Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02296129 2000-O1-14
Title: DOMESTIC WATER TREATMENT APPLIANCE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to water treatment apparatus
which includes a filter member through which the water passes as it
is treated in the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the
apparatus, such as a countertop water treatment appliance, uses a
gas, preferably ozone, as a water treatment agent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water treatment apparatus using oxidizing gases have
been developed. Some of these devices operate on a batch basis.
According to this process, the water is placed in a treatment
container and the treatment agent (e.g. a gas), is disbursed through
the water, such as via a sparger. Following the completion of the
cycle, the water may then be used. As part of the treatment process,
the water may be passed through a filter member such as a carbon
block filter. As water is passed through the carbon block filer, the
operation of the filter results in the pores becoming blocked and the
rate of water flow therethough diminishes until such time as the
filter is replaced.
While domestic water treatment applications are
known, they typically use only filtration to remove a variety of
dissolved materials in the water. While ozone has become generally
accepted in the field of municipal water treatment, it has not been
adopted into wide scale application in the home. There are several
reasons for this, one of which is consumer confidence. After water is
treated with.ozone, it contains decomposition products produced by
the oxidizing action of ozone which are preferably removed prior to
dispensing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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In accordance with the instant invention, there is
provided a domestic countertop water treatment apparatus
comprising a water treatment reservoir which is at least translucent;
a housing having an ozone source in flow communication with the
water treatment reservoir for treating water in the water treatment
reservoir; a carbon block filter and a water pump mounted in the
housing, the carbon block filter and the water pump in flow
communication with the water treatment reservoir for removing
treated water from the water treatment reservoir and passing the
treated water through the carbon block filter; and, a treated water
reservoir which is at least translucent and is positioned downstream
from the carbon block filter for receiving treated water from the
carbon block filter whereby, as treated water is dispensed from the
water treatment reservoir to the treated water reservoir, the level of
water in the water treatment reservoir is visibly lowered while the
level of water in the treated water reservoir is visibly raised.
In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a
switch which, when actuated, automatically actuates the water
pump to dispense treated water from the water treatment reservoir
to the treated water reservoir.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further
comprises a treated water dispenser, the treated water reservoir is
separate from the housing and the switch is actuated when the
treated water reservoir is positioned beneath the treated water
dispenser.
In another embodiment, the ozone source comprises
an ozone generator.
In another embodiment, each of the water treatment
reservoir and the treated water reservoir is transparent.
In another embodiment, the water treatment reservoir
and the treated water reservoir have approximately the same
volume.
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In another embodiment, the rate of reduction of the
water level in the water treatment reservoir is approximately the
same as the rate of increase of the water level in the treated water
reservoir .
In another embodiment,the carbon block filter has
pores which are less than 50~, preferably less than 10~ and more
preferably are less than 1~.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other advantages of the instant application
will be more fully and clearly understood in connection with the
following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according
to the instant invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1 with a treated
water carafe shown in position for receiving water dispensed from
the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line 3 - 3 in Figure
2;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in
Figure 4 with the treatment carafe removed therefrom;
Figure 5 is a cross-section along the line 3 -3 of Figure 2
of the treatment carafe when removed from the base portion of the
apparatus; and,
Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of
Figure 1 wherein the apparatus is dispensing treated water to a
treated water carafe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the water treatment
apparatus is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The
apparatus comprises a base 12, removable treatment carafe 14 and
housing 18. Housing 18 may be of any particular design and may
contain any required sensing equipment, water filters, pumps and
the like. Housing 18 is preferably connectable in flow
communication with treatment carafe 14 such that treated water
may be dispensed from dispenser 20 after the completion of the
treatment cycle of the water in treatment carafe 14. As shown in
Figure 2, a treated water carafe 16 may be positioned underneath
dispenser 20 for receiving the treated water.
The shape and configuration of treatment carafe 14 and
treated water carafe 16 may be of any particular design which is
aesthetically pleasing. As shown in particular in Figures 3 and 5,
treatment carafe 14 has a top 22, side walls 24 and a bottom 26.
Optionally, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a handle 28 may be
provided to allow the user to manipulate carafe 14.
Carafe 14 is designed to be filled with a liquid which is
to be treated. In particular, it is preferred that the liquid is water.
Carafe 14 is removably mounted to base 12. Accordingly, when the
user wishes to treat water, the user may be move carafe 14, e.g. by
means of handle 18. The top 22 of carafe 14 may be placed
underneath a source of water (e.g. a kitchen tap) and the tap may be
turned on to allow the carafe to be filled. Once filled, carafe 14 may
then be placed on base 12.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, in
order to simplify the filling operation, top 22 is provided with a
recess 30. The upper portion of carafe 14 is provided with at least
one, but preferably a plurality of water inlet ports 32 in recess 30.
