Solar water heating system for insallation under any type of roofing material

Abstract

A system for quickly, easily and inexpensively facilitating the attachment of various solar water heating components to the roof of a structure in a panel form generally without regard to the type of underlying roof support structure and further, which provides an upper surface upon which essentially any type of roofing material maybe installed. In a first embodiment, it is contemplated that all of the components of the invention may be provided in the form of a ‘panel’ of essentially any size such as, for example, a panel measuring 4′×4′, 4′×8′, or any other size that is convenient and workable in terms of weight and ease of installation.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel assembly for quickly, easily and inexpensively facilitating the attachment of various solar water heating components to the roof of a structure in a panel assembly, the panel assembly comprising:
 a plurality of vertical structural members, each of said plurality of vertical structural members configured to be installed on an existing roof, each of said plurality of vertical structural members is in the form of a channel member having an open bottom region which allows one or more tabs to be “punched” out of a top surface of the vertical structural member prior to installation, wherein said one or more tabs are configured to engage with one leg of a heat transfer plate, while a second leg of the heat transfer plate is configured to be fastened into one of said plurality of vertical structural members utilizing one or more fasteners;   a plurality of heat transfer plates, each of said plurality of heat transfer plates including a first end and a second end, each heat transfer plate further including a first generally “Z” shaped leg and a second generally “Z” shaped leg, between the  2  “Z” shaped legs is a generally flat region that includes a partially circular channel which is configured to support a conduit which carries water or other liquid medium and which, by virtue of its contact with the partially circular channel, conducts and transfers solar energy in the form of heat from the heat transfer plate to the liquid medium which is circulated inside the conduit;   a plurality of nailer members, one nailer member located between every heat transfer plate, wherein each nailer member is designed to receive fasteners for nailing or otherwise holding down a roofing product which will be installed on top of the panel assembly; and   a plurality of end nailer plates, a first one of said plurality of end nailer plates disposed proximate each first end of the each of said plurality of heat transfer plates, and a second one of said plurality of end nailer plates disposed proximate each second and of each of said plurality of heat transfer plates, each end nailer plate including a groove of an appropriate size and radius configured to accommodate an appropriate and desired bend in the conduit such that once installed, the end nailer plate is configured to provide a generally flat surface in connection with the top surface of the nailer plate  32  and the top surface of the heat transfer plate to allow roofing material to be installed over the panel assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said a plurality of vertical structural members are configured to be installed over an existing roof. 
     
     
         3 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said existing roof is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plywood, asphalt shingles, rolled asphalt material, rubber roofing and steel or metal roofing. 
     
     
         4 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more fasteners are selected from the group of fasteners consisting of a screw, a nail and a rivet. 
     
     
         5 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, composite, aluminum, copper and PVC. 
     
     
         6 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each nailer member is comprised of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of wood, composite and plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said panel assembly is configured to be installed over an existing roofing member on which has been previously installed an existing roofing material. 
     
     
         8 . The panel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said existing roofing material is selected from the group consisting of asphalt shingles, rolled asphalt material, rubber roofing and steel or metal roofing. 
     
     
         9 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of nailer members include a heat absorbing coating or wrap. 
     
     
         10 . The panel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said heat absorbing coating or wrap is an aluminum wrap. 
     
     
         11 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of end nailer plates include a heat absorbing coating or wrap. 
     
     
         12 . The panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said heat absorbing coating or wrap is in aluminum wrap