Adapter for hot water cylinder with extendable tube

Abstract

An adapter 1 for connecting a hot water cylinder 45 to a heat source, the adapter configured to be secured at the top of the cylinder. The adapter includes a heat exchanger 3 having a first inlet 10 f

Claims

1. An adapter for connecting a hot water cylinder to a heat source, wherein the adapter comprises:a heat exchanger having a first inlet for receiving hot working fluid from a heat source and a first outlet for returning the cooled working fluid to the heat source after the working fluid has passed through the heat exchanger, and having a second inlet for receiving water for heating from the hot water cylinder and a second outlet for returning the heated water to the hot water cylinder after the water from the hot water cylinder has passed through the heat exchanger;a pump for pumping water from the hot water cylinder through the heat exchanger and back to the hot water cylinder; anda tube in fluid communication with the second outlet of the heat exchanger, the tube being extensible, the tube comprising at least two portions being a first tube portion and at least one extension portion for extending the length of the tube.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the at least two portions are separate elements configured to be joined together.

3. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the first tube portion remote from the heat exchanger and a first end of the extension portion have complementary threads to enable the first tube portion and the extension portion to be assembled together.

4. An adapter according to claim 3, wherein a further extension portion is provided, the further extension portion being configured to be attached to the second end of the extension portion, for example using complementary threads.

5. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tube comprises a diffuser, the diffuser being located at or near to the end of the tube.

6. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tube comprises a first tube portion, at least one extension portion and a diffuser portion, the diffuser portion being at the end of the tube remote from the heat exchanger.

7. An adapter according to any of the preceding ciaims, wherein the adapter further comprises an arrangement configured to be fitted to the top of a hot water cylinder, the arrangement comprising a hollow body, the hollow body being configured to accommodate at least part of the first tube portion within the hollow body.

8. An adapter according to claim 7, wherein the hollow body is configured to provide a fluid path being a hot water outlet from the hot water cylinder.

9. An adapter according to claim 8, wherein the hollow body comprises at least one O ring being arranged to permit the hollow body to rotate when it is secured to the top of the hot water cylinder such that the hot water outlet is rotatable to a desired position when the hollow body is fixed to the hot water cylinder.

10. An adapter according to claim 9 wherein the adapter comprises a housing, the housing containing and supporting within it the heat exchanger and the pump, and wherein at least part of the hollow body is accommodated in the housing.

11. An adapter according to claim 10 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of sections, at least one section being rotatable with respect to the other section or sections, the hot water outlet being provided in a different section to the heat exchanger and pump such that the hot water outlet may be rotated with respect to the heat exchanger and pump.

12. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein two or more extension portions are provided and wherein at least one of the extension portions has a length different to the other extension portion or portions.

13. An adapter according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein two or more extension portions are provided and wherein the extension portions are of a similar length and are in the range of 100mm to 500mm long.

14. An adapter according to claim 13, wherein the extension portions are in the range of 250mm to 350mm long.

15. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims wherein the adapter comprises height adjustable support means for supporting the adapter on the top of a hot water cylinder.

16. A cylinder adapted for connection to a heat pump, the cylinder comprising an adapter5 according to any of the preceding claims.

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