GB2289045A - Method of sterilising liquid dispenser - Google Patents
Method of sterilising liquid dispenser Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2289045A GB2289045A GB9405158A GB9405158A GB2289045A GB 2289045 A GB2289045 A GB 2289045A GB 9405158 A GB9405158 A GB 9405158A GB 9405158 A GB9405158 A GB 9405158A GB 2289045 A GB2289045 A GB 2289045A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cooling chamber
- liquid
- lamp
- dispenser
- assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 37
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 10
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 46
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 31
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 abstract description 7
- 244000005700 microbiome Species 0.000 abstract description 4
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 206010008631 Cholera Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000588724 Escherichia coli Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000004023 Legionellosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000035353 Legionnaires disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000007764 Legionnaires' Disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010035718 Pneumonia legionella Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000037386 Typhoid Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000700605 Viruses Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000001848 dysentery Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 201000008297 typhoid fever Diseases 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/30—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation
- C02F1/32—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation with ultraviolet light
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
- C02F2201/32—Details relating to UV-irradiation devices
- C02F2201/328—Having flow diverters (baffles)
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
A method of sterilising cooled water held in a cooler (1) having a cooling chamber (3) with a tap (8) through which cooled water may be dispensed. A lamp assembly (9) has an ultra violet light emitting bulb (10) which kills bacteria or micro-organisms onto which it is shone. The lamp assembly (9) therefore sterilises any water contained within the cooling chamber (3). The sterilising of the liquid in the cooling chamber (3) eliminates recontamination of the liquid after sterilisaton and prior to its dispensing. <IMAGE>
Description
METHOD OF STERILISING LIOUID IN A LIOUID DISPENSER
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilising liquid held in a liquid dispenser such as a water dispenser.
Liquid dispensers for dispensing cooled liquids (particularly cooled water) for human consumption are well known. These generally have a water supply, a cooling chamber into which the water is supplied and a tap for dispensing cooled water from the cooling chamber. Water coolers have a removable transparent bottle containing the water to be dispensed. When exposed to light any bacteria present in the bottles multiply. As a bottle is often on a dispenser for up to a week, bacteria can reach unacceptably high levels. As the liquid is for human consumption it is important that bacteria and any other harmful micro-organisms be removed from the liquid prior to it being dispensed. Ultra violet light has been used in medical applications to sterilise water. Liquid coolers have also been produced which incorporate an ultra violet sterilisation system wherein liquid is pumped from the liquid supply through an sterilisation unit on the outside of the liquid dispenser. The sterilised liquid is then returned to the cooling chamber.
This externally situated sterilisation system is very expensive and the liquid may be re-contaminated as it is pumped from the sterilisation assembly to the cooling chamber or as it is held within the cooling chamber until such a time as it is dispensed.
The delay between sterilisation and dispensation in such a system may be significant, e.g. overnight, and therefore the likelihood of recontamination high.
The present invention provides a method of sterilising liquid in a liquid dispenser, the dispenser comprising a liquid supply into a cooling chamber from which cooled liquid is dispensed, the method comprising the step of sterilising the liquid in the cooling chamber.
The sterilisation of the liquid as it is being held in the cooling chamber reduces the chances of re-contamination considerably.
According to the invention in a second aspect there is provided a sterilisation assembly for insertion in the cooling chamber of a liquid dispenser, the assembly comprising an ultra violet lamp and means for holding the lamp within the cooling chamber.
The lamp of the invention may be readily mounted in the cooling chamber of a liquid dispenser and allows for efficient sterilisation of liquid contained therein whilst at the same time reducing the risk of re-contamination.
Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; FIG.1 is a cross section through a water cooler embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross section through the top end of the lamp of figure 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross section through the plug or grommet of figures 1 and 2; and
FIG. 4 is a cross section through a second embodiment of the invention.
Referring to figure 1, a water cooler 1 is shown and has funnel 2 for receiving the neck of a inverted water bottle. Water is supplied from the bottle to the cooling chamber 3 via a baffle plate arrangement 4 separating the two. The cooling chamber 3 is also provided with one way air vent 5 on its upper surface having a filter 6 therein. This lets air in as water is dispensed from the cooling chamber.
The cooling chamber 3 is formed from a steel casing 7 and has a tap 8 through which cooled water may be dispensed. A lamp assembly 9 is removably fixed to the baffle plate arrangement 4 and extends downwardly therefrom into the cooling chamber 3.
The lamp assembly 9 has an ultra violet light emitting bulb 10.
Ultra violet light kills bacteria or micro-organisms onto which it is shone. Therefore when the light is on, any water contained within the cooling chamber 3 will be sterilised by the killing of the bacteria. The power of the bulb 10 is dependent on the flow rate of the tap 8. The bulb characteristics are selected so as to ensure that water flowing through the cooling chamber has sufficient intensity of ultra violet shone therethrough to adequately sterilise the water. The US
Department of Health Standards for ultra violet sterilisation of water are a minimum of 16000 mWs~1cm~3. The higher the tap flow rate, the higher the required lamp power. For example, a water cooler having a tap 8 with a maximum possible flow rate of 2 gallons per minute and having a 15 watt ultra violet bulb should ensure a 99.9 bacteria and virus full of microorganisms causing, amongst other, Legionnaires disease, Cholera, Typhoid,
Dysentery and E. Coli. The ultra violet bulb is enclosed within a crystal tube 15 having a closed lower end 16 and sealed at its upper end by a plastics end cap 17 which contains a socket assembly 18 for the bulb 10 and from which power supply cables 19 extend to a power supply and control unit.
The water cooler 1 is provided with a warning light 20 to indicate when the ultra violet bulb 10 has been switched on.
This will be extinguished if the ultra violet bulb fails.
