HK1171258A - Solar coffee/tea maker and cooking appliances - Google Patents

Description

Solar tea/coffee maker and cooking appliance

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of solar thermal applications, in particular with respect to the cooking of food products by means of solar cooking appliances associated with solar thermal absorption devices equipped with a heat storage and conduction material.

Background

Solar energy is the most widespread, abundant and evenly distributed source of energy for all energy sources available on earth. Solar energy can be easily used. It is provided daily, everywhere, and available to human.

Cooking food and beverages, for various energy consuming activities of humans, is the most frequent and most long-lived activity. Every person needs to cook food every day, no matter where they are.

The use of solar energy for cooking food is a very interesting and valuable subject. There have been many efforts and attempts in this area. (see prior art patent).

Solar power per unit area of the earth is not very large. From north to south, and from morning to afternoon, the solar radiation intensity is different. It also depends on weather and the four seasons. Therefore, developing an economical solar cooking apparatus is always a challenge and requires continuous effort.

In view of these difficulties, some solar cooking appliances attempt to maximize the sunlight receiving area. But the heat received is difficult to keep warm. Some solar cooking appliances use expensive automated systems to track and concentrate sunlight, but require additional power sources to run the system. Some solar cooking appliances also use heat storage materials. Some materials may be expensive and not readily available.

The presently disclosed technology takes historical experience and combines new solar hot water technology to develop an economical and viable set of solar cooking devices.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of this disclosure is to improve the prior art and to provide an economical, easy to manufacture and use and efficient solar cooking apparatus. The invention adopts the following steps to overcome the difficulty of cooking food by using solar energy:

the best heat collection effect is achieved by using a vacuum tube solar heat collector;

in order to store and preserve heat, heat storage and conduction materials are placed in the vacuum tube solar collector so as to provide heat for continuous and stable cooking;

using a reflector to intensively reflect surrounding light rays to the cooking equipment;

a sundial is used for indicating the direction of sunlight, and the fixed support which can rotate and adjust the angle allows the maximum solar power to be received;

the power supply provides a backup source of energy when solar power is insufficient. In addition, the solar cooking apparatus also provides a backup energy storage device for cooking when power is interrupted during periods when the price of power is low.

The following is a detailed abstract of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a solar cooking apparatus comprising: a solar thermal absorption unit filled with a thermal storage and conductive material; solar heat is collected in the device, stored and transferred out of it; an insulated solar cooking appliance for cooking food therein; the appliance is in thermal communication with a heat transfer medium from the solar thermal absorber; a heat transfer medium connecting said solar thermal absorber to said solar cooking utensil and transferring heat from said solar thermal absorber to said solar cooking utensil; and necessary accessories.

The solar heat absorption device is a vacuum tube solar heat absorption device, or a group of modularized vacuum tube solar heat absorption devices arranged in a certain shape, such as parallel calandria, partial or all conical cylinders and the like; wherein the vacuum tube solar heat absorption device is provided with an open end extending to the insulated solar cooking utensil so as to conduct heat; or 2 open ends, one of which extends to a thermal insulated solar cooking appliance; or 2 open ends, one of which is in thermal communication with the insulated solar cooking appliance via said heat transfer medium; the solar heat absorption device is partially filled with heat storage and conduction materials, and a solar heating liquid container is arranged in the middle of the solar heat absorption device and used for heating water or edible oil; for safety reasons, vacuum tube solar thermal absorbers propose to use reinforced and tough glass vacuum tubes as solar thermal absorbers or to add a transparent protective cover.

The heat storage and conductive material may be a solid material: such as ore or metal, quartz sand or basalt sand, salt or earth; or a liquid material, such as water or oil; food oil or heat transfer oil; or chemical heat storage materials such as calcium oxide plus water; or a mixture of heat storage and conductive materials, such as quartz sand, with rape oil.

The heat-insulating solar cooking appliance comprises a cooking appliance with a heat-insulating sleeve; or a cooking utensil placed in a heat-insulating container; or a vacuum cooking appliance made of one of glass, metal, composite or ceramic; or a cooking appliance, placed in a thermally insulated container filled with a thermal storage and conductive material; or a thermally insulated, electrically heated cooking appliance, said appliance having means or system for measuring, displaying and controlling operating parameters; or a thermal insulating electric heating cooker having a pipe disposed on the inner wall of the appliance from the top to near the bottom; said tube having a fitting opening at the top for receiving a vapor tube from a solar thermal absorber; one end of the steam pipe extends into a water heater arranged in the solar heat absorption device, but is not immersed into hot water of the heater.

The heat conduction medium comprises a heat pipe with or without heat conduction fins, one end of the heat pipe is arranged in the solar heat absorption device, and the other end of the heat pipe extends to the heat-preservation solar cooking utensil; or a water pipe (containing water vapor in the pipe), one end of the water pipe is immersed in the water heater in the solar heat absorption device, and the other end of the water pipe extends to the heat-preservation solar cooking utensil; or a tube of food oil having a port immersed in a cooking oil heater disposed in a solar heat absorber. And the other port of the solar cooker extends into the heat-insulating solar cooker; or a medium that brings heat into the insulated solar cooker, which cooks and becomes part of the food product, such as water (including water vapor) and cooking oil; or the heat storage and heat conduction material in the solar heat absorption device is connected with or extends into the heat-preservation cooking utensil; or heat storage and conduction material in said solar thermal absorber, said material being connected to or extending into a thermal container in which the solar cooking utensil is placed; or comprise a thermally conductive conductor such as a copper rod or the side wall of a metal appliance.

The accessory comprises a fixing and supporting bracket which is used for placing and supporting each element of the solar cooking device in a proper position; including a mechanism for adjusting the angle of incidence of the solar thermal absorber to direct sunlight and a mechanism for adjusting the orientation of the solar thermal absorber to direct sunlight, such as a rotating pan. The accessory also comprises a light reflecting object which collects and reflects sunlight near the solar heat absorption device to the solar heat absorption device; a sundial, such as a conical shaped rod, is attached perpendicularly to the solar thermal absorber for indicating the angle of incidence of sunlight. The accessory further comprises a metal, paper or plastic bag and/or a film for wrapping or covering the food to be cooked in the solar cooking apparatus.

The accessory also comprises an electric heating element with a power supply; the electric heating element with power supply also comprises a measuring and displaying device for measuring and displaying the operating parameters of the solar cooking device, such as time, temperature, pressure, humidity and the like. A cooking control system is also included for measuring, displaying and controlling the operating parameters of the solar cooking apparatus, such as time, temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.

The accessory also comprises a box for placing the solar cooking device so as to form a portable solar cooking device.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a solar tea/coffee maker comprising: a tea/coffee maker in which coffee or tea is brewed by solar heated water; there is a lid and a handle; a container for coffee and tea is placed in the middle of a tea-making/coffee machine; the coffee container with holes is arranged at the upper part, the tea container with holes is arranged at the lower part; a hot water shower head on the lid of said tea/coffee maker; one end of the pipe is connected with the hot water spray head and is hidden in the cover and the handle; the other end of the pipe is connected to an assembling port at the lower part of the handle, and the assembling port is connected with a hot water pipe of the solar water heater.

The tea/coffee maker includes a vacuum cup made of stainless steel, glass or composite material; the perforated coffee and tea containers are connected or disconnected by a detachable vertical shaft.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides another solar tea/coffee maker, including a solar tea/coffee maker, comprising: a lid and a handle; a container for coffee and tea in the middle of a tea cooker/coffee maker, said container having a coffee container with holes in the upper portion and a tea container with a lid in the lower portion; a hot water shower head on the lid of said tea/coffee maker; a pipe is connected with the hot water spray head and is hidden in the cover and the handle; said tube having one end connected to an assembly port in the lower portion of the handle, said assembly port in turn being connected to one end of a hot water tube; the other end of the hot water pipe extends into a closed water heating container in the solar heat absorption device and is immersed into hot water in the solar water heating container; and necessary accessories. One end of a hot water pipe is connected with the assembling opening, and the other end of the hot water pipe extends to a closed water heating container in the solar heat absorption device and is immersed in the hot water in the solar water heating container.

