초록 ▼

A solar window which can alternatively act either as a passive solar heat collector or an active solar heat collector. A substantially transparent pair of panels are mounted in opposed position to each other and define a chamber therebetween. When it is desired to admit solar energy to the structure

A solar window which can alternatively act either as a passive solar heat collector or an active solar heat collector. A substantially transparent pair of panels are mounted in opposed position to each other and define a chamber therebetween. When it is desired to admit solar energy to the structure in which the window is mounted, air is permitted to be retained in the chamber and sunlight to pass through the window to thus heat the interior of the structure. When heat is not required in the structure, a second fluid which may be an optically dense solar energy absorbent or reflective fluid is passed through the chamber so as to respectively absorb or reflect the sunlight passing into the chamber, and in this way reduce the amount of solar heat passing through the window, and, in the case of an absorbent fluid, to retain the heat for later use. Pleasing architectural aesthetics or practical advantages in the case of greenhouses may further be obtained by passing colored fluid through the chamber which fluid may additionally achieve the selective absorption of light of certain wavelengths passing through the window. An alternative embodiment of the invention includes providing the inside window panel with grooves adjacent the chamber and disposed at such an angle thereto that radiation in a spectral region in which the material of said window is at least partially transparent attempting to pass outwardly through said window is substantially reflected back into said structure. Accordingly the angle at which the walls of such grooves are disposed must exceed the critical angle to support total internal reflection for the particular materials utilized.

대표청구항 ▼

A solar window for use with at least a partially enclosed structure and mounted with respect thereto so as to receive light rays thereon, said window comprising a pair of substantially transparent panels disposed in opposed position to each other and defining at least one fluid receiving chamber the

A solar window for use with at least a partially enclosed structure and mounted with respect thereto so as to receive light rays thereon, said window comprising a pair of substantially transparent panels disposed in opposed position to each other and defining at least one fluid receiving chamber therebetween, one of said panels including a plurality of generally parallel grooves having sidewalls disposed at an angle such that light attempting to pass through said window in the direction of said one panel towards said other panel is substantially total internally reflected away from said one panel by means of total internal reflection, and wherein said grooves are formed within said one panel, said one panel formed of a material having a substantially higher index of refraction than that of a first fluid in said chamber, including means for introducing a second fluid into said chamber, said second fluid having an index of refraction closer to that of said one panel such that the critical angle of incidence for said one panel material to support total reflection of radiation passing from said one panel towards said other panel cannot take place such that radiation may freely pass through said window in both directions.