Monitoring process for a reverse osmosis purification system of drinking water

• US 5,853,599 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chao Fou Hsu, Ying Lin Cai
• Original Assignee: Chao Fou Hsu
• Inventors: Hsu, Chao Fou
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US08/613,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/87, 210/90, 210/93, 210/96.1, 210/96.2, 210/100, 210/103, 210/108, 210/138, 210/143, 210/257.2, 210/258, 210/259, 210/321.69, 210/416.3, 210/636 , 210/652, 210/739, 210/741, 210/746, 210/806, 210/195.2, 364/479.01, 364/479.1, 364/479.14, 364/496, 364/497, 364/499-502, 364/509, 364/510, 364/550, 340/603, 340/606, 340/609
• US Class Current: 210/739
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/085 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating

Abstract

A monitoring device for a reverse osmosis purification system of drinking water comprising a microprocessor that controls the overall operations of the monitoring system, a LCD indicating circuit that relates information to maintenance personnel, a detecting means that analyses related data for determining the condition and extents of clogging of the reverse osmosis filtration elements, a warning means that produces verbal or musical sound for warning consumers about the clogged condition of the reverse osmosis filtration elements, and a power switching means that cuts off electricity supply to the water pump of the purification system. In operation, the reverse osmosis filtration elements will be clogged by impurities after being used for a period of time. If the reverse osmosis filtration elements are clogged, the monitoring device will make a sound to warn of such condition of the reverse osmosis filtration elements and will eventually cut off the power supply to the pump for stopping water delivery if the clogged reverse osmosis filtration elements are not replaced after a certain period of time.

Claims

1. A monitoring process for a reverse osmosis purification system for drinking water which comprises at least a reverse osmosis filtration element and a water pressure pump for pumping pressurized water through said reverse osmosis filtration element, comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting and formatting a specific service life datum of said reverse osmosis filtration element into a microprocessor as a predetermined reference value, wherein said specific service life datum is a water flow value at a water outlet of said reverse osmosis filtration element when said reverse osmosis filtration element is clogged with impurities and becomes ineffective;

(b) monitoring a functional condition of said reverse osmosis filtration element by at least a detector which is a water flow detecting sensor installed at said water outlet of said reverse osmosis filtration element, wherein said monitoring of said reverse osmosis filtration element is operated by detecting a reduction in an outlet water flow amount at said water outlet of said reverse osmosis filtration element and transmitting a detected signal to a reverse osmosis detecting circuitry which is connected with said detector and said microprocessor;

(c) generating a condition detecting value with respect to said functional condition that is said detected signal regarding said outlet water flow amount of said reverse osmosis filtration and element and comparing said condition detecting value with said predetermined reference value, regarding said service life of said reverse osmosis filtration element, by said reverse osmosis detecting circuitry;

(d) temporarily ceasing supply of drinking water from said reverse osmosis filtration element by a power switching means which is activated by said microprocessor periodically, so as to backwash and clean said reverse osmosis filtration element;

(e) sending a digital signal, which is readable by said microprocessor, to said microprocessor by said reverse osmosis detecting circuitry when said condition detecting value of said reverse osmosis filtration element is detected approximating to said predetermined reference value, indicating that said service life of said reverse osmosis filtration element is expired;

(f) sending an activation signal to a warning means which is electrically connected with said microprocessor and advancing a warning information sound signal by said warning means to remind a timing of replacing said reverse osmosis filtration element;

(g) cutting off electric power to said water pressure pump to cease drinking water supply of said reverse osmosis purification system by said power switching means which is electrically connected with said microprocessor and activated by said microprocessor when said warning means is activated to generate said warning information sound signal for a time period exceeding a predetermined period of time; and

(h) manually stopping said warning information sound signal of said warning means and restarting said reverse osmosis purification system to produce drinking water again when said reverse osmosis filtration element is replaced by another new reverse osmosis filtration element.