Method and apparatus for disinfecting a refrigerated water cooler reservoir

• US 7,640,766 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Original Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Inventors: Shelton, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US10/463,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,394 Days
• Field of Search: 222/185.1, 222/190, 222/146.6, 653/18, 653/89, 653/92
• US Class Current: 62/389
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00013 Sterilising means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00023 Oxygenators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0029 provided with holders for bottles or similar containers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/685 Devices for dosing the additives
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• 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

A method and apparatus for providing sanitized water in a cabinet and spigot type bottled water dispenser features an ozone generating system to generate ozone for sanitizing the water. Ozone is generated and collected within an ozone generator housing. A blower transmits air to the ozone generator housing. The air carries the ozone that is generated through a flow line to an air diffuser that is positioned upstream of the spigot (or spigots) used to dispense water. In one embodiment, a valve that is activated on the spigot to dispense water also activates the blower and ozone generator. In other embodiments, a flow sensor activates the ozone generator and blower. Various spigot and flow sensor arrangements are disclosed as a part of the overall apparatus and method.

Claims

1. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions;

b) an unpressurized reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

c) a diffuser that occupies the reservoir, for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

d) one or more spigots on the cabinet for dispensing water from the reservoir;

e) an ozone generator housing positioned next to the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing;

f) air flow lines for transmitting air between the ozone generator and the diffuser; and

g) a pump that pumps air from the housing to the diffuser via the flow lines; and

h) wherein the pump output is between about 1-10 liters per minute and the diffuser has a median pore size of 10-60 microns.

2. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein pump output is between about 1.5-2.0 liters per minute.

3. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pump is a variable airflow motorized diaphragm pump.

4. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least one of the spigots has ports that receive ozone via a flow line.

5. The bottled water dispenser of claim 4 wherein the ports include a port having a diffuser.

6. The bottled water dispenser of claim 5 wherein the diffuser is removable.

7. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pump is an electromagnetic pump.

8. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pump has a maximum shut in pressure of about 34 kPa.

9. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pump has an open flow pressure of about 0.7 kPa.

10. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the diffuser has a median pore size of about 10-40 microns.

11. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the diffuser generates bubbles that have a rise velocity of between about 4.3-15.2 centimeters per second.

12. The bottled water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the diffuser is of a sintered metal material.

13. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

c) a diffuser that occupies the reservoir, for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

d) one or more spigots on the cabinet for dispensing water from the reservoir;

e) an ozone generator housing positioned next to the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing;

f) air flow lines for transmitting air between the ozone generator and the diffuser; and

g) a pump that pumps air from the housing to the diffuser via the flow lines;

h) wherein the pump output is between about 1-10 liters per minute; and

i) wherein the diffuser is of a material that has pores and pore channels and wherein the pore channels have a spacing that prevents bubble stream lateral coalescing over about 10-35% of surface area.

14. A bottled water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir containing water with a water surface;

c) a diffuser that occupies the reservoir, for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

d) one or more spigots on the cabinet for dispensing water from the reservoir;

e) an ozone generator housing positioned next to the cabinet, said housing having an ozone generator inside the housing;

f) air flow lines for transmitting air between the ozone generator and the diffuser; and

g) a pump that pumps air from the housing to the diffuser via the flow lines;

h) wherein the pump output is between about 1-10 liters per minute; and

i) wherein the diffuser is of a low pressure diffuser material veneered with high surface energy to water interfacial tension ratios for generating smaller bubbles.