Heat Exchange Assembly

Abstract

A heat exchange assembly for heating a pool includes a housing that defines an internal space. The housing has a top that is open. A lid, which is complementary to the top and substantially transparent, is sealably couplable to the housing to cover the top. A tube is loopedly positioned in the internal space. The tube has opposing endpoints that are positioned through the housing. Each of a pair of couplers is coupled singly to the endpoints of the tube. The lid is configured to allow sunlight to pass through the lid into the internal space, wherein the internal space is heated relative to the ambient environment. The tube is configured to transfer heat from the internal space to liquid passing through the tube. The couplers are configured to couple the tube to a reservoir of liquid, such as a pool.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchange assembly comprising:
 a housing defining an internal space, said housing having a top, said top being open;   a lid complementary to said top, said lid being sealably couplable to said housing to cover said top, said lid being substantially transparent;   a tube loopedly positioned in said internal space, said tube having opposing endpoints positioned through said housing;   a pair of couplers coupled singly to said endpoints of said tube; and   wherein said lid is positioned on said housing such that said lid is configured for sunlight to pass through said lid into said internal space, such that said internal space is heated relative to the ambient environment, wherein said tube is positioned in said internal space such that said tube is configured to transfer heat from said internal space to liquid passing through said tube, wherein said couplers are positioned on said tube such that said couplers are configured for coupling said tube to a reservoir of liquid, such as a pool.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said housing being substantially rectangularly box shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said lid being arcuate. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said lid comprising glass. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further including said lid comprising plexiglass. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including each said opposing endpoint being positioned through a respective opposing end of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further including said opposing endpoints being positioned proximate to a respective opposing side of said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said tube comprising plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further including said tube comprising polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further including said tube being black. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including said tube comprising metal. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of heat transfer blocks positioned in said internal space, wherein said heat transfer blocks are positioned in said internal space such that said heat transfer blocks are configured to absorb sunlight passing through said lid, wherein said heat transfer blocks are positioned to transfer heat to said tube. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further including said heat transfer blocks being positioned between said tube and a bottom of said housing. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further including said heat transfer blocks being positioned between said tube and said lid. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further including said heat transfer blocks comprising lava rocks. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of cross supports coupled to and extending between opposing sides of said housing, wherein said cross supports are positioned in said internal space such that said cross supports are positioned to retain said tube within said heat transfer blocks. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further including said cross supports being positioned proximate to said top. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further including said cross supports being substantially evenly spaced between said opposing ends of said housing. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , further including said plurality of cross supports comprising three said cross supports. 
     
     
         20 . A heat exchange assembly comprising:
 a housing defining an internal space, said housing having a top, said top being open, said housing being substantially rectangularly box shaped;   a lid complementary to said top, said lid being sealably couplable to said housing to cover said top, said lid being substantially transparent, wherein said lid is positioned on said housing such that said lid is configured for sunlight to pass through said lid into said internal space such that said internal space is heated relative to the ambient environment, said lid being arcuate, said lid comprising glass, said lid comprising plexiglass;   a tube loopedly positioned in said internal space, said tube having opposing endpoints positioned through said housing, wherein said tube is positioned in said internal space such that said tube is configured to transfer heat from said internal space to liquid passing through said tube, each said opposing endpoint being positioned through a respective opposing end of said housing, said opposing endpoints being positioned proximate to a respective opposing side of said housing, said tube comprising plastic, said tube comprising polyvinylchloride, said tube being black, said tube comprising metal;   a pair of couplers coupled singly to said endpoints of said tube, wherein said couplers are positioned on said tube such that said couplers are configured for coupling said tube to a reservoir of liquid, such as a pool;   a plurality of heat transfer blocks positioned in said internal space, wherein said heat transfer blocks are positioned in said internal space such that said heat transfer blocks are configured to absorb sunlight passing through said lid, wherein said heat transfer blocks are positioned to transfer heat to said tube, said heat transfer blocks being positioned between said tube and a bottom of said housing, said heat transfer blocks being positioned between said tube and said lid, said heat transfer blocks comprising lava rocks;   a plurality of cross supports coupled to and extending between said opposing sides of said housing, wherein said cross supports are positioned in said internal space such that said cross supports are positioned to retain said tube within said heat transfer blocks, said cross supports being positioned proximate to said top, said cross supports being substantially evenly spaced between said opposing ends of said housing, said plurality of cross supports comprising three said cross supports; and   wherein said lid is positioned on said housing such that said lid is configured for sunlight to pass through said lid into said internal space, such that said internal space is heated relative to the ambient environment, wherein said heat transfer blocks are positioned in said internal space such that said heat transfer blocks are configured to absorb sunlight passing through said lid, wherein said heat transfer blocks are positioned to transfer heat to said tube, wherein said tube is positioned in said internal space such that said tube is configured to transfer heat from said internal space to liquid passing through said tube, wherein said couplers are positioned on said tube such that said couplers are configured for coupling said tube to a reservoir of liquid, such as a pool.