Patent ID: 7507316
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: C02F,Y02A,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A tilted tray solar still or purifier for purifying water through a process of evaporation and condensation, including a frame supporting an absorber and a glass sheet spaced above said absorber, and a support means on the frame for forming a watertight seal between the glass sheet and a peripheral flange on the absorber during operation, the support means opening inwardly of the frame supporting the peripheral edges of the glass sheet and the absorber sheet with the glass sheet being in contact with the peripheral flange on the absorber in an unsealed relationship, wherein the support means is arranged such that water vapor generated during operation condenses as a thin film between the glass sheet and the peripheral flange of the absorber with the resultant surface tension of the condensed water pulling the glass sheet against the peripheral flange to form the watertight seal, and wherein the support means comprises an inwardly facing channel member on the frame, the peripheral flange of the absorber and the edge of the glass nesting in the channel member, and the channel member is dimensioned and arranged such that the peripheral flange and edge of the glass sheet are in contact with each other, a glass retainer made of plastic positioned between the upper edge of the glass sheet and the under surface of the top flange of the channel member.