U.S. patent application number 13/530575 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for method and apparatus for dehumidifying atmospheric moisture and purifying same.
Invention is credited to Richard Mayer.
Application Number | 20120325343 13/530575 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47360695 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20120325343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mayer; Richard |
December 27, 2012 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEHUMIDIFYING ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE AND
PURIFYING SAME
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the extraction of atmospheric
moisture and converting it into potable water that is entirely
closed and sealed thereby reducing the possibility of bacterial
contamination through the system. The water is collected through a
compressor and a coil, then filtered through a series of filters
and pumped thereafter into a sealed, pressurized bladder that keeps
the filtered water unexposed to the atmosphere until it is
dispensed for drinking.
Inventors: |
Mayer; Richard; (Chatsworth,
CA) |
Family ID: |
47360695 |
Appl. No.: |
13/530575 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61571338 |
Jun 23, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/544 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 20/00 20180101;
C02F 9/00 20130101; C02F 1/04 20130101; F24F 3/16 20130101; F24F
3/1405 20130101; Y02A 20/109 20180101; Y10T 137/794 20150401; B67D
3/0038 20130101; Y02A 20/152 20180101; C02F 2303/04 20130101; Y02A
20/154 20180101; B01D 5/0006 20130101; B67D 2210/0001 20130101;
E03B 3/28 20130101; F24F 2013/228 20130101; F24F 13/222
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/544 |
International
Class: |
E03B 7/07 20060101
E03B007/07 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for dehumidifying atmospheric moisture and
purifying same comprising: a compressor; a coil; a collection tank
for condensed atmospheric moisture; one or more filters; a first
conduit connecting said collection tank to said one or more
filters; a pump moving said moisture from said collection tank
through said first conduit to said one or more filters; a sealed,
pressurized tank for the collection of said moisture after
filtration; a second conduit connecting said pressurized tank to
said one or more filters, said pump moving said moisture from said
one or more filters through said second conduit to said pressurized
tank; a valve connected to said pressurized tank that when opened
releases said moisture for dispensing into a vessel; and a circuit
board with microprocessors for programming the activation of said
pump.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a floater indicator
is contained in said collection tank and in communication with said
circuit board wherein when said floater indicator hits a first
predetermined level, said pump turns on to move said moisture
through said apparatus and when said floater indicator hits a
second predetermined level, said pump turns off.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second conduit
contains a final filter for filtration of said moisture before
collection in said pressurized tank.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a sensor is located
in said pressurized tank that is in communication with said circuit
board wherein said pump is activated when the water level is sensed
by said sensor in said pressurized tank to hit a first
predetermined level and deactivated when said water level is sensed
by said sensor in said pressurized tank to hit a second
predetermined level.
Description
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of provisional
application 61/571,338, filed Jun. 23, 2011 entitled METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR DEHUMIDIFYING ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE AND PURIFYING SAME
by Richard Mayer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of
water producing devices and more specifically toward an improved
device for extracting atmospheric moisture from the air, purifying
it and dispensing it for drinking.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] In the field of water purification, there exists machines
and methods that extra atmospheric humidity and convert it into
potable water, Generally, such methods require a coil that gets
cooled below the dew point, causing condensed water that is stored
in a tank. The condensed water is then filtered and purified
through a variety of processes to make the water potable.
[0006] Prior art methods include the use of ultraviolet light and
filtration systems to remove pathogens, heavy metals and harmful
bacteria. Prior art methods typically include a plurality of water
tanks, pumps and filtration steps to ensure that the water remains
safe to drink.
[0007] These prior art systems involve many parts that are subject
to malfunction and repair, but more importantly, these systems do
not provide a closed system for the collected water, making the
growth of bacteria a constant concern.
[0008] It is the object of the present invention to improve on the
prior art so that the collected water is not in a perpetual state
of exposure to air and therefore in danger of growing harmful
bacteria therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches An
apparatus for dehumidifying atmospheric moisture and purifying same
comprising: a compressor: a coil; a collection tank for condensed
atmospheric moisture; one or more filters; a first conduit
connecting said collection tank to said one or more filters; a pump
moving said moisture from said collection tank through said first
conduit to said one or more filters; a sealed, pressurized tank for
the collection of said moisture after filtration; a second conduit
connecting said pressurized tank to said one or more filters, said
pump moving said moisture from said one or more filters through
said second conduit to said pressurized tank; a valve connected to
said pressurized tank that when opened releases said moisture for
dispensing into a vessel; and a circuit board with microprocessors
for programming the activation of said pump.
[0010] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining
that there further includes a floater indicator is contained in
said collection tank and in communication with said circuit board
wherein when said floater indicator hits a first predetermined
level, said pump turns on to move said moisture through said
apparatus and when said floater indicator hits a second
predetermined level, said pump turns off.
[0011] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining
that said second conduit contains a final filter for filtration of
said moisture before collection in said pressurized tank.
[0012] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining
that a sensor is located in said pressurized tank that is in
communication with said circuit board wherein said pump is
activated when the water level is sensed by said sensor in said
pressurized tank to hit a first predetermined level and deactivated
when said water level is sensed by said sensor in said pressurized
tank to hit a second predetermined level.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] This invention can better be understood by reference to the
drawings, provided for exemplary purposes, and in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of the device with the filters
exposed at the bottom.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device uncovered to reveal the
sealed, pressurized bladder that contains the purified water.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the device showing the compressor,
the coil, the pump and the circuitry that moves the water through
the system.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of all of the parts of the device
of the instant invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] The instant invention provides an improved apparatus 10 and
method that includes the prior art components of a compressor 12, a
coil 14, a collection tank 16 and filtration systems 18. However,
the instant invention provides a bladder 20 for containment of the
purified water that is under pressure and void of air, thereby
removing the possibility of the growth of bacteria therein.
[0019] The instant system therefore requires only on filtration
step for the production of potable water. However, a second
filtration step can be added in the interest of improving the taste
of the water.
[0020] The instant invention includes a compressor 12, a coil 14
and a lower collection tank 16. The water 22 collected in the lower
collection tank 16 is then pumped through a filtration system 18
that includes a filter for the removal of particles and heavy
metals 24a, a filter for the removal of bacteria 24b and then a
charcoal filter for the improvement of taste 24c. The water 22 is
then moved after filtration into a sealed bladder 20 through a
series of conduits 26 that has been bled so that no air remains and
the bladder 20 is under pressure.
[0021] There is a float indicator 28 in the lower tank 16 to
indicate when the tank 16 is full and when the system need not
collect any more water 22. Once the bladder tank 20 is full, the
system shuts off until the level of water 22 in the lower tank 16
reaches at level that indicates to the system that it must produce
more water. A circuit board 30 inside of the apparatus 10 controls
this function.
[0022] When water 22 is dispensed from the bladder 20, it is
dispensed using a gravity feed 32 that is a valve that releases
water therefrom. Optionally, a second filtration of charcoal can be
added at this point for flavor. However, the primary objective is
to purify the water with streamlined features and this objective is
met with or without the use of the second charcoal filter.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows the front 34 of the apparatus 10 where the
water 36 is dispensed into a glass 38 that sits upon a shelf 40
placed below the water gravity feed 32. Below the dispensing area
42 is shown the filtration system 18 and the filters 24a, 24b, 24c
through which the water 22 is filtered once condensed into the
lower tank 16 which sits below the dispensing area 42.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the sealed, pressurized bladder
20 that contains the filtered and purified water 22.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows the compressor 12, the coil 14, the pump 46 and
circuitry 30 that moves the system.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows schematically all of the components of the
system. The compressor 12 cools causing atmospheric moisture to
condense on the coils 14 and the condensed water 22 is then
collected in the lower tank. The lower tank 16 includes the
floating indicator so the system knows when the start and stop.
[0027] The collected water 22 travels through a conduit 48 into the
filtration system 18 which includes at least three filtration
components 24a, 24b, 24c. The circuit board 30 is the brain that
responds to the floater indicator 28 in the lower tank 16 that is
also in communication with the pressurized, sealed bladder 20. The
pump 46 moves the water 22 through the conduit 28 into the
filtration system 18 and up to the sealed bladder 20.
[0028] Between the filtration system 18 and the bladder 20 is
another conduit 50 that may contain the optional second charcoal
filter 52. A sensor strip 54 sits in the sealed bladder 20 and is
in communication with the circuit board 30 that allows the system
to know when the water level in the bladder 20 requires the system
to shut off or turn on.
[0029] A cooling system 56 is attached to the bladder 20 for
dispensing of the water which is a gravity feed 32 that is
activated through the opening of a valve.
[0030] The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve
as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the
specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments
possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may
not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not
explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be
representative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly
included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in
device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly
performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of
changes may be made without departing from the essence of the
invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the
description. These changes still fall within the scope of this
invention.
[0031] Further, each of the various elements of the invention and
claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This
disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation,
be it a variation of any apparatus embodiment, a method embodiment,
or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly,
it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements
of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by
equivalent, apparatus terms even if only the function or result is
the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms
should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each
element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to
make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention
is entitled. It should be understood that all actions may be
expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which
causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed
should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which
that physical element facilitates. Such changes and alternative
terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the
description.
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