DE2419729A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISPENSING TREATED WATER - Google Patents

Description

Patent Attorney '

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Foremost-McKesson, Inc.

San Francisco, Caliph. (V.St.A.)

Method and device for dispensing treated water.

For this application the priorities are taken from the corresponding U.S. Registrations Ser.No. 355 762 of April 30 1973 and Ser.No. 369 409 of June 12, 1973 claimed.

The invention relates to a method and a device for dispensing treated water, ins-, in particular by reducing the mineral content of the water supplied by a pressurized water source by means of a Reverse osmosis unit.

Conventional drinking water dispensers have several disadvantages and limitations. Drinking water dispenser, at where the water storage bottle has to be replaced by a full storage bottle after emptying, are on the regular Supply with storage bottles instructed by a water treatment plant. Although the water in the treatment plant Can be bottled bacteriologically sterile, it happens when replacing the bottles on the drinking water dispenser very easy to bacterial contamination, and also can cause growth of bacteria and others

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Organisms occur within the drinking water dispenser. For this reason, water treatment devices have already been used such as filters, ion exchangers and reverse osmosis units to be built into such water dispensers. The dispensers are of course relatively complicated and expensive by these internals and also require a great maintenance effort.

The invention is therefore intended to provide a relatively simple but economical method and a corresponding device for the delivery of treated water, especially drinking water, are created at which is continuously self-cleaning and the water supply without the risk of bacterial contamination is kept aseptic.

The proposed method for the solution of the problem for dispensing treated water, in particular by reducing the mineral content of the water supplied by a pressurized water source through a reverse osmosis unit in the form of a reverse osmosis insert arranged in a container, at one end of which there is a Water inlet, and at the other end of which there is a permeate and a flush outlet, as well as a storage container with a connected water tap is characterized according to the invention that water from the pressurized water source introduced through the inlet into the container to penetrate the membrane located in this with excretion part of the mineral content brought and

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prepared water through the permeate outlet into the Reservoir is initiated from. which it can be delivered by opening the tap, .and that the use in the Reverse osmosis unit repeatedly flushed with water supplied from the pressurized water source and thereby accumulated Sludge deposits and the like. Are removed through the flush outlet.

A device suitable for carrying out the method consists of a reservoir for treated water, which is connected to a water tap, as well a reverse osmosis unit consisting of a container having a water inlet at one end and a water inlet at its other end has a permeate outlet and a flush outlet, a pressurized water line connected to the water inlet of the container, in which a valve used to control the flow is arranged, and a control serving to control the flushing water delivery through the flushing outlet.

The method and the device according to the invention work on the principle of reverse osmosis Use of a simple but effective flushing device, by means of which accumulating sludge deposits or other foreign substances are flushed out of the membrane and thus prevent spoilage. The water supply in the storage tank is kept aseptic Maintained condition so that bacterial contamination cannot occur.

According to one embodiment of the invention cleaning the reverse osmosis unit with water

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at the same time as filling the reservoir.

The reverse osmosis unit reduces the mineral content of the water. The pressurized water source can be from a Municipal water supply or any other water source that supplies pressurized water. Inside the reverse osmosis unit there is a replaceable Mission. The inlet of the container used to hold the reverse osmosis insert is normally always connected connected to the pressurized water pipe. The normal outlet at the other end of the container is connected to the storage container, in which a water supply with a relatively constant level of the liquid is kept. For level control a level controller is provided. A second outlet is near the first-mentioned container outlet connected to a drain or drainage pipe. With the repeated flushing of the reverse osmosis unit the flushing water is discharged through the second outlet called the flushing outlet. The one arranged in the storage container The level controller is designed, for example, in such a way that it controls the supply of treated water to the storage tank locks as soon as a predetermined level is reached. If the tap after tapping water is closed from the storage tank, the water supplied from the pressurized water line penetrates the insert membrane, wherein the permeate, i.e. the treated water, through the first outlet of the container into the storage container is delivered. As soon as the specified fill level in

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The reservoir is reached, the level controller blocks the water supply to the reverse osmosis unit. The repeated The reverse osmosis unit is flushed out in a controlled manner as described in detail below, whereby the flushing water is discharged from the unit through the flushing outlet. The device is preferably with a Provided ultraviolet light source, by means of which the contents of the storage container are continuously made sterile will.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. "

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation of a first

Embodiment of a device for dispensing treated water according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational cross-section through the reverse osmosis unit; namely the container with its connections and the insert.

Fig. 3 is a partial schematic view showing

the passage of liquid through the solenoid valve for flushing the reverse osmosis unit illustrated.

Fig. 4 is a schematic elevation of a further embodiment corresponding to Fig. 1, but in which two reverse osmosis units to one another are connected in parallel.

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Fig. 5 is a schematic elevation view of another embodiment in which the water at a Above the storage container lying point is released.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of an embodiment in which a timer is used to control the flushing process.

The device shown in FIG. 1 consists of a storage container 10 with a connected tap 11. An ultraviolet germicidal lamp 13 is arranged inside the storage container in the air space 12 above the liquid. This lamp is connected to a power source and is always on. A level regulator within the storage container 10 consists, for example, of a sensor 14 with lower electrodes 15 _r which, in the manner of a limit value transmitter, supply a switching signal when it comes into contact with liquid. The sensor 14 is connected to a circuit 16 via external connection terminals. The functioning of the sensor 14 is thus based on the electrical conductivity of the water. As soon as the liquid level rises so high that the electrodes 15 come into contact with water, a current passage high enough to actuate a relay 17 is created between the electrodes. The circuit 16 is fed either by the supply lines L1 and L2 or by a separate supply source, as indicated schematically.

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The device is supplied with water under pressure via a pipe 20 / the one with the normal Water pipeline network of a community or the like. Can be connected, in which normally water pressures between 3.5 and 7 atü prevail. The pipeline 20 is connected to the inlet end of the reverse osmosis unit 21. The water flow through this pipeline is controlled by a solenoid valve 22, the winding of which is in the circuit 23, which is switched on by the contacts of the relay 17. The other end of the reverse osmosis unit 21 has two outlets which are connected to the pipeline 24 and the pipeline 25, respectively. The pipeline 24 carries processed Water or permeate to the storage container 10 and is for this purpose up into the storage container 10 to led to the air space 12 and turned down in this. The pipeline 25 leads to a drainage or drainage line, the throughput being mediated through this pipeline of the solenoid valve 26 is controlled. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the winding of the solenoid valve 26 connected in a circuit 27, in which there is also a switch 28, and connected to the feed lines L1 and L2 is connected. The contacts of the switch 28 are when water is removed from the storage container 10 closed by means of the tap 11.

A throttle point 29 is arranged in the bypass flow to the solenoid valve 26. Instead of one external bypass flow arrangement, the valve itself can also be provided with a bypass flow passage as shown in FIG.

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In this case, the valve seat 31 has a small opening in the form of a groove or a slot 32, so that a weak liquid throughput through the valve is possible when the valve member 33 is on the valve seat 31 sits.

The operation of the device described above is briefly as follows: water from the public Water pipe is continuously fed into the pipeline 20. When the reservoir 10 is up to the through the Filled sensor 14 of the level regulator predetermined height is, the solenoid valve 22 is also closed. The ultraviolet germicidal lamp 13 is always on and keeps the water inside the reservoir 10 sterile. If the tap 11 is now open and a predetermined amount of water is withdrawn from the storage container 10 is, both circuits 23 and 27 are turned on, whereby the solenoid valve 22 is opened and fresh Water to reverse osmosis unit 21 supplies while by Switching on the circuit 27, the solenoid valve 26 is opened and a water passage through the reverse osmosis unit 21 allowed to the drain line. This flushing process takes place every time the tap 10 is open. This will remove debris and other accumulated solids from the reverse osmosis unit 21 rinsed out.

As soon as the desired amount of water has been withdrawn from the storage container 10, the withdrawal tap 11

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closed, whereby the solenoid valve 26 is also closed. As before, however, a small Liquid quantity pass through the opening 32. Dag Solenoid valve 22 remains in the open position, so that water entering the reverse osmosis unit penetrates the membrane of the insert. Recycled water or permeate, from which a large part of the mineral content has been removed, then passes through the conduit 22 in the upper part of the storage container 10. This is filled up until the sensor 14 of the level controller predetermined level is reached in turn. During the demixing process, the low, purge flow through the solenoid valve 26 to remove the concentrate from the reverse osmosis unit 21 rinse out.

