Abstract:
A method and apparatus for producing super-oxygenated water for human consumption including forcing atmospheric air through a filter to remove impurities, exposing the filtered air to ultra violet light to cleanse the air, and to form ozone and oxygen in the air, forcing the filtered air, ozone, and oxygen into a stream of flowing water to dissolve said air, ozone, and oxygen in said water, and spraying the stream of water having air, ozone, and oxygen dissolved therein into a vessel under superatmospheric pressure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the oxygen content of water. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing content of water for human consumption.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Consumption of bottled water has been increasing for the past several years throughout the world. Bottled water, rather than tap water, is preferred by health conscious individuals for many reasons. Bottled water is generally believed to be of higher purity than tap water, although some bottled water is obtained from municipal tap water supplies. Some bottled water is available from naturally occurring springs which may contain desirable minerals. Other bottled water sources are filtered water and distilled water.  
           [0005]    One of the principal factors contributing to the cost of bottled water is the cost of transportation of the bottled water to the consumer. To keep the cost of bottled water to a minimum, the bottling plant should be close to the source of the water and close to the consumer.  
           [0006]    Oxygen enhanced bottled water, sometimes referred to as super oxygenated water, is known in the art. Recent claims for increased health benefits for athletes and others consuming oxygen enhanced water has increased demand for oxygen enhanced water.  
           [0007]    Exemplary of the related art are the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,413,898; 1,945,435; 4,412,924; 4,902,411; 5,266,216; 5,709,799 and 6,132,609.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for producing super-oxygenated water for human consumption. The method includes providing super-oxygenated water for human consumption including forcing atmospheric air through a filter to remove impurities, exposing the filtered air to ultra violet light to cleanse the air, and to form ozone and oxygen in the air, forcing the filtered air, ozone, and oxygen into a stream of flowing water to dissolve said air, ozone, and oxygen in said water, and spraying the stream of water having air, ozone, and oxygen dissolved therein into a vessel under superatmospheric pressure.  
           [0009]    The apparatus includes hollow blower chamber assembly having an air blower, a filter for filtering atmospheric air entering the air blower, an ultra violet light chamber for receiving the filtered air discharged from the air blower having ultra violet lights which shine on the air pumped from the air blower to form oxygen and ozone in the air and discharging the air, oxygen and ozone therefrom, a first cylindrical chamber for receiving a stream of flowing water and for receiving the air, oxygen, and ozone discharged from the ultra violet light chamber, mixing the air, oxygen and ozone with the stream of water, and discharging the mixture of the air, oxygen, ozone and water, a pressure vessel for receiving the mixture of the air, oxygen, ozone and stream of water under superatmospheric pressure, a first separation chamber in the pressure vessel for receiving and storing the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and stream of water, the first separation chamber having a sump therein for collecting and discharging particles found in the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and water, the first separation chamber having a first weir, the first weir having a top edge and a bottom edge, a second separation chamber in the pressure vessel located adjacent to the first separation chamber and the first weir, the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and water entering the second separation chamber from the first chamber by flowing over the first weir, the second separation chamber having a second weir spaced apart from the first weir, the second weir having a top edge and a bottom, the top edge of the second weir being lower than the top edge of the first weir, a storage chamber in the pressure vessel located adjacent to the second separation chamber and the second weir for storing the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and water, the storage chamber having a discharge pipe connected thereto for discharging the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and water, and a liquid level and pressure control means for controlling the level of the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and water in the pressure vessel and for controlling the pressure in the vessel. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of FIG. 1; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Referring now to the drawing FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus of the invention can be seen to include an enclosed generally cylindrical pressure vessel under superatmospheric pressure generally indicated by the numeral  10  into which water generally indicated by the numeral  12  from a water source generally indicated by the numeral  14  is pumped. Vessel  10  is maintained under superatmospheric pressure to keep oxygen and ozone dissolved in the water  23  in the vessel  10  from being released from water  23 .  
         [0014]    Water source  14  is preferably a shallow aquifer adjacent to a natural spring located in the area where the water  12  will be bottled and close to the municipality or area in which the bottled water will be distributed and sold. However, in the absence of a natural spring, any aquifer approved by the board of health of the state in which the aquifer is located may be utilized.  
         [0015]    If water source  14  is an artesian well or other flowing water source, water source  14  may be fed to well casing  18 . However, if water source  14  is not flowing or under pressure, a pump  16  located preferably set in a screen for removing sediment(not shown) in the bore of well casing  18  pumps water  12  from the water source  14  to the surface as indicated by the arrows in well casing  18 . Water  12  from casing  18  flows into cylindrical chamber  20   a  of a generally cylindrical multi-chambered atomizer generally indicated by the numeral  20 . Cylindrical chamber  20   a  has an end plate  22  connected to the downstream end thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of cylindrical chamber  20   a . End plate  22  has a plurality of openings  22   a  therein. Openings  22   a  spray water exiting cylindrical chamber  20   a  into vessel  10  as shown and onto the V-shaped baffle generally indicated by the numeral  24  as shown by the arrows to aid in dissolving air and oxygen in the water sprayed from end plate  22  to further raise the oxygen content of the super-oxygenated water generally indicated by the numeral  23  stored in vessel  10 .  
