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 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 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.