Irradiation assembly for liquid purification assembly, purification assembly and beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10118839-B2
Application number	US-201515327115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid purification assembly using ultraviolet light irradiation against reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, comprising an irradiation chamber ( 200 ) having an internal volume and comprising an inlet ( 204 ) and an outlet ( 205 ), the irradiation chamber ( 200 ) being provided with ultraviolet light emitting means ( 208 ) configured to irradiate liquid in the irradiation chamber ( 200 ) with ultraviolet light. The irradiation chamber ( 200 ) comprises a mechanism configured to cause a change in the internal volume of the irradiation chamber ( 200 ), said change in internal volume drawing liquid into the irradiation chamber ( 200 ) when the volume of the irradiation chamber ( 200 ) increases, and forcing liquid out of the irradiation chamber ( 200 ) when the volume of the irradiation chamber ( 200 ) decreases. The invention also relates to a beverage dispenser and to a method for purifying a liquid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid purification assembly using ultraviolet light irradiation against reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, comprising an irradiation chamber having an internal volume and comprising an inlet and an outlet, the irradiation chamber being provided with an ultraviolet light emitting member configured to irradiate liquid in the irradiation chamber with ultraviolet light,
the irradiation chamber comprises a mechanism configured to cause a change in the internal volume of the irradiation chamber, the change in internal volume drawing liquid into the irradiation chamber when the volume of the irradiation chamber increases, and forcing liquid out of the irradiation chamber when the volume of the irradiation chamber decreases.

2. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a first one-way valve configured to allow liquid to flow through the inlet into the irradiation chamber, and a second one-way valve configured to allow liquid to flow through the outlet out of the irradiation chamber.

3. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a cylinder closed by a wall at an end, and a mobile piston enclosed in the cylinder, the movement of the piston causing the change in inner volume of the irradiation chamber comprised between the piston and the wall closing an end of the cylinder.

4. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are situated on the wall closing an end of the cylinder.

5. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the inlet is situated on the wall closing an end of the cylinder, and the outlet is situated on the piston, or the outlet is situated on the wall closing an end of the cylinder,and the inlet is situated on the piston.

6. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are situated upon the piston.

7. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting member is on the piston.

8. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting member is on the wall closing an end of the cylinder.

9. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the cylinder has a transparent side wall, and the ultraviolet light emitting member is on the side wall.

10. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 1 comprising a deformable membrane forming a wall of the irradiation chamber, the deformation of the membrane causing the change in inner volume of the irradiation chamber.

11. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting member comprises ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

12. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 1 comprising an electronic controller configured to control the volume of the irradiation chamber, and/or the lighting of the ultraviolet light emitting member.

13. A liquid purification assembly according to claim 1 comprising at least a system for preventing contamination by air entering the assembly, selected from the group consisting of:
a microfiltration of air before the inlet of the chamber;
a loop of sterile air; and
a flash heating system to sterilize and dry the irradiation chamber.

14. A beverage dispenser comprising a liquid purification assembly using ultraviolet light irradiation against reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, comprising an irradiation chamber having an internal volume and comprising an inlet and an outlet, the irradiation chamber being provided with an ultraviolet light emitting member configured to irradiate liquid in the irradiation chamber with ultraviolet light, the irradiation chamber comprises a mechanism configured to cause a change in the internal volume of the irradiation chamber, the change in internal volume drawing liquid into the irradiation chamber when the volume of the irradiation chamber increases, and forcing liquid out of the irradiation chamber when the volume of the irradiation chamber decreases, configured to purify the beverage before delivery by ultraviolet light irradiation.

15. A method for purifying a liquid comprising:
providing a liquid purification assembly using ultraviolet light irradiation against reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, comprising an irradiation chamber having an internal volume and comprising an inlet and an outlet, the irradiation chamber being provided with an ultraviolet light emitting member configured to irradiate liquid in the irradiation chamber with ultraviolet light,
the irradiation chamber comprises a mechanism configured to cause a change in the internal volume of the irradiation chamber, the change in internal volume drawing liquid into the irradiation chamber when the volume of the irradiation chamber increases, and forcing liquid out of the irradiation chamber when the volume of the irradiation chamber decreases, in which the irradiation chamber is at a minimal volume;
increasing the volume of the irradiation chamber, thereby causing a decrease in pressure which draws liquid into the irradiation chamber through the inlet;
irradiating the liquid contained in the irradiation chamber using the ultraviolet light emitting member, thereby purifying the liquid contained in the irradiation chamber; and
decreasing the volume of the irradiation chamber, thereby forcing purified liquid out of the irradiation chamber.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Rimbault Celine
• Sublet Renaud

Classifications

• C02F2301/08

  Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions · CPC title

• C02F2201/326

  Lamp control systems · CPC title

• C02F1/008

  Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F · CPC title

• C02F1/325 Primary

  Irradiation devices or lamp constructions · CPC title

• C02F2307/10

  as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices · CPC title