Abstract:
The insulated water tank includes an outer tank and a plurality of inner tanks nested inside the outer tank. A gap between adjacent tanks defines an insulation barrier. Each insulation barrier can be formed by insulation material filling the gaps. One of the insulation barriers is an open air gap that permits air circulation around the adjacent inner tank. A fan is mounted and housed in a base at the bottom of the tanks to provide positive airflow for air circulation/cooling. A solar energy system is provided for supplying power to the fan. The plurality of inner tanks and the corresponding insulation barriers therefrom maintain water in the main central holding tank at moderate temperatures for comfortable consumption.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to utility devices, and particularly to an insulated water tank that maintains water at a moderate temperature for use in a wide range of environmental temperatures. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Water is a basic necessity of life. Everyone needs this substance for hydration as well as a means for cleaning, Modern amenities such as centralized water plants provide this important resource in plentiful supply and at moderate temperatures. Most modern homes and buildings even include separate devices for regulating the temperature of the water used therein. 
         [0005]    As ubiquitous as the above modern conveniences are in most areas, there are many locales in which such conveniences are not readily available. For example, arid regions such as deserts and the like mainly use water tanks for daily needs. In these areas, not everyone has ready access to modem conveniences such as water heaters and the like, nor the power for these types of home appliances. Moreover, such regions experience extremes of temperature on a daily basis from very hot days and severely cold nights. The conventional water tanks used in these regions are correspondingly affected by the extreme temperatures, so users are forced to endure hot water during the day and cold water during the evenings. 
         [0006]    In light of the above, it would be a benefit in the art of utility devices to provide an insulated water tank for maintaining water at moderate temperatures for everyday use. Thus, an insulated water tank solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The insulated water tank includes an outer tank and a plurality of inner tanks nested inside the outer tank. A gap between adjacent tanks defines an insulation barrier. Each insulation barrier can be fortified by insulation material filling the gaps. One of the insulation barriers is an open air gap that permits air circulation around the adjacent inner tank. A fan is mounted and housed in a base at the bottom of the tanks to provide positive airflow for air circulation/cooling. A solar energy system is provided for supplying power to the fan. The plurality of inner tanks and the corresponding insulation barriers maintain water in the main central holding tank at moderate temperatures for comfortable consumption. 
         [0008]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an insulated water tank according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the insulated water tank of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the insulated water tank of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view in section of the insulated water tank of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0013]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    The insulated water tank, generally referred to in the drawings by the reference number  10 , includes a main tank nested inside a plurality of outer tanks. The main tank is filled with water to be used, while the outer tanks provide insulation for maintaining the water in the main tank at a relatively moderate temperature. Additional means are provided to cool the water in extremely hot regions. 
         [0015]    Initially, it is noted that while the following describes the insulated water tank  10  with reference to a cylindrical tank, the insulated water tank  10  can be constructed in various other dimensions and configurations. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the insulated water tank  10  includes an outer, first tank  12  holding a plurality of inner tanks therein. The first tank  12  contains a first insulation layer or barrier  14  surrounding an inner, second tank  16 . The first insulation layer  14  can be composed of a variety of insulation materials, such as foam, sponge, insulation matting, liquid, combinations thereof and the like. In this embodiment, the first tank  12  is filled with sponge, a relatively inexpensive and readily accessible material. 
         [0016]    An inner, third tank  20  of smaller diameter or dimensions from the first and second tanks  12 ,  16  is nested inside the second tank  16 . The space or gap between the second and third tanks  16 ,  20  forms a second insulation layer or barrier  18 . In this exemplary embodiment, the second insulation layer  18  is an air barrier that allows air to circulate around the third tank  20 . This facilitates cooling of the remainder of the tanks inside the third tank  20  through natural convection, which is especially effective in high temperature environs. Passive circulation may be sufficient in moderate climes, but the insulated water tank  10  also includes positive means for circulating the air, to be described further below. 
         [0017]    An inner, fourth tank  24  is mounted inside the third tank  20 . The fourth tank  24  is smaller in dimensions compared to the third tank  20 , thereby defining a gap therebetween. This gap forms a third insulation layer or barrier  22 . The third insulation layer  22  can be composed of a variety of insulation materials, such as foam, sponge, insulation matting, liquid, combinations thereof and the like. In the drawings, the third tank  20  is shown filled with water to form the third insulation layer  22 . The water is preferably recirculated or recycled wastewater from the building B serviced by the insulated water tank  10 , such as from wash sinks, laundry and rain water. This allows users to reduce water consumption and maximize the usage thereof, i.e. instead of fresh water, wastewater is being used to form the third insulation layer  22 . The wastewater is supplied by a first water source or supply line  2 , which is operatively connected to the water system of the building or commune. 
         [0018]    Since wastewater or liquid is being used, the level of wastewater inside the third tank  20  must be monitored in order to prevent overflow and potential damage to property and the insulated water tank  10 . To facilitate monitoring, the third tank  20  includes a sensor, such as a float  23 . As the float  23  travels between user-defined minimum and maximum levels of wastewater contained in the third tank  20 , the first water source  2  is automatically activated or shut off to maintain the wastewater level between the maximum and minimum levels. For example, if the wastewater level falls below minimum, the first water source  2  is automatically actuated to fill the third tank  20 . Conversely, if the wastewater level rises above maximum, the first water source  2  is automatically shutoff to prevent overflow. 
         [0019]    An inner, fifth tank  28  is mounted inside the fourth water tank  24 . The fifth tank  28  is smaller in dimensions compared to the fourth tank  24 , thereby defining a gap therebetween. This gap forms a fourth insulation layer or barrier  26 . The fourth insulation layer  26  can be composed of a variety of insulation materials, such as foam, sponge, insulation matting, liquid, combinations thereof and the like. In the drawings, the fourth tank  24  is shown filled with sponge, a relatively inexpensive and readily accessible material, the same as the first insulation layer  14 . 
         [0020]    The fifth tank  28  is the main or central tank filled with regular or main water  27  for use by the residents of the building B on which the insulated water tank is installed. The plurality of insulation layers insures that this water  27  is maintained at moderate temperatures for comfortable consumption by the residents. The main water  27  is supplied by a second water source or supply line  4 . As with the wastewater  22 , the level of the main water contained in the fifth tank  28  must be monitored to prevent overflow and potential damage to property and the insulated water tank  10 . The fifth tank  28  also includes a sensor, such as a float  25 , which functions the same as the float  23 . When the float  25  falls below a user-defined minimum level inside the fifth tank  28 , the second water supply  4  automatically activates to refill the fifth tank  28 . When the float  25  rises above a user-defined maximum level, the second water supply  4  automatically shuts off. An output line  30  is operatively connected to the fifth tank  28  for transferring the main water  27  to the residents. 
         [0021]    As mentioned previously, the insulated water tank  10  includes a positive means for circulating air around the second insulation layer  18 . This means includes a fan  40  disposed at the bottom of the insulated water tank  10 . In areas of extreme heat, the fan  40  can be activated to force cooler, fresh, outside air to flow around the third tank  20 . This will cool the third tank  20 , which will also cool the wastewater in the third insulation layer  22  to thereby dissipate much of the heat inside the insulated water tank  10 . The top of the insulated water tank  10  includes a cap  32  having perforations  34 , which allow exhaust of the circulated air. Thus, an efficient heat transfer can be achieved by continual airflow from the bottom of the tanks through the top thereof. 
         [0022]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , the first tank  12  is a substantially enclosed tank that holds the other tanks. In order to allow the air to flow, the bottom of the first tank  12  includes a plurality of slots permitting the forced air from the fan  40  to circulate around the inner third tank  20 . 
         [0023]    A base  42  supports the first tank  12  from the bottom thereof and includes a plurality of feet  46 . In this embodiment, the base  42  is preferably a cylindrical ring having substantially the same diameter as that of the first tank  12  and a closed bottom. The fan  40  is housed inside the base  42  to protect the fan  40  and the associated wires (not shown). The base  42  also includes at least one opening  43  and a grill or screen  44  mounted thereon to cover the opening  43 . The opening  43  permits airflow for the tanks, while the grill  44  filters unwanted debris. The feet  46  place the tanks at an elevated position relative to the support surface for the insulated water tank  10  in order to protect the same from the elements and prevent potential blocking of the grill  44  from accumulated debris. While the base  42  has been described as a cylindrical ring, it is to be understood that the base  42  can be provided in a variety of different shapes and sizes, so long as the base  42  provides support for the tanks and a protective housing for the fan  40 . 
         [0024]    The power for the fan  40  can be provided by solar energy, which is especially effective and environmentally sound in regions where electricity is at a premium or not readily accessible, e.g., arid regions such as deserts. As best shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the insulated water tank  10  includes a plurality of solar cells or panels  50  mounted atop the first tank  12 . The solar panels  50  are operatively connected to a rechargeable battery  52 , which, in turn, supplies power to the fan  40 . The location of the solar panels  50  is preferably on top of the first tank  12  for maximum exposure to the sun. However, other locations on or remote from the first tank  12  are equally viable, so long as they permit maximal sun exposure for optimal operation of the insulated water tank  10 . The fan  40  can also be powered by conventional power grids, but solar energy presents a more economical and environmentally friendly solution. In light of the above, the insulated water tank  10  is preferably installed on the roof of a building or dwelling B for maximum sun exposure. The first tank  12  can also include a handle  60  for easy portability and installation. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.