Manually operable reverse osmosis apparatus

Apparatus for purifying water by reverse osmosis comprising;

• a tubular pressure resistant container housing a semipermeable membrane cartridge comprising a membrane, a purified water transfer sheet, and a spacer sheet spirally wound around a central purified water collection tube, and providing generally longitudinal channels for passage of feed water therethrough;
• a pump for introducing impure feed water under elevated pressure into said tubular pressure resistant container near one end thereof for longitudinal passage through said semipermeable membrane cartridge, and means for actuating said pump;
• and means for releasing said feed water as brine from said tubular pressure resistant container near the other end thereof while maintaining operating pressure therein;
• in which the improvement comprises:
• a. said semipermeable membrane cartridge being of cylindrical configuration and materially shorter than said tubular pressure resistant container, and of diameter to fit slidably inside said tubular pressure resistant container;
• b. rod means attached to said semipermeable membrane cartridge and passing slidably and sealingly through an end of said tubular pressure resistant container for imparting longitudinal reciprocal motion of said semipermeable membrane cartridge within said tubular pressure resistant container during passage of feed water therethrough;
• and including a reciprocating hollow rod communicating with the central purified water collection tube of said semipermeable membrane cartridge, for transferring purified water from said semipermeable membrane cartridge to the exterior of said tubular pressure resistant container.