Water collection and dispensing machine

• US 20030094011A1
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howard Ullman
• Original Assignee: International Water Makers, Inc.
• Inventors: Zakryk, John M., Kopec, John
• Granted Patent: US 6,779,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/291
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0039 Recuperation of heat, e.g. use of heat pump(s), compression
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/222 for evacuating condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/1446 by condensing

Abstract

A water collection and dispensing machine having a primary housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, an air blower structured to draw air into the primary housing through the air inlet and push air out of said primary housing through the air outlet. The water collection and dispensing machine further includes an evaporator coil structured to cycle a cold refrigerant liquid therethrough, the evaporator coil being disposed in line with the air inlet so that the air drawn into the primary housing through the air inlet passes thereover and moisture therefrom condenses on an exterior surface of the evaporator coil so that it may be collected in the form of water droplets, filtered to eliminate contaminants, and dispensed for convenient consumption by a user.

Claims

1. A water collection and dispensing machine comprising:

a primary housing, said primary housing including an air inlet and an air outlet,

an air blower structured to draw air into said primary housing through said air inlet,

a dehumidifier refrigerant assembly structured and disposed to convert a refrigerant gas into a cold refrigerant liquid,

an evaporator coil structured to cycle said cold refrigerant liquid therethrough, said evaporator coil being disposed such that the air drawn into said primary housing through said air inlet passes over said evaporator coil and moisture therefrom condenses on an exterior of said evaporator coil,

a fluid collection assembly structured to collect said moisture, in the form of water droplets, from said evaporator coil,

said fluid collection assembly including a fluid reservoir structured and disposed to contain said water for dispensing,

a filtration assembly structured and disposed to filter said water collected by said fluid collection assembly prior to dispensing, and

said filtration assembly comprising;

a pump structured to draw said water from said fluid reservoir,

a sediment filter structured to remove sediment particulate from said water, and

a water filter structured to receive said water drawn by said pump therethrough after passage through said sediment filter for subsequent filtration thereof.

2. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said filtration assembly further includes a UV light filter structured to further purify water flowing through said water filter.

3. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said water filter includes a carbon filter.

4. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said carbon filter is removably coupled with said pump.

5. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said filtration assembly including a delivery coil structured to contain a quantity of filtered water in a ready to dispense orientation.

6. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 5 further including a dispensing spigot connected with said delivery coil and structured to selectively dispense the quantity of water from said delivery coil,

a return tube, said delivery coil being connected in fluid flow communication with said dispensing spigot and said return tube, and

said return tube being connected in fluid flow communication with said fluid reservoir and including a valve assembly structured and disposed to open on a predetermined, regulated basis in order to selectively cycle said quantity of filtered water back into said fluid reservoir and thereby ensure that water in said delivery coil is fresh.

7. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said delivery coil is disposed in said fluid reservoir such that the quantity of water contained therein is maintained cold.

8. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said evaporator coil includes a fin and tube evaporator coil.

9. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said air inlet is disposed at generally an upper, rear portion of said housing.

10. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cooling assembly structured to cool said water disposed in said fluid reservoir.

11. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said cooling assembly includes a plurality of thermal electric cold plates lining said fluid reservoir and structured and disposed to maintain said water within said fluid reservoir cold.

12. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 10 further comprising a temperature detection assembly structured and disposed to identify a temperature of said water in said fluid reservoir and direct a cooling operation of said cooling assembly so as to achieve a predetermined cooled temperature.

13. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 12 wherein said temperature detection assembly includes a detection head structured to be immersed in said water contained in said fluid reservoir, and a shielding assembly structured to communicably shield said detection head from said water so as to prevent rusting and deterioration thereof, while also permitting the temperature of said water to be readily detected by said detection head so as to correspondingly direct said cooling operation of said cooling assembly.

14. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said detection head includes a thermistor coupled by at least one elongate conductive element to said temperature detection assembly.

15. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 14 wherein said shielding assembly includes an elongate, generally tubular shaft structured to receive said detection head therein.

16. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 15 wherein said shaft is disposed in said fluid reservoir with a distal end thereof disposed at generally a lower region of said fluid reservoir and a proximal end thereof disposed above a level of said water contained in said fluid reservoir.

17. A water collection and dispensing machine as recited in claim 16 wherein said detection head is disposed at generally said distal end of said shaft, and said conductive element extends from said shaft at generally said proximal end thereof.