Abstract:
A hot water supply and fire hydrant system includes a plurality of heat-absorber plates ( 11 ) arranged on the whole area of the roof of a building in a sloping position for absorbing the radiating energy of the sun, a plurality of collector tubes ( 12 ) formed of metal tubes having a high heat transfer efficient and respectively mounted on the heat-absorber plates ( 11 ) for transferring heat energy from the heat-absorber plates to water flowing through the collector tubes, and a plurality of pipe connectors ( 15 ) respectively connected to the top and bottom ends of the collector tubes ( 12 ) for guiding water in and out of the collector tubes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a hot water supply system and more particularly, to a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which fuilly utilizes the roof space of a building to support a solar collector unit and, which can be used as a fire hydrant as well as a hot water supplier. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In tropical or subtropical countries, people may install a solar-collector system in the roof of the house to absorb the radiating energy of the sun for heating water for industrial or home use. A conventional solar-collector system is made of special materials system and has a complicated structure, resulting in a high cost. Because the high cost, conventional solar-collector systems are not popularly accepted. 
         [0005]    Further, many private houses, public buildings or factory buildings use corrugated metal (galvanized) sheet members to construct the roof. Because metal sheet members provide a high heat absorbing effect, using metal sheet members to make the roof of a building cannot isolate the inside space of the building from the radiating heat of the sun. People working in this building during a hot day are very uncomfortable. It is practical to utilize the corrugated metal roof sheets of a building to absorb the radiating energy of the sun for heating water, saving much solar collector installation cost and preventing radiation of thermal energy into the inside space of the building. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which fully utilizes the roof space of a building to support a solar collector unit for heating cold water to a hot status for service. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which has a simple structure and a low manufacturing cost. 
         [0008]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which can be used as a fire hydrant as well as a hot water supplier. 
         [0009]    To achieve these objects of the present invention, the hot water supply and fire hydrant system comprises a plurality of heat-absorber plates arranged on the roof of a building in a sloping position, a plurality of collector tubes formed of metal tubes having a high heat transfer efficient and respectively mounted on the heat-absorber plates, each collector tube having a top end and a bottom end disposed at different elevations, and a plurality of pipe connectors respectively connected to the top and bottom ends of the collector tubes for guiding water in and out of the collector tubes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a hot water supply and fire hydrant system according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side plain view of the hot water supply and fire hydrant system according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken in an enlarged scale along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3  but showing foam material stuffed in the solar collector unit. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing showing an alternate form of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing showing another alternate form of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a hot water supply and fire hydrant system in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a solar collector unit  10  fixedly mounted on a light steel framework  20  on the roof of a building. The solar collector unit  10  fits the double-bevel configuration of the light steel framework  20 . A water reservoir pipe  50  is mounted in the peak of the light steel framework  20 . Two accumulation pipes  40  are mounted in the peak of the light steel framework  20  at two sides of the water reservoir pipe  50 . Two water delivery pipes  30  arranged in parallel at the two lowest opposite sides of the double-bevel configuration of the light steel framework  20 . 
         [0017]    The solar collector unit  10  is comprised of a plurality of flat heat-absorber plates  11  and a plurality of collector tubes  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the heat-absorber plates  11  are laid to overlap one another and fixedly fastened to the light steel framework  20  with screws  13 . The heat-absorber plates  11  are metal plates, for example, painted iron sheet members. The collector tubes  12  are metal tubes, having a high heat transfer coefficient. Preferably, the collector tubes  12  are copper tubes or aluminum tubes. Connectors  15  are used to connect the top and bottom ends of the collector tubes  12  to the accumulation pipes  40  and the water delivery pipes  30  respectively. 
         [0018]    The water delivery pipes  30  each have one end respectively connected to a water intake pipe  31 , which has a one-way control valve  32  installed therein. Guide tubes  41  are respectively connected between the accumulation pipes  40  and the water reservoir pipe  50 . The water reservoir pipe  50  has one end connected to a water tank  60  through a water outlet pipe  51 . The water tank  60  is provided with a relief valve  61 . A first float bowl switch  62  and a second float bowl switch  63  are provided inside the water tank  60  at different elevations. The water tank  60  has a main supply pipe  64  and a connecting pipe  66  connected to the bottom side thereof. The main supply pipe  64  is connected to water taps (not shown) at different locations inside the house. The connecting pipe  66  is connected to the water intake pipe  31  behind the one-way control valve  32 . An electric heater  65  is connected to the main supply pipe  66 . 
         [0019]    When in use, cold water is delivered from the water intake pipe  31  to the water delivery pipes  30  and then the collector tubes  12  of the solar-collector unit  10 . The heat-absorber plates  11  of the solar-collector unit  10  absorb the radiating energy of the sun to heat water in the collector tubes  12 , allowing heated water to flow from the collector tubes  12  to the accumulation pipes  40  through connectors  15 . When the temperature of water in the accumulation pipes  40  reached a predetermined level, a respective temperature-controlled valve  42  is opened for letting hot water to flow out of the accumulation pipes  40  into the water reservoir pipe  50 , and then to flow from the water reservoir pipe  50  through the water outlet pipe  51  to the water tank  60 . At this time, the user can obtain hot water from each terminal water tap that is connected to the main supply pipe  64 . If the temperature of the supplied water is low due to bad weather, the user can operate the electric heater  65  to heat water to the desired temperature level. 
         [0020]    Further, when the water level in the water tank  60  surpassed the elevation of the first float bowl valve  62 , the first float bowl valve  62  is driven to switch off the one-way control valve  32 , stopping cold water from passing into water intake pipe  31 . At this time, water passes out of the water tank  60  through the connecting pipe  66  into the water intake pipe  31  for circulation through the solar collector unit  10 . When the water level in the water tank  60  dropped below the elevation of the second float bowl valve  63 , the second float bowl valve  63  is driven to switch on the on-way control valve  32  for enabling cold water to enter the water intake pipe  31  for circulation through the solar collector unit  10  to keep the water in the water tank at a certain level. 
         [0021]    Further, a cover plate  52  may be covered over the accumulation pipes  40  and the water reservoir pipe  50 . Further, foam material  80  may be used to surround the connector tubes  12 , keeping the connector tubes  12  warm. 
         [0022]    Further, water sprayers  70  may be mounted in the house and connected to the connector tubes  12  at different locations and electrically coupled to the temperature sensors or smoke sensors of the fire system of the house so that the hot water supply and fire hydrant system can be used as a fire hydrant as well as a hot water supplier. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the solar collector unit  10  uses roof tile-shaped heat-absorber plates  72  to substitute for the aforesaid flat heat-absorber plates  11 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat-absorber plates  11  are covered over the rood of the house as well as the vertical peripheral walls  74  and  76  of the house. 
         [0025]    As described above, the invention provides a hot water supply and fire hydrant system, which has the following advantages: 
         [0026]    1. High economic effect: The invention uses the roof structure of the house to support the hot water supply and fire hydrant system, saving much installation cost and obtaining a great solar energy collecting area. Comparing to conventional solar-collector systems, the hot water supply and fire hydrant system of the present invention is less expensive and can collect the radiating energy of the sun more efficiently. The invention is practical for use in the roof of any of a variety of buildings, providing a high economic effect. 
         [0027]    2. High effect of hot water supply: The invention uses the radiating energy of the sun to heat water, keeping reserved water above a certain temperature level and providing hot water to satisfy daily requirement. 
         [0028]    3. High effect of heat isolation: Because the solar collector unit absorbs the radiating energy of the sun and converts the radiating energy into thermal energy in water in the collector tubes and because obtained hot water is stored in the water tank inside the house, the temperature inside the house is maintained in a comfortable level. 
         [0029]    4. Fire hydrant Function: The invention has water sprayers directly connected to the collector tubes and electrically coupled to the fire sensors or smoke sensors of the fire hydrant system of the house, the user needs not to arrange additional water pipes in the house for the fire hydrant system. 
         [0030]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.