Fluid purification systems

• US 5,069,782 A
• Filed: 04/26/1990
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Water Systems, Inc. (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Water Systems, Inc. (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Nessim, David, Jamerson, Randy, Tanaka, Kazuna, Kapec, Jeffrey, Chochinov, Allan, Moyher, George C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): POPOVICS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US07/514,603
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 210/192, 210/282, 210/449, 210/459, 210/748, 210/259, 250/435-438, 422/24, 422/186.3, 285/239, 285/243
• US Class Current: 210/192
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• 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

A water purification system has a longitudinal ultraviolet tube, an arrangement of helically-wound coils surrounding the tube and a filter. Water is exposed to ultraviolet energy before and after flowing through the filter. The filter, ultraviolet tube and helically wound coils are all arranged within a unitary housing adapted for kitchen countertop, sink backsplash or under wall cabinet mounting. The system is capable of operatng directly from a kitchen sink faucet. Connecting elements for the coils are specially designed to be leak-proof. A closed, reflective chamber surrounds the ultraviolet arrangement.

Claims

1. In a water purification system having a longitudinal tube for the supply of ultraviolet energy, a pair of helical ultraviolet energy-transparent plastic coils surrounding the tube, and a longitudinal filter, wherein water is exposed to ultraviolet energy before and after flowing through the filter, the improvement comprising:

a unitary housing having a mounting or support surface for mounting said housing to the undersurface of an above-counter kitchen cabinet or the backsplash of a kitchen sink, or supporting said housing on the kitchen countertop;

said filter, ultraviolet tube and helical coils being arranged within said unitary housing;

said filter being disposed directly adjacent to the arrangement of said coils and said ultraviolet tube with the longitudinal axis of said filter parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube;

a water supply tube coupling the unfiltered water to one of the helical coils at a connection point and a water return tube coupling the filtered water from the other of said coils to a kitchen sink faucet at another connection point;

nipple connecting elements utilized at each connection point, said elements having a barbed portion for connection to one of said water carrying tubes and a recessed portion for connection to one of said helical coils;

the ends of each coil extending over the recessed portion of the associated connecting element and being clamped thereto by a rotor clip;

the inner diameter of said water carrying tubes being predetermined to be forced over the barbed portion of the associated connecting element and being secured thereto without the need for additional clamping elements; and

means for operating the system directly from the kitchen sink faucet.

2. The water purification system of claim 1, including a filter housing for said filter element, and barbed connecting elements being mounted on said filter housing for coupling a pair of water supply tubes from said coils to said filter.

3. The water purification system of claim 1, wherein said operating means includes a faucet spout having a diverter valve, and a pair of barbed connecting elements for coupling water supply and return tubes to said faucet.

4. The water purification system of claim 1, including a closed reflecting ultraviolet chamber surrounding the assembly of ultraviolet tube and helical coils.

5. The water purification system of claim 1, wherein all the electrical wires for providing power to the ultraviolet tube are brought to one end of said tube.

6. In a water purification system having a longitudinal tube for the supply of ultraviolet energy, a pair of helical ultraviolet energy-transparent plastic coils surrounding the tube, and a longitudinal filter, wherein water is exposed to ultraviolet energy before and after flowing through the filter, the improvement comprising:

a unitary housing having a mounting or support surface for mounting said housing to the undersurface of an above-counter kitchen cabinet or the backsplash of a kitchen sink, or supporting said housing on the kitchen countertop;

said filter, ultraviolet tube and helical coils being arranged within said unitary housing, and wherein all the electrical wires for providing power to said ultraviolet tube are brought to one end of said tube;

said filter being disposed directly adjacent to the arrangement of said coils and said ultraviolet tube with the longitudinal axis of said filter parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube;

a closed reflecting ultraviolet chamber surrounding the assembly of ultraviolet tube and helical coils;

a water supply tube coupling the unfiltered water to one of the helical coils at a connection point and a water return tube coupling the filtered water from the other of said coils to a kitchen sink faucet at another connection point;

nipple connecting elements utilized at each connection point, said elements having a barbed portion for connection to one of said water carrying tubes and a recessed portion for connection to one of said helical coils;

the ends of each coil extending over the recessed portion of the associated connecting element and being clamped thereto by a rotor clip;

the inner diameter of said water carrying tubes being predetermined to be forced over the barbed portion of the associated connecting element and being secured thereto without the need for additional clamping elements;

a filter housing for said filter elements;

barbed connecting elements being mounted on said filter housing for coupling a pair of water supply tubes from said coils to said filter; and

means for operating the system directly from the kitchen sink faucet, said means including a faucet spout having a diverter valve and a pair of barbed connecting elements for coupling water supply and return tubes to said faucet.