Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Chemical treatment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-09-25
Cintins, Ivars (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Chemical treatment
C210S757000, C210S790000, C210S198100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06294096
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to apparatus for receiving water from a chlorinated water supply system to dechlorinate the water. The invention also encompasses a method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water treatment usually involves the use of some form of chlorine. The discharge of chlorinated water from water supply systems, for example from a hydrant of the system, can cause harm to the environment and laws restricting or preventing such discharge are commonplace in the United States and elsewhere.
As a consequence, a number of approaches have been devised in an attempt to dechlorinate water at or prior to discharge. One well known agent for neutralizing chlorine is sodium thiosulfate. It is known to form a solution including such material at a water supply system discharge outlet, for example the outlet of a fire hydrant, and attempt to meter drip or flow of the solution into the water being discharged. This is often ineffective and difficult to monitor and it is virtually impossible to ensure that an appropriate amount of solution is added to the discharge water. Furthermore, crystallization within the solution is a common occurrence and such crystallization interferes with or even prevents application of the solution. In general, regulating the addition of the solution to the flow of water is a difficult and inefficient process.
It is known to form dechlorinating material into tablets which are engaged by the water being discharged. Examples of such tablets are tablets sold by Exceltec under the trademark D-Chlor. It is known to position such tablets in a mat or screen for engagement by the discharged water, however, these approaches are not completely satisfactory in that erosion of the tablets, and thus introduction of the dechlorinating neutralization agent in the water, is very difficult to control. A dangerous situation can be created if inadequate or improper mixing of the dechlorinating agent and discharged water takes place.
The following patents are also considered of some pertinence to the issue of the state of the prior art in this field: U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,858, issued Aug. 4, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,531, issued Sep. 6, 1983, U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,471, issued Mar. 21, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,044, issued Sep. 22, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,862, issued Feb. 21,1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,512, issued Sep. 27, 1994.
None of the patents cited above disclose the invention as described and claimed herein.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system which is relatively simple and can be used in an efficient manner. The apparatus of the system is readily portable and can be attached quickly to a fire hydrant, hose or other outlet of a chlorinated water supply system.
The system employs dechlorinating tablets and the apparatus is so constructed as to provide for erosion of the tablets by the flowing stream of discharge water in a highly controlled, regulated manner, avoiding the necessity of having a person on hand at all times to monitor operation. The apparatus can be hooked up and the site left unmonitored by an individual for an extended period of time. The structural components of the apparatus cooperate to avoid too rapid an erosion of the tablets while ensuring complete continuous mixing of the dechlorinating agent with the discharged water.
The apparatus includes a housing defining a housing interior and having a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet and the water outlet communicating with the housing interior and being spaced from one another.
Connector means is provided for connecting the apparatus to structure of a chlorinated water supply system whereby water can be introduced into the housing interior from the water supply system.
A container is located within the housing interior between the water inlet and the water outlet and defines a plurality of container openings. The container is for holding one or more dechlorinating tablets and for positioning the dechlorinating tablets in the flow path of water passing between the water inlet and the water outlet whereby water will pass through the container openings and contact the dechlorinating tablets prior to exiting the housing interior through the water outlet.
The system also encompasses a method of dechlorinating water exiting a chlorinated water supply system. The method includes the step of introducing water from the chlorinated water supply system into the interior of a housing and then flowing the water within the housing interior toward a water outlet in fluid-flow communication with the interior of the housing, the water moving along a flow path.
A container having a container interior and a plurality of openings communicating with the container interior is positioned in the flow path and dechlorinating tablets are placed in the container.
While the water is flowing in the flow path at least a portion thereof is passed through the openings of the container to contact the dechlorinating tablets.
The water is discharged after contact with the dechlorinating tablets.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3650471 (1972-03-01), Sutton
patent: 4402531 (1983-09-01), Kennedy, Jr.
patent: 4805862 (1989-02-01), Wissman
patent: 4816177 (1989-03-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5152464 (1992-10-01), Farley
patent: 5350512 (1994-09-01), Tang
patent: 5788858 (1998-08-01), Acernese et al.
patent: 5810044 (1998-09-01), Saidi
patent: 6117316 (2000-09-01), Burton
Cintins Ivars
Lampe Thomas R.
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