Liquid purification or separation – With means to add treating material
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-11
2003-11-18
Lithgow, Thomas M. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With means to add treating material
C422S266000, C422S274000, C422S278000, C137S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06649050
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for cleaning and purifying water systems, primarily those types of water systems which are utilized in structures having air conditioning systems. It is well-known that in these types of systems, cooling towers are employed, usually positioned on the rooftops of the buildings, among other locations through which the circulating water passes, in order to accomplish the cooling effect for the structures air conditioning system. The cooling towers are used in the interest of saving water in order to recirculate the same. The cooling towers are employed for the purpose of cooling the water, and then sending it back through the system in order to effect the air conditioning/cooling effect for the building, with the warmed water then being returned to the cooling towers for cooling again and recirculation.
One of the traditional problems with such types of cooling systems is that the water absorbs any number of particulate contaminates, including scaling ions from the make-up water itself and/or from the pipe system, corrosion, algae, microbes of various types, and other organisms. In many cases, the microbial organisms will begin a growth pattern in the cooling tower reservoir, and hence, water that is recirculated will absorb such types of microbial particles, and put them into the system. In addition, the reservoirs on the cooling towers are generally open to the atmosphere, and hence, any dust, dirt, or other particulate matter which happens to be in the environment, will end up becoming trapped in the reservoir, and such particulate matter then gets into the water which is also then recirculated through the system.
Heretofore, a variety of chemicals are put into the reservoir in order to attempt to eliminate some if not most of the foreign particulate matter or contaminates. Usually, the chemicals are put into the system by pumps, which take the chemicals from containers or drums, and pump it directly into the reservoir. Hence, for each different type of chemical that the user intends to employ to remove a certain type of contaminate, a container of that particular chemical must be ordered, positioned on the rooftop, or other segregated space and then a pump hose is positioned within the container, and the pump actuated in order to pump such chemicals into the water. In many instances, such containers are 55 gallon drums which are both heavy and cumbersome. This of course requires a fair amount of physical labor, and requires constant overseeing to insure that pumps are functional and equipment is maintained. It will be apparent that many of these contaminants are dissolved in the water, and therefore cannot be readily observable, and hence, the operator simply guesses as to when a certain chemical may be needed. For example, a microbial contaminate will not be obvious in the water. If it does exist, one should be employing a chemical purifying agent which will eliminate the microbial contaminate. However, the operator may well put a chemical into the system in order to cleanse the system of such microbial contaminates when none are present. This is wasteful, and potentially harmful to the occupants of the building.
The present invention is intended to provide a safer and labor free system for removing and purifying water employed in such cooling systems. The present invention eliminates the need for purchasing large containers and employing the labor, space and associated equipment required in order to dispense such chemicals into the water system.
Hence, the present invention takes advantage of the fact that most purification chemicals can be obtained in a solid mass format, as opposed to a liquid format. In addition, the present invention takes advantage of the fact that it is well known in such cooling towers and other types of water systems, there is a constant flow of water through the system as water is recirculated. This is the essence of an air conditioning system employing a cooling tower as part of the re-circulating system. Hence, the present invention provides a container into which a solid mass of contaminate purifying chemicals are positioned, the container being provided with inlet and outlet ports and means provided for positioning and maintaining the container within the fluid reservoir, below the water line to take advantage of the constant flow of water through the system. The solid mass of purifying chemicals will then become dissolved into the water as the same flows through the container, dissolving the solid mass of chemicals on a time basis. When the solid mass of purifying chemicals is totally dissolved, the container may be easily removed, and replaced with another similar container fully loaded with purifying chemicals eliminating the need for the operator to handle any chemicals.
Hence, the present invention relates primarily to the construction of the container in order to accommodate the flow of water into and through the container for the purpose of dissolving the purifying chemicals.
It will be apparent from the following description, that the present invention eliminates the need for purchasing chemicals in large containers in the liquid form, and permits the operators to install the purifying chemicals of whatever nature desired, in the system without the need of handling the chemicals or otherwise becoming exposed to any potential dangerous chemicals.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
The prior art with respect to methods for purifying water or other fluids in a closed or open system, especially those used in air conditioning systems where water flows through a cooling tower, is presently quite cumbersome. Such systems generally require that bulk quantities of any desired purification chemical be purchased, hauled to the location where the cooling tower is located and then pumps utilized in order to remove the purification chemicals from the bulk containers and pump the same into the fluid flow of the fluid to be purified. Alternatively, air conditioning systems will have an inlet pipe located elsewhere in the building. When purification chemicals are desired in the system, one would insert a necessary piping into the in-flow pipe, in order to pump or otherwise force the purification chemicals through the inlet pipe. However, the present systems generally do require that chemicals be purchased in bulk quantities, usually in large containers such as 55 gallon drums and then hauled to the point at which the equipment exists for the interposition of the chemicals into the system.
The prior art generally requires the operators to handle or be exposed to purifying chemicals in some manner. Devices however, exist with respect to holders or containers for toilet bowls or other water closets in order to dispense cleaning solutions, for example bleach into the flush water of a toilet tank. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,424 illustrates a toilet bowl cleaner which contains a bleach in a chamber for holding a cake of cleaning material. A siphoning effect is provided at the top of the container, the siphon comprising overlapping open-ended conduits. In order to operate, however, there must be an intake of flush water in order to remove the cleaning solution from the device. Indeed, the device requires that the flush water drop below the bottom of the container so that the device can operate. Hence, the device requires that water constantly drop below the container, and then rise above the container as the toilet bowl refills with water.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,582 is directed to a holding device for holding a cleaning product in a toilet tank bowl. The obvious similarity between the device shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,582 patent in applicant's device is merely in showing a holder which is intended to hold a device based upon hooking the same to the water reservoir.
Design Pat. No. 361,109 is directed to a toilet bowl dispenser wherein there is provided a fully formed box which is apertured and held in position between a pair of opposed jaws forming a holding bar for the device. It will be appr
Cerny Dennis
Garcia Garrett
21st Century Innovations
Demeur Basil E.
Hurley David
Lithgow Thomas M.
Samlan Alan
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