Solar Skylight
A reflective shutter rotates within a skylight housing in such a fashion as to control solar energy thereby providing a combination of heating, lighting, and ventilation. The skylight housing has three faces: a glazed southern face, a glazed northern face, and an open downwardly oriented face to the interior of the structure. Counter-weighted pivot arms support the shutter at either end causing the center of rotation to pass through the center of gravity. The shutter has three basic positions: In the first position, during the winter day, the shutter closes off the northern face, allowing solar energy to enter directly into the supporting structure providing heat gain and daylighting. In the second position, during the winter night, the shutter closes off the open face to the interior, providing insulation between the structure and the skylight housing. In the third position, during the non-heating season, the shutter closes off the southern face blocking unwanted heat gain but allowing diffuse northern light to penetrate for daylighting. In this last position, a means is provided for ventilating by natural convection. The apparatus can be operated either manually or by motor.
- Assignee:
- EDB-84-138951
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4428358
- OSTI ID:
- 6689753
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
BUILDINGS
DAYLIGHTING
DESIGN
DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
HEAT GAIN
OPTIMIZATION
RADIATIONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SKYLIGHTS
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
THERMAL INSULATION
VARIATIONS
VENTILATION SYSTEMS