Method and Apparatus for Water Distribution
OwnerRobert E. Walkerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water distribution apparatus comprises a water user outlet facility and a water re-circulation loop. The water re-circulation loop comprises a water supply, a water pump for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop, a water delivery path extending from the pump to a water user outlet facility, a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, and a thermal disinfection apparatus disposed in the water delivery path for improving the potability of the water within the loop.
Claims36
A water distribution apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a water user outlet facility including a water inlet port, a water outlet port, and a water outlet path extending from the water inlet port to the water outlet port;
- and
- (b) a water re-circulation loop, comprising
- (i) a water supply,
- (ii) a water pump in water flow communication with the water supply for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop,
- (iii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility,
- (iv) a first water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply,
- (v) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of the water within the loop, and
- (vi) a second water return path extending from the water delivery path between the pump and the water supply.
A water distribution apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a water user outlet facility including a water inlet port, a water outlet port, and a water outlet path extending from the water inlet port to the water outlet port;
- (b) a water re-circulation loop, comprising
- (i) a water supply,
- (ii) a water pump in water flow communication with the water supply for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop,
- (iii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility, wherein the water inlet port is in water flow communication with the water delivery path,
- (iv) a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, and
- (v) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of the water within the loop;
- (c) a tap valve disposed in the water outlet path and controllable by a water user to tap a portion of the flow from the water delivery path through the water outlet path while the water user outlet facility directs a remaining portion of the flow into the water return path;
- and
- (d) a pressurized water storage device in water flow communication with the water outlet path.
A water distribution apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a water user outlet facility including a water inlet port, a water outlet port, and a water outlet path extending from the water inlet port to the water outlet port;
- and
- (b) a water re-circulation loop, comprising
- (i) a water supply,
- (ii) a water pump in water flow communication with the water supply for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop,
- (iii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility,
- (iv) a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, and
- (v) at least one water treatment device comprises a magnet for reducing scale and corrosion on the wetted surfaces of the water distribution apparatus.
A method of supplying water to a water user outlet facility, the water supplying method comprising:
- (a) directing a tappable flow of water in a water re-circulation loop, the loop including
- (i) a water pump for establishing and maintaining the flow of water in the loop,
- (ii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility,
- (iii) a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the pump, and
- (iv) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of water within the loop;
- and
- (b) heating the water in the water delivery path to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time sufficient to degrade targeted biomaterials for improving the potability of the water within the loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.