Liquid purification apparatus and method

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.

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 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 extending from the pump through a primary irradiation device to the directional valve and 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 extending from the directional valve through the primary irradiation device to the reservoir and establishing fluid communication between said recirculation port of said directional valve and said reservoir;
• a portion of each of the first circulation tube and the second circulation tube being transparent to ultraviolet light and being disposed within the primary irradiation device comprising ultraviolet light emitting means, the liquid being thus 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;
• 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 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.