Method and apparatus for disinfecting a refrigerated water cooler reservoir and its dispensing spigot(s)

• US 20030071069A1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Original Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Inventors: Shelton, James J.
• Application Number:
  US10/173,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00013 Sterilising means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00023 Oxygenators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/685 Devices for dosing the additives
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing sanitized water in a cabinet and spigot type bottled water dispenser features an ozone generating system to generate ozone for sanitizing the water. Ozone is generated and collected within an ozone generator housing. A blower transmits air to the ozone generator housing. The air carries the ozone that is generated through a flow line to an air diffuser that is positioned upstream of the spigot (or spigots) used to dispense water. In one embodiment, a valve that is activated on the spigot to dispense water also activates the blower and ozone generator. In other embodiments, a flow sensor activates the ozone generator and blower. Various spigot and flow sensor arrangements are disclosed as a part of the overall apparatus and method.

Claims

1. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

d) one or more spigots in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water, each spigot having a manually operable member that opens the spigot to dispense water from the spigot;

d) a refrigeration system for cooling water within the reservoir;

e) an ozone generator housing supported next to the cabinet, said cabinet having an ozone generator inside the housing;

f) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir, said diffuser comprising an ozone resistant polymeric tube having a tube wall surrounding a central flow bore and a plurality of openings in the tube wall, diffuser segments being mounted in the openings;

g) and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior and to the reservoir.

2. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein ozone is generated by the generator responsive to operation of one of the spigot valves.

3. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the ozone generator is activated when the spigot handle is manually operated.

4. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the spigot has an electrical switch that is activated when the handle is operated, the switch being coupled to the ozone generator.

5. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and the diffuser ring is positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

6. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

7. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

8. The water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

9. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the replenishing means includes a central water inlet and the diffuser ring is spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

10. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the polymeric tube is a soft polymeric tube.

11. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the polymeric tube is a food grade polymeric tube.

12. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the polymeric tube is a silicone tube.

13. The water dispenser of claim 12 wherein the silicone tube is of a food grade silicone material.

23. The water dispenser of claim 10 wherein the replenishing means includes a central water inlet and the diffuser ring is spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

14. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having an interior having a water dispensing system that includes a reservoir for holding water to be dispensed;

b) the water dispensing system including a valved spigot on the cabinet for valving the flow of water to be dispensed from the reservoir;

c) an ozone generator housing supported by the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and one or more air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior;

d) One of the air flow line connecting the housing interior with the water dispensing system;

e) one of the air flow lines communicating with a diffuser that is positioned within the reservoir below the waterline, said diffuser comprising an elongated flexible soft polymeric tube having a tube wall surrounding a tube lumen and a plurality of openings in the tube wall; and

f) a plurality of diffuser elements mounted in the tube wall, an element being attached to the tube wall at an opening.

15. The water dispenser of claim 14 wherein the diffuser is positioned around the side of the reservoir at the bottom of the reservoir.

16. The water dispenser of claim 14 wherein the diffuser tube is generally circular.

17. The water dispenser of claim 14 wherein the diffuser tube is generally rectangular.

18. The water dispenser of claim 14 wherein the reservoir has a center portion and a plurality of the diffuser elements are openings positioned to direct air containing ozone emissions away from the center portion of the reservoir.

19. The water dispenser of claim 14 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and a plurality of the diffuser elements are positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

20. The water dispenser of claim 14 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

21. The water dispenser of claim 14 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

22. The water dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

24. A method of sanitizing water dispenser having a cabinet with water supply that includes a reservoir, and an operable spigot on the cabinet enables water to be dispensed from the cabinet and its water supply comprising the steps of:

a) generating ozone with an ozone generator;

b) collecting the generated ozone inside of an ozone generator housing;

c) transmitting ozone from the ozone generator housing to the water supply reservoir so that bubbles rise upwardly in the reservoir; and

d) wherein in step “

c”

the ozone enters the reservoir via a plurality of diffuser elements that are mounted in the wall of a polymeric tube that has a tube wall surrounding a tube lumen.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of spacing the diffuser element from the center of the reservoir so that ozone from the diffuser scrubs the reservoir wall.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein bubbles rise upwardly in the reservoir a distance of between about two and ten inches.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about four and eight inches.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the ozone generated in step “

b”

is spike ozonation that is generated for a duration of between about one and five minutes.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the ozone generated in step “

b”

is spike ozonation that is generated for a duration of between about two and three minutes.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the ozone generated in step “

b”

is spike ozonation that is generated for a duration of between about one and three minutes.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of sintered metal and further comprising the step of controlling bubble size with the porosity of the sintered metal.

