Liquid purification apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329170-B2
Application number	US-201314761192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2013
Priority date	Jan 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A liquid purification apparatus is disclosed, along with methods of producing and using same.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid purification apparatus, comprising:
a reservoir configured to accommodate a volume of liquid;
a pump disposed in fluid communication with said reservoir; and
a primary irradiation device, said primary irradiation device being provided with ultraviolet light emitting means;
a directional valve, said directional valve comprising an input port, a recirculation port, a discharge port, and a sealing means, said directional valve being mobile between a recirculating position wherein said sealing means blocks said discharge port and a discharging position wherein said directional valve permits a flow from said input port through said discharge port and out of the liquid purification apparatus;
a first circulation tube, wherein the first circulation tube extends from the pump through the primary irradiation device to the directional valve, said first circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said pump and said input port of said directional valve; and
a second circulation tube, wherein the second circulation tube extends from the directional valve through the primary irradiation device to the reservoir, said second circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said recirculation port of said directional valve and said reservoir;
wherein when said directional valve is in the recirculating position, said reservoir, pump, first circulation tube, directional valve, and second circulation tube form a closed loop whereby liquid is irradiated by the primary irradiation device as it circulates both to the directional valve via the first circulation tube and from the directional valve via the second circulation tube; and
wherein when said directional valve is in the discharging position, liquid flows from said reservoir through said pump, first circulation tube, primary irradiation device, and directional valve and out of the liquid purification apparatus through the discharge port of said directional valve; and
wherein each of the first circulation tube and the second circulation tube comprises a portion transparent to ultraviolet light, and wherein both transparent portions of the first and second circulation tubes are disposed within the primary irradiation device.

2. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting means of the primary irradiation device comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes.

3. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary irradiation device provided with at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode which projects upon at least part of said directional valve.

4. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said secondary irradiation device projects upon said discharge port of said directional valve.

5. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said secondary irradiation device projects upon said sealing means.

6. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent portion of the first circulation tube and the transparent portion of the second circulation tube disposed within said primary irradiation device are configured in a double helix.

7. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and second circulation tubes have different diameters.

8. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said primary irradiation device comprises a substantially cylindrical core disposed concentrically within a substantially tubular jacket, wherein the portion of the first circulation tube and/or the portion of the second circulation tube that is disposed within the primary irradiation device is disposed between said core and said jacket.

9. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the ultraviolet light emitting means of the primary irradiation device comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes, wherein the substantially cylindrical core is configured as a reflector, and wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes are disposed upon an internal surface of said jacket.

10. The liquid purification apparatus of claim 8 , wherein an internal surface of said jacket is configured as a reflector and a plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes are disposed upon said core.

11. The liquid purification apparatus claim 1 , wherein said first and second circulation tubes are at least partially fabricated from fused silica.

12. The liquid purification apparatus claim 1 , wherein said primary irradiation device comprises a photosensor.

13. The liquid purification apparatus claim 1 , further comprising a check valve disposed in said second circulation tube, said check valve preventing the flow of liquid from said reservoir to said directional valve through said second circulation tube.

14. A beverage dispenser comprising:
a liquid purification comprising:
a reservoir configured to accommodate a volume of liquid;
a pump disposed in fluid communication with said reservoir; and
a primary irradiation device, said primary irradiation device being provided with ultraviolet light emitting means;
a directional valve, said directional valve comprising an input port, a recirculation port, a discharge port, and a sealing means, said directional valve being mobile between a recirculating position wherein said sealing means blocks said discharge port and a discharging position wherein said directional valve permits a flow from said input port through said discharge port and out of the liquid purification apparatus;
a first circulation tube, wherein the first circulation tube extends from the pump through the primary irradiation device to the directional valve, said first circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said pump and said input port of said directional valve; and
a second circulation tube, wherein the second circulation tube extends from the directional valve through the primary irradiation device to the reservoir, said second circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said recirculation port of said directional valve and said reservoir;

wherein when said directional valve is in the recirculating position, said reservoir, pump, first circulation tube, directional valve, and second circulation tube form a closed loop whereby liquid is irradiated by the primary irradiation device as it circulates both to the directional valve via the first circulation tube and from the directional valve via the second circulation tube; and
wherein when said directional valve is in the discharging position, liquid flows from said reservoir through said pump, first circulation tube, primary irradiation device, and directional valve and out of the liquid purification apparatus through the discharge port of said directional valve; and
wherein each of the first circulation tube and the second circulation tube comprises a portion transparent to ultraviolet light, and wherein both transparent portions of the first and second circulation tubes are disposed within the primary irradiation device.

15. A method for purifying a volume of liquid with a liquid purification apparatus comprising a reservoir configured to accommodate a volume of liquid and a directional valve comprising an input port, a recirculation port, a discharge port, and a sealing means, the directional valve being mobile between a recirculating position wherein said sealing means blocks a discharge port, and a discharging position wherein said directional valve permits a flow from said input port through said discharge port and out of the liquid purification apparatus, the method comprising the step

Assignees

• Yu Litao
• Wu Fenghua
• Hu Ruguo
• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Yu Litao
• Wu Fenghua
• Hu Ruguo

Classifications

• C02F2303/04

  Disinfection · CPC title

• C02F2201/326

  Lamp control systems · CPC title

• C02F2301/026

  Spiral, helicoidal, radial · CPC title

• C02F2301/046

  Recirculation with an external loop · CPC title

• C02F2201/004

  Seals, connections · CPC title