Double Chamber Water Purification Device

• US 20100032381A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,394,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/749
• 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 by suction (or negative pressure), said first chamber being divided into at least two separated compartments,

(b) a second chamber into which the water from the first chamber can be forced, by a pumping action (or positive pressure),

(c) one of the compartments of said first chamber adapted to hold a disinfecting agent, and a micro-filter positioned within a section of the second chamber through which water can be forced by said pumping action to an outlet for purified water.

2. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a filter is disposed on one end of the first chamber for preliminary filtration of water being drawn into the first chamber by negative pressure.

3. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said two compartments of the first chamber may be physically associated and disassociated from each other.

4. A portable purification apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein there is a mouthpiece at the outlet to the second chamber for use in directing water forced through the micro-filter into the mouth of the operator of the apparatus.

5. A portable purification apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second chamber is slideable within one of the compartments of the first chamber to provide both an initial negative pressure at the entrance to the other compartment of the first chamber for drawing water into the first chamber as the second chamber is withdrawn partially from the first chamber and to provide positive pressure in the second chamber as such chamber is forced into said second chamber.

6. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which appropriate check valves are provided at the entrance to the first and second chambers and between the compartments of the first chamber to allow passage of water in only one direction from the exterior into the first chamber, a compartment in the first chamber into another compartment in the first chamber, and the first chamber into the second chamber, but not in the reverse direction.

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

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

9. A portable water purification apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein there is a flexible gasket means between the walls of the tubular elements to seal against leakage of water.

10. 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 pre-filter, whereby said pre-filter is threadably attachable to said second member so that water can be pumped through the pre-filter in a reverse direction to remove debris from said pre-filter that is clogging the filter so that it can be reused.

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

12. A method of purifying water comprising:

(a) drawing potentially contaminated water into a first section of a chamber through a pre-filter by negative pressure,

(b) treating the water in the first section with a disinfecting agent,

(c) drawing the water into a second section of a chamber through a macro filter by negative pressure.

(b) forcing the water drawn into the second section of the chamber by negative pressure through a macro filter into a second chamber by positive pressure which forces the water through a micro-filter positioned in the second chamber through which the water must pass in order to exit the second chamber,

(c) drawing off the water which passes through the micro-filter for use as biologically safe water.

13. A method of purifying water in accordance with claim 12 in which the two chambers are moved cyclically past each other to provide the mechanical energy input to effect passage of water through the chambers.