US 4,176,063 A · Water purifier system and valve

Abstract

An economical and commercially practical reverse-osmosis water purifier system which has no back pressure acting against the semipermeable membrane, so that the filtering rate is maximized. Furthermore, the supply of tap water to the system is shut off automatically as soon as the pure water storage tank is full, use of water thus being greatly reduced. These, and other major advantages, are achieved despite the fact that there is only a single tube extending to the faucet, automatic ice-maker, refrigerated drinking fountain or other point of use. The system uses rugged, long-lasting and economical diaphragm valves, which eliminates the need for sliding seals. Thus, it becomes highly practical to injection-mold the valves of plastic. The long-standing major problem of plugging or fouling of the constricted outlet for waste water is eliminated at low cost and with very little use of water. What water is used provides not only cleaning of the constriction region but also a partial flushing of the filter membrane. These results are achieved by means of a self-cleaning constrictor valve having a predetermined flow area which may be made as small as the manufacturer desires. In one embodiment, a valve is provided to automatically stop the outflow of squeeze water while the faucet is in open condition. This saves additional water and also makes it possible to build up a relatively high pure-water pressure even when the inlet pressure is less than average.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A reverse-osmosis water purification system, which comprises:

(a) a reverse-osmosis filter element,
(b) a storage tank having movable means therein to separate said tank into a pure water chamber and a squeeze chamber,
(c) means to conduct tap water under pressure to said filter element and to cause water to flow through said filter element into said pure water chamber,
(d) means to conduct waste water from said filter element to a drain,
said means (d) including proportioning means to determine the ratio of said waste water to pure water,
(e) a single water conduit connected at one end to said pure water chamber, and adapted to be connected at the other end to an outlet valve which controls discharge of purified water to a point of use,
said water conduit being the sole conduit between the water purification system and the region of said outlet valve,
(f) means, including a squeeze-control valve to conduct water under pressure to said squeeze chamber,
whereby to move said movable means and thus expel purified water from said pure water chamber through said single conduit to said outlet valve,
(g) means to reduce greatly the water pressure in said squeeze chamber after closing of said squeeze-control valve,
whereby to create a large pressure drop across said filter element, with consequent increased rate of filtration,
(h) means to maintain substantial water pressure in said single conduit after said reduction in water pressure in said squeeze chamber, so that purified water will flow immediately out said outlet valve upon opening thereof,
(i) means, responsive to the pressure reduction caused by said opening of said outlet valve and consequent reduction in the water pressure in said single conduit, to open said squeeze-control valve and thus effect expulsion of purified water through said single conduit to a point of use, and
(j) means, responsive to filling of said storage tank with a predetermined quantity of purified water, to prevent flow of water through said proportioning means to said drain,
whereby to prevent loss of water after a desired amount of purified water is present.

12 more elements

Reverse-osmosis water purification apparatus, comprising:

(a) a reverse-osmosis filter element including a semi-permeable reverse-osmosis membrane,
(b) inlet means adapted to supply unpurified pressurized water to said filter element,
(c) outlet means adapted to discharge from said filter element waste water which did not pass through said membrane, and
(d) means provided in the waste-water flow path from said outlet means to constrict such flow path and maintain a precise desired volume ratio between said waste water and the purified water which passed through said membrane,
said means (d) comprising wall means to define a constricted flow path of predetermined small flow area,
said means (d) further comprising means to move one region of said wall means and thus increase the rate of waste-water flow from said outlet means to said wall means,
the movement of said region, and said increased flow, being such as to flush salts and other substances tending to clog or plug said flow path,
said wall means defining said waste-water flow path, being provided at proximate regions of a valve seat and a movable valve element adapted to seat on said seat, the relationship being such that said constricted flow path is defined partly by said seat and partly by said movable valve element, there being means provided to shift said movable element and seat away from each other to enlarge greatly the cross-sectional area through which waste water may flow.

5 more elements

A reverse-osmosis water purification system, which comprises:

(a) a reverse-osmosis water filter unit having an inlet adapted to be connected to a water pipe containing tap water under pressure,
(b) a storage tank having a bladder therein,
the chamber within said bladder being a pure water chamber and being connected to the purified water outlet of said filter unit,
the chamber within said tank exteriorly of said bladder being a squeeze chamber and being connected to the waste-water outlet of said filter unit,
(c) a squeeze valve connected to control flow of waste water from said waste water outlet to said squeeze chamber,
(d) a single conduit connecting said pure water chamber to an outlet valve through which purified water is to be dispensed to a point of use,
(e) a check valve provided in said single conduit to maintain pure water pressure at said outlet valve during periods when said squeeze chamber is not under pressure,
(f) means to depressurize said squeeze chamber during periods when said outlet valve is in closed condition,
said means being adapted to permit build-up of squeeze pressure in said squeeze chamber during periods when said squeeze valve is open so that waste water then flows to said squeeze chamber to pressurize the same,
(g) means responsive to the reduction in pressure in said single conduit, which reduction occurs when said outlet valve is open, to open said squeeze valve and thus pressurize said squeeze chamber,
said means (g) being hydraulic and being devoid of mechanical connection to the interior of said storage tank, and
(h) valve means responsive to filling of said bladder to a predetermined extent, to prevent further flow of water through the system until said outlet valve is again opened.

9 more elements

A water purifier system, which comprises:

(a) a reverse-osmosis water purifier element having inlet means for pressurized tap water, outlet means for purified water, and outlet means for waste water,
(b) a pressure-resistant storage tank having a bladder therein,
the region of said tank within said bladder being a pure water chamber,
the region of said tank exterior to said bladder being a squeeze chamber,
(c) a diaphragm-type squeeze valve having a diaphragm which seats on a valve seat,
said diaphragm having small port means therethrough radially-outwardly of said seat,
(d) a diaphragm-type pilot valve having an unported diaphragm which seats on a valve seat,
(e) means to effect communication between said squeeze valve, at the side of its diaphragm remote from its seat, and said pilot valve at the region thereof radially-inwardly of and beneath its seat,
said means (e) having a flow area larger than that of said port means in said squeeze-valve diaphragm,
(f) pressure-responsive means, including a first pressure chamber, to force said pilot-valve diaphragm against its seat, but to permit such diaphragm to move away from its seat in response to a reduction in pressure in said first pressure chamber,
(g) a check valve having a diaphragm which seats on a valve seat,
said diaphragm having small port means therethrough radially-outwardly of the valve seat,
(h) means to effect communication between said check valve, at the same side of its diaphragm as said seat but at a region radially-outwardly of its seat, and said first pressure chamber,
(i) a single tube connected between an outlet valve and the same part of said check valve specified in clause (h),
(j) an inlet valve having an unported diaphragm which seats on a valve seat,
(k) means, including a second pressure chamber, to force said inlet-valve diaphragm against its seat in response to an increased pressure in said second chamber,
(l) means to effect communication between said second pressure chamber and the inlet to said check valve,
said check-valve inlet being radially-inwardly of and beneath its seat,
(m) means to connect pressurized tap water to said inlet valve at the region thereof radially-inwardly of and beneath its seat,
(n) means to connect to said purifier inlet means the region of said inlet valve beneath its diaphragm and radially-outwardly of its seat;
and to connect to said pure water chamber said inlet to said check valve;
and to connect to said squeeze chamber the region of said squeeze valve beneath its diaphragm and radially-inwardly of its seat;
and to effect drainage of the region of said pilot valve radially-outwardly of and beneath its seat;
and to connect to said purifier waste-water outlet means the region of said squeeze valve beneath its diaphragm and radially-outwardly of its seat;
and to connect to said pure water chamber said pure water outlet means of said purifier;
and
(o) means to depressurize said squeeze chamber during periods when said outlet valve is closed.

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water purifier system and valve

Life of this patent

Water purifier system and valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36