Water purification apparatus
AssigneeNimbus Water Systems, Inc.
InventorsDonald T. Bray, Richard A. Simonis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Self-standing apparatus for filtering supply water to provide purified water includes a base subassembly and two container subassemblies. One container subassembly provides supply water to filtering apparatus located in the base subassembly. The second container holds purified water which passes through a semipermeable membrane filter in the base subassembly. Concentrate from the membrane filter flows back to the supply water container for ultimate recirculation. The base subassembly and the container subassemblies have automatically closing valves which render each container water-tight when separated from the base subassembly, and which open to provide communication between the containers and filtering apparatus within the base subassembly.
Claims13
Apparatus for providing purified water for drinking purposes, which apparatus comprises
- a base compartment containing a pump and electrically powered drive means connected to said pump and a water treatment device containing a filter with an average pore size of about 0.5 micron or less and having an inlet, a pure water outlet, and a concentrate outlet,
- a supply container for holding a quantity of tap water or the like,
- a purified water container,
- said containers being adapted to be supported atop said base compartment,
- detachable first connection means in the upper surface of said base compartment and in the undersurface of said supply container for allowing liquid flow from said supply compartment to said base,
- first conduit means connecting said first connection means to the suction side of said pump,
- means connecting said pump discharge to the inlet of said water treatment device,
- detachable second connection means interconnecting said base and said supply container for returning concentrate to said supply container,
- second conduit means connecting said second connection means to said concentrate outlet from said treatment device,
- detachable third connection means interconnecting said purified water container and said base compartment so as to permit the flow of purified water therebetween,
- third conduit means connecting said third connection means to said purified water outlet from said treatment device,
- said first, second and third connection means each containing valve means which prevent outflow of liquid therethrough upon separation of said respective container from said base compartment, and
- means for halting operation of said pump drive means upon reaching a certain predetermined condition.
Apparatus for providing purified water for drinking purposes, which apparatus includes three separably interconnectable subassemblies, and comprises
- a first subassembly comprising a base compartment containing a pump, an electrically powered drive means connected to said pump and a water treatment device containing a filter with an average pore size of about 0.5 micron or less and having an inlet, a pure water outlet, and a concentrate outlet,
- a second subassembly comprising a supply container for holding a quantity of tap water or the like,
- a third subassembly comprising a purified water container,
- said supply and said purified water containers being adapted to be releasably supported by said base compartment,
- detachable first connection means in an outer surface of said base compartment and in an outer surface of said supply container for forming a fluid-tight passageway for liquid flow from said supply compartment to said base,
- first conduit means in said base compartment connecting said first connection means to the suction side of said pump,
- means in said base compartment connecting said pump discharge to the inlet of said water treatment device,
- detachable second connection means in outer surfaces of said base compartment and said supply container, interconnecting said base and said supply container with a fluid-tight passageway for returning concentrate to said supply container,
- second conduit means in said base compartment connecting said second connection means to said concentrate outlet from said water treatment device,
- detachable third connection means in outer surfaces of said base compartment and said purified water container interconnecting said purified water container and said base compartment with a fluid-tight passageway for a flow of purified water therebetween,
- third conduit means in said base compartment connecting said third connection means to said purified water outlet from said treatment device,
- said first, second and third connection means each including valve means associated with a respective passageway which prevent outflow of liquid from the associated container upon separation of said respective container from said base compartment, and
- means for halting operation of said pump drive means upon reaching a certain predetermined condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.