Point-of-use water treatment system

• US 6,716,345 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snyder, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Lithgow, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/234,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 210/198.1, 210/748, 422/24, 422/186.3, 250/437, 250/438
• US Class Current: 210/198.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/301 Details of removable closures, lids, caps, filter heads
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/96 in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters B01D29/09, B01D29/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/30 Filter housing constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/004 using large scale industrial sized filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3223 Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/328 Having flow diverters (baffles)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/024 Turbulent
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/026 Spiral, helicoidal, radial
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/04 as part of a pitcher or jug
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• 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

The present invention relates to a point-of-use water treatment system unit (10). The unit (10) includes a filter housing assembly (60) having a filter tank assembly (66) and a closure (64) which utilizes a handle (152) and cammed reciprocating lock blades (146, 150) to secure the closure (64) to the filter tank assembly (66). A UV tank assembly (300) includes a planar baffle plate (322) and a vaned baffle plate (324) to induce plug flow about a UV lamp assembly (280). The UV lamp assembly (280) is used which simultaneously electrically and sealingly mounts to UV tank assembly (300) and electrical cap assembly (290) using a bayonet mount. A bi-planar manifold assembly (40)is used to interconnect components of the WTS unit and to provide an envelope for accommodating a water pipe assembly (34). The bi-planar manifold assembly (40) enhances the compactness of the design of the WTS unit (10). Also, a support plate (26) is disclosed which provides support to subcomponents of the WTS unit (10) while also dissipating heat from a UV tank assembly (300).

Claims

1. A point-of-use water treatment system comprising:

a housing;

a subassembly mounted within said housing, said subassembly including a tank defining a bulb chamber,

a bulb assembly removeably mounted to said subassembly, said bulb assembly including a connector, a bulb mounted to said connector, a light transmissive sleeve surrounding said bulb and a compression nut for securing said sleeve to said connector, said bulb assembly further including an overmold on said compression nut to provide a seal between said compression nut and said sleeve and between said compression nut and said tank.

2. The water treatment system of claim 1 wherein said connector includes external threads and said compression nut includes internal threads, said connector and said compression nut threadedly engaged with one another.

3. The water treatment system of claim 2 wherein said compression nut overmold includes an inboard bead engaging said sleeve and an outboard bead engaging said tank.

4. The water treatment system of claim 3 wherein said connecter includes an annular wedge portion, said annular wedge portion engaging said inboard bead.

5. The water treatment system of claim 4 wherein said overmold is molded from an elastomeric material.

6. A removeable bulb assembly for a point-of-use water treatment system assembly mount comprising:

a connector adapted to removably mount to the assembly mount of the water treatment system;

a bulb mounted to said connector;

a radiation transmissive sleeve surrounding said bulb; and

a compression nut for securing said sleeve to said connector, said compression nut including an overmold on said compression nut to provide a first seal between said compression nut and said sleeve, said compression nut overmold adapted to provide a second seal between said compression nut and a mount of the water treatment system.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said connector includes external threads and said compression nut includes internal threads, said connector and said compression nut threadedly engaged with one another.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said compression nut overmold includes an inboard bead engaging said sleeve and an outboard bead adapted to engage the mount of the water treatment system.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said connector includes an annular wedge portion, said annular wedge portion engaging said inboard bead.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said overmold is molded from an elastomeric material.

11. A method for sealing a removable bulb assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a connector adapted to mount to a water treatment system, the connector having external threads;

mounting a bulb to the connector;

mounting a light transmissive sleeve to the connector about the bulb;

providing a compression nut having internal threads adapted to engage the external threads of the connector;

joining an overmold with the compression nut;

installing the compression nut to the connector over the sleeve, whereby the overmold provides a seal between the sleeve and the compression nut; and

installing the bulb assembly to a tank assembly of the water treatment system, whereby the overmold provides a seal between the compression nut and the tank assembly.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the compression nut overmold includes an inboard bead engaging the sleeve during said first installing step.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the compression nut overmold includes an outboard bead adapted to engage a mount of the water treatment system during said second installing step.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the connector includes an annular wedge portion, the annular wedge portion engaging the inboard bead during said first installing step.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the overmold is molded from an elastometric material.