Abstract: A solar water heater especially intended for use with swimming pools, and comprising an inlet header, an outlet header, a strip of flexible material comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes. Each end of the strip is connected to a respective manifold comprising a first side provided with a respective spigot for each tube in the strip, and a second side provided with less apertures than the number of spigots, such that, in use, the tubes at each end of the strip are connected to the spigots of the manifold and the apertures of the manifold are connected to a header, whereby fluid communication is established between the headers and the web.

Abstract: Tank assembly for a solar hot water system comprising a solar collector for containing a working fluid. The assembly comprises a cylindrical tank provided with a water inlet and a water outlet, a jacket in the form of an annular sealed envelope having inner and outer major walls and at least partly enclosing the cylindrical tank and the jacket defining an enclosed space which is also arranged to contain the working fluid. There is a closed fluid circuit between the collector and the enclosed space.The present invention also provides a solar hot water system using the tank assembly of the invention.The use of the tank assembly of the present invention reduces the possibility of working fluid contaminating potable water in the tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar heater which comprises a water storage tank having a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet, an instantaneous gas fired water heater operatively connected to the hot water outlet of the water storage tank, a first, flow control valve arranged to allow gas to be fed to the gas fired water heater in response to water flow through the hot water outlet, a second, thermostatically controlled valve arranged to allow gas to be fed to the gas fired water heater in response to the temperature of the water in the hot water outlet, and a thermostat arranged to cause the second valve to open when the water in the hot water outlet is at or below a predetermined minimum temperature and to cause the second valve to close when the water in the hot water outlet reaches a predetermined maximum temperature, the arrangement being such that the gas fired water heater is only activated when both the valves are open.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cylindrical water storage tank for a solar water heater which tank is entirely surrounded by a layer of insulating material, said cylindrical tank being arranged to be horizontally disposed in use and having water outlet means in an upper region thereof and water inlet means in a lower region thereof, wherein the portion of the insulating layer surrounds the upper region of the cylindrical tank is thicker than the portion of the insulating layer which surrounds the lower region of the tank. The use of thicker insulation in the upper region of the tank provides good insulation under night time conditions for the region of the tank usually containing hot water. Thinner insulation in the lower region of the tank enables heat to be lost from the tank under stagnation conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roof assembly mounted on a sloping roofing structure, which comprises at least two parallel longitudinal flashing members extending down the slope and mounted on the roofing structure, each longitudinal flashing member comprising an elongated base having an upstanding wall member extending along each major side and each upstanding wall member having a resilient portion at its end remote from the base, at least one solar energy collector mounted on a pair of the longitudinal flashing members, said solar energy collector being generally rectangular in horizontal section and having a downwardly facing groove formed in each of at least two sides, each groove being engaged with a resilient portion of a wall member of a longitudinal flashing member such that the solar collector is clipped in place in the roof assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steel socket connection for an internally enamelled steel vessel in which presentation of bare ferrous metal to the contents of the vessel is reduced to a minimum. The socket comprises a parallel portion adjacent the vessel, an internally threaded portion remote from the vessel and a seat located between the parallel and threaded portions, said steel socket being internally enamelled except for the internally threaded portion thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of attaching a solar collector plate to a tube water way which comprises fluting the collector plate to a diameter appropriate for receiving the tube water way, fluting a backing strip to a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the fluting of the collector plate, sandwiching the tube water way between the collector plate and backing strip in the fluting thereof, placing the assembly in a press and die, and, in the press and die, punching pierce tags from the collector plate into the backing strip and then closing the pierce tags. The present invention provides a method of bonding the collector plate to the tubes in a quick and easy manner which is suitable for mass production techniques.

Abstract: A solar water-heater absorber with upper and lower cylindrical headers has a rubber tube within each header. These tubes are sealed at one end and connected at the other ends to rigid copper tubes extending through sealed ends of the headers and connected to a pair of normally flattened rubber tubes housed within a further pipe. This pipe is disposed in a situation free from frost and its interior is connected to the water supply pipe line to the absorber.