DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RE-SUCTION OF WATER FROM AN OUTLET PIPE IN CONNECTION WITH AN WATER PURIFIER

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for re-suction of water from an outlet pipe (18) of a water purifier (10), pressurized water being fed to said purifier, said device according to the present invention including an ejector (26) arranged to cooperate with an outlet conduit (14) for the water, said cooperation takes place before the outlet conduit (14) transfers into the outlet pipe (18). In water purifiers having a simple design the water is forced through the filters by the pressure in the water distribution system. The problem in connection therewith is that the water continues to drip even after the pressure in the water distribution system has been shut off. According to the present invention this problem is solved by having an ejector (26) to cooperate with a hose/conduit (20) having one end open towards the atmosphere, said hose/conduit serving as a reservoir of a certain volume that is used for re-suction of the water that is present in the outlet pipe (18).

Description: Device and method for resuction of water from an outlet pipe in connection with an water purifier The present invention relates to a device for re-suction of water from an outlet pipe of a water purifier, pressurized water being fed to said purifier. The device according to the present invention includes an ejector arranged to cooperate with an outlet conduit for the water, said cooperation takes place before the outlet conduit transfers into the outlet pipe. The invention also relates to a method to effect re-suction from the outlet pipe. In water purifiers having a simple design, i.e. purifiers including carbon filters, particle filters, UV-devices etc., the water is forced through the filters by the pressure in the water distribution system. The problem in connection therewith is that the water continues to drip even after the pressure in the water distribution system has been shut off. Apart from the fact that a dripping outlet pipe causes irritation bacterial growth might also develop in the outlet conduit between the UV- device and the outlet pipe. In water purifiers of the present type it is previously known to use an ejector that is activated by the water flow through the water purifier. This ejector is connected to a sealed pressure cell, the pressure in said cell being lowered when water flows through the ejector. When the water flow subsequently is shut off the negative pressure in the cell will suck water from the outlet pipe. However, this design includes several work pieces and also a high precision ejector is necessary. The aim of the present invention is to present a device in connection with water purifiers of the type mentioned above where the dripping from the outlet pipe is eliminated in an extremely simple way by using simple components in combination with an ejector. Simultaneously the device functions as a pressure relief valve if the outlet pipe is clogged. The aim of the invention is realized by a device that has been given the characteristics of the appending claims. Below an embodiment of the invention will be described, reference being made to the enclosed figures, where Fig.1 shows a schematic drawing of a water purifier being equipped with a device according to the present invention; and Fig.2 shows a detail of the ejector according to the present invention and the components that cooperate with said ejector. The water purifier 10, schematically disclosed in Fig.1, includes a filter 12, an outlet conduit 14 emanating from the filter 12, a UV-device 16, the outlet conduit 14 passing through the UV-device 16 and terminates into an outlet pipe 18. The water purifier also includes a "reservoir space" 20 that in principle only consists of a hose/conduit, that functions as a "reservoir space". Said hose/conduit 20 has one end connected to the filter 12 and the other end open towards the atmosphere. In order to provide the correct volume space the hose/conduit 20 is wound helically and located at a level preferably directly below the outlet end of the outlet pipe 18. More generally, the conditions that must be fulfilled is that the higest point of the active portion of the "reservoir space" 20 is located at a lower level than the highest point of the outlet conduit 14. In the disclosed embodiment the horisontal portion of the outlet conduit 14, directly adjacent the outlet pipe 18, constitutes the highest point 15. The expression "active portion" should be understood as the portion of the "reservoir space" 20 within which the water level varies in operation of the water purifier, i.e. there might be an inactive portion of the reservoir space that is located above the highest point 15 of the outlet conduit. The filter 12 is usually a carbon filter or a particle filter. The water purifier 10 according to Fig.l is preferably connected to the water distribution system via an inlet conduit 22 that is provided with a valve 24 for turning on /shutting off the pressure in the water distribution system. From the detail disclosed in Fig.2 of the outlet end of the filter 12 it can be learnt that an ejector 26 is arranged in connection to the outlet opening 28 for the filtered water. The outlet conduit 14 is via a first sleeve 30 connected to the outlet opening 28. The ejector 26 and the outlet opening 28 communicate with a further opening 32 and the hose/conduit 20 is via a second sleeve 34 connected to the further opening 32. This means that the outlet conduit 14 and the hose/conduit 20 function as communicating vessels, i.e. the water levels in the outlet conduit 14 and the hose/conduit 20 are located in equilibrium positions relative each other. This normally means that in said eqilibriu state the water level in the outlet conduit 14 is located inside the UV-device and the water level in the hose/conduit 20 is located in the helical portion. The water purifier 10 with the disclosed ejector arrangement funtions in the following way. The water from the water distribution system is fed to the filter 12 via the inlet conduit 22, see the arrow 17 in Fig.l, when the valve 24 is opened. After filtration the water flows in direction of the arrow 25 and discharges via the ejector 26 and the outlet opening 28. Through action of the ejector water is sucked from the hose/conduit 20 and this means that the water level in the hose/conduit 20 is lowered, see the arrow 21 in Fig.l. The water sucked out from the hose/conduit 20 is discharged through the outlet opening 28 where it is mixed with the water coming from the filter 12, said mixed water being transported via the outlet conduit 14 and passes through the UV-device 16 where sterilization of the water takes place in a previously known way, i.e. the water is irradiated with UV-light in order to achieve the desired purifying of the water. To examplify how a UV-device of the present type is designed reference is made to SE-A-9501467-6. After sterilization the water flows out through the outlet pipe 18, see the arrow 19. If a sufficient amount of water is discharged through the outlet opening 28, via the ejector 26, the hose/conduit 20 will be emptied from water. By closing the valve 24 the supply of water, via the inlet conduit 22, stops and the eqilibrium state for the water levels in the outlet conduit 14 and the hose/conduit 20 will again occur. Water will rise in the hose/conduit 20, see arrow 23 in Fig.l, to a certain level and consequently the water in the outlet pipe will be sucked backwards, preferably all the way to the vertical portion of the outlet conduit 14 in Fig.l. Since no water remains in the outlet pipe 18 there will consequently be no dripping or any second running when the water supply via the inlet conduit 23 is shut off. If for some reason, e.g. due to lime deposits, the outlet pipe 18 is clogged the "reservoir space"/the hose/the conduit 20 functions as a pressure relief valve since it is open towards the atmosphere and consequently water can be discharged through the "reservoir space"/the hose/the conduit 20 if the outlet pipe 18 is clogged. This is a significant advantage involved with the device according to the present invention. Although the invention above is described in connection with a water purifier including a filter in combination with a UV- device the invention is in no way restricted to such an application but the invention can also be used in connection with other types of water purifiers where a re-suction is desired to avoid dripping from the outlet pipe 18 when the water supply via the inlet conduit 22 is shut off.

