Device for purifying and dispensing water

• US 5,928,505 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Heiuchi, Takahiro, Inakagata, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US08/979,788
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 433/80, 433/82, 433/85, 433/86, 433/87, 433/88, 433/84, 601/162, 210/86.91, 210/143, 210/149, 210/243, 210/188, 422/186.04, 204/228.1, 204/228.2, 204/229.2, 204/229.4, 204/242, 204/271, 204/273, 204/274, 320/103, 320/108, 320/137, 320/138, 320/150, 320/125, 320/126, 320/DIG. 28-30, 363/18
• US Class Current: 210/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/02 Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication combined with receptacles for spittle A61C17/14; combined with power-driven cleaning or polishing devices A61C17/16
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4674 with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46125 Electrical variables
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4613 Inversing polarity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4615 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46155 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46165 Special power supply, e.g. solar energy or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4617 DC only
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a water purification and dispensing apparatus which receives power through induction to eliminate the presence of exposed electrical contacts terminals. The water dispenser includes a motor driven pump, a water storage area, a rechargeable battery and a nozzle, such that water is pumped from the water storage area out through the nozzle. Two electrodes are provided in either the water storage area or a separate tank for purifying water placed therein. When the dispenser and/or purifying tank is mounted on a base, inductors in the base, the dispenser, and the tank connect via mutual inductance such that power supplied by the base is received by the dispenser and tank. Since power transfers magnetically, there are no exposed contact points which could corrode and/or short if water is accidentally spilled thereon.

Claims

1. A device for purifying and dispensing a fluid, comprising:

a dispenser including a fluid storage area, a pump which pumps fluid from said fluid storage area, and a first power receiving circuit having a first rechargeable battery for powering said pump;

a purifying tank including a fluid purification area having a pair of electrodes and a second power receiving circuit connected to said pair of electrodes;

said first and second power receiving circuits including at least first and second inductors, respectively;

a base having a power supply circuit including at least third and fourth inductors, said dispenser and said purifying tank being removably mounted on said base such that said first and third inductors and said second and fourth inductors are in sufficient proximity to each other to form mutual inductance therebetween when said dispenser and said purification tank are mounted on said base, respectively, such that current passing through said third inductor induces current in said first inductor, and current passing through said fourth inductor induces current in said second inductor.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a variable switch for changing an operating speed of said pump.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a stirrer which stirs fluid in said purifying tank.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said stirrer is positioned at a bottom of said purifying tank.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said stirrer is inactive when voltage is applied to said pair of electrodes.

6. The device of claim 3, further comprising a temperature adjusting element associated with said purifying tank to at least one of increase and decrease a temperature of a fluid in said purifying tank.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said second power receiving circuit further comprises a timer circuit which controls the period of time that voltage is applied to said pair of electrodes.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said second power receiving circuit further comprises a constant current circuit for providing a constant current to said pair of electrodes.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a variable switch which adjusts an amount of current produced by said constant current circuit.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said second power receiving circuit further comprises a switching circuit which changes a direction of current flow between said pair of electrodes.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said switching circuit only changes said direction of current flow once during a purification cycle.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said switching circuit gradually decreases the current before changing said direction of current flow, and then gradually increases the current after changing said direction of current flow.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said first power receiving circuit receives power through mutual inductance between said first and third inductors to apply voltage to charge said first rechargeable battery.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said second power receiving circuit receives power through mutual inductance between said second and fourth inductors to apply voltage to said pair of electrodes.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said second power receiving circuit receives power through mutual inductance between said second and fourth inductors to charge a second rechargeable battery in said second power circuit, said second battery applying voltage to said pair of electrodes through a switch.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said first power source further comprises a mechanism which prevents the application of voltage to said pair of electrodes when said purifying tank does not have enough fluid to create a current path between said electrodes.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said purifying tank has a lid with a catalyst which absorbs gases produced during purification of said fluid, and an opening to expel said gases.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said purification tank has a pivoted lid and a switch associated with said lid which prevents current from flowing to said electrodes when said lid is open.

19. The device of claim 1, said power supplying circuit further comprising a circuit which minimizes a current flow through said first and second inductors when said purification tank is not mounted on said base, and which increases said current flow through said first and second inductors when said purification tank is mounted on said base.

20. A device for purifying and dispensing a fluid, comprising:

a dispenser including a fluid purification area, a pump which pumps fluid from said fluid purification area, and a first power receiving circuit having a first rechargeable battery for powering said pump;

said fluid purification area having a pair of electrodes and a second power receiving circuit connected to said pair of electrodes;

said first and second power receiving circuits including at least first and second inductors, respectively;

a base having a power supply circuit including at least third and fourth inductors, said dispenser being removably mounted on said base such that said first and third inductors and second and fourth inductors are in sufficient proximity to each other to form mutual inductance therebetween when said dispenser is mounted on said base, such that said current passing through said third inductor induces current in said first inductor, and current passing through said fourth inductor induces current in said second inductor.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising a variable switch for changing an operating speed of said pump.

22. The device of claim 20, further comprising a stirrer which stirs fluid in said purifying tank.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said stirrer is positioned at a bottom of said purifying tank.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein said stirrer is inactive when voltage is applied to said pair of electrodes.

25. The device of claim 22, further comprising a temperature adjusting element associated with said purifying tank to at least one of increase and decrease a temperature of a fluid in said purifying tank.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein said second power receiving circuit further comprises a timer circuit which controls the period of time that voltage is applied to said pair of electrodes.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein said second power receiving circuit further comprises a constant current circuit for providing a constant current to said pair of electrodes.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising a variable switch which adjusts an amount of current produced by said constant current circuit.

29. The device of claim 20, wherein said second power receiving circuit further comprises a switching circuit for changing a direction of current flow between said pair of electrodes.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said switching circuit only changes said direction of current flow once during a purification cycle.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein said switching circuit gradually decreases the current before changing said direction of current flow, and then gradually increases the current after changing said direction of current flow.

32. The device of claim 20, wherein said first power receiving circuit receives power through mutual inductance between said first and third inductors to apply voltage to charge said first rechargeable battery.

33. The device of claim 20, wherein said second power receiving circuit receives power through mutual inductance between said second and fourth inductors to apply voltage to said pair of electrodes.

34. The device of claim 20, wherein said second power receiving circuit receives power through mutual inductance between said second and fourth inductors to charge a second rechargeable battery in said second power circuit, said second battery applying voltage to said pair of electrodes through a switch.

35. The device of claim 20, wherein said first power source further comprises a mechanism which prevents the application of voltage to said pair of electrodes when said purifying tank does not have enough fluid to create a current path between said electrodes.

36. The device of claim 20, wherein said purifying tank has a lid with a catalyst which absorbs gases produced during purification of said fluid, and an opening to expel said gases.

37. The device of claim 20, wherein said purification tank has a pivoted lid and a switch associated with said lid which prevents current from flowing to said electrodes when said lid is open.

38. The device of claim 20, said power supplying circuit further comprising a circuit which minimizes a current flow through said first and second inductors when said purification tank is not mounted on said base, and which increases said current flow through said first and second inductors when said purification tank is mounted on said base.