Point-of-use water treatment system

• US 10,183,870 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lautzenheiser, Terry L., Miles, Michael E., Missman, Robert M., Anderson, David J., Furxhi, Ilir, Hopaluk, Liane B., Puroll, Amy Sue, King, Kevin G., Good, Rick G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Madeline
• Application Number:
  US15/160,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20160340202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 210435, 210440, 210443, 210447, 210232, 210234, 210449
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4023 Means for connecting filter housings to supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4053 using keys
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/54 Computerised or programmable systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/30 Filter housing constructions
• 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 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/02 Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/002 Construction details of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/004 Seals, connections
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/04 for domestic or like local supply
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/02 Plumbing installations for fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations

Abstract

A water treatment system having a water treatment engine including a pressure vessel, electronics module and optionally replaceable shrouds. The water treatment engine may include a tether and a single connection point for water and power lines. The tether may have a release that is accessible only when the electronic module is removed. The water treatment engine may be circular and the water and power lines may be arranged within a region bounded by tangent lines that square the circular shape. The electronics module may be configured to receive one of a variety of alternative interchangeable displays. The electronics module may have a single display port that provides power and data that can be utilized by a plurality of different types of displays. The system may include a replaceable cartridge with soft end caps that include an integral seal and are shaped to self-center within the pressure vessel.

Claims

1. A water treatment engine comprising:

a pressure vessel containing a water treatment component, said pressure vessel including a single connection point having a water inlet, a water outlet and a power inlet;

an electronics module removably mounted to said pressure vessel; and

a tether releaseably interfitted with said single connection point, said tether coupled to a water supply line, a water return line and a power line, said tether configured to be fitted into said single connection point with a single action that simultaneously couples said water supply line to said water inlet, said water return line to said water outlet and said power line to said power inlet.

2. The water treatment engine of claim 1 wherein said tether and said single connection point cooperatively form a locking mechanism for securing said tether to said single connection point.

3. The water treatment engine of claim 2 wherein said locking mechanism includes a release, said release being accessible only when said electronics module is removed from said pressure vessel.

4. The water treatment engine of claim 1 wherein said single connection point power inlet is electrically coupled to a power outlet;

said electronics module including a power inlet, said electronics module power inlet being positioned to automatically couple to said power outlet when said electronics module is disposed on said pressure vessel.

5. The water treatment engine of claim 4 wherein said pressure vessel includes a base and a manifold, said manifold being disposed above said base, said single connection point being incorporated into said manifold.

6. The water treatment engine of claim 5 wherein said manifold has a perimeter, said single connection point disposed within said perimeter.

7. The water treatment engine of claim 1 wherein said tether includes a portion disposed between said electronics module and said pressure vessel, wherein said tether is removable from and installable on said pressure vessel only when said electronics module is removed from said pressure vessel.

8. The water treatment engine of claim 1 wherein said tether includes an actuator movable between a locked position in which said tether is coupled to said electronics module and to said pressure vessel and a released position in which said tether is decoupled from said electronics module and said pressure vessel.

9. The water treatment engine of claim 8 wherein said actuator includes a button that is manually pivotable between said locked position and said released position.

10. The water treatment engine of claim 9 wherein said button includes a first part configured to mechanically interfit with said electronic module only when said button is in said locked position and a second part configured to mechanically interfit with said pressure vessel only when said button is in said locked position.

11. The water treatment engine of claim 10 wherein said second part is a vertically movable hook having a catch that selectively engages said pressure vessel when said button is in said locked position.

12. The water treatment engine of claim 1 wherein said tether includes a tether housing, said tether housing including a portion disposed between said electronics module and said pressure vessel, wherein said tether is removable from and installable on said pressure vessel only when said electronics module is removed from said pressure vessel.

13. The water treatment engine of claim 12 wherein said pressure vessel includes a tank, a manifold and a collar, said manifold including said water inlet and said water outlet, said collar securing said manifold to said tank;

and

wherein said collar includes a tether key configured to provide a seat for said tether, said tether key aligning with said water inlet and said water outlet when said collar is fully seated.

14. The water treatment engine of claim 1 wherein said tether includes a pivotal tether head that is pivotally movable between a raised position and a folded position, said tether head being engaged with said water inlet and said water outlet when in said folded position.

15. The water treatment engine of claim 14 wherein said pressure vessel includes a keyway and said tether includes a key configured to be fitted into said keyway, said key and keyway providing alignment between said tether head and said water inlet and between said tether head and said water outlet.

16. The water treatment engine of 15 wherein said tether head is disposed beneath said electronics module when said electronics module is properly installed on said pressure vessel.

17. A water treatment assembly comprising:

a pressure vessel containing a water treatment component, said pressure vessel including a single connection point having a water inlet and a water outlet; and

a tether releaseably interfitted with said single connection point, said tether coupled to a water supply line and a water return line, said tether configured to be operatively interconnected with said single connection point with a single action that simultaneously couples said water supply line to said water inlet and said water return line to said water outlet;

wherein said single connection point includes a power inlet, said tether being coupled to a power supply line and including a power connection for coupling said power supply line to said power inlet;

wherein said single action simultaneously couples said water supply line to said water inlet, said water return line to said water outlet and said power connection to said power inlet.

18. The water treatment assembly of claim 17 wherein said pressure vessel includes a tank, a manifold and a collar, said collar selectively joining said manifold to said tank, said collar having a fully seated position;

and

said tether being mountable to said single connection point only when said collar is in said fully seated position.

19. The water treatment assembly of claim 18 further including an electronics module disposed on said pressure vessel, said tether at least partially disposed between said electronics module and said pressure vessel, whereby said electronics module must be removed from said pressure vessel for said tether to be installed on or removed from said single connection point.

20. The water treatment assembly of claim 17 further including an electronics module disposed on said pressure vessel;

and

wherein said tether includes an actuator movable between a locked position in which said tether is coupled to said electronics module and to said pressure vessel and a released position in which said tether is decoupled from said electronics module and said pressure vessel.

21. The water treatment assembly of claim 17 wherein said tether includes a pivotal tether head that is pivotally movable between a raised position and a folded position, said tether head being engaged with said water inlet and said water outlet when in said folded position.

22. The water treatment assembly of claim 21 wherein said pressure vessel includes a keyway and said tether includes a key configured to be fitted into said keyway when said tether is installed on said pressure vessel, said key and keyway providing alignment between said tether head and said water inlet and between said tether head and said water outlet.

23. A method for installing a water treatment engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure vessel with a single connection point including a water inlet and a water outlet;

providing a tether coupled to a water supply line and a water return line, the tether having a first connection for coupling to the water supply line to the water inlet and a second connection for coupling the water return line to the water outlet; and

releasably mounting the tether to the pressure vessel in a single action that simultaneously couples the first connection to said water inlet and the second connection to the water outlet;

wherein the single connection point includes a power inlet, the tether being coupled to a power supply line and including a third connection for coupling the power supply line to the power inlet;

wherein said tether mounting step is further defined as mounting the tether to the pressure vessel in a single action that simultaneously couples the first connection to the water inlet, the second connection to the water outlet and the third connection to the power inlet.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the step of installing an electronics module on the pressure vessel;

and

wherein said tether mounting step includes securing the tether to the electronics module and to the pressure vessel.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said tether mounting step includes the steps of:

securing the tether to the pressure vessel; and

moving the tether into a folded position to bring the first connection into operative engagement with the water inlet and to bring the second connection into operative engagement with the water outlet.

26. The method of claim 23 further including the step of installing an electronics module on the pressure vessel after said tether mounting step, wherein at least a portion of the tether is entrapped between the electronics module on the pressure vessel.