Liquid purification apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016009570-A1
Application number	US-201314761192-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2013
Priority date	Jan 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A liquid purification apparatus ( 100 ), comprises a reservoir ( 101 ) for liquid ( 102 ) and a primary irradiation device ( 106, 301 ); characterized in that it has a directional valve ( 107, 500 ) which is mobile between a recirculating position and a discharging position where the liquid ( 102 ) flows through circulation tubes ( 105, 305, 501; 115, 306, 502 ) having at least one portion substantially transparent to ultraviolet light disposed within said primary irradiation device ( 106, 301 ); wherein when said directional valve ( 107, 500 ) is in the recirculating position, said reservoir ( 101 ), said circulation tubes ( 105, 305, 501 ), said directional valve ( 107, 500,115, 306, 502 ) form a closed loop. This invention eliminates any dead-space or dead-corners from the apparatus and also prevents the re-contamination of the whole system.

First claim

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, and a sealing means, said 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; a first circulation tube, said first circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said pump and said input port of said directional valve; and a second circulation tube, 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 and, wherein said first circulation tube and/or second circulation tube comprises a portion substantially transparent to ultraviolet light and disposed within the primary irradiation device.

2 . The liquid purification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary irradiation device is provided with 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 portions of said first and second circulation tubes which are 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, said first and second circulation tubes passing through said primary irradiation device between said core and said jacket.

9 . The liquid purification apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said core is configured as a reflector and said 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 said 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 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, and a sealing means being mobile between a recirculating position wherein said directional valve blocks a discharge port, and a discharging position wherein said directional valve permits a flow from said input port through said discharge port the method comprising the steps of:
drawing said volume of liquid from said reservoir by a pump and conducting it to said directional valve through a first circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said pump and said input port of said directional valve; conducting said volume of liquid to said reservoir through a second circulation tube establishing fluid communication between said recirculation port of said directional valve; a portion of said first circulation tube and/or second circulation tube being substantially transparent to ultraviolet light and being disposed within a primary irradiation device comprising light emitting means, preferably ultraviolet light emitting diodes, the liquid being thus irradiated; maintaining said directional valve in said recirculating position such that said volume of liquid is sequentially recirculated along a closed loop comprising the reservoir, the pump, the first circulation tube, the directional valve, and the second circulation tube until a discharging step; and discharging said liquid from said discharge port by disposing said directional valve in said discharging position such that said liquid is directed from said first circulation tube to said discharge port.

15 . The method of claim 13 , characterized in that said volume of liquid is continuously recirculated through said liquid purification apparatus.

16 . The method of claim 13 , characterized in that said volume of liquid is periodically recirculated through said liquid purification apparatus for a finite duration of recirculation.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further characterized in that there is provided a secondary irradiation device comprising at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode projecting upon at least part of said directional valve, and in that during said discharging step said secondary irradiation device irradiates part of said directional valve.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further characterized in that there is provided a secondary irradiation device comprising at least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode projecting upon at least part of said directional valve, and in that during said maintaining step said secondary irradiation device irradiates part of said directional valve.

19 . A beverage dispenser comprising a liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1 .

20 - 28 . (canceled)

Assignees

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

Inventors

• Yu Litao
• Wu Fenghua
• Hu Ruguo

Classifications

• C02F2301/026

  Spiral, helicoidal, radial · CPC title

• C02F1/325 Primary

  Irradiation devices or lamp constructions · CPC title

• C02F2201/3227

  Units with two or more lamps · CPC title

• C02F2201/3222

  Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• C02F2201/005

  Valves · CPC title