Water purification apparatus and method of using the same

• US 20050284803A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ionics Perpetual, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aquaplus Technologies Pty. Ltd.
• Inventors: Dorward, William Donald Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,402,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/258
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

A water purification apparatus, comprising a water pump, wherein the water pump inlet port receives water from an external source, a nonreturn valve in fluid communication with the water pump outlet port, and an ionizer chamber in fluid communication with the nonreturn valve output end, wherein the ionizer chamber doses a bacteriacide into water contained in the ionizer chamber. The apparatus also includes a filter, wherein the input end of the filter is in fluid communication with the output end of the ionizer chamber.

Claims

1. A water purification apparatus, comprising:

a water pump, wherein the water pump has an inlet port and an outlet port, and wherein the water pump inlet port receives water from an external source;

a nonreturn valve, wherein the nonreturn valve has an input end and an output end, wherein the nonreturn valve inlet port is in fluid communication with the water pump outlet port;

an ionizer chamber, wherein the ionizer chamber has an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the ionizer chamber inlet port is in fluid communication with the nonreturn valve output end, and wherein the ionizer chamber doses a bacteriacide into water contained in the ionizer chamber; and

,

a filter, wherein the filter has an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the filter is in fluid communication with the output end of the ionizer chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water pump is hand operated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ionizer control means which controls dosing of the bacteriacide into the water contained in the ionizer chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ionizer control means controls dosing of the bacteriacide by applying an electrical current to the bacteriacide.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of bacteriacide to be dosed into the water based on the impedance of the water.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of bacteriacide to be dosed into the water based on the average pump volume per stroke.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ionizer control means controls dosing of the bacteriacide by applying an electrical current to the bacteriacide, and wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of bacteriacide to be dosed into the water based on the impedance of the water.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bacteriacide is colloidal silver.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bacteriacide is colloidal silver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ionizer control means controls dosing of the colloidal silver by applying an electrical current to at least one silver bar.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water based on the impedance of the water.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water based on the average pump volume per stroke.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ionizer control means controls dosing of the colloidal silver by applying an electrical current to at least one silver bar, and wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water based on the impedance of the water.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the water pump has a rotatable handle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a power supply, and wherein the position of the water pump handle determines whether power from the power supply is applied to the ionizer control means.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter is a multi-stage filter.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter is a two stage filter.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the multi-stage filter has a sub-micron rating.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one stage of multi-stage filter is comprised of a ceramic filter.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, at least one stage of the multi-stage filter is comprised of a charcoal filter.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the multi-stage filter has a sub-micron rating, wherein at least one stage of the multi-stage filter is comprised of a ceramic filter, and wherein at least one stage of the multi-stage filter is comprised of a charcoal filter.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a first stage of the two stage filter is a ceramic filter, and a second stage of the two stage filter is a charcoal filter.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the charcoal filter stage is located nearest the outlet end of the filter.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a strainer, wherein the strainer has a first end and a second end, and a tube, wherein the tube has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tube is connected to the water pump input port and the second end of the tube is connected to the first end of the strainer.

25. A method for operating a portable water purification apparatus, comprising:

rotating a handle associated with a water pump from a stowage position to an operating position;

operating the water pump to cause water to enter the portable water purification apparatus;

monitoring the impedance of the water within the water purification apparatus;

dosing a bacteriacide into the water within the water purification apparatus based on the monitored impedance;

filtering the dosed water; and

,

outputting the filtered water.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the bacteriacide is colloidal silver.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein rotating the handle from a stowage position to an operating position causes a magnet within the water pump to be able to trigger an electrical circuit that monitors the impedance of the water.