CA1054331A

CA1054331A - Ultraviolet water purifier

Info

Publication number: CA1054331A
Application number: CA257,713A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Douglas N. Lambert; Richard H. Bennett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-07-23
Filing date: 1976-07-23
Publication date: 1979-05-15

Abstract

Title Of The Invention ULTRAVIOLET WATER PURIFIER
Abstract Of The Disclosure An ultraviolet water purifier having a plurality of ultraviolet lamps mounted in a cover extending over the purifier and above the water in the purifier with a parabolic reflector directing the rays of the lamps toward the body of water. The purifier is provided with a water inlet and a baffle adjacent thereto having an opening at its base to compel the water entering the purifier to flow directly down-wardly and then to flow through a plurality of filter. Air bubbles are trapped by a second baffle extending downwardly from the cover to below the water level. Before the water is discharged from the purifier, a third baffle which is positioned in approximately the center of the purifier and of lower height than the body of water compels the water to flow to the surface and over the third baffle to be discharged at the end of the purifier opposite that of the inlet thereby exposing the water to the rays of the ultraviolet lamps for a maximum period and at the position at which the rays are most effective as a germicide.

Description

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Bac~.gro~nd OE The Invelltio 1. I~ield Of The Invention This invention relates to water purifying devices Eor domestic uses, for aquariums, swimmincJ pools and -the like, and is more particularly directed to one which utilizes ultra- -violet lamps for the germicidal effects thereof.

2. Description Of The Prior ~rt The present water purifying devices that utilize ultraviolet lamps place the lamps in the water being purified so that as the water flows through the purifier, it passes in close proximity to the ultraviolet rays emanating from the lamps thereby rendering the lamps effective in its germicid~l function. However, after a relatively short period of time, deposits from the wa-ter will form on the lamps and other foreign matter will adhere to the lamps to reduce the normal amount of ultraviolet rays that is able to leave the lamps and pass into the water. The longer the lamps remain in the ;- water, the greater the amount of opaqueness is cuased by the deposits and the less is the efficiency of the lamps to kill germs, etc. in the water. In addition, the ultraviolet lamps operate at maximum efficiency at 40 centigrade. Since the `~ water being purified is normally a great deal lower in tempe.ra-. ture than 40 centigrade, the efficiency of the lamps is reduced accordingly.
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The present invention contemplates a water purifying device which avoids the above indication objections.
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According to the present invention, there is provided a water purifier including a receptacle having an inlet mounted at one side of the receptacle, outle-t means compelliny the flow of water along substantially the full lenyth of the receptacle, and an ultraviolet lamp with means mounting the ultraviolet lamp above the water and extending along the receptacle whereby water flowing,therethrough is exposed to ultraviolet rays being emitted by -the lamp. A depending baffle is mounted adjacent the inlet in the receptacle and terminates I~, in spaced relation to a bottom wall of -the receptacle so as to form an opening which compels water entering the receptacle to flow downwardly and be discharged through the opening.
Filter means is mounted in the receptacle adjacent to the depending baffle, and a second depending baffle is mounted adjacent to the filtering means and extends to below the surface of water positioned in the receptacle so as to form - ?
a chamber above the filtering means for trapping bubbles entering the receptacle.
, Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a water purifying device for domestic uses, for swimming pools and aquariums in which ultraviolet lamps are , in position above the body of water passing through the purifier.
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet,water purifylng device Eor aquariums with a plurality of baf1es and filters that compel the water as it enters the device to flow downwardly and then laterally through the screens with a depending flange extending down-wardly below the surface of the water in the device to prevent , , .
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any bubbles from coming into contact with ul-traviolet lamps positioned above the water.
An object of a specific embodiment of the present invention is to provide a water purifying device with ultra-violet lamps mounted above and exposed to water passing therethrough and the electrical equipment connected to the lamps are mounted in a water-tight compartment that covers the water purifying device and with baffle plates constructed to trap air bubbles and prevent them from coming into contact with the lamps.
With these features and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined ~' to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or ;, modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION Or~` T~IE SEVERAL VII`WS OF TIIE DRAWING
In ~he drawing:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aquarium utilizinq an ultraviolet water purifier constructed in accordance with our invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figures 3 and ~ are transverse cross sectional views taken along the lines 3-3 and 4-~ respectively of Figure 2.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are . ....................................................................... .
used to indicate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to our ultraviolet water purifier shown ~;~
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, mounted in position on a side wall of a conventional aquarium ;~ 11 having a hose 12 connected there-to that directs the flow of , the aquarium water from a pump ~not shown) which con-tinuously ~ -~, recirculates the water, thereby maintaining the water in : , ,.
- disease free condition as it explained in detail hereinafter.
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The purifier 10 consists of a receptacle for containing and purifying the water that flows therethrough formed by end walls 13 and 1~, side walls 15 and 16 and a bottom wall 17, ::
the walls (except for wall 16) being joined at their edge ; portions to form an open receptacle. Mounted on the end wall 13 is a water inlet nipple 23 having a varying tapered outside ~

l diameter for receiving and accommodating water pipes 12 of ~ -'' : ' ' . ' .: ' varying si~es. Water entering the recep-tacle -~- is discharged through an opening 30 formed by the wa:Ll 16 terminating at a l lower position than that of the walls 13, 1~ and 15. In order ~
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to compel the watcr in the purifier 10 to flow through the full length oE the receptacle -R- the wall 16 is formed at a lower height adjacent the end wall 14 as at 31. The end walls 13 and 14 are extended at their upper end portions on each side as at 1~ to form a combined bracket ~B- and dis- :
charge outlet 21. Theiwall portion 18 is steppad as at 19, ~`
20 to form slo-tted portions of various widths for receiving the upper edge portion of a wall of the aquariu~ 11 for supporting the purifier 10 thereon, as shown by Figure 1. A
side wall 22 encloses the bracket -B- while the lowermost slot portion 21 is open to permit the discharge of water therethrough.
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; Mounted vertically in the receptacle -R- in proximity of the end wall 13 is a baffle plate 24 that extends to the side walls 15 and 16. The baffle plate 24 extends upwardly : to a horizontal wall 52 extending from the wall 13 above the - .
inlet 23 and terminates short of the bottom wall 17 to form " an enclosed chamber 2~ with a discharge opening 25 along the ... . . . . .
' bottom wall 17 for the water that enters the receptacle -R-. ~ , : 20 at the inlet 23.
:, : On each of the side walls 15 and 16 and bottom wall ~: .
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17 are slotted members 26 for receiving therein screen panels : 29 that are readily removed when it is desired to clean them . -t : ~:
of foreign matter entrapped thereon. ~t approximately the mid-portion of the receptacle ~R- is a further plurality for slotted member 33 mounted on the walls 15, 16 and 17 for re-, ceiving a baffle plate 32 forming compartments 34 and 35, the ; plate 32 being of lower heigh-t than that of the wall 16 to compel all of the water to flow along the surface of the body : , .: ,, .~ 5 _ :
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of water fr~m compartment 34 to compart~nen-t 35 prior to being discharged from the recep-tacle -R-.
Compel].ing the water in the receptacle -R- to flow along the surface of the bod~ of water therein exposes the water for optimum effectiveness -to our purifier device -P-consisting in general of superimposed housings to form a watertight chamber 134 tberebetween and a second chamber 135 for containing ultraviole-t lamps 46 whose rays are directed in the direction of the wa-ter in the aquarium receptacle -R-.
The outer housing consists of a top wall 37 depending side :~:
walls 38 that extend to flanged portions 39 that rest on and .. engage the top edge portlons of the walls 13~16 inclusive of :
the receptacle -R-.
Within the chamber 134 is the lamp chamber 135 formed : by a top wall 40 in parallel and spaced relation to the top wall 37 with depending side walls 41 and end walls 42 that extend to a bottom wall 43. The bottom wall 43 is horizontally ... . .
: disposed extending to the flanged portions 39 to seal.off the .. ~ . . :;.
~ chamber 134 from the receptacle -R-, so that no moisture or ~ .
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',~ 20 water vapor can enter the chamber 134 in which the electrical .: . .
.. equipment is contained. One of the end walls 42 nearest the , . screens 29 is provided with an extension baffle 44 that ex- :~
. .,. ,- ~ ~, tends downwardly to below the surface of the water in receptacle : .

. -R- forming an air bubble trap chamber 51. The function of the ~:. baffle 44 is to inhibit the passage of water over the top of .

the screens 29, to trap air bubble that would otherwise splash . , ,- ', water, etc. on the lamps 46. The water is compelled to pass ::................ through the screens 2~ to filter out any particles of foreign . ma'cter therein and the bubbles trapped in the chamber 51 . .
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eventuall.y return to the form of water, but upon breaking up, the bubbles cannot splash on-to the lamps ~6 to dirty them or to cause the lamps ~6 to drop in temperature if the water is cooler than the lamps.
Mo~lnted on both of the end walls ~2 are fixtures ~5 for receiving a pair o~ ultraviolet lamps 46 that ex-tend approximately the Eull length of the chamber 35 with a parabolic reflector shield ~7 mounted over the lamps 46 to reflect the rays aischarged by the lamps 46 so that all of the rays of the lamps ~6 are directed toward the body of water in the receptacle -R-. The fixtures 45 are connected by wires ~8 that extend to a switch 50 mounted on the cover wall 37. The switch ~0 in turn is connected to wires 49 that ex~
tend through an opening in the side wall 38 and connected to an appropriate transformer plug 51 whLch is normally connected to a source of electricity (not shown).
In the normal use of our aquarium water purifying device 10, the latter is positioned on the edge of an aquar:ium 11 with the top.edge portion of the rear wall of the aquarium ., ., ~ .
.l 20 being received by any one of the slotted portions 19, 20 of , ................................................... .
::' the bracket -B- as determined by the thickness of the wall at . , the top edge portion. The discharge outle-t 21 will then dis-charge the purified water that has passed throuyh the purifyiny .
device 10 back into the aquarium 11. The pipe 12 which is norma].ly connected to a pump will permit the water that is .' pumped from the aquarium 11 to discharge the water into the ... .
receptacle R- into a chamber 28 formed by the baffle 2~.
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~, This water is compelled to flow downwardly in the chamber 28 .
to leave the chamber 28 by the elongated openiny 25 at the . . ..

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foo-t of the baffle 2~. The water then f:Lows into the chamber 34 a:E-ter having passed through the pair of screens 29 which removed any particles or solid matter and air bubbles from the wa-ter. ~lso, any bubblcs -that may have been discharged into the chamber 2~ will remain in the chamber or bubble trap 51 until broken up. If nok then broken up, the bubbles will be dispersed by the filter screens 28 but in any event, there can be no splashing of water on-to the lamps 46 that may be caused by the -turbulence at the inle-l 23 or by bubbles. It is the function of the baffles 24 and ~4 to prevent any wa-ter from splashing into contact with the lamps 46. It is to be noted that water contacting the lamps ~6 will deposit calcium and other matter present in the water on the lamps 46 to reduce the efficiency of the lamps. In our purifying device 10 no water will contact the lamps 46 so that the water germicidal effect is at its maximum at all times while in operation, and the optimum lamp temperature for maximum efEiciency of the lamps is realized.
To assure that every particle of water that passes through the receptacle -R- is exposed to the ultraviolet rays emanating from the lamps 46, the water is compelled -to surface by the baffle 32 when passing from the chamber 34 to the chamber 35. It is to be noted that the water in the chambers 34 and 35 is being purified by rays from the lamps ~6, but the effectiveness of these germicidal rays is increased as to the water that is near the surface as compared to the water that would otherwise remain close to the bottom of the body of water. Consequently the baffle 32 which compels the water to rise to the surface as it flows from the chamber 34 to the :: .

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chamber 35 assures the exposure of all the water in the aquariurn system to those ultraviolet rays emanating from the lamps 46 at their most eEfective germicidal conditi.on besides effecting a proper mixing of the water passing thereover.
Obviously the germicidal effect of the ultraviole-t rays is indirectly proportional to the depth of penetration in the water, and if the water is murky or dirty then the effectiveness of the ultraviolet rays is reduced even more.
.~ It is to be noted that at no time can water flowing into the purifying device 10 spill or overflow except into the aquarium 11. In the event the screens 28 become clogged .
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. by foreign matter, or in the event the flow of water in the device 10 is greater than that can be discharged along the ~ i ~: discharge edge 31 of the side wall 16, the water will rise in ;-: the receptacle -R- and flow over the top edge of the wall 16 :
~ at the position of the chamber 51. The water will then flow : through the bracket -B- and be discharged through the outlet 21 and into the aquarium 11.
Although our water purifying device 10 is shown and r, ' 20 described in connection with the aquarium 11, it is to be .. noted that our water purifier can readily be used to purify :i;:
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. water for domestic use such as for cooking, drinking, swimming pools and the like.
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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A water purifier comprising a receptacle having an inlet mounted at one side of said receptacle, outlet means compelling the flow of water along substantially the full length of said receptacle, an ultraviolet lamp, means mounting said ultraviolet lamp above said water and extending along said receptacle whereby water flowing there-through is exposed to ultraviolet rays being emitted by said lamp, a depending baffle mounted adjacent said inlet in said receptacle and terminating in spaced relation to a bottom wall of said receptacle forming an opening and compelling water entering said receptacle to flow downwardly and be discharged through said opening, filtering means mounted in said receptacle adjacent to said depending baffle, a second depending baffle mounted adjacent to said filtering means and extending to below the surface of water positioned in said receptacle thereby forming a chamber above said filtering means for trapping bubbles entering said receptacle.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said second depending baffle mounted in proximity of said inlet extends downwardly from said mounting means to below the level of said water whereby bubbles formed at said inlet are prevented from contacting said lamp.

3. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said ultraviolet lamp mounting means comprising first cover means mounted over said receptacle with said lamp in exposed relation with water contained in said receptacle, second cover means mounted over said first cover means forming a watertight compartment for containing electrical connecting members for said lamp.

4. The structure as recited by claim 3 wherein said outlet means comprises substantially hollow bracket means mounted along substantially the full length of said receptacle for mounting said receptacle on an aquarium, an elongated opening along said full length of said receptacle communicating with said hollow bracket means, said opening tapering downwardly in proximity of a side of said receptacle opposite that of said one side whereby water is discharged from said receptacle to said aquarium.