Integrated reverse osmosis water treatment and storage system

• US 5,358,635 A
• Filed: 04/16/1993
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecowater Systems LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecowater Systems LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frank, Marlin A., Merchak, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPEAR JR, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/048,602
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 210/257.2, 210/90, 210/85, 210/134, 210/136, 210/259
• US Class Current: 210/90
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/081 used at home, e.g. kitchen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis

Abstract

A reverse osmosis water processing and storage system having a prefilter, reverse osmosis membrane assembly, and a storage volume contained within a first tank. The prefilter and reverse osmosis membrane assembly are located within a second tank which is in turn located within an expandable bladder which is received within the first tank. Processed water is stored in the volume provided between the second tank and the expandable bladder.

Claims

1. A reverse osmosis system comprising:

a pressure tank having an open end,

an expandable bladder received within said pressure tank, said bladder having an open end,

means for securing and sealing said open end of said bladder in said open end of said pressure tank, so as to form a first enclosed variable volume between said pressure tank and said bladder,

a second tank assembly including a second tank received within said bladder, said second tank having an open end and a closed end,

means for securing and sealing said second tank assembly in the open end of said bladder, so as to form a second enclosed variable volume between said bladder and said second tank,

a prefilter and a reverse osmosis membrane assembly received within said second tank,

said second tank assembly including a cap for closing said open end of said second tank,

said second tank assembly having a first opening through which raw water may enter said second tank, such that the raw water may flow through said prefilter to said reverse osmosis membrane assembly,

said second tank assembly having a second opening through which purified product water which has passed through said prefilter and said reverse osmosis membrane assembly may flow into said second variable volume,

said second tank assembly having a third opening through which concentrated water which has passed through said prefilter but not through said reverse osmosis membrane assembly may flow for disposal,

said second variable volume having a discharge opening through which purified product water may flow for use,

whereby a reverse osmosis system including a prefilter, a reverse osmosis assembly and a storage tank for purified product water is constructed as compact assembly.

2. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein a check valve is provided in said second opening, such that purified product water may flow from said second tank into said second enclosed variable volume, but not from said second enclosed variable volume into said second tank.

3. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein a flow regulator is provided in said third opening to regulate the flow of concentrated water.

4. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein a shutoff valve is provided in said first opening for controlling the supply of feed water.

5. The reverse osmosis system of claim 4, wherein said shutoff valve is automatically opened and closed in response to the pressure of the purified product water in said second enclosed variable volume.

6. The reverse osmosis system of claim 5, wherein said shutoff valve is of the pressure diaphragm type, with the diaphragm being subjected to the pressure of purified product water in said second enclosed variable volume, such that when said pressure drops to a predetermined level, said valve opens to permit raw water to enter said second pressure tank through said first opening.

7. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein said first and third openings are formed in said cap.

8. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein said pressure tank, said bladder, said second tank, said hollow prefilter, and said reverse osmosis membrane assembly are all of a generally elongated cylindrical shape having a top and a bottom.

9. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein said second opening into said second tank is formed in the bottom of said second tank.

10. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein a first supporting means is provided on the bottom of said second tank and a second supporting means is provided on said cap for supporting said hollow prefilter and said reverse osmosis membrane assembly in said second tank such that raw water entering said second tank must first flow through said prefilter and then through said reverse osmosis assembly to reach said second opening.

11. The reverse osmosis system of claim 10, wherein said first supporting means comprises a pair of generally concentric annular projections, one of which makes a sealing engagement with the bottom of said hollow prefilter and the other of which makes a sealing engagement with the bottom of said reverse osmosis membrane assembly.

12. The reverse osmosis system of claim 10, wherein said second supporting means comprises a pair of generally concentric annular projections, one of which makes a sealing engagement with the top of said hollow prefilter, and the other of which makes a sealing engagement with the top of said reverse osmosis membrane assembly.

13. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein a flange is provided on said second tank adjacent said open end, said open end of said bladder being engaged between the open end of the pressure tank and said flange to provide a first seal between said pressure tank and said bladder and a second seal between said bladder and said second tank.

14. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein said cap on said second tank may be easily removed to remove and replace said hollow prefilter and said reverse osmosis membrane assembly.

15. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein a post filter is supported by said pressure tank, and means are provided to cause the stored product water to pass through said post filter prior to its use.

16. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein the air in said first enclosed variable volume is compressed by the expansion of said second variable volume as it is filled with purified product water, whereby based on the ideal gas law principle, the pressure of the air, and the material resistance of the bladder to expansion, supplies the pressure to deliver the purified product water through said discharge opening for use.

17. The reverse osmosis system of claim 1, wherein the back pressure of the purified product water in said second variable volume is minimized, thus increasing the differential of the back pressure and thereby the solvent flux rate, so as to provide increased production of purified product water.