32. The water dispenser of claim 24 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of porous ceramic material and further comprising the step of controlling bubble size with the porosity of the ceramic.

33. The water dispenser of claim 31 wherein the sintered metal is an ozone resistant titanium metal.

34. The water dispenser of claim 32 wherein the ceramic material is an insoluble dry ceramic material.

35. The water dispenser of claim 24 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of a flanged button shape.

36. The water dispenser of claim 24 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of a conical button shape.

37. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

c) one or more spigots in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water, each spigot having a manually operable member that opens the spigot;

d) an ozone generator housing supported next to the cabinet, said cabinet having an ozone generator inside the housing;

e) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir, said diffuser comprising an ozone resistant polymeric tube having a tube wall surrounding a central flow bore and a plurality of openings in the tube wall, diffuser segments being mounted in the openings;

f) and air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior and to the reservoir.

38. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein ozone is generated by the generator responsive to operation of one of the spigot valves.

39. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the ozone generator is activated when the spigot handle is manually operated.

40. The water dispenser of claim 38 wherein the spigot has an electrical switch that is activated when the handle is operated, the switch being coupled to the ozone generator.

41. The water dispenser of claim 38 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and the diffuser ring is positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

42. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

43. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the diffuser includes a member having a flow passage and slots through the membrane member that transmit ozone to a surrounding reservoir.

44. The water dispenser of claim 37 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

45. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the replenishing means includes a central water inlet and the diffuser ring is spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

46. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the polymeric tube is a soft polymeric tube.

47. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the polymeric tube is a food grade polymeric tube.

48. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the polymeric tube is a silicone tube.

49. The water dispenser of claim 37 wherein the silicone tube is a food grade silicone material.

50. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having an interior having a water dispensing system that includes a reservoir for holding water to be dispensed;

b) the water dispensing system including a valved spigot on the cabinet for valving the flow of water to be dispensed from the reservoir;

c) an ozone generator housing supported by the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing and one or more air flow lines for transmitting air to and from the housing interior with the water dispensing system;

d) one of the air flow liens connecting the housing interior with the water dispensing system;

e) one of the air flow lines communicating with a diffuser that is positioned within the reservoir below the waterline, said diffuser comprising an elongated flexible soft polymeric tube having a tube wall surrounding a tube lumen and a plurality of openings in the tube wall; and

f) a plurality of diffuser elements mounted in the tube wall, each element being attached to the tube wall at an opening.

51. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the diffuser is positioned around the side of the reservoir at the bottom of the reservoir.

52. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the diffuser tube is generally circular.

53. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the diffuser tube is generally rectangular.

54. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the reservoir has a center portion and a plurality of the diffuser elements are openings positioned to direct air containing ozone emissions away from the center portion of the reservoir.

55. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the reservoir includes a generally vertical sidewall and a plurality of the diffuser elements are positioned to discharge bubbles against the sidewall so that the sidewall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use.

56. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the ozone generator generates sufficient ozone to sterilize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upwardly a distance of just a few inches.

57. The water dispenser of claim 50 further comprising means for enabling the ozone generator to continue to generate air flow into said ozone generator housing and air diffuser via first and second air flow lines for selected time after the ozone generator has been deactivated.

58. The water dispenser of claim 50 further comprising a transformer for generating high voltage electricity for the ozone generator.

59. The water dispenser of claim 50 wherein the replenishing means includes a central water inlet and the diffuser ring is spaced horizontally away from the water inlet.

60. A method of sanitizing water dispenser having a cabinet with water supply that includes a reservoir, and an operable spigot on the cabinet enables water to be dispensed from the cabinet and its water supply comprising the steps of:

a) generating ozone with an ozone generator;

b) collecting the generated ozone inside of an ozone generator housing;

c) transmitting ozone from the ozone generator housing to the water supply reservoir so that bubbles rise upwardly in the reservoir; and

d) wherein in step “

c”

the ozone enters the reservoir via a plurality of diffuser elements that are mounted in the wall of a polymeric tube that has a tube wall surrounding a tube lumen.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of spacing the diffuser element from the center of the reservoir so that ozone from the diffuser scrubs the reservoir.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein bubbles rise upwardly in the reservoir a distance of between about two and ten inches.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein bubbles rise upwardly a distance of between about four and eight inches.

64. The method of claim 60 wherein the ozone generated in step “

b”

is spike ozonation that is generated for a duration of between about one and five minutes.

65. The method of claim 60 wherein the ozone generated in step “

b”

is spike ozonation that is generated for a duration of between about two and three minutes.

66. The method of claim 60 wherein the ozone generated in step “

b”

is spike ozonation that is generated for a duration of between about one and three minutes.

67. The method of claim 60 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of sintered metal and further comprising the step of controlling bubble size with the porosity of the sintered metal.

68. The water dispenser of claim 60 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of porous ceramic material and further comprising the step of controlling bubble size with the porosity of the ceramic.

69. The water dispenser of claim 60 wherein the sintered metal is an ozone resistant titanuim metal.

70. The water dispenser of claim 60 wherein the ceramic material is an insoluble dry ceramic.

71. The water dispenser of claim 60 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of a flanged button shape.

72. The water dispenser of claim 60 wherein a plurality of the diffuser elements are of a conical button shape.

73. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

c) a diffuser that occupies the reservoir, for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

d) one or more spigots on the cabinet for dispensing water from the reservoir;

e) an ozone generator housing positioned next to the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing;

f) air flow lines for transmitting air between the ozone generator and the diffuser; and

g) a pump that pumps air from the housing to the diffuser via the flow lines; and

h) wherein the pump output is between about 1-10 liters per minute.

74. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein pump output is between about 1.5-2.0 liters per minute.

75. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the pump is a variable airflow motorized diaphragm pump.

76. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein at least one of the spigots has ports that receive ozone via a flow line.

77. The bottled water dispenser of claim 76 wherein the ports include a port having a diffuser.

78. The bottled water dispenser of claim 77 wherein the diffuser is removable.

79. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the pump is an electromagnetic pump.

80. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the pump has a maximum shut in pressure of about 34 kPa.

81. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the pump has an open flow pressure of about 0.7 kPa.

82. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser has a median pore size of about 10-60 microns.

83. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser has a median pore size of about 10-40 microns.

84. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser is of a material that has pores and pore channels and wherein the pore channels have a spacing that prevents bubble stream lateral coalescing over about 10-35% of surface area.

85. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser is of a low pressure diffuser material veneered with high surface energy to water interfacial tension ratios for generating smaller bubbles.

86. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser generates bubbles that have a diameter of between about 0.25-0.90 millimeters.

87. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser generates bubbles that have a rise velocity of between about 4.3-15.2 centimeters per second.

96. The bottled water dispenser of claim 73 wherein the diffuser is of a sintered metal material.

88. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and a spigot for dispensing water;

b) reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water;

c) a channel that transmits water from the reservoir to the spigot;

d) a diffuser for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

e) an ozone generator module positioned next to the cabinet, said generator including a housing having an ozone generator inside the housing, and a blower for generating air flow;

f) a piping system for piping ozone from the housing to the diffuser; and

g) an adjustable flow meter valve that meters the flow of air generated by the blower.

89. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the flow meter valve is temperature sensitive to change flow rates based upon air and ozone temperature that flows in the piping system and through the flow meter.

90. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the flow meter valve increases ozone concentration.

91. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the valve regulates the production of optimum bubble size by elimination of larger bubbles.

92. The bottled water dispenser of claim 91 wherein the valve regulates the production of optimum bubble size by elimination of larger bubbles to thereby reduce or eliminate bubble coalescing to larger, non-optimal bubble sizes.

93. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the diffuser and pump are configured to emit only bubbles that do not expand significantly during rise up through the reservoir.

94. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the flow meter valve is capable of delivering air flow of between 0-2 liters per minute.

95. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the flow meter valve is capable of delivering air flow of between 0.05-0.5 liters per minute.

97. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the diffuser is of a sintered metal material.

98. The bottled water dispenser of claim 88 wherein the pump generates air flow through the housing of between about 0.05-1.0 liters per minute and the diffuser generates bubbles of a diameter that averages between about 0.25-0.90 millimeters.

99. A method of sanitizing a bottled water dispenser having a cabinet with a dispensing spigot, a reservoir and a channel that connects the spigot and reservoir, comprising the steps of:

a) generating ozone with an ozone generator that is positioned next to the cabinet;

b) collecting the generated ozone inside of an ozone generator housing;

c) providing an ozone diffuser inside the reservoir; and

d) transmitting ozone from the ozone generator housing to the diffuser at a flow rate that elevates ozone levels in the reservoir of between about 0.1-0.8 mg per liter of dissolved ozone.

100. The method of claim 99 wherein in step “

d”

the diffuser generates bubbles that average between about 10-60 microns in diameter.

101. The method of claim 99 wherein in step “

d”

the diffuser generates bubbles having a median diameter of between 0.1-2.0 mm.

102. The method of claim 99 wherein the diffuser generated bubbles that have a rise velocity of between about 4.3-15.2 centimeters per second.