Methods and apparatus for the treatment of fluids

• US 20060163169A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uv-Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Uv-Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Eckhardt, Richard A., Jenkins, Geoffrey H.
• Application Number:
  US11/302,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/748.110
• 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 1/002 using small portable filters for producing potable water, e.g. personal travel or emergency equipment, survival kits, combat gear C02F1/003 takes precedence
• 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 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• 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 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/02 as part of a bottle
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/04 as part of a pitcher or jug
• 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

Methods and apparatus for disinfecting and/or filtering fluids, such as water, are disclosed. One embodiment is directed to a method of providing treated fluid, comprising acts of receiving the fluid into a chamber, filtering the fluid of particulate matter and/or chemicals within the chamber, disinfecting the fluid with an ultraviolet light source within the chamber, and dispensing the fluid from the chamber. Methods and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a light source, such as a light source used for ultraviolet disinfection, are also disclosed. Another embodiment is directed to an improved-efficiency ultraviolet disinfection device, comprising a chamber, and a black body radiator disposed therein and adapted to emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum. At least a portion of the chamber is constructed and arranged to reflect an amount of emitted light that is sufficient to cause regenerative heating of the black body radiator back toward the black body radiator.

Claims

1. A method of providing treated fluid, comprising acts of:

receiving the fluid into a chamber;

filtering the fluid of at least some particulate matter and/or chemicals within the chamber;

disinfecting the fluid with an ultraviolet light source within the chamber; and

dispensing the fluid from the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a pitcher.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a faucet-mountable treatment device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a water bottle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a straw.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a refrigerator-mountable treatment device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of filtering comprises filtering the fluid with a mechanical filter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of disinfecting comprises irradiating a continuous flow of the fluid with the ultraviolet light source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of disinfecting comprises irradiating a stationary quantity of the fluid with the ultraviolet light source.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising an act of retaining the stationary quantity of the fluid with one or more valves.

6. The method of claim l, wherein the chamber comprises a water cooler.

12. A faucet-coupleable device for treating fluid, comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to a faucet such that the housing may receive fluid from the faucet;

a filter disposed within the housing to filter the fluid of at least some particulate matter and/or chemicals;

an ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing to disinfect the fluid; and

an outlet port to release the fluid.

13. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 12, wherein the housing is adapted to be mounted to a faucet.

14. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for activating the ultraviolet light source in response to an indication of fluid in the housing.

15. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for activating the ultraviolet light source in response to an indication of fluid flowing in the housing.

16. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 14, wherein the means for activating comprises a pressure sensor for providing the indication of fluid in the housing.

17. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 16, wherein the means for activating further comprises an electrical switch coupled to the ultraviolet light source and responsive to the indication.

18. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 12, further comprising a transducer that converts mechanical energy generated by movement of fluid within the housing to electrical energy.

19. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 18, wherein the transducer is electrically coupled to the ultraviolet light source.

20. The faucet-coupleable device of claim 12, further comprising:

a sensor to detect whether the ultraviolet light source is producing at least a predetermined light output; and

a valve to prevent the flow of fluid through the housing in response to an indication from the sensor that the ultraviolet light source is producing less than the predetermined light output.

21. A fluid dispenser, comprising:

a receptacle to hold fluid, the receptacle having a first opening for receiving fluid and a second opening for dispensing fluid;

a passage between the first opening and the second opening for allowing the passage of fluid between the first opening and the second opening;

a filter configured and arranged to filter the fluid of at least some particulate matter and/or chemicals as the fluid passes through the passage; and

an ultraviolet light source configured and arranged to disinfect the fluid in at least a portion of the receptacle.

22. The fluid dispenser of claim 21, wherein the receptacle comprises a pitcher.

23. The fluid dispenser of claim 22, further comprising:

a handle coupled to the receptacle; and

a power source disposed within the handle.

24. The fluid dispenser of claim 22, further comprising:

a cover constructed and arranged to cover the first opening, wherein the cover houses a power source; and

an ultraviolet light source mechanically coupled to the cover and electrically coupled to the power source.

25. The fluid dispenser of claim 21, wherein the receptacle comprises a water cooler.

26. The fluid dispenser of claim 21, wherein the receptacle comprises a refrigerator-mountable treatment device.

27. The fluid dispenser of claim 21, further comprising:

a first reservoir disposed between the first opening and the passage; and

a second reservoir disposed between the passage and the second opening.

28. The fluid dispenser of claim 27, wherein the ultraviolet light source is disposed within the passage.

29. The fluid dispenser of claim 27, wherein the ultraviolet light source is disposed within the first reservoir.

30. The fluid dispenser of claim 21, further comprising:

means for activating the ultraviolet light source in response to an indication of fluid in the receptacle.

31. The fluid dispenser of claim 30, wherein the means for activating comprises a pressure sensor for providing the indication.

32. The fluid dispenser of claim 31, wherein the means for activating further comprises an electrical switch coupled to the ultraviolet light source and responsive to the indication.

33. A bottle for holding and treating fluid, comprising:

a receptacle for holding the fluid;

a filtering unit constructed to be receivable within the receptacle, the filtering unit comprising a filter;

wherein the filtering unit is constructed such that insertion of the filtering unit into the receptacle causes fluid disposed within the receptacle to pass through the filter.

34. The bottle of claim 33, further comprising an ultraviolet light source disposed within the receptacle to disinfect fluid within the receptacle.

35. The bottle of claim 34, further comprising:

a coating disposed on an inner surface of the receptacle and/or filtering unit, wherein the coating is adapted to reflect ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light source.

36. The bottle of claim 34, further comprising:

a light detector; and

a switch to disable power to the ultraviolet light source when the light detector detects light.

37. The bottle of claim 33, further comprising a cap that is adapted to be coupled to the receptacle and/or the filtering unit to seal the bottle.

38. The bottle of claim 37, further comprising:

an ultraviolet light source coupled to the cap, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to irradiate fluid within the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle and/or the filtering unit.

39. The bottle of claim 38, further comprising:

a power source disposed within the cap, wherein the power source is electrically coupled to the ultraviolet light source.

40. The bottle of claim 38, further comprising:

means for preventing activation of the ultraviolet light source when the cap is not coupled to the receptacle and/or the filtering unit.

41. The bottle of claim 34, further comprising:

means for deactiving the ultraviolet light source in response to an indication that a dosage of ultraviolet light sufficient to disinfect the fluid has been applied.

42. An improved-efficiency ultraviolet disinfection device, comprising:

a chamber; and

a black body radiator disposed within the chamber, wherein the black body radiator is adapted to emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum;

wherein at least a portion of the chamber is constructed and arranged to reflect an amount of light emitted by the black body radiator back toward the black body radiator such that the reflected light is incident upon the back body radiator; and

wherein the amount is sufficient to cause regenerative heating of the black body radiator.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the black body radiator comprises a thermalized plasma.

44. A method of improving the efficiency of a black body radiator disposed within a housing and adapted to emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum, the method comprising acts of:

emitting light of both desirable and undesirable wavelengths from the black body radiator;

transmitting the light of desirable wavelengths through the housing;

reflecting the light of undesirable wavelengths off the housing and towards the black body radiator; and

using the reflected light of undesirable wavelengths, causing regenerative heating of the black body radiator.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the light of desirable wavelengths comprises light in the ultraviolet spectrum, and wherein the light of undesirable wavelengths comprises light in the visible spectrum.

46. A replaceable module for a faucet-mountable treatment device, the module comprising:

a filter adapted to filter a fluid of at least some particulate matter and/or chemicals; and

a reflective material disposed on the filter, the reflective material adapted to reflect light in the ultraviolet range.