Patent · US Expired

Solar water heating panel attachment device

US5823176A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
1References
11Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 10, 1997
Grant dateOct 20, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/47
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A flexible tie-down device is provided for attaching a swimming pool-type solar water panel to a roof or other structure. The device is adapted for use with a solar panel having at least one elongate solar panel array formed of a number of side-by-side connected, small diameter, flexible elastomeric, heat transfer tubes, which are attached in fluid flow relationship at one end to a rigid, larger diameter tubular, unheated water inlet manifold and at the other end to a rigid, larger diameter tubular heated water outlet manifold. The tie-down device comprises a plurality of flexible elastromeric tubes connected in a side-by-side relationship to form a device array, the tubes having a length enabling the device array to bend around the outside of either of the inlet and outlet manifolds with the end regions of the device extending outwardly in a parallel, overlapping relationship relative to one another. A lag screw is provided for passing through a retainer clip and the overlapping end regions of the device array and for extending into an existing roof structure. The tie-down device is sized so that when the device is installed around either of the inlet and outlet manifolds and is a…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.