Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND O~ ~HE I~VEN~ION
Field of the Invention:
~ he present invention is concerned with a system for
collecting the solar heat to drive the cooling and heating
facilitles or to heat water utilizing the solar heat.
.escription of the Prior Art
he leaping~energy prices in recent years and the
prospect of~shortages of resources ln the future have spurred
the research~to earnestly t;ackle with the ass~gn~ent of saving ,,
energy-and~to~develop new~k~nd of energy. In the ~ield of
cooling'and heating~facilities and heating water, particular
attention has been given to the utilization of inexhaustible
solar energy.
In spite of such circumstances, however, the develop-
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~ment of the art for utilizing the solar energy is sluggish partly, '~
ue to insufficient investmen-t for de~eloping the technology.
.
At present, there are availab~e only a~flat plate-type heat
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collector in which the area for receiving light is equal to
the area for absorbing the heat, and a condenser type hea-t
collector which converges the solar beam onto a heat absorb-
ing member by means of a large parabolic mirror~
With the former system, however, the area for collect-
ing the heat was equal to the area that loses the heat, so
that the heat collecting efficiency was strikingly decreased
with the rise in heat-collecting temperature. With the latter
system, on the other hand, the construction tended to become
very bulky requiring such an increased manu~acturing cost
that was too expensive for general domestic applications. ~hus,
the existing systems for utilizing the solar energy were too
remote from being brought into practical uses.
SUMMARY OF ~HE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned circumstances, the
inventor of the present invention has conducted extensive
research and accomplished the present invention of which the
object is to provide a system for collecting solar heat, which
is capable of efficiently converting the radiation energy of
the sun into heat energy, which can be easily manufactured as
a small-size equipment requiring reduced manufacturing cost,
and which can be very easily utilized for the so-called solar
houses.
The present invention is characterized in that cup-
shaped reflector mirrors are arrayed in a suitable number in
a honeycomb manner, heat collectors are installed at a heat
collecting position in the individual reflector mirrors, and
the heat energy stored in the indilvidual heat collectors are
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utilized to heat water or to drive heating and cooling facilities.
BRIEF DESCRIP~ION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
~ he drawings show embodiments of the present invention
in whlch;
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a state where the system
of the presen-t invention is put into use;
~ ig. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment according
to the present invention;
~ ig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line I-I of
Fig. 2 shownon an enlarged scale;
Fig. L~ is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of
Fig. 2 shown on an enlarged scale;
~ ig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in
which reflector mirrors are moved;
Fig. 6 is a plan view showing another embodiment
according to the present invention;
~ ig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III
of Fig. 6 shown on an enlarged scale;
Fig~ 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in
which reflector mirrors are moved;
Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a further embodiment
according to the present invention;
~ ig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV
of Fig. 9 shown on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in
which reflector mirrors are moved;
Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a state where the system
o~ the present invention is used in other way; and
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Fig. 13 is a perspec-tive view of the reflector mirror
used for the present in-vention.
DESCRIP~ION_OF ~HE PREFERRED EMBODIMEN~S
Embodiments according to the present invention are
mentioned below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
~ ig. 1 is a diagram to illustrate a state in which
a system A for collecting the solar hea-t according -to the present
inven-tion is installed on a roof B of a house. The system shown
here is o~ the indirect heating type in which a heat exchanger D
composed of a heat-radiating coil is installed in a hot water
reservoir vessel C to exchange the heat. Of course, the present
invention néeds not be limited to the above indirect type but
may be applied to the direct heating -type by which water is
directly circulated by means of a water-feeding pipe and a hot
water-feeding pipe.
Firs-t, the primary embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated below with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 5, in
which reference numeral 1 represents a small cup shaped metallic
reflector mirror featuring high efficiency for collecting re-
flected heat. ¢ccording to the invention, a suitable number
of xeflector mirrors 1 will be arrayed depending upon the in~ta-
llation area of the system and the purpose for utilizing the
heat energy.
Since the reflector mirrors l are small in size
as compared with the conven-tional large parabolic mirrors, they
can be easily manufactured. Reference numeral 2 represents
light-transmission members formed in a polygona] shape, for
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exampla, in a hexagonal shape. The light-transmission member 2
are so mounted as to cover each of the reflector mirrors l,
whereby a number of reflector mirrors l are arrayed in a honey-
comb shape as shown in ~ig. 2. The transmission member 2 are
brought into con-tact with each other at their hexagonal sides. ;
Therefore, the whole system acquires an ideal shape with no
waste in ,space. When the system o~ the invention is installed,
for example~ on a wall of a house~ it serves as a wall member
as well thereby giving decorative appearance. Further, as
shown in ~ig. 13, hexagonal~ ~ portions 17 having fastening
~holes 23 ma~ be formed on the upper edge of the reflector
mirrors 1, so that the hexagonal transmission members 2 are
attached to the ~ portions 17. ~he transmission members 2
must have high coefficient of light transmission, great weather-
ability, great strength, and resiStance against heat and flame. .
~herefore, a reinforced glass or a light-transmitting rein- -
forced plastic material will be suitably used for the trans-
mi.ssion members.
Reference numeral 3 designates a heat collector
inserted in each~ of the reflector mirrors l in a lateral
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direction. According to this em~odiment, a heat~collector
pipe 3a lS used as a hea-t collector, and is installed at
a position where the radiation energy of the sun reflected
by the reflector mirrors 1 is effectively collected. ~he heat-
collector pipe 3a are penetrating through each of the arrays
of the reflector mirrors l, and both ends of the heat-collector
pipe 3a are rotatably communlcated to headers 4, 4' via uni~ersal
joints 5. ~he heat-coIlector pipes 3a contain a heat medium
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such as an-tifree~ing solution, oil or water. Further, the heat-
collector pipes 3a are made of a material having great heat
conductivity, and excellent resis-tance against pressure and
corrosion, such as stainless steel, synthetic resin or the like.
The headers 4, 4' are communicated to thè heat exchanger D via
heat medium pipes 18, 18' as shown in Fig. l.
Reference numeral 6 represents an electromechanically
operating mechanism equipped with a sundial or a timer. ~he
operating mechanism 6 has an operation rod 7 connected to each
of the reflector mirrors l via connection rods8, such that
the individual reflectors l are so moved as to be always in
agreement with the incident direction of the radiation energy
from the sun. ~herefore, the radiation energy of the sun is
always reflected and collected onto the heat-collector pipes 3a.
In this case, the heat-collector pipes ~a may be firmly attached
to the headers 4, 4'~ and the reflector mirrors l may be so
mounted as to be rotated by the operating mechanism 6 with
the mounting holes 19 formed in the reflector mirrors l as
centers. Or, otheI~ise$ the reflector mirrors l may be rotated
together with the heat-collector pipes 3a via the universal
ioints 5.
It is further allowable to provide driving mechanisms 9
in spaces at one end of the heat-collector pipes 3a, to rotate
the heat-collector pipes 3a utilizing the driving force of
the driving mechanisms 9, so that the reflector mirrors l
fastened to the heat-collector pipes ~a are caused to rotate
together with the rotation of the heat-collector pipes 3a.
In any way, the array of small reflector mirrors l needs be
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simply rotated without at all requiring large operation
mechanisms. .
Reference numeral 10 de~otes exhaust holes formed in
suitable positions of the transmission members 2, The air
in the reflector ~irrors l is expe~led through the exhaust
holes 10 with the rise in temperature being heated by the
radiation energy E o the sun. Preferably, the heat-collector
pipes 3a are firmly attached to the reflector mirrors 1 in
air-tight fashion.
Further, if the system A of the present invention ~.
shown in Fig. 1 is so installed that the angle o inclination
can be arbitrarily changed, it is possible to set the angle
of the system to correspond to the incident direction of the
radiation energy of the sun that varies depending upon the
seasons, so that the reflector mirrors are always in conformity
with the incident direction. : .
Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, the radiation energy
E of the sun incident in parallel with the direction of vertical
axis of the:refiector mirrors l is.reflected as indicated
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~:~ arrow and co~lected onto the heat-collector pipes 3a. The
heat energy collected by the individual reflector mirrors 1 is
accumulated to gradually raise the temperature of the heat-
collector pipes, and is efficiently imparted to the heat medium
in the b-at-collector pipes 3a
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` Besides, since the lndividual reflector mirrors 1
gradually rotate as shown in Fig. 5 with -the passage of time,
the incident direction of the radiation energy E from the sun
is always in parallel with the di.rec-tion of vertical axes of
the reflector mirrors 1. Consequently~ the radiation energy E
of the sun is always reflected and collected onto the heat-
collector pipes 3a.
