Hot Water Tank With A Movable Inner Partition

Abstract

A dual compartment hot water tank for optimal use of hot water has a movable partition mechanism that divides the tank into two compartments. The division allows keeping the hot water in a first compartment and the cold water in a second compartment, wherein the size of the hot water compartment is adjusted according to the actual amount of hot water. The partition is made from a thermally isolating material so that the cold water in the second compartment does not influence the temperature of the hot water in the first compartment. The partition may move freely so that the size of the first and second compartments increases or decreases respectively and wherein sealing means along the inner and outer contour of the partition prevent the hot and cold water from mixing.

1 . A hot water tank for optimal management of the water's temperature, said tank comprising:
 a tank;   at least one inlet pipe entering to the bottom of the tank;   at least one outlet pipe exiting from the top of the tank;   heating means positioned within said tank;   a substantially vertical tube positioned along the central axis of the tank and encompassing the heating mean;   a partition member having a hole going through it and sealing means attached to the contour of said partition member and to the contour of the hole;   wherein said partition is positioned substantially horizontally, and wherein the tube goes through the hole and the partition member divides the tank into an upper compartment and a lower compartment;   and wherein draining hot liquid from the tank via the outlet pipe causes the partition to move up, thus decreasing the size of the upper compartment holding the hot liquid;   and wherein heating the liquid in the upper compartment causes the partition member to move down thus increasing the size of the upper compartment.   
   
   
       2 . The tank of  claim 1  further comprising a second inlet pipe entering to the to of the tank from a solar heating system and a second outlet exiting from the bottom of the tank to the solar heating system. 
   
   
       3 . The tank of  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially horizontal wall with openings that enable passage of water, wherein said wall is affixed to the lower end of the tube and to the inner side of the tank, and wherein said wall prevents the partition from being stuck to the lower end of the tank. 
   
   
       4 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the partition member is hollow. 
   
   
       5 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the partitioned member is made from thermally isolating polymer. 
   
   
       6 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the partition member is made from material that has the specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of water at approximately 95 degrees centigrade and lower than the specific gravity of water below approximately 35 degrees centigrade. 
   
   
       7 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means are made from at least one of the following materials: rubber, latex, polymer. 
   
   
       8 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means is made from at least one strip of ultra high density brush. 
   
   
       9 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the sealing means is at least one of the following: elevated dots, elevated points, notches. 
   
   
       10 . The tank of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat sensor and means for moving the partition upwards and downward connected to said at least one sensor;
 wherein whenever the sensor senses that the amount of hot water in the upper compartment increases, the drive moves the partition downwards;   and wherein, whenever the sensor sense that the amount of hot water in the upper compartment decreases, the drive moves the partition upwards.   
   
   
       11 . The tank of  claim 10 , wherein said means for moving the partition upwards and downward is an electric drive. 
   
   
       12 . The tank of  claim 1 , further comprising a water pump positioned within the tube for facilitating the circulation of hot water into the upper compartment.