Portable air-water generator

A water generating device for obtaining potable water from ambient air inside or outside a structure or dwelling, having ducts for bringing this supply of ambient air to the device and for releasing the air back outside the device after it has been processed. There is an air filter for filtering the air prior to processing of the air. The air filter includes a one-time sensing element which renders it unusable when removed from the generator. A condenser is provided for extracting water vapor in the air brought thereto by the ducts. Within the ducts there is a fan or blower to move air from outside the device through the condenser and for returning the air back outside the device after it has traversed the condenser. Between the condenser and the collection point, there is an immediate temporary holding reservoir, or plumbing to this reservoir, which contains an ultraviolet light to kill existing microorganisms, as well as a pump to transport the water through a subsequent water filter, a second exposure to ultraviolet light, and into the ultimate internal or external water storage unit. The water filter also includes a one-time sensing element which renders it unusable when removed. An internal container is positioned to receive and collect the water after it leaves the second exposure to ultraviolet light, and there is a water sensor below the top of the internal container for shutting down the device when the container is full of water. Prior to this internal container, which is removable and may be reusable, is a valve for diverting this water instead to external water storage units. A switch is provided for automatically deactivating the device until the nonreusable air filter element is replaced after a predetermined pressure drop in the air after the air filter compared to that of the air before the air filter. A timer is provided for deactivating the device until a nonreusable water filter element is replaced after a predetermined number of hours of operation. A sensor is provided for deactivating the device when the UV light(s) fail to operate. A thermostat and humidistat are settable in conjunction with each other by a user to minimize energy consumption and maximize water yield. There is also a manual override switch to these conditional settings. First, second, and third indicators provide a signal when the air filter element, the water filter element, and the UV light element(s) are in need of being replaced. A fourth indicator provides a signal when the internal water container is full.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
The present invention relates to water making apparatus, and, more 
particularly, to such a device which makes potable water from the air. 
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
In recent years, it is becoming more usual for people in both offices and 
in the home to drink bottled water rather than the water from a water tap. 
Countless other situations exist where water is difficult to obtain or 
where available water or water quality leaves much to be desired. In many 
cases this also creates a need to carry and lift heavy bottles of water 
periodically and to carry the water from the place where it was purchased 
to the place where it will be used. Accordingly, there have been some 
attempts to provide water generating devices to alleviate these problems. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,931,347 to Gay issued Oct. 17, 1933, prepares potable water 
from a supply of water which is first frozen, to remove impurities. It 
does not treat water without first freezing it. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,409,624 to Granville issued Oct. 22, 1946, is a complicated 
system for providing water. It is manually powered and uses the "sulfuric 
acid system". 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,418 to Wright issued May 22, 1962, provides water from 
air, but is lacking in many of the features needed to produce potable 
water for modern day uses. There is no safety provision allowing only 
properly operable filters to be used, and no provision to allow water 
production only when certain temperature/humidity conditions can be met. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,009 to Kooney issued Apr. 13, 1971, provides rapidly 
operating water vapor condensing means for use with a laundry clothes 
dryer. It uses ice as coolant and uses a filtering material designed to 
remove only lint from the resulting condensed water. The condensed water 
vapor is claimed to be suitable for use in steam irons or for any "other" 
purpose requiring water. There are no provisions for obtaining water of 
any confident purity level from the ambient air. Also, it has no air 
filter, has only a coarse water filter, no operational controls except the 
manually supplied ice filled chill unit, and it can only work during the 
time that a clothes dryer is operating. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,442 to Swanson issued July 11, 1972, discloses an 
apparatus for recovering potable water from "humid" air. It is thus not 
designed to operate at varying humidity levels, and fresh water is used as 
a coolant with water pumps. It has no air or water filters and no refined 
controls. It diverts condensed water vapor to the cool water bath as 
needed, and only the overflow is channeled to another container and is 
called potable. Swanson does not use a fan or blower to move air through 
his unit. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,132 to Nasser et al. issued Jan. 8, 1980, is designed 
