Double chamber water purification device

• US 8,394,268 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miracle Straw Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Miracle Straw Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Brien, Paul W., Engel, Mogens
• Primary Examiner(s): KURTZ, BENJAMIN M
• Application Number:
  US12/509,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100032381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/200
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/002 using small portable filters for producing potable water, e.g. personal travel or emergency equipment, survival kits, combat gear C02F1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/208 Off-grid powered water treatment

Abstract

A portable device for filtering and purifying water comprised of an outer chamber and an inner chamber that is slidable within a section of the outer chamber, and a small pore size pre-filter, whereby water is drawn through the pre-filter into the first container section of the outer chamber where it is isolated and treated with a disinfectant agent, then is drawn out of the first container section and into the second container section, and then into the inner chamber, where it is passed across another filtering material such as an activated carbon bed, removing any remaining contaminants before the potable water exits through a mouthpiece.

Claims

1. A portable water purification apparatus comprising:

(a) a first chamber into which water to be purified may be drawn through an inlet by suction (or negative pressure), said first chamber being divided into at least two separated compartments,

(b) a second chamber having an inlet into which water from the first chamber can be forced by a pumping action (or positive pressure), said second chamber being slideable within one of the compartments of the first chamber to provide both said negative pressure for drawing water into the first chamber as the second chamber is withdrawn partially from the first chamber, and to provide said positive pressure as the second chamber is returned into said first chamber,

(c) a filter disposed at the inlet to the first chamber for preliminary filtration of water being drawn into the first chamber,

(d) one of said compartments in the first chamber being adapted to hold a disinfecting agent,

(e) a micro-filter positioned within the second chamber through which water can be forced by said pumping action to an outlet in the second chamber for purified water,

(f) a mouthpiece at the outlet to the second chamber through which water forced through the micro-filter is directed, and

(g) one-way check valves positioned at the inlets to the first and second chambers and between said separate compartments of the first chamber to allow passage of water in only one direction into the first chamber, through the compartments of the first chamber, and from the first chamber into the second chamber, but not in a reverse direction.

2. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first chamber is divided into two separate compartments which may be physically associated and disassociated from each other.

3. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said filter can be attached to the second chamber and clean water backflushed through said filter to unclog and clean said filter.

4. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said compartments are interchangeable.

5. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which one of the compartments is permanently sealed and contains a disinfecting agent whereby once the agent has been depleted the compartment is disposed of and replaced with a new compartment section.

6. A portable purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the first and second chambers are in the form of close fitting tubular elements with the second chamber in sliding engagement with the first chamber.

7. A portable purification apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the walls of the tubular elements are transparent or translucent to allow the operator to monitor the internal operation.

8. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 6 additionally comprising a flexible gasket means between the walls of the tubular elements to seal against leakage of water.

9. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 8 additionally comprising a threaded connection between said second chamber and mouth piece, and between said first chamber and filter, and said filter is threadably attachable over the outlet to said second chamber to allow liquid to be passed through the filter in a reverse direction to remove debris from said filter.

10. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said mouthpiece is provided as a cap member having an internal orifice through which liquid can exit said second chamber, and a peripheral lip to facilitate grasping said second chamber and moving it in a telescoping manner with respect to said first chamber.

11. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said apparatus is customizable to treat water containing particular contaminants by utilizing different disinfecting agents and micro-filters.

12. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said filter has a pore size of less than ten microns.

13. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said second chamber has a plurality of compartments.

14. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 additionally comprising a cap assembly for operably securing said apparatus to the mouth of a water container and for purifying water in said container.

15. A portable water purification apparatus comprising:

(a) a first chamber into which water to be purified may be drawn through an inlet by suction (or negative pressure), said first chamber being divided into at least two separated compartments which may be physically associated and disassociated from each other and are interchangeable,

(b) a second chamber having an inlet into which water from the first chamber can be forced by a pumping action (or positive pressure), said second chamber being slideable within one of the compartments of the first chamber to provide both said negative pressure for drawing water into the first chamber as the second chamber is withdrawn partially from the first chamber, and to provide said positive pressure as the second chamber is returned into said first chamber,

(c) a filter disposed at the inlet to the first chamber for preliminary filtration of water being drawn into the first chamber,

(d) one of said compartments in the first chamber being adapted to hold a disinfecting agent,

(e) a micro-filter positioned within the second chamber through which water can be forced by said pumping action to an outlet in the second chamber for purified water,

(f) a mouthpiece positionable at said outlet to the second chamber through which water forced through the micro-filter is directed,

(g) one-way check valves positioned at the inlets to the first and second chambers and between said separate compartments of the first chamber to allow passage of water in only one direction into the first chamber, through the compartments of the first chamber, and from the first chamber into the second chamber, but not in a reverse direction; and

(h) a cap assembly for operably securing said apparatus to the mouth of a water container and for purifying water in said container.

16. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 15 in which said second chamber has a plurality of compartments.

17. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 15 in which said apparatus is customizable to treat water containing particular contaminants by utilizing different disinfecting agents and micro-filters.

18. A portable water purification apparatus comprising:

(a) a first chamber into which water to be purified may be drawn through an inlet by suction (or negative pressure), said first chamber being divided into a plurality of separated compartments,

(b) a second chamber having an inlet into which water from the first chamber can be forced by a pumping action (or positive pressure), said first and second chambers both in the form of close fitting tubular elements with the second chamber in sliding engagement with one of the compartments of the first chamber to provide both said negative pressure for drawing water into the first chamber as the second chamber is withdrawn partially from the first chamber, and to provide said positive pressure as the second chamber is returned into said first chamber,

(c) a filter detachable connected at the inlet to the first chamber for preliminary filtration of water being drawn into the first chamber, said filter also threadably connectable over an outlet to said second chamber to allow liquid to be passed through the filter in a reverse direction to remove debris from said filter,

(d) one of said compartments in the first chamber being adapted to hold a disinfecting agent,

(e) a micro-filter positioned within the second chamber through which water can be forced by said pumping action to said outlet in the second chamber for purified water,

(f) a flexible gasket positioned on the outer surface of the second chamber to seal against leakage of water between the first and second chambers,

(g) a mouthpiece threadably connectable to said outlet to the second chamber through which water forced through the micro-filter is directed, said mouthpiece having an internal orifice through which liquid can exit said mouthpiece, and a peripheral lip to facilitate moving said second chamber in a telescoping manner with respect to said first chamber,

(h) one-way check valves positioned at the inlets to the first and second chambers and between said separate compartments of the first chamber to allow passage of water in only one direction into the first chamber, through the compartments of the first chamber, and from the first chamber into the second chamber, but not in a reverse direction,

(i) said second chamber also having a plurality of separated compartments.

19. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 18 in which said filter has a pore size of less than ten microns.

20. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 18 additionally comprising a cap assembly for operably securing said apparatus to the mouth of a water container and for purifying water in said container.