Solar collector expansion assembly
US5477848A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/44
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A solar energy collector expansion assembly including means for reducing having axial thermal expansion in the riser tube is described in which each riser tube has a pair of solar collecting panels attached thereto by a removable elongated "C"-shaped connection member. The "C"-shaped connection member is deliberately made from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than does the material from which the solar collecting panel and the riser tube are formed thereby influencing the dimensional thermal expansion of the riser tube-connection member assembly into a radial rather than axial direction thereby reducing the weakening and failure of the bonds which join the riser tube to adjoining members. Each riser tube-connection member assembly is curved slightly from linear into a cambered shape to further influence the path of thermal expansion of the assembly from a direction other than axial.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.