Recess 30 may be of any particular configuration which provides an
open area in which the water to be treated may be poured so that it
may drain into carafe 14 through water inlet ports 32. Accordingly,
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as shown in Figure 5, recess 30 may be funnel shaped. For example,
the upper portion of cavity 14 has an upper surface 34. A portion of
upper surface 34 may comprise sloped portion 36 which extends
downwardly towards the centre of carafe 30. By designing carafe 40
with a recess 32 containing water inlet ports 32, the user need not
remove a lid from carafe 14 so as to fill it. It will be appreciated that
the automatic sealing mechanism and the automatic gas conduit
connection feature of this invention may be designed to work
regardless of the shape of the top of carafe 14. For example, the top of
carafe 14 may be flat and that inlet ports 32 may be provided in the
flat top (not shown). The creation of a recess provides a funnel to
reduce or prevent spillage during the filling operation.
The water in treatment carafe 14 is treated with an
oxidizing gas. The oxidizing gas is preferably ozone. However, other
oxidizing gases such as hydrogen peroxide are known. The
remaining description is based upon a preferred embodiment in
which the oxidizing gas is ozone.
When the treatment cycle is commenced, ozone is
introduced into carafe 14. In the preferred embodiment, carafe 14 is
provided with an annular sparger 38 which has a plurality of
openings in the surface thereof. Sparger 38 is connected to a supply
port 40. Supply port 40 has an associated valve 42. Base 12 is
provided with a supply conduit 44 which is seated immediately
below valve 42. Supply conduit 44 is in air flow communication
with a source of ozone. For example, an air pump may be positioned
upstream of supply conduit 44 so as to feed air to an ozone generator
which in turn provides a feed supply of ozone to supply conduit 44.
The air pump and the ozone generator may be provided in one of
the housings 18. Electricity to run the electronics of the unit,
including the air pump and the ozone generator, may be supplied by
means of electric cord 46 (see Figure 2).
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Valve 42 is movable between an open position and a
closed position. When valve 42 is in the closed position, sparger 38
is sealed. Accordingly, as water is introduced into carafe 14, water
will not drain through supply port 40. When valve 42 is in the open
position, ozone may be supplied via conduit 44, through port 40
into sparger 38. Valve 42 may be moved from the closed position to
the open position by means of the force of ozone containing air
passing through conduit 44. It is to be appreciated that valve 42 may
be biased to the closed position by gravity, a spring or the like.
Treated water may be decanted from carafe 14 by any
means known in the art. Accordingly, carafe 14 could be removed
from base 12 and the water decanted such as by means of a spout or
the like. Preferably, the treated water is decanted from carafe 14
while carafe 14 is positioned on base 12. To this end, a water exit port
48 may be provided in bottom 26 (see Figure 3). A valve 50 is
provided in water exit port 48. At the end of a cycle, valve 50 may be
actuated, for example, by the means of solenoid 52. When solenoid
52 is actuated, linkage 54, moved engagement member 56 upwardly.
This movement displaces engagement member 56 upwardly so as to
move displacer rod 58 upwardly. The upward movement of
displacer rod 58 moves valve 50 to the open position allowing the
treated water to exit through water exit port 48. Water exit port 48
may be in flow communication with a water pump so as to pump
the treated water through a filter 108 (e.g. a carbon block filter)
which may be located in housing 18 and from there through
dispenser 20 to, e.g. a glass or treated water carafe 16. Filter 108
preferably has pores which are less than 50~, preferably less than 10~,
and more preferably less than 1~, is size.
Carafe 14 may be provided with a fill line 60 so as to
indicate to the user the portion of carafe 14 which should be filled
with water to be treated. Fill line 60 may be provided at any location
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in carafe 14 provided a chamber or the like which acts as an off gas
receiving means is provided above fill line 60 for receiving off gases.
The top of carafe 14 may be flat if the carafe is not filled to the top.
Alternately, the top of carafe 14 may be angled so as to direct the off
gas to a particular location, head gas space 62. In the embodiment of
Figures 3 and 5, the top of carafe 14 has an angled top to create an
annular head gas space 62 in which the off gas may accumulate.
During the treatment of water in carafe 14, ozone is bubbled through
the water by means of sparger 38. The off gases accumulate above
the water (e.g. above fill line 60) in head gas space 62.
