Low power liquid purifier
AssigneeBedford Systems LLC
InventorJoseph Damigella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein includes sample liquid purification apparatus, systems, and techniques of use. The purification apparatus generally can operate to reduce a temperature of a precursor liquid within a beverage machine or appliance. For example, a thermally conductive body can define a heat sink having a tortuous path for propagation of the precursor therethough, facilitating temperature reduction. The purification apparatus can further generally operate to sanitize or otherwise reduce a level of contaminants in the precursor liquid. For example, an energy source, such as a light emitting diode, can be arranged or integrated with the thermally conductive body to emit ultraviolet radiation toward the precursor liquid within the thermally conductive body.
Claims20
A liquid purification apparatus, comprising:
- a thermally conductive body at least partially defining a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a tortuous path for a precursor liquid extending from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet;
- and
- an energy source integrated with the thermally conductive body and configured to introduce energy to the precursor liquid along the tortuous path.
A liquid purification apparatus, comprising:
- a heat sink defining an internal channel, the heat sink including an optical region configured to receive light and direct the light to the internal channel;
- and
- an energy source optically coupled with the optical region and responsive to a flow of a precursor liquid through the internal channel.
A method for treating precursor liquid in a beverage machine, comprising:
- receiving a flow of a precursor liquid at an opening of a liquid purification apparatus;
- causing flow of the precursor liquid through a tortuous path of the liquid purification apparatus, the tortuous path being at least partially defined by a heat sink;
- and
- reducing a microbial count of the precursor liquid along the tortuous path using an energy source integrated with the heat sink along the tortuous path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.