Reinforced structural panel with integral solar energy collecting array and method of producing and assembling same

Patent · Tue Oct 04 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6971274

Vandament, D D

A composite reinforced structural panel includes upper and lower skin members with a flexible arched member arranged therebetween and secured in place by means of an adhesive, insulating material such as structural grade polyurethane foam, the ends of the flexible arched member being fixed to the lower skin member. Preferably, a solar energy collecting array is disposed upon each structural panel with means for interconnecting the solar arrays on adjacent panels. In a method of producing the panel, the upper and lower skin members and the flexible arched member are arranged in the manner described above whereupon the foam is injected therebetween to maintain the flexible member in its arched configuration. In a method of forming a surface upon a structure having spaced vertical supports at each end with a plurality of such panels, the panels are arranged so that the load bearing ends of the arched member in each panel span the distance between the support means, the joints between the adjacent panels being sealed and fitted to provide a continuous surface.

• Assignee: TIC; ERA-03-042545; EDB-78-089157
• Patent Number(s): US 4051833
• OSTI ID: 6971274
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 19 Nov 1975
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
DESIGN
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
BUILDING MATERIALS
PLASTIC FOAMS
POLYURETHANES
ROOFS
SUPPORTS
THERMAL INSULATION
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
FOAMS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators