Water purification apparatus and method of using the same

• US 7,402,239 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ionics Perpetual, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ionics Perpetual, Inc.
• Inventors: Dorward, William Donald Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US11/112,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/87, 210/97, 210/136, 210/198.1, 210/199, 210/243, 210/258, 210/259, 210/263, 210/266, 210/335, 210/416.1, 210/96.1, 210/143, 210/241, 210/337, 210/338, 210/416.3, 210/473, 210/764, 210/192, 204660-665, 422/105, 422/186, 422/186.04
• US Class Current: 210/96.1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

A water purification apparatus, comprising a water pump, wherein the water pump inlet port receives water from an external source, a nonreturn valve in fluid communication with the water pump outlet port, and an ionizer chamber in fluid communication with the nonreturn valve output end, wherein the ionizer chamber doses a bacteriacide into water contained in the ionizer chamber. The apparatus also includes a filter, wherein the input end of the filter is in fluid communication with the output end of the ionizer chamber.

Claims

1. A portable water purification apparatus, comprising:

a hand operated water pump comprising a handle, the water pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, the water pump inlet port receiving water from an external source, the handle being rotatable from a stowage position to an operating movement;

a nonreturn valve, wherein the nonreturn valve has an input end and an output end, wherein the nonreturn valve input end is in fluid communication with the water pump outlet port;

an ionizer chamber, wherein the ionizer chamber has an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the ionizer chamber inlet port is in fluid communication with the nonreturn valve output end;

an ionizer control means which controls dosing of a bacteriacide into water contained in the ionizer chamber by applying an electrical current to the bacteriacide, the ionizer being activated upon a handle movement; and

,

a filter, wherein the filter has an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the filter is in fluid communication with the outlet port of the ionizer chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of bacteriacide to be dosed into the water in the ionizer chamber based on the impedance of the water in the ionizer chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the water pump operating via a stroking type of manual control, each stroke of the water pump handle causing the water pump to push a volume of water through the water pump outlet port, the ionizer control means determining the amount of bacteriacide to be dosed into the water based on the average volume per stroke.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bacteriacide is colloidal silver.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ionizer control means controls dosing of the colloidal silver by applying an electrical current to at least one silver bar.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water in the ionizer chamber based on the impedance of the water in the ionizer chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, the water pump operating via a stroking type of manual control, each stroke of the water pump handle causing the water pump to push a volume of water through the water pump outlet port, the ionizer control means determining the amount of bacteriacide to be dosed into the water based on the average volume per stroke.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ionizer control means controls dosing of the colloidal silver by applying an electrical current to at least one silver bar, and wherein the ionizer control means determines the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water based on the impedance of the water.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter is a multi-stage filter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the multi-stage filter has a sub-micron rating.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one stage of multi-stage filter is comprised of a ceramic filter.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, at least one stage of the multi-stage filter is comprised of a charcoal filter.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the multi-stage filter has a sub-micron rating, wherein at least one stage of the multi-stage filter is comprised of a ceramic filter, and wherein at least one stage of the multi-stage filter is comprised of a charcoal filter.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter is a two stage filter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a first stage of the two stage filter is a ceramic filter, and a second stage of the two stage filter is a charcoal filter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the charcoal filter stage is located nearest the outlet end of the filter.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a strainer, wherein the strainer has a first end and a second end, and a tube, wherein the tube has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tube is connected to the water pump inlet port and the second end of the tube is connected to the first end of the strainer.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, the electrical current being supplied only when the water pump is being operated.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, operation of the water pump being detected by the movement of an emitter past a sensor as the water pump operates.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the emitter comprising a magnet and the sensor comprising a Hall effect sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, the emitter comprising a light emitting diode and the sensor comprising a photo sensor.

22. A portable water purification apparatus, comprising:

a hand operated water pump comprising a handle, the water pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, the water pump inlet port receiving water from an external source, the handle being rotatable from a stowage position to an movement;

a strainer, the strainer having a first end and a second end;

a tube, the tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the tube being connected to the water pump inlet port and the second end of the tube being connected to the first end of the strainer;

a nonreturn valve, the nonreturn valve having an input end and an output end, the nonreturn valve input end being in fluid communication with the water pump outlet port;

an ionizer chamber, the ionizer chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, the ionizer chamber inlet port being in fluid communication with the nonreturn valve output end;

an ionizer control means which controls dosing of colloidal silver into water contained in the ionizer chamber by applying an electrical current to a silver electrode, the ionizer receiving the electrical current from a power supply only when the handle is in the operating position being activated upon a handle movement; and

,

a multi-stage filter, the multi-stage filter having an input end and an output end, the input end of the multi-stage filter being in fluid communication with the outlet port of the ionizer chamber.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, the ionizer control means determining the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water in the ionizer chamber based on the impedance of the water in the ionizer chamber.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, the water pump operating via a stroking type of manual control, each stroke of the water pump handle causing the water pump to push a volume of water through the water pump outlet port, and the ionizer control means determining the amount of colloidal silver to be dosed into the water based on the average volume per stroke.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one stage of the multi-stage filter comprises one of a ceramic filter and a charcoal filter.