to be raised up, resulting in the failure in obtaining sufficient
thermal connection between the pipe 12 and the fin 13. According to the
present invention, however, the said positioning of the wax material by
the small groove prevents such uneven distribution of the same. Further
since the wax material does not melt all at a time, but normally melts
partially, the wax material firstly melted flows along the small groove to
other parts, which prevents the was material to be partially hardened into
masses. In FIGS. 20 and 21, there is shown a modification of a heat
collecting member to be applied to the inner member.
Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the heat collecting member preferably
comprises a copper plate 107 provided with slits 106. The copper plate 107
of the such shape is helically constructed and mounted on the heat
collecting pipe 12, and the ends of the heat collecting pipe 12, and the
plate 107 are heat conductively secured to each other. The plate 107 thus
secured is formed into a heat collecting member having blades 105a. The
heat collecting member having the blades 105a is advantageous as above and
further in that the incident angle of solar radiant energy is not to be
paid attention thereto, and that a highly free heat collecting element can
be obtained.
In FIGS. 22 to 26, there is shown a modification of a spacer to be applied
to the abovementioned heat collecting element.
Referring to FIGS. 22 to 26, this spacer 110 comprises a wire material
having a C-shape and spring property. One end of the wire material is
further bent to form a leg 111. By fixing the leg 111 directly or through
a heat collecting fin 13 to the heat collecting pipe, whereby a plurality
of spacers 5 is fitted to the heat collecting pipe 12. The C-shaped spacer
is adapted to have a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the outer
cylinder 11 and to effect outward spring force. By inserting the spacer
into the outer cylinder 11 with its diameter reduced, it is in close
contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 12,
which, in cooperation with the spring effect, keep the heat collecting
pipe 12 in a suspended condition, thereby preventing the pipe 12 to be
lowered down. Besides, since the spacer 6 is in contact with the most part
of the inner circumferential surface, the load of the heat collecting pipe
is not applied in one or a few points but distributed through the whole
thereof, resulting in the protection of the pipe 12 from damage. Further,
since wire material which has a small heat releasing area, it has many
advantageous effects e.g. that heat releasing therefrom is reduced.
Further in FIGS. 25 and 26, there is shown another modification in which
the leg 111 is attached to the middle portion of the C-shaped spacer 110.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 27 and 28, description is given with regard to a
modification of the supporting member 2 of the abovementioned solar heat
collecting apparatus, especially a supporting member for effectively
connecting and supporting the pipe 120, i.e. a feed or discharge member,
and the heat collecting element 1.
The supporting member 144 adapted to integrally support the heat collecting
elements 1 together and to cover the connecting portion between the heat
collecting pipe 12 of each heat collecting element 1 and a feed or
discharge pipe 120 comprises a light-resisting plastic body 143 and a lid
member 139 adapted to cover the upper opening of the body 143. The outer
cylinder 11 and a thermal insulating pipe of the feed or discharge pipe
120 are disposed in the recesses provided in the body 143 and the lid
member 139, and then secured in a clamped manner by fixing the lid member
139 to the body 143 using screws 24. The thermal insulating pipe 131
comprises rigid foamy resin covering the outside of the feed or discharge
pipe 120 and vinylchloride outer layer 141. A valve 129 is provided near a
metal connecting member 128 e.g. a pair of flare joints for connecting the
heat collecting pipe 12 and the feed or discharge pipe 120. The valve 129
is provided with a operating shaft 30 i.e. operating member of a hexagonal
or any other non-circular shape extended from the closer 142 to protrude
beyond the valve 129 body. By rotating the operating shaft 130, the closer
is rotated to control, by opening and closing, the feed or discharge of
heat medium to the heat collecting pipe 12. The valve 129 and the metal
connecting member 128 are provided between each heat collecting element 1
and the feed or discharge pipe 120. And the valve 129 is opened or closed
for increasing or decreasing the flow through certain heat collecting
elements or at the time of preserving and inspecting the apparatus. The
thermal insulating layer covering the metal connecting member 128 and the
valve 129 comprises an upper and lower members 125 and 135 constituting a
pair. Further, this thermal insulating layer 133 consists of plastic inner
and outer layers 137 and 136. Furthermore, rigid foamy resin 138 is filled
between the inner and outer layers 137 and 136 and the middle portion of
the inner layer 137 is cut away to define a cavity 134 for containing the
metal connecting member 128 and the valve 129. A protective tube 122 is
positioned outside the thermal insulating layer 133, interposed between
the supporting member 144 and the outer cylinder 11 formed from glass
material and adapted to protect the glass outer cylinder 11 from being
broken down at the time fastening the supporting member 144. The
protective tube 122 is formed from non-rigid foamy urethane and serves
also as a thermal insulating layer. An opening 126 in the thermal
insulating layer 133 and the protective tube 122 is provided at a position
just corresponding to the operating shaft 130, so that when the lid member
139 of the supporting member 144 is detached from the body 143, a jig can
be inserted through the opening 126 and by means of this jig, the
operating shaft 130 can be rotated to operate the closer 142.
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