to operate in hot and humid regions only; its primary purpose is to cool 
and dehumidify ambient air in relatively large areas such as a city 
neighborhood. There is no provision for protecting the purity of the 
water. It must be taller than the tallest building in the area, requires a 
foundation recessed in the ground, cannot be in any enclosing structure 
and must be in an open area free of ground contours, needs at least two 
air passages, and a heat dissipator in a passageway separate from the 
passageway containing the air cooler and moisture condenser. It relies on 
the specific gravity of cold air sinking within the device and hot air 
rising within the device. It has no air or water filters to protect the 
water. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,937 to Erlich issued Mar. 17, 1981, provides no 
operational controls for humidity, temperature, or filter conditions. The 
device also does not use a blower or fan. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,552 to Smith issued Feb. 28, 1984, does not mention 
potable water, has no air or water filters, requires a turbine, a 
generator, and wind. It has to be large (for example, it may be mounted on 
a trailer), it cannot be used indoors, there is no provision for 
protection of the water quality, and no filters for keeping insects, dust, 
etc. out of the water. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,570 to Littrell issued Jan. 9, 1990, is for 
agricultural water, and it only operates outdoors, is very large, designed 
for only high temperature regions, requires a wind of at least 5 mph to 
operate, is made of stone and cinder blocks, and has no refined controls 
or filters. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a potable water generator designed to 
produce potable water using existing technologies and known devices in a 
unique combination that safely extracts potable water from the ambient air 
in a wide range of user definable temperature and humidity conditions. 
This invention provides a fine functional air filter to remove impurities 
from the air, safely, because the potable water generator is arranged to 
assure that only fresh and properly functioning air filters are used. User 
neglect or abuse is avoided, thereby contributing to safe, pure water. 
This unit will not work with a malfunctioning air filter. 
This invention provides a fine functional water filter to remove 
impurities, odors, and objectionable taste, as well as other contaminants, 
safely, because the generator is permanently programmed by a time meter to 
assure that only fresh and properly functioning water filters are used and 
replaced on a regular, timely basis. Each time a water filter is replaced, 
the timer is automatically reset to zero. User neglect or abuse is 
avoided, thereby further contributing to safe, pure water. This unit will 
not work with a water filter exceeding the time meter limits. 
Concerning the air filters, these are replaced or cleaned when needed based 
upon the pressure drop sensed by a pressure differential indicator. When 
the pressure drop reaches a predetermined amount, the generator ceases 
operation until the air filter is replaced or cleaned to assure that only 
fresh and properly functioning, energy efficient, air filters are used and 
replaced or cleaned on a regular, timely basis. User neglect or abuse is 
avoided, thereby further contributing to safe, pure water. This unit will 
not work with an air filter exceeding the pressure differential limits. 
The frames of both filters contain a cooperating female sensor, which 
cooperates with a male pin on an electric switch that deactivates the 
operation of the entire unit. When either filter is removed for required 
replacement this original cooperating female sensor is destroyed and/or 
made irreparable. Only new, clean, and safe filters having such sensing 
structure can be used. 
A time meter for the water filter and a pressure differential device for 
the air filter, as applicable, are programmed to deactivate the entire 
unit until the filter or filters required to be replaced or cleaned are in 
fact replaced or cleaned. The sensing device will confirm that the 
appropriate replacement filter or filters have been properly reinstalled 
and the generator will operate once again. The time span, or filter life, 
is determined by the particular model, its intended use and location--such 
as residential, industrial, commercial, construction, marine, 
recreational, military, and the like. 
Safety and water purity is further enhanced by exposing the condensed water 
vapor to ultraviolet light on at least two occasions before this water is 
available to the user. On each single occasion over 99.99% of all 
bacteria, virus, and algae exposed to this ultraviolet light will be 
killed. The first exposure to ultraviolet light is accomplished as close 
to the newly condensed water vapor as possible - either in the initial 
catch basin or drip pan, or in plumbing to, or inside the immediate 
sump-pump temporary holding reservoir. The second exposure to ultraviolet 
light is accomplished after the water filter and immediately before the 
condensed water vapor exits the device into the removable water container 
or exterior storage devices as chosen by the user. This second exposure to 
ultraviolet light will also kill at least 99.99% of all algae, virus, or 
bacteria that may have reached this point. This double exposure to 
ultraviolet light can be done with two individual ultraviolet lights or by 
plumbing the water past one ultraviolet light twice. 
A pump is used to enable the passage of the water through a fine water 
filter and to aid in transporting the water to subsequent locations within 
the device and/or to exterior storage units. 
For those users sensitive to, or conscientious of, energy consumption, the 
generator includes temperature and humidity gauges as well as a thermostat 
and humidistat. These devices are intended to be used as follows: 
The temperature and humidity gauges will aid the experienced user, as well 
as the novice in conjunction with a quick reference chart provided with 
the unit, in determining whether or not they want to operate the unit 
under present conditions for the likely water yield at that time. 
The thermostat and humidistat settings as determined by the user, will 
allow unattended operation and preclude the need for any user monitoring 
whatsoever. The user may choose settings that provide only maximum water 
yield for energy consumed, or those settings that produce water regardless 
of energy consumed, or the user may choose one of the infinite settings 
between these two extremes. 
It is expected that needs and priorities within an individual's environment 
are not static and that the flexibility afforded by these items maximizes 
the functionality and efficiency of the generator. 
A custom designed reusable water condensate container is also an integral 
safety feature of the generator. It is conceivable that human nature or 
dire need may prompt the reuse of any container not designed for such 
purpose and may therefore be unsanitary and even dangerous. All containers 
in all models of the generator are designed to allow easy and proper 
cleaning by internal access through a wide neck. In addition, all larger 
containers will have an optional spigot. Those containers without spigots 
will transport more safely than those having spigots. 
Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the following 
detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with 
the accompanying drawings in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The basic device 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is enclosed in a cabinet 12 which 
houses the entire apparatus except for certain ductwork on some models 
which needs to be external of the device as explained below. The cabinet 
12 has an insect screen 13, a side door 14 which is hinged at 16 and has a 
handle 18 with which this door can be opened to provide access to the 
inside of the device including the water filter element, air filter, UV 
lights, and the water container and/or temporary reservoir as well as all 
other serviceable parts. 
There are two settable switches 22 and 24 which are a thermostat 22 to 
measure the temperature and open or close when a predetermined temperature 
is attained, and a humidistat 24 to measure the humidity and open or close 
when a predetermined humidity is attained. Complementing the switches 
there are two gauges 26 and 28 which are temperature and humidity gauges, 
respectively, for user-optional manual on/off operations, and which are an 
aid to determine the immediate water yields in conjunction with a 
simplified quick reference chart supplied with this device. (A more 
complex chart is shown in FIG. 5.) Switch 25 is the master ON/OFF switch 
that allows settable switches 22 and 24 to automatically activate or 
deactivate the basic device 10. Switch 27, when used, is a manual switch, 
and will override the conditional settings of switches 22 and 24. 
More details of the device are visible in FIG. 2, in which portions of the 
cabinet 12 walls have been broken away for clarity. The cabinet 12 has a 
side wall 30, a rear wall 32, and front wall 34. An inlet duct 36 and an 
outlet duct 38 are provided to direct ambient air through the device by 
means of the ductwork inside the cabinet. This ductwork can be located 
through an outside wall in some models. In addition to the model 
illustrated herein, which can vary in size, there can also be countertop 
models which fit into the kitchen cabinetry and which may have side 
venting arrangements. Still more variations can be constructed to fit 
recreational vehicles, mobile homes, and boats of all sizes. There is a 
fan or blower 40 which assists in bringing ambient air into the device. 
The air first passes through an air filter element 42 and then through the 
evaporator coils 44 of condenser coils 46, aided by compressor 47 to cool 
the air sufficiently to remove water vapor by condensation. There is a 
cooperating female sensor that blocks orifice 86 (FIG. 3) when removed and 
is not reusable. This feature, for example, can be made of plastic and is 
described in more detail below. 