The lamp assembly 9 is secured to the baffle plate 4 by a plug or grommet 21 which sealably engages an aperture 22 in the baffle plate 9 and forms a seal between the surface of the lamp 9 and the edges of the baffle plate aperture 22 Neither water nor air can pass through this seal. The sealing plug 21 also prevents the ingress of contaminating material into the cooling chamber 3. The plug or grommet 21 is made of rubber or a similar resilient material. The inner diameter of the plug 21 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lamp assembly 9 and the outer diameter of the plug 21 is slightly larger than the diameter of the baffle plate aperture 22. This allows the plug 21 to grip the lamp assembly 9 and engage the baffle plate 4, whilst at the same time allowing easy removal of the lamp assembly 9 from the baffle plate 4.
The ultra violet sterilisation assembly of the invention may be readily fitted to existing water coolers on modification of their baffle plates. This reduces the cost of modifying water coolers so as to incorporate means for sterilisation of the water prior to its being dispensed.
Referring to Figure 4 which shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, a water cooler 1 has a support member 25 for supporting the collar of an inverted water bottle 26 (shown in dotted outline) above a cooling chamber 3. The cooling chamber 3 has a steel casing 7 and a tap through which cooled water may be dispensed. A lamp assembly 9 is held within the cooling chamber 3 by a holding member 27 which is removably secured to the lamp assembly 9 and the cooling chamber 3. The lamp assembly 9 is of a similar construction to that described above.
The holding member 27 has a hooked portion 28 which may be hooked over the top of a side wall 29 of the cooling chamber 3 and a clip portion 30 having a ring defining an aperture for clipping around the lamp assembly 9. The lamp assembly 9 is secured within the clip portion 30 by a plug or grommet 21. The plug or grommet 21 is made of rubber or a similar resilient material and seals the upper portion of the lamp assembly 9 so as to protect the socket assembly 18 and bulb 10 from the water contained within the cooling chamber 3.
The resilient plug or grommet 21 and holding member 27 arrangement of Figure 4 allows one to securely hold the lamp assembly 9 whilst at the same time allowing easy removal of the lamp assembly 9 from the cooling chamber 3.
A further alternative means of holding the lamp assembly 9 within the cooling chamber 3 is to secure the lamp assembly 9 to the support member 25.
Claims (16)
1. A method of sterilising liquid in a liquid dispenser, the dispenser comprising a liquid supply into a cooling chamber from which cooled liquid is dispensed, the method comprising the step of sterilising the liquid in the cooling chamber.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sterilising step comprises transmitting of ultra violet light through the liquid in the cooling chamber.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid supply comprises an inverted bottle held above the cooling chamber and separated therefrom a baffle plate.
4. A dispenser for cooled liquid comprising a liquid supply to a cooling chamber, means for dispensing liquid from the cooling chamber and means for sterilising liquid in the cooling chamber.
5. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the sterilising means is a source of ultra violet light.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein the source of ultra violet light is an ultra violet lamp extending into the cooling chamber.
7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein one end of the lamp is secured within an aperture in a wall of the cooling chamber by a plug forming a seal between the surface of the lamp and the edges of the apertures.
8. A dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures 1 to 4.
9. A sterilisation assembly for insertion in the cooling chamber of a liquid dispenser, the assembly comprising an ultra violet lamp and means for holding the lamp within the cooling chamber.
10. A sterilisation assembly according to claim 9 wherein the holding means comprises a resilient plug for holding one end of the lamp within an aperture in a wall of the cooling chamber and forming a seal between the edges of the aperture and the surface of the lamp held within the plug.
11. A sterilisation assembly according to claim 10 wherein the wall of the cooling chamber to which the lamp may be secured is a baffle plate separating the cooling chamber from a liquid supply.
12. A sterilisation assembly according to claim 11 wherein the baffle plate is removable.
13. A sterilisation assembly according to claim 9 wherein the holding means comprises means for securing the lamp assembly to a wall of the cooling chamber.
14. A sterilisation assembly accordingly to claim 13 wherein the securing means includes a hooked portion for engaging the top of a side wall of the cooling chamber and a clip portion for holding the lamp assembly.
15. A sterilisation assembly according to claim 14 wherein, in use, the clip portion engages a resilient grommet which grips the lamp assembly.
16. A sterilisation assembly substantially as herein described with reference to any of figures 1 to 4.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9405158A GB2289045A (en) | 1994-03-16 | 1994-03-16 | Method of sterilising liquid dispenser |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9405158A GB2289045A (en) | 1994-03-16 | 1994-03-16 | Method of sterilising liquid dispenser |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9405158D0 GB9405158D0 (en) | 1994-04-27 |
| GB2289045A true GB2289045A (en) | 1995-11-08 |
Family
ID=10751967
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9405158A Withdrawn GB2289045A (en) | 1994-03-16 | 1994-03-16 | Method of sterilising liquid dispenser |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2289045A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0202839A2 (en) * | 1985-05-24 | 1986-11-26 | W.M. STILL & SONS LIMITED | Improvements in and relating to water dispensers |
| DD243688A1 (en) * | 1985-10-21 | 1987-03-11 | Schienenfahrzeugbau Veb K | WATER TREATMENT PLANT |
-
1994
- 1994-03-16 GB GB9405158A patent/GB2289045A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0202839A2 (en) * | 1985-05-24 | 1986-11-26 | W.M. STILL & SONS LIMITED | Improvements in and relating to water dispensers |
| DD243688A1 (en) * | 1985-10-21 | 1987-03-11 | Schienenfahrzeugbau Veb K | WATER TREATMENT PLANT |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| WPI Accession Number 87-206682/30 & DD-A1-243 688 (VEB SCHIEN STAMMBET) * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9405158D0 (en) | 1994-04-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |