Solar water pasteurizer
First Claim
1. A solar water pasteurizer comprising:
- a flexible water-tight resealable container,wherein said container comprises a top and a bottom,wherein said bottom comprises at least one resealable opening,wherein said resealable opening comprises at least one water-tight spout with a mating resealable cap,wherein one or more reuseable temperature indicators for indicating the temperature history of the water contained in said container are positioned within said resealable cap,wherein said one or more reuseable temperature indicator(s) is(are) a glass tube(s) containing wax therein that melts at pasteurization temperatures, andwherein said glass tube(s) is(are) maintained in position within said resealable cap by insertion thereof within an out-of-round receptacle therefor;
one or more energy converting structures therein, as an integral part of said container,a first insulation structure on the top of said container,wherein said first insulation structure comprises a matrix containing a plurality of substantially air-tight structures having gas contained therein, andwherein said first insulation structure contains one or more vents in the matrix between said plurality of substantially air-tight structures for releasing moisture that would otherwise collect on the underside of said first insulation structure, anda second insulation structure on the bottom of said container, wherein said second insulation structure is selected from a matrix containing a plurality of substantially airtight structures having gas contained therein, closed cell foam or open cell foam,wherein said insulation structures collectively are sufficient to enable said pasteurizer to achieve water temperatures of at least 65°
C., andwherein said insulation structures are an integral part of said container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided solar water pasteurizers that are portable, efficient, inexpensive and easy to use. In its simplest form, the solar pasteurizer includes a transparent container such as a bag or envelope that contains at least one energy converting structure and has sufficient insulation to enable heating water to a temperature of at least 65° C. (and preferably to a temperature of at least 70° C.) for a time sufficient to achieve pasteurization (at 65-70° C., a period of only about 6 minutes is required for pasteurization). Invention solar pasteurizers are particularly useful for pasteurizing water. In additional embodiments, invention solar pasteurizers include additional features, such as, for example, a water pasteurization indicator, and a receptacle for retaining same within the invention container. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there are provided methods for pasteurizing water employing solar pasteurizers described herein, as well as kits suitable to convert any transparent water tight container into a solar water pasteurizer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A solar water pasteurizer comprising:
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a flexible water-tight resealable container, wherein said container comprises a top and a bottom, wherein said bottom comprises at least one resealable opening, wherein said resealable opening comprises at least one water-tight spout with a mating resealable cap, wherein one or more reuseable temperature indicators for indicating the temperature history of the water contained in said container are positioned within said resealable cap, wherein said one or more reuseable temperature indicator(s) is(are) a glass tube(s) containing wax therein that melts at pasteurization temperatures, and wherein said glass tube(s) is(are) maintained in position within said resealable cap by insertion thereof within an out-of-round receptacle therefor; one or more energy converting structures therein, as an integral part of said container, a first insulation structure on the top of said container, wherein said first insulation structure comprises a matrix containing a plurality of substantially air-tight structures having gas contained therein, and wherein said first insulation structure contains one or more vents in the matrix between said plurality of substantially air-tight structures for releasing moisture that would otherwise collect on the underside of said first insulation structure, and a second insulation structure on the bottom of said container, wherein said second insulation structure is selected from a matrix containing a plurality of substantially airtight structures having gas contained therein, closed cell foam or open cell foam, wherein said insulation structures collectively are sufficient to enable said pasteurizer to achieve water temperatures of at least 65°
C., andwherein said insulation structures are an integral part of said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of assembly of a solar water pasteurizer, said method comprising:
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stacking first and second sheets of a flexible polymeric material with insulation structure therebetween, wherein said insulation structure is selected from a matrix containing a plurality of air-tight structures having gas contained therein, closed cell foam or open cell foam, bonding said sheets together with at least one water-tight spout inserted therethrough to create a three-ply structure bonded to the water-tight spout(s), wherein said first and second sheets upon bonding to the water-tight spout(s) form the entrance and exit for water to/from said pasteurizer, wherein said first sheet has at least one energy reflective layer thereon, wherein said second sheet is an energy converting structure, and wherein said water-tight spout(s) further comprise a mating cap, wherein said cap comprises an out-of-round receptacle for receiving one or more re-usable temperature indicators for indicating the temperature history of the water contained therein, intimately associated therewith, and thereafter stacking and bonding a third and fourth sheet of flexible polymeric material to said first and second sheets of material along the perimeter thereof, oriented so that the third sheet is adjacent to the second sheet, wherein said third sheet is transparent, and wherein said fourth sheet provides a transparent insulating airspace, wherein said transparent insulating airspace comprises a matrix containing a plurality of substantially air-tight structures having gas contained therein, and wherein said transparent insulating airspace contains one or more vents in the matrix thereof for releasing moisture that would otherwise collect on the side of the fourth sheet adjacent to the third sheet. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification