Array of solar collectors also functioning as a fence

Abstract

A vertical array of concave solar collectors that heat water or other fluids while functioning as a security, privacy, or decorative fence panel. Concave solar collectors are stacked vertically in a specific orientation and spacing to capture maximum solar energy and transfer that energy to water or fluid transfer medias. A design with a minimum footprint and appearance that compliments a wide range of landscaping and building plans. A system of water and fluid channels and pathways molded as a single structure that requires little or no assembly. A collector array designed to function with or without options including glazing panels and insulation panels. The solar collector fence panels can be linked together in series to form systems of varying size and capacity.

1 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, comprising concave collector faces, a front wall of the panel, a back wall of panel, water/media channels, connector channels, separation areas, mounting areas, a vertical channel, support beams, a mounting recess for glazing panel, a mounting recess for insulation panel, a front glazing panel, a rear insulation panel, and inlet outlet orifices, which together allow circulating water or other media to be heated by solar radiation while the solar collector array fence panel functions as cosmetically attractive privacy, security, or decorative fence. 
     
     
         2 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein concave solar collector faces extend horizontally across the width of the solar collector and are arcs of 90 degrees which are positioned to absorb solar radiation and transfer that resulting heat to water or other media flowing against the back side of the concave solar collector faces, and the concave solar collector faces are positioned one atop the other in a vertical pattern, and when viewed as a cross section end view, the arcs of the concave solar collector faces each extend from 180 degrees to 270 degrees with the orientation of 0 degrees being straight up, and the concave solar collector faces are positioned such that the sun's rays strike the arc of the concave collectors at various angles throughout the day, and the upper area of the concave collector face arcs will receive the sun's rays at a most efficient angle when the sun is 15 degrees above the horizon and the lower area of the concave collector faces will receive the sun's rays at the most efficient angle being when sun is 55 degrees above the horizon and the arc dictates that as the sun moves certain areas of the concave solar collector face will receive optimum angle of sun light and other locations on the concave collector faces will receive less than optimum angle of sun light, and the concave collector faces will be of a color that best absorbs the sun's rays such as non-reflective black. 
     
     
         3 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel wherein concave solar collector faces in accordance with  claim 2 ), are arcs of 90 degrees and the radius of the arcs does not affect the design and function of the invention, and the radius of the arc of the concave solar collector faces may be of any length as such radii affect only the physical front to back dimension of the overall structure and the volume and capacity or the collector, and the relative position of the concave solar collector faces is positioned vertically one atop the other, and when looking from an end view each arc is positioned between 6:00 and 9:00 when using a clock example for reference, and the arcs may be mirror reversed to a 3:00 to 6:00 O clock orientation, and it is not necessary that all concave solar collector faces in a given panel array be of the same radius and in some instances it may be an advantage that an array contain solar collector faces of various arc radii. 
     
     
         4 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein separation areas are located on the front side of the structure and the rear side of the structure and are in part the areas where the front panel of the structure and the rear panel of the structure are fused or fastened together to form the entire structure of the invention, and the concave solar collector faces shall be positioned in a stacked orientation directly above one and the next, and are separated by a distance which is defined as the lower most edge of a front side separation area, and shall be above the upper most edge of the concave solar collector face below, and that vertical distance separating those shall equal not less than 19% of the total vertical height of one concave solar collector face. 
     
     
         5 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein water/media channels are located directly behind the concave collector faces, and when filled with water or other media that water or other media will flow directly behind and in direct contact with rear of the concave collector face, and will absorb head from that collector face. 
     
     
         6 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein connector channels are located at each end of the water/media channels with one of the connector channels directing or receiving water or fluid from the water/media channel above and the other connector channel directing or receiving water or fluid from the water/media channel below, excepting the top and bottom water/media channel, and which will in effect connect the water/media channels in series allowing the water or media being heated to flow through all water/media channels contained in the invention, and the connector channels shall be sized and shaped to accept the volume of and to not constrict or impede the flow of water or media through the entire system of water/media channels, or the connector channels. 
     
     
         7 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein mounting areas are located at the right and left sides of structure of the collector/fence panel and are the areas that contact and are attached to the fence posts, poles, supports, or columns to which the collector/fence panel is mounted, and mounting areas can contact the post, pole, or columns at any angle of the front, side, or rear of the post, pole, or column. 
     
     
         8 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein a vertical channel will direct water or media to or from the water/media channel behind the uppermost concave collector face in the structure, and opposite the connector channel, and to or from the bottom of the collector array structure thus allowing water or media to enter or exit the at or near the bottom of the collector fence panel. 
     
     
         9 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein support beams are hollow chambers and may be located at the top and bottom of the structure of the collector fence panel and between each concave solar collector face, and at each end of the structure along the mounting areas, and support beams of a size similar to the top and bottom support beams may be located in the vertical center, or the horizontal center of the concave solar collector faces, and the geometry of the support beams will be of a design and size sufficient to provide strength, support, and rigidity to the structure in whatever the overall size of the invention shall be as determined by the radius of the arcs of the concave solar collector faces. 
     
     
         10 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein a mounting recess for glazing panel is a shape designed into the form of the invention consisting of two plains, one being parallel to the plain of the width and height of the solar collector fence panel, and the other plain being at right angle to the first, and this mounting recess for glazing panel extends across the top, bottom, and up and down both ends of the structure of the invention to completely encompass the perimeter of the array of concave collector faces, and does provide a secure area in which to mount a glazing panel of glass, acrylic, plastic, or other suitably clear panel to the front side of the invention to increase the efficiency of the collector under less optimum weather and temperature conditions, and to help keep the concave collector faces clean of dust and debris, and the mounting recess for glazing panel will include a face that is parallel to a plane that is parallel to the front plane of the structure of the invention and it will be between ¼ to 2 inches wide and extends across the top, bottom, and both ends of the structure of the invention to completely encompass the perimeter of the total of the concave collector faces, and the mounting recess for glazing panel will include a face that is perpendicular to a plane that is parallel to the front plane of the structure of the invention and extends a minimum of ¼ inches out from the plain of the mounting recess for glazing panel and extends across the top, bottom, and both ends of the structure of the invention to completely encompass the perimeter of the total of the concave collector faces. 
     
     
         11 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein a mounting recess for insulation panel is a shape designed into the form of the invention consisting of two plains, one being parallel to the plain of the width and height of the solar collector fence panel, and the other plain being at right angle to the first, and this mounting recess for glazing panel extends across the top, bottom, and up and down both ends of the structure of the invention to completely encompass the perimeter of the array of concave collector faces, and does provide a secure area in which to mount an insulating panel to the rear side of the invention to increase the efficiency of the collector under less optimum weather and temperature conditions, and to help keep the concave collector clean of dust and debris, and the mounting recess for glazing panel will include a face that is parallel to a plane that is parallel to the front plane of the structure of the invention and it will be between ¼ to 2 inches wide and extends across the top, bottom, and both ends of the structure of the invention to completely encompass the perimeter of the total of the concave collector faces, and the mounting recess for glazing panel will include a face that is perpendicular to a plane that is parallel to the rear plane of the structure of the invention and is a minimum of ¼ inches wide and extends across the top, bottom, and both ends of the structure of the invention to completely encompass the perimeter of the total of the concave collector faces. 
     
     
         12 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein inlet and outlet orifices are positioned one each at the bottom end which is closest to the ground of the vertical channel, and one each at the end of the bottom most water/media channel, and at the end opposite the connector channel allowing water or fluid to enter or exit the panel at that point. 
     
     
         13 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein the front wall of the panel of the invention is a single panel formed to create the mounting recess for glazing panel, and the front wall of the panel is a single panel that forms the concave solar collector face, the front side of the water/media channel, the front side of the connector channels, the front side of the certain separation areas, the top and bottom sides of certain separation areas, the front side of the vertical channel, major portions of the support beams, major portions of the mounting areas, creates the nominal front one half of the structure of the invention, and gives rigidity and strength to the structure of the invention. 
     
     
         14 . A mechanical structure and system that functions as an array of solar collector water heaters while also functioning as a privacy, security, or decorative fence panel, in accordance with  claim 1 ), wherein the back wall of the panel of the invention is a single panel formed to create the mounting recess for insulation panel, and the back wall of the panel mates with the front wall of the panel to form the back side of the water/media channels, the back side of the connector channels, the back side of certain separation areas, the top and or bottom sides of certain separation areas, the back side of the vertical channel, major portions of the support beams, major portions of the mounting areas, creates the nominal rear one half of the structure of the invention, and when fastened or fused to the front wall of the panel those two elements do form all other major elements of the invention and does give rigidity and strength to the structure of the invention.