Patent Application
20060180550
The present invention relates to portable water purifiers, and more particularly to a portable water purifier that includes a plurality of separable sections with one or more of the sections including a water treating composition.
Drinking water in many geographical areas, and particularly in underdeveloped countries, is not safe for drinking. In these areas water is often contaminated with nitrogen based compounds, suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, odor, and even in some cases arsenic.
Processes are known for purifying water for drinking. Early purification processes revolved around boiling contaminated water. Since then, it has been common to add certain chemicals to water for purifying the same. These early rudimentary processes have many shortcomings. Over time, water purification systems were developed to remove contaminants. These water filtration systems directed untreated water through a filter and contaminants were filtered therefrom in the process. In the past, many filtering mediums have utilized felt or cloth. See the disclosures in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,477,347 and 53,606. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,347, the art has developed considerably over the years and filters utilizing spun or wrapped filters in a cylinder shape having water passed radially through the cylinder from the outside to an inside hollow area have been developed.
As the water purification art has evolved and developed over the years, many other filtering processes have been employed. Activated carbon has been used as a filtering medium. Further, plastic mesh has been used to remove very small particulate matter from drinking water.
It is also known to provide small, portable water purifying units. These are typically used by individuals that hike or camp, and can be used by individuals visiting regions or countries where the water quality is suspect. For example, handheld portable water purifiers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,389,311; 4,990,254; and 4,477,347. However, portable water purifiers of the prior art have a number of drawbacks. In many cases their effectiveness is limited. That is, portable water purifiers of the prior art are not designed to remove a wide range of contaminants, and certainly are not generally designed to remove the more harsh and dangerous contaminants such as arsenic. Further, their structure and design is aimed at a particular contaminant or a small group of contaminants. Their designs are not sufficiently flexible to enable the user to adapt the portable water purifier to efficiently remove a wide range of contaminants.
The present invention entails a portable water purifier for filtering or treating water comprising a column. A plurality of water treating compositions are contained within the column with one water treating composition being disposed over another water treating composition.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable water purifier comprises a plurality of stacked sections that are secured together in end-to-end relationship. Each section is adapted to receive and hold a water treating composition. Because the individual sections are detachably secured together, the respective sections can be reordered to accommodate a particular process sequence.
Further, the present invention entails a method for treating drinking water with a portable water purifier. This method entails pouring untreated water into the top of the column forming a part of the portable water purifier where the column comprises a plurality of separable sections. Once the water is poured into the top of the column, the water flows through the individual sections of the column and over a plurality of different water treatment compositions contained within the respective sections. Once the water has passed through the respective sections of the column, the treated water is directed through an outlet formed in the portable water purifier.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of such invention.
With further reference to the drawings, the portable water purifier is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 10. The portable water purifier 10 is of a compact design and is of a size that will permit individuals to carry the same while on a camping or hiking trip, or while generally traveling. Device 10 is referred to as a water purifier. The term purifier is to be given a broad interpretation and encompasses a device that treats, filters or conditions water. More particularly, water purifier 10 is especially adapted to purify or treat drinking water.
Viewing portable water purifier 10 in more detail, as shown in the drawings, the same comprises an elongated column that is made up of a plurality of separable sections. The separable sections are provided with some means to secure them in end-to-end relationship. As will be appreciated from subsequent portions of the disclosure, when the respective separable sections are secured together, the internal area extending through the sections is open and permits the flow of water from a top portion of the column, down through the column and out an outlet formed about the lower portion of the column. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the water purifier 10 is of the gravity type. That is, in an operative mode the portable water purifier 10 is disposed as shown in
The number of sections comprising the column can vary. In the case of the embodiment illustrated herein, the portable water purifier 10 includes five cylindrical sections that are referred to by the numerals 12, 14, 16,18 and 20. As seen in
Most, if not all, of the sections 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 include an indented lower portion. Formed on the indented lower portion is an exterior set of threads 22. Formed about the upper portion of each section is an interior set of threads 24. These two sets of threads enable the respective sections to be secured together in end-to-end relationship. As seen in
In addition, one section can include an extra set of exterior threads. In this particular case, section 18 is provided with an exterior set of threads 26. These threads are disposed around the main body of the cylindrical wall just above the exterior set of threads 22. As will be appreciated from subsequent portions of the disclosure, this extra set of threads 26 function to cap and secure the portable water purifier 10 when the same is not being used and when it assumes a carrying or transport state.
