WO2012120042A1 - Device for treating a liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for treating a liquid, in particular water, comprising: a tank (12) for receiving and storing the liquid; an ozone generator (14) for generating ozone in order to treat the liquid; an outlet piece (26) with an opening (30) for dispensing the treated liquid out of the outlet piece (26); an outlet opening (56) for dispensing the treated liquid out of the device (10); a delivering device (28) for delivering the treated liquid in the device (10), in particular to the outlet piece (26); and a closure element (58) for opening and closing the outlet opening (56). The outlet piece (26) is set back with respect to the closure element (58) by a distance (A).

Description

Device for preparing a liquid

The invention relates to a device for processing a liquid, in particular water, with a tank for receiving and holding the liquid, an ozone generator for generating ozone for the treatment of the liquid, an outlet with an opening for discharging the treated

 Liquid from the outlet piece, an outlet opening for discharging the treated liquid from the device, a conveying device for conveying the treated liquid in the device, in particular to the outlet piece and a closure element for opening and closing the outlet opening.

In the following the invention with reference to the treatment of water is described, but the invention can also be for treating any other liquid, in particular liquid ^¬ possibilities water-based, may be used.

 It is basically known to treat ozone

Use water to kill the microorganisms contained in the water and thus to disinfect the water. Ozone is a very strong oxidant, which kills microorganisms very effectively and much faster compared to chlorine. However, ozone in water decomposes very quickly, so that its germicidal effect quickly subsides. For the disinfection of drinking water ozone is permitted with a maximum addition of 10 mg / L, calculated as O3. The concentration of this additive after preparation must not exceed 50 μg / L. Mainly ozone is used in large-scale plants for the provision of large amounts of water for disinfection, such as in swimming pools or waterworks. The use of ozone in the household, however, is less well known, but is described for example in DE 1 278 956.

 In DE 44 30 587 A1, the microbiological

Detailed explanation is made of parameters for drinking water and a device and a method for germ reduction is presented in which an ultrasonic treatment of the water is used. A particular source of danger for the growth of Mik-organisms ^¬ represents the outlet piece of apparatus for

Water treatment. The place of installation of such a device is also called "point of use" (POU), respectively. Via the opening of the outlet, the device üblicherwei ^¬ se with the environment is connected, so that even in the

Surround microorganisms enter the device and can multiply there. User of

Devices that touch the outlet piece with their hands, intentional or not, can transmit more microorganisms. At longer standstill of the device, the microorganisms introduced into the outlet piece can multiply and also spread further into the device.

This retrograde contamination can then be used to remove contaminated drinking water with a high number of germs, including harmful germs. In this context, retrograde bacterial contamination is to be understood as a contamination against the direction of flow of the water during discharge from the device, which propagates from the outlet piece into the device.

 GB 2 365 413 A discloses a machine for dispensing milk. The milk is kept in an open container. Milk is pumped out of the container through a flexible plastic tube immersed in the milk. The conduit passes through a peristaltic pump which pumps the milk into a dispensing outlet terminating at its mouth in a stopcock. The discharge outlet is from a

Sterilization chamber with two hinged doors, which is dispensed while milk is opened and enclosed between two dispensing operations, surrounded. An ozone generator is provided for producing ozone. After each dispensing operation, air at a low ozone concentration is delivered to the sterilization chamber. It is prevented at all times that ozone may contact the milk in the container or enter the body of the machine where it may cause damage. By providing a non-trickling valve at the outlet of the delivery outlet, it is possible to ensure that no The product may adhere to any part of the dispensing outlet and become rancid when the dispensing outlet is sterilized with ozone. Thus, no device for processing a liquid is disclosed.

 The source of danger which constitutes the outlet piece is discussed in DE 20 2008 011 994 U1 and a device is specified in which sequential cleaning steps

be performed. First, an ozone treatment and then a filtration with membranes in the vicinity of the Aus ^¬ lassstücks performed. The danger of intrusion of

Microorganisms through the outlet piece in the device for treating the water is not permanently reduced in the proposed solutions.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device and a corresponding method with which the retro ^¬ grade microbial contamination of the device through the outlet piece

is largely avoided.

The object is achieved in that the outlet ^piece is arranged in relation to the closure element with a distance back ver ^¬ sets. Usually, the outlet piece is so fitted in the device that it is accessible only via the outlet aperture in the operating state of the pre ^¬ direction. The

Closure element is only opened when water is to be dispensed from the device. When the closure element is closed, it prevents a user or objects located in the immediate vicinity of the outlet opening from coming into contact with the outlet piece. Thus, the entry of germs and pathogens are prevented in the device. Furthermore, the flushing of both the outlet ^¬ piece and the closure element with ozone-containing water has at least one germ-inhibiting effect, so that their growth ver ^¬ slowed or completely prevented.

In an embodiment in which the tank comprises a holding area for holding the liquid, the device comprises a return for returning the liquid, in particular the liquid flowing through the outlet piece, into the holding area. With the conveyor, the ozone containing liquid, in particular the water, conveyed to the outlet piece, so that it meets with closed outlet on the closure element. The water can be guided by means of the Rücklau ^¬ fes from the outlet back into the Vorhaltebereich of the tank, so that the ozone-containing water is circulated within the device, as long as the closure element is ge ^¬ closed. Volume units that are enriched with ozone by the ozone generator are distributed by the circulation in the device. As the ozone dissipates relatively quickly, the circulation causes the gradient of ozone concentration within the device to be kept low. Thus, all parts of the device in contact with the water are wetted with ozone-containing water, so that there depending on the set

Ozone concentration at least prevents the growth of germs.

In one embodiment of the device in which the tank has a wall, the outlet and the return of the wall to be formed, and the outlet piece is ^¬ least partially surrounded by the wall. In this

Design, the device can be made compact and structurally simple, which reduces the cost and space requirements. Furthermore, the number of parts is reduced, which contributes to the reliability of the functionality of the device according to the invention.

In one disclosed embodiment, the closure element is positively activated with ^¬ means of an actuator. The closure element can thus be easily opened and closed without the user having to take a hand, the closure element and must move in ei ^¬ ne certain direction. This can be done for example by pressing a button. In addition to increasing the ease of use, it is possible in this embodiment to keep the operator away from the closure element, which reduces the risk of entry of germs and pathogens.

 In one embodiment, the closure element can be activated in the tank as a function of the liquid level. Of the

Liquid level, in particular the water level is chosen so that the outlet piece at least partially into the ozone-containing Water is immersed and the wetted part is disinfected. The outlet piece is also wetted on its outside, so that the opening is completely surrounded by the treated, ozone-containing water. In this state there is no direct contact of the outlet with the environment of the device, so that microorganisms are separated on the one hand by the closed closure member and on the other by the treated water from the outlet piece, so that these can not eindrin in the outlet piece ^¬ gene and a retrograde Germinating is prevented.

To open the closure element, the water level in the tank is lowered, so that the outlet piece is no longer surrounded by ozone-containing water. Opening of the buckle element, the output of the ozone-containing water via the outlet ^¬ piece takes place. The disinfecting effect of ozone is not only used to provide the user with germ-free water, but also to disinfect the outlet and thus prevent retrograde contamination.

 For example, sensors can be used which determine the water level in the tank and, depending on the water level, the closure element by means of electrical

Open and close the servomotors.

 The closure element can be activated by means of a buoyancy body. Compared to electrically operated closure elements, the closure element of this embodiment causes disturbances due to a power failure

be excluded. Furthermore, the buoyancy bodies are structurally simple to manufacture and cheaper and more reliable compared to electric actuators.

