Barrel-Shaped Solar Roofing Element and Method for Its Manufacture

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an improved roof mounted panel for collecting solar ray energy and more particularly the invention is directed to a solar energy collection panel element which includes a generally barrel-shaped conic section of molded plastic for focussing solar energy generally toward an internal conduit or passway for water or other heat exchange fluid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various prior art solar energy panels and systems and devices, and the like, as well as apparatus and method of their construction in general, are found to be known and exemplary of the U.S. prior art are the following:

Allegro, 4,146,014, Mar. 27, 1979.

Allegro, 4,158,357, Jun. 19, 1979.

Patent No. '014 teaches the concept of using a hidden solar heat exchange fluid system.

Patent No. '357 shows that energy panels may be distributed along the slope of a roof while serving substantially as overlapped shingles.

These patents or known prior uses teach and disclose various types of solar energy panels and devices of sorts and of various manufactures and the like as well as methods of their construction, but none of them whether taken singly or in combination disclose the specific details of the combination of the invention in such a way as to bear upon the claims of the present invention.

An object, advantage and feature of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved barrel-shaped roofing element so that solar energy radiating onto the panel is directed onto an interior passway thereof containing a heat exchanger fluid.

Another object of the invention is directed further to providing for panel structure easily constructed by injection molding and easily installed on roofs for dual purpose as shingling.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a simple and direct method for the improved construction of a panel having a passway and features for easily installing in a solar energy system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of making a panel having male and female couplings easily mating with other panels for forming a decorative roof structure.

The barrel-shaped panel construction further provides for a radial component to the panel allowing solar energy react with a greater fluid passage area in the heat exchange circuit structure, as opposed to a flat shingle construction. Also, the barrel-shaped construction, distinguished from a flat shingle construction, provides for better roof insulation, and a decorative system for solar energy collection that doubling acts as shingling. The term "barrel-shaped" as used herein shall mean encompassing a portion of a rounded outer surface exposed to solar rays in a module having more length than breadth, and having substantially closed ends, and may comprise a tapered rounded surface being generally conically disposed along the length. The barrel-shaped surface element acts as a shingle and extends from lateral extensions defining flanged components for overlapping and serving as a shingle receiving roofing nails or the like when applied to a roof. The elements thus matingly couple with adjacent solar roof elements.

The invention further provides a device providing for the collection of solar energy by with a panel with internal liquid flow paths of PVC plastic formed by injection molding adapted for receiving solar energy upon an outer surface thereof through a relatively thin dimension of insulating material. A passway extends throughout the length of the panel elements for passage of a heat exchange mating fluid, the passway having a male coupling and a mating female coupling at opposite ends of the fluid conduit passageway for forming a fluid circuit system.

Other objects and advantages residing in the details of the process and operation thereof will become apparent as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing as array of barrel-shaped solar roofing elements and illustrating a typical installation of the solar elements as shingles in a solar energy collection system according to a preferred embodiment and best mode of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the roofing elements of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2--2.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, respectively, show a lower end view, a plan view, and an upper end view of a single barrel-shaped solar roofing element embodying the concepts of the invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D, respectively, show a lower end view, a plan view, and upper end view, and a side view, of a single barrel-shaped solar roofing element having a defined cut-out or knock-out portion thereof.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a solar roofing element or panel 10 of plastic material such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) or the like, and formed by a process such as injection molding. The panel 10 has a configuration such that the panel 10 has a tapered round outer surface of a conical-shape termed a barrel-shaped element downwardly on sloping roofs. The smaller barrel to be installed with a larger end directed end wall 12 thus appears at an upper extremity of each element installed and the larger end wall 14 at a lower extremity. The end walls 12, 14 each possess a knock-out or cut out parts 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, in the end walls 12, 14 for being severed from the walls 12, 14 as is shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. These can be used for installing fittings for transfer of fluid in a solar system of interconnected panels, for example.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show in detail that the outer surface of the panel 10 with grooves or ridges 18 along an outer length dimension of the panel 10 for lending strength and rigidity to the structure of the panel 10 but more important to increase the surface area receiving solar radiation energy. In the respective end walls 12, 14 is an aperture or central recess 22, 24 for receiving a pipe or conduit or passway 26 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C for providing conduit for a heat exchanger fluid (conventional in nature and not shown). This is preferably molded in at the time the panel element is formed but may be an added commercially available coupling as explained by the FIG. 4 knock-out parts. The conduit or passway 22, 24, 26, 27 passing through and molded into the panel element 10 terminates, for example, though not in limitation thereof, in a male coupling 30 at the upper end wall 12 and in a female coupling 32 at the lower end wall 14.

The panel 10 may be associated with other panels 10 for assembly in a system of solar roofing elements also serving as shingles as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The couplings 30, 32 are connected in a mating relation, also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also upper as well as lower ones of the couplings 30, 32 at opposite ends of the roofing system terminate in tee's 40, 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, for connection of the solar heated liquid flow path into a solar energy system of conventional native, not shown.

The panel 10 may be of a color selected as desired, and the outer or exterior of the panel 10 may be copper coated, as is known in the art; FIG. 3B shows how the panel is supported on a roofing structure 44 by nails (not shown) inserted or received in the nail holes 50, 52. Illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 4A, 3C, and 4C are mating construction edge 60 for allowing the adjacent edge 62 to matingly engage therewith in an abutting or overlap joint suitably sealed by glue or tar if used as the primary shingling on the roof.

Inside the barrel, which is hollow, polyurethane foam is preferably as a roof contacting layer introduced as heat insulation for the purpose of keeping the roof cooler, since the hollow barrel may otherwise serve as a heat trap in the presence of penetrating color radiation. The heat trap effect will improve the efficiency of heat transfer in the solar system.

The apparatus of the solar panel 10 of the invention may be so constructed and arranged in its component parts that it may be assembled as a kit or in kit form.

The basic panel element of this invention comprises a tapered barrel having two opposed ends with tapered pipe fittings centralized therein. Between the pipe fittings is a liquid passageway 27 between top and bottom sections of the barrel. This passageway has a thinner cover layer over the top portion of the barrel for more efficient penetration of solar radiation. Overlapping sides and ends 60, 62, 63 permit use in place of shingles in an overlapped panel system. The panel elements 10 may be nailed to a roof like shingles preferably through nail holes 50, 52 molded into the panel ends. The barrel walls are substantially 0.100 inch thick in a preferred embodiment. Outer surface ridges provide strength and additional solar collecting surface area, which coincides with the liquid passageways. Polyurethane insulation layers or filler 65 can be placed or glued inside the barrels after molding. The barrel can be formed of two laminations with the liquid passageway therebetween, with a thinner outer larger to permit solar radiation to penetrate into the liquid passageway more effectively.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or nature of the invention, which is defined with particularity in the appended claims.