AU2003100618A4 - Water purifying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT WATER PURIFYING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

I

Water Purifying Apnaratus Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifying apparatus.

Drinking fountains have widely been used in daily lives to purify water and include several water-treating units such as a ceramic filtering unit, a high pressure active carbon unit, a magnetizing unit, and a mineralizing unit that are serially connected by conduits. The appearance of the dinking fountain is adversely affected. To solve this problem, these treating units are enclosed in a casing. However, the overall drinking fountain including a casing is not stable.

Further, a trend in this field is to provide water with natural minerals ("mineralized") or other elements and to magnetize the water to make the water tinier and more stable, thereby possessing the characteristics of alignment, good dissolvability, and good permeability for complete contact with the minerals. In addition to the devices for magnetizing and mineralizing water, conventional water magnetizing apparatuses are configured to force purified water to pass through mineralizing layers such that the water molecules turn into magnetized water of small molecular structure by the intensive magnetic fields cooperating with zigzag passageway for the water that lengthens the contact time between the water and the mineralizing layers and biochemical ceramic particles. The water is thus "energized." However, in the conventional water magnetizing apparatuses mentioned above, when the water flows through the mineral layers, since an outer periphery of the water is cut by the permanent magnetic fields, the water molecules become tinier as the water travels farther. Yet the water also absorbs the minerals of the mineral layers when passing through them. The water would also absorb far-infrared rays when biochemical ceramic particles are provided. As a i-esult, the tinier the water cut by the magnetic fields, the more energy the water absorbs.

This result in unbalanced energy absorbed by the water molecules during the mineralizing and biochemical process.

Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a water purifying apparatus that can be placed in a stable manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifying apparatus in which the time for water to absorb minerals and energy is increased.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plug-and-use water purifying apparatus in which the water purifying apparatus is readily useable after coupling of a water pipe to a coupler of the water purifying apparatus. Further, the water outlet direction of the outlet pipe of the water purifying apparatus can be altered according to the height of the user and the habit of the user. Further, the water inlet and water outlet are fixed to allow easy installation, providing an ergonomic design.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifying apparatus having three water outlet positions so that the user may selectively couple a faucet to one of the water outlets according to the position of the water purifying apparatus on the site for use. Further, the other two water outlets not used can be covered by plugs to keep an interior of a casing of the water purifying apparatus clean.

Yet another object.of the present invention is to provide a water purifying apparatus that can be mounted to a wall or placed on a table while providing a stable support.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifying apparatus that allows easy replacement and maintenance of filtering materials by means of removing a front plate of the casing of the water purifying apparatus without the need of dismantling the whole casing and the side seats of the water purifying apparatus, providing a time-saving, convenient, and safe design.

A water purifying apparatus in accordance with the .present invention includes: a casing including a side seat on each of two sides thereof, at least one of the side seats having a first screw hole in a top thereof, a second screw hole being defined in a top of the casing, a faucet being selectively coupled to one of the first screw hole and the second screw hole, and the other of the first screw hole and the second screw hole being covered; a water-treating unit mounted in the casing and including a first filter containing a first filtering means, a second filter containing a second filtering means, and a third filter containing a third filtering means; a mineralizing/biochemical module including a barrel and a plurality of lagging dishes stacked in the barrel along an axial direction of the barrel, each said lagging dish including an aperture in a bottom thereof, the aperture of an upper one of two lagging dishes being not aligned with the aperture of a lower one of the two lagging dishes, allowing water to flow upward, the aperture in each said lagging dish being tiny to lag the water, thereby increasing the time for water to absorb minerals and energy while passing through each said lagging dish; and a magnetizing module mounted in the casing and including a barrel, a sleeve mounted in the barrel and extending along an axial direction of the barrel, and a plurality of permanent ring magnets being mounted around the sleeve and spaced by a spacer, each said permanent ring magnet including a plurality of annularly disposed permanent magnets and a holder ring mounted around the permanent magnets, the permanent magnets being in intimate contact with one another and together defining a hole through which the sleeve extends.

In an embodiment of the invention, the casing includes a front plate and a second plate detachably engaged to the front plate. The first filtering means in the first filter includes a plurality of layers of filtering materials that are preferably non-woven cloth. A flow meter may be mounted downstream of the first filter The second filtering means includes compressed active carbon. The third filtering means includes ceramic filtering cores.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention, will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. I is an exploded perspective view of a water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a mineralizing/biochemical module of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the mineralizing/biochemical module of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a magnetizing module of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, wherein a faucet is coupled to a right side of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3, wherein a faucet is coupled on top of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 9, a water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally comprises a casing I including a front plate 11 and a rear plate 12 that together form a hollow casing. The front plate 11 is removably engaged to the rear plate 12. As illustrated in Fig. 2, each of two sides of the casing I includes a side seat 13. A screw hole 19 is defined in a top of at least one of the side seats 13 for optionally engaging with a faucet 14. A screw hole 17 is defined in a top of the casing 1 for optionally engaging with a faucet 15. In particular, a faucet 14 may be coupled to the left side seat 13, as shown in Fig. 2, and the screw hole 17 in the top of the casing I is covered by a decorative plate 16 to provide a good-looking appearance. Alternatively, a faucet 14 is coupled to the right side seat 13, as shown in Fig. 7, and the screw hole 17 in the top of the casing I is covered by a decorative plate 16 to provide a good-looking appearance. In another embodiment, a faucet 15 is coupled to the top of the casing 1, as shown in Fig. 8, and a decorative plate or a plug may be provide to cover the screw hole 19 in the side seat 13.

The water purifying apparatus further includes a water-treating unit 2 mounted in the casing 1, a mineralizing/biochemical module 23 mounted in the casing 1, a magnetizing module 25 mounted in the casing 1, and a support base 3 on which the casing 1 is mounted.

The water-treating unit 2 includes a first filter 21 having a plurality of layers of filtering material non-woven cloth) for removing impurities in the water, a second filter 22, and a third filter 24. A flow meter 211 is mounted downstream the first filter 21 for metering the amount of water treated by the filtering materials. This amount can be a basis for determining when to replace the filtering materials. In the second filter 22, active carbons are compressed to form filtering layers for further removal of impurities and for removing unpleasing odors. The third filter 24 contains filtering materials such as ceramic filtering cores for further removal of impurities and for removing bacteria that may cause diseases to human bodies.

The mineralizing/biochemical module 23 is mounted between the second filter 22 and the third filter 24. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the mineralizing/biochemical module 23 includes a barrel 231 and a plurality of lagging dishes 232 stacked in the barrel 231 along an axial direction of the barrel 231. Each lagging dish 232 includes a tiny aperture 233 in a bottom thereof It is noted that the aperture 233 of an upper one of two lagging dishes 232 is not aligned with the aperture 233 of a lower one of the two lagging dishes 232, as shown in Fig 5. Thus, water flows upward through the tiny aperture 233 of each lagging dish 232 and absorbs minerals and energy while passing through minerals and biochemical ceramic particles filled in each lagging dish 232.

Referring to Fig. 6, the magnetizing module 25 is mounted to a side of the mineralizing/biochemical module 23 and may be coupled to an outlet end of the third filter 24. The magnetizing module 25 includes a barrel 251, a sleeve 252 mounted in the barrel 251 and extending along an axial direction of the barrel 251, and a plurality of permanent ring magnets 253 mounted around the sleeve 252, each two permanent ring magnets 253 adjacent to each other being spaced by a spacer 254. Each permanent ring magnet 253 includes a plurality of annularly disposed permanent magnets 256 and a holder ring 255 mounted around the permanent magnets 256. The permanent magnets 256 are in intimate contact with one another and together define a hole 257 through which the sleeve 252 extends.

The support base 3 Is a disc having an opening facing upward to a bottom side of the casing 1, thereby allowing insertion of the lower portion of the easing 1 into the opening of the support base 3.

In operation, water flows trough the first filter 21 and the flow meter 211.

As mentioned above, the flow meter 211 indicates the amount of water treated by the filtering materials and thus provides a basis for determining whether to replace the filtering materials. Then, the water passes through the mineral izing/bi ochemical filter 23 containing active carbon layers for further pif iin. As mentioned above, each lagging dish 232 includes a tiny aperture 233 in a bottom thereof, and the aperture 233 of an upper one of two lagging dishes 232 is not aligned with the aperture 233 of a lower one of the two lagging dishes 232, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, water flows upward through the tiny aperture 233 of each lagging dish 232A, 232B and absorbs minerals and energy while passing through minerals and biochemical ceramic particles filled in each lagging dish 232.

Next, water leaving the mineral izing/biochemical filter 23 flows into the third filter 24 containing ceramic filtering cores for further purification. Then, water enters the magnetizing module 25. In detail, the water flows through the sleeve 252 in the barrel 251 and thus magnetized by the permanent ring magnets 253 consisting of a plurality of permanent magnets 256. The structure of water molecules is thus changed magnetized).

According to the above description, it is appreciated that the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be placed in a stable manner by means of providing a support base 3. Further, in the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the time for water to absorb minerals and energy is increased. Further, a plug-and-use water purifying apparatus is provided, wherein the water purifying apparatus is readily useable after coupling of a water pipe to a coupler of the water purifying apparatus.

Further, the water outlet direction of the outlet pipe of the water purifying apparatus can be altered according to the height of the user and the habit of the user. Further, the water inlet and water outlet are fixed to allow easy installation, providing an ergonomic design.

In addition, the water purifying apparatus has three water outlet positions so that the user may selectively couple a faucet to one of the water outlets according to the position of the water purifying apparatus on the site for use.

Further, the other two water outlets not used can be covered by plugs to keep an interior of a casing of the water purifying apparatus clean. Further, the water-treating module 2, the mineralizing/biochemical module 23, and the magnetizing module 25 can be independently installed according to the layout of pipelines in the water purifying apparatus.

Further, the purifying apparatus can be mounted to a wall (see the hanger holes 18 on the rear side of the casing I, see Fig. 9) or placed on a table while providing a stable support. Further, the water purifying apparatus allows easy replacement and maintenance of filtering materials by means of removing a front plate 11 of the casing I of the water purifying apparatus without the need of dismantling the whole casing I and the side seats 13 of the water purifying apparatus, providing a time-saving, convenient, and safe design.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims (4)

1. A water purifying apparatus comprising: a casing including a side seat (13) on each of two sides thereof, at least one of the side seats having a first screw hole (19) in a top thereof, a second screw hole (17) being defined in a top of the casing a faucet (14, being selectively coupled to one of the first screw hole (19) and the second screw hole and the other of the first screw hole (19) and the second screw hole (17) being covered; a water-treating unit mounted in the casing and including a first filter (21) containing a first filtering means, a second filter (22) containing a second filtering means, and a third filter (24) containing a third filtering means; a mineralizing/biochemical module (23) including a barrel (231) and a plurality of lagging dishes (232) stacked in the barrel (231) along an axial direction of the barrel (231), each said lagging dish (232) including an aperture (233) in a bottom thereof, the aperture (233) of an upper one of two lagging dishes (232) being not aligned with the aperture (233) of a lower one of the two lagging dishes (232), allowing water to flow upward, the aperture (233) in each said lagging dish (233) being tiny to lag the water, thereby increasing the time for water to absorb minerals and energy while passing through each said lagging dish (232); and a magnetizing module (25) mounted in the casing and including a barrel (251), a sleeve (252) mounted in the barrel (251) and extending along an axial direction of the barrel (251), and a plurality of permanent ring magnets (253) being mounted around the sleeve (252) and spaced by a spacer (254), each said permanent ring magnet (253) including a plurality of 12 annularly disposed permanent magnets (256) and a holder ring (255) mounted around the permanent magnets (256), the permanent magnets (256) being in intimate contact with one another and together defining a hole (257) through which the sleeve (252) extends.

2. The water purifying apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein the casing (1) includes a front plate (11) and a second plate (12) detachably engaged to the front pate (11).

3. The water purifying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a flow meter (211) mounted downstream of the first filter (21).

4. The water purifying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a base (3) with an opening configured to receive said casing for supporting the casing thereat. A water purifying apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.