In one embodiment, the device comprises an intermediate tank for changing the fluid level, in particular the water level in the tank. As mentioned above, the ^{Verschlussele ¬} ment is activated by the water, wherein the closure element is designed so that it is closed with increasing water level and opened when the water level. Will now be given aufberei- tetes water volume, which is required to open the closure element is changed geför ^¬ into the intermediate tank. As a result, the water level in the tank and the sinks Closing element opens and releases the outlet opening. The volume of the treated water in the sub-tank can now be completely or partially as required via the

Outlet and the outlet opening are dispensed from the device. Alternatively, the other tank as well

Be executed hose coil. The opening and closing of the closure element is made possible in a structurally simple manner by means of the intermediate ^tank .

In one disclosed embodiment, the delivery device has a first and a second projecting into the tank line, and a third, leading to the intermediate tank line, wherein an activatable valve arranged in the ers ^¬ th or second line a non-return valve and into the third conduit. In this embodiment, it is possible to drive the device either in the circulation or in the delivery mode. In recirculation mode, the activatable valve in the third line is closed, so that no water is conveyed into the subtank. The activatable valve may be by the user of the device or

be activated or operated electronically or in any other suitable manner. The conveyor sucks in treated water from the line containing the check valve. The check valve opens in this direction and releases the flow. Since the activated valve is open ^¬ closed, the treated water can escape only over that line out of the conveying device in which no check valve is located. The first and the second line take the water at different points of the tank or lead it to the tank at different points, so that a circulation of the treated water takes place. The ozone generated by the ozone generator is therefore distributed in the tank, so that no significant concentration gradients can form, so that the entire water in the device is safely disinfected. With circulation as much is what ^¬ ser in the tank, that the closure element is closed and the outlet piece is enclosed in the region of its opening from recycled ozone-containing water and disinfected. For discharging the treated water, the conveying direction of the conveying device is reversed, so that over the

Line in which the check valve is located, no more water is sucked. The water is sucked in via the line without a check valve, but can not return to the tank via the other line due to the check valve ^¬

be promoted back. At the same time, the activatable ^{valve is} opened, so that the further tank is filled. The further tank is connected, for example, via a hose to the outlet piece, which is arranged at a certain distance from the bottom of the intermediate tank, so that only when the volume of water required for opening the closure element is in the intermediate tank, treated water overflows the outlet ^¬ piece can be delivered. It's going to be so constructive

easily achieved that the outlet piece is not surrounded by the Abga ^¬ be the ozone-containing water from this.

Accordingly, the risk of retrograde microbial contamination is significantly reduced.

 In one embodiment, in the third conduit between the intermediate tank and the activatable valve, a ball valve and a return conduit for returning the in

Intermediate tank located liquid, in particular of the water, provided in the tank. If no treated water to be dispensed, the conveyor is turned off or switched back to the circulation operation. Unless all the water in the intermediate tank is released from the device, at least part of the volume of water required for opening the closure ^{element is} still in the water

Intermediate tank. But to close the closure element and to the meshing of the outlet piece at the beginning of the

Dispensing process in the intermediate tank funded volumes needed in the tank. As soon as no more water is conveyed into the intermediate tank, the ball valve prevents the return lines of the water still in the interim ^¬'s tank in the direction of

Conveyor. At the same time the ball valve is so ^¬ forms that the return line is closed in the dispensing process. Instead of the ball valve can also be a three-way valve be used. The return line, which is arranged between the intermediate tank and the ball valve, now leads the water back into the tank, whereby the closing element closes and the outlet piece is wetted.

There may be an inlet for supplying the liquid, in particular ^¬ special of the water provided in the device. The inlet may include a shut-off device for selectively opening and closing the inlet. The water extracted from the device by the discharge of treated water can thus be added again in a convenient manner. Thus sicherge ^¬ provides that sufficient water of closing

 Closing element and for wetting the outlet piece in the tank is present. For this purpose, the inlet can be connected to any water supply system. The shut-off device can be controlled electronically, so that the required volume of the water of the device is added automatically again after the discharge of the ozone-containing water.

