Liquid purification or separation – With means to add treating material – With distinct reactor tank – trough or compartment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-08-14
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
With means to add treating material
With distinct reactor tank, trough or compartment
C210S209000, C210S266000, C210S288000, C210S438000, C210S440000, C210S458000, C210S502100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274038
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to water processing and to systems for purifying drinking water.
2. Background
As an introduction to problems solved by the present invention, consider the conventional water filter of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,573 to Hughes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,118 to Barnes, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,399 to Magnusson, each incorporated herein by this reference. Such a filter has a generally axial flow of water from inlet to outlet ports. Influent water is imparted with a biocide, after which the water flows for a duration through an otherwise empty cavity sometimes referred to as an extended time chamber. While in the extended time chamber, time is allowed for the biocide to react with and kill bacterial and viral microorganisms in the water.
A greater disinfectant rate, i.e., kill rate, is possible by maintaining contact for a longer duration. However, using conventional techniques, extended time chambers having high kill rates are bulky in volume, limited in maximum flow rate, heavy, awkward to maintain, and expensive to manufacture due to the overall size required for extended time chambers in linear flow water filters.
In many applications of water purifiers, small size, light weight, and convenient maintenance are extremely important. Water purifiers are used in portable applications from patient care in hospitals, clinics, and emergency facilities to personal uses by hikers and rescuers. A variety of water purifiers are used in food and beverage manufacturing and dispensing throughout the world.
In view of the problems described above and related problems that consequently become apparent to those skilled in the applicable arts, the need remains in water purifiers for more effective apparatus capable of processing higher flow rates in a small, light weight package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly a water purifier in one embodiment of the present invention includes a head and a pressure vessel. The vessel has a cavity. The head includes an influent passage for receiving the water and an effluent passage. The vessel includes a first passage in fluid communication with the influent passage and a second passage in fluid communication with the effluent passage. The first passage includes a treating system for increasing a biocide concentration in the fluid and an opening for discharging treated fluid into the cavity. The second passage includes a filtering system that receives the discharged treated fluid from the cavity for decreasing the concentration.
According to a first aspect of such a purifier, the effectiveness of the biocide in the water is proportional to the volume of the cavity and the flow rate of water through the purifier. For purifying a different flow rate, or for purifying the same flow rate more effectively, a vessel having a different cavity volume can be used in place of the original vessel.
According to another aspect, as opposed to a linear flow filter installed for inlet and outlet ports in coaxial or juxtaposed in parallel arrangement, the purifier of the present invention is characterized by more efficient use of its interior volume. Smaller and lighter purification apparatus results.
A water purifier according to another embodiment includes a dwell passage having a casing or partition. The partition has a plurality of holes allowing passage of the water through, rather than around, the partition. According to a first aspect of such an embodiment, the purifier is adaptable to efficiently process a lower flow rate by forming additional holes in the partition. Hence, when the dwell passage is too long, the flow path is easily shortened to accommodate changing circumstances, different fluids, or customer tailored installations. According to another aspect, the casing surrounds a replaceable cartridge. Water treated with a biocide is discharged from the cartridge. Discharged, treated water re-enters the cartridge after passing for a period of time through a dwell passage outside of the cartridge. By arranging the dwell passage outside the cartridge, the same cartridge can be marketed to many flow and purification applications having various sizes of pressure vessels, saving on manufacturing tooling, testing, and handling costs.
The present invention is practiced according to a method in one embodiment for increasing the effectiveness of a biocide in a water purifier. The water purifier includes a cartridge operative within an enclosure. The enclosure is characterized by a first volume that retains water in contact with the biocide. The method includes the step of replacing the enclosure with a second enclosure characterized by a second volume larger than the first volume.
These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description of the invention and referenced drawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages, and features of the invention are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3375933 (1968-04-01), Rodman
patent: 4645601 (1987-02-01), Regunathan et al.
patent: 4888118 (1989-12-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 5116500 (1992-05-01), Ceaton
patent: 5126044 (1992-06-01), Magnusson et al.
patent: 5308482 (1994-05-01), Mead
patent: 5401399 (1995-03-01), Magnusson et al.
patent: 5407573 (1995-04-01), Hughes
patent: 5908553 (1999-06-01), Reid
patent: 2638100 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 1072227 (1967-06-01), None
patent: 2227998 (1990-08-01), None
Pedersen Barbara S.
Pedersen Ken J.
Savage Matthew O.
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