Ozone may cause side effects in people exposed to
sufficient quantities of these gases (e.g. headaches). Accordingly, the
off gases are preferably collected and treated (e.g. by exposing them to
a destructor which will convert the gas to a more benign form). For
example, in the case of ozone, the destructor may be a catalyst for
converting ozone to oxygen such as one or more of manganese
dioxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxide and carbon. Contact between
ozone and one or more of these catalyses will case the ozone to
convert to oxygen which may then be released harmlessly from the
system. Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment, carafe 14
includes a gas conduit having a first end in fluid flow
communication with head gas space 62 and a second end which is
connected in fluid flow communication with an off gas treatment
member (e.g. a destructor) when carafe 14 is placed on base 12 and
apparatus 10 is actuated to treat water in carafe 14.
Referring to Figure 5, carafe 14 is provided with a
support rod 64 having an arm 66. Arm 66 has an upper end 68
positioned in head gas space 62 when apparatus 10 is operational.
Support rod 64 and arm 66 are hollow so as to define a passage 70
extending from head gas space 62 through bottom 26 of carafe 14.
Support rod 64 is provided with an end portion 72 which is
connectable in air flow communication with off gas conduit 74. Off
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gas conduit 74 is in air flow communication with off gas treatment
member 76. Off gas treatment member 76 may optionally be
positioned in one of the housings 18. Off gas treatment member 76
may be a destructor for catalytically converting the ozone to a benign
gas. Alternately, it may be an off gas sensor, eg. so as to monitor the
concentration of ozone in the off gas and provide feed back to the
system so as to control the batch cycle. Alternately, a destructor and a
sensor may be provided downstream of off gas conduit 74.
Preferably, upper end 68 is positioned above water inlet
ports 32 so that, when the unit is filled, water will not enter into
passage 70. It will also be appreciated that by placing upper end 68 to
one side of carafe 14 (e.g. spaced from water inlet ports 32) that water
will tend not to enter passage 70 as carafe 14 is filled. It will also be
appreciated that upper end 68 may be configured so as to inhibit the
entry of water regardless of the position of upper end 68 with respect
to water inlet ports 32. As upper end 68 is positioned and/or
configured so as not to allow water to enter passage 70 there
through, end portion 72 need not include a valve member to seal
passage 70. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 5, end portion 72 may be
opened when carafe 14 is removed from base 12.
Referring to Figure 4, base 12 is shown having a
generally horizontal upper surface 78. Upper surface 78 is configured
so as to allow bottom 26 to be seated thereon. The seating of bottom
26 on upper surface 78 is shown in detail in Figure 3. As shown in
Figure 4, three openings are provided in upper surface 78. The first
is the upper end of supply conduit 44 which is engaged with supply
port 40 when carafe 14 is placed on base 12. The second is the top of
water outlet conduit 80 which receives treated water when valve 50
is opened. The third is the upper end of off gas conduit 74. End
portion 72 engages the upper end of off gas conduit 74 when carafe
14 is placed on base 12.
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Accordingly, it will be understood that one advantage
of the instant invention is that head gas space 62 is automatically in
communication with off gas conduit 74 by placing carafe 14 on base
12. The user need not make any connections between the carafe and
an off gas treatment conduit. Accordingly, ozone will not be
accidentally released during the operation of the unit if the
consumer forgets to make a connection. Further, if an off gas sensor
is used to control the duration of the treatment cycle, all of the off
gas will be available for passage through a sensor via conduit 74.
In accordance with another embodiment of this
invention, sealing member 82 is provided for closing water inlet
ports. Sealing member 82 is movable between a first position in
which water inlet 32 is sealed (see Figure 3) and a second position in
which the water inlet ports 32 are open (see Figure 5). Referring to
Figure 3, when carafe 14 is placed on base 12 and is ready for a
treatment cycle to begin, sealing member 32 is in the closed position.
In this position, engagement surface 84 of sealing member 82
contacts engagement surface 86 of carafe 14 thereby creating a seal
between water inlet 32 and the interior of carafe 14. As shown in
Figure 5, when carafe 14 is removed from the unit and is ready to be
filled, sealing member 82 is displaced from engagement surface 86
thereby allowing water to enter through water inlet 32 into carafe 14.
A linkage, which is connected to sealing member 82, is
provided for moving sealing member 82 between the second and
first positions in response to the placement of carafe 14 on base 12.
Thus, when carafe 14 is placed on base 12, carafe 14 is automatically
sealed and ready for the commencement of a treatment cycle. In a
preferred embodiment, sealing member 82 is provided at the upper
end of support rod 64 which acts as the driving member. The
engagement of end portion 72 into the upper end of off gas conduit
74 drives sealing member 82 (which may be a resilient member
which is resistant to ozone) into engagement with engagement
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surface 86. Thus, end portion 72 comprises an actuating means
drivingly connected to sealing member 82 and operably responsive
to placement of carafe 14 on base 12. It will be appreciated that other
means may be provided for moving the sealing means. For
example, handle 28 may have a trigger to open sealing member 82
when the user picks up carafe 14. Thus the user may automatically
open water inlet 32 when they pick up the carafe and seal water inlet
32 when they release handle 28.
In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 5,
support rod 64 (with end portion 72) operates both as the actuating
means as well as the gas conduit means for connecting head gas
space 62 with off gas conduit 74. It will be appreciated that different
apparatus may be included in carafe 14 for performing each of these
different functions. It will further be appreciated that only one of
these two apparatus (i.e. one of the actuating means and the gas
conduit means) may be provided in a carafe 14.
In order to prevent water from leaking from carafe 14
into off gas conduit 74, a sealing member may be provided. The
sealing member may comprise a water tight bushing provided in
bottom 26 surrounding end portion 72. Alternately, as shown in
Figures 3 and 5, a diaphragm 88 may be provided. Diaphragm 88 is a
deformable member (preferably a resilient member) which may be
made from any ozone resistant material. The upper portion of
diaphragm 88 has an opening defining an upper perimeter 90 which
surrounds the upper end of end portion 72 and forms a water tight
seal therewith. The lower portion of diaphragm 88 is provided with
a lower perimeter 92 which is connected to the interior of bottom 26
so as to form a water tight seal with bottom 26. As support rod 64
moves downwardly to the open position (see Figure 5) and then
back upwardly to the sealed position (see Figure 3) diaphragm 88
flexes downwardly and upwardly to maintain a water tight seal.
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Support rod 64 may be designed so as to automatically
move to the open position as shown in Figure 5 due the force of
gravity when carafe 14 is removed from base 12. Alternately, a
biasing member (e.g. a spring or other resiliently deformable
member) may be provided to bias support rod 64 to the open
position. The biasing member may be provided so as to interact with
any portion of support rod 64 (either upper end 96 or end portion
72). For example, a spring 98 may be provided around support arm
100 and upper end 96. Spring 98 exerts a downward pressure on
support rod 64 at all times. Accordingly, when carafe 14 is removed
from base 12, spring 98 will cause support rod 64 to move to the
downward position. The weight of carafe 64 is sufficient, particularly
when filled with water, to cause support rod 64 to move upwardly
thereby compressing spring 98. Alternately, it will be appreciated
that diaphragm 88 may be configured to bias support rod 64 to the
open position.
In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention,
both treatment carafe 14 and treated water carafe 16 are at least
translucent and, preferably, are transparent or substantially
transparent. Accordingly, the liquid level in both treatment carafe
14 and treated water carafe 16 is visible. Referring in particular to
Figure 6, water level 102 is visible to an observer from the exterior
of treatment carafe 14. Similarly, water level 104 in treated water
carafe 16 is visible from the exterior. When the dispense cycle is
initiated, treated water is drawn from treatment carafe 14 via water
exit port 48. The water travels through conduit 112 to water pump
114. The water exits water pump 114 via conduit 116 which
transports it to carbon block filter 108. The water passes through
carbon block filter where residual ozone and decomposition
products produced by the oxidizing action of ozone in treatment
carafe 14 are removed. The filtered water is then transported via
conduit 110 to dispenser 20 where the dispensed water 106 is
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dispensed from apparatus 10 and enters treated water carafe 16 via
an opening in the upper portion thereof. As water is dispensed, the
consumer visibly sees water level 102 dropping in carafe 14 and
rising in treated water carafe 16 preferably at about the same rate. In
particular, during dispensing, as water level 102 drops to level 102',
for example, water level 104 in carafe 16 increases, for example, to
level 104'. The fact that the water level in carafe 14 is dropping at
the same time as the water level in carafe 16 is rising provides a
consumer with a visual check that the water is passing through
carbon block filter 108.
It will be appreciated that other filter media may be
used in the treatment of water may be utilized. It will further be
appreciated that this aspect of the invention is applicable even if
carafe 14 is not removable from base 12.
Preferably, apparatus 10 includes an automatic dispense
button 118 (see Figure 1). When automatic dispense button 118 is
depressed, pump 114 will be automatically actuated once the
treatment cycle in treatment carafe 14 is completed. Preferably, auto
dispense button 118 is positioned on apparatus 10 such that it is
automatically depressed when carafe 16 is positioned in place
beneath dispenser 20. Accordingly, when the treatment cycle is
complete, the water will automatically dispense from dispenser 20
and the consumer will visually be able to monitor the transfer of
water from treatment water carafe to treated water carafe 16.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
various additions and modifications may be made to the instant
invention and all of these are within scope of the following claims.