The water condensate falls onto a collection pan 49 which immediately 
diverts this water into tube or piping 51 which empties into a temporary 
holding reservoir 53, which contains an ultraviolet light 55 to kill 
99.99% of any existing microorganisms. This UV light could also be 
positioned in a coiled arrangement of piping 51. This temporary holding 
reservoir 53 could be positioned to replace the collection pan 49. When 
the water level in reservoir 53 reaches a specific level, pump 57 will 
force this water through tubing or piping 59, continuing through water 
filter 50, piping 59, and past a second ultraviolet light 61. This second 
ultraviolet light will kill 99.99% of any surviving microorganisms that 
may have reached this point. The machine would shut down if either light 
failed to operate properly. It is also possible with a different piping 
arrangement to pass the water by ultraviolet light 55 a second time, 
thereby eliminating the need for two individual ultraviolet lights. The 
water will continue travelling from ultraviolet light 61 into piping 
arrangement 63 which includes a diverting valve 65 to direct the water 
into either the removable internal container 48, or through common fitting 
67 which would be used to connect to other exterior containers or tanks. 
The removable container 48 can be designed to be reusable, safely, by 
having a wide neck opening for easy cleaning. It can also have an optional 
spigot 69. There is also a sensor device 52 that is positioned inside the 
container and below the top, for shutting the machine down when the 
container 48 is full, to prevent overflowing. 
A light 54 (FIG. 1) will turn on or flash whenever the water filter is in 
need of being changed or cleaned. There is another light 56 (FIG. 1) which 
will turn on whenever the air filter is in need of being changed. A third 
light 23 (FIG. 1) will indicate that the internal, removable reservoir is 
full, and a fourth 109 (FIG. 1) will indicate if one of the ultraviolet 
light(s) is out. A separate time meter 58 may be set to deactivate the 
unit until the non-reusable water filter is replaced after a predetermined 
number of hours of operation. A second separate sensor device 62 may be 
used which deactivates the unit until the non-resuable air filter is 
replaced or a reusable air filter is cleaned after a predetermined 
pressure drop from one side of the air filter to the other, and which 
increases with time. Thus, the air filter can be arranged with a device 62 
for measuring the air pressure both upstream and downstream of the air 
filter and when the differential reaches a predetermined point, the device 
will shut down until the air filter is replaced or cleaned. This is based 
upon the air flow downstream decreasing as the filter becomes more filled 
with filtered material, causing the machine to become less efficient. 
Device 62 thereby prevents needless waste of energy. A light sensor, or 
lighting drive voltage or current sensor 107, and a similar sensor for 
light 61 (part 109, FIG. 1) will indicate when a light has burned out, and 
may be enabled to automatically stop the unit from operating as a safety 
measure. 
As shown in FIG. 3 in plan view, the filter 42 or 50 is held in a frame or 
housing. Each frame may have a one-time use cooperating female sensor 64 
built into it. This sensor may be modified by eliminating trap door 74/76 
and compression spring 78 to allow repeated use of a reusable, cleanable 
air filter. It will continue to sense that the proper, reusable air filter 
is in place. This female sensor 64 is positioned in a special place within 
the air filter frame or water filter housing 61, which in turn is held in 
position by guiding channels 66. The female sensor 64 is provided with a 
basic chassis 68 having a back wall 70, and a retaining wall 72 spaced 
slightly therefrom and providing sufficient space for holding a "trap 
door" arrangement including two pieces 74 and 76 weakly connected together 
along line 80 (FIG. 4), and located in the space between the back wall 70 
and the retaining wall 72. The trap door 74, 76 is biased downwardly by 
compression spring 78. 
The female sensor 64 has a stop block 82 on the wall opposite the one 
containing the trap door opening 86. There is a frame 84 on the generator 
which slidably holds a pin 88 which is biased toward the filter by 
compression spring 92. There is an electrical switch contact 90 which is 
closed when the off/on/off travel of pin 88 is in a certain location 
within the switch frame 84 held in precise horizontal position by spring 
92 holding it against stop block 82. The trap door has a lower part 74 
which breaks away when pin 88 is inserted into chassis 68 through opening 
86, and an upper part 76 which is held in its original position by pin 88 
until the filter with attached female sensor 64 is removed. Then, 
compression spring 78 forces part 76 down and holds it there, sealing 
opening 86, preventing further use of this filter. The primary intent, 
then, of this female sensor 64 is to prevent the user from reusing an 
expended water filter or air filter once it is removed from the machine or 
to confirm that the proper reusable air filter is in place. Device 62 
(FIG. 2) senses when the air filter becomes inefficient and shuts the 
machine off until only a new or cleaned air filter is reinstalled. Device 
58 (FIG. 2) determines by a specific time period when the water filter 
should be removed and replaced with a new water filter, and prevents 
further operation of the machine until this is done. Because female sensor 
64 prevents the reuse of either expended filter it thereby assures only 
safe and energy efficient use of this machine. 
