Patent Application
20100170857
This invention relates to apparatuses for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water, and more particularly concerns such apparatuses that use pressure vessels holding a cartridge, loose media, or the like for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water. This invention also relates to various fluid distribution systems, such as potable water distribution systems for aircraft, for example.
Aircraft Potable Water Use—Adequate hydration is particularly important for comfortable air travel. Aircraft typically are crowded with thousands of passengers including babies, small children, handicapped and others passing through a commercial passenger aircraft during a single week. Both passengers and crews contribute to microorganism populations aboard aircraft and special precautions must be taken to minimize and avoid the possibility of bacteria and other microorganisms being transferred to others through the water distribution system. A primary sanitation defense mechanism is to maintain an adequate residual of chlorine, preferably free chlorine, within the water storage and distribution system. However, water is supplied to aircraft from many locations and varies widely in taste and sanitary quality. Furthermore, leading causes of water borne disease, worldwide, are relatively large but still invisibly small, parasitic cysts such as Giradia and Crypto which are not controlled by chlorination. These pathogens can reliably be removed by effective microfiltration.
Aircraft Water Distribution and Management—Typically, a water distribution system on aircraft comprises a water storage tank and a centralized distribution line with various branches or legs extending from the central distribution line to locations throughout the aircraft. Water is distributed from the storage tank throughout the aircraft to galleys, lavatories and other locations as needed for food and beverage preparation, and for personal hygiene during flights. Galleys include coffee makers, water boilers and other drinking water service points. Similarly, lavatories often include drinking water outlets and may be used for face and hand rinsing, cleaning teeth and short term medication.
Water filter/purifier units, each comprising a housing pressure vessel (usually stainless steel) and a filtration/purification cartridge, are installed in or near galleys and lavatories as part of the aircraft water distribution system to improve water quality for consumption and for food and beverage preparation. Space in galley and lavatory compartments is expensive and severely limited. Accordingly, water filter/purifier units usually are installed in “out of the way” locations often behind other more readily accessible equipment and bulkheads.
Sanitation Practices—To overcome the challenges of virus, bacteria, and larger organism transmission via water systems and colonization within the aircraft potable water distribution systems, airlines, in addition to trying to assure an adequate chlorine residual within the aircraft water supply, periodically sanitize their aircraft water distribution systems with a 2+ hours soak of high concentration (100 ppm) chlorine solutions. The sanitation process is time and labor intensive and, because such high concentrations of chlorine is detrimental to the filtration/purification cartridges, requires removing the filtration/purification cartridges from the water filter/purifier units installed in galleys, fountains and lavatories throughout the aircraft prior to the sanitation process. After removal of cartridges, the housings (pressure vessels) must be reassembled to seal against leakage during sanitation. After chlorine flushing and soaking, the housings (pressure vessels) once again must be accessed, opened and the same or new cartridges must be installed. The housings (pressure vessels) frequently are installed in hard to reach locations, resulting in expensive labor costs alone sometimes ranging upwards to hundreds of dollars per unit.
System Draining and Refilling—Water must be drained from aircraft during periods of non-use (such as overnight) in cold climates. Proposed EPA regulations require much more frequent draining and filling of water storage tanks in an effort to improve aircraft drinking water quality and safety. Draining and filling water systems requires “vacuum breaks” at equipment locations to allow water to be properly released and “vents” to allow air to escape in order to assure proper functioning of filters, purifiers, and other equipment. Although the very latest filter/purifier units include automatic vacuum breaks and venting, most aircraft units require manual actuation often resulting in inadequate water draining and filling.
Also, under the proposed EPA regulations, it is likely that accessing and actuating manual vents and vacuum breaks, sometimes previously ignored, may become a significantly higher maintenance cost item due to difficult access to the water filter/purifier units and aircraft “out of service” revenue costs.
Microorganism Growth—Even with periodic sanitization, bacteria may colonize various branches (legs) of water distribution systems. Bacteria multiply rapidly, sometimes doubling in number in approximately 16 minutes. Therefore, a small number of bacteria may quickly reach infectious concentrations in water intended to be consumed, especially downstream of improperly installed/serviced filters/purifiers employed to remove chlorine, foul tastes, and odors. Further, water filter/purifier units installed in semi-remote locations along the water distribution system often require longer than desired distribution lines to specific service points (e.g., locations where the water is discharged from the water distribution system). These distribution lines provide unnecessary opportunities for previously purified water to be recontaminated from inadvertent inoculation, short term bacteria multiplication or biofilm formation/shedding that may have taken place in such distribution lines downstream of the water filter/purifier units.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water.
It is another object of the invention to enable and introduce a new concept to provide more efficient, more cost effective, improved water quality management aboard passenger aircraft, and for other applications. For example, and more specifically with respect to passenger aircraft applications, the concept is to provide water filter and water purifier systems installed at various aircraft cabin crew readily accessible service locations (service points) within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, preferably at or near where the water that is filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified for immediate use. This invention provides for various types of filtering and purifying processes being available in interchangeable self-contained canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15, each containing filtration and/or purification media 16) attached to interfacing “valve heads” integrated into the water distribution system at appropriate cabin crew readily accessible locations. Stored water can then be filtered and/or purified immediately at the time and place of use as it is discharged from the potable water distribution system.
Another object of the invention is to provide an aircraft potable water distribution system having valve heads installed locally at various cabin crew readily accessible service locations or service points within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, to connect an outlet port of at least one of the valve heads directly to an appliance such as a coffee maker or other water-using equipment located in the galley of the aircraft to reduce possible exposure of the water that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified to contaminants that may be encountered if water were to be indirectly brought from the outlet port of the valve head to the appliance instead.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and aircraft potable water distribution system that allows non-technical flight attendants servicing, that is, removal of filtration/purification cartridges, and replacement thereof, on a frequent basis as an extension of normal routines, without requiring professional maintenance crew attendance and support.
These and other objects are provided by our invention, a description of which is set out below.
Turning now to the drawings, there is shown the inventive apparatus 11 for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, such as water. (Purification, per EPA regulations, requires performance meeting the EPA Guide Standard Protocol for Microbiological Purifiers; filtration and conditioning may be almost anything else that is useful, such as taste and odor removal, scale control, etc.)
Referring particularly to
The valve head 13, which preferably is machined from a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum preferably coated and sealed with a hard aluminum oxide coating for scratch resistance and long life, preferably includes a first end member 13a and a second end member 13b, which are held together by threaded bolts 12 that extend through bores 14 formed in and extending through the first end member 13a and into aligned threaded bores 18 formed in the second end member 13b.
As shown in
Referring particularly to
A movable valve disc 33 (preferably made of a suitable polymeric material) is contained within the valve housing 23 that closes the valve 21 when the valve disc 33 rests against the valve seat 31 and that permits flow of fluid through the valve 21 when the valve disc 33 is not resting against the valve seat 31. The valve housing 23 also includes a plurality of arms 35 that extend away from the base portion 25 of the valve housing 23 and over the opening in the valve housing 23 formed by the annular ring-shaped base portion 25 to form a cage-like structure that contains the valve disc 33 in the valve housing 23. As shown in
An outlet port 41 is formed at the outlet end portion of the first passageway 17 of the valve head 13.
Referring to
The valve head 13 also is provided with a second passageway 51 extending through it and adapted to be connected to a fluid receiving line (such as a water faucet of an aircraft potable water distribution system or an apparatus such as a coffee maker used on an airplane) at an outlet port 53 of the second passageway 51. Preferably, the outlet port 53 has a threaded fitting that is received in a threaded female fitting of the fluid receiving line.
The valve head 13 has an inlet port 55 formed at an inlet portion of the second passageway 51 in the valve head 13 that is in fluid communication with the outlet port 49 of the pressure vessel 15 when the pressure vessel 15 is connected to the valve head 13.