Various commercially available reverse osmosis units can be used with a few modifications to implement the Use invention. The unit shown in Fig. 2 consists of a tubular container 36 with removable End closures 37 and 38. The closure 37 has an inlet opening 39a, which is connected to the pipeline 20. The other end closure 38 has two openings 39 and 40, referred to herein as permeate outlet 39 and purge outlet 40. These outlets are each with the pipeline 24 and 25 respectively. The inside stake 42 consists of a reverse osmosis membrane, for example made of cellulose acetate, which is wound up in a spiral shape and Has spacers between the individual windings.

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At one end of the insert there may be a ring 43 made of a resilient material which is a snug fit in The inner bore of the container 36 can be fitted to form a liquid barrier. At the inlet end the insert is a button-like projection 44, which between itself and the container walls has a liquid supply space 45 trains. The protrusion 44 has a slot or groove 46 through which water can enter the liquid supply space 45 from the inlet 39a.

At the outlet end of the insert there is a hollow connector 48 which, in a sealing manner, into the outlet opening 39 at the end closure 38 is insertable. The hollow nozzle 48 is also provided with a widened section 50, which forms a further liquid space on the outlet side of the insert. The mission forms one on inlet-side container end closed central passage, which at its outlet-side end with the opening in the hollow connector 48 is in communication.

When using an insert formed in the manner described above, the membrane of which is spiral-shaped is wound, and with the partitions forming channels between the windings, arrives at one end of the insert in the liquid supply space 45 pressurized water with the flush outlet 40 closed through the channels between through the windings and penetrates the membrane, the permeate arriving in the central passage, which

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through the outlet port 39 into the storage container 10 leading pipeline 24 is discharged, a significantly lower mineral content than the supplied Has water. If water can freely exit through the flush outlet 40, it will enter through the conduit 20 in water supplied to the liquid supply space 45 through between the turns of the spirally wound membrane from one end of the insert to the other, flushing any accumulated sludge or other solids off, so that they are discharged through the sewer line 25.

From the above explanations it can be seen that the method and the device according to the invention are characterized by great simplicity, which in turn requires high operational reliability with minimal maintenance requirements. The rinsing process takes place automatically and repeated. Immediately after each dispensing of a specified amount of water, the refill takes place, although the longer one Can take time, but in any case leads to the reservoir 10 being filled. When refilling it will treated water is dispensed into the upper part of the storage container.

The storage container can, for example, have a capacity of 5.6 l of water. The device can be designed in such a way that when 946 cm ^{3 of} treated water are withdrawn through the withdrawal tap 11, about 7.5 l of water for flushing by the reverse osmosis unit 21

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2419728

be enforced. For filling the storage container A period of about an hour may be required after each dispensing process. During this refill time can the throughput of rinsing water into the pipeline 25 is approximately fifteen times that which has been refilled in the storage container 10 Amount of treatment amount of permeate. When the water supplied from a public aqueduct has a mineral content of, for example, 171 μg / g (ppm) the mineral content of the treated water, for example 17 μg / g (ppm).

The method and the device can be modified to a large extent without that defined by the invention Leave frame. The treated water can be cooled by means of appropriate cooling or heating devices or dispensed hot. In some applications the water can be supplied by the public water main will be so heavily contaminated as to reduce the mineral content to an acceptable level by more than a reverse osmosis unit is required. In practice it has been found that one in that described above Wise trained reverse osmosis unit can excrete about 90% of all minerals.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, two or more reverse osmosis units 21c and 21d must be connected in parallel to each other in order to achieve a higher throughput. For this purpose, the Inlets of the reverse osmosis units with the water feed line 25a, and the outlets of the units with the

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advice tank 10 leading pipeline 24 connected. Even here the delivery of flushing water through the two flushing lines is controlled by means of a solenoid valve 26,

Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the storage container below the tap such as' e.g. is arranged below the table or worktop of a kitchen cabinet. In this case the tap is 51 mounted on the table or worktop 52 and provided with a switch 53 which closes when water is drawn off will. The circuit 54, which is switched on and off by the contacts of the switch 53, is used for switching on and off. Switching off a motor pump 56, its suction side via a pipe 57 to the storage container 10, and its pressure side is connected via a pipe 58 to the tap .51. The windings of the solenoid valve 26 are connected in parallel to the terminals of the motor pump 56 so that the solenoid valve is through the same circuit is switched.

The mode of operation of the embodiment according to FIG. 5 corresponds essentially to that of FIG. 1, with the difference that that the supply of treated water to the tap does not take place in the downdraft, but due to the higher position of the extraction tap the treated water under a certain pressure by the motor pump 56 for extraction: tap 51 is supplied.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that of Fig. 1, but with the control for the

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Rinsing is designed differently. The switch 28 has been omitted and the switch contacts one Switching mechanism 28a are used to switch the circuit 27 on and off. The switching mechanism 28a can also switch off. one powered There are time switches in which the contacts are closed at regular / predetermined time intervals and closed for a sufficiently long period of time of ϋ7β7 ~ Τ £> xs 10 seconds to carry out the flushing process being held. The programming and the duration of the rinsing processes can be adjusted according to the capacity and the degree of utilization of the device, the nature of the water to be treated and the Flushing out unwanted deposits required flushing be measured.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 can also a Zext switch mechanism to control the solenoid valve 26, the switch 53 then only being used to switch the motor pump 26 on and off will.

- claims;

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Claims (13)

Claims:. 1, method of dispensing treated water, in particular by reducing the mineral content of the water supplied by a pressurized water source by means of a Reverse osmosis unit in the form of one arranged in a container Reverse osmosis insert with a water inlet at one end and a water inlet at the other end a permeate and a purge outlet are located, as well as one Storage container with a connected .water withdrawal tap, identified by it, that Water from the pressurized water source (20) introduced into the container (36) through the inlet (39a) for permeation the membrane located in this under excretion brought a portion of the mineral content and treated water through the permeate outlet (39) into the reservoir (10) is initiated, from which it can be delivered by opening the tap (11), and that the Insert (42) in the reverse osmosis unit (21) repeatedly flushed with water supplied from the pressurized water source and sludge deposits and the like accumulated thereby in use are discharged through the flush outlet (40) will. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the treatment of water which permeates the membrane, water continuously through the flush outlet (40) is discharged. 4Q9846 / Q823 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that when water is withdrawn from the tap (11) the insert (42) is flushed through with water and sludge deposits or the like collected in this through the flushing outlet (40) are rinsed out. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that water at regular, predetermined time intervals is enforced through the insert (42) and discharged through the flush outlet (40). 5. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to a or more of claims 1-4, characterized by a storage container (10) for treated water, the is connected to a water tap (11), a reverse osmosis unit (21) from a container (36) of the a water inlet (39a) at one end and a permeate outlet (39) and a flush outlet at its other end (40) has a pressure water line connected to the water inlet of the container (20, 25a), in which a for Flow control serving valve (22) is arranged, and by one for controlling the flushing water delivery the control (26, 27, 28; 28a; 53, 54) serving the flushing outlet (40). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the controller (26, 27) by a timer (28a) is controlled. 4098 46/082 3 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that that the control (26) can be activated by opening the water tap (11, 51). 8. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the reverse osmosis unit (21) consists of one in the container (36) used reverse osmosis insert (42), which has a membrane through which the supplied Water is enforceable in order to reduce its mineral content, with one side of the insert on the Side of the water inlet (39a) communicates with a liquid supply space (45), and the other side of the insert is in communication with the permeate outlet (39) through which treated water to the reservoir (10) can be dispensed, and with a liquid space (51) formed at the same end of the insert, which in turn communicates with the flush outlet (40). 9. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the water supply from the pressurized water line (20, 25a) to the reverse osmosis unit (21) is controlled by a solenoid valve (22) in connection with an inside of the storage container (10) arranged conductivity level controller (14) and the sensor of the level regulator with the winding of the solenoid valve connecting circuit. ((16, 23), which is used to remove treated water from 409846/0823 the reservoir (1o) caused a drop in the liquid level in this by opening the solenoid valve (22) fresh water of the reverse osmosis unit (21) to be fed. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that that the device used to control the flushing water flow rate consists of one for controlling the flushing water delivery through the flushing outlet (40) of the reverse osmosis unit (21) serving solenoid valve (26), one by opening of the water tap (11) on the storage container (10) actuatable electrical switch (28) and a through the switch is closable and the winding of the solenoid valve (26) containing the circuit (27), wherein the solenoid valve can be brought into the "open position" during the withdrawal of treated water and the reverse osmosis unit can be flushed through with flushing water. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the solenoid valve (26) has a small opening (32) has, through which a weak water throughput can be set in the closed position of the valve. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the opening (32) consists of one in the seat surface (31) of the valve formed groove. 409846/0823 13. Device according to one of claims 5-12, characterized characterized in that an ultraviolet germicidal lamp (13) is arranged in the upper part of the storage container (10) is. 409846/0823