         [0016]    Cylindrical chamber  20   b  surrounds cylindrical chamber  20   a  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cylindrical chamber  20   b  preferably has a pipe  26  communicating therewith having valve  28  therein for adding additional amounts of oxygen from an oxygen tank or reservoir(not shown) commonly available in the oxygen industry, if desired, to the water sprayed from end plate  22 , or for introduction of any other desired additives to be dissolved in super-oxygenated water  23 .  
         [0017]    Atmospheric air indicated by the arrows  29  from the hollow cylindrical blower chamber assembly generally indicated by the numeral  30  is forced into chamber  20   a  to dissolve in the water being pumped therethrough. Atmospheric air  29  is drawn through multiple air filters  32 - 32  by a conventional electric blower or fan generally indicated by the numeral  34 . Filters  32 - 32  may be electrostatic, germicidal or other types of common filters well known in the art. Preferably, blower or fan  34  is a squirrel cage type blower. Air exhausted from fan  34  passes through an ultra violet light chamber  36  having ultraviolet lights  38  which purify and sterilize the atmospheric air  29  and generates ozone and oxygen and into adjustable venturi  40  and with accelerated force into funnel shaped chamber  42  having check valve  44  in downstream thereof. Check valve  44  is normally open when water is flowing through chamber  20   a  as indicated by the arrows in chamber  20   a.    
         [0018]    Thus, filtered and cleansed atmospheric air, oxygen, and ozone is mixed with water  12  in chamber  20   a  and flows into pressure vessel  10 , where it is diffused by baffle  24  upon entering the first stage separation chamber  46 . Baffle  24  causes the mixture of air, oxygen, ozone, and water to fall into first stage separation chamber  46 . Any fine particles in the water  23  in first stage separation chamber  46  settle into sump  48 . Fine particles which have accumulated in sump  48  can be removed by closing normally open gate valve  50  and opening hinged flange  52 . A sight glass  54  enables viewing the level of water  23  in first stage separation chamber  46 .  
         [0019]    First stage separation chamber  46  is separated from second stage separation chamber  56  by weir  58 , and second stage separation chamber  60  is separated from third stage separation chamber  62  by weir  64 . Fine particles which have accumulated in sump  61  can be removed by closing normally open gate valve  61   a  and opening hinged flange  61   b . A sight glass  66  enables viewing the level of water  23  in second stage separation chamber  60 .  
         [0020]    When water  23  fills first stage separation chamber  46  up to the top of weir  58 , water  23  spills over the top of weir  58  into second stage separation chamber  60  until water fills up second stage separation chamber  60 . A liquid level and pressure controller  68  is electrically connected by line  70  to blower  34  and ultra violet lights  38  by line  72  to pump  16  to maintain the water level and pressure in vessel  10  at a desired level to maintain added oxygen in the super-oxygenated water  23 . Pressure is preferably maintained at approximately 40 psi in pressure vessel  10 . A pressure relief valve  74  is connected to the top of pressure vessel  10  provided for safety.  
         [0021]    The top of weir  64  is lower than the top of weir  58  and water  23  spills over weir  64  into storage tank stage  62 . All fine particles have settled into first stage separation chambers  46  and  60 . A drain line  76  with valve  76   a  is located in the bottom of storage tank stage  62  to drain storage tank stage  62  as desired.  
         [0022]    A bottle filling pipe  78  is connected to the end of pressure vessel  10  slightly above the bottom of pressure vessel  10  for filling bottles with super-oxygenated water  23 . Pipe  78  has a main valve  80  and a valve  82  for removing test samples of super-oxygenated water  23 . Pipe  78  provides super-oxygenated water to multiple bottle filling pipes  84 ,  86 , and  88  having valves  84   a ,  86   a , and  88   a  at the ends thereof.  
         [0023]    Pipe  88  has a plurality of valves  88   b  and  88   c  for filling bottles  90 - 90  on a conveyer belt  92 . Conveyor belt  92  conveys filled water bottles  90 - 90  to a second conveyor belt  94  where the bottles  90 - 90  are placed in containers  96  which are then loaded onto a truck generally indicated by the numeral  98 . Preferably bottles  90 - 90  are constructed from a material through which oxygen and ozone in super-oxygenated water  23  are contained in the water and do not migrate through the material forming the walls and cap of the bottle  90 .  
         [0024]    Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that of the following claims: