SOLAR THERMAL PANTILE HAVING LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE CONNECTING ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a solar thermal pantile (20) for the production of thermal energy from solar radiation, the shape of which essentially corresponds to the shape of a conventional roof tile, comprising an absorber (26) passed-through by a medium, having an inlet line (34) and an outlet line (36), which is arranged on a base tile (22), which is for mounting the solar thermal pantile (20) on a roof, wherein the inlet line (34), at its free end, comprises a first connecting element (38), the outlet line (36) is formed, and, at its free end, comprises a second connecting element (40), at least one of the two lines (34, 36) is formed as being variable in length, the two connecting elements (38, 40) are connectable to each other, in an initial state, both connecting elements (38, 40) are arranged within outer dimensions of the solar thermal pantile (20), in an assembly state at least one of the two connecting elements (38, 40) may be pulled out beyond the outer dimensions of the solar thermal pantile (20), so that it is connectable to a first connecting element (38, 40) of an adjacent solar thermal pantile (20).

Claims

1. A solar thermal pantile (20) for the production of thermal energy from solar radiation, the shape of which essentially corresponds to the shape of a conventional roof tile, comprising an absorber (26) having an inlet line (34) and an outlet line (36)and being passed by a medium, the absorber being arranged on a base tile (22), which is for mounting the solar thermal pantile (20) on the roof, wherein the inlet line (34), at its free end, comprises a first connecting element (38), the outlet line (36), at its free end, comprises a second connecting element (40), at least one of the two lines (34, 36) is formed as being variable in length, the two connecting elements (38, 40) are connectable to each other, in an initial state, both connecting elements (38, 40) are arranged within outer dimensions of the solar thermal pantile (20), in an assembly state, at least one of the two connecting elements (38, 40) may be pulled out beyond the outer dimensions of the solar thermal pantile (20), so that it is connectable to a corresponding connecting element (38, 40) of an adjacent solar thermal pantile (20).

2. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet line (36) is formed as being variable in length.

3. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first connecting element (38) and the inlet line (34) are arranged locally fixed within the solar thermal pantile (20).

4. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two connecting elements (38, 40) are formed such that they form a snap-in connecting.

5. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting element (38) comprises an accommodation opening (46) T-shaped in the horizontal plane, open towards the top for accommodating the second connecting element (40) which is also formed as being T-shaped.

6. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 5, characterized in that the second connecting element (40) comprises at least one accommodation (52), into which a snap-in element arranged in the first connecting element (38) is engageable.

7. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that the snap-in element is formed as a spring-loaded pin (48), wherein the accommodation (52) and the pin (48) are oriented essentially in the horizontal direction.

8. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that free end of the pin (48) is formed in a conically tapering manner such that said pin contacts an edge that limits the accommodation (52).

9. The solar thermal pantile (20) according to claim 8, characterized in that the two connecting elements (38, 40), in the assembled state of the two connecting elements (38, 40), form an access opening (54) foe a tool (56), by means of which the pin (48) may be urged backwards, allowing release of the two connecting elements (38, 40) from each other.

10. The solar thermal system for the production of thermal energy from solar radiation, comprising solar thermal pantiles (20) according to claim 1 connected to each other, which are coupled to a utilization facility via a cold water line (58) and a hot water line (60).

11. The solar thermal system according to claim 10, characterized in that in the edge region of an area of solar thermal pantiles (20) according to the invention, solar thermal pantiles (20) are each coupled via a supply feeding line (66) to a feeding line (64), which is connected to the cold water line (58), solar thermal pantiles (20), in the opposite edge region of the area, are each coupled to a collecting line (68) via a collecting supply line (70), which is connected to the hot water line (60).

12. The solar thermal system according to claim 10, characterized in that the cold water line (58) and the hot water line (60) in some places are arranged in a downspout (72).

Description

[0037] The invention will be explained in detail by way of the following figures, said figures showing a preferred working example of the invention, which, however, is not intended to limit the invention to the features shown, wherein

[0038] FIG. 1: shows an explosion representation of the solar thermal pantile according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 2: shows a portion of a roof, which is covered with the solar thermal pantiles according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 3: shows a cross section of the row of installed solar thermal pantiles;

[0041] FIG. 4: shows an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3;

[0042] FIG. 5: shows a longitudinal section of the water-containing unit of the solar thermal pantile;

[0043] FIG. 6: shows a longitudinal section of the solar thermal pantile according to the invention, with the connecting element being extended;

[0044] FIG. 7: shows a top view of the solar thermal pantile according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 8: shows two connecting elements of two solar thermal pantiles in the assembled state;

[0046] FIG. 9: shows a releasing operation of the connection of FIG. 8 with the help of a tool;

[0047] FIG. 10: shows a strongly simplified representation of a system for obtaining thermal energy according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 11: shows coupling of solar thermal pantiles to a feeding line;

[0049] FIG. 12: shows coupling of the solar thermal pantiles to a manifold;

[0050] FIG. 13: shows a cross section of a downspout including connecting lines.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an explosion representation of a preferred embodiment of a solar thermal pantile 20 according to the invention. Basically, the solar thermal pantile 20 is formed in a sandwich-type design. Starting from of a base tile 22, which forms a bottom side of a solar thermal pantile 20 and is laid on top of a roof supporting structure 24 (also cf. FIG. 3), followed by an absorber 26 and preferably a transparent or translucent cover 28. It is to be seen that the absorber 26 is formed of an upper absorber element 30 and a lower absorber element 32.

[0052] The cover 28 approximately has the same shape as the upper absorber element 30, thus entirely covering said absorber element. The lower absorber element 32 will be passed-through by a fluid not shown. It is therefore coupled to an inlet line 34 and an outlet line 36. The inlet line 34 is followed by a first connecting element 38 and the outlet line is followed by a second connecting element 40. The two connecting elements 38, 40 may each be coupled to a corresponding connecting element 38, 40 of an adjacent solar thermal pantile 20.

[0053] A frame 42 is furthermore shown, approximately having the dimensions of the base tile 22 and serving for the accommodation of the absorber 26. Moreover, in the working example shown, the cover 28 is supported on the frame 42 and is connected thereto.

[0054] In FIG. 1, it is not to be seen that the second connecting element 40 is guided in a longitudinal groove 44 of the base tile 22. This significantly facilitates installation of the solar thermal pantile 20 by way of specifically pulling out the second connecting element 40. The longitudinal groove 44 furthermore avoids distortion of the second connecting element 40.

[0055] Finally, it is essential for the outlet line 36, which is arranged between the lower absorber element 32 and the second connecting element 40 to be variable in length. In the working example shown, it is formed as a trumpet pipe, which is formed of two pipe portions which are slideable into each other and having different diameters.

[0056] From the FIGS. 2 to 4, the installation according to the invention of solar thermal pantiles 20 on a roof or a roof supporting structure 24, respectively, becomes clear. FIG. 2 shows a top view of a region of a roof, FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section across a row of solar thermal pantiles 20, and FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the region B from FIG. 3.

[0057] It is to be seen that the solar thermal pantiles 20 which are connected to each other, overlap in some areas, similar to conventional roofing with common roof tiles. They then abut with their bottom side, i.e. the bottom side of the base tile 22, on the roof supporting structure 24. Especially in FIG. 4 it is shown that respective adjacent solar thermal pantiles 20 arranged one over the other, are connected to each other via the connecting elements 38, 40. Fluid passing through will then be transferred from of a solar thermal pantile 20 through the inlet line 34, the two connecting elements 38, 40, the absorber 26 and the outlet line 36 to the next solar thermal pantile 20.

[0058] FIG. 5 explains the design of the solar thermal pantile 20 according to the invention. It is to be seen that the first connecting element 38 is followed by the inlet line 34 and leading to the lower absorber element 32. After the fluid flows through the lower absorber element 32 and has appropriately been heated it is passed to the second connecting element 40 through the outlet line 36.

[0059] For installation of the solar thermal pantiles 20 it is furthermore of advantage, that the absorber 26, especially the upper absorber element 30 as well as the cover 28, do not entirely cover the first connecting element 38 so that it easily remains accessible during tiling the roof. The first connecting element 38 will finally be first covered by the installed adjacent solar thermal pantile 20, thereby being no longer visible in the installed state.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a solar thermal pantile 20 having extended second connecting element 40. The outlet line 36, which, in the working example shown, is formed as a trumpet pipe, is variable in length, so that the second connecting element 40 may be pulled out beyond the overall dimensions of the solar thermal pantile 20. It then protrudes opposite of the respective edge or side of the solar thermal pantile 20 and may smoothly be connected to an adjacent first connecting element 38.

