Inventors:
Vern Mehler - South Bend IN, US
International Classification:
F24J 2/04
Abstract:
A solar water-heating apparatus comprises an outer container sized and configured to receive a smaller inner container. The inner container includes a pair of openings, one formed in the floor thereof and one formed in the side wall thereof. The side wall and floor of the inner container define a reservoir capable of receiving a liquid. A gap is located between the floors and side walls of the two containers. Once the device has been filled with a liquid, the liquid present within the gap may be heated by solar energy, thereby increasing the temperature thereof. The liquid with the increased temperature becomes less dense and rises relative to the cooler liquid and travels upwards in the gap until the warmer liquid reaches an opening within the side wall of the inner container. The liquid then travels through the opening and back into the reservoir. The re-entry of this liquid through the opening forces cooler liquid out of an opening in the bottom of the smaller container and into the gap, whereby this cooler liquid may be heated by solar energy. This process will continue until the liquid within the container reaches a certain ambient temperature.