Referring to
Alternatively, instead of grooves 57 and pins 61, the connecting/disconnecting means may comprise threads formed on the outer surface of the neck 59 and matching threads formed on the valve head 13, such as that disclosed in Williams U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,168, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Referring again to
The length of the pin 79 is such that when the pressure vessel 15 is connected to the valve head 13, the first end portion 73 of the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15 pushes against the pin 79 causing the first end portion 81 of the pin 79 to push the valve disc 33 off and sufficiently away from the valve seat 31 to open the valve 21 to permit flow of fluid through the valve 21 and passageway 17.
Referring to
In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, six indents 94 are formed in the first end portion 73 of the neck 59 spaced 60° apart from each other in a circle formed by the first end portion 73 of the neck 59, with three of the indents 94 being located adjacent to a corresponding bump or cam 75. When the pressure vessel is fully twisted onto the valve head 13 such that one of the bumps or cams 75 is aligned with and pushing against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79, one of the plungers 67 clicks into the indent 94 located adjacent to that bump or cam 75 that is aligned with and pushing against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79, and the other plunger 67 clicks into the indent 94 that is positioned directly across the neck 59 from the indent 94 that is adjacent to the bump or cam 75 that is aligned with and pushing against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79, to provide a tactile sensation or feel to the person twisting the pressure vessel 15 onto the valve head 13 indicating that the pressure vessel 15 has been properly connected to the valve head 13.
A second check valve 95 is positioned on an annular ledge 97 formed in the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 for blocking backflow of fluid from the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13, especially when the pressure vessel 15 is not connected to the valve head 13. Preferably, the second check valve 95 includes a valve housing 23 which contains a movable valve disc 33, as described above for the first check valve 21. The flow of fluid from the pressure vessel 15 pushes the movable disc 33 of the second check valve 95 off the valve seat 31 of the second check valve 95 and moves it in the downstream direction away from the valve seat 31 of the second valve 95 to permit fluid flowing from the pressure vessel 15 to flow through the second valve 95 and through the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 to the fluid receiving line connected to the outlet port 53 of the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13. However, backflow of fluid through the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 is blocked by the second check valve 95 due to any backflow of fluid pushing the moveable disc 33 of the second check valve 95 onto the valve seat 31 of the second check valve 95, thereby causing the second check valve 95 to close.
Preferably, but optionally, the valve head 13 also has a third passageway 99 formed in it that extends from the first passageway 17 at a position upstream of the first check valve 21 to the second passageway 51 downstream of the second check valve 95, and a bypass valve 101 positioned in the valve head 13 that has a portion 103 that when extended into the third passageway 99 blocks flow of fluid through the third passageway 99 and that when withdrawn from the third passageway 99 opens the third passageway 99 to permit fluid to flow through the third passageway 99. Referring to
The third passageway 99 continues beyond the location of the bypass valve 101 along a groove 125 (
A groove 131 (
Referring to
A screen 152, positioned in a recess 154 formed in the first end portion of the first end member 13a and held therein by the cover plate 235 positioned thereover, and a screen 156, positioned in the chamber 145 upstream of the vent sleeve 143, are provided to reject possible interfering debris or particulates.
Referring to
In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid comprises a cartridge 16. As shown in
Referring to
The tube 187 also has another annular groove 203 formed in the second end portion 191 that receives a plurality of fingers or projections 205 (four fingers 205 being used in the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings) integrally formed with the neck 59 and extending inwardly from the wall 59a of the neck 59 for positioning the tube 187 so that it extends along the central axis of the neck 59 and secures the cartridge 16 against both horizontal and vertical movement in the pressure vessel 15. Also, projections or lugs 207 are provided in the top wall 161 of the cover 159 which abut against the flange portion 197 of the end cap 183 to secure the cartridge 16 against vertical movement in the pressure vessel 15.
The groove 203 also receives the center portion of a flexible disc 209, that extends outwardly from the tube 187 and engages a portion of the neck 59 formed in the cover 159 to form a flapper valve 211 across the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15. When fluid is flowing from upstream to downstream in the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15, the fluid pushes against the flexible disc 209 causing it to flex in the downstream direction away from the neck wall 59a to open the first passageway 45 to permit fluid to flow into the pressure vessel 15. The flapper valve 211 prevents backflow of fluid from the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15, because any flow of fluid back flowing from downstream to upstream in the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15 pushes against the flexible disc 209 causing it to flex into engagement with the neck wall 59a formed in the cover 159 to close the flapper valve 211, thereby blocking backflow of fluid from the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15.
Preferably, a compressible column 213, such as one made of a polyfoam material and preferably one comprising a polyfoam sealed compressible core column, is mounted in the pressure vessel 15, preferably by bonding the end portion of the column 213 in a receptacle 215 of the end cap 181, and the column 213 extends from the receptacle 215 into the channel 179 such that there is still space for fluid to flow through the channel 179 between the matrix 177 and the compressible column 213. The compressible column 213 provides protection against damage to the pressure vessel 15 and/or the matrix 177 if the fluid to be filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified freezes while in the pressure vessel 15, by providing space for the fluid to expand into if the fluid (for example, water) is the type of fluid that expands during freezing. The compressible column 213 also provides protection for the pressure vessel 15 against possible millisecond and microsecond pressure spikes.
Referring again to
The tube 187 also is provided with a plurality of ribs 216 (eight such ribs 216 being used in the embodiments shown in the drawings) formed in its first end portion 189 on the exterior surface portion 195 adjacent to the flange portion 197 for engaging the matrix 177 along a portion of the channel 179 extending therethrough and for centering the tube 187 in the channel 179.
The cover 159 and the bowl 167 preferably are made from a polymeric material, and after the cartridge 16 is positioned on the cover 159 and the bowl 167, the cover 159 and the bowl 167 are joined together along their respective rims 165 and 173, preferably by spin welding, to form a sealed seam portion 217.
Preferably, a reinforcement member 219 (
Referring to
Preferably, in addition to a height difference, a color-coded, snap-on ring 237 (
In use, the pressure vessel 15 may be connected to the valve head 13 by rotating the pressure vessel 15 into the valve head 13 such that, in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the pins 61 mounted on the valve head 13 move along the sloped grooves 57 formed on the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15, until the pins 61 reach the second and portions 65 of the grooves 57 where the plungers 67 click into corresponding indents 94 indicating that the pressure vessel 15 has been properly connected to the valve head 13.
When the pressure vessel 15 has been connected to the valve head 13, the cam 75 aligned with the pin 79 pushes against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79 moving the pin 79 upstream in the first passageway 17 in the valve head 13, causing the first end portion 81 of the pin 79 to push the valve disc 33 off and substantially away from the valve seat 31 to open the valve 21 to permit fluid to flow through the valve 21 and the first passageway 17.
After flowing through the first passageway 17, the fluid exits the outlet port 41 of the first passageway 17 of the valve head 13 and enters the first passageway 45 formed in the pressure vessel 15 though the inlet port 43, and then moves along the first passageway 45 to the outside of the matrix 177 and then through the matrix 177 to the channel 179 of the second passageway 47 formed in the pressure vessel 15. Next, the fluid flows from the channel 179 into and through the passageway 193 formed in the tube 187, and exits the pressure vessel 15 from the outlet port 49 formed at the end of the tube 187 and enters into the second passageway 51 formed in the valve head 13 through the inlet port 55. Then, the fluid pushes the movable disc 33 of the second check valve 95 off the valve seat 31 of the second check valve 95 and moves it in a downstream direction away from the valve seat 31 of the second valve 95 to permit fluid to flow through the second valve 95 and through the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 to a fluid receiving line connected to the outlet port 53.
Twisting the pressure vessel 15 off the valve head 13 discontinues flow of fluid through the first passageway 17 since the pin 79 is no longer being pushed by the pressure vessel 15 to lift the valve disc 33 of the valve 21 off the valve seat 31 of the valve 21 and the fluid flowing into the first passageway 17 pushes the valve disc 33 of the valve 21 back onto the valve seat 31 of the valve 21 to close valve 21.
Backflow of fluid from the second passageway 47 of the pressure vessel 13 is blocked by the check valve 95 since such backflow pushes the valve disc 33 of the valve 95 against the valve seat 31 of the valve 95 to close the valve 95.
Air contained in the apparatus 11 may escape through the automatic venting device 141. Such air may move into the fourth passageway 139 from outlet port 41, which may contain air when the pressure vessel 15 is being placed in service, and which may receive air from the passageway 17 of the valve head 13 and from the inlet port 43 of the pressure vessel 15 including air moving into the inlet port 43 from the pressure vessel 15. As fluid begins to flow through apparatus 11, the fluid pushes the air through the fourth passageway 139, around the ball 155 as the air is pushed through the automatic venting device 141, and out the outlet port 139b. As air is moved into the chamber 145, a portion of the air moves past the ball 155 by traveling along the cutouts 151 When the air that travels along the cutouts 151 reaches the end of the cutouts 151 and moves inwardly into the vent sleeve 143, the air hits the inwardly extending ledge 149 of the vent sleeve 143, rebounding off the ledge 149 back toward the ball 155 from downstream of the ball 155 to prevent the ball 155 from prematurely abutting against the o-ring 153 to close the fourth passageway 139 until most, if not all, of the air has been vented through the outlet port 139b. Although the preferred density of the ball 155 is slightly greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified, the force/pressure of the fluid pushing against the ball 155 causes the ball 155 to be pressed into engagement with the o-ring 153 to close the outlet port 139b after the air has been vented through the outlet port 139b.
When it is desired to sanitize the fluid distribution system (e.g., an aircraft potable water distribution system) that the valve head 13 is connected to, the bypass valve 101 may be opened to permit any sanitizing fluid used to sanitize the fluid distribution system to flow from the fluid distribution system via the fluid transmission line to the valve head 13, through the valve head 13, and then back to the fluid distribution system via the fluid receiving line. The handle 115 of the bypass valve 101 may be turned to cause the second end portion 103 of the shaft 105 to move from the third passageway 99 to permit the sanitizing fluid entering the first passageway 17 to flow from the first passageway 17 into and through the third passageway 99, and then into the second passageway 51 downstream of the second check valve 95, and then back to the fluid distribution system via the fluid receiving line from outlet port 53. The check valve 95 prevents backflow of the sanitizing fluid into the second passageway 51 upstream of the check valve 95.
Preferably, when sanitizing fluid used to sanitize the fluid distribution system is being directed through valve head 13 by opening the bypass valve 101, the pressure vessel 15 is not connected to the valve head 13. With the pressure vessel 15 not connected to the valve head 13, the first check valve 21 is pushed closed by the sanitizing fluid entering the first passageway 17, and the sanitizing fluid flows through the valve head 13 as described above when the second end portion 103 has been removed from the third passageway 99, and then back into the fluid distribution system. However, even if the pressure vessel 15 is connected to the valve head 13 (thereby opening the first check valve 21) when sanitizing fluid is being directed through the valve head 13 by opening the bypass valve 101, a majority of the sanitizing fluid moves through the valve head 13 via the third passageway 99 as described above, rather than past the first check valve 21 to and through pressure vessel 15, and then from the pressure vessel 15 to and through the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13, because there is a substantially greater resistance to flow through the pressure vessel 15 due to the matrix 177 than there is for flow through an opened third passageway 99.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention relating to providing filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water, especially purified water, from a potable water distribution system of, for example, an aircraft, valve heads 13 are installed locally at various cabin crew readily accessible service locations (service points) within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, and the potable water distribution system is connected to each of the valve heads 13. Preferably, the valve heads 13 are positioned at or near where the water that is filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified in the pressure vessels 15 attached to the valve heads 13 is discharged from the potable water distribution system. With this arrangement, the valve head 13 may be easily accessed to install filtration/purification canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) onto the valve heads 13, and to remove filtration/purification canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) that have been used and install fresh canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) in their place. Also, in contrast to prior art aircraft potable water distribution systems where water is passed through a cluster of more remote or centralized filters/purifiers to remove chlorine, foul tastes, and odors, and then sent along branches or legs of the potable water distribution system to be discharged from the branches or legs for use, possibly becoming contaminated from bacteria growing in the branches or legs, under this preferred embodiment of our invention, the water is filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified at or very near the point where it is discharged from the valve head 13 and actual used, thereby reducing the chances of contamination of the water after it has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified due to bacteria growing in the branches or legs or other possible contamination between the remote or centralized filters/purifiers and the point of discharge from the potable water distribution system. Further, when the valve heads 13 dispense water directly into an appliance, such as a coffee maker or hot water generating device for heating water for tea, access that contaminants have to the water after it has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified is even further limited.
Turning now to
The pressure vessel 15′ is provided with a third passageway 241 extending through the bottom wall 169 of its bowl 167, and the automatic venting device 239 is positioned in the passageway 241. The automatic venting device 239 has substantially the same structure and operates the same way as the automatic venting device 141 described above. Like the automatic venting device 141, the automatic venting device 239 includes a vent sleeve 143 positioned in a chamber 243 formed along the third passageway 241. The vent sleeve 143 of the automatic venting device 239 has a cylindrical wall 147 having an inwardly extending ledge 149 formed at the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve 143, and a plurality of cutouts 151 (two being used in the vent sleeve 143 illustrated in
The diameter of the third passageway 241 at the chamber 243 and the diameters of the cylindrical vent sleeve 143 and the ball 155 of the automatic venting device 239 are greater than the diameter of the third passageway 241 upstream of the chamber 243.
A screen 156, positioned in the chamber 243 upstream of the vent sleeve 143 of the automatic venting device 239, and a screen 152, positioned in a recess 249 formed in the downstream side end portion of the vent seal 245 and held therein by a vent cap 251 positioned thereover, are provided to reject possible interfering debris or particulates.
An o-ring 253 sits around an annular ridge 255 formed in the downstream side of the vent seal 245 to seal between the vent seal 245 and the annular ridge 257 formed in the bowl 167 of the pressure vessel 15′ that defines the outlet port 259 of the third passageway 241.
The vent cap 251, which has a central opening 251 a extending there through through which air from the third passageway 241 vents, is secured over the annular ridge 257 securing the screen 152 in the recess 249 of the vent seal 245, as well as securing the automatic venting device 239 in place in the third passageway 241.
The second embodiment of the invention facilitates providing fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified directly to a device in which the fluid is to be used, rather than providing the fluid to an intermediate location before it is subsequently transferred to the device in which the fluid is to be used. For example, if the fluid that is being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified is water, rather than connecting the outlet port 53 of the valve head 13 to a water receiving line that leads to a water faucet in the galley of an airplane, drawing water from the faucet into a container, and pouring the water from the container into an apparatus, such as a coffee maker, that uses the water, the outlet port 53 may be connected directly down onto the coffee maker. Accordingly, with this setup, there is less of a chance that the water, which has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified by moving through the matrix 177, becomes contaminated from coming into contact with contaminants like bacteria after leaving the outlet port 53.
Turning now to
The bypass valve 261 preferably is positioned in a bore 279 that extends through the first end member 13a of the valve head 13 and into engagement with the third passageway 99 formed in the valve head 13. An o-ring 283 is provided in an annular groove 285 that extends around the shaft 263 to seal between the shaft 263 and the wall 281 that forms the bore 279 to prevent fluid from escaping from the valve head 13 through the bore 279. To retain the bypass valve 261 within the bore 279, a plate 287, which has a first end portion 287a, a second end portion 287b, and an opening extending therethrough which the second end portion 267 of the shaft 263 extends, is positioned in the recess 113, and cover plate 235 is secured over the peripheral edge portion of the second end portion 287b of the plate 287. The first end portion 287a of the plate 287 projects into the opening in the cover plate 235 to provide a surface against which the handle 275 may be rotated on its cam 277.
Preferably, an end cap 291 is provided, to be secured onto the valve head 13 when a pressure vessel 15 is not secured to the valve head 13 to maintain a sanitary condition inside the valve head by blocking dirt, debris, or other contaminants from having easy access to the second end portion 71 of the valve head 13, including the outlet port 41 from the first passageway 17 of the valve head 13 and the inlet port 55 to the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13. As shown in
Under the invention, water may be filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified at the point of use of the filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water and at the time of use of the filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water, significantly reducing chances of the filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water becoming contaminated before it is used.
In addition to its applicability to aircraft potable water distribution systems, the invention may be applied in drinking water systems of recreational boats and yachts, commercial boats, recreational vehicles/caravans, residential homes, and water vending, cooling, warming and dispensing machines (such as those used in hospitals, schools, homes and factories). The invention also maybe applied to water systems in dental offices and laboratories.
The invention provides exceptional effectiveness (regarding water treatment results and cost effectiveness) and flexibility, and often weight reduction for aircraft and other uses with respect to providing filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water. The apparatus 11 of the invention is easy to operate, requires little maintenance, and is dependable.
The apparatus 11 is very compact, light weight, long lasting, easily refurbished for extra-long service and embodies a slim-line design.
The filtration/purification canister (e.g., pressure vessel 15 containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) may be provided with a light-weight composite construction. Due to its size/structure, the filtration/purification canister holds approximately 50% less unusable “transition water” (water retained in the canister necessary for the canister to function optimally) than prior art filters/purifiers, thereby making more of the water in the water distribution system available for use.
The invention provides point of use and time of use advantages. For instance, in an aircraft, the invention provides a potable water distribution system having valve heads 13 installed locally at various cabin crew readily accessible service locations or service points within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, preferably at or near where water that is filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified is discharged from the potable water distribution system. Further, the invention provides for directly connecting the outlet port 53 of the valve head 13 to an appliance such as a coffee maker used in the aircraft galley, which reduces possible exposure of the filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water to contaminants that may be encountered if such water were to be indirectly brought from the outlet port 53 of the valve head 13 to the appliance instead.
The invention provides for positioning the apparatus 11 of the invention in convenient, easily accessible locations. For instance, with respect to an aircraft water distribution system, in contrast to the prior art, the apparatuses are provided at various cabin crew readily accessible service locations in the galleys and lavatories of the aircraft at or near where water that is to be filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified is to be discharged from the potable water distribution system.
The cartridge 16 may be obtained from General Ecology, Inc., of Exton, Pennsylvania, and may be configured to provide what the user desires for optimum service related to the application. For instance, the cartridge 16 may be configured to provide microbiological purification as independently certified to now current EPA Protocol for Microbiological Purifiers, or to provide scale control and taste and odor removal, or to provide taste and odor removal along with larger pathogen removal, etc.
In accordance with the invention, antimicrobial surfaces may be provided to various components of the apparatus 11, such as to the tube 187, to assist in preventing backwards directed growth of bacteria, mildew and fungus into the canister, especially during short term periods of open non-use.
Backflow prevention provided in the valve head 13 prevents spillage from the valve head 13 when the canister is removed from the valve head 13. Further, this backflow prevention prevents reverse water flow into the purified/filtered water side of the canister.
The valve 211, which preferably is made from a flexible elastomeric material, helps prevent backflow from the canister, thereby limiting spillage when the canister is removed from the valve head 13.
Due to the two-piece construction of the body (first end member 13a and second end member 13b) of the valve head 13 and the simple means of holding the valve head 13 together, the valve head 13 may be easily disassembled and inexpensively refurbished for exceptionally long life using readily available hand tools, if necessary, with common replacement components to replace items such as o-rings, check valves, etc. Accordingly, the valve head 13 of the invention is long lasting.
The apparatus 11 of the invention is provided with an automatically venting feature for venting air and breaking vacuum in the apparatus 11.
In addition to being capable of being mounted such that the canister is positioned on the valve head 13 below the valve head 13, the valve head 13 may be mounted in an inverted position such that the outlet port 53 of the valve head 13 points downwardly to facilitate direct feed into appliances, such as coffee makers.
The apparatus 11 of the invention provides for exceptionally quick and easy one-handed canister changes by non-technical, untrained personnel.
Canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) are disposable and can be completely incinerated. The pressure vessel 15 of the canister provides a barrier against contact with the internal, contaminated section of a used canister when it is being removed from the valve head and discarded.
The apparatus 11 is provided with an automatic valving features, which discontinues flow from the outlet port 41 of the valve head 13 when the canister is disconnected from the valve head 13, and that activates flow of fluid (e.g., water) through the valve head 13 into the canister when the canister is connected to the valve head 13.
A simple quarter turn of the manual bypass valve of the invention facilitates periodic overall sanitizing processes of the distribution system without removing canisters. The invention permits manual bypass with or without a canister in place on the valve head 13. Also, an individual apparatus 11 of a series of apparatuses 11 may be bypassed, if desired (such as when the individual apparatus 11 leads to a fluid receiving line that is leaking), by simply activating the bypass valve allowing continuing operation of the remainder of the water distribution system.
The canisters are protected from breaking if freezing occurs by the compressible column 213. Accordingly, draining of the canisters is not necessary if freezing temperatures exist. Further, the canisters function normally after thawing.
The canisters are heat resistant up to a survival temperature of 185° F. for two hours.
The bayonet-style canister mount with its “capture” positions provides tactile feedback via the spring plungers 67 that engage indents 94 formed in the neck 59 of the canister when the canister is properly seated on the valve head 13. The first check valves 21 is not activated (pushed into an open position) until the canister in proper position on the valve head 13.
Canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) of the invention are ready to use immediately after being installed with normally minimal purge of water to expel air and small amounts of residual manufacturing materials.
The end cap 291, an optional feature, is available to protect the water distribution system from contaminants and debris when a canister is not installed on a valve head 13. The end cap 291 also provides a means to shut down a particular valve head 13 that it is connected to, while allowing uninterrupted use of the remainder of the water distribution system. It is NOT necessary to use the end cap 291 for disinfecting the system-the bypass valve is sufficient to avoid damaging the canister.
The valve head 13 may be rotated throughout 360° to accommodate installation constraints, and the valve head 13 may be installed with the valve head 13 being positioned above or below the canister.
Because the invention provides for easy, quick, and cost effective replacement of the filtration/purification canisters (pressure vessels 15 each containing a cartridge 16) onto the valve heads 13, preferably, the filtration/purification canisters (pressure vessels 15 each containing a cartridge 16) may be removed from the valve heads 13 and replaced with new filtration/purification canisters (pressure vessels 15 each containing a cartridge 16) before each flight of the aircraft or before the first flight of the day for the aircraft, to avoid using a contaminated or spent filtration/purification canisters (pressure vessels 15 each containing a cartridge 16). In contrast, due to the cost and difficulty of changing filtration/purification canisters in prior art systems, changes of filtration/purification canisters in prior art systems are not typically done more often than every 90 days or so by a maintenance crew.