[0061] FIG. 7 explains, by way of a top view representation of the solar thermal pantile 20, that in the initial state there are no elements protruding over overall dimensions of the solar thermal pantile 20. The overall dimensions are specified by the two transverse sides 80 and the two longitudinal sides 82. It may as well be seen that an accommodation opening 46 of the first connecting element 38, in the initial state, is not covered by the absorber 26 or the cover 28, but is open towards the top, i.e. towards the direction facing away from the base tile 22. The accommodation opening 46 essentially is formed as being T-shaped.

[0062] The FIGS. 8 and 9 exemplify the advantageous connection o two solar thermal pantiles 20 via the two connecting elements 38, 40. The two connecting elements 38, 40 are shown in longitudinal section view, wherein the outlet line 36 is not being drawn. What may be seen is the accommodation opening 46 (or accommodating recess), into which the second connecting element 40 is insertable. The T-shape causes the connection to be secured in essentially horizontal direction, i.e. in the pull-out direction of the second connecting element 40, and the two connecting elements 38, 40 may not be disengaged from each other.

[0063] In addition, spring-loaded pins 48 are to be seen as snap-in elements. In the working example shown, two pins 48 are provided, each one of which being oriented parallel adjacent to the outlet line 36.

[0064] A spring element 50 urges the respective pin 48 towards an accommodation 52, which is arranged in the second connecting element 40. A snap-in or click connection will thereby result, which also secures essentially in the vertical direction, i.e. transversally to the pull-out direction of the second connecting element 40. The pins 48 each have a conically shaped free end, the diameter of which is dimensioned such that the pins 48 will not be entirely inserted into the respective accommodation 52. In this way, it will be achieved that the spring force of the spring element 50 acts towards an appropriate edge of the respective accommodation 52, thus urging the second connecting element 40 against an opposite opening of the inlet line 34. The openings of the outlet line 36 and the inlet line 34 therein abut each other. The pressure of the spring element 50 causes a tight connection between the two connecting elements 38, 40 to be assured.

[0065] FIG. 9 furthermore shows that, in the assembled state of the two connecting elements 38, 40, an access opening 54 for a tool 56 results. Into this access opening 54 an angular-shaped tool 56 is insertable, by which tool the two pins 48 may be pushed back against the spring force of the spring element 50, thus allowing release of the two connecting elements 38, 40 from each other.

[0066] From FIG. 10 it will arise how a system is to be designed, which makes use of the solar thermal pantile according to the invention 20. Relatively cold fluid is supplied to the solar thermal pantiles 20 via a cold water line 58. Said fluid will be heated when flowing through the solar thermal pantiles 20 connected to each other, and will be recycled via a hot water line 60 back to the heat exchanger 62, or alternatively will be recycled back to direct utilization. The two connecting lines, i.e. the cold water line 58 and the hot water line 60, couple the solar thermal pantiles 20 to the utilization facility, for example a water supply system of house.

[0067] FIG. 11 explains the conveyance of the relatively cold fluid via a feeding line 64 to solar thermal pantiles 20. The feeding line 64 preferably is arranged in the region of a gutter board of the roof. A row of solar thermal pantile 20, which are arranged in the edge region of an area of solar thermal pantiles 20 according to the invention, preferably the lower row of a roof, is coupled to feeding line 64 via a supply feeding line 66. The supply feeding line 66 connects the feeding line 64 to each of the first connecting element 38 of a solar thermal pantile 20.

[0068] FIG. 12 shows attachment of the solar thermal pantiles 20 of the uppermost row to a collecting line 68. A collecting supply line 70 extends from the second connecting element 38 into the collecting line 68, feeding heated fluid thereto.

[0069] FIG. 13 explains an advantageous installation of the connecting lines, i.e. the cold water line 58 and the hot water line 60, in places within a downspout 72. In this case, the downspout 72 preferably is divided into two compartments by a separating wall 74, wherein a first compartment 76 is for discharging rain water, a second compartment 78 is for accommodating the two connecting lines 58, 60. This mode of installation, on the one hand, is cost-effective and quickly feasible, on the other hand the external appearance of the house will not negatively be affected.

[0070] The invention is not limited to the working examples shown and represented, but also includes other possible embodiments. Especially, instead of the outlet line 36, the inlet line 34 or even both lines 34, 36 may be formed as being variable in length. It is also conceivable that, instead of the base tile 22, the absorber 26 directly is for mounting to the roof structure 24, i.e. the base tile 22 may thus be omitted.