Each section is designed to contain or hold a water treating composition. In the case of this embodiment, each section is provided with a pair of screens 28. Screens 28 are axially spaced apart and define a containment area 30 therebetween. Screens 28 can be of a various mesh size. However, in one embodiment, it is contemplated that the screens 28 would be approximately 200 mesh and constructed of stainless steel. As noted above, the portable water purifier 10 is adapted to hold a series of different water treatment compositions. Herein the term “water treatment composition” is meant to entail and include any material or chemical that filters, purifies or treats water. Various examples of water treatment compositions will be described subsequently herein.
In any event, each water treatment composition is housed or contained within a porous container 32. Various types of porous containers can be utilized. They may include filter pillows or a porous container such as a tea bag structure. As illustrated in the drawings, such a container can be placed in the containment area 30 defined between the pair of screens 28. It should be noted that at least one of the screens 28 in each section could be removed from the section to gain access to the containment area 30. This would prove useful in cases where it is desired to retrieve the container 32 with the water treatment composition to either discard the same, refill the container, or rejuvenate the water treatment composition contained therein.
As discussed above, one or more of the sections that form the column can be adapted to close the water purifier 10 for carrying or transport.
To convert the water purifier 10 from an operative purifying configuration, as shown in
The portable water purifier 10 aims to remove bacteria, viruses and toxins from water. Various water treating compositions can be utilized within the individual sections of the purifier 10. One water treating composition contemplated to be used is zeolite. Zeolite can be housed or contained within one of the porous containers 32 and would function as a filtering media and would also function to partially remove ions. In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the zeolite would be provided in pellet form and approximately 150 mesh size, which would allow an adequate flow of water therethrough and provide sufficient contact time in a gravity flow situation for the removal of nitrogen based compounds. This size zeolite would also allow for the removal of suspended solids from the water.
Additionally, another water treating composition that can be used in a respective section of the water purifier is ARTI-64. ARTI-64 will remove arsenic as As3 and As5 from the drinking water passing therethrough. Another water treating composition that is suitable for use in the water purifier 10 is a mixed bed resin. A mixed bed resin will remove remaining cat ions from the water. Further, the water treating compositions can include bromine or chlorine. These compounds or substances are useful to kill bacteria and viruses. In cases where the pH values in the water exceed 8.2, it is contemplated that bromine should be utilized in lieu of chlorine.
Finally, the waste treatment composition may include activated carbon. Activated carbon will function to remove organics, VOC, chlorine, bromine, odors and contaminants that cause the water to have an unpleasant taste.
The water treating compositions just described can be ordered or staged in various sections of the water purifier 10. In one example, in the operative state, as shown in
One advantage of the water purifier 10 of the present invention is that the sections, and consequently the water treatment compositions, can be reordered. For example, in some cases it might be desirable for one section to assume the top position in the column when treating one type of water, and the next to the bottom position when treating another type of water. The user can easily reorder or restage water treatment compositions by simply unscrewing the respective sections and then connecting them together in a particular configuration.
With reference to
Disposed internally within the cylindrical section 60 is a series of screens 70. Screens 70 are vertically spaced apart and define a series of compartments 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80. Screens 70 can be designed to be removably contained within the cylindrical section. That is, the respective screens 70 can be designed to snap into and out of the cylindrical section.
Extending from the bottom compartment 80 is an outlet 82. As is appreciated from the drawings, water directed into the top of cylindrical section 60 will flow downwardly through the cylindrical section 60 and through the various compartments therein and out the outlet 82.
As with the embodiment discussed above, each water treatment composition is housed or contained within a porous container 32. This may include filter pillows or a porous container such as a tea bag structure. As illustrated in
As discussed above, the water treatment compositions could include zeolite and cupric oxide. One form of cupric oxide is known as “ARTI-64.” In some cases the cupric oxide could be bonded with zeolite. In addition to zeolite and cupric oxide, the water purifier 10 is designed to receive and hold a mixed bed resin, bromine or chlorine, and activated carbon. In each case, each respective water treatment composition can be housed or contained within a porous container 32. In one example, as shown in
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
