Abstract:
A device for purifying a liquid stream comprises a filter for passing a liquid stream therethrough to remove impurities therefrom, and a radiation source disposed to radiate the liquid stream. Optionally, an oxygenation device in fluid communication with the radiation device may be provided to mix oxygen into the liquid.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This disclosure relates to liquid filtration processes and devices, and methods of use thereof.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     There has always existed a need for purifying various liquids to different purity levels. A common need is to purify water for drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning, industrial processes, and other purposes. Water filtration devices have been known for many years, and they produce water purified to varying degrees. However, the majority of available water filtration devices do not produce highly purified water in a simple and also economical manner. Available devices also do not produce highly purified and oxygenated water.  
         [0003]     What is therefore still needed are methods and devices for purifying liquids in a simple to use and economical manner that is preferably easily adaptable for use in the common household environment. The embodiments of the present disclosure answer these and other needs.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     In a first embodiment disclosed herein, a device for purifying a liquid stream comprises a filter for passing a liquid stream therethrough to remove impurities therefrom, and a radiation source disposed to radiate the liquid stream.  
         [0005]     In other embodiments disclosed herein, the radiation source may be located upstream or downstream of the filter. The radiation source may emit ultraviolet radiation, and may comprise an ultraviolet lamp. The filter may comprise an inner filter to pass the liquid stream therethrough, and an outer filter surrounding the inner filter to pass the liquid stream therethrough and in fluid communication with the inner filter. The filter may comprise one or more filters selected from the group comprised of fiber filters, stone filters, carbon filters, polymer filters, and porcelain filters.  
         [0006]     In other embodiments, the device may further comprise an oxygenation device in fluid communication with the radiation device to mix oxygen into the liquid. The oxygenation device may comprise one or more molecular sieves to extract the oxygen from air by pressure swing adsorption.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment disclosed herein, a method for purifying a liquid stream comprises passing a liquid stream through a filter to remove impurities therefrom, and exposing the liquid stream to a radiation source to radiate the liquid stream.  
         [0008]     These and other features and advantages will become further apparent from the detailed description and accompanying figures that follow. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a liquid filtration device as disclosed herein;  
         [0010]      FIG. 1   a  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of the filtration device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a diverter as disclosed herein that may be used in connection with the liquid filtration device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3   a  is a sectional view of a filter taken along line B-B of the filtration device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the outer core of the filter of  FIG. 3   a;    
         [0014]      FIG. 3   c  is a top plan view of the internal section of the filter outer core of  FIG. 3   b;    
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an ultraviolet radiation filtration device taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an oxygenation device along taken line B-B of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     The needs previously mentioned are answered herein with liquid purification devices and methods that include filtering the liquid with a filter device to remove impurities therefrom, and also radiating the liquid. Optionally, oxygen may be mixed with the liquid in an oxygenation device.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment a liquid filtration device as disclosed herein is adapted to filter a stream of water emanating from a water tap. The filtration device includes, generally, a filter I, a radiation source II, an oxygenation device III, and a connector IV for connecting to the water source.  
         [0019]     With further reference to  FIG. 3   a , the filter I of this embodiment is formed as a double layer filtration device including an inner filter  1  and an outer filter  2 . The inner filter  1  includes an inner filter bottom  14 , a top lid  13 , and an inner upper filter  12  therebetween. The inner filter is further surrounded by a center tube  10 . In one embodiment, the inner filter  1  may include a plurality of filter layers, such as the four filter layers of the embodiment of  FIG. 3   a : a porcelain filter  16 , a stone filter  17 , a fiber filter  18 , and an activated carbon filter  19 . The filter layers are disposed within the central tube  10  between the inner filter bottom  14  and the inner upper filter  12 .  
         [0020]     With reference to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , the inner filter  1  is surrounded by the outer filter  2 . The outer filter  2  includes an outer filter tube  15  disposed on a base stand  11 . The inner filter  1  and the outer filter  2  are housed in an outer body  22  that includes a filter top lid  23 . The filter top lid  23  is formed with an inlet  24   a  and an outlet  24   b . Referring to  FIG. 3   c , the outer filter tube  15  is formed with an empty center, and may be formed with a wall surface that is undulating or serrated so that the contact surface area of the filter  15  is increased.  