The solar water heater comprises a vacuum tube solar heat absorption device; the solar water heater comprises a water heater arranged in a vacuum tube solar heat absorption device filled with heat storage and conduction materials; the solar tea/coffee maker comprises a vacuum cup made of stainless steel or composite material; the coffee containers are connected or disconnected by a detachable vertical shaft.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides another solar and electric coffee maker, which uses solar energy as a main energy source and electric power as a backup energy source, including: an electric drip coffee maker having a cold water tank, a coffee tank, an electric heating water pipe, a first check valve and a hot water spray head, a hot water pipe continuing said electric heating water pipe to bring hot water to the spray head above, said hot water pipe having a one-way bypass pipe above said first check valve and electric heating water pipe but below the hot water spray head; a 2 nd check valve for preventing hot water from flowing back to the solar thermal absorption unit has a terminal connected to one end of said bypass pipe and the other end connected through a 3 rd pipe to a fitting port on said fountain electric coffee maker, said fitting port being for receiving a hot water pipe from a solar water heater; a 3 rd check valve is provided on the hot water pipe between the bypass pipe and the electric heating pipe to prevent the hot water from the solar heat absorbing device from flowing backward to the electric heating pipe, a closed solar water heater in which the heat absorbed by the solar heat absorbing device is stored to directly or indirectly heat water, and a connection water pipe (4 th pipe) extends to the solar water heater, and has one end immersed in the hot water of the solar water heater and the other end connected to a connection fitting hole on the wall of the drip coffee maker.

The solar water heater comprises the vacuum tube solar heat absorption device; the solar water heater comprises a container for containing water, and the container is placed in a vacuum tube solar heat absorption device filled with heat storage and conduction materials.

Drawings

The following are some specific examples of the invention:

fig. 1 is a schematic view, schematically illustrating a solar tea/coffee maker 100 in longitudinal section;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating a solar tea/coffee maker 200 in longitudinal section;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a set of different solar thermal absorption units in longitudinal section;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an alternative solar cooking apparatus in longitudinal section;

fig. 5 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a solar cooking apparatus in use in a longitudinal section;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram, a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an alternative solar cooking apparatus;

fig. 7 is a schematic view, and a set of solar cooking apparatuses is schematically illustrated in a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view, respectively.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, a solar coffee maker/tea maker 100 is schematically illustrated in longitudinal cross-section.

Here the solar coffee maker/tea maker 160 comprises a solar heat absorbing means 110 and its connecting tubes 131, 110 in which heat storing and conducting material 120 is placed.

160 is a container of liquid with a box 162, here a vacuum glass 161, although stainless steel composites are also often used. A coffee and tea holder 166 is located in the cup 160, and a lower portion of the holder 166 has a tea basket 167 with a lid 1671.166, an upper portion having a perforated coffee holder 168, and a shelf 169 supporting the coffee and tea holders 168 and 167. Whether it be a shelf, a coffee holder or a tea holder, they can be removed from the holder 169 by their shafts 169. The coffee holder, tea holder and shelf can be placed in 160 or taken out individually or completely according to the needs.

A hot water shower head 164 is centrally located on the lid 162. Hot water pipe 163 passes through and is concealed within lid 164 and handle 165 of 160. One end of the hot water pipe 163 is connected to one end of the pipe 164. And the other end thereof is connected to a fitting port 170, which is located at the lower portion of the handle. 170 is adapted to receive a hot water line 171 from the solar water heater.

