Water generation system for a vehicle that implements sanitization by ultraviolet light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11512010-B2
Application number	US-202017108647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2020
Priority date	Dec 1, 2020
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A water generation system for a vehicle comprises: a first container to collect liquid water generated from the condensation of water vapor; a filter to filter the liquid water, the filter in fluid flow communication with the first container; a second container to store the liquid water that the filter filtered, the second container (i) in fluid flow communication with the filter and (ii) configured to hold a larger volume of the liquid water than the first container; and a source of ultraviolet light that, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light into at least one of the first container and the second container. The water generation system can further comprise an agitator that is configured to agitate the liquid water disposed within either the first container or the second container, and a cooling element configured to withdraw heat from the liquid water within the water generation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water generation system for a vehicle comprising:
a first container to collect liquid water generated from condensation of water vapor;
a filter to filter the liquid water, the filter in fluid flow communication with the first container;
a second container to store the liquid water that the filter filtered, the second container (i) in fluid flow communication with the filter and (ii) configured to hold a larger volume of the liquid water than the first container;
a cooling element in fluid communication with the second container, the cooling element configured to withdraw heat from the liquid water within the second container;
a pump that, when activated, transports the liquid water via tubing (i) from the second container, (ii) through the cooling element, and (iii) back to the second container; and
a source of ultraviolet light that, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light into at least one of the first container and the second container.

2. The water generation system of claim 1 further comprising:
an agitator that is configured to agitate the liquid water disposed within either the first container or the second container.

3. The water generation system of claim 2 , wherein
the agitator comprises a magnetizable element within either the first container or the second container that rotates in response to a rotating magnetic field generated outside of the first container or the second container.

4. The water generation system of claim 1 further comprising:
a controller in communication with the pump, the controller configured to activate the pump until a temperature of the liquid water in the second container has decreased to a predetermined temperature.

5. The water generation system of claim 1 further comprising:
a controller in communication with the source of the ultraviolet light, the controller configured to cause the source to emit the ultraviolet light for a predetermined period of time and at reoccurring intervals.

6. The water generation system of claim 1 further comprising:
a battery providing electrical power to the source of the ultraviolet light, including when the vehicle is deactivated.

7. The water generation system of claim 1 further comprising:
a purge valve in fluid flow communication with the second container; and
a controller in communication with the purge valve, the controller configured to manipulate the purge valve as a function of at least one of: (i) a temperature of the liquid water within the second container, and (ii) a period of time that the second container has held the liquid water.

8. The water generation system of claim 1 further comprising:
an evaporator that condenses the water vapor into the liquid water.

9. The water generation system of claim 1 , wherein
the source of the ultraviolet light that, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light onto both the liquid water within the second container and an inner surface of the second container that contacts the liquid water.

10. The water generation system of claim 1 , wherein
the source of the ultraviolet light, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light onto both the liquid water within the first container and an inner surface of the first container that contacts the liquid water.

11. The water generation system of claim 10 further comprising:
a second source of ultraviolet light, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light onto both the liquid water within the second container and an inner surface of the second container that contacts the liquid water.

12. A vehicle comprising:
an evaporator configured to condense water vapor into liquid water;
a first container configured to collect the liquid water that condensed;
a source of ultraviolet light that, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light into the liquid water within the first container and onto an inner surface of the first container that contacts the liquid water;
a filter to filter the liquid water, the filter in fluid flow communication with the first container;
a second container to store the liquid water that the filter filtered in fluid flow communication with the filter, the second container configured to hold a larger volume of the liquid water than the first container;
a second source of ultraviolet light that, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light onto the liquid water with the second container and onto an inner surface of the second container that contacts the liquid water;
an agitator configured to agitate the water in the second container;
a controller in communication with the agitator and the second source of the ultraviolet light, the controller configured to activate the agitator and the second source of the ultraviolet light at preset intervals;
a cooling element in fluid communication with the second container, the cooling element configured to withdraw heat from the liquid water within the second container; and
a pump that, when activated, transports the liquid water via tubing (i) from the second container, (ii) through the cooling element, and (iii) back to the second container.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein
the controller is configured to activate simultaneously the agitator and the second source of the ultraviolet light at the preset intervals.

14. A water generation system for a vehicle comprising:
a first container to collect liquid water generated from condensation of water vapor;
a filter to filter the liquid water, the filter in fluid flow communication with the first container;
a second container to store the liquid water that the filter filtered, the second container (i) in fluid flow communication with the filter and (ii) configured to hold a larger volume of the liquid water than the first container;
a source of ultraviolet light that, when activated, emits the ultraviolet light into at least one of the first container and the second container;
a purge valve in fluid flow communication with the second container, the purge valve comprising an open state wherein the liquid water within the second container drains to an environment external; and
a controller in communication with the purge valve, the controller configured to manipulate the purge valve to the open state as a function of a temperature of the liquid water within the second container being greater than a predetermined temperature.

15. The water generation system of claim 14 , wherein
the controller is further configured to manipulate the valve to the open state as a function of a period of time that the second container has held the liquid water.

16. The water generation system of claim 14 further comprising:
an agitator that is configured to agitate the liquid water disposed within the second container.

17. The water generation system of claim 14 further comprising:
a cooling element in fluid communication with the second container, the cooling element configured to withdraw heat from the liquid water within the second container.

18. The water generation system of claim 17 further comprising:
a pump that, when activated, transports the liquid water via tubing (i) from the second container, (ii) through the cooling element, and (iii) back to the second container; and
a controller in communication with the pump, the controller configured to activate the pump until the temperature of the liquid water in the second container has decreased to the predetermined temperature.

19. The water generation system of claim 14 further comprising:
an evaporator that condenses the water vapor int

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Acre James Alan
• Bedard Robert D
• Casci John P
• Gebbie James George
• Martin Douglas Raymond

Classifications

• C02F9/20 Primary

  Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems · CPC title

• C02F2103/18

  from the purification of gaseous effluents · CPC title

• C02F1/32 Primary

  with ultraviolet light · CPC title

• C02F1/001

  Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00) · CPC title

• C02F2307/10

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