IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0482078
(2009-06-10)
|
등록번호 |
US-8430155
(2013-04-30)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A modular insulated water tank comprising a hollow insulated support structure, a liner, and an insulated cover, with the support structure being comprised of two or more separable, vertically stackable retention tiers, the liner being a flexible container capable of retaining fluids within the inte
A modular insulated water tank comprising a hollow insulated support structure, a liner, and an insulated cover, with the support structure being comprised of two or more separable, vertically stackable retention tiers, the liner being a flexible container capable of retaining fluids within the interior of the support structure, and the cover being capable of enclosing contents contained within the interior of the water tank. So configured, the modular insulated water tank is capable of retaining a large quantity of fluid, such as water, at an elevated temperature for an extended length of time, for purposes of using the heat energy stored therein for space heating purposes or for domestic hot water use. The modular water tank employs a heating exchange interface comprised of inflow and outflow conduits and a heat exchanger, capable of bringing fluids into and out of the water tank to either release heat energy into the fluid contained in the water tank for heat storage or to absorb heat energy from the fluid contained in the water tank for heat use. The modular design of the water tank allows it to be easily shipped and stored, and assembled in otherwise difficult to access locations. The water tank is intended to be used to store heat energy generated by an external heat source, such as a boiler, solar collectors, or a wood stove.
대표청구항
▼
1. A modular insulated water tank comprising a support structure, a liner, a cover, two or more sub-covers, four corner members, a floor, a fluid inflow conduit, a fluid outflow conduit, and a heat exchanger;with the support structure being comprised of two or more separable, stackable retention tie
1. A modular insulated water tank comprising a support structure, a liner, a cover, two or more sub-covers, four corner members, a floor, a fluid inflow conduit, a fluid outflow conduit, and a heat exchanger;with the support structure being comprised of two or more separable, stackable retention tiers, said support structure being a substantially hollow enclosure formed of a plurality of substantially rigid sides surrounding an interior, said sides being thermally isolated, said support structure capable of containing and supporting the liner within its interior,wherein each of the retention tiers has four side walls, with each of said side walls of each retention tier being substantially planar and substantially rectangular, and having a first lateral end and a second lateral end, a top side and a bottom side, and an inner surface and an outer surface,with pairs of the side walls of each retention tier removably joined to each other at their respective ends such that all of the side walls of each retention tier form a substantially rectangular continuous circumferential enclosure, andwith all side walls of each retention tier having a substantially uniform height,whereby each retention tier has the same number of side walls as each other retention tier, said side walls of each retention tier being of substantially the same shape and size and arranged in substantially the same configuration as the side walls of each other retention tier;the liner being a flexible container capable of retaining fluids within an interior portion thereof;the cover being capable of enclosing contents contained within the liner within the interior of the support structure, said cover being thermally isolated;each said corner member being substantially rigid and being comprised of a left flange and a right flange, with the left flange angled substantially ninety degrees from the right flange, each said corner member being substantially the same height as the support structure,wherein each said corner member is placed onto a corner of the support structure formed by the junction of each pair of sides of the support structure, with the left flange of said corner member adjacent to and affixed to one of the sides of said corresponding pair of sides and the right flange of said corner member adjacent to and affixed to the other side of said corresponding pair of sides;said floor being attached to the lowermost retention tier, said floor being adjacent to the bottom sides of the side walls of said lowermost retention tier, thereby forming a lowermost portion of the modular insulated water tank, said floor being thermally isolated;said sub-covers comprising the cover;said fluid inflow conduit comprised of copper tubing;said fluid outflow conduit comprised of copper tubing; andsaid heat exchanger comprised of a plurality of coiled copper tubing, each said coil attached in parallel to a manifold;with the fluid inflow conduit being capable of transporting a first fluid from a location exterior to the modular insulated water tank into the modular insulated water tank,the fluid outflow conduit being capable of transporting the first fluid from within the modular insulated water tank to a location exterior to the modular insulated water tank, andthe heat exchanger being capable of transferring heat energy between the first fluid and a second fluid, said second fluid being retained within the modular insulated water tank;wherein the fluid inflow conduit, the heat exchanger, and the fluid outflow conduit are placed in respective serial fluid communications with one another to thereby circulate the first fluid into and out of the