Water treatment device

• US 5,944,973 A
• Filed: 09/26/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watertek International, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Watertek International, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hall, Charles Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorgos, Kathryn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leader, William T.
• Application Number:
  US08/938,809
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 204/557, 204/664, 210/222, 210/223, 210/695, 99/286
• US Class Current: 204/664
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/54 Water boiling vessels in beverage making machines
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/605 Water filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/481 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/705 Reduction by metals
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/0092 Devices for preventing or removing corrosion, slime or scale

Abstract

There are provided water treatment devices which include a hollow member comprising copper, an inside layer comprising silver on the inside surface of the hollow member, an outside layer comprising silver on the outside surface of the hollow member, a first end cap attached to a first end of the hollow member, a second end cap attached to a second end of the hollow member, the first and second end caps each having an outer surface layer comprising silver, a magnet positioned within an interior space inside the hollow member, and a mixture comprising at least two materials selected from the group consisting of powdered iron, powdered manganese, powdered zinc, powdered copper, powdered graphite, cellulose and propylene glycol positioned within the interior space. In addition, there are provided methods of making water treatment devices, and methods of treating water.

Claims

1. A water treatment device, comprising:

a hollow member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end and a second end, said hollow member comprising copper;

an inside layer comprising silver on said inside surface of said hollow member;

an outside layer comprising silver on said outside surface of said hollow member;

a first end cap attached to said first end of said hollow member, said first end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

a second end cap attached to said second end of said hollow member, said second end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

said first and second end caps and said inside layer defining an interior space inside said hollow member;

a magnet positioned within said interior space; and

a mixture comprising at least two materials selected from the group consisting of powdered iron, powdered manganese, powdered zinc, powdered copper, powdered graphite, cellulose and propylene glycol positioned within said interior space.

2. A water treatment device as recited in claim 1, wherein said hollow member has a circular cross-section.

3. A water treatment device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first end cap is brazed to said first end of said hollow member, and said second end cap is brazed to said second end of said hollow member.

4. A water treatment device as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnet is an aluminum--nickel--cobalt magnet.

5. A coffee brewing apparatus, comprising:

a water heating tank defining a tank interior;

a water fill tube positioned within said tank interior;

a heating element positioned within said tank interior;

a hollow member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end and a second end, said hollow member comprising copper and being positioned within said tank interior;

an inside layer comprising silver on said inside surface of said hollow member;

an outside layer comprising silver on said outside surface of said hollow member;

a first end cap attached to said first end of said hollow member, said first end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

a second end cap attached to said second end of said hollow member, said second end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

said first and second end caps and said inside layer defining an interior space inside said hollow member;

a magnet positioned within said interior space; and

a mixture comprising at least two materials selected from the group consisting of powdered iron, powdered manganese, powdered zinc, powdered copper, powdered graphite, cellulose and propylene glycol positioned within said interior space.

6. A coffee brewing apparatus, comprising:

a water heating tank defining a tank interior;

means for supplying water to said tank interior;

means for heating said water in said tank interior;

a hollow member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end and a second end, said hollow member comprising copper and being positioned within said tank interior;

an inside layer comprising silver on said inside surface of said hollow member;

an outside layer comprising silver on said outside surface of said hollow member;

a first end cap attached to said first end of said hollow member, said first end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

a second end cap attached to said second end of said hollow member, said second end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

said first and second end caps and said inside layer defining an interior space inside said hollow member;

a magnet positioned within said interior space; and

a mixture comprising at least two materials selected from the group consisting of powdered iron, powdered manganese, powdered zinc, powdered copper, powdered graphite, cellulose and propylene glycol positioned within said interior space.

7. A method of treating water, comprising placing into water a water treatment device comprising a hollow member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end and a second end, said hollow member comprising copper;

an inside layer comprising silver on said inside surface of said hollow member;

an outside layer comprising silver on said outside surface of said hollow member;

a first end cap attached to said first end of said hollow member, said first end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

a second end cap attached to said second end of said hollow member, said second end cap having an outer surface layer comprising silver;

said first and second end caps and said inside layer defining an interior space inside said hollow member;

a magnet positioned within said interior space; and

a mixture comprising at least two materials selected from the group consisting of powdered iron, powdered manganese, powdered zinc, powdered copper, powdered graphite, cellulose and propylene glycol positioned within said interior space.

8. A method of treating water as recited in claim 7, wherein wherein said hollow member has a circular cross-section.

9. A method of treating water as recited in claim 7, wherein said first end cap is brazed to said first end of said hollow member, and said second end cap is brazed to said second end of said hollow member.

10. A method of treating water as recited in claim 7, wherein said magnet is an aluminum--nickel--cobalt magnet.