Adaptor for hot water storage tank and method of use thereof

Abstract

An adapter allows a hot water storage tank of the kind having an electrical immersion heater fitted into a base of the tank via a flange. The adapter includes a flange having peripheral holes corresponding to holes in the flange of the electrical immersion heater. A cold water outlet mounted project through the flange and allows connection to a cold water inlet of an external heater. A hot water inlet projects through the flange and allows connection to a hot water outlet of the external heater. The hot water inlet is configured so that in use hot water entering therethrough is directed to an uppermost location of the tank.

1 . An adapter for converting a hot water storage tank having an electrical immersion heater fitted into a base of the tank via a first flange so as to provide a cold water outlet for coupling to an external heater and a hot water inlet for coupling to the external heater, said adapter comprising:
 A second flange having peripheral holes corresponding to holes in the first flange of the electrical immersion heater,   a cold water outlet mounted in said second flange so as to project therethrough and allow connection to a cold water inlet of the external heater, and   a hot water inlet mounted in said second flange so as to project therethrough and allow connection to a hot water outlet of the external heater, said hot water inlet being configured so that in use hot water entering therethrough is directed to an uppermost location of the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the hot water inlet comprises an elongated tube that is configured to reach toward the uppermost location of a vertically-mounted tank. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the hot water inlet comprises a tube that is curved toward an end thereof inside the tank so that, when used in a horizontally-mounted tank, said end curves upwardly toward the uppermost location of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the hot water inlet is configured to reach toward the uppermost location of the tank regardless of whether the hot water storage tank is mounted vertically or horizontally. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter according to  claim 4 , wherein the hot water inlet comprises an elongated tube that is curved toward a free end thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , being integrally fitted to a hot water storage tank in place of an electrical immersion heater. 
     
     
         7 . A method for adapting a hot water storage tank having an electrical immersion heater fitted into a base of the tank via a first flange for use with an external heater, said method comprising:
 removing said electrical immersion heater from the base of the tank; and   mounting an adaptor in the base of tank instead of the heater, comprising:
 providing a second flange having peripheral holes corresponding to holes in the first flange of the electrical immersion heater, 
 mounting a cold water outlet in said second flange so as to project therethrough and allow connection to a cold water inlet of the external heater, and 
 mounting a hot water inlet in said second flange so as to project therethrough and allow connection to a hot water outlet of the external heater, said hot water inlet being configured so that in use hot water entering therethrough is directed to an uppermost location of the tank.