Tankless Solar Water Heater

Abstract

A fluid storage unit suitable for a tankless solar heater system. The storage unit has an elongated cylindrical hollow vessel having a sealing ring fit within an open end of the vessel abuting a ridge formed on the vessel and a cover attached to the open end of the vessel and abutting the ring to compress it against the ridge to form a fluid tight seal between the cover and the vessel.

1 . A fluid storage unit comprising:
 an elongated cylindrical hollow vessel having at least one opened end;   an inwardly oriented annular sealant ridge located adjacent the open end of the vessel;   a sealing ring proportioned to fit within the open end of the vessel and abut the ridge; and   a cover having a bowl shaped portion proportioned to selectively fit within the open end of the vessel and abut the sealing ring and the inwardly oriented sealant recess;   such that, upon compression of the bowl into the open end of the vessel, the bowl shaped portion of the cover compresses the sealing ring against the ridge forming a fluid tight seal between the cover and the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the bowl further comprises a peripheral flange selectively formable to grip the open end of the vessel to thereby compress the bowl shaped portion of the cover into engagement with the sealing ring. 
     
     
         3 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the cover is comprised of stainless steel material. 
     
     
         4 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the vessel is comprised of stainless steel material. 
     
     
         5 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the sealing ring comprises an O-ring formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
         6 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the vessel in disposed within a generally transparent outer chamber to form a thermal energy collection system. 
     
     
         7 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the vessel has a second open end opposite the first open end, the second open end being selectively closed by a second cover. 
     
     
         8 . The storage unit of  claim 7  further comprising an annular sealant emboss adjacent the second open end of the vessel and a second sealing ring, said second cover selectively cooperating with the second sealing ring and the emboss to selectively seal the second end of the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The storage unit of  claim 8  further comprising a spanner nut engageable with the second cover to selectively drive the second cover against the second sealing ring to form a seal between the second cover and the vessel. 
     
     
         10 . A modular solar thermal storage unit comprising:
 a generally vertically disposed elongated cylindrical hollow vessel having an open upper end comprised of a heat conductive material;   an inwardly oriented annular sealant ridge located adjacent the open upper end of the vessel;   a sealing ring proportioned to fit within the open upper end of the vessel and abut the ridge; and   a cover comprised of a heat conductive material and having a bowl shaped portion proportioned to selectively fit within the open upper end of the vessel and abut the sealing ring and the inwardly oriented sealant recess such that, upon compression of the bowl into the open end of the vessel, the bowl shaped portion of the cover compresses the sealing ring against the ridge forming a fluid tight seal between the cover and the vessel.   
     
     
         11 . The storage unit of  claim 10  wherein the bowl further comprises a peripheral flange selectively formable to grip the open end of the vessel to thereby compress the bowl shaped portion of the cover into engagement with the sealing ring. 
     
     
         12 . The storage unit of  claim 10  wherein the sealing ring comprises an O-ring. 
     
     
         13 . The storage unit of  claim 10  further comprising a generally transparent solar energy collection chamber formed of a heat absorbing material, said vessel being proportioned for selective insertion into the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The storage unit of  claim 10  further comprising:
 an open lower end of the vessel; 
 an annular sealant emboss located adjacent the lower upper end of the vessel; 
 a second sealing ring proportioned to selectively abut the emboss; and 
 a base proportioned to close the lower end of the vessel and abut the second sealing ring and compress the second sealing ring against the emboss to selectively form a fluid seal between the base and the vessel. 
 
     
     
         15 . The storage unit of  claim 14  further comprising a spanner nut engageable with the base to selectively drive the base against the second sealing ring to form said seal between the base and the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The storage unit of  claim 14  wherein the base further comprises an inlet and an outlet for fluid flow into and out of the vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The storage unit of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a generally transparent solar energy collection chamber formed of a heat absorbing material having an open lower end and a closed upper end, said chamber being proportioned for selective acceptance of the vessel through the lower end of the chamber; and 
 a thermal washer disposed adjacent an upper surface of the base engageable with the lower end of the chamber selectively forming a thermal seal between the solar energy collection chamber and the base. 
 
     
     
         18 . The storage unit of  claim 14  wherein the second sealing ring comprises an O-ring. 
     
     
         19 . The storage unit of  claim 14  wherein the emboss extends outwardly from the vessel and the second sealing ring fits on the outside of the vessel. 
     
     
         20 . A modular solar thermal storage unit comprising:
 a generally transparent solar energy collection chamber formed of a heat absorbing material having an open lower end and a closed upper end,   a generally vertically disposed elongated cylindrical hollow vessel having an open upper end and an open lower end, said vessel being disposed with said chamber; said vessel further having an inwardly oriented annular sealant ridge located adjacent the open upper end of the vessel and an outwardly oriented annular sealant emboss located adjacent the lower end of the vessel;   a first sealing ring fitted within the open upper end of the vessel and abutting the ridge;   a bowl shaped cover fitted within the open upper end of the vessel, said bowl having a peripheral flange formed to grip the open end of the vessel to thereby compress the cover into against the first sealing ring, thereby compressing the sealing ring against the ridge to forming a fluid tight seal between the cover and the vessel;   a second sealing ring fitted outside of the open upper end of the vessel and abutting the emboss;   a base having an inlet and an outlet for fluid flow into and out of the vessel, said base being disposed adjacent the lower ends of the chamber and the vessel and abutting the second sealing ring;   a spanner nut engaging the base to drive the base against the second sealing ring to form said seal between the base and the vessel; and   a thermal washer disposed adjacent an upper surface of the base engageable with the lower end of the chamber forming a thermal seal between the solar energy collection chamber and the base.