Drinking water delivery system with purity indicator

• US 4,885,081 A
• Filed: 10/07/1987
• Issued: 12/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aquest Incorporated
• Inventors: Oliver, Bruce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CINTINS, IVARS C
• Application Number:
  US07/107,861
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/92, 210/93, 210/96.1, 210/96.2, 210/87, 210/257.2, 340/603, 340/620, 340/627, 222/23, 222/25, 422/119
• US Class Current: 210/87
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/05 Conductivity or salinity

Abstract

A plastic faucet having built in LEDs and a pair of electrodes is mounted above a sink for dispensing water from a reverse osmosis purification apparatus installed below the sink or in another remote location. A circuit connected to the electrodes senses the purity of the water dispensed through the faucet each time the valve in the faucet is turned on and illuminates one of the LEDs to automatically indicate on-sight the level of purity to the user. Each time the user dispenses water from the third faucet a visual signal is received which either confirms to the user that the water has an acceptable level of purity or notifies the user that servicing of the purification apparatus is required. An alternate embodiment adapted for use with filtration type purification apparatus has a flow limiter in the faucet and a circuit which adds the time that the valve in the faucet is turned on. The circuit illuminates an LED in the faucet when the cumulative valve on time indicates that a predetermined amount of purified water has been dispensed and that it is time to service the purification apparatus.

Claims

1. A drinking water delivery system for connection to a purification apparatus that receives water from a source and treats the water to remove an amount of unwanted substances from the water, comprising:

a pure water line connectable at a first and thereof to the purification apparatus for conveying treated water therefrom;

faucet means connected to a second end of the pure water line and being manually operable from an OFF condition to an ON condition for dispensing the treated water;

means for providing a visual or audible signal to a person when energized;

a switch actuated in response to the ON condition;

a pair of electrodes;

means for mounting the electrodes for contacting the treated water conveyed through the pure water line; and

circuit means connecting the switch, the electrodes and the signal providing means for charging the electrodes to thereby determine a level of purity of the treated water being dispensed only during the ON condition, and for thereafter energizing the signal providing means only when the treated water has a level of purity above or below a predetermined target purity level.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit means further includes means for intermittently charging the electrodes during the ON condition.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit means includes means for adjusting the predetermined target purity level.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the faucet means includes a handle member rotatable to actuate the switch and also establish the OFF and ON conditions.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the faucet means includes a valve which is opened and closed by rotation of the handle member.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the signal providing means includes at least one LED.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the signal providing means includes a pair of illumination providing devices and the circuits means energizes a first one of the illumination providing devices when the treated water has a level of purity above the target level and energizes a second one of the illumination providing devices when the treated water has a level of purity below the target level.