# US 10,870,597 B2 · Water treatment systems and methods

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- Number: US 10,870,597 B2
- Document ID: US10870597B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/101,151
- Filed: 2018-08-10
- Published: 2018-12-06
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-02
- Assignees: Nuvo Residential, LLC
- Applicants: Nuvo Residential, LLC
- Inventors: Laird Washburn; Sean Terry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870597B2

## CPC

- C02F 5/086: {Condensed phosphates}
- C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F}
- C02F 1/688: {Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound}
- C02F 5/10: using organic substances
- C02F 5/105: {combined with inorganic substances}
- C02F 2201/006: Cartridges
- C02F 2209/06: pH
- C02F 2209/40: Liquid flow rate
- C02F 2301/043: Treatment of partial or bypass streams
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

Industrial and residential water treatment systems and devices are disclosed for use in preventing hard water buildup or in removing such buildup. The systems and devices include fixed and removable components for delivering water treatment composition. In addition, novel water treatment compositions and methods of treating water are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A water treatment device connected to a water supply comprising:
components fixed in location to the water supply including:
channels for conveying a plurality of water streams, including
a water supply line for supplying water to be treated;
a treated water line for receiving treated water;
a main stream line having an inlet end connected to the water supply line at a first pipe connection and an outlet end connected to the treated water line at a second pipe connection;
an inlet subsidiary stream line having an inlet end connected to the first pipe connection and an outlet end;
an outlet subsidiary stream line having an inlet end and an outlet end connected to the second pipe connection;
a filter head having a head inlet connected to the outlet end of the inlet subsidiary stream line and a head outlet connected to the inlet end of the outlet subsidiary stream line;
a body connected to the filter head;
a cartridge positioned inside the body such that a cavity is formed between the cartridge and an inner surface of the body;
wherein the filter head defines an inlet channel that connects the head inlet to the cavity and an outlet channel that connects the cavity to the head outlet;
a pump connected in the outlet subsidiary stream line,
wherein the cartridge contains a water treatment composition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The water treatment device of claim 1, wherein the water treatment composition comprises citric acid and polyphosphate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The water treatment device of claim 1, wherein the water treatment composition comprises citric acid and polyphosphate having a weight ratio of polyphosphate to citric acid from about 1:40 to about 2:5.

### Claim 4

A water treatment system comprising:
a water supply line for supplying water to be treated;
a treated water line for receiving treated water;
a main stream line having an inlet end connected to the water supply line at a first pipe connection and an outlet end connected to the treated water line at a second pipe connection;
an inlet subsidiary stream line having an inlet end connected to the first pipe connection and an outlet end;
an outlet subsidiary stream line having an inlet end and an outlet end connected to the second pipe connection;
a filter head having a head inlet connected to the outlet end of the inlet subsidiary stream line and a head outlet connected to the inlet end of the outlet subsidiary stream line;
a body connected to the filter head;
a cartridge containing a water treatment composition positioned inside the body such that a cavity is formed between the cartridge and an inner surface of the body;
wherein the filter head defines an inlet channel that connects the head inlet to the cavity and an outlet channel that connects the cavity to the head outlet;
a pump connected in the outlet subsidiary stream line; and
a flow meter that measures the flow of the main stream line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, further comprising a flow meter that measures the flow in the inlet subsidiary stream line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the filter head further comprises a valve configured for directing water in the inlet subsidiary stream line only through the filter head from the head inlet to the head outlet thereby bypassing the cavity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the valve is configured to block the flow of water from the head inlet to the head outlet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the cartridge has first and second openings, the first opening for receiving water from the inlet subsidiary stream line into the cartridge, and the second opening releasing water to the inlet end of the outlet subsidiary stream line.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the cartridge encloses a water-permeable bag containing the water treatment composition.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the water-permeable bag comprises a means for opening and closing the bag, the means selected from the group consisting of: a zipper, stitching, hook and pile fastener, heat adhesive and contact adhesive.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a releasable coupling between the body and the filter head for permitting removal and replacement of the cartridge.

### Claim 12

A method of softening water, comprising:
directing water into a water treatment device connected to the water supply comprising:
a water supply line for supplying water to be treated;
a treated water line for receiving treated water;
a main stream line having an inlet end connected to the water supply line at a first pipe connection and an outlet end connected to the treated water line at a second pipe connection;
an inlet subsidiary stream line having an inlet end connected to the first pipe connection and an outlet end;
an outlet subsidiary stream line having an inlet end and an outlet end connected to the second pipe connection;
a filter head having a head inlet connected to the outlet end of the inlet subsidiary stream line and a head outlet connected to the inlet end of the outlet subsidiary stream line;
a body connected to the filter head;
a cartridge containing a water treatment composition positioned inside the body such that a cavity is formed between the cartridge and an inner surface of the body;
wherein the filter head defines an inlet channel that connects the head inlet to the cavity and an outlet channel that connects the cavity to the head outlet;
a pump connected in the outlet subsidiary stream line; and
contacting a water treatment composition with the water in the water treatment device thereby dissolving a portion of the water treatment composition into the water.