Wireless water purification systems and wireless remote dispensing devices for water purification systems

• US 7,824,543 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Barnstead Thermolyne Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Larkner, Thomas Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US11/537,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 210 85- 87, 210/91, 210/97, 210/137, 210/138, 210/143, 210/323.1, 210/449, 210/459, 210/460, 210/739, 210/744, 210/767, 210/194, 210/195.1, 210/195.2, 210/96.1, 210/322, 210/109, 222/1, 222 23- 26, 222/30, 222/36, 222/40, 222 52- 56, 222/59, 222/189.06, 222/189.08, 222/14, 222/16, 222/20, 340/520, 340/521, 340/603, 340/606, 340/618, 340/825, 700/240, 700/231, 623/89, 623/90
• US Class Current: 210/87
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate

Abstract

Wireless water purification systems and wireless remote dispensing devices for a water purification system. The remote dispensing device is fluidly coupled with the main purification unit. A wireless transceiver is associated with the remote dispensing device and another wireless transceiver is associated with the main purification unit. The wireless transceivers communicate across a wireless communications link between the remote dispensing device and the main purification unit. The system may include multiple remote dispensing devices and/or multiple main purification units.

Claims

1. A wireless system for dispensing purified water, the wireless system comprising:

a main purification unit configured to supply the purified water, the main purification unit including a wireless transceiver;

a remote dispensing device configured to be fluidly coupled with said main purification unit for receiving purified water supplied from said main purification unit, said remote dispensing device including a dispenser, a support structure configured to hold said dispenser, and a flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water for dispensing from said dispenser; and

a wireless transceiver associated with said remote dispensing device, said wireless transceiver of said remote dispensing device and said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit operative to enable communications across a wireless communications link for controlling said flow control valve.

2. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device comprises:

a controller coupled electrically with said electrically-powered component and with said wireless transceiver of said remote dispensing device, said controller adapted to encode first wireless signals for transmission across said wireless communications link to said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit and to decode second wireless signals received across said wireless communications link from said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit.

3. The wireless system of claim 2 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a user interface electrically coupled with said controller, said user interface including a user input device for converting user input to electrical signals and supplying the electrical signals to said controller.

4. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said support structure is detached from said main purification unit.

5. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a battery holder associated with said support structure, said battery holder adapted to receive a battery for powering said flow control valve, said controller, and said wireless transceiver.

6. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a battery holder adapted to receive a battery for powering said wireless transceiver.

7. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceivers are adapted to communicate across said wireless communications link using at least one of ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

8. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceivers are adapted to communicate across said wireless communications link using at least one of microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

9. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises a flow sensor adapted to measure a flow rate of the purified water at said remote dispensing device.

10. The wireless system of claim 9 wherein said main purification unit includes a purity sensor configured to monitor a purity of the purified water supplied from the main purification unit to the remote dispensing device.

11. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said main purification unit includes a fluid circuit, an inlet to the fluid circuit, and an outlet from the fluid circuit, and said manifold of said remote dispensing device is fluidly coupled with said outlet for receiving a flow of the purified water from the fluid circuit and is fluidly coupled with said inlet for returning the flow of the purified water to the fluid circuit.

12. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a base, a support arm extending from said base, and a bracket on said support arm, said dispenser configured to be mounted in said bracket, and said base configured to support said remote dispensing device on a surface.

13. The wireless system of claim 12 wherein said support arm is configured to be manipulated to position said dispenser relative to said base when said dispenser is mounted in said bracket.

14. The wireless system of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device includes a manifold configured to be fluidly coupled with the main purification unit for receiving the purified water supplied from the main purification unit, and said flow control valve is configured to selectively divert the purified water from said manifold to said dispenser.

15. A wireless system for dispensing purified water, the wireless system comprising:

a main purification unit configured to supply the purified water, said main purification unit including a wireless transceiver;

a first remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said main purification unit for receiving purified water, said first remote dispensing device including a first dispenser, a first support structure configured to hold said first dispenser, a first flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water for dispensing from said first dispenser, and a first wireless transceiver operative to communicate across a first wireless communications link with said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit for controlling said first flow control valve; and

a second remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said main purification unit for receiving purified water, said second remote dispensing device including a second wireless transceiver operative to communicate with said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit across a second wireless communications link.

16. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit, said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device, and said second wireless transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

17. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit, said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device, and said second wireless transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

18. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first and second remote dispensing devices further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water at said at least one of said first and second remote dispensing devices.

19. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said main purification unit further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water.

20. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said main purification unit includes a fluid circuit, an inlet to the fluid circuit, and an outlet from the fluid circuit, and said first and said second remote dispensing devices are each fluidly coupled with said outlet for receiving a flow of the purified water from the fluid circuit and is fluidly coupled with said inlet for returning the flow of the purified water to the fluid circuit.

21. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first and second remote dispensing devices-has an input coupled and a recirculation output fluidly with said main purification unit, said input and said recirculation output cooperating to recirculate purified water from said at least one of said first and second remote dispensing devices to said main purification unit.

22. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said second remote dispensing device includes a second dispenser, a second support structure configured to hold said second dispenser, and a second flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water for dispensing from said second dispenser, and said second wireless transceiver is operative to communicate across said second wireless communications link with said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit for controlling said second flow control valve.

23. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said first support structure includes a base, a support arm extending from said base, and a bracket on said support arm, said first dispenser configured to be mounted in said bracket, and said base configured to support said first remote dispensing device on a surface.

24. The wireless system of claim 23 wherein said support arm is configured to be manipulated to position said first dispenser relative to said base when said first dispenser is mounted in said bracket.

25. The wireless apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first remote dispensing device includes a manifold configured to be fluidly coupled with the main purification unit for receiving the purified water supplied from the main purification unit, and said first flow control valve is configured to selectively divert the purified water from said manifold to said dispenser.

26. A wireless system for dispensing purified water, the wireless system comprising:

a first main purification unit configured to supply a first stream of the purified water a main purification unit configured to supply the purified water, the first main purification unit including a first wireless transceiver;

a second main purification unit configured to supply a second stream of the purified water, the second main purification unit including a second wireless transceiver;

a first remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said first main purification unit, said first remote dispensing device including a first dispenser, a first support structure configured to hold said first dispenser, a first flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water for dispensing from said first dispenser, and a first wireless transceiver operative to communicate across a first wireless communications link with said first wireless transceiver for controlling said first flow control valve; and

a second remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said second main purification unit, said second remote dispensing device including a second wireless transceiver operatively coupled with said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit for communication across a second wireless communications link.

27. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said first wireless transceiver of said first main purification unit and said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals, and said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit and said second wireless transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

28. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said first wireless transceiver of said first main purification unit and said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals, and said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit and said second transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

29. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein each of said first and second remote dispensing devices includes a radio frequency identification transponder configured to store data, and each of said main purification units includes a tag reader configured to read the data stored by said radio frequency identification transponder of a corresponding one of said first and second remote dispensing devices.

30. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein each of said first and second remote dispensing devices includes a memory storage device configured to store data, and each of said main purification units includes a reader configured to read the data stored by said memory storage device of a corresponding one of said first and second remote dispensing devices.

31. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein at least one of said first and second remote dispensing devices further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water.

32. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein at least one of said first and second main purification units further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water.

33. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said second remote dispensing device includes a second dispenser, a second support structure configured to hold said second dispenser, and a second flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water for dispensing from said second dispenser, and said second wireless transceiver is operative to communicate across said second wireless communications link with said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit for controlling said second flow control valve.

34. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said first support structure includes a base, a support arm extending from said base, and a bracket on said support arm, said first dispenser configured to be mounted in said bracket, and said base configured to support said first remote dispensing device on a surface.

35. The wireless system of claim 34 wherein said support arm is configured to be manipulated to position said first dispenser relative to said base when said first dispenser is mounted in said bracket.

36. The wireless apparatus of claim 26 wherein said first remote dispensing device includes a manifold configured to be fluidly coupled with the first main purification unit for receiving the purified water supplied from the main purification unit, and said first flow control valve is configured to selectively divert the purified water from said manifold to said dispenser.