Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Water – sewage – or other waste water
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-10-02
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Water, sewage, or other waste water
C204S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296756
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to water treatment systems, and in particular to a water treatment system that a person can carry in one hand.
2. Description of the Related Art
The demand for water treatment systems is increasing. As population increases, the demand for water also increases. In many areas, clean drinking water may not be readily available. When a population moves from a well-established city with a water system to more remote areas, small scale and portable water treatment becomes even more important. If the water treatment can both remove the danger of contaminants and also add healthy components, then a double benefit is obtained from such a treatment.
One known water treatment method is to add oxygen to water. Some systems bubble gas containing oxygen through the water so that some of it is retained in the water. This has been shown effective from some types of large scale water treatment but is somewhat expensive and is a slow treatment technique.
Another known technique to place oxygen in water is electrolysis, which operates as follows. A voltage is applied to an electrolytic cell that is immersed in water, resulting in current flow in the water. The current flow in the water causes the water molecules to break up into their component parts of hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are thereby freed from the water. Typically, most of the hydrogen gas escapes as a gas from the water, while some of the oxygen gas is dissolved into the water. See, for example, the systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,287, issued Mar. 17, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,870, issued Jun. 15, 1999, owned by the same assignee as this invention. Current water treatment systems using electrolysis are usually designed to be installed in-line with the water flow path. Additionally, these systems are commonly designed to handle large volumes of water. What is not currently available is a system and method that efficiently increase the dissolved oxygen content of water off-line, and which is small enough for home use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the principles of the present invention, a hand portable water purification system is provided that uses electrolysis to increase the quantity of oxygen in water to be treated. The hand portable water purification system is small enough to be carried by a person in one hand.
The hand portable water purification system has an electrolytic cell with a set of electrodes and a housing. The housing provides proper spacing, support and protection for the set of electrodes. The hand portable water purification system has a control circuit coupled to the electrolytic cell. The control circuit provides a direct current (DC) voltage to the set of electrodes when the portable electrolytic cell is immersed in water to be purified. In one embodiment, the electrolytic cell is mounted in a container and the control circuit is external to the container. In an alternative embodiment, the electrolytic cell and the control circuit are a self-contained assembly. The combination of the portable electrolytic cell and the portable system control circuit, including the container when used, are of a size and weight to be easily hand carried.
One embodiment of the hand portable water purification system operates as follows. A user programs the electrolytic cell using the control circuit to energize via the DC voltage at a predetermined point in time and to remain energized for a predetermined duration of time. The predetermined duration of time corresponds to a target dissolved oxygen content of water. In response to programming, the electrolytic cell is energized at the predetermined time. Water to be treated is circulated through the energized electrolytic cell for the predetermined duration of time such that the target dissolved oxygen content of the water is achieved. When the predetermined duration of time has elapsed, the electrolytic cell automatically de-energizes.
The user can easily transport the electrolytic cell, the control circuit, and DC voltage source as a single assembly by hand to the next water to be treated. Operation of the hand portable water purification system can be under manual control as well. That is, a user can immerse the hand portable water purification system in a glass of water, for example, and turn on and off the system without using the programming capabilities.
Further features and advantages, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments are described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.
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The Advanced Water Systems Incorporated, company brochure regarding information on various products to improve water quality, different types of water systems and current technology, Sep. 30, 1993.
Hough Gary S.
Johnson Troy T.
Gorgos Kathryn
H20 Technologies Ltd.
Parsons Thomas H
Seed IP Law Group PLLC
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