Solar heat exchange panel
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of abandoned application, Ser. No. 775,000, filed Mar. 7, 1977. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A considerable number of solar heat exchange panels presently exist. In a solar heating system, the solar heat exchange panel, which is the heat collecting portion, is exposed to the sun to absorb heat from the rays of the sun. Air is circulated within the heat exchange panel to transfer the heat from the solar heat exchange panel to where the heat can be utilized. Frequently a liquid conduit is also mounted in the solar heat exchange panel to absorb heat which can also be used for various purposes as is the heated air. 
     This invention relates to improvements in the structure of a solar heat exchange panel and in particular to a solar heat exchange panel of limited size to relationship to the amount of heat that it can absorb. Prior art relating to solar heat exchange panels is as follows: 
     
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Inventor           Patent Number                                          
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Moreau               201,439                                              
Awot               2,907,318                                              
Gallagher          4,011,856                                              
Taylor             4,016,861                                              
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     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved solar heat exchange panel which efficiently transfers the collected energy by utilizing only a reduced space. The solar heat exchange panel is not only simple and inexpensive to construct but is reduced in size and weight while being capable of a long life and efficient operation. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristics of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The solar energy collector is located within an insulated enclosure with a metallic casing having a transparent top exposed to the sun with a reflective base below it. Suspended between the transparent top and the reflective base are a series of generally parallel V-shaped heat absorbing bars in a spaced relationship from one another. Directly under the space between the bars is an elongated convex surface, also reflective. Solar rays which pass between the bars impinge against the reflective surface and, in particular, the convex surface and are thereby radiated against the underside of the V-shaped heat collecting bars. A water tube may also be located in the bottom of the trough of the V-shaped bars. 
     The invention itself, however, as to its construction and obvious advantages will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the solar panel from the top, lower side and end with portions of the panel broken away. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a slight modification of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the description hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, the solar heat exchange panel is encased within a box-like enclosure 11. Insulation 13 surrounds all but the top 15 of the solar heat exchange panel which is transparent, being made of either clear vinyl, plastic or glass. The outside of the insulation 13 is covered by a casing 16 preferably made of either metal or a hard plastic. The bottom 17 lies substantially parallel to the top surface 15. The inner surface 18 of the bottom 17 faces the top surface 15 and is made out of a reflective material, as for example, a mirror or aluminum foil. A lower side 19 is provided with cold air inlets 21 in the form of oval-shaped openings. A lower conduit 23, which has a semi-circular shape extends along the lower side 19 and surrounds the cold air inlets 21 to introduce cold air to the enclosure 11. Cold air is supplied to the lower conduit 23 through an inlet tube 25 connected to the lower conduit 23. An upper side 27, which is parallel to the lower side 19, has outlets located through it, also in the form of oval-shaped openings, for the discharge of heated air. An upper conduit 31, which also has a semi-circular shape, extends along the upper side 27 and encloses the upper side 27 so that the heated air passing through outlets 29 in the upper side 27 enters the upper conduit and is then exited through an outlet tube 33. The two remaining surfaces of the enclosure are the ends 35, 37 which are generally parallel to one another and connect both the upper side 27, the lower side 19 and the bottom 17 and the top 15. 
     The two ends 35, 37 have V-shaped notches 39 cut in them from adjacent the top 15 downwardly a substantial distance but not the entire distance toward the bottom 17. The top of the V-shaped notches 39 in the two ends 35, 37 may be approximately, by way of example, two and a quarter inches across, and come to an apex 43 about four and half inches deep. The ends 35, 37 may either be partially cut through with the V-shaped notches 39 or may be cut straight through and then have an enclosure barrier 45 placed over the ends 35, 37. The V-shaped notches 39 are spaced from one another adjacent the top 15 a distance substantially smaller than the top of a V-shaped notch 39 itself. By way of example, adjacent notches with a top distance of two and three quarter inches across would only have a distance of about three eighths of an inch between them adjacent the top 15. 
     The V-shaped bars 49 for collecting heat are located within the V-shaped notches 39 below the top 15, approximately three-quarters of an inch, assuming the dimensions for each notch 39 and its relative spacing is as previously stated. This is also consistent with each V-shaped bar 49 having a side measurement of four inches. The resulting space between the top 15 and the V-shaped bars provides a passageway for the travel of air being heated. Since the V-shaped bars 49 are recessed from the top 15 about three-quarters of an inch within the V-shaped notches 39, the space between the tops of the V-shaped bars 49 is about three-quarters of an inch rather than three-eighths of an inch as exists at the top of the V-shaped notches in the example given. The V-shaped bars 49 are made of a heat absorbing material and are parallel to one another with the apex 51 of the V-shaped bars directed toward the reflective bottom surface 18. In this way, the trough 53 of the V-shaped bars 49 is directed to the top 15 so that the sunlight will strike the troughs 53 directly. The enclosure 11 is sufficiently deeper than the V-shaped notches 39 so that a distance of approximately three-quarters of an inch assuming the earlier-mentioned dimensions is left below the apex 43 of the V-shaped bars 49 to provide for air circulation below the V-shaped bars 49. 
     Directly below the open space between any two V-shaped bars 49 on the bottom reflective surface 18 are convex strips 57, also made of a reflective material. The V-shaped bars 49 are either black or another absorbent color, such as green on all four surfaces for high heat absorption on all sides, both top and bottom. Sunlight which does not impinge directly upon the troughs 53, passes between the V-shaped bars 49 and is reflected back up by the convex strips 57 and the reflective surface 18 against the underside of the V-shaped bars 49. 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, where heat absorption by a circulating liquid is also to be used, a tube 59 is placed in the bottom of the troughs 53 formed by the V-shaped bars 49 and in physical contact with the V-shaped bars 49 so that heat conduction to the tube 59 will occur. In this way, the sunlight entering through the top 15 will strike the tube 59. A fluid, probably water or a mixture of water and an antifreeze, is circulated through the tube 59 to be heated. An inlet (not shown) is an extension of the tube 59 through either one of the ends 35, 37. An outlet 61 similar to the inlet (not shown) extends through the end 35. 
     In use, the solar heat exchange panel is placed at an inclined position with the transparent top 15 directed toward the sun. The lower side 19 would thereby be located below the upper side 27 so that air could pass through the enclosure 11 and rise, even by gravity if not by forced circulation, to the upper side 27 and out through the outlet tube 33. The rays of the sun, as indicated by arrows 65, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, enter through the glass or transparent top 15 directly against the V-shaped bars 49 both directly and by reflection as further shown by the arrows 65. As can be readily seen, both sides, top and bottom of the V-shaped heat absorbing bars 49 are used. Assuming an enclosure 11 approximately four feet by eight feet, with eight foot long V-shaped bars 49 placed therein, fifteen to sixteen of the bars 49 would be possible, resulting in approximately a five to one increase in available surface for heat absorption over a panel utilizing only the top surface of its heat absorbing units. 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning of range of equivalency of the claims are therefore, intended to be embraced therein: