Fafco Incorporated

Freeman A Ford

Richard O Rhodes

Errol Armstrong

A panel having multiple tubular passages extending therethrough and fitted on each end with a fluid tight hollow header. Apertures through one side of the headers place the tubular passages in communication with the interior of the headers. Fluid pumped into one header flows through the tubular passages to the other header, exchanging heat with the environment surrounding the panel as it passes therethrough. The panels are formed to provide a flow restrictive feature at the ends of the through fluid passages so that substantial flow will exist in all passages in all panels in an array of panels. One method for obtaining a fluid tight bond between the headers and the panel involves a forming process utilizing a heated die applied to the panel ends, and a subsequent panel and header material melting process followed by imposing pressure contact between the formed panel ends and the headers to thereby effect a permanent bond or weld.

Solar heat exchange panel and method of fabrication

A valve body having a circular cylindrical shape may be made of plastic or any other suitable material. A radial hole through the wall of the body has a pressure inlet fitting positioned therein. A flexible tubing is passed through the body co-axial therewith. The tubing is folded back to overlie the ends of the valve body and a valve end tube is positioned to overlie the folded back ends of the flexible tubing. Clamps are utilized to impart inward radial pressure about the circumference of the valve end tube overlying the folded back tubing. The valve end tube is adapted to receive the ends of an inlet and an outlet flow conduit. Pressure of varying magnitude introduced through the pressure inlet fitting serves to meter the fluid flow through the conduit from a full flow to substantially zero flow as the flexible tube distends into the passage through the valve body.

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Atherton, CA, United States of America

Freeman A Ford