A DEVICE

Abstract: The device (1) can be provided in a variety of ways for use in a liquid treatment system such as a domestic water system for killing microorganisms such as bacteria. The device has a filter, which incorporates a number of ceramic chips coated in silver defining a silver carrier for reacting with and eliminating the microorganisms. Dangerous bacteria are rendered harmless by a relatively simple chemical reaction with the silver as the liquid passes through the filter. The silver carrier can also be delivered as an additive, or on an internal liquid contacting surface of a pipe or container. The invention also provides for passing an electrical current through the chips or an electrode to ionise the water to kill microorganisms. The frequency of discharges is determined by the degree of stagnation experienced by the system or in response to monitored water levels or temperatures.

Description: A DEVICE The present invention relates to a device and more particularly to a decontamination device for use in a water heating system. Contaminants can enter the system when supply pipes are damaged or opened during maintenance. Additionally, while large-scale treatment systems are very effective at removing bacteria, the non-sterile nature of the overall system means that small quantities remain. The amount of contamination can quickly rise to dangerous levels if the water is stationary in the system for an extended period. This is particularly relevant where the water has been heated prior to stagnation, for example, in an immersion heater prior to the inactive period, as bacteria can then develop much more quickly. Irrespective of how the contamination entered the system it is essential that it is removed before consumption as ecoli and in extreme cases legionella which readily develop in such circumstances, are normally fatal if ingested by humans. A variety of treatment systems for the removal of microorganisms and particulate matter from liquids are known, however, solutions to date are impractical and or expensive. For example a system may be completely drained and disinfected prior to use or complex chemical filters may be used. Obviously, neither of these solutions are practical for domestic situations as they are difficult to use and expensive. There is therefore a need for a device, which will overcome the aforementioned problems. Accordingly, there is provided a device for use in a liquid treatment system for removing microorganisms or particulate matter from the liquid, the device having a filter upstream of a dispensing tap wherein the filter incorporates a silver carrier for reacting with and eliminating the microorganisms or particulate matter. In this way, water or any similar liquid passing through the filter will have dangerous bacteria rendered harmless by a relatively simple chemical reaction with the silver. As there are no harmful by-products of the reaction the water can then be consumed without risk of infection. Preferably, the silver carrier is removable. Thus, when no silver is left for reaction with the liquid it can easily be replaced. In one arrangement, the carrier is provided by ceramic chips having an exterior surface thereof coated with silver. In another arrangement, the carrier is provided by a plastics material coated with silver. In a still further arrangement the filter is provided as a section of pipe having an interior surface coated in silver. In this way water passing through the pipe is exposed to a large reaction area. The film, which results from reactions with the silver, may be removed using a chemical additive during cleaning or cleaned manually. The pipe may also optionally include mixing baffles for ensuring that all of the liquid is exposed to the silver. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an additive for a liquid formed for removing microorganisms such as bacteria from the liquid, the additive including an active silver ingredient to react with and kill the bacteria. Preferably, the additive is provided by silver-coated beads or as a sachet of powder. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a coating for a liquid container, the coating having an active silver ingredient to react with and kill bacteria in a liquid. According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in a domestic water system having a water storage tank incorporating an ioniser provided by a copper electrode and a silver electrode spaced apart within the tank and forming an intermittent electrical circuit through the water. In one arrangement the copper electrode is provided by a copper-heating tank. In another embodiment, a conductive plate supporting a plurality of silver coated chips provides the silver electrode. In this arrangement the supply of available silver can be easily replenished by replacing the chips. Preferably, there is provided an electronic controller for managing operation of the electrical circuit. In one arrangement, the controller operates at a preset frequency. In another arrangement, the controller has an associated elapse timer for controlling conduction between the electrodes In a further embodiment of the invention the controller incorporates level monitoring means for altering the frequency of delivery of current to the electrodes. The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows by way of example only, one embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention in which: - Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a device in accordance with the invention. Referring to the drawing there is shown a device in accordance with the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The device 1 has an insulated cold-water storage tank 2 mounted on a water heater tank 3. The water heater tank 3 may be an immersion heater an indirect heater or may use any other suitable method for heating water. In order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention, specific details of plumbed connections between the cold water storage tank 2, the water heater tank 3, supply and delivery lines have been omitted as the nature and functions of these connections will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and do not form part of the present invention. The cold-water storage tank 2 incorporates an ioniser provided by a set of electrodes 21, 22, made respectively of copper and silver. An electronic controller (not shown) sends a minute DC current to the electrodes, which in turn, dispenses copper and silver ions into the water to kill any microorganisms contained therein. The controller may operate at a preset frequency or optionally may have an associated elapse timer, which initialises every time the system is used and detects extended periods of inactivity. This may be achieved by monitoring operation of a supply pump, levels or temperature. The controller may also include level monitoring inputs for changing the frequency of delivery of current to the electrodes this may also be used to disable the power supply to the water heater tank 3. For example, when the level of water in the cold-water storage tank 2 is detected as being low, the effect of heat rising from the water heater tank 3, on the reduced volume of water is greater, necessitating increased pulses. It will be understood that the ioniser may be provided as a drop in unit, with two spaced apart electrodes or as a single silver electrode forming a circuit with a suitably connected copper cylinder. This is particularly useful when the device is supplied as a retrofit unit. It will also be understood that the silver, copper or both electrodes may be provided by appropriately coated chips mounted on conductive plates or within conductive cages in contact with the water. Referring now to a further aspect of the invention these coated chips are described in more detail. In this arrangement, there is provided a device for use in a liquid treatment system such as a domestic water system to kill microorganisms such as bacteria, which can develop in the system if left inactive for an extended period. This development is hastened where the water has been heated prior to the period of inactivity. The device has a filter, which incorporates a number of ceramic chips coated in silver defining a silver carrier for reacting with and eliminating the microorganisms. The filter is mounted in a housing upstream of a tap in such a way as to be easily replaced when spent. Dangerous bacteria are rendered harmless by a relatively simple chemical reaction with the silver as the liquid passes through the filter. In another embodiment of the invention the carrier is defined by pieces of irregularly shaped plastics chips material coated with silver, which reduces the cost and weight of the filter. The invention may also be realised with a section of pipe having an interior surface coated in silver. As water passes through the pipe the bacteria react with the silver to render them harmless. The film, which results from these reactions, may be removed using a chemical additive during cleaning or cleaned manually by inserting an abrasive pipe cleaner. The pipe is fitted with mixing baffles arranged around the interior of the pipe to ensure that all of the liquid passing through the pipe is exposed to the silver. Another method of realising the current invention is by providing an additive for a water system. The additive is formed for removing microorganisms by including an active silver component, which reacts with and kills the bacteria. The additive may optionally be delivered as silver-coated beads or as a sachet of powder. In another embodiment the invention provide a coating and method for coating a liquid container such that the coating has an active silver ingredient to react with and kill bacteria in a liquid. It will be understood that the invention may be combined with a variety of additional filters to treat specific contaminants and that it may be used with any suitable contaminated liquid. It will also be understood that the silver may be delivered to the treatment system in any suitable manner whether using a carrier material or not. It will be understood that the silver may be provided in any of its forms as an oxidising agent. It will also be understood that any stable oxidising metal such as copper or gold may replace the silver. It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details as herein described, which are given by way of example only, and that various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A device for use in a domestic water system having a water storage tank incorporating an ioniser provided by a copper electrode and a silver electrode spaced apart within the tank and forming an intermittent electrical circuit through the water. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the copper electrode is provided by a copper-heating tank. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which a conductive plate supporting a plurality of silver coated chips provides the silver electrode. 4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the device incorporates an electronic controller for managing operation of the electrical circuit. 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the controller operates at a preset frequency. 6. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the controller has an associated elapse timer for controlling conduction between the electrodes 7. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the controller incorporates level monitoring means for altering the frequency of delivery of current to the electrodes. 8. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 incorporating a filter upstream of a dispensing tap, the filter having a removable silver carrier for reacting with and eliminating the microorganisms or particulate matter. 9. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the carrier is provided by a plurality of ceramic chips, each chip having an exterior surface thereof coated with silver. 10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the carrier is provided by a plastics material coated with silver, the plastics material optionally being formed as a section of pipe having an interior surface coated in silver and optionally incorporating mixing baffles for ensuring that all of the liquid passing through the pipe is exposed to the silver. 11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim incorporating an additive for removing microorganisms such as bacteria from a liquid, the additive including an active silver ingredient to react with and kill the bacteria. 12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the additive is provided by a plurality of silver-coated beads. 13. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the additive is provided by a coating for a liquid container. 14. A device for use in a liquid treatment system to remove microorganisms or particulate matter from the liquid, the device having a filter upstream of a dispensing tap, the filter incorporating a removable silver carrier for reacting with and eliminating the microorganisms or particulate matter. 15. A device as claimed in claim 14 in which the carrier is provided by a plurality of ceramic chips, each chip having an exterior surface thereof coated with silver. 16. A device as claimed in claim 14 in which the carrier is provided by a plastics material coated with silver, the plastics material optionally being formed as a section of pipe having an interior surface coated in silver and optionally incorporating mixing baffles for ensuring that all of the liquid passing through the pipe is exposed to the silver. 17. An additive for removing microorganisms such as bacteria from a liquid, the additive including an active silver ingredient to react with and kill the bacteria. 18. An additive as claimed in claim 17 wherein the additive is provided by a plurality of silver-coated beads. 19. An additive as claimed in claim 17 wherein the additive is provided by a coating for a liquid container.

Inventors: BYRNE CHRISTOPHER JAMES, BYRNE, CHRISTOPHER, JAMES
Applicants: BYRNE CHRISTOPHER JAMES, BYRNE, CHRISTOPHER, JAMES
Application year: 2000
Main classification: C02F
IPC codes: C02F1