WO2011154022A1

WO2011154022A1 - Container for making the water drinkable and device for the disinfection of the water, in an autonomous way

Info

Publication number: WO2011154022A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/003521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Sarcinella
Original assignee: Giuseppe Sarcinella
Priority date: 2010-06-12
Filing date: 2010-06-12
Publication date: 2011-12-15

Abstract

The container (1) for making the water drinkable, preferably shaped as a bag or envelope includes on one side a first transparent face (1'), permeable to the radiations, of transparent UVC multilayer material, suitable to receive and store the radiating energy, in particular UV-UVC, on the other side a second opaque face (1") thermally insulated and bound (1'") to the first one, of a not radiating absorbing black multilayer material, thermally insulated, suitable to retain the picked up energy, for the elimination of the bacteria, the disinfection, the sterilization and for making the water drinkable. A spout (2') for the pouring of the liquid and a plug (2) for the closure of the container complete its execution. It can also be provided with an opening or holding hole (2"), for its handling, transportation and storage. The bag rests on the ground thermally insulated, to increase the internal thermal efficiency because this insulation reduces the thermal exchange between bag and ground. In this way, it is possible to obtain drinkable water in remote zones eliminating the pathogenic germs through the auto-sterilizing process triggered inside the bag. The container and the device of the invention find particular useful use for the production of sterilized water in an autonomous way without the aid of external sources of energy supply or external mobile generators or addition of chemical substances.

Description

CONTAINER FOR MAKING THE WATER DRINKABLE AND DEVICE FOR THE DISINFECTION OF THE WATER, IN AN AUTONOMOUS WAY.

This invention refers to a container for making the water drinkable and to a device for the elimination of the germs of the water or other fluids from pathogenic agents in an autonomous way, independent from the supply of energy by external sources and suppliers.

The peculiarity of this invention is that to have devised a bag resting on the ground, thermally insulated to increase the internal thermal yield because this insulation decreases the thermal exchange between bag and ground.

In this way, it is possible to obtain drinkable water in remote zones eliminating the pathogenic germs through the process of auto-sterilization triggered inside the container. The peculiarity of the device never seen before and being also part of this invention is that it does not need any external power to sterilize not drinkable water. In case of the possibility of connection to the electrical network, this device can obviously work in any case also with generated electrical power, provided by the network or by electrical generators exploiting the energy resources available in loco, like hydraulic energy, or wind or sun energy or manual energy like handle or pedals.

Whether in case of external energy supply or not, when there are problems of making the water drinkable, the device of this invention makes safe and effective the sterilization of the water. Likewise, for those who draw the water from a well and like to make it bacteriologic drinkable or for those who own a cistern or a collection tank in case of low pressure of the hydraulic delivery or short supply.

In fact, in a collection tank even large after short time a bacterial charge originates that can go beyond the allowed sanitary limits making the water not drinkable even if it comes drinkable from the pipe. Although the device to eliminate the bacteria is not usually installed where the water is rated drinkable, many studies have proven that other treatment devices, like water softeners and carbon filters favour the growth of microorganisms. In France, there are draft bills to prohibit the purification of the pipes of cold water, because of the microbe growth.

The UVC disinfection is a natural physical process to destroy the microorganisms. The advantages of the UVC disinfection include:

• absence of chemical substances;

• no modification of taste and no elimination of beneficial minerals; • minimal maintenance, immediate treatment, ideal compatibility with other treatment technologies.

In fact, from the literature we notice there are no cases where the (JVC disinfection can be considered harmful and only in very exceptional case it can be considered useless.

The Patent Application WO 99/1 0283, KUNKEL Horst, refers to a device of sterilization of the water where pre-eminent the pipes and the filtering element are fully pervaded by the UV radiation, so that the germs retained by the filter or present in the fluid and in the pipes are killed by the radiation of the lamp.

The Patent Application WO 99/38805, KUNKEL Horst, refers to a device for the elimination of the germs of the water through UV lamp to assure especially that the sterilized water is not contaminated at its going out, the lamp-sterilizing steady the internal and external wall of the UV-permeable pipes where the fluid flows.

The applicant has not yet found any invention characterized by the peculiar characteristics of his invention that is a self-sterilizing portable bag for making the water drinkable and a device for the disinfection of the water fully autonomous from any energy or environment conditioning.