Claims: Claims 1. Device for re-suction of water from an outlet pipe (18) of a water purifier (10) , pressurized water being fed to said purifier, said device according to the present invention including an ejector (26) arranged to cooperate with an outlet conduit (14) for the water, said cooperation takes place before the outlet conduit (14) transfers into the outlet pipe (18) , characterized in that the device includes a space (20) being in connection on one hand with the ejector (26) and the outlet conduit (14) , on the other hand with the atmosphere, the highest point of the active portion of said space (20) being located at a level lower than the highest point (15) of the outlet conduit (14) . 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the space consists of a hose/conduit (20) having one end in connection with the ejector (26) and the outlet conduit (14) while the other end is open towards the atmosphere. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the hose/conduit (20) at least partly is wound helically. 4. Device according to any of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the ejector (26) is arranged at the outlet end of a filter (12) , that the water to be purified passes through said filter (12) , and that the outlet conduit (14) is connected to said outlet end. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the space (20) is connected to the ejector (26) in the area of the outlet end of the filter (12) . 6. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the hose/conduit (20) is wound helically and located at a level directly below the highest point of the outlet conduit (14) . 7. Method to effect re-suction of water from an outlet pipe (18) of a water purifier (10), pressurized water being fed to said purifier, that in connection with feeding of the water towards the outlet pipe (18) it is effected through action of an ejector (26) that water is sucked from a space (20) that is in connection with said ejector (26) , characterized in that when the feeding of the water towards the outlet pipe (18) is interrupted water flows backwards into said space (20) that is located at a lower level than that of the free end of the outlet pipe (18) , said space (20) also being connecterd to the atmosphere, said backward flow of the water creates a re-suction of the water in the outlet pipe (18) until a equilibrium state occurs between the water level in the area of the outlet pipe (18) and the water level in said space (20) .

Inventors: HAEGERMARCK ANDERS, HAEGERMARCK, ANDERS
Applicants: ELECTROLUX AB, AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: B67D1