         [0021]     In use, the liquid to be purified (e.g. water) enters the double layered filtration device I through the inlet  24   a  from the filter top lid  23  and flows downwardly between the outer body  22  and the outer filter tube  15  of the outer filter  2 . The liquid passes through the vertical walls of the outer filter tube  15  in a horizontal direction where it undergoes the first filtration stage. After passing through the vertical walls of the outer filter tube  15 , the liquid enters the inner filter  1  through the porous inner filter bottom lid  14  and flows through the four layers of filters ( 16 ,  17 ,  18 , and  19 ) from the bottom to the top of the inner filter  1 . The liquid then leaves the inner filter  1  through the porous inner upper filter  12  and subsequently through the porous inner filter top lid  13 , thereby exiting the second filtration stage. The liquid finally leaves the double layered filtration device I through the outlet  24   b  formed in the filter top lid  23 . A filter such as double layered filtration device I increases the amount of filtration in a set period of time significantly and saves space as two separate stages of filtration may be disposed within the same volume.  
         [0022]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and further reference to  FIG. 4   a , the liquid exiting the outlet  24   b  is then transferred through line  5   a  to radiation source II. In the embodiment shown, radiation source II is an ultraviolet lamp that includes a cylindrical casing  30  and a set of highly reflecting mirrors disposed the vertical walls within the cylindrical casing  30 . The mirrors include reflective metal plates  26  and reflective films  27  disposed thereon. A spiral tube  28  is disposed within the cylindrical casing  30  to extend between the openings of the lines  5   a  and  5   b . An ultraviolet lamp  29  extends through and is surrounded by the coils of the spiral tube  28 . The mirrors are disposed so as to effectively reflect sterilizing rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp  29 .  
         [0023]     In use, the liquid enters the spiral tube  28  from the top through the line  5   a  and flows downward around the ultraviolet lamp  29  in the spiral tube  28  and leaves the radiation source II through the line  5   b . In this embodiment, the liquid is continuously exposed to ultraviolet rays through the reflecting mirrors as it passes through the coiled spiral tube  28  that is wrapped around the lamp  29 . This is very effective and allows the purification of the water by a highly efficient sterilizing process.  
         [0024]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and further reference to  FIG. 4   a , in the embodiment shown the liquid exiting the radiation source II is transferred through liquid line  5   b  to an oxygenation device III for oxygenation of the liquid. The oxygenation device III includes a cylindrical tank  36  that is filled with liquid and is employed for dissolving oxygen. The oxygen-dissolving tank  36  contains liquid circulating plates  37  disposed horizontally within the tank, and is formed with a liquid entrance  38   a  at the top for connecting to liquid line  5   b  and a liquid exit  38   b  at the bottom for exiting the oxidized liquid into liquid line  38 . An upper liquid line  5   c  is attached to the vertical wall in the upper region of the tank  36  and a lower liquid line  5   d  is attached to the vertical wall in the lower region of the tank. The upper liquid line  5   c  leads to an external pump  35 , and a horizontal airflow tube  34   a  is attached to the upper liquid line above the pump  35  shortly before the upper liquid line reaches the pump. An oxygen generator  34  is connected to the upper liquid line  5   c  via the airflow tube  34   a , which supplies oxygen from the oxygen generator  34  to the upper liquid line  5   c . The lower liquid line  5   d  is attached below the pump  35  on the opposite side to the attachment site of the upper liquid line  5   c.    
         [0025]     In use, the liquid exits the oxygen-dissolving tank  36  through the upper liquid line  5   c  and the oxygen enters the upper liquid line via horizontal airflow tube  34   a . An anti-backflow valve device (not shown in the drawing) may be installed inside the airflow tube  34   a . Air is drawn by capillary action from airflow tube  34   a  and the liquid is mixed with the oxygen inside the upper-liquid line  5   c . The upper liquid line  5   c  passes the liquid mixed with oxygen to the pump  35 , which acts to increase the pressure of the oxygenated liquid. The oxygenated liquid exits the pump  35  into the lower liquid line  5   d  which leads it into the lower region of the oxygen-dissolving tank  36 .  
         [0026]     The oxygenation process disclosed is preferably a continuous process. Sterilized liquid supplied by the radiation source II enters the oxygen-dissolving tank  36  at the top through the entrance  38   a . The sterilized liquid then enters a circulation cycle that leaves the tank  36  through upper liquid line  5   c  where it is mixed with oxygen from the airflow tube  34   a . The liquid and oxygen mixture is pumped by the pump  35  and introduced at increased pressure into the lower portion of the tank  36  via lower liquid line  5   d . Sterilized oxygenated liquid finally leaves the oxygenation device III through liquid exit  38   b.    