In some cases it may be desirable to have an air filter that can be cleaned 
and reused. In these instances a different air filter, such as an 
electrostatic filter, intended for repeated use can be used and female 
sensor 64 would lack compression spring 78 and trap door 74/76. Stop block 
82 would then work in conjunction with opening 86 and pin 88 to confirm 
that only the proper air filter is in place. Energy conservation would 
still be monitored by device 62. 
FIG. 4 shows the one-time use cooperating female sensor from the front. The 
sensor basic chassis 68 is shown as is the compressed spring 78. There may 
be a nipple 96 or other guiding parts which holds the spring 78 when it is 
uncompressed in position during assembly, and the nipple is attached to 
the chassis. There is another longer nipple 98 attached to part 76 at the 
bottom end of the spring 78 which holds this spring while it is being 
compressed by the insertion of the trap door. There is a top piece 95 
(shown in FIG. 4 as a side view) which permanently seals the entire 
chassis. The final assembly piece 95 of the entire device, is shown 
partially inserted. There is a retaining block 93 which is also part of 
assembly piece 95 and aids in holding the upper part of the trap door in 
position while open or closed, including spring 78. The interior of the 
trap door is "chiselled" to create a weak breaking point. The bottom end 
of the trap door has a modified corner 91 to allow insertion of the trap 
door while compressing the spring 78 from an angled starting position. 
When the filter is entered into its correct position the pin or male sensor 
88 which projects out of its switch frame 84 engages the trap door through 
an opening 86 in the rear wall 70. The unit will only operate when pin 88 
is in its precise, but only partially extended, off/on/off travel position 
as precisely determined by block 82. Also, upon pressing of the filter 
into place, the trap door breaks and the shorter part 74 falls over onto 
the bottom and upper part 76 slides down due to pressure from compression 
spring 78 and remains resting upon the top of the pin 88. When it is time 
to remove the filter, it is removed and the compression spring 78 forces 
part 76 downward until it reaches the bottom, and it thereafter remains in 
this position. It is impossible to place this same filter into this same 
location because the outwardly extending pin 88 will not go beyond wall 
70, as it will be blocked by the trap door upper part 76. Thus, the filter 
cannot be reused. When the filter is first placed into position, the pin 
88 breaks the trap door, and the lower part of it, which is at first in a 
vertical position as shown in dashed lines, moves into and through the 
solid line position of the part and it then falls down horizontally where 
it thereafter remains. 
FIG. 5 provides a chart showing various ambient conditions and has added 
thereto the approximate number of minutes to produce one gallon of water 
at the temperature and relative humidity conditions indicated for a 
specific coil temperature and rate of air flow. Also, the approximate cost 
of energy to make a gallon of water is calculated at an assumed cost of 
10.cent./KWH. Thus, if the humidistat was set for 80% relative humidity, 
which is the curve designated A in FIG. 5, and the thermostat was set for 
87.degree. F.(which is the vertical line designated B), the device would 
produce a gallon of water in 4.8 minutes and at a cost of less than 
13.5.cent./gallon as shown on line C at point D in FIG. 5. A second 
example in FIG. 5 shows vertical line E indicating a thermostat setting at 
75.degree. F. and curved line F indicating a humidistat relative humidity 
setting of 50%, which results in the production of a gallon of water in 
approximately 12 minutes as designated on line H at point J at an 
approximate cost of 34.cent. per gallon. The settings of the humidistat 
and thermostat assure that the device will operate only when the ambient 
air is within the conditions set and at a cost and time period acceptable 
to the user. 
Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and 
not others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined 
with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. 
Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the 
following claims: