ITRM940854A1 - INTEGRATED EQUIPMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF WATER INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption of the type comprising means for the filtration 10 of water supplied by an external network, means for its refrigeration 20 and means 30 for the addition to it of gas, further comprising a bactericidal device of sterilization 40 of the flow of water being dispensed, in which the filtered water is divided into two channels, the first 11 supplying it to a group of solenoid valves 50 and the second 12 to said means for refrigeration, and in which the in turn, chilled water is divided into two further channels, the third 14 supplying it to said group of solenoid valves and the fourth 15 supplying chilled water, through a flow regulator 6, to a carbonating device 31 of the continuous flow of water connected to a pressurized gas cylinder 32; a control and control unit 60 is provided for the apparatus for the supply of pure water at room temperature, pure chilled water or pure, chilled and carbonated water (Figure 2).

Description

DESCRIPTION

attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION entitled:

"INTEGRATED EQUIPMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF WATER INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION."

SUMMARY

Apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption of the type comprising means for the filtration 10 of water supplied by an external network, means for its refrigeration 20 and means 30 for the addition of gas thereto, further comprising a bactericidal device for sterilization 40 of the flow of water being dispensed, in which the filtered water is divided into two channels, the first 11 feeding the same to a group of solenoid valves 50 and the second 12 to the said means for refrigeration, and in which the The chilled water is in turn subdivided into two further channels, the third 14 feeding the same to said group of solenoid valves and the fourth 15 feeding the chilled water, through a flow regulator 6, to a carbonating device 31 of the continuous flow of water connected to a pressurized gas cylinder 32; a control and command unit 60 being provided for the apparatus for dispensing pure water at room temperature, pure chilled water or pure, chilled and sparkling water.

(figure 2)

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption and in particular an apparatus of small size and suitable for domestic use or for communities, offices and the like.

The waters present on the planet have a content of mineral salts which varies according to the soil, the type and characteristics of permeation, the distance taken from the source, etc. Before being distributed for consumption, the water undergoes industrial purification treatments, before being introduced into public aqueducts, and the addition of gas, in particular carbon dioxide to improve its palatability and the thirst-quenching effect, in the case of mineral waters distributed in bottle .

The waters distributed in public aqueducts are notoriously the most balanced in terms of content of mineral salts and dissolved gases, in this also having to comply with precise and restrictive EEC directives, while the mineral waters distributed in bottles usually have more specific chemical characteristics, not always however, they are acceptable for a continuous and non-regulated use, and to make them more pleasant or in any case more palatable as a drink, where they are not naturally effervescent at the source, they are often added with carbon dioxide and made "sparkling". As for purification, both the aqueduct waters and those distributed in the bottle undergo filtration and bactericidal treatments at the source. before urban distribution or when bottling, not being able to control any accidents of pollution or alterations that may occur immediately before serving to the user.

Finally, as for the pleasantness of the water and its thirst-quenching effect, a lower temperature than the ambient one is usually preferred and the end user must provide this independently by arranging the necessary supplies in the refrigerator which, in the case of offices or communities (schools, congresses , museums, etc.), are often quantitatively significant and would require refrigeration appliances of dimensions that are not always available.

At the present time, as regards the sector of treatment of water intended for human consumption, also in accordance with the latest regulations and in particular with law no. 443 of 1990, a wide range of specific equipment has been produced, but these are limited only to improving the qualitative aspect of the water while neglecting apparently marginal aspects. such as, for example, the temperature and the effervescence, aspects which are instead crucial to the level of appreciation and satisfaction by the user, and in any case these are treatments and equipment designed and intended for public and industrial use, not available and usable by the final user.

There are also known systems or appliances also for domestic use for the filtration of tap water, filtration more than anything else coarse and mainly intended for the absorption of excess chlorination carried out for preventive purposes in the aqueduct, and appliances have been known for many years. for the refrigeration of aqueduct water or mineral water bowls, commonly known as drinking bottles, and intended to supply small and continuous quantities of simply chilled water, but bulky and usually used for offices or communities.

Finally, there are known devices or apparatuses known as "carbonators" suitable for mixing gases and liquids in order to supply a carbonated or carbonated liquid, in particular to offer sparkling or bubbling drinks (eg seltzer water). Such apparatuses of often complex and cumbersome structure and operation, normally used only in public premises, include containers for mixing under gas pressure, sometimes separate containers for pressurizing the water and mixing mass with the gas. The addition of gas is always at saturation level, therefore not adjustable or modifiable, the supply of sparkling water in these conditions usually involves a rapid and turbulent separation of gas and liquid (foam), loss of the mixed gas and therefore of the effervescent effect, once placed under pressure

In summary, therefore, at present the market offers exclusively either treatment systems or refrigeration systems of the classic drinking bottle type which find autonomous and distinct application mainly, if not exclusively, in offices, <'> in communities or in public places. These applications, however, are bound to the use of mineral water in bottles or containers or drinking water from public aqueducts, absolutely excluding the possibility of using well water, lake water or in any case requiring independent purification treatments at the time of administration.

Therefore a global solution to the problem of the treatment of water intended for human consumption does not exist in an integrated and autonomous form for individual or domestic use, but only in a composite form, involving both economic and technical problems also referred to the dimensions.

The present invention therefore relates to a product capable of being an alternative to the use and pleasantness of the best bottled mineral waters, also capable of treating drinking water from urban aqueducts, but also non-drinking water, to make them available continuously. with pleasantness and safety characteristics completely similar to those of mineral waters, even sparkling or sparkling. In particular, the invention in question is designed and manufactured in such a way as to present characteristics of constructive simplicity, functionality and hygiene of a complete and technologically advanced treatment system, providing specific services for several different household appliances, in a single minimum device. overall dimensions and suitable for personal and domestic use.

A further object of the present invention is also that of realizing an apparatus capable of continuously delivering drinking water which is modified and regulated as to the main characteristics of temperature and fervescence according to the taste and needs of the user.

These and still other purposes are achieved by the integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, of the type comprising means for filtering water supplied by an external network, means for its refrigeration and means for adding to it of gas, according to the present invention and in accordance with the subsequent claims, which from a general point of view is characterized by the fact that it further comprises, immediately upstream of a dispensing spout for the treated water, a bactericidal device for sterilization of the dispensing water flow, and due to the fact that:

- downstream of an inlet member of the water to be treated, there is a water pressure regulator in communication with said filtering means and, downstream of these, a liter-counter device for the flow of filtered water;

- the filtered water at the outlet of said liter-counter device is divided into two channels, the first of which feeds the same to a group of solenoid valves arranged immediately downstream of said bactericidal sterilization device and the second to said refrigeration means;

- the chilled water is in turn subdivided into two further channels, the third feeding the same to said group of solenoid valves arranged immediately upstream of said bactericidal sterilization device and the fourth feeding the chilled water, through a flow regulator , to a pressure pump arranged upstream of a carbonating device for the continuous flow of water connected, by means of a one-way valve and a gas pressure reducer, to a cylinder of gas under pressure;

- said group of solenoid valves, receiving at the inlet the sparkling water flow coming from said carbonating device, as well as that coming directly from said means for filtration and that coming from said means for refrigeration, supplying at the outlet to said bactericidal device for stepping, and then to the subsequent dispensing spout of the treated water, only the water flow selected by the user by means of a control and command unit;

said control and command unit interlocking, in addition to said group of solenoid valves, at least said water pressure regulator, water flow meter device, refrigeration means, flow regulator, pressure pump, gas pressure reducer and device bactericidal sterilization, by means of a data processing program for the management, control and alarm of the equipment.

The invention is set out in more detail below with the help of the accompanying drawings and figures which represent an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment thereof.

Figure 1 illustrates in a block diagram the functional structure of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates, with all the parts exploded, an example of embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates in particular the carbonating device according to the invention.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates in particular the bactericidal sterilization device according to the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption is of the type comprising means for the filtration 10 of water supplied by an external network, also the simple kitchen tap or a pump for lifting a well, through a gripping member 1 and a pipe 2. The apparatus, in a per se known manner, also comprises means for its refrigeration 20 and means 30 for the addition to the water of a gas, preferably CO2, to give it a sparkling taste.

According to the invention, the apparatus further comprises, immediately upstream of a dispensing spout 3 to the user of the treated water, a bactericidal device 40 for sterilizing the flow of water being dispensed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in particular in Figure 4, the bactericidal sterilization device 40 is constituted by a UV lamp 41, of the conventional type and of suitable characteristics, internally arranged, in a substantially axial position, to a tubular element 42 having an internal surface 43 treated in a mirror. Furthermore, a water flow duct 44 is wound according to a predetermined plurality of turns 45 around said lamp 41 and in proximity to said internal surface of the tubular element. The duct 44 is made of a synthetic material transparent to UV radiation, preferably of Teflon, and develops a predetermined length and internal diameter in relation to a predetermined minimum travel time of the water flow inside the device. In this way, a bactericidal action of the UV radiation is obtained which, due to the coiled arrangement of the duct 44 and the reflection of the surface 43, is concentrated to the maximum on the continuous flow of water for the time necessary to travel through the coils, with the maximum guarantee therefore of the best efficacy of the device's sterilization action. The invention thus allows the use not only of water from public aqueducts already purified and chlorinated, but also of water of doubtful potability, for example well water.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, downstream of the intake member 1 of the water to be treated, a water pressure regulator 4 is provided in communication with said filtration means 10 (Figure 2).

According to the invention, said filtration means 10 are preferably of the composite type, ie consisting of physical filtration members with mesh not exceeding 0.45 micron and of bacteriostatic and anti-fermentative absorbent materials. This solution allows the filtration not only of the particles suspended in water, colloids and the like, but also of almost all the pathogenic germs.

The above described preferred means for filtration are in themselves sufficient to ensure good water purification, but the apparatus in question to offer maximum safety to the user even in the event of internal stagnation of the water due to prolonged inactivity or inefficiency due to exhaustion or saturation of the filtering means also provides for the described bactericidal device 40 for sterilization of the flow of water passing immediately upstream of the dispensing spout 3.

Downstream of the means 10, there is a liter-counter device for the flow of filtered water 5 (figure 2) which at its outlet is divided into two channels 1 and 12 of which the first 11 feeds the same filtered water directly to a group of solenoid valves. 50 arranged immediately upstream of said bactericidal sterilization device 40 and the second 12 to said refrigeration means 20.

The refrigeration means 20 are of a substantially conventional type, even if suitably designed and sized for the specific purposes of the apparatus in question. In practice, first of all, the necessary power of a compressor 21 to refrigerate at least a quantity of water sufficient to meet the needs of an average user, a power which has been estimated at 41 / h of chilled water up to a maximum of 1 "C. To avoid the risk of a possible freezing of the system, a normal regulation thermostat 22 has been provided (figure 2). To optimize the efficiency of the refrigerator, given the limited availability of space, a suitable exchanger 23 equipped with a suitably silenced cooling fan 24, and a stainless steel storage container 25 for treated water, around which the coolant coil 26 is positioned, in turn suitably insulated for example with polystyrene 27.

The chilled water from the means 20 comes out of them through a channel 13 which is in turn subdivided into two further channels 14 and 15 of which the third 14 leads the same chilled water directly to said group of solenoid valves 50 and the fourth leads the chilled water, through a flow regulator 6, to a pressure pump 7 arranged upstream of a carbonating device 31 for the continuous flow of water. The carbonator device 31 is in turn connected, by means of a one-way valve 8 and a gas pressure reducer 9, to a pressurized gas cylinder 32. The assembly of the carbonator device 31, one-way valve 8, pressure reducer 9 and cylinder 32 constitute, in accordance with the invention, said means 30 for adding gas to the water flow.

Said carbonating device 31 (Figures 2 and 3) is constituted, according to the invention, by a mixing element 33 internally forming a duct 34 with a variable section of the "Venturi" type, comprising, in the direction of the flow of the water supplied by the duct 15 , a first section 35 with a decreasing section, a second section 36 with a constant reduced section and a third section 37 with an increasing section. Said second section 36 communicates with a gas supply pipe 38 at constant pressure by means of said one-way valve 8 and relative gas pressure reducer 9. The mixing of the gas with the continuous flow of water is regulated by the regulation of the flow. itself by means of said regulator 6, at constant pressure of the water induced by the pump 7 and at constant pressure of the gas pre-established by the reducer 9. It is therefore possible to determine, according to the user's taste, a greater or lesser quantity of gas added to the water , greater or lesser effervescence, simply by acting on the flow regulator 6. The mixing of the gas to the water operated by the element 33 is the best and most homogeneous possible and is carried out in the continuous flow of water immediately before it is sent, by means of a channel 16, to said group of solenoid valves 50 and therefore to the bactericidal sterilization device 40, thus avoiding pressurized members p er the mass saturation of water and the risk of gas separation from water before its delivery.

Said pressurized gas cylinder 32 is advantageously of the replaceable type and therefore resolvably connected to the apparatus, in a suitable housing as illustrated in Figure 2 or also externally thereto. Alternatively, the cylinder 32 could be of the refillable type. Up to now and in the following we have spoken and will speak generically of gas, obviously meaning that any type of gas allowed in the food industry can be used, but obviously in practice the use of C02 is considered ideal, in fact exclusively used for addition to water. bottled minerals.

In summary, therefore, said group of solenoid valves 50 receives at its inlet the sparkling water flow coming from said gasatone device 31, as well as that coming directly from said filtration means 10 and that coming from said refrigeration means 20, and supplies in outlet, through a canalization 17 to said bactericidal sterilization device 40, and then to the subsequent dispensing spout 3 of the treated water, the only flow <'> of water selected by the user by means of a control and command unit indicated as a whole with 60 in figure 2.

Said control and command unit 60, equipped with conventional push-buttons and control members operable by the user, serves, in addition to said group of solenoid valves 50, so as to select the passage in the channel 17 of the only type of water flow selected, at least also said water pressure regulator 4, water flow regulator 6, water flow meter device 5, refrigeration means 20 and relative thermostat 22, pressure pump 7, gas pressure reducer 9 and bactericidal sterilization device 40, by means of a program for processing the management, control and alarm data of the equipment.

In accordance with the invention described, the user can advantageously select on the control unit 60, by simply pressing a button, three types of water: pure, filtered and sterilized water, at room temperature, pure cold water at the desired temperature, water pure, cold and sparkling to the desired degree. Furthermore, the control unit 60, by means of its own data processing program, keeps under control the main operating parameters, such as for example the efficiency of the filter, by controlling the said liter-counter device 5, the bactericidal sterilization device 40, by controlling the time of use and therefore the efficiency of the UV lamp 41, and therefore the refrigeration temperature through the thermostat 22 etc., possibly blocking the flow of water by intervening on the group of solenoid valves 50 and, if necessary, providing a signal of 'alarm. For the sake of illustrative simplicity, the enclosed drawings have omitted to indicate the electrical connections and connections of the control unit 60 with the various slave members as described, considering the same, as other necessary means such as, for example, those for the mains power supply of the equipment, completely common and of conventional design.

The invention is projectually connected to a specific analysis of the spaces available at home and is carried out by strictly observing the maximum overall dimensions, managing to miniaturize the functional components. This result was obtained with the present invention by assembling the apparatus in a small body, indicatively by way of example of cm. 40 * 30 * 40, body represented again by way of example in Figure 2 by the box-shaped walls 70 and by the front 80, the latter represented in a possible definitive shape.

The invention thus conceived and described is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the same inventive concept. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims (7)

R IV EN DIC AZ I ON I 1) Integrated equipment for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, of the type comprising means for filtering water supplied from an external network, means for its refrigeration and means for adding gas to it, characterized in that it comprises furthermore, immediately upstream of a dispensing spout for the treated water, a bactericidal device for sterilizing the flow of water being dispensed, and characterized by the fact that: - downstream of an inlet member of the water to be treated, there is a water pressure regulator in communication with said filtering means and, downstream of these, a liter-counter device for the flow of filtered water; the filtered water at the outlet of said liter-counter device is divided into two channels, the first of which feeds the same to a group of solenoid valves disposed immediately downstream of said bactericidal sterilization device and the second to said refrigeration means; - the chilled water is in turn subdivided into two further channels, the third feeding the same to said group of solenoid valves arranged immediately upstream of said bactericidal sterilization device and the fourth feeding the chilled water, through a flow regulator , to a pressure pump arranged upstream of a carbonating device for the continuous flow of water connected, by means of a one-way valve and a gas pressure reducer, to a cylinder of gas under pressure; - said group of solenoid valves, receiving at the inlet the sparkling water flow coming from said carbonating device, as well as that coming directly from said means for filtration and that coming from said means for refrigeration, supplying at the outlet to said bactericidal device sterilization, and then to the next dispensing spout of the treated water, only the water flow selected by the user through a control and command unit; said control and command unit interlocking, in addition to said group of solenoid valves, at least said water pressure regulator, water flow meter device, means for refrigeration, flow regulator, pressure pump, gas pressure reducer and device bactericidal sterilization, by means of a program for processing the management, control and alarm data of the equipment. 2) Integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, according to claim 1, characterized in that said bactericidal sterilization device consists of a UV lamp arranged internally, in a substantially axial position, to a tubular element with an internal surface treated like a mirror and wound by a duct for the flow of water according to a predetermined plurality of turns around said lamp and in proximity to said internal surface of the tubular element; said duct being made of synthetic material transparent to UV radiation and for a predetermined length and internal diameter in relation to a predetermined minimum travel time of the water flow inside the device. 3) Integrated equipment for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said filtration means are of the composite type consisting of physical filtration members with mesh not exceeding 0, A5 microns and materials bacteriostatic and anti-fermentative adsobents. 4) Integrated equipment for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said carbonating device is constituted by a mixing element internally forming a "Venturi" type variable section duct, comprising in the direction of the water flow a first section with a decreasing section, a second section with a constant reduced section and a third section with an increasing section, in which said second section is in communication with a gas supply pipe at constant pressure through said valve le and relative gas pressure reducer; the mixing of the gas with the continuous flow of water being regulated by regulating the flow itself by means of said pressure pump. 5) Integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said pressurized gas cylinder is of the replaceable type and can be connected to the apparatus. 6) Integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, according to claim 1, characterized in that said pressurized gas cylinder is of the refillable type. 7) Integrated apparatus for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, according to the preceding claims and according to what has been described and illustrated for the specified purposes.