UV LIQUID STORAGE AND DISPENSING DEVICE

• US 20110084006A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mr. Chiaphua Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Mr. Chiaphua Industries Limited
• Inventors: Wu, Ka Shing
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/85
• 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 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/04 as part of a pitcher or jug
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

A liquid storage and dispensing device with a filter for removing minerals and a UV light source for killing pathogens existing in a liquid. A liquid is introduced into the device via the inlet. The liquid passes through the filter into a collector. The filtered liquid flows from the collector through a thru passage into a UV chamber. The UV light source emits UV rays through a UV transmissive wall into the interior portion of the UV chamber. Exposure to the UV light kills pathogens present in the filtered liquid. Substantially purified liquid can then be dispensed from an outlet.

Claims

1. A liquid storage and dispensing device comprising:

a liquid chamber positioned between an inlet for receiving incoming liquid and an outlet for dispensing outgoing liquid, the inlet, liquid chamber and outlet in fluid communication with each other;

a filtration unit that filters chlorine, contaminants, and/or minerals from the incoming liquid and a light source that emits light with wavelengths in the UV spectrum positioned within the liquid chamber, wherein

the filtration unit and the UV light source are positioned so that all liquid entering the inlet passes through the filtration unit and is exposed to the emitted UV light prior to dispensing from the outlet.

2. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the filtration unit is positioned upstream of the light source.

3. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the filtration unit is removable and replaceable.

4. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the filtration unit is a gravity filter with granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin.

5. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the liquid chamber further comprises a filtration compartment in fluid communication with a UV compartment, the filtration compartment and UV compartment being fluidly connected via a through opening positioned therebetween.

6. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the UV compartment further comprises an exit opening and the exit opening and through opening are sufficiently narrow so that filtered liquid remains in the UV compartment for a duration sufficient for the UV light to kill 99% of the pathogens present in the liquid prior to dispensing from the outlet.

7. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 5, wherein liquid entering through the inlet follows a fluid path through the filtration unit into the filtration compartment to the UV compartment and out of the UV compartment, and the duration of time that the liquid is exposed to UV light is regulated by the configuration of one or more openings along the fluid path.

8. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the UV compartment is elongated and has an interior portion and a tubular hollow portion extending into the interior portion, and the hollow portion has walls that are UV transmissive and the light source is positioned to emit UV light through the walls of the hollow portion into the UV compartment interior portion.

9. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the light source is removable and replaceable.

10. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 9, further comprising a safety device that prevents the UV light source from illuminating when the light source is not properly engaged with the dispensing device.

11. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 10, wherein the UV light source further comprises a UV bulb and a power source and the safety device measures the capacity of said power source and provides a warning when the power source is too low to power the UV bulb and/or when the power source is too low to complete the coming sterilizing cycle by UV light.

12. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the light source further comprises a UV bulb and a power source and the power source is rechargeable.

13. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 9, wherein the light source further comprises a UV bulb and a power source and the power source is rechargeable.

14. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the light source is removable.

15. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 7, wherein the filtration unit and light source are removable and replaceable, the light source further comprises a UV bulb and a rechargeable power source, and the dispensing device further comprises a safety device that provides a warning when the light source is not properly engaged with the dispensing device.

16. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the UV light source emits light in the ultraviolet-C frequency.

17. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 1, comprising a meter for recording the number times that the device is used and providing notification to a user.

18. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the meter provides notification to a user in terms of the number of safe uses remaining before an element of the device should be replaced.

19. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 5, wherein liquid entering through the inlet follows a fluid path through the filtration unit into the filtration compartment, to the UV compartment out of the UV compartment and optionally out of said device, wherein the fluid path comprises a plurality of openings, and the duration of time that the liquid is exposed to UV light is regulated by the configuration of one or more of said openings along the fluid path.

20. The liquid storage and dispensing device of claim 5 wherein liquid entering through the inlet follows a fluid path through the filtration unit into the filtration compartment to the UV compartment and out of the UV compartment and optionally out of said device, wherein the fluid path comprises a plurality of openings, and the duration of time that the liquid is exposed to UV light is regulated by the configuration of all of the openings along the fluid path.