Heat exchange assembly for swimming pool

Page 1bibliographic recordscan →

Drawings

Page 2drawing sheetscan →

Page 3drawing sheetscan →

Page 4drawing sheetscan →

Page 5scan →

panel having a rigid frame portion which fixes a sheet of

HEAT EXCHANGE ASSEMBLY FOR SWIMMING solar ray penetrating material, a single tubular coil and a bottom surface portion with the inlet and outlet ends

FIELD OF THE INVENTION of the tubular coil extending through a side panel of the 5. panel structure rather than the rigid frame portion.

This invention relates to heat exchange assemblies for heating the water of swimming pools. More particu SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION larly, the invention relates to collecting the solar rays The heat exchanger assembly as described herein with a collector panel having a tubular coil disposed includes a solar heat collector panel means mounted on between a pair of rigid sheets wherein the upper sheet is 10: a portable support means. The support means includes a composed of a solar ray receiving material. panel carrier section and a base section. The collector panel means is formed into a unitary structural configu

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ration which is resting against the panel carrier section There have been numerous attempts to provide a which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the base section solar collector system for the purpose of heating the 15 of the support means. In one specific embodiment, the water in swimmings pools. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,599,626. unitary structure of the panel is supported in sliding and 3,991,742 disclose heat transfer systems which are contact with the panel carrier section. mountable on the top of buildings for the purpose of circulating the water of a swimming pool therethrough. tionThedefining unitary panel means includes a rigid frame por the outer profile of the panel means, an

These structures are permanently mounted and consti-0 upper solar ray receiving surface portion, a bottom tute somewhat complicated installations. . . . . . . .

The portable heat exchange assemblies disclosed in planar coil surface portion and a planar, continuous tubular disposed between the upper and bottom surface

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,868,945 and 4,014,314 are also usable at portions. The upper planar surface portion comprises a the edge of a pool for heating the water therein. These. sheet of solar ray penetrating material. The panel car particular structures however disclose: very specially 25 rier section of the support means includes means for designed heating panels which are fixed in a particular contacting the rigid frame portion of the panel means. disposition with respect to the surface on which it is . Thus, the panel means is tiltably supported between supported. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,945 shows a panel opposed angles of inclination to receive solar rays over unit mounted in conjunction with a fixed frame mem the period of an entire day.

ber. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,314 defines a continuous 30 The unitary panel means has a size and a shape which single conduit that is not disposed in any enclosure. The may be manipulated by a single person from one angle disadvantages associated with these prior art structures.

include the inability to follow the rays of the sun and to of inclination to another angle of inclination. Thus, due be protected from the elements that will adversely af. to the simplicity of the structure of the present inven tion, there is no requirement of having any automatic fect the heat retaining characteristics of the collector 35 sun panel. . . . .. . . . . ..: ' '.' .. tracking mechanism such as is provided in the nu The U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,299,881, 3,985,117 and 4,089,326 merous prior art structures.

A particular feature of the invention requires the show various ways in which a continuous tubular con rigid frame portion to extend around the entire periph duit is disposed within an enclosure. However, in each instance, further construction is required to operate the 40 ery of the panel means. The rigid frame includes a chan panel structure automatically or to provide a complex nel means for receiving the outer edge of the sheet of structure configuration that has no relationship to a solar ray penetrating material. The bottom surface por support frame assembly. : tion of the panel means includes a sheet of rigid backing The U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,108,154 and 4,185,615 disclose material having its outer edge received by the channel solar collector units which have automatic mechanisms 45 means. The sheet of backing material is covered with a for tilting the direction of the panel to track the solar film of heat absorbing material.

radiation during daylight hours. These particular panels A further feature of the invention is the specific con are very complicated and expensive to use and thereby figuration of the support having a base section including require significant maintainence which is undesirable two upright frame segments laterally spaced with re for the persons owning a swimming pool and attempt- 50 spect to each other. Carrier panel section is pivotally ing to maintain the temperature of the swimming pool in attached to each of the upright frame segments. When areas where the outside ambient temperature would the panel means is in place on the carrier section, it is normally preclude the use of a swimming pool. disposed between the upright frame segments. Flexible PURPOSE-OF THE INVENTION strips of material are used to fix the individual coils of 55 the tubular coil against the sheet of rigid backing mate

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rial within the unitary panel structure. heat exchange assembly that is extremely simple in its BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS construction and may be manipulated by hand to be, tilted between oppósed angles of inclination. Other objects of this invention will appear in the Another obje?t cient solaren of the invention is to provide an effi- 60 following description and appended claims, reference bsorbing device which may be easily being made to the accompanying drawings forming a constructed and has a particular relationship existing part of the specification wherein like reference charac between a solar collector panel having a precise unitary ters designate corresponding parts in the several views. structural configuration and the panel carrier section FIG.1 is a perspective. view showing the heat ex change assembly disposed at the edge of a swimming

A still furthe obje of the invention is to provide a FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a solar solar unit havin ctural configuration for a collector panel made in accordance with this invention;

Page 6scan →

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of another disposed at various angles of inclination and may be embodiment of a solar collector panel made in accor longitudinally adjusted along the length of the carrier dance with this invention; section elements 24. This simple construction also ena FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a heat ex bles the placement of the heat exchange assembly in change assembly made in accordance with this inven i various types of topographical locations and is easily tion; adjusted by hand with only one person being required FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the heat exchange to make such an adjustment. The panel 10 is shown in assembly shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 1 connected to the conventional water circulation FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the assembly system used to filter the water in the swimming pool 35. shown in FIG. 4; and 10 A pump 30 circulates the water from pool 35 through FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the heat exchange the filter device 32. Valve 33 controls the amount of assembly as shown in FIG. 4. water circulation through the system. A T connection DETALED DESCRIPTION 34 may be used to interconnect the line 15 attached to the coupling 13 of hose 12 inside panel 10. When valve

The solar heater collector panel, generally designated 15 31 is opened, the circulation of water is automatically 10, is pivotally disposed on the support mechanism, directed through the panel 10 and fed by gravity to generally designated 20. The solar collector panel 10 return into the swimming pool 35. The valve 33 may be includes a rigid frame portion 14 defining the outer completely closed to have all of the water be directed profile of the panel. An upper planar surface portion 16 through panel 10 after having passed through filter unit is composed of a sheet of solar ray penetrating material. '32.

In this specific embodiment, the surface portion 16 is In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the solar ray formed of a rectangular sheet of Plexiglass inch thick receiving sheet 16 and the marine board 18 covered and having an outer dimension of 4 feet by 8 feet. The with film 18a are held in place within an extruded chan bottom planar surface portion is composed of a particle, nel 40 by the extruded channel member 41. The channel marine board 18 covered by a heat absorbing film 18a, 25 member 41 is held in place along the length of the chan The film 18a in this particular embodiment is a sheet of nel 40 by the fastening elements 42. It is clear that the black plastic material. The board 18 is inch thick and channel element 41 may be short segments laterally has an outer dimension of 4 feet by 8 feet. The outer spaced along the length of the channel 40 or may be a edges of the sheet 16 are received by the channel 15 in complete channel extending the total length of the ex the frame portion 14. The outer edge of the marine 30 truded rigid frame member 40.

board 18 is received in the channel 17 formed within the While the heat exchange assembly for swimming pool rigid frame 14. has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that The rectangular panel 10 has four pieces of extruded this invention is not to be considered as being limited to rigid frame portions 14 connected at their corners in a the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and well known manner. That is, the specific embodiment as 35 construction may be made therein within the scope of disclosed herein uses aluminum extruded materials the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof. which are joined along 45' angles by standard clip Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this members in a manner well known in the prior art. The invention, what is claimed is:

end of the conduit 12 extends through the back portion 1. A heat exchange assembly for heating the water of panel 18 through an opening that is lined with a grom 40 a swimming pool, said assembly comprising: met or bushing 26 as shown. Thus, there are no connec (a) a solar heat collector panel means mounted on a tors that are required to extend through the rigid frame portable support means, portions 14. (b) said support means including a panel carrier sec A single piece of polyvinyl chloride hose is coiled in tion and a base section, the longitudinal manner between the solar ray receiving 45 (c) said panel means including a rigid, frame portion, material sheet 16 and the marine panel 18. A plurality of an upper planar surface portion, a bottom planar flexible strips 28 of material are stapled in place between surface portion and a planar, continuous tubular the adjacent coils of the hose 12. The flexible strips are coil formed by a single, continuous tube member stapled against the marine board 18 which constitutes disposed between the upper and bottom surface the backing for the bottom surface portion of the panel 50 portions, , 10. Coupling members 11 and 13 are attached to the (d) the upper planar surface portion including a sheet outlet and inlet end portions of the hose 12. In this of solar ray penetrating material and the bottom specific embodiment, the single piece of hose 12 is 325 surface portion including a sheet of rigid backing feet long and has a inch outside diameter. This con material, tains about 8 gallons of water when it is filled. 55 (e) the rigid frame portion extends around the entire As can be seen, the rigid frame portion 14 defines the periphery of the panel means to define the outer outer profile of panel 10 and fixes the solar ray penetrat profile of the panel means, ing sheet 16, the tubular coil 12 and the bottom surface '(f) the rigid frame portion includes channel means for portion 18, 18a into a unitary structural configuration. receiving the outer edges of the upper sheet of The solar heat collector panel 10 is mounted on the solar ray penetrating material and the bottom, rigid portable support assembly 20. backing sheet with the tubular coil disposed there Two angular elements 24 are pivotally disposed on: between to fix the sheet of solar ray penetrating laterally displaced upright frame segments 22. The material, the tubular coil and the bottom surface panel carrier section elements 24 are in sliding contact portion into a unitary structural configuration, with the rigid frame portion 14 on opposed sides of the 65 (g) the panel carrier section including means contact panel 10. The upright frame segments include the angu ing the rigid frame portion and being pivotally lar runner elements 23 and cross support members 25: connected to the base section to tiltably support the With this particular configuration, the panel 10 may be panel means between opposed angles of inclination,

Page 7scan →

(h) said unitary panel means has a size and shape to be connected to said outer frame section to form the manipulated by one person from one angle of incli first and second channel sections therebetween. nation to another angle of inclination. 13. An assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein 2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the tubular coil is fixedly disposed between the sheets the sheet of solar ray penetrating material is com 5 of solar penetrating material and rigid backing posed of an acrylic resin material. material when said sheets are located in said re 3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein spective first and second channel sections. the bottom surface portion includes a sheet of back of14. A heat exchange assembly for heating the water ing material covered with a film of heat absorbing 10 (a) a solar heatpool, a swimming said assembly comprising:

collector panel means for mounting on material.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein (b) said panel means including a rigid frame portion, the base section includes two upright frame segments an upper planar surface portion, a bottom planar laterally spaced with respect to each other, surface portion and a planar, continuous tubular the panel carrier section is pivotally attached to each 15 coil formed by a single, continuous tube member of the upright frame segments. disposed between the upper and bottom surface 5. An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein portions, the panel means is disposed on the panel carrier sec (c) the upper planar surface portion including a sheet tion and between the upright frame segments. of solar ray penetrating material and the bottom 6. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein 20 surface portion including a sheet of rigid backing the tube member has an inlet end portion and an material, outlet end portion, (d) the rigid frame portion extends around the entire the end portions extend through openings located in periphery of the panel means to define the outer the bottom surface portion of the panel means. 25 profile of the panel means, 7. An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein (e) the rigid frame portion includes channel means for the single, continuous tube member is composed of a receiving the outer edges of the upper sheet of polyvinyl chloride material. solar ray penetrating material and the bottom, rigid 8. An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein backing sheet with the tubular coil disposed there between to fix the sheet of solar ray penetrating flexible strips of material fix the individual coils of the 30 material, the tubular coil and the bottom surface tube member against the sheet of backing material. portion into a unitary structural configuration, 9. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein (f) the channel means includes a first channel section the panel means has a rectangular outer profile, which receives the outer edge of the sheet of solar the panel carrier section includes a pair of angular ray penetrating material at the upper surface of the elements shaped to fit the rigid frame portion on 35 panel means and a second channel section which opposite sides of the panel means. receives the outer edge of the sheet of rigid backing 10. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein material at the bottom surface of the panel means, the channel means includes a first channel section (g) the tubular coil is fixedly disposed between the which receives the outer edge of the sheet of solar sheets of solar penetrating material and rigid back ray penetrating material at the upper surface of the 40 ing material when said sheets are located in said panel means and a second channel section which respective first and second channel sections. receives the outer edge of the sheet of rigid backing 15. An assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein material at the bottom surface of the panel means. the rigid frame portion comprises extruded frame 11. An assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein sections having a one piece cross section which 45 includes said first and second channel sections.

the rigid frame portion comprises extruded frame 16. An assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein sections having a one piece cross section which the rigid frame portion comprises an outer, extruded includes said first and second channel sections. U-shaped frame section and a correspondingly 12. An assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein shaped inner, extruded U-shaped frame section the rigid frame portion comprises an outer, extruded 50 connected to said outer frame section to form the U-shaped frame section and a correspondingly first and second channel sections therebetween. shaped inner, extruded U-shaped frame section ck : : k :