Refrigeration – With indicator or tester
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-02-06
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
With indicator or tester
C062S092000, C062S150000, C062S272000, C062S285000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182453
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a portable, potable water dispenser capable of recovering liquid water for human use from the humidity of environmental air and sanitizing it for human use. The water generator of this invention draws in moisture-laden air from the surroundings and recovers liquid water by cooling the stream of air below its dew point. The unit can be powered from mains, single/3-phase, or portable generators, AC, 110-220 V, 50-60 Hz, DC power 60 V batteries or solar charged batteries. The apparatus includes optional air filters of various types which remove suspended pollen or dust particles so that contaminants and undesirable impurities from the environmental air are not carried into the dew-forming section. The apparatus also includes optional heating cooling devices and ionizing sub-systems. The most important feature of the basic unit and its variants are filtration and sterilization systems which provide purified liquid water free from contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOC) as defined by NSF Standard 53.
The external envelope of the present apparatus may be a compact, attractive furniture-type wheeled design, one embodiment of which is further adapted to prevent or discourage entry of insects. The water generators of this invention employ ruggedized design and construction and certain embodiments are intended to operate untended for extended periods in harsh, military-type environments such as peacekeeping actions, fires, earthquakes and weather disasters/emergencies. Emergency-use embodiments are prepared with a feed valve manifold connected to an input port; this permits selected or additional inputs of water from any source, such as a swimming pool, in emergency conditions such as a natural disaster. Other embodiments are intended to operate in land-transport vehicles, e.g., off-road, bus, train, seagoing vessels, recreational vehicles, business or home office environments. Further hybrid embodiments lend themselves to incorporation into icemakers, refrigerators, drink coolers, water coolers, etc. Another embodiment includes an automated pressurized valve manifold, equipped with sensors to detect the amount of water being generated, connected to a pressurized municipal water supply to provide for admission of municipal water into the recirculating-purification system; this sub-system would be activated under atmospheric conditions which limit the generation of water from the environmental air. The manifold is pressurized either by the municipal water system or by an internal pump allowing for immediate dispensing of purified water at a drinking fountain or into a refrigerator's ice maker/chiller with or without electricity. Such embodiments include an electronic control, specifically a microprocessor, to sense critical operational parameters of the generator and to activate alternative modes of operation along with related visual and audible mode/status indicators. The control also provides the timing to control recirculation within the apparatus to keep the water pure. When the storage tank is full there is also provision, which is automatically controlled, for actuating an electrically or manually operated diverter valve to pump excess water being generated to an additional system or storage vessel. Still further compact, luggage-type embodiments can be provided for travel or sports use.
A further embodiment employs a combined condensate collector and storage reservoir. An air filter is used to remove suspended pollen or dust particles so that contaminants and undesirable impurities are not carried into the dew-forming section. The apparatus may have municipal water connected by quick disconnect fittings so it may be purified, filtered and dispensed when there is insufficient condensate. Both the condensate and the municipal water is filtered by a water filter certified to meet NSF-53 standards. The water from collected condensate and/or the municipal water is also purified in a bacteriostat which contains appropriate bacteria killing devices such as an ozone generator, an ultraviolet light or an electroytic cell. Further, the apparatus is a size and weight which makes it readily portable and capable of being hung on a wall or placed in the attic, garage or other convenient location favorable for producing condensate. The apparatus has quick disconnect fittings for attaching one or more remote dispensers by flexible tubing. A thermostatically controlled heater guards against freezing. This embodiment also provides an optional recirculation loop and optional computer programmed timer to control the compressor's off/on time interval to maximize condensate collection when the evaporator is freezing due to environmental conditions. Optional digital counters and a digital display contain a humidistat and thermostat, operation indicator lights, and digital counters to indicate system operation or the need for a filter change. Further, the maximum condensate production for any model can only be determined by engineering tables and by testing the model in a controlled environment test chamber. From the results of those tests, a computer program is written and programmed into an optional timer that controls the operation of the compressor for maximizing condensate. The results of the tests also enable the creation of a graph which exhibits expected water production at various temperature/humidity combinations.
Additionally, various embodiments can be fitted with an input port for impure water for priming, for increased output capacity and for operation under conditions when environmental temperature and/ or, humidity do not allow enough water to be generated. Various embodiments also allow for tailoring a generator for specific use to increase efficiency and decrease manufacturing costs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The consensus of most medical experts is that the water supply is the single most critical factor to human health. Over 400,000 people were stricken, 4,000 hospitalized and over 100 people died in Milwaukee in 1993 from Cryptosporidium. a bacterial contaminant in their city-treated drinking water. Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that in the US alone more than 900,000 become ill each year from water-borne disease and as many as 900 will die. There is also an increasing awareness that “bottled water” itself may be no safer than municipally treated water. Some citizens feel protected by household-type water filters. However, of the over 2,000 types/styles/sizes of filters now being sold to the public for additional treating of city water, only a few remove significant amounts of parasites, viruses, bacteria, pesticides and heavy metals. While contaminated water is harmful to adults, infants and young children are at much greater risk from drinking impure water, particularly water with high levels of heavy metals or radioisotopes. Therefore, it is essential that a filter, such as an NSF 53, be used to remove impurities and VOCs. Operation of a water generator in the vicinity of a pesticide plant or during insect spraying, either from the air or truck mounted units, could place VOCs in the generated water. Also, if a generator without an NSF 53 filter is producing water when its host house is sprayed for pest control, the water could be severely contaminated with VOCs.
While the situation is bad in parts of the United States, it is worse in many other developed countries and absolutely frightening in third-world countries. In developing nations, there is often at least intermittent electricity but no source for potable, or human drinking water. For clinics and hospitals in such remote areas, doctors and technicians need purified water for scrubbing and to prepare medicines. In the case of remote villages in developing countries. there is a need for a unit which generates and dispenses purified water, is easily moved, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which can operate from a variety of different types of electrical power with a minimum of maintenance.
The most common potable water dispenser for use
Cox & Smith Incorporated
Doerrler William
Norman Marc
Worldwide Water, Inc.
LandOfFree
Portable, potable water recovery and dispensing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Portable, potable water recovery and dispensing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable, potable water recovery and dispensing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2592027