modular insulated water tank. 2. The modular insulated water tank of claim 1 comprising three retention tiers, wherein each of the four side walls of each of the three retention tiers is constructed of a rigid foam material and further comprises one or more flat metal panels affixed to its inner surface;one or more flat foam panels affixed to the one or more flat metal panels;one or more flat protective panels affixed to its outer surface;one or more substantially rigid vertical reinforcement members, each said vertical reinforcement member oriented substantially vertically;a substantially rigid top reinforcement member, said top reinforcement member oriented substantially horizontally and located along the top side of said side wall, said top reinforcement member of said side wall comprised of a main body, an inner flange, and an outer flange, wherein the main body of said top reinforcement member is oriented substantially horizontally, the inner flange of said top reinforcement member depends downward from the main body of the top reinforcement member, and the outer flange of said top reinforcement member depends downward from the main body of said top reinforcement member, such that the inner and outer flanges of said top reinforcement member are substantially parallel to each other, and the inner flange, main body, and outer flange of said top reinforcement member form a squared off U-shape in cross section, whereby the inner flange of said top reinforcement member is located adjacent to the inner surface of said side wall and the outer flange of said top reinforcement member is located adjacent to the outer surface of said side wall; anda substantially rigid bottom reinforcement member, said bottom reinforcement member oriented substantially horizontally and located along the bottom side of said side wall, said bottom reinforcement member of said side wall is comprised of a main body, an inner flange, and an outer flange, wherein the main body of said bottom reinforcement member is oriented substantially horizontally, the inner flange of said bottom reinforcement member depends upward from the main body of said bottom reinforcement member, and the outer flange of said bottom reinforcement member depends upward from the main body of said bottom reinforcement member, such that the inner and outer flanges of said bottom reinforcement member are substantially parallel to each other, and the inner flange, main body, and outer flange of said bottom reinforcement member form a squared off U-shape in cross section, whereby the inner flange of said bottom reinforcement member is located adjacent to the inner surface of said side wall and the outer flange of said bottom reinforcement member is located adjacent to the outer surface of said side wall. 3. A modular insulated water tank comprising a support structure, a liner, a cover, a floor, a fluid inflow conduit, a fluid outflow conduit, and a heat exchanger;with the support structure being comprised of two or more separable, stackable retention tiers, said support structure being a substantially hollow enclosure formed of a plurality of substantially rigid sides surrounding an interior, said sides being thermally isolated, said support structure capable of containing and supporting the liner within its interior,wherein each of the retention tiers has four side walls, with each of said side walls of each retention tier being substantially planar and substantially rectangular, and having a first lateral end and a second lateral end, a top side and a bottom side, and an inner surface and an outer surface,with pairs of the side walls of each retention tier removably joined to each other at their respective ends such that all of the side walls of each retention tier form a substantially rectangular continuous circumferential enclosure, andwith all side walls of each retention tier having a substantially uniform height,whereby each retention tier has the same number of side walls as each other retention tier, said side walls of each retention tier being of substantially the same shape and size and arranged in substantially the same configuration as the side walls of each other retention tier;the liner being a flexible container capable of retaining fluids within an interior portion thereof;the cover being capable of enclosing contents contained within the liner within the interior of the support structure, said cover being thermally isolated;the floor being attached to the lowermost retention tier, said floor being adjacent to the bottom sides of the side walls of said lowermost retention tier, thereby forming a lowermost portion of the modular insulated water tank, said floor being thermally isolated;the fluid inflow conduit comprised of copper tubing;the fluid outflow conduit comprised of copper tubing; andthe heat exchanger comprised of a plurality of coiled copper tubing, each said coil attached in parallel to a manifold;with the fluid inflow conduit being capable of transporting a first fluid from a location exterior to the modular insulated water tank into the modular insulated water tank,the fluid outflow conduit being capable of transporting the first fluid from within the modular insulated water tank to a location exterior to the modular insulated water tank, andthe heat exchanger being capable of transferring heat energy between the first fluid and a second fluid, said second fluid being retained within the modular insulated water tank;wherein the fluid inflow conduit, the heat exchanger, and the fluid outflow conduit are placed in respective serial fluid communications with one another to thereby circulate the first fluid into and out of the modular insulated water tank.
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