The thus converted heat energ~ is imparted, for
example, to water through a hea-t exchanger D. Hot water heated
to a high temperature is then caused to rise through a hot
water~eeding pipe 12 being guided by a guide member 11 having
flow-in ports 20, and spouts from the upper openingO ~herefore~
water of high temperature is stored in the upper portion of
the reservoir vessel C~ To use hot water, the water on the upper
side having high temperature is taken out from the upper opening
portion of a flexible pipe 14 having a float 13 via a hot
water-supply pipe 15. That is, hot water hea-ted to a ve~y .~
high temperature gradually moves upwardly through tilted guide ~ .
member 11 due to the difference in specific gravity caused by
the temperature differential, and spouts from -the upper opening
of the hot water-feeding pipe 12. When the temperature of
wa-ter on the upper side of the water reservoir vessel C becomes
nearly equal to the temperature of water in the hot water-
feeding pipe 12, the hot water in the hot water-feeding pipe 12
is drained through holes 21 located on the lower side~
Therefore, water in the water reservoir vessel C is gradually
heated from the upper side toward -the lower side. Further, hot
water inside the guide member 11 and water in the water reservoir
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~ ssel C are not mixed together. Therefore, the heat cf hot
water inside the guide member 11 is not wasted, enabling
the heat to be efficiently exchanged. Reference numeral 22
denotes a water-feeding pipe. -
Further, since a number of small reflector mirrors 1
are provided, the hea-t energy collected by the individual ref- -
lector mirrors 1 are accumulated making it possible to obtain
the heat energy of considerab~y high temperatures which can
be utilized for the cooling and heating systems. Symbol F in
the drawing represents a casing of the system of the present
invention. Here, it is also allowable to make the interior
of the casing ~ vacuum to prevent heat losses.
A second embodiment of the present inve~tion is
illustrated below with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 8. In this
embodiment, the same members as those of the first embodiment
are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The differenoe between the first embodiment and the
second embodiment resides in the construction of the heat
collector 3. ~hat ls,~the heat collector 3 in the second
embodiment is composed of a heat-collector pipe ~b and
an absorpt1on membe~r 3c which is installed on the bottom in
the vertical axial direction of the reflector mirror 1.
-The tip of the absorption member ~c is located at a position
where -the heat reflected by the reflector mirror 1 will be
collectedO ~urther, according to the second embodiment,
the refIector mlrrors 1 are~so provided as to move toward the
back and forth, and toward the right and left, via operation
mechanism 6 or operation mechanism 9.
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Therefore, in the second embodiment, the reflector
mirrors 1 can be moved toward back and forth, and right and
left to reliably correspond to the incident direction of the
radiation energy E from the sun that varies depending upon
the time and seasons~ Gons~e~uently, the radiation energy
can be efficiently converted into heat energy. Purther,
the heat energy absorbed by the individual absorption members 3c
are accumulated in a number o~ reflector mirrors 1 and conducted
to the heat-collector pipes 3b, making it possible to obtain
the heat energ~ of considerably high temperatures~ Construction
o~ other portion~ and the functions of the second embodiment
are the same as those of the first embodiment.
A third embod~ment o~ the presènt invention is
illustrated below with reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 11. ~he refL
lector mirrors 16 accordlng to the third embodiment are formed
in the shape of a trough. Heat-collector plpes 3d are provided
at the positions where the heat reflected by the reflector
mirrors 1~ will be collectedO Further, the ref~ector mirrors 16
are moved via an operation mechanism which is not shown~ or
moved toge-ther with the heat-collector pipes 3d. As compared
with the cup-shaped reflector mirrors 1, the trough-shaped
reflectors 16 can be easily manu~actured, ch~aply and in large
quantity~ Therefore, the system of the third embodiment pro-
vides high practioa:l values where the heat energy of not so
high temperatures~are to be reco~ered.
~Constructlon o~ other portions and functions of the
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third embodiment are the same as those of the ~irst embodiment,
and are not mentioned here. ~
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According to the pre~ent invention as will be obvious
~rom the ~oregoing, the heat energy is accumulated by a number
of small reflector mirrors, making it possible to easily
ob-tain heat energy of high temperature which can be utilized
not only for heating wa-ter but also for driving cooling and
heating systems.
In addition, the system for collecting the heat can
be manufactured in very small sizes as compared with the conven-
tional large reflector mirrors, and can be installed on any
places where the solar light beam is irradiated. ~or instance,
the system acco~ding to the present invention can be ins-talled
on a roof or wall of a house. When installed on the wall, the
system of the present invention serves as A beautiful wall
member, thus giving great practical valuesO
Purther~ the reflector mirrors can be easily moved
that was so far practically imposslble, and can also be manufactured
easily because they are small in size. Consequently, the system
of the present invention can be manufactured requiring reduced
manufacturing cost and in rigid construction, featuring durability
against earthquakes~and strong winds~ and enabling the system
itself to be sufficiently durable for extended periods of use,
presenting very excellent advantage in economy.
Moreover, the system of the present invention can be
easily installed not only for general houses but also in wide
places such as in factories~ rthermore, the system of the
invention can also be installed on a raft floated on a lake~
thus finding very extensive applicationsO