 In one embodiment, the buoyancy bodies are by means of a translation unit with the closure element

connected. This ensures that the change of water ^¬ serstands and thereby induced translational movement of the buoyancy bodies are converted into a corresponding movement to open and close the closure element.

 In one embodiment, the device includes one or more sensors for determining operational information. Such sensors may, for example, the

Measure the ozone concentration in the treated water or the water level in the tank. With the aid of this information, the device can be operated effectively and safely and, for example, can be used to control electric servomotors for opening and closing the closure element and / or the conveying device.

The device according to the invention will be described on the basis of ^exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings

Drawings explained in detail. It shows

Figure 1 shows a first apparatus for processing a liquid and 2 shows a second device for processing a liquid.

The embodiment of the Vorrich ^¬ tung 10i shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tank 12 in which an ozone generator 14 is arranged. An inlet with a shut-off device 22 opens into the tank 12 to the tank 12 as needed water

to be able to supply.

 A connecting line 32 connects the tank 12 to an outlet 26 having an opening 30 through which a liquid, here water, can be discharged from the device 10i. The tank 12 has a wall 38 and a

Outlet opening 56, which can be opened with a closure element 58i optionally by means of an actuating element 34 and closed ^¬ sen. The closure element 58i is connected to the

Actuator 34 movable in the directions indicated by the arrow Pi directions. The outlet piece 26 is at least partially surrounded by the wall 38 of the tank 12, furthermore, the outlet opening 56 is formed by the wall 38. The outlet piece 26 is set back by a distance A relative to the closure element 58i in the interior of the tank 12. By means of a conveying device 28, water is conveyed from the tank 12 to the outlet piece 26. The desire to remove water from the device 10i can be expressed by means of a button 44.

 The tank 12 has a Vorhalte- the water 18 and a return line 36, which is formed in the illustrated example of the wall 38 of the tank 12.

 The water level in the Vorhaltebereich 18 is determined with a first sensor 48. This serves to prevent the water level from rising above the maximum level in the first area. A second sensor 50 serves to prevent the water level from dropping above the minimum level in the first area. The first and the second sensor 48,50 cooperate with the shut-off device 22, which is opened or closed depending on the water level, so that the water level is always kept in the desired range.

The device 10i is operated as follows: The ozone generator 14 is activated to a certain ozone concentration adjust in the water, so that at least preventing the proliferation of germs present in the water, but at the same time the maxi ^¬ times allowable ozone concentration in the discharged water is not exceeded. In a first operating mode, the outlet opening 56 is closed by the closure element 58i. The conveying device 28 conveys the water from the advance area 18 along the direction indicated by the arrows P ₂ to the outlet piece 26, where it exits via the opening 30 from the outlet piece 26 and strikes the closure element 58 i. Since the outlet opening 56 is verschlos ^¬ sen by the closure element 58i, the water can not escape from the tank 12, but flows through the return line 36 back into the Vorhaltebereich 18. So there is a circulation of water instead, so that all water-bearing parts of Device 10i come into contact with the ozone-containing water and a germ growth

is prevented.

The fact that the outlet opening 56 is set back by the distance A relative to the closure element 58i, it is not accessible from the outside. Consequently, no user can come into contact with the outlet opening 56, for example with his fingers or a cleaning cloth, thereby preventing the entry of germs into the device 10i. Furthermore, at least a part of the outer surface 40 of the outlet piece 26, which is located in the vicinity of the outlet opening 56, comes into contact with the ozone-containing water. This applies even more, the smaller the distance A is selected. Consequently, the antimicrobial effect of the ozone ^¬ containing water on the part of the outer surface of the

Outlet piece 26 transmitted, which is wetted by ozone-containing water.

 If now water is removed from the device 10i, the user presses the button 44, whereby the

Closure element 58i is moved by the actuator 34 so that the outlet opening 56 is released. The water can now unhindered the device 10i through the opening 30 of the

Outlet 26 and the outlet opening 56 of the tank 12 leave ^¬ sen. Once the dispensing process is completed, the

Outlet opening 56 from the closure element 58i closed again. A user can thus come into contact with the outlet 26 only during the dispensing operation, but this is unlikely because it then the jet of the outgoing water

would be exposed. In addition, the outlet 26 is set back.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the device IO ₂ for treating a liquid. The tank 12 in turn has the outlet opening 56, which can be opened and closed by the closure element 58 ₂ . The outlet piece 26 with the opening 30 is arranged concentrically to the outlet opening 56, by means of which the ozone-containing water can be discharged from the device IO ₂ .

The closure element 58 ₂ can be activated with buoyancy bodies 60, so that the outlet opening 56 is opened or closed depending on the water level in the tank 12. in the

As shown, the closure element 58 is ^{verschlos ¬} sen when the water level exceeds a certain level in the tank 12. If the water level drops below a certain level, the closure element 58 is opened. For this purpose, the superstructure bodies are not shown in more detail

 Translation unit 52 connected to the closure element.

To operate the device IO ₂ so much water is added to the tank 12 through the inlet 20 until its maximum absorption capacity is reached. For this purpose, the first sensor 48 determines the water level in the tank 12 and opens and closes the shut-off unit 22 accordingly. If the maximum tank 12 ge ^¬ filled, so the closure element 58 ₂ is closed and at least a portion of the outer surface 40 of the outlet 26 provide the water to ^¬ and wetted.

The water is now enriched with ozone and aufberei ^¬ tet, to which the ozone generator is activated fourteenth In order to achieve that all sets at least approximately the same ^¬ ozone concentration in the tank 12, the water with is

Conveyor 28 circulated. For this purpose, a first line 62 and a second line 64 are provided which extend into the tank 12 and open into the conveying device 28. In the illustrated example, the first line 62 has a check valve 66, which releases the passage of water into the conveyor 28, but prevents leakage from the conveyor 28 via the line 62. In this way, the water is drawn in through the first line 62 and discharged back into the tank 12 through the second line 64 (see arrows P3), the suction and the discharge taking place at different points of the tank 12. As a result, a forced flow is generated in the tank 12, with which the water is circulated, so that no appreciable concentration gradient of the ozone within the tank 12 can form. In particular, it is thus ensured that the water-wetted part of the outlet piece 26 is exposed to a sufficiently high ozone concentration and disinfected, so that no microorganisms can spread.

If now the treated water are dispensed, then the conveying direction of the conveying ^device 28 is reversed, for example, by pressing the button 44. The water is now sucked through the second line 64 from the tank 12, but it can not be promoted through the first line 62 back into the tank 12, since the check valve 66 prevents this. The conveying device 28 is connected via a third Lei ^¬ tion 68 with an intermediate tank 70, but

for example, can be designed as a helical tube.

In the third line 68 is an activatable valve 72, which is now opened, so that the water is conveyed into the intermediate tank 70 (see arrow P2). The activatable valve 72 is adjustable so that it opens only from a certain ^¬ sen pressure. This pressure is applied by the fact that the water is conveyed in the reversal of the conveying direction of the conveying device 28 against the check valve 66. As the delivery time increases, the pressure in the third conduit 68 increases until the activatable valve 72 opens. The volume in the tank 12 drops, so that the closure element 58 ge ^¬ opens. The further tank 70 is connected via a hose 74 to the outlet piece 26, which, however, can also be designed, for example, as a rigid pipeline. The hose 74 is mounted at a certain height above a tank bottom 46 on the intermediate tank 70, so that only then water to the outlet piece 26th can arrive when a certain volume is in the intermediate tank 70. This ensures that the water is only discharged from the outlet piece 26 when the closure element 58 has opened the outlet opening 56.

 If the dispensing operation is completed, the conveyor 28 is either turned off or back into the

Circulation mode changed over. The remaining in the intermediate tank 70 volume of the treated water is now returned to the tank 12 again. For this purpose, a ball valve 76 is arranged between the activatable valve 72 and the intermediate tank 70, which stops the return flow of the water from the intermediate tank 70 to the conveying device 28. Via a return line 78, which in the

Ball valve 76 opens, the water flows from the intermediate tank 70 back into the tank 12. The return line 78 is arranged in the ball valve 76 so that it is closed during the dispensing process, in which water is conveyed into the intermediate tank 70. As an alternative to the ball valve 76 may also be provided a three-way valve, which is adjusted according to whether the water is circulated or discharged, according to its position, so that the water during the delivery process in the intermediate tank 70, but not funded by the return line 78 is and when circulating the water from the intermediate tank 70 via the return line 78 can flow back into the tank 12.

The further tank 70 has to be emptied completely after each dispensing operation, since otherwise it could be dispensed through the outlet piece 26 during the next dispensing operation without the closure element 58 being opened. The dispensed volume of the treated water is supplied to the device 10 via the inlet 20 again. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

 10 device

 12 tank

 14 ozone generator

 18 reserve area

20 inlet

 22 shut-off device

26 outlet piece

 28 conveyor

30 opening

 32 connecting line

34 control element

 36 return

 38 wall

 40 outer surface

 44 buttons

 46 tank bottom

 48 first sensor

 50 second sensor

 52 exercise unit

56 outlet opening

 58 closure element

60 buoyancy bodies

62 first line

 64 second line

 66 check valve

68 third line

 70 sub tank

 72 activatable valve

74 hose

 76 ball valve

 78 return line

A distance

 Pi arrow

P ₂ arrow

P ₃ arrow

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing a liquid, in particular water, comprising:  a tank (12) for receiving and holding the liquid;  an ozone generator (14) for generating ozone for conditioning the liquid;  an outlet piece (26) having an opening (30) for discharging the treated liquid from the outlet piece (26);  an outlet port (56) for discharging the treated liquid from the device (10);  a conveying device (28) for conveying the treated liquid in the device (10), in particular for Outlet piece (26); and  a closure element (58) for opening and closing the outlet opening (56), characterized in that the outlet piece (26) with respect to the closure element (58) at a distance (A) is arranged to ^¬ set back.  2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tank (12) has a Vorhaltebereich (18) for holding the liquid and the Device (10) comprises a return line (36) for returning the liquid, in particular of the outlet piece (26) flowing through the liquid, in the Vorhaltebereich (18).  The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tank has a wall (38), the outlet opening (56) and the return (36) are formed by the wall (38) and the Outlet piece (26) is at least partially surrounded by the wall (38). 4. Device according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the closure element (58) by means of an actuating element (34) is ak ^¬ tivierbar.  5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the closure element (58) in dependence of the liquid level in Tank (12) is activated. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the closure element (58) by means of a buoyant body (60) is activated.  7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the buoyancy bodies (60) by means of a translation unit (52) with the  Closing element (58) are connected.  8. Device according to one of claims 5-7, wherein the device comprises a further tank (70) for changing the liquid level in the tank (12).  9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the conveying device (28) has a first and a second in the tank (12) projecting line (62,64) and a third, the other tank (70) leading line (68), wherein in one of the first and the second line (62,64) a check valve (66) and in the third line (68) an activatable valve (72) are arranged.  10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the third conduit (68) between the further tank (12) and the activatable valve (72) has a ball valve (76) and a Return line (78) for returning the water in the further tank (70) are provided in the tank (12).  11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an inlet (20) for feeding the Liquid in the device.  12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the inlet (20) comprises a shut-off device (22) for selectively opening and closing the inlet (20).  The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more sensors (48, 50) for determining operational information.