Patent ID: 6237352
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B01D,C02F,E03B,F24F,F25B,Y02A

Abstract:
A water producing and dispensing machine comprising:(a) a housing unit having an air outlet and an air inlet;(b) a dehumidifier system disposed within said housing unit, said dehumidifier system comprising an evaporator, a compressor for pumping a refrigerant gas, a condenser, a refrigerant gas tube in communication with said compressor and said condenser and through which said refrigerant gas is pumped from said compressor to said condenser, a refrigerant liquid tube in communication with, and disposed between, said condenser and said evaporator and through which refrigerant liquid is carried from said condenser to said evaporator to cool said evaporator, and an air blower, wherein said dehumidifier system is designed to remove water from ambient air drawn into said housing unit through said air inlet by said air blower as said ambient air moves over said evaporator and condenses thereon as water droplets;(c) a hot refrigerant gas injection system disposed within said housing unit, said injection system comprising a hot gas bypass tube in communication with said refrigerant gas tube of said condenser and said refrigerant liquid tube extending from said condenser, said injection system further including a solenoid valve disposed within said bypass tube, wherein when said valve is opened, hot refrigerant gas travels through said bypass tube from said compressor and into said refrigerant liquid tube, thereby mixing with said refrigerant liquid contained therein to increase the temperature of said refrigerant liquid prior to entering said evaporator;(d) a thermostat disposed within said housing unit and comprising a sensor positioned on said evaporator, said thermostat further programmed to activate said hot refrigerant gas injection system when the temperature of said evaporator reaches a first predetermined temperature below ambient temperature; thereby preventing said water droplets from freezing upon said evaporator;(e) a water containment tank in communication with said evaporator, said tank disposed within said housing unit and structured for receiving said water droplets from said evaporator; and(f) a water dispensing and filtration system disposed within said housing unit and in communication with said water containment tank.