Abstract: A solar still assembly has a thermally-insulated pan which supports an open frame of elongated members. The pan has side walls which support the frame members, with one side wall being higher than the other side wall. One end of each frame member is attached to the top edge of the higher side wall while the additional support for each frame member is provided by the lower side wall. The frame members incline downwardly toward the lower side wall. There are several embodiments which teach alternative frame members for providing the additional support by the lower side wall as well as the manner in which a trough is formed from the frame members or is attached to the pan. In all embodiments, a thin-film, flexible, solar-energy transmissive sheet overlies the frame, permitting solar energy to enter the still and evaporate liquid in the pan. Condensate forms on the inner surface of the solar sheet and flows down the inclined surface into the trough.

Abstract: An open wire frame formed of wire ladder stock having intersecting right angle wires includes at least one upwardly inclined open frame section overlying an underlying open pan and terminating at a lower edge in a downward directed projection of U-shape and being fixedly mounted relative to the underlying pan. A flexible thin film solar energy transmissive sheet overlies the open wire frame and is stretched tightly about the frame to form a downwardly facing condensation surface and an upwardly facing U-shaped collection trough along the lower edge thereof for condensate collection. The open wire frame may have vertical free ends for penetration into the ground or into the sides of the upwardly open pan. Strips of wood, metal, etc., fastened by screws, etc., may sandwich the lower sides of the flexible thin film sheet against the side walls of the upwardly open pan to maintain the sheets stretched about the open wire frame and complete an enclosure about the pan.