Liquid purification or separation – With means to add treating material – With distinct reactor tank – trough or compartment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-15
2001-07-31
Barry, Chester T. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With means to add treating material
With distinct reactor tank, trough or compartment
C210S209000, C210S748080, C210S759000, C204S275100, C204S228400, C204S229300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267885
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid purification apparatus and methods of using same. The invention is directed to apparatus for purifying water by the well-known process of heavy metal purification using the bacteriostatic effects of silver, as well as the algaecidal effect of copper, whilst hydrogen peroxide is introduced because of its catalysed decomposition by either one or both of these metals to produce oxygen. The invention will be described in the preferred embodiments in its particular application in destroying disease-carrying bacteria in drinking water, but it will become apparent that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use, with wider and different applications being possible.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known and made the subject of the prior art, the high affinity that Ag+ ions have to —SH and other groups makes it an efficient biocide. If hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) is simultaneously added the former causes a catalytic reaction with the H
2
O
2
to increase the efficiency quite considerably as H
2
O
2
is also a biocide. As a result, this process can be used to sterilise drinking water, or water that may be in contact with humans, such as water in pools, spas and the like.
Various attempts have been made in the past to devise apparatus and methods for the effective use of metal ions of silver and copper with H
2
O
2
, but for a number of reasons success has not been attained. In consequence, no marketable technology is currently available, due mainly to difficulties in handling the H
2
O
2
, and controlling the dosages required. Many prior proposals have involved usage systems requiring labour intensive packaging in an endeavour to achieve accurate levels of all three additives, namely Ag+, copper and H
2
O
2
. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,105,835 of Krause prescribed individual packaging, using tablet form, enclosed in soluble wrappings which gradually dissolve, encased in soluble crystals, powder mixes, adding to ice, and so forth. Likewise, United Kingdom specification No. 432101 of Katadyn A, G, discloses the use of packets, tablets, pills, capsules or ampoules, soluble coating of crystals or gelatine. Thus in the prior art the dosing of metals and H
2
O
2
involved cumbersome procedures and apparatus, with the apparatus also being expensive to manufacture, and in the main only specific predetermined bodies of water could be treated.
A major problem with the prior art arose from the fact that the handling of H
2
O
2
to perform the aforementioned functions had been found dangerous and likely to prove harmful to users. The strength of H
2
O
2
required was between 30 to 50% strength, and this made it dangerous bearing in mind that H
2
O
2
at even 8% strength is an irritant to the skin and is corrosive at 20%. To dose any large amount of water, such as 50,000 liters, using 15% strength H
2
O
2
would require a massive volume of hydrogen peroxide, and obviously dosing with H
2
O
2
at 50% strength would pose a serious health threat to the user.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has as its principal object to provide apparatus which will ameliorate at least some of the problems associated with the prior proposals by effectively controlling the dosages of silver ion release and copper ion release, as well as the supply of H
2
O
2
relative to a predetermined and controlled flow of water which is subjected to said dosage, in a manner achieving both safety and increased efficiency of operation.
A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the type just described which will allow effective control of the dosing of the H
2
O
2
and the metals within an in-line flow passage for the water, regardless of the volume being passed, or the actual flow rate, and regardless of contamination present.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus and usage methods which will ensure that the opportunity of the H
2
O
2
to come into contact with the user will be eliminated, while at the same time the dosing system will allow the introduction of all and any of the aforesaid elements, while avoiding wastage of any products involved and eliminating the production of chemical by-products eg hydroxides.
Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter apparent, such as providing advantages over the prior art in that the apparatus will not be subject to operational difficulties in areas where temperature variations may be extreme.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention provides a liquid purification apparatus adapted to employ the combination of the purifying affects of the heavy metals copper and silver in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide and the catalytic reaction thereof, said apparatus including body means defining a flow passage having a liquid inlet at one end and a liquid outlet at the other end, said flow passage containing a first electrolytic unit containing at least one copper based anode, a second electrolytic unit containing at least one silver based anode spaced downstream of said first electrolytic unit, electrical circuit means being provided in association with the electrolytic units for supplying operating current thereto, and said flow passage including an inlet for the controlled introduction of H
2
O
2
from reservoir means into said flow passage between said first and second electrolytic units.
The invention has a number of other broad aspects which will be apparent from the later described and illustrated embodiments which serve to show the many variations which may be selected. In a simple form, two identical inverted T-shaped housings may be connected in line so that they have a single inlet at one end and a single outlet at the other for connection to respective supply and delivery lines, with a single flow line therebetween into which the copper and silver electrolytic units extend radially from the upper body parts, both units being fitted in such manner that they may be easily removed when desired.
Typically, the silver electrolytic unit will comprise a single anode of silver having a pair of stainless steel cathodes at equal distances on opposite sides, all three suitably being in a radial plane extending longitudinally of the flow line. Similarly the copper electrolytic unit has a single copper anode and two stainless steel cathodes arranged in the same way and the same relative dispositions as just described for the silver unit, all cathodes and anodes being coplanar and having their free ends projecting into the chamber defining the flow line, while the opposite or fixing ends of the cathodes and anodes are connected to each other in each respective unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2105835 (1938-01-01), Krause
patent: 3654119 (1972-04-01), White et al.
patent: 4119517 (1978-10-01), Hengst
patent: 4525253 (1985-06-01), Hayes et al.
patent: 4936979 (1990-06-01), Brown
patent: 5928481 (1999-07-01), Briggs
patent: 146126 (1952-04-01), None
patent: A1 40301/78 (1980-04-01), None
patent: 69875/87 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 605-421 (1978-09-01), None
patent: 0 128 782 (1984-12-01), None
patent: 95 91 8456 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 432101 (1935-07-01), None
patent: 2270395A (1994-03-01), None
patent: 59-189989 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 59-189988 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 59-189990 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 4-90886 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 5-245480 (1993-09-01), None
patent: WO 89/08081 (1989-09-01), None
patent: WO 90/10734 (1990-09-01), None
patent: WO 93/05861 (1993-04-01), None
Briggs William Ernest
Fisher-Stamp John Thomas
Austech Pty., Ltd.
Barry Chester T.
Nath Gary M.
Nath & Associates PLLC
Novick Harold L.
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