Point-of-use water treatment system

• US 20060021926A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alticor Incorporated, Amway Corporation (Alticor Incorporated), Business Group International LLC
• Original Assignee: Alticor Incorporated, Amway Corporation (Alticor Incorporated), Business Group International LLC
• Inventors: Snyder, Greg, Aberegg, Dale, Woodard, James A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/301 Details of removable closures, lids, caps, filter heads
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/96 in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters B01D29/09, B01D29/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/30 Filter housing constructions
• 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 1/004 using large scale industrial sized filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• 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: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3223 Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/328 Having flow diverters (baffles)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/024 Turbulent
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/026 Spiral, helicoidal, radial
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/04 as part of a pitcher or jug
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• 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

The present invention relates to a point-of-use water treatment system unit (10). The unit (10) includes a filter housing assembly (60) having a filter tank assembly (66) and a closure (64) which utilizes a handle (152) and cammed reciprocating lock blades (146, 150) to secure the closure (64) to the filter tank assembly (66). A UV tank assembly (300) includes a planar baffle plate (322) and a vaned baffle plate (324) to induce plug flow about a UV lamp assembly (280). The UV lamp assembly (280) is used which simultaneously electrically and sealingly mounts to UV tank assembly (300) and electrical cap assembly (290) using a bayonet mount. A bi-planar manifold assembly (40) is used to interconnect components of the WTS unit and to provide an envelope for accommodating a water pipe assembly (34). The bi-planar manifold assembly (26) enhances the compactness of the design of the WTS unit (10). Also, a support plate (26) is disclosed which provides support to subcomponents of the WTS unit (10) while also dissipating heat from a UV tank assembly (300).

Claims

1-97. -97. (canceled)

98. A point-of-use water treatment system comprising:

an outer housing;

a water treatment device housing disposed within said outer housing;

a water treatment device disposed within said water treatment device housing; and

wherein said water treatment device housing includes a mounting structure for wall-mounting the water treatment system, said mounting structure directly accessible from an exterior of said outer housing whereby the water treatment system is supported by said water treatment device housing.

99. The system of claim 98 wherein said mounting structure includes at least one screw boss integrally molded with said water treatment device housing.

100. The system of claim 99 wherein said mounting structure includes at least one mounting element affixed to said at least one screw boss.

101. The system of claim 100 wherein said at least one screw boss is internally threaded and said mounting element is affixed to said screw boss by a screw.

102. The system of claim 101 wherein said mounting element is an essentially circular head.

103. The system of claim 98 wherein said mounting structure includes at least two screw bosses integrally molded with said water treatment device housing.

104. The system of claim 98 wherein said mounting structure includes at least four screw bosses, at least two of said screw bossed being integrally molded with said water treatment device housing.

105. The system of claim 104 further including at least one support rib integrally molded with and extending between at least two of said screw bosses.

106. A point-of-use water treatment system comprising:

an outer housing;

a filter; and

a filter housing disposed within said outer housing and containing said filter, said filter housing including a mounting boss for wall-mounting the water treatment system, said mounting boss being directly accessible from an exterior of said outer housing whereby said outer housing does not support a weight of said filter housing when the water treatment system is wall-mounted.

107. The system of claim 106 wherein said mounting structure includes at least one screw boss integrally molded with said filter housing.

108. The system of claim 107 wherein said mounting structure includes at least one mounting element affixed to said at least one screw boss.

109. The system of claim 108 wherein said at least on screw boss is internally threaded and said mounting element is affixed to said screw boss by a screw.

110. The system of claim 109 wherein said mounting element is an essentially circular head.

111. The system of claim 106 wherein said mounting structure includes at least two screw bosses integrally molded with said filter housing.

112. The system of claim 106 wherein said mounting structure includes at least four screw bosses, at least two of said screw bossed being integrally molded with said filter housing.

113. The system of claim 112 further including at least one support rib integrally molded with and extending between at least two of said screw bosses.

114. A point-of-use water treatment system comprising:

a base;

a first housing mounted to said base;

a filter disposed within said first housing for filtering water passing through said first housing;

a second housing mounted to said base, said second housing being separate from said first housing;

a cap assembly for closing said second housing, said cap assembly including a first set of electrical contacts;

a UV bulb assembly disposed within said second housing for treating water passing through said second housing, said UV bulb assembly including a bulb having electrical leads electrically connected to said first set of electrical contacts in said cap assembly; and

an electrical connector assembly external to said cap assembly, said electrical connector assembly including a second set of electrical contacts, said second set of electrical contacts and said first set of electrical contacts being selectively connectable.

115. The system of claim 114 wherein said first electrical contacts are exposed when said electrical connector assembly and said UV bulb assembly are disconnected.

116. The system of claim 115 wherein said first electrical contacts are concealed by said electrical connector assembly when said electrical connector assembly and said UV bulb assembly are connected.

117. The system of claim 116 wherein said cap assembly seals said second housing.

118. The system of claim 117 wherein said UV bulb assembly and said cap assembly are removable from said second housing while said UV bulb assembly and said cap assembly remain connected to one another.

119. The system of claim 118 wherein said UV bulb assembly includes an outer sleeve, and wherein said outer sleeve and said bulb are connected to said cap assembly in a leaktight relationship.

120. The system of claim 119 wherein said electrical connector assembly includes a connector housing, said second set of electrical connectors being at least partially concealed within said connector housing, said first set of electrical contacts extending into said connector housing to engage said second set of electrical contacts when said UV bulb assembly and said electrical connector assembly are connected.