Self-contained solar heater and storage device

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.

1 . A solar heater for heating a liquid including: 
 a first container having an upright wall;    a second container located within the first container and including an upright wall; and    a gap intermediate the wall of the first container and the wall of the second container;    wherein the gap extends around the second container and encompasses the upright wall of the second container.    
   
   
       2 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second container further includes a floor connected to the wall of the second container.  
   
   
       3 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the wall of the second container includes an aperture and the floor of the second container includes an aperture.  
   
   
       4 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first container includes a floor connected to the wall of the first container and an aperture positioned apart from the floor.  
   
   
       5 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 4  wherein an upright wall defines the aperture in the first container.  
   
   
       6 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 5  further including a cap for mating with the upright wall and sealing the aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the cap includes threads and the upright wall includes threads that mate with the threads of the cap.  
   
   
       8 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the second container includes a reservoir for holding the liquid, the reservoir connected to the gap by the aperture.  
   
   
       9 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 8  further including a valve capable of sealing the aperture in the wall of the second container in order to prevent flow of the liquid through the aperture.  
   
   
       10 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 9  further including an adhesive for attaching the valve to the wall of the second container.  
   
   
       11 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 1  further including a plurality of ribs intermediate the wall of the first container and the wall of the second container.  
   
   
       12 . The solar heating for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first container and the second container are each of a conical cross section.  
   
   
       13 . A solar heater for heating a liquid including: 
 a reservoir for storing the liquid; and    a gap encompassing the reservoir and connected to the reservoir by an upper aperture and a lower aperture.    
   
   
       14 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a first upright wall and a floor defining the reservoir, the upper aperture being disposed in the first upright wall and the lower aperture being disposed in the floor.  
   
   
       15 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a valve capable of sealing the upper aperture in order to prevent the flow of liquid through the aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a second upright wall positioned adjacent the gap and opposite the first upright wall.  
   
   
       17 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a transparent cover encompassing the gap and the reservoir.  
   
   
       18 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a threaded cap capable of sealing the reservoir.  
   
   
       19 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a heat exchanger disposed within the reservoir.  
   
   
       20 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including reflectors configured to direct sunlight toward the gap.  
   
   
       21 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 20  further including a mat, the reflectors being arranged on the mat.  
   
   
       22 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a spigot assembly interconnected with the reservoir, the spigot assembly configured to drain liquid from the reservoir.  
   
   
       23 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the spigot assembly includes a tube and a float.  
   
   
       24 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the spigot assembly further includes a second tube and a valve.  
   
   
       25 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 13  further including a valve assembly configured to allow the flow of liquid into the reservoir.  
   
   
       26 . The solar heater for heating a liquid as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the valve assembly includes a valve, a float, and a connector connecting the float to the valve, the float being capable of floating on the top of the liquid and causing additional liquid to flow into the reservoir when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level.