Atmospheric effects still

Claim 1

An atmospheric effects still, comprising: a fluid holding tank provided with a supply opening; a top cover of translucent material supported above said tank in vertically-spaced relation thereto; and a vertically-positioned tapered hollow tower member having an outer shell, having its base positioned on the floor of said tank, and having an intermediate portion of its vertical extent penetrating said cover, said shell having openings adjacent said base to permit fluid in said tank to enter said tower member, said tower member also having a plurality of vertically-spaced sections of decreasing cross-sectional area, each of said sections including a lower horizontal closure plate, an upper horizontal closure plate, and a plurality of vertically-positioned open tubes having their outer surfaces exposed to atmospheric temperature, each of said tubes having its lower end arranged to penetrate said closure plate and having a marginal portion adjacent its upper end extending beyond said upper collector plate to define a liquid trap chamber above said collector plate, said tower member also having a drain arranged to direct a flow of condensed water accumulating on said collector plates away from said tower member, and a plurality of vertically-disposed condenser tubes arranged in said tower member; whereby solar energy may pass through said top cover to heat fluid in said tank, to cause heated moisture-laden air to rise upwardly through said tower member, and to cause water to condense within said tubes and on said condenser tubes and flow from said tower member through said drain.