The solar thermal absorber 110 can be any type of solar thermal absorber that can heat the heat storage conductive material 120 to a temperature above the boiling temperature of water. In this example, the solar thermal absorber 110 is a vacuum tube solar collector. It can also be a set of modular solar heat absorbers, arranged in a pattern, for example parallel rows of tubes, partial or complete rudimentary columns. As one example of which is shown in fig. 2. The solar thermal absorber 110 has a removable/movable part 114. It has two holes 1141 and 1142. Holes 1141 are for the passage of electrical wires and air, and holes 1142 are used to connect holes 1131 for the passage of hot water tubes 171.

The evacuated tube solar collector 110 has a transparent outer layer 111 and an inner layer 112, between which a vacuum is drawn. The inner layer has a heat absorbing coating, not shown in fig. 1. Vacuum tube solar collectors have similar materials and manufacturing processes to vacuum tubes used for solar hot water. But the evacuated tube collector for solar cooking has a larger diameter than a general evacuated tube solar collector.

The evacuated tube solar collector 110 is made of glass, and once broken, pieces of glass are dangerous to users. The solar thermal absorber should have a transparent cover, which is not shown in fig. 1, for safety. If the evacuated tube solar collector 110 is a single panel, the transparent layer can be either a plastic sheath for each tube or a protective cover for the solar panel. Plastic protective films may reduce the efficiency of solar thermal absorbers, so a better choice is to use strengthened and tough glass.

The heat storage and conductive material 120, which in this example is salt or quartz sand, is used to store and transmit solar energy to the solar cooking appliance 130. In fact, many types of materials can be used as solar thermal storage and conductive materials. They may be solid materials such as salt, sand, graphite and peat; liquid materials such as water and oil, including edible oils and petroleum products. Phase change materials, such as paraffin. Combinations of different materials, such as oil injection in quartz sand, are also contemplated.

The water containing vessel 130 is a cylindrical container placed in the solar thermal absorber 110 and in contact with the heat storage and conduction material 120. The cooking utensil 130 has a removable member 131, 131 with a hole 1311 where a plug is inserted in the hole 130, the diameter of the hole 130 being close to but not equal to the inner diameter of the vacuum tube 110. A pleated structure 133 is formed in the wall of 130 to provide a gas exchange channel and passage for the electrical wires 131. It also provides a small diameter space for the container 131. the cooking utensil 13D also includes a removable handle 134 attached to the inner wall of 130 to allow the cooking utensil to be removed from the solar heat absorber 110.

A movable part 114 covers the top of the solar thermal absorber 110. It has two holes 1141 and 1142. The first hole connects to the gap, which is the passage of the electrical wire and air, and the second hole 1142 continues the hole 1311 of the plug 131 in the container 130.

The powered electric heating element 150 is a very low power electric heater that is placed under the cooking appliance 130 and in the heat storage and conductive material 120. The electrical wires 151, which have a high resistance to heat temperature, connect the electrical heating elements 150 to the electrical outlets 152 outside the solar thermal absorber 110 via the pleats 133 of the container. Electrical heating element array 150 may also include a measurement display or control system to monitor and control the operating parameters of the solar cooking appliance, such as time, temperature, pressure, humidity, etc. These means are not shown in figure 1. The electric heating element with the power supply can also be removed from the solar cooking device, and the solar cooking device is still a complete solar cooking device but uses solar energy as the only heat source. Fig. 3 shows a solar cooking appliance without a power supply.

A hot water connection tube 171 extends through the holes 142 and 1311 to the closed solar water heater 130. 171 are submerged 131 at one end and are connected at the other end to a mounting port 170 on a handle 1665 of the coffee maker/tea maker 160.

When sunlight 101 shines on 110, 110 absorbs heat and is stored in sand 120, and when water storage reservoir 130 is placed in 110 and cold water is injected, solar heat is transferred to water storage reservoir 130 through internal thermal contact with inner wall 112 and sand 120 and heats the water therein. One end of tube 171 is submerged under water surface 135 in 130 and 130 is closed. As the water boils the water vapor collects in the upper portion of 130 and forces the hot water to flow upward through tubes 131 and 163. The hot water is then dispersed and evenly distributed over the coffee grounds by the spray header 164. The coffee grinds are pre-placed in 168. The hot water extracts the essence of the coffee and drops into the coffee pot 161. Thus, a process for making coffee using solar energy is completed. The same process may be used to cook tea, in which case the tea leaves or tea bags may be placed in the tea basket 167.

The vacuum tube 110 itself may also replace the water heater. The water reservoir 130, its plug 131 and the heat storage and transfer material 120 in the solar thermal absorption unit 110 are now missing. The removable part 114 needs to be changed 110 into a sealed container. When the solar energy heats the water in 110 to boiling, the water vapor in 110 pushes the hot water up and through 171 and 163 the coffee is brewed. The quality and cooking speed of the coffee depends on the real-time solar power, which may be discontinuous and unstable. After we place 130 in 160 and add the heat storage and conduction material 120, we can use the stored heat to cook the beverage continuously and stably at any time.

When the solar power is insufficient, the electric heating element 150 heats the water in the water storage container of the solar absorption device 110. Since the thermal insulation properties of the pipe 110 are particularly good, the electrical energy required is very small. The electric energy has extremely high cooking efficiency.

Based on the above idea of the solar tea/coffee maker of fig. 1, a solar/electric coffee maker can be easily produced with only minor modifications to existing electric drip-type coffee makers or by reassembling existing coffee makers.

Referring to fig. 2, a solar tea/coffee maker 200 is schematically illustrated in longitudinal cross-section. For simplicity of description, the solar heat absorption unit 110, the heat storage and conduction material 120, the solar boiler 130 and the connection pipe 171 are the same as those described in fig. 1.

An electric coffee maker 260 has a cold water kettle 261, an electric heating tube 262, a hot water tube 263, a hot water shower head 264, a coffee holder 265 having a hole, a coffee holder 266 and a first one-way valve 267. The above-described components are typical of existing drip coffee makers. The main changes compared thereto for a solar/electric drip coffee maker are as follows:

a water line 263 continues the electrical heating tube 262 to direct water from the bottom of 261 up to the drip area 265. The hot water line 263 has a bypass line 268 above the first check valve and the electric heating lines 262 and 267 but below the shower head 264.

A second one-way valve 270 is now added to prevent the backflow of hot water 110 and is connected at one end to one end of the bypass line 268 and at the other end to a connection port 269 of 260 via a third line 272. 269 is adapted to receive hot water line 171 from line 130.

A third check valve 273 is provided on the hot water pipe 263 between 268 and 262 for preventing hot water from flowing from the solar heat absorbing apparatus to the electrothermal pipe 162.

The hot water connection tube 171 extends through the holes 1142 and 1311 to the sealed solar water heater 130, and its first end is immersed under the water level 135 in the water heater 130, and the other end of 131 is connected to the tube fitting port 269 of the electric coffee maker.

When sunlight 101 strikes 110, 110 absorbs solar heat and is stored in 120. When cold water is added to 130, solar heat is transferred through the storage material 120 and the inner wall 112 to the container and heats the water. One end 1711 of tube 171 is submerged below the surface of water at 130 and 130 is sealed. When the water is boiled, the water vapor accumulated in the container urges the hot water to flow upward into the pipes 171 and 163, and then the hot water is dispersed and uniformly sprayed onto the coffee. The hot water extracts the essence of the coffee and drops into the coffee pot 266, completing a process of preparing coffee. When 110 is in operation, the newly added check valve 273 prevents hot water from flowing into the heat pipe 262.

When the solar energy is insufficient, the electric heating tube 162 is connected, and cold water flows through 267 from 261 and is heated in the electric heating tube until boiling. The foam of the boiling water forces the hot water to rise through hot water line 263 to shower head 264 to cook the coffee. The process is not different from the existing coffee pot.