         [0027]     The oxygen generator  34  extracts oxygen from atmospheric air via known methods such as, inter alia, pressure swing adsorption (PSA). As known to those skilled in the art, PSA typically employs a column filled with zeolite molecular sieves that differentially adsorb certain gases. As air flows through a column (or bed) of such molecular sieves, the component gases it contains are adsorbed and stratified in the order of their relative affinity to the molecular sieve material. This process may be continued until the penultimate gas component stratifies near the end of the column. When the full column length has been used, the column must be regenerated by desorbing (or purging) the adsorbed gases. Purging is accomplished by reducing the pressure in the column and back-flushing with some of the concentrated gas product. Adsorption and desorption are completely reversible processes and can be carried out indefinitely. If properly cycled through the adsorb-desorb process, molecular sieve column do not wear out or become clogged.  
         [0028]     In an embodiment, the oxygenation device III may employ an Advanced Technology Fractionator (ATF) for extracting oxygen from air. As known, an ATF concentrator provides (i) a rotary distribution valve that employs a face seal and is driven at low speed by a small motor similar to those found in electric clocks; (ii) multiple (e.g. twelve) molecular sieve beds (columns) with length-to-diameter ratios much greater than those of conventional oxygen concentrators; and (iii) large-scale integration of all components by integral manifolding and sealing, eliminating all but two hose connections.  
         [0029]     The rotary distribution valve built into the ATF directs the flow of compressed air to a group of four molecular sieve beds at any given moment. At the same time, another four beds are allowed to purge to atmosphere through the valve. The remaining four beds are interconnected through the valve to equalize pressure as they transition between adsorbing and desorbing. The combined twelve sieve beds of the ATF device contain about the same amount of molecular sieve as a conventional two-bed oxygen concentrator.  
         [0030]     Variations in compressor pressure experienced when employing an ATF are typically much lower than those exhibited by conventional concentrators, and the oxygen product pressure in an ATF system is essentially constant. Furthermore, the ATF is simple, compact, and eliminates up to 60 pneumatic connections and 30 electrical connections found in conventional concentrators. The compact, lightweight design of the ATF allows reduction of size and mass of the complete concentrator.  
         [0031]     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , in a further embodiment disclosed herein, a connector IV is provided that may be easily attached to a liquid source such as a typical water faucet  41 . The connector IV includes an upper level connector  39  and a lower diverter  40 . The upper connector  39  contains a rubber sleeve  42  for fitting onto the water faucet  41 , and a high elastic shrink-wrapping film  43  that will wrap tightly to the water faucet  41  upon application of heat thereto, thereby allowing the connector IV to be firmly attached to any water faucet  41 . The lower diverter  40  of the connector IV contains a valve  44  formed with generally opposed, cooperating openings  44   a ′,  44   a ″ and also formed with opening  44   b ′. The valve  44  may be rotated about its axis into an orientation such that the opening  44   a ′ is located at the top and the opening  44   a ″ is located at the bottom of the valve. In this orientation, the water exiting the faucet  41  flows through the connector IV downward to exit at the bottom of the connector. The valve  44  may also be rotated about its axis into a different orientation such that the opening  44   b ′ is located at the top of the valve. In this orientation the water exiting the faucet  41  flows through the opening  44   b ′ into the tube of the switching valve  44  and then through out the opening  44   b ″ into the line  5  of the filtration device described elsewhere herein. Thus, in this orientation of the valve  44 , water may flow freely from the faucet  41  through the connector IV and into the first filtration process stage I as described elsewhere herein with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3   a - 3   c.    
         [0032]     Table 1 shows a list of parts that may be selected by those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments disclosed herein.  
         [0033]     Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications to the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed herein.  
                                             TABLE 1                       Reference           Material of       number   Part identifier   Dimension   construction                                5   Soft tube   ¾″           15   Porcelain   72*100*250*           filter       11   Base stand   250 g       12   Upper filter   280 g       13   Inner Filter    70 g           Top Lid       14   Inner Filter    70 g           Bottom Lid       10   Center Tube   190 × 52 mm       16   Fiber Filter   65 × 61 mm       17   Stone Filter   6.5 mm       18   Activated   16 × 40           Carbon       19   Porcelain   3.5 mm           Filter       20   Large O-Ring   100 × 3/mm   Rubber       21   Small O-Ring   19 × 3/mm   Rubber       24   Clip       Stainless                   Steel       25   Water Inlet   3/4″ × 40 mm × 1100 mm   Copper/Silver           Valve       26   Reflective       Aluminum           Metal Plate       27   Reflective       Film           Sheet       28   Spiral Tube   9 × 12.5 mm × 3.62 m       33   Electrical Wire   2.5 m       34   Oxygen   1 kg   Oxygen Filter           Generator       38   Water Outlet       Copper/Silver       43   Wrapping Film       Elastic Shrink