More precisely this invention refers to a:

Container for making the water drinkable, characterized in that it consists of a bag or envelope including two sides or faces, one transparent, suitable to receive and store the radiating energy, in particular UV, the other opaque thermally insulated, suitable to retain said energy, for the elimination of the bacteria, the sterilization and for making said water drinkable.

The subject container for making the water drinkable is characterised also by the fact that the side permeable to radiation is of transparent UVC multilayer material and the thermally insulated opaque side is of thermally insulated non-radiating absorbing black multilayer material.

Said container for making the water drinkable can be carried out also in the shape of a thermally insulated flexible bag and can be conformed like a bag or deformable envelope taking the more suitable shape for its packing and transportation, to avoid for instance the rigid wrapping and packing, for the best volume/weight ratio, easy handling and adaptability, being in fact also possible to build it in portable or handy version.

In another form of execution of the container for making the water drinkable includes inside a sterilizer or UV sterilizing lamp, UVC, fed by a built-in or external solar panel. The container for making the water drinkable, subject of this invention, finds peculiar use for the hiking, the extreme sport, the expeditions, the camping and the free time, as well as in the military provisioning and equipment of the Army, of the Civil Protection Service and in the mission of Humanitarian Intervention.

Furthermore, it finds also use as package for the re-sterilization of water, beverages or alimentary and medicinal liquid solutions that can be re- sterilized. P T/EP2010/003521

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Furthermore, this invention refers also to a:

Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water characterized in that it includes an inlet duct of the not drinkable water, at least a filter, a source of radiating energy for the sterilization, a pump or means to drag the water, means of energy generation, means of store and control of said energy, an outlet duct of the water made drinkable, said autonomous means of dragging of the fluid, said means of sterilization and said means of generation of the energy of driving and of feeding and control working independently from connections to external sources of generation of the primary energy that would be otherwise necessary for driving, generating the electric and radiating energy and feeding and dragging the same said means of the said device.

The device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water, subject of this invention, foresees a source of radiating energy of sterilization of the type pure spectrum UVC lamp.

One of the preferred forms of execution of the device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water foresees a hydraulic or mechanic pump, driven by a handle, said handle moreover dragging an electric generator that charges an electronic controlled battery to feed a lamp.

Another preferred form of execution of the device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water foresees alternatively an electric pump fed by an electronic controlled battery, charged by an electric generator driven by a handle.

Alternatively in another form of execution of the device, subject of the present invention for the sterilization of the not drinkable water, foresees a manual delivery pump of the fluid driven by a handle, that through an accumulator of pressure of the fluid, drives a delivery turbine of the fluid that drags an electrical generator to feed the sterilizing radiating lamp.

In all the above-described forms of execution of this invention, the means of generation of the electric energy and of the fluid dynamic energy of dragging of the flow are driven by a handle or pedals.

A different version of execution of the device for the sterilization of the water includes, on the contrary, a photovoltaic panel whose generated electric energy charges a battery that through the electronic control feeds an electric pump of dragging of the fluid and a sterilizing lamp.

A further different version of execution of the device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water foresees a photovoltaic panel delivering electric energy, a pneumatic compressor driven by a lever and assisted, when opportune, by an electric generator, fed, as you like, directly by the electric energy generated by the said photovoltaic panel and/or by the battery through the control electronics, to drive the pneumatic pump of dragging of the fluid, said battery feeding in addition the sterilizing lamp.

The device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water serves also to constitute an useful transportable and storable by means of pallets autonomous unit for disinfection and making the water drinkable, independent from connections to external networks of energy supply.

The device subject of this invention finds particular use for the elimination of the bacteria of the not drinkable water, for the filling and the packaging of containers of water, beverages or sterile alimentary and medicinal solutions and their re-sterilization. It finds similarly favourable use in the elimination of the germs of not drinkable water, in cisterns, collection tanks, camping places, mountain pastures or isolated places in general, lacking of hygienic water and access to external plants of energy supply.

Equally in the disinfection of the not drinkable water, as well as in the military equipment and provisioning of the Army, of the Civil Protection Service and in the support equipment of Humanitarian Intervention. We give here below a description of some preferred form of execution of the container and the device subject of this invention, moreover not limiting and without depriving of any generality the extent of protection of the same invention, with reference to the figures of the attached drawings. - Figure 1 .a represents a lateral cross section of the container, bag, of the invention with the two faces, respectively transparent to the radiation and thermally insulated, bound together.

Figure 1 .b represents a frontal cross section of the bag subject of this invention.

Figure 2 describes the device of the invention with manual driving of the hydraulic (mechanical) pump and of the generator. - Figure 3 describes the device of the invention with manual driving of the generator and electric pump.

Figure 4 describes the device of the invention with manual driving of the manual pump and hydraulic turbine / generator. Figure 5 describes the device of the invention with photovoltaic panel supplying current, battery and electric pump.

Figure 6 describes the device of the invention with photovoltaic panel supplying current, manual driving of pneumatic compressor and pneumatic pump.

The container (1 ) for making the water drinkable, preferably in the shape of bag or envelope, includes on one side a first face (1 ') transparent, permeable to the radiations, made of transparent multilayer UVC material, suitable to receive and store the radiating energy, in particular UV - UVC, on the other side a second opaque face (1 ") thermally insulated and bound (1 "') to the first, of a not radiating absorbing black multilayer material, thermally insulated, suitable to retain the picked up energy, for the elimination of the bacteria, the disinfection, the sterilization and for making the water drinkable. A spout (2') for the pouring of the liquid and a plug (2) for the closure of the container complete its execution. It can also be provided with an opening or holding hole (2"), for its easy handling, transportation and storage, Figures 1 a, 1 b.

The container for making the water drinkable subject of this invention can also be executed as a thermally insulated flexible bag, also portable or handy, or be conformed in the shape of deformable bag or envelope taking the more suitable shape for its packing and transportation, to avoid for instance the rigid wrapping or packing, for the best ratio volume/weight, handling, adaptability and inexpensiveness.

In a different form of execution, it is also provided inside with a sterilizer or sterilizing lamp UV, UVC, fed by a built-in or external solar panel.

The container of the invention in the shape of flexible deformable bag or envelope find particular use, being excellently suitable to the required needs, for the hiking, the extreme sport, the expeditions, the camping and the free time. 0 003521

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In the same way, its use is incomparable for making the water drinkable, the military provisioning and equipment of the Army, of the Civil Protection Service and for the equipment of the missions of Humanitarian Intervention. Furthermore, it finds also favourable use as package for the re-sterilization of water, beverages or alimentary and medicinal liquid solutions that can be re- sterilized

This invention includes also a device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water including an inlet duct (3) of the not drinkable water, at least a filter (4), a source of radiating energy (5) for the sterilization, in particular a pure spectrum (JVC lamp, a pump or dragging mean of the water (8, 8', 8", 1 1 ), means of generation of the energy (6, 16, 1 1 ', 8"'), means of store and control (4', 7, 13, 13') of said energy, an outlet duct of the water made drinkable (10), said autonomous means of dragging of the fluid (8, 8', 8", 1 1 ), said means of sterilization (5) and said means of generation of the driving feeding and control energy (6, 7, 9, 1 3, 13', 1 6) working independently (9, 1 6) from connections to external sources of generation of the primary energy that would be otherwise necessary for the driving, the generation of the electrical and radiating energy and the feeding and the dragging of the same said means of the above mentioned device. Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

We give here below some more significant peculiar forms of the execution of the device of the invention for the elimination of the germs, elimination of the bacteria, disinfection and sterilization of the water and for making it drinkable.

Manual driving - hydraulic (mechanical) pump. Fig. 2.

A handle or pedal wheel (9) gives the motion to an electrical generator (6) that charges an electronic controlled battery (7) to feed a sterilizer or 10 003521

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sterilizing lamp (5) and transmits at the same time the movement to a hydraulic or mechanical pump (8). The fluid, water, is sucked up through the duct (3), purified through the filtering mean (4) and sterilized by its passage in the chamber of the sterilizer (5) where the germicide lamp houses and from where it comes out sterilized through the outlet duct

Manual driving - electrical pump, Fig. 3.

A handle or pedal wheel (9) gives the motion to an electrical generator (6) that charges an electronic controlled battery (7) that supplies electrical energy to feed a sterilizer or sterilizing lamp (5) and an electric pump (8'). The fluid, water, is sucked up through the duct (3), purified through the filtering mean (4) and sterilized by its passage in the chamber of the sterilizer (5) from where it comes out sterilized through the outlet duct (1 0), Fig. 3.

Manual driving - Hydraulic turbine/generator, Fig. 4.

A lever (9) gives the motion to a manual pump (8) that sucks up the fluid, water, through the inlet duct (3) to be purified in the filtering mean (4) and stored under pressure in the pressure accumulator (4'), that when released starts the rotation of a delivery turbine of the fluid (1 1 ) that drags an electric generator (1 1 ') that supplies electric energy to feed a sterilizer or sterilizing lamp (5). The fluid, water, sucked up through the duct (3), is sterilized by its passage in the chamber of the sterilizer (5) from where it comes out sterilized through the outlet duct (1 0), Fig. 4. Photovoltaic version - Photovoltaic panel - Electrical pump, Fig. 5.

In this version of the device, on a frame (14), transportable and storable by means of pallets, that holds all the parts of the device, a photovoltaic panel ( 16) is installed, that supplies electrical energy that charges a battery (13), that through the electronic control (13'), electronic board of setting and control, feeds through the electrical circuit (1 2) a sterilizing lamp (5) and an electric pump (8') of dragging of the fluid that sucks it up through the inlet duct (3) to pour it filtered (4) and sterilized (5) into the tank (15), Fig. 5.

Pneumatic/solar version - Manual driving - Pneumatic pump. Fig. 6.

In this further version of the device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water, on a frame (14), transportable and storable by means of pallets, that holds all the parts of the device, a photovoltaic panel (16) is installed, that supplies electrical energy that charges a battery (1 3), that through the electronic control (13'), feeds a sterilizing lamp (5) and an electric generator (1 1 ') through the electrical circuit ( 1 2). A manual lever (9) drives a pneumatic compressor (8"') that through the pneumatic circuit (12') causes the start of the pneumatic pump (8") of dragging of the fluid, that sucks it up through the inlet duct (3) to discharge it filtered (4) and sterilized (5) through the outlet duct ( 10). The pneumatic compressor (8"'), for the start of the pneumatic pump (8"), is assisted, when opportune, by the electrical generator (1 1 ^'), fed as you like directly by the electrical energy generated by said photovoltaic panel (1 6) and/or by the battery (1 3), through the electronic control station ( 13'), that includes the electronic board of feeding of the lamp (ballast) (5) and of setting of the generator (1 1 '), Fig. 6. 03521

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The device subject of this invention for the sterilization of the not drinkable water serves particularly to constitute a transportable and storable by means of pallets autonomous unit for disinfection and for making the water drinkable, independent from connections to external networks or to mobile generators supplying energy.

The use of the device of the invention proves to be excellent for the filling and the packaging of containers of water, beverages or sterile alimentary and medicinal solutions and their re-sterilization.

Furthermore, it finds further useful use in the elimination of the germs of the not drinkable water in cisterns, collection tanks, camping places, mountain pastures or isolated places in general, lacking of hygienic water and access to external plants of energy supply.

Equally, the use of the device is incomparable in the disinfection of the not drinkable water, in the military equipment and provisioning of the Army, of the Civil Protection Service and in the equipment of Humanitarian Intervention. The container and the device of the invention find particular useful use for the elimination of the bacteria and the generation of sterilized water in autonomous form without the aid of external energy supply sources or external generators or the addition of chemical substances and they are not subject to any environmental conditioning.

Claims

1 CLAIMS

1 .) Container for making the water drinkable, characterized in that it consists of a bag or envelope (1 ) including two sides or faces (1 ', 1 "), one transparent ( Γ), suitable to receive and store the radiating energy, in particular UV, the other opaque thermally insulated (1 "), suitable to retain said energy, for the elimination of the bacteria, the sterilization and for making said water drinkable. (Figures 1 a, 1 b).

2.) Container for making the water drinkable according to the claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the side (1 ') permeable to the radiation is made of transparent multilayer UVC material.

3.) Container for making the water drinkable according to the claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the thermally insulated opaque side (1 ^") is made of thermally insulated non-radiating absorbing black multilayer material.

4.) Container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 3 characterized by the fact it is a thermally insulated flexible bag. 2

5. ) Container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 4, characterized by the fact it is conformed like a bag or deformable envelope taking the more suitable shape for its packing and transportation, to avoid for instance the rigid wrapping and packing, for the best volume/weight ratio, easy handling and adaptability.

6. ) Container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 5, characterized by the fact it is portable or handy.

7. ) Container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 6, characterized by the fact it includes inside a sterilizer or UV sterilizing lamp, UVC, fed by a built-in or external solar panel.

8. ) Use of the container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 7, in/for the hiking, the extreme sport, the expeditions, the camping and the free time.

9. ) Use of the container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 7, in the military provisioning and equipment of the Army, of the Civil Protection Service and in the mission of Humanitarian Intervention. 3

10. ) Use of the container for making the water drinkable according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 7, as package for the re-sterilization of water, beverages or alimentary and medicinal liquid solutions that can be re- sterilized.

1 1 . ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water characterized in that it includes an inlet duct (3) of the not drinkable water, at least a filter (4), a source of radiating energy (5) for the sterilization, a pump or means to drag the water (8, 8', 8", 1 1 ), means of energy generation (6, 1 6, 1 1 ', 8'"), means of store and control (4', 7, 1 3, 13') of said energy, an outlet duct of the water made drinkable (1 0), said autonomous means of dragging of the fluid (8, 8', 8", 1 1 ), said means of sterilization (5) and said means of generation of the energy of driving and of feeding and control (6, 7, 9, 16) working independently (9, 16) from connections to external sources of generation of the primary energy that would be otherwise necessary for driving, generating the electric and radiating energy and feeding and dragging the same said means of the said device. (Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

1 2. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to the claim 1 1 , characterized by the fact that the source of radiating energy of sterilization (5) is a pure spectrum UV-C lamp.

1 3. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to one of the previous claims 1 1 or 12, where the pump is a hydraulic or mechanic pump (8), (Fig. 2), driven by a handle (9), said handle moreover dragging an electric generator (6) that charges an electronic controlled battery (7) to feed a lamp (5), (Fig. 2). 4

14. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to one of the previous claims 1 1 or 1 2, where the pump is an electric pump (8') fed by an electronic controlled battery (7), charged by an electric generator driven (6) by a handle (9), (Fig. 3).

1 5. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to one of the previous claims 1 1 or 1 2, where the delivery pump of the fluid is a manual pump (8) driven by a handle (9), that through an accumulator of pressure (4') of the fluid, drives a delivery turbine of the fluid (1 1 ) that drags an electrical generator (1 1 '9 to feed the lamp (5), (Fig. 4).

16. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 1 5, where the means of generation of the electric energy and of the fluid dynamic energy of dragging of the flow are driven by a handle or pedals (9), (Figures 2, 3, 4).

1 7.) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 1 2, characterized by the fact that it includes a photovoltaic panel whose generated electric energy charges a battery (1 3) that through the electronic control (13') to feed an electric pump (8') of dragging of the fluid and a sterilizing lamp (5), (Fig. 5).

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1 8. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that it includes a photovoltaic panel (1 6) delivering electric energy, a pneumatic compressor (8"') driven by a lever (9) and assisted, when opportune, by an electric generator (1 1 ') , fed, as you like, directly by the electric energy generated by the said photovoltaic panel (16) and/or by the battery (1 3) through the control electronics (13') , to drive the pneumatic pump (8") of dragging of the fluid, said battery (13) feeding similarly the sterilizing lamp (5), (Fig. 6)

19. ) Device for the sterilization of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 18, characterized by the fact that it constitutes a transportable and storable by means of pallets autonomous unit for disinfection and making the water drinkable, independent from connections to external networks of energy supply.

20. ) Use of the device for the elimination of the bacteria of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 1 9, for the filling and the packaging of containers according to any one of the previous claims from 1 to 7 for water, beverages or sterile alimentary and medicinal solutions and their re-sterilization.

21 . ) Use of the device for the elimination of the germs of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 19, in cisterns, collection tanks, camping places, mountain pastures or isolated places in general, lacking of hygienic water and access to external plants of energy supply. 6

22.) Use of the device for the disinfection of the not drinkable water according to any one of the previous claims from 1 1 to 19, in the military equipment and provisioning of the Army, of the Civil Protection Service and in the support equipment of Humanitarian Intervention.