U.S. patent application number 12/186525 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for solar air conditioning device.
This patent application is currently assigned to FU ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHEN ZHEN) CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to TAY-JIAN LIU, XIN-JIAN XIAO.
Application Number | 20090133687 12/186525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40668668 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090133687 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIU; TAY-JIAN ; et
al. |
May 28, 2009 |
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE
Abstract
A solar air conditioning device includes an inlet assembly, an
outlet assembly, a plurality of solar collectors, and a plurality
of connecting assemblies connecting the solar collectors together.
Each solar collector has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing
set located below the transparent panel. The heat-absorbing set
includes a plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together and
divides an inner space of the solar collector into an upper
heat-storage cavity and a lower heat-absorbing cavity. Each
connecting assembly includes a plurality of connecting units
connecting the adjacent solar collectors together and communicating
with the heat absorbing cavities of the adjacent solar collectors.
Two supporting surfaces are formed at two opposite ends of each
connecting unit for supporting adjacent transparent panels thereon.
The inlet and outlet assemblies seal two ends of the heat-storage
cavity and communicate with two ends of the heat-absorbing
cavity.
Inventors: |
LIU; TAY-JIAN; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; XIAO; XIN-JIAN; (Shenzhen City, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
FU ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHEN
ZHEN) CO., LTD.
Shenzhen City
CN
FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
40668668 |
Appl. No.: |
12/186525 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/664 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S 10/502 20180501;
F24S 60/00 20180501; Y02B 10/20 20130101; F24S 80/30 20180501; Y02E
10/44 20130101; F24S 80/40 20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/664 |
International
Class: |
F24J 2/20 20060101
F24J002/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 23, 2007 |
CN |
200710124773.0 |
Claims
1. A solar air conditioning device comprising: an inlet assembly;
an outlet assembly; a solar collector assembly disposed between and
interconnecting the inlet assembly and the outlet assembly, the
solar collector assembly comprising a plurality of solar collectors
each of which has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing set
located below the transparent panel, the heat-absorbing set
comprising a plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together,
the heat-absorbing units dividing an inner space of the solar
collector into an upper heat-storage cavity and a lower
heat-absorbing cavity, the inlet and outlet assemblies sealing two
ends of the upper heat-storage cavities and communicating with two
ends of the lower heat-absorbing cavities; and at least a
connecting assembly disposed between adjacent solar collectors, the
at least a connecting assembly comprising a plurality of connecting
units, the connecting units connecting the adjacent solar
collectors together and communicating with the lower heat absorbing
cavities of the two adjacent solar collectors, two supporting
surfaces being formed at two opposite ends of each of the
connecting units for supporting adjacent transparent panels
thereon.
2. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the connecting unit comprises a body, two upper connecting blocks
respectively extending outwardly from two opposite sides of an
upper portion of the body, and two hollow lower connecting blocks
respectively extending outwardly from the two opposite sides of a
lower portion of the body, the upper and lower connecting blocks
being received in the upper heat-storage cavities and the lower
heat-absorbing cavities of the adjacent solar collectors
respectively.
3. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the upper and lower connecting blocks respectively define upper and
lower air passages therein, the lower air passages of the two
hollow lower connecting blocks communicating with each other, the
upper air passages of the two upper connecting blocks communicating
with each other or being isolated from each other.
4. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the heat-absorbing unit comprises an elongate bottom plate, a
heat-absorbing plate above the bottom plate, and a brace plate
connecting the bottom plate and the heat-absorbing plate, the brace
plate having an upper portion above the heat-absorbing plate and a
lower portion below the heat-absorbing plate, the heat-absorbing
plates of adjacent heat-absorbing units of the heat-absorbing set
engaging with each other via first and second clasping structures
formed at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of heat-storage
channels being defined in the heat-storage cavity and a plurality
of heat-absorbing channels being defined in the heat-absorbing
cavity, the upper and lower connecting blocks being received in the
heat-storage channels and heat-absorbing channels of the adjacent
solar collectors, respectively.
5. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein
a first gap is defined between the upper and lower connecting
blocks for receiving an end of the heat-absorbing plate of the
heat-absorbing unit therein, and a second gap is defined between
the lower connecting block and a base plate of the connecting unit
for receiving an end of the bottom plate of the heat-absorbing unit
therein.
6. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein
receiving grooves are defined in two opposite ends of the
connecting unit for receiving engaged fist and second clasping
structures and engaged first and second fastening structures of
adjacent heat-absorbing units therein.
7. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the at least a connecting assembly further comprises an elongate
locking bar and an elongate pressing plate, an elongate groove
being defined in a top portion of the body of each of the
connecting units for receiving the elongate locking bar therein,
the pressing plate being placed over the bodies of the connecting
units of the at least a connecting assembly and connecting with the
locking bar by a plurality of bolts.
8. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the pressing plate has an n-shaped configuration and comprises a
top portion and two side portions extending downwardly from two
opposite sides of the top portion, two protrudes being formed at
bottom ends of the two side portions of the pressing plate, the
supporting surfaces of the connecting unit being formed by the top
surfaces of the upper connecting blocks of the connecting unit,
ends of adjacent transparent panels being placed on the top
surfaces of the upper connecting blocks, the two protrudes of the
pressing plate abutting against the ends of the adjacent
transparent panels.
9. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of the connecting units comprises a joining base, a top plate
above the joining base, and a supporting plate connecting between
the joining base and the top plate, the joining bases of the
connecting units being received in the upper heat-storage cavities
of the adjacent solar collectors, two opposite ends of joining
bases connecting with heat-absorbing units of adjacent solar
collector respectively, ends of the adjacent transparent panels
being arranged between the joining bases and top plates of the
connecting units.
10. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the joining base comprises a bottom plate, two joining
plates upwardly extending from two opposite sides of the bottom
plate and two supporting arms connected between top portions of the
two joining plates, the supporting surfaces being top surfaces of
the supporting arms, ends of the adjacent transparent panels being
placed on the top surfaces of the supporting arms, the at least a
connecting assembly further comprising two pressing bars inserted
in slots formed between the top plates and the supporting arms at
two opposite ends of the connecting units, a plurality of bolts
extending through top plates of the connecting units and abutting
against the pressing bars to press the ends of the adjacent
transparent panels.
11. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 9,
wherein each of the connecting units comprises an indent defined in
one side and an extrusion formed at an opposite side, the extrusion
of one connecting unit being received in the indent of an adjacent
connecting unit for connecting the adjacent connecting units.
12. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the heat-absorbing unit comprises an elongate bottom plate,
a heat-absorbing plate above the bottom plate, and a brace plate
connecting the bottom plate and the heat-absorbing plate, the brace
plate having an upper portion above the heat-absorbing plate and a
lower portion below the heat-absorbing plate, the heat-absorbing
plates of adjacent heat-absorbing units of the heat-absorbing set
engaging with each other via first and second clasping structures
formed at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of heat-storage
channels being defined in the heat-storage cavity and a plurality
of heat-absorbing channels being defined in the heat-absorbing
cavity, the connecting bases being received in the heat-storage
channels of the adjacent solar collectors.
13. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the solar collector comprises first and second supporting
members at opposite sides thereof, the first and second supporting
members engaging with two opposite outmost heat-absorbing units,
respectively.
14. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 13,
wherein each of the first and second supporting members defines a
recess for insertion of the transparent panel thereinto.
15. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 13,
further comprising a plurality of fixing assemblies each of which
comprising two arms, the arms of the fixing assemblies being
respectively fixed to adjacent solar collectors, adjacent inlet
assembly and solar collector, and adjacent solar collector and
outlet assembly, joining the inlet assembly, the outlet assembly
and the solar collectors together.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/776,906 filed on Jul. 12, 2007 and entitled
"SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE", co-pending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/964,796 filed on Dec. 27, 2007 and entitled "SOLAR AIR
CONDITIONER", and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/964,817 filed on Dec. 27, 2007 and entitled "SOLAR AIR
CONDITIONING APPARATUS". The co-pending U.S. patent applications
are assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The
disclosures of the above-identified applications are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to air conditioning devices,
and particularly, to an air conditioning device using solar energy
to heat air.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] With increasing CO.sub.2 emissions, the risk of global
climate becoming abnormal and ecological destruction may increase.
As a result, industrialized countries have again become aware of
the urgency to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels after the
energy crisis in the 70's. Therefore, it has become important to
develop new environmental friendly energy resources, and to replace
devices using non-renewable energy resources, such as
air-conditioners, with devices using renewable energy. The
conventional air conditioning devices not only need more energy,
but also require refrigerant which can be harmful to the
environment. Consequently, these countries have given positive
commitments to use solar energy more effectively. Though people
still have reservations about whether solar energy will be able to
replace other energy resources in the near future, one thing that
is almost certain is that solar energy will be playing a very
important role in a number of fields, especially air ventilation
and heating in structures such as buildings and vehicles.
[0006] As far as an air conditioning device using solar energy for
heating and air ventilation is concerned, solar collectors are a
key part in such a device, and it has to be mounted at an outside
location where sufficient sunlight can be collected, such as on a
roof or wall. In the past, a lot of effort has been made to develop
solar collectors with different functions and styles. Many of them
have been disclosed in patent literature. The most typical example
is fixing a glass panel or transparent panel onto a fixed outer
frame of a heat-insulated chamber and passing fluid through black
heat-absorbing plates or pipes installed inside the chamber, so as
to absorb solar energy. Examples include the solar hot water supply
system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,685, the air ventilation
facility disclosed in WO 9,625,632, the roof-style air ventilation
facility disclosed in U.S. patent application Pub. No.
2002/0032000A1, and the roof-style air preheater disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,934,338. However, the solar collectors used presently
still have some drawbacks. Therefore, there is much room for
improvements in applying and promoting the usage of solar energy to
save energy and facilitate air conditioning. The aforementioned
drawbacks include: [0007] (1) The related solar collector is too
heavy. Its long-term use may cause an overly heavy load on the
bearing structure. [0008] (2) Solar-thermo conversion efficiency
may be limited. [0009] (3) The structure of the related solar
collector is complicated, which makes its installation and
maintenance difficult and expensive, and thus prolongs the period
for recovering the investment. [0010] (4) The related solar heating
device has poor compatibility and flexibility to match different
bearing structures. Very often, it has to be custom-made. [0011]
(5) The contour of the solar collector is obtrusive and often
impairs the aesthete and harmony of the overall appearance of the
bearing structure. [0012] (6) The packaging needed for the
collector takes up much space and increases the cost of storage,
display, and marketing. [0013] (7) The integral assembly of the
whole-unit product is bulky, making it difficult to use in
large-area application and increases installation cost. [0014] (8)
Glass or transparent panels are glazed onto the outer frame of a
heat-insulated chamber. Different thermal expansion coefficients of
materials may cause thermal stress problems. [0015] (9) The related
design is so complicated as to be difficult for an untrained user
to install. [0016] (10) Some of the related designs can only be
applicable to the structures which are under construction and
designed to allow its installation. For most existing structures,
the designs are unsuitable. [0017] (11) When air passes over a
glazed panel, heat is dissipated unless double-glazing is used, but
it is expensive and troublesome. [0018] (12) Hot water supply
systems or liquid systems operated by solar heating experience
problems due to freezing and leakage of the working liquid.
[0019] Related solar air conditioning devices include that
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,553. Heat-absorbing units of the
solar air conditioning device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,553 are
connected in a fixed way. However, it is difficult to extend the
area of the solar air conditioning device in a convenient way so
that the solar air conditioning device can be used in different
applications.
[0020] It is therefore desirable to provide a solar air
conditioning device that can be flexibly extended and used in
different applications.
SUMMARY
[0021] The present invention relates to a solar air conditioning
device. The solar air conditioning device includes an inlet
assembly, an outlet assembly, a solar collector assembly having a
plurality of solar collectors, and at least a connecting assembly
connecting the solar collectors together. Each of the solar
collectors has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing set located
below the transparent panel. The heat-absorbing set includes a
plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together and divides an
inner space of the solar collector into an upper heat-storage
cavity and a lower heat-absorbing cavity. The at least a connecting
assembly includes a plurality of connecting units connecting the
adjacent solar collectors together and communicating with the heat
absorbing cavities of adjacent solar collectors. Two supporting
surfaces are formed at two opposite ends of each of the connecting
units for supporting adjacent transparent panels thereon. The inlet
and outlet assemblies seal two ends of the upper heat-storage
cavities and communicate with two ends of the lower heat-absorbing
cavities.
[0022] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
of embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Many aspects of the present device can be better understood
with reference to the following drawings. The components in the
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead
being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the
present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0024] FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a solar air
conditioning device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2A is an exploded, isometric view of the solar air
conditioning device in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 2B is an assembled, isometric view of a fixing assembly
of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 3A is an exploded, isometric view of a solar collector
of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 3B is an isometric view of a first supporting member
and a plurality of bolts of the solar collector in FIG. 3A;
[0029] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a heat-absorbing unit of the
solar collector in FIG. 3A;
[0030] FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of a connecting
assembly of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 2A;
[0031] FIG. 6 is an exploded, isometric view of the connecting
assembly in FIG. 5;
[0032] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a connecting unit of the
connecting assembly in FIG. 6;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the solar air
conditioning device in FIG. 1, taken along line VIII-VIII
thereof;
[0034] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an inlet assembly of the
solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1, but viewed from different
aspect;
[0035] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an outlet assembly of the
solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 11 is an assembled, isometric view of a solar air
conditioning device in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention, with some parts thereof removed; and
[0037] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a connecting unit of the
solar air conditioning device in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, a solar air conditioning
device 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention is shown. The air conditioning device 100 includes a
solar collector assembly 20, and inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50
connected with an entrance (not labeled) and an exit (not labeled)
of the solar collector assembly 20, respectively. The inlet and
outlet assemblies 10, 50 respectively communicate with an indoor
air-exhausting pipe (not shown) and outdoor environments, in such
that stale indoor air is exhausted outside a house (not shown) and
fresh outdoor air is induced inside the house.
[0039] The solar collector assembly 20 includes a series of solar
collectors 30. The solar collectors 30 are assembled together via a
plurality of connecting assemblies 40 disposed therebetween. Each
of the solar collectors 30 has first and second supporting members
34a, 34b respectively arranged at left and right sides thereof.
