IL103833A - Membrane system for retaining and processing liquids and a manufacturing method therefor - Google Patents

Description

MEMBRANE SYSTEM FOR RETAINING AND PROCESSING LIQUIDS AND A MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR .mny πχ" ηυ'κη τυ -ni yi m'AN1? n'jT nn nDiyn YAIR MESHULAM C: 15924 15924raem.drw 20.11.92/3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for retaining and processing liquids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Water heating and water cooling devices are well known and are widely used for providing water for use at a desired temperature .

Applicant's copending Israel Application No. 85005 describes a heat transfer system for liquids including a liquid container internally divided by an impervious flexible membrane into first and second liquid compartments. The first compartment includes a first liquid inlet port adapted for connection to a supply of liquid and a first liquid outlet port. The second compartment includes second liquid inlet and outlet ports. A first liquid pathway extends between the first liquid outlet port and the second liquid inlet port. Apparatus is provided, associated with the first liquid pathway, for changing the level of heat.energy in the liquid. Apparatus is provided, associated with the first liquid pathway, for generating liquid flow therealong from the first liquid outlet port to the second liquid inlet port.

An additional second liquid outlet port is preferably associated with the second liquid compartment and a second liquid pathway extends between the additional second liquid outlet port and the first liquid pathway.

A thermostat is provided in association with the second liquid compartment. Also, a thermostatically controlled one way valve is provided which is adapted to permit passage of liquid from the first liquid compartment, through the first liquid pathway, to the heat energy level changing apparatus, when the temperature of the liquid in the second liquid compartment does not exceed a predetermined limit.

When the temperature of the liquid in the second liquid compartment exceeds a predetermined limit, the valve prevents passage of liquid from the first liquid compartment. Instead, the valve permits passage of liquid from the second liquid compartment through the second liquid pathway and thereafter through the first liquid pathway to the heat energy level changing apparatus.

Many liquid purifying systems and liquid filtering systems are known.

Some conventional liquid purifying devices purify water "on-line", as it is dispensed. . This requires a relatively powerful or large purifying device to ensure a satisfactory rate of purification.

" Other conventional liquid purifying devices include a liquid retaining volume including a first volume for retaining liquid to be purified and a second volume for retaining purified liquid. Liquid passes from the first volume via a water purifier to the second volume. The second volume is, of course, smaller than the total liquid retaining volume.

SUMMARY OF THE- INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved system for retaining, processing and dispensing liquids such as water.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a liquid processing and dispensing system including a container for liquid, a slidably insertable membrane which divides the volume of the container into first and second subvolumes, the first subvolume being adapted to receive liquid and the second subvolume being adapted to dispense liquid, and a liquid processing element for processing liquid from the first subvolume and supplying the processed liquid to the second subvolume.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the membrane is slidably removable.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid processing element includes an element for adjusting the heat energy level of a liquid.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the element for adjusting includes a liquid heater.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the element for adjusting includes a liquid cooler.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid processing element includes a liquid purifying element.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system also includes a liquid flow generator for generating flow from the first subvolume to the second subvolume via the liquid processing element.

There is also provided, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, liquid purification system including a container for liquid, a membrane which divides the volume of the container into first and second subvolumes, the first subvolume being adapted to receive liquid and the second subvolume being adapted to dispense liquid, and a liquid purification element for purifying liquid from the first subvolume and supplying the purified liquid to the second subvolume .

Also provided, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a method for manufacturing a liquid processing and dispensing system including the steps of providing a container for liquid which is configured to receive a slidably insertable membrane and which defines first and second subvolumes, the first subvolume being adapted to receive liquid and the second subvolume being adapted to dispense liquid, and slidably inserting a membrane which separates the first and second subvolumes so as to allow a liquid processing element to process liquid from the first subvolume and to supply the processed liquid to the second subvolume .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of a heat transfer liquid tank which is constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of a slidable membrance forming part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional illustration of one embodiment of the heat transfer liquid tank system of Fig. 1, taken along lines IIIA-IIIA thereof; Fig. 3B is an enlarged illustration of a circled portion of the apparatus of Fig. 3A; Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional illustration of another embodiment of the heat transfer liquid tank system of Fig. 1, taken along lines IIIA-IIIA thereof; Fig. 4B is an enlarged illustration of a circled portion of the apparatus of Fig. 4A; and Fig. 5 is a partly cross-sectional, partly block diagram illustration of a heat transfer system for liquids which includes the heat transfer tank of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which is a perspective illustration of a heat transfer liquid tank, referenced generally 10, which is constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat transfer liquid tank 10 includes a liquid container 12 and a slidable membrane 14 which is configured and arranged to slide, preferably removably, into liquid container 12.

To arrange the membrane 14 for normal operation within the liquid container 12, the membrane is caused to slide, by any suitable means such as manually, in the direction of arrow 16 and is secured to a frame 18 by suitable means such as by bolts 20 which engage nuts 22.

It is appreciated that the membrane may be readily removed from liquid container 12 for servicing or replacement, merely by reversing the above operations.

Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of the slidable membrane 14. A particular feature of the present invention is that the membrane 14 is constructed so that, when maximally displaced by a first force directed perpendicularly to a plane 24 defined by the membrane, the membrane 14 flattens itself against the inner wall of a first subvolume 30 (Fig. 1) of the container 12. The direction of the first force is indicated by an arrow 32 in Fig. 1. Similarly, when maximally displaced by a second force which is opposite in direction to the first force, as indicated by arrow 36 in Fig. 1, the membrane 14 can flatten itself against the inner wall of a second subvolume 38 of the container 12. The intersection between first and second subvolumes 30 and 38 is indicated"- in Fig. 1 by a dotted line 40.

Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate one type of sealing engagement of membrane 14 to the sides of container 12. As shown, a generally U-shaped membrane retaining element 50 is associated with the wall 52 of the container 12. The membrane 14 includes a flexible membranic portion 54 supported by a stabilizing generally rigid frame 56. Sealing engagement is provided by a sealing element 58, formed of a suitable material such as rubber, which defines wings 60 and 62. When subvolumes 30 and 38 are filled with fluid, wings 60 and 62, respectively, come into sealing engagement with U-shaped element 50, thereby to prevent fluid communication from subvolumes 30 and 38, respectively, to interconnecting channel 64.

Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate another type of sealing engagement of membrane 14 to the sides of container 12. As shown, a membrane retaining protrusion 80 is associated with the wall 52 of the container 12. The membrane 14 includes flexible membranic portion 54 which is supported by a stabilizing generally rigid frame 86. Frame 86 is encased by a sealing element 88, formed of a suitable material such as rubber, which defines wings 90 and 92. When subvolumes 30 and 38 are filled with fluid, wings 90 and 92, respectively, enter into sealing engagement with protrusion 80, thereby to prevent fluid communication from subvolumes 30 and 38, respectively, to interconnecting channel 94.

Fig. 5 is a partly cross-sectional, partly block diagram illustration of a heat transfer system for liquids which includes the heat transfer tank 10 of Fig. 1.

A liquid to be heated or cooled enters subvolume 30 of the iieat transfer tank 10 via a liquid inlet 100. It is appreciated that the size of subvolume 30 may vary from substantially 0% of the volume of the container 12 to substantially 100% thereof, depending on the position of membrane 14 as determined by the ratio of processed liquid volume to unprocessed liquid volume.

The liquid in subvolume 30 is pumped via a conduit 102 by means of a pump 104, where it undergoes processing, such as heating, cooling, or purification, in a liquid processing unit 105. The processed liquid arrives at subvolume 38 via outlet 106 of conduit 102. As more and more processed liquid enters subvolume 38, the membrane moves so as to constrict the volume of subvolume 30. The processed liquid is dispensed from subvolume 38 via outlet 108.

Liquid processing unit 105 may comprise a conventional water purifier or filterer. Alternatively or in addition, liquid processing unit 105 may comprise a conventional heating element or conventional liquid cooling apparatus. A liquid supply regulator element 120 is provided upstream of the liquid processing unit 105 and is operative to regulate the flow of liquid to correspond to the flow rate (liter/min) at which the liquid processing unit 105 operates.

If the liquid processing unit 105 includes a heating or cooling element, the temperature of the liquid in subvolume 38 is preferably monitored by a thermostat (not shown) in order to detect undesirably low or high temperatures respectively. The thermostat preferably controls operation of a suitably positioned valve 122 which returns liquid from subvolune 38 via conduit 124 to the liquid processor 105 for reheating or recooling.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, pump 104 may be eliminated and "centered" membrane 14 may be replaced by a "biased" membrane which tends to constrict the volume of subvolume 30 and therefore is operative to urge liquid from subvolume 30 toward liquid processing unit 105.

Referring again to Fig. l, air release valves 130 and 132 are preferably provided in suitable locations such as any of the four alternative locations shown. Valves 130 and 132 are operative to release air from the two subvolumes 30 and 38, respectively .

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow: 103833/3

Claims (11)

1. A liquid processing and dispensing system comprising: a container for liquid; a slidably insertable membrane which divides the volume of the container into first and second subvolumes, the first subvolume being adapted to receive liquid and the second subvolume being adapted to dispense liquid; and a liquid processing element for processing liquid from the first subvolume and supplying the processed liquid to the second subvolume.

2. A liquid processing and dispensing system according claim 1 wherein the membrane is slidably removable.

3. A liquid processing and dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the liquid processing element comprises an element for adjusting the heat energy level of a liquid.

4. A liquid processing and dispensing system according to claim 3 wherein the element for adjusting comprises a liquid heater.

5. A liquid processing and dispensing system according to 193833/3 claim 3 wherein the element for adjusting comprises a liquid cooler.

6. A liquid processing and dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the liquid processing element comprises a liquid, purifying element.

7. A liquid processing and dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims and also comprising a liquid flow generator for generating flow from the first subvolume to the second subvolume via the liquid processing element.

8. A liquid purification system comprising: a container for liquid; a membrane which divides the volume of the container into first and second subvolumes, the first subvolume being adapted to receive liquid and the second subvolume being adapted to dispense liquid; and a liquid purification element for purifying liquid from the first subvolume and supplying the purified liquid to the second subvolume.

9. A method for manufacturing a liquid processing and dispensing system comprising the steps of: providing a container for liquid which is configured 103833/3 to receive a slidably insertable membrane and which defines first and second subvolumes, the first subvolume being adapted to receive liquid and the second subvolume being adapted to dispense liquid; and slidably inserting a membrane which separates the first and second subvolumes so as to allow a liquid processing element to process liquid from the first subvolume and to supply the processed liquid to the second subvolume. •

10. Apparatus substantially as shown and described hereinabove.

11. Apparatus substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings. For the Applicant, Sanford T. Colb c: 15924