The check valve 273 prevents water from flowing to the electric heating tube 262 when the solar heat absorbing apparatus 110 operates. When the electric coffee maker 260 is in operation, the newly added check valve 272 prevents water from flowing to the water tank 110. If necessary, 2 heat sources can also be operated simultaneously.

As shown in fig. 1, an empty vacuum tube 110 may also be substituted for the hot water reservoir 130 to heat water and brew coffee.

Referring to fig. 3, a set of different solar thermal absorption units is schematically illustrated in longitudinal section.

A in fig. 3 schematically illustrates in longitudinal section a evacuated tube solar collector, partially filled with a liquid heat storage and conducting material, such as water or oil. In some cases, water is also a heat transfer medium that can be used to cook food.

In fig. 3B is schematically illustrated in longitudinal section a evacuated tube solar collector, partly filled with solid heat storage and transfer material, such as ore and peat.

In fig. 3C is schematically illustrated in longitudinal section a vacuum tube solar collector, partially filled with sand, with a heat pipe or heat conductor as heat transfer medium.

In fig. 3D, a vacuum tube solar collector is schematically illustrated in longitudinal section, partly filled with solid and liquid heat storage and conducting materials, such as quartz sand and food oil.

Fig. 3E, a partial cross-sectional view, schematically illustrates a set of vertically aligned evacuated tube solar collectors in the longitudinal direction.

Fig. 3, F, schematically illustrates a set of evacuated tube solar collectors arranged in parallel in the transverse direction in partial cross-section.

When we assemble a solar cooking apparatus, not only the above-mentioned several solar heat absorbing devices can be used, but also many modified structures or various modified forms thereof can be selected and used.

Referring to fig. 4, an alternative solar cooking apparatus (steamer) is schematically illustrated in longitudinal section.

For simplicity of description, the solar heat absorber 110, including the heat storage and transfer substance 120, the solar boiler 130, and the connection tube 171 are the same as those illustrated in fig. 1.

Cooking device 460 is now a steamer and has insulated lid 462, the side walls of 460 are insulated with insulation 461. A three-tier steamer tray 468 is positioned above the bottom 464 of the basket 460 and the food is steamed with steam. A vapor tube 463 is disposed within the steamer and down the wall of the steamer, the tube 463 connecting to a connecting fitting 465,465 on the insulating sleeve 461.

The connection tube 172 has a terminal 1711 connected to the fitting port 465 and the other end 1712 extending to the container 130 for heating water and above the water surface 135.

When sunlight 101 strikes the solar thermal absorber 110, the collector absorbs the heat and stores it in the heat storage and transfer material 120. When the solar thermal absorber 110 is placed 130 and cold water is injected into 130, solar thermal energy is transferred through the inner wall of 110 and the thermal storage and conduction material 120 to the water container 130 and heats the water therein. The water vapor accumulated in 130 rises through the pipes 171, 463 and 467 to the cooking apparatus 460 to cook the food.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates in longitudinal section a solar cooking apparatus 500 in use, which uses a heat pipe as a heat transfer medium.

The solar thermal absorber 510 is a set of vacuum tube solar thermal absorbers assembled in a row.

The number of vacuum tubes is here 5, but it can be varied according to the needs of the cooking. The gathering tube 516 and the vacuum tubes 511, 512, 513 and 514 of the solar heat absorption device 510 are filled with peat 520.

The cooking utensil 561 is placed in a heat retaining sleeve 562 having a 2-ply glass lid with holes 5631. The bottom wall of 561 has a mounting opening 565 for receiving the heat pipe 530 from 510.

One end of the heat pipe 530 extends to the convergence tube 516, and the other end 531 of the heat pipe extends into the fitting openings 565, 516 on 561.

When the solar heat absorber 510 is operated, the vacuum tubes absorb heat and store in the peat in 510, and the heat pipes 530 transfer the heat to the cooking device 561 for food cooking. After cooking is completed, the cooker 561 is removed from the insulated casing and replaced with an insulating block in order to keep the solar cooking apparatus at a high operating temperature for the next cooking.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an alternative solar cooking apparatus 600 in cross-section. 600 transfer heat through a direct link between the graphite in the solar thermal absorber 610 and its graphite under the cooker 661.

The solar heat absorber 610 is a vacuum tube solar collector. 610 with graphite disposed therein.

A cooker 661 with a lid 663 is placed in a heat insulating jacket 662, 662 also having a lid 664. Between the outer jacket 662 and the bottom of the cooking utensil 661 is a space 665 where graphite is also placed. One end of the vacuum tube 610 extends directly into the space 665. The graphite in 610 and the graphite in 665 are very tightly connected.

When the solar absorption device is in operation, the collected heat is transferred from the graphite in the vacuum tube to the graphite in space 665. Solar heat cooks food in 661. In some cases, a heat transfer object may be added between 610 and 615 for faster solar energy transfer. It may also be a heat pipe.

Usually vacuum tubes can be assembled in a row in order to cook several foods simultaneously.

Referring to fig. 7, a set of solar cooking apparatus 700 is schematically illustrated in a perspective view and a longitudinal section, respectively.

The 5 evacuated tube solar collectors 701, 702, 703, 704 and 705 are assembled in a row and illustrated in perspective. The 5 cooking appliances including the tea/coffee maker 160, 260, 360, 460, 560 and 660 are disposed at one side of the solar heat absorbing means 710 and are shown in longitudinal section. Each evacuated tube solar heat absorber houses a different heat storage and conductive material and is connected to the cooking appliance in a different manner. They have been illustrated in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 4, fig. 5, fig. 6, respectively. The connection between the solar heat absorber and the cooker is not shown in fig. 7 for the sake of simplicity.

A mounting and support bracket 706 holds and supports each of the components of the solar cooking apparatus in a suitable position. The rotatable mount 707 is used to adjust the angle of incidence of the solar thermal absorber to direct sunlight. 4 wheels 741, 742, 743 and 744 are mounted at 4 corners of the frame to adjust the orientation of the solar thermal absorber to direct sunlight (743 and 744 are not shown), a sundial (not shown), such as a conical rod, is attached perpendicularly to the solar thermal absorber to indicate the angle of incidence of the sunlight.

A light reflecting object (not shown) collects and reflects sunlight near a solar heat absorbing apparatus to the solar heat absorbing apparatus.

When sunlight irradiates the solar heat absorbing apparatus 710, the cooking process is exactly the same as that described in fig. 1 to 6.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, after reading the above detailed and precise description of an application example, many other variations of the invention, which should be possible without inventive step, are within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims (27)

1. A solar cooking apparatus, comprising:

a solar heat absorption device for collecting and storing solar heat,

a first solid heat storage and transfer material for storing and transferring solar heat, wherein said first solid heat storage and transfer material is placed in said solar thermal absorber, wherein said solar thermal absorber is capable of heating said first solid heat storage and transfer material above the boiling temperature of water;

the heat-preservation solar cooking appliance is arranged outside the solar heat absorption device and comprises a cooking appliance and a heat preservation body, wherein the heat-preservation solar cooking appliance is a heat-preservation electric cooking appliance and takes electric power as a standby heat source; and

a second heat transfer/conducting material thermally connecting said first solid heat storage and conducting material to said solar cooking appliance for transferring absorbed solar heat from said solar heat absorber to the solar cooking appliance;

wherein the solar cooking appliance comprises the following options:

a heat retaining electric cooking appliance comprising said first solid heat storage and conductive material disposed between said cooking appliance and a heat retainer, wherein said first solid heat storage and conductive material is in thermal communication with said second heat transfer/conductive material;

a thermal electric cooking appliance having a mounting port for directly receiving a second heat transfer/conduction material for transferring absorbed solar heat from said solar heat absorber to the cooking appliance; and

a vacuum electric cooking appliance made of materials selected from the group consisting of: glass, metal, polymer and ceramic.

2. A solar cooking apparatus, comprising:

a solar heat absorption device for collecting and storing solar heat,

a first solid heat storage and transfer material for storing and transferring solar heat, wherein said first solid heat storage and transfer material is placed in said solar thermal absorber, wherein said solar thermal absorber is capable of heating said first solid heat storage and transfer material above the boiling temperature of water;

a power supply, with electricity as a backup heat source, comprising: an electric heater disposed under the closed container and within the thermal storage and conductive material;

the heat-insulating solar cooking appliance is positioned outside the solar heat absorption device; and

a second heat transport/conductive material comprising:

the closed container is filled with liquid and is positioned in the solar heat absorption device,

a fluid tube having first and second ends, said first end extending into said closed container and immersed in said fluid, said second end extending into said insulated solar cooker, said fluid comprising water and/or oil.

3. Solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solar heat absorber comprises a vacuum tube solar heat absorber.

4. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the evacuated tube solar heat absorber has an open end extending into the insulated solar cooking device for conducting heat.

5. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solar heat absorbing device is a modular vacuum tube solar heat absorbing device in which a plurality of vacuum tubes are arranged in a certain shape.

6. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum tube solar heat absorber comprises 2 open ends, one of which extends to the insulated solar cooking device.

7. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said evacuated tube solar heat absorber device has 2 open ends, one of which is in thermal communication with the insulated solar cooking appliance through said second heat transfer/conduction material.

8. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the evacuated tube solar thermal absorber comprises a reinforced and tough glass evacuated tube solar thermal absorber.

9. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a transparent protective cover or a transparent plastic protective cover for protecting the glass vacuum tube solar heat absorbing device for safety purposes.

10. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first solid heat storage and conductive material comprises a chemical heat storage and conductive material.

11. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first solid heat storage and conductive material comprises the following selection: ore, metal, salt, sand, graphite, peat, calcium oxide with water added and combinations of two or more of the above.

12. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulated solar cooking appliance comprises the following options:

a cooking appliance with a heat-insulating sleeve,

a cooking utensil arranged in the heat-preservation container,

the insulated electric cooking appliance is provided with a data measuring and displaying device or a control system.

13. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electric heater further comprises a data measurement, display device or control system.

14. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said liquid is water and a first end of said liquid tube extends into said closed container and is positioned above the water surface.

15. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second heat transfer/conducting material comprises a heat pipe.

16. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulated solar cooking appliance comprises the first solid heat storage and conductive material.

17. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second heat transfer/conducting material comprises the same material as the first solid heat storage and conducting material.

18. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the insulated solar cooking appliance comprises an insulated container, and the second end of the solar heat absorber extends to the insulated container to conduct heat.

19. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second heat transfer/conducting material comprises a thermal conductor.

20. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a bracket for securing and supporting, said bracket comprising: a mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle of the solar thermal absorber to aim at the sun and a directional mechanism for adjusting the orientation of the solar thermal absorber to aim at the sun.

21. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: and the light ray reflecting object collects and reflects sunlight near the solar heat absorption device to the solar heat absorption device and/or a sundial is used for indicating the incident angle of the sunlight.

22. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a bag or film for wrapping or covering a food item, the material used to make said bag or film comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: metal, paper and plastic and combinations thereof.

23. The solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a box is used for placing a solar cooking device so as to form a portable solar cooking device.

24. Solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solar cooking appliance is in the form of a coffee maker and/or a teapot.

25. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solar cooking appliance is in the form of an electrically heated drip coffee maker having a one-way valve for directing the flow of solar heated water.

26. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulated solar cooking appliance comprises a cooking appliance placed in an insulated container containing a solid heat storage and conductive material.

27. A solar cooking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first solid heat storage and conductive material comprises: quartz sand or basalt sand.