Connections between adjacent solar collectors 30 are strengthened
via a plurality of fixing assemblies 45. The fixing assembly 45 has
two fixing elements 451 which are connected together via a pair of
bolts 452 (see clearly in FIG. 2B). Each of the fixing elements 451
has an ear 453 defining a pair of through holes (not shown)
therein. Screws 454 extend through the through holes of the ears
453 of the fixing assemblies 45 and the through holes (not shown)
of adjacent first supporting members 34a or the through holes 349
(shown in FIG. 2A) of adjacent second supporting members 34b, for
joining adjacent the first supporting members 34a or adjacent
second supporting members 34b together. Connections between the
solar collector assembly 20 and the inlet and outlet assemblies 10,
50 are also strengthened via the fixing assemblies 45.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3A, each of the solar collectors 30
includes a transparent panel 31 and a heat-absorbing set 32 located
below the transparent panel 31. The heat-absorbing set 32 is used
for absorbing solar energy to heat air flowing therethrough. The
heat-absorbing set 32 includes a plurality of modularized
heat-absorbing units 33 (FIG. 4) which are clasped together. The
heat-absorbing unit 33 is made of good thermal conductivity
materials with black surface.
[0041] The heat-absorbing units 33 are clasped together along a
latitudinal direction and divide an inner space defined in the
solar collector 30 into an upper heat-storage cavity 35 and a lower
heat-absorbing cavity 36. A plurality of heat-storage channels 351
are defined in the heat-storage cavity 35, whilst a plurality of
heat-absorbing channels 361 are defined in the heat-absorbing
cavity 36. When the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 are
assembled to the solar collector assembly 20, the heat-storage
channels 351 are hermetically sealed and the heat-absorbing
channels 361 communicate with the inlet and outlet assemblies 10,
50. An energy receiving surface 21 covering the heat-storage
channels 351 is formed on the transparent panels 31, and a
heat-absorbing surface 22 over the heat-absorbing cavity 36 is
formed by heat-absorbing plates 331 (FIG. 4) of the heat-absorbing
units 33.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 4, the heat-absorbing unit 33 of
the solar collector 30 is shown. The heat-absorbing unit 33
includes an elongate bottom plate 332, the heat-absorbing plate 331
above and parallel to the bottom plate 332, and a brace plate 333
integrally interconnecting middle portions of the bottom plate 332
and the heat-absorbing plate 331. The brace plate 333 has an upper
portion 3331 above the heat-absorbing plate 331 and a lower portion
3332 below the heat-absorbing plate 331. A height of the upper
portion 3331 of the brace plate 333 substantially equals to a
height of the heat-storage cavity 35, whilst a height of the lower
portion 3332 of the brace plate 333 substantially equals to a
height of the heat-absorbing cavity 36. The upper potion 3331
defines a groove 334 extending along a longitudinal direction
thereof for receiving a seal gasket (not shown) therein.
[0043] In order to connect the heat-absorbing units 33 together,
first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312 are respectively
formed at right and left ends of the heat-absorbing plate 331, and
first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322 are respectively
formed at right and left ends of the bottom plate 332. The
heat-absorbing units 33 are assembled together via engagements
between the first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312 and
engagements between the first and second fastening structures 3321,
3322. The first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312, and the
first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322 have
configurations which complement with each other. The first clasping
structure 3311 is a mortise, whilst the second clasping structure
3312 is a tenon for being fitted in a corresponding mortise. The
first fastening structure 3321 is a substantially .left
brkt-top.-shaped groove, whilst the second fastening structure 3322
is a fastening protrusion fitted in the .left brkt-top.-shaped
groove. The second clasping and fastening structures 3312, 3322 of
a right heat-absorbing unit 33 are respectively engaged in the
first clasping and fastening structures 3311, 3321 of an adjacent
left heat-absorbing unit 33, so that the adjacent left and right
heat-absorbing units 33 are assembled together. The heat-absorbing
unit 33 is made of thin plate and handy for being displayed,
packaged, stored, transported and assembled.
[0044] Particularly referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first and
second supporting members 34a, 34b have a same structure and each
includes an elongate horizontal bottom base 342, a supporting plate
343 perpendicularly and upwardly extending from a middle portion of
the bottom base 342, and a heat-absorbing plate 341 horizontally
and inwardly extending from a middle portion of the supporting
plate 343 orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32. The bottom bases
342 of the first and second supporting member 34a, 34b respectively
define a plurality of mounting holes 347 in an outer portion 344
thereof, for mounting the solar collector 30 onto a rooftop or a
wall of a house, or an additional fixing board (not shown). Front
and rear ends of the supporting plates 343 of the first and second
supporting members 34a, 34b respectively define the through holes
349 (shown in FIG. 2A) therein, corresponding to the through holes
defined in the ears 453 of the fixing elements 451 of corresponding
fixing assemblies 45. Thus, the bolts 454 can connect the
corresponding fixing assemblies 45 and the first and second
supporting members 34a, 34b together.
[0045] The heat-absorbing plates 341 of the first and second
supporting members 34a, 34b orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32
respectively form a first and second clasping structures 3411,
3412, and the bottom bases 342 of the first and second supporting
members 34a, 34b orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32
respectively form a first and second fastening structures 3421,
3422 thereon. The first clasping and fastening structures 3411,
3421 of the first supporting member 34a respectively engaged with
the second clasping and fastening structures 3312, 3322 of a
leftmost heat-absorbing unit 33 of the heat-absorbing set 32, so
that the first supporting member 34a is connected to a left side of
the heat-absorbing set 32. The second clasping and fastening
structures 3412, 3422 of the second supporting member 34b
respectively engage with the first clasping and fastening
structures 3311, 3321 of a rightmost heat-absorbing unit 33 of the
heat-absorbing set 32, so that the second supporting member 34b is
connected to a right side of the heat-absorbing set 32.
[0046] Each of the first and second supporting members 34a, 34b, at
an upper portion thereof, defines a recess 345 extending along a
longitudinal direction and orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32
for providing an insertion of a side of the transparent panel 31. A
plurality of fixing holes 346 are defined in a top plate (not
labeled) of each of the first and second supporting members 34a,
34b, communicating with a corresponding recess 345. When the
heat-absorbing units 33, the transparent panel 31 and the first and
second supporting members 34a, 34b are to be assembled together,
two opposite right and left sides of the transparent panel 31
orienting to the first and second supporting members 34a, 34b are
first covered with U-shaped soft pads 321 and then inserted into
the recesses 345 of the first and second supporting members 34a,
34b. Steel bars 322 are inserted into space between the top plates
of the two supporting members 34a, 34b and the U-shaped soft pads
321. A plurality of screws 323 are inserted through the fixing
holes 346 of the two supporting members 34a, 34b to abut against
the steel bar 322, so that the U-shaped soft pads 321 together with
the sides of the transparent panel 31 are securely attached in the
recesses 345 to prevent water from entering into the solar
collector 30. Front and rear ends of the transparent panel 31 are
also covered with U-shaped soft pads 321.
[0047] The seal gaskets are discretely received in the grooves 334
in the tops of the brace plates 333 of the heat-absorbing units 33
and contact with the transparent panel 31. The seal gaskets extend
along a longitudinal direction of the brace plates 333 for evenly
supporting the transparent panel 31 on the heat-absorbing units 33.
A plurality of air gaps (not shown) are formed between the
heat-absorbing unit 33 and the transparent panel 31 at positions
without the seal gaskets. The air gaps communicate the heat-storage
channels 351 with each other in such that air in the heat-storage
cavity 35 is evenly heated and the heat transfer capability of the
solar air conditioning device 100 is increased.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the connecting assembly 40 includes
a plurality of connecting units 41, an elongate locking bar 43 and
an elongate pressing plate 44. Each of the connecting units 41 is a
single piece and includes a base plate 414, a hollow rectangular
body 423 perpendicularly and upwardly extending from a top surface
of the base plate 414, two hollow upper connecting blocks 411
respectively extending outwardly from upper portions of front and
rear ends of the body 423, and two hollow lower connecting blocks
412 respectively extending outwardly from lower portions of the
front and rear ends of the body 423. The upper connecting block 411
has a configuration which matches with a configuration of the
heat-storage channel 351 of the heat-storage cavity 35, whilst the
lower connecting block 412 has a configuration which matches with a
configuration of the heat-absorbing channel 361 of the
heat-absorbing cavity 36. A flat supporting surface 417 (i.e., a
top surface of the upper connecting block 411) is formed at a top
portion of the upper connecting block 411 for supporting the
transparent panel 31 thereon. The upper and lower connecting blocks
411, 412 define upper and lower air passages 415, 416 therein,
respectively. In this embodiment, the upper air passages 415 of the
two upper connecting blocks 411 of the front and rear ends of the
connecting unit 41 communicate with each other through the upper
portion the body 423, whilst the lower air passages 416 of the two
lower connecting blocks 412 of the front and rear ends of the
connecting unit 41 communicate with each other through the lower
portion of the body 423. In other embodiment, the upper air
passages 415 of the two upper connecting blocks 411 at the front
and rear ends of the connecting unit 41 can be isolated from each
other by a partition plate (not shown) formed in the body 423.
[0049] A first gap 418 is defined between the upper and lower
connecting blocks 411, 412, receiving a front or a rear end of the
heat-absorbing plate 331 of the heat-absorbing unit 33 therein. Two
receiving grooves 419 are defined in a bottom portion of the upper
connecting block 411 and a top portion of the lower connecting
block 412 respectively, receiving ends of engaged first and second
clasping structures 3311, 3312 of adjacent left and right
heat-absorbing units 33 therein. A second gap 420 is defined
between the lower connecting block 412 and the base plate 414,
receiving a front or rear end of the bottom plate 332 of the
heat-absorbing unit 33 therein. A receiving groove 422 is defined
in a bottom portion of the lower connecting block 412, receiving
ends of engaged first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322 of
adjacent left and right heat-absorbing units 33 therein.
[0050] The elongate locking bar 43 is inverted T-shaped and
discretely defines a plurality of fixing holes 433 therein. An
elongate groove 413 is defined in a top portion of the body 423 and
extends along a latitudinal direction of the body 423 for receiving
the elongate locking bar 43 therein. A transverse section of the
elongate groove 413 is inverted T-shaped and a width of a top
portion of the elongate groove 413 is smaller than a width of a
bottom portion thereof; thus, the elongate locking bar 43 received
in the elongate groove 148 can not be disassembled from the body
423 of the connecting unit 41 along a vertical direction. The
elongate pressing plate 44 has an n-shaped configuration and
defines therein a plurality of through holes 442 corresponding to
the fixing holes 433 of the elongate locking bar 43. The elongate
pressing plate 44 includes a flat top portion and two side portions
extending perpendicularly and downwardly from two opposite sides of
the flat top portion. Two elliptical protrusions 441 are formed at
bottom ends of the two side portions of the elongate pressing plate
44 for engaging with the transparent panel 31 mounted on the
supporting surfaces 417 of the upper connecting blocks 411 of the
connecting units 41.
[0051] When components of the solar air conditioning device 100 are
assembled together, the heat-absorbing sets 32 of adjacent front
and rear solar collectors 30 are connected by the connecting units
41 of the connecting assembly 40. The upper and lower connecting
blocks 411, 412 of the connecting units 41 are received in the
heat-storage channels 351 of the heat-storage cavity 35 and the
heat-absorbing channels 361 of the heat-absorbing cavity 36 of the
solar collectors 30, respectively. The heat-storage cavities 35 of
the adjacent front and rear solar collectors 30 communicate with
each other by the upper air passages 415 of the connecting units
41, whilst the heat-absorbing cavities 36 of the adjacent front and
rear solar collectors 30 communicate with each other by the lower
air passages 416 of the connecting units 41. The heat-absorbing
plates 331 and bottom plates 332 of adjacent front and rear
heat-absorbing units 33 are received in the first and second gaps
418, 419 of the connecting units 41, respectively. Furthermore, a
plurality of seal gaskets 325 (FIG. 8) are arranged in the first
and second gaps 418, 419 to improve hermetical and waterproof
performance between the solar collectors 30 and connecting
assemblies 40.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 8, after the heat-absorbing sets 32 and
the connecting units 41 are connected together, the transparent
panels 31 with the U-shaped soft pads 321 arranged at left and
right sides and front and rear ends thereof are placed on the
supporting surfaces 417 of the connecting units 41. The elongate
locking bar 43 is received in the elongate grooves 413 of the
connecting units 41. The elongate pressing plate 44 is placed above
the bodies 423 of the connecting units 41. A plurality of bolts 324
extend though the through holes 442 of the elongate locking bar 43
and are thread into the fixing holes 433 of the elongate locking
bar 43. The elliptical protrudes 441 of the fixing member 142
covered with C-shaped cushions 326 abut against the front and rear
ends of transparent panels 31 covered with the U-shaped soft pads
321 to keep the transparent panels 31 hermetically connecting with
the connecting units 41. A plurality of washers 327 are disposed
around the bolts 324 to improve hermetical performance between the
transparent panels 31 and the connecting units 41.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 9 and 10, the inlet and outlet
assemblies 10, 50 of the present solar air conditioning device 100
are shown. The inlet assembly 10 includes a hollow rectangular
shaped housing 18, an L-shaped baffle 11 extending from a top
surface at a position adjacent to a rear side of the housing 18. A
plurality of threaded holes 111 are defined in the baffle 11. A
receiving slot 12 is formed between the top surface of the housing
18 and the baffle 11, hermetically receiving a front end of a
front-most transparent panel 31 therein. The housing 18 includes a
rear spacing plate 13 which defines a plurality of air passages 131
in a lower portion thereof. The air passages 131 are separated from
each other and are evenly distributed in the spacing plate 13. A
plurality of fixing plates 14 with mounting holes 141 therein are
perpendicularly arranged on the spacing plate 13. A plurality of
screws (not shown) extend through the mounting holes 141 of the
fixing plates 14 of the inlet assembly 10 and mounting holes 335
(shown in FIG. 4) of the heat-absorbing units 33 of the front-most
solar collector 30, fixing the inlet assembly 10 and the solar
collector set 32 together. The housing 18 of the inlet assembly 10
further includes two arms 15 horizontally and outwardly extending
from left and right sides thereof. The arms 15 each define a pair
of fixing holes 151 therein, for mounting the solar air
conditioning device 100 onto the rooftop or the wall of the house,
or onto the fixing board. The housing 18 of the inlet assembly 10
has a rectangular shaped joint 60 disposed at a middle portion of a
front side thereof. The joint 60 connects the inlet assembly 10 of
the solar air conditioning device 100 to the air-exhausting
pipe.
[0054] The outlet assembly 50 has a housing 58, a baffle 51,
threaded holes 511, a receiving slot 52, a spacing plate 53, air
passages 531, fixing plates 54, mounting holes 541, arms 55 and
fixing holes 551 similar to those of the inlet assembly 10. The
difference between the inlet assembly 10 and the outlet assembly 50
is: a top surface of the housing 58 of the outlet assembly 50
defines a plurality of spaced openings 56 therein, communicating an
inner space of the outlet assembly 50 to the outdoor environments.
The outlet assembly 50 has a substantially L-shaped rain cover 57
extending from a front end of a top surface of the housing 58 so as
to cover the openings 56 of the housing 58. Furthermore, a
plurality of defenses (not shown) can be disposed on the housing
58, for preventing foreign articles and contaminants such as dust,
dirt or mosquitoes from entering into the housing 58. When the
inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 are assembled to the solar
collector assembly 20, top portions of the spacing plates 13, 53 of
the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 hermetically seal front and
rear ends of the heat-storage cavities 35 of the solar collector
assembly 20, whilst the air passages 131, 531 of the inlet and
outlet assemblies 10, 50 communicate with the heat-absorbing
cavities 36 of the solar collector assembly 20. Therefore, the
stale indoor air evenly enters into the heat-absorbing cavities 36
and increases heat-absorbing efficiency of the solar air
conditioning device 100. In order to decrease air resistance, a
total area of the air passages 131, 531 is preferably twice as
large as a cross-sectional area of an inner hole of the
air-exhausting pipe.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a second embodiment of the
present solar air conditioning device and a connecting unit 71 of
this embodiment are shown. Differences between the second
embodiment and the first embodiment are explained below. The
connecting assembly in this embodiment includes a plurality of
connecting units 71 and two rigid pressing bars 74. Each of the
connecting units 71 is a single piece and includes a substantially
rectangular joining base 711, a rigid top plate 713 above the
joining base 711, and a supporting plate 714 connecting between the
joining base 711 and the top plate 713. The joining base 711
includes a bottom plate 721, two joining plates 722 perpendicularly
and upwardly extending from left and right sides of the bottom
plate 721, and two supporting arms 716 integrally connected between
top ends of the two joining plates 722. Each supporting arm 716
forms a flat supporting surface at a top portion thereof for
supporting the transparent panel 31. Two pairs of installing holes
712 are defined in front and rear ends of each of the joining
plates 722, respectively. The joining base 711 has a cross section
which matches with a cross section of the heat-storage channel 351
of the heat-storage cavity 35. A rectangular indent 715 is formed
at a bottom surface of the bottom plate 721 of the connecting unit
71. The rectangular indent 715 has a configuration which matches
with the assembled first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312,
so that the bottom surface of the connecting unit 71 can
hermetically contact with a top surface of the assembled first and
second clasping structures 3311, 3312. The supporting plate 714 is
located between the supporting arms 716 and the top plate 713. A
height of the supporting plate 714 provides a mounting height
between the transparent panel 31 and the heat-absorbing unit 33.
The top plate 713 and the supporting plate 714 have a vertical
indent 718 and an extrusion 717 matching with the vertical indent
718. The extrusion 717 of a left connecting unit 71 is received in
the vertical indent 718 of a right connecting unit 71, thereby
connecting the adjacent connecting units 71 together. The top plate
713 further defines two thread holes 719 at a middle portion
thereof. The two thread holes 719 are located at front and rear
sides of the supporting plate 714 respectively.
[0056] In assembly of the solar collector assembly, the connecting
units 71 are inserted into front and rear ends of the heat-storage
channels 351 of two connected heat-absorbing units 33, with outer
surfaces of the connecting units 71 abutting against the upper
portions 3331 of the brace plates 333 and the installing holes 712
of the connecting units 71 aligning with the mounting holes 335 of
the heat-absorbing units 33. A plurality of bolts (not shown)
extend through the installing holes 712 and the mounting holes 335
of the connecting units 71 and the heat-absorbing units 33 to
thereby connecting the connecting units 71 and the heat-absorbing
units 33 together. Then, the pressing bars 74 and the transparent
panels 31 with U-shaped soft pads 321 arranged at right and left
sides and front and rear ends thereof are inserted into two
latitudinal slots 720 formed between the top plates 713 and the
supporting arms 716 of the connecting units 71. A plurality of
bolts 73 are threaded into the thread holes 719 of the top plates
713 of the connecting units 71, urging the pressing bars 74 to move
downwardly and have intimate contacts with the U-shaped soft pads
321. The U-shaped soft pads 321 are therefore intimately sandwiched
between the top plates 713 of the connecting units 71, the
transparent panel 31 and the supporting arms 716 of the connecting
units 71, hermetically sealing the front and rear ends of the solar
collectors 30.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 12, the connecting unit 71 has a partition
plate 723 below the supporting arms 716 and integrally connecting
the supporting arms 76 with a middle portion of the base plate 721.
When components of the solar air conditioning device are assembled,
the partition plates 723 separate the heat-storage cavities 351 of
the heat-absorbing units 33 of adjacent front and rear solar
collecting sets 32 from each other. Alternatively, the partition
plates 723 can also be canceled or be cut through so that the
heat-storage cavities 351 of the adjacent front and rear solar
collecting sets 32 can communicate with each other.
[0058] In summer, the solar air conditioning device can heat the
stale indoor air guided from the air-exhausting pipe and expel the
heated stale indoor air out of the housing using thermal buoyancy
effect. At the same time, cool and fresh outdoor air can be guided
into the house, or the outdoor air can be cooled and guided into
the house through other devices (not shown) or channels (not
shown). Thus, in summer, air in the house can be kept fresh and
cool all the time.
[0059] In winter, air through the air-exhausting pipe can be heated
in the solar collector assembly of the solar air conditioning
device and guided back to the house via a fan (not shown) connected
with the air-exhausting pipe. Furthermore, when the fresh outdoor
air is guided to mix with air in the air-exhausting pipe and
further heated in the solar collector assembly, the inlet assembly
10 should communicate with the air-exhausting pipe and the passages
131 of the housing 18 of the inlet assembly 10 should be opened.
The fan draws the fresh outdoor air through the solar air
conditioning device to the house.
[0060] The solar air conditioning device can be installed with a
hot water supply system (not shown) which can operate year-round. A
plurality of heat-absorbing water pipes (not shown) are arranged in
the heat-storage cavities of the solar air conditioning device;
then, heated water is transferred back to a water circulation
circuit (not shown) including a heat storage tank (not shown).
Meanwhile, air is heated in the heat-absorbing channels of the
solar air conditioning device.
[0061] The solar air conditioning device continuously induces the
stale indoor air to evenly enter into the heat-absorbing channels
of the heat-absorbing cavity through the inlet assembly. The stale
indoor air is heated in the heat-absorbing cavity and is exhausted
out of the housing under thermal buoyancy effect. Meanwhile, the
fresh outdoor air is induced into the housing. The solar air
conditioning device is therefore good for health, for energy saving
and for environmental protection.
[0062] In the present solar air conditioning device, the
heat-absorbing units of the solar collectors are joined to form the
solar collector assembly via the connecting assemblies. Therefore,
the solar air conditioning device can be flexibly expanded as
desired to most optimal absorption surface area to fully absorb and
collect solar energy, which strengthens the thermal buoyancy effect
of the solar air conditioning device. Air circulation in the solar
air conditioning device is therefore improved due to the
strengthened thermal buoyancy effect. Furthermore, the
heat-absorbing plates, the connecting plates and other individual
components of the solar air conditioning device can be separately
assembled together, which simplifies the assembly and further
decreases the assembly cost of the solar air conditioning device.
In addition, the solar collector assembly can be divided into many
pieces, which can be individually repaired. Thus, the reparation of
the solar air conditioning device is simplified and the reparation
cost of the solar air conditioning device is decreased.
[0063] One special feature of the solar air conditioning device is
that although it only has one layer of transparent panel in its
structure, because most air goes through the lower heat-absorbing
cavities, the solar air conditioning device has the excellent
thermal insulation effect of a double-glazed system and a very high
heat-absorption efficiency.
[0064] The solar air conditioning device is designed according to a
modular concept. Cost of the solar air conditioning device is
greatly reduced because the components are made of thin boards and
plates, and are suitable for mass-production. The solar air
conditioning device is much simpler than related assemblies with a
whole-unit design. The assembly not only saves expenses in
packaging but also requires less room for display and storage to
make channel marketing much easier. The solar air conditioning
device is very easy to install and maintain. Moreover, users can
install and assemble the system by themselves.
[0065] All in all, the solar air conditioning device is a passive
environmental protection air conditioner which is driven by solar
energy. There is no need to consume electric energy and no
environmental destroy caused by refrigerant. The solar air
conditioning device exhausts the stale indoor air out of the house
and induces the fresh outdoor air into the house. Therefore, the
quality of the indoor air is improved and a comfortable feeling is
obtained. Moreover, the modularized components benefit the solar
air conditioning device for being displayed, packaged, stored,
transported and assembled. Furthermore, the components of the solar
air conditioning device are thin and are handy for DIY assembly,
which fits for the environmental protection and DIY trends.
[0066] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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