Patent Description:
Drinking water dispenser or cooler is a device for dispensing cooled drinking water to consumers. Water from the external source, for example, a bottle or water-pipe, enters the cold water tank, where it is cooled to a set temperature, usually <NUM>-<NUM> degrees, and is dispensed from the cold water tank to consumers through a tap or valve.

Water entering the dispenser from the source may contain pathogens, the presence of which in water dispensed to consumers is undesirable. Air entering the dispenser from the room may be another source of pathogens. Even a small number of pathogens entering water can lead to the development of unfavourable microbiological environment in the cold water tank.

It is known to use UV radiation, for example from UV LEDs located in the cold tank, to sterilize water in the cold tank or to suppress the development of microbiological environment in the cold tank. Such dispencers are described, for example, in <CIT>, <CIT> or <CIT>.

A drinking water dispenser according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is known from <CIT>.

However, water sterilization in the cold water tank using UV LED radiation is only possible with low concentrations of pathogens. If a large number of pathogens enter the cold tank or if the UV radiation is turned off for a long time, the number of pathogens may rise to the extent that the UV LED radiation power is not sufficient to sterilize the entire volume of water in the tank.

In the documents <CIT> and <CIT> is proposed using a lamp as the source of UV radiation. However, placing the lamp in the cold tank significantly complicates the design of the cold tank, since it is necessary not only to protect the lamp from possible damage, but also to exclude the possibility of substances harmful to humans entering the water if the lamp is damaged.

Besides, with high radiation power the lamp gives the water a "burnt" taste.

Another common disadvantage of devices with the UV radiation source in the cold water tank, whether it is a lamp or LEDs, is that when water is dispensed from the cold water tank, the tank is simultaneously filled up from the source. As unsterilized water coming from the source is actively mixed with water in the tank a part of unsterilized water from the source can be dispensed to consumers.

Moreover, such method of sterilizing water in the cold water tank is inefficient, since a large amount of water must be constantly treated. If even a small amount of unsterilized water is added to the cold water tank, all water in the tank must be treated.

Thus, there is a need to improve the efficiency of sterilization of water in the dispenser, especially in the cold water tank, and to reduce or eliminate the shortcomings of known devices.

The mentioned problems, at least in part, are solved in a drinking water dispenser with UV sterilization system comprising a housing and the installed in the housisng: a device for connecting to a water source; a tap for dispensing cooled water to consumers; a cold water tank equipped with a cooling device and having a lower part filled with water and an upper part where an air cavity is formed when the tank is filled with water, the cold water tank has an inlet for water coming from the source connected to the device for connecting to the water source; at least one UV radiation source is installed inside the cold water tank; the cold water tank has a cooled water outlet connected to the tap for dispensing cooled water to consumers. The dispenser additionally comprises a flow sterilizer having an inlet and outlet; the cold water tank is additionally equipped with an outlet for uncooled water and an inlet for sterilized water; the inlet of the flow sterilizer is connected to the outlet for uncooled water, and the outlet of the flow sterilizer is connected to the inlet for sterilized water. A funnel having a wide upper part and a narrow lower part is installed inside the cold water tank. The funnel is installed under the inlet for water coming from the source, so that an upper edge of the funnel is above the water level in the tank, to isolate water in the lower part of the tank from unsterilized water coming from the source, and the narrow lower part of the funnel is connected to the outlet for uncooled water.

The dispenser is preferably adapted for use of upturned bottle on top of the device as the source of water, and the device for connecting to the water source contains a bottle receiver for installation of the upturned bottle and a water intake finger, a water channel of which forms the inlet for water coming from the source.

The dispenser can also be used with other water sources, for example, the device for connection to the water source may contain means for connection to a bag-in-box water source or means for connection to a water-pipe.

In this case, it is convenient to equip the dispenser with a water level sensor installed in the cold water tank and connected to an electronic control device to maintain the pre-set water level.

The dispenser preferably contains a tap for dispensing uncooled water to consumers connected to the outlet of the flow sterilizer and a check valve installed between the flow sterilizer and the inlet for sterilized water to prevent water coming from the cold water tank in the uncooled water dispensing mode. In this configuration, the common flow sterilizer is used both to sterilize the water coming into the cold water tank and the uncooled water dispensed to consumers.

It is preferable to place the UV radiation sources located in the cold water tank in the upper part of the cold water tank. Placement of the UV radiation sources above the water level, in the air cavity of the cold water tank, first, simplifies the design of the UV radiation sources, and, second, allows to also treat the air supplied to the bottle using UV radiation, which protects the water in the bottle from pathogens coming from the atmosphere.

It is preferable to place at least one UV radiation source in the cold water tank in such a way that part of its radiation enters the funnel, thereby also preventing the development of pathogens inside the funnel.

It is convenient to position the flow sterilizer in such a way that part of UV radiation from the flow sterilizer enters the lower part of the funnel. At the same time, it is desirable to make the lower part of the funnel in form of a vertical pipe and make its inner walls from a material reflecting UV radiation. With this positioning, the sterilization of water will be at least partially carried out in the funnel.

It is preferable to place the flow sterilizer at least partially in the cold water tank. Placement of the flow sterilizer partially in the cold water tank, i. , in the lower part of the funnel located in the cold water tank, allows to reduce the overall height of the di spenser.

The first embodiment offers drinking water dispenser with the bottle as a water source. A general view of such dispenser is shown in <FIG> and its interior design is schematically shown in <FIG>. This dispenser uses the upturned bottle <NUM> as the source of water. The dispenser consists of the housing <NUM>, in the upper part of which the bottle receiver <NUM> is installed, in which the bottle with drinking water <NUM> turned down with its neck is installed. The water intake finger <NUM> is installed in the lower part of the bottle receiver <NUM>, through which water from the bottle <NUM> enters the cold water tank <NUM>.

The cold water tank <NUM> is equipped with the cooling device <NUM>. To dispense the cold water to consumers, the cold water tank <NUM> has the outlet <NUM>, which is connected to the tap <NUM> through the solenoid valve <NUM>.

The cold water tank <NUM> has the lower part <NUM> filled with water and the upper part <NUM>, where air cavity is formed. The upper part <NUM> is connected to the atmosphere through the air inlet <NUM> and the air filter <NUM>.

The water intake finger <NUM> has two separate channels, the water channel <NUM>, through which water from the bottle enters the cold water tank <NUM>, and the air channel <NUM>, through which air enters the bottle <NUM> from the upper part <NUM> of the water tank <NUM>.

Water from the water channel <NUM> of the water intake finger <NUM> enters the tank <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>. Under the inlet <NUM> for the water entering the tank <NUM>, the funnel <NUM> is installed. The funnel <NUM> is turned with its wide part <NUM> up and installed in such a way that unsterilized water coming from the bottle <NUM> enters the funnel <NUM> and does not come to the sterilized water in the tank <NUM>. The lower narrow part <NUM> of the funnel <NUM> is connected to the uncooled water outlet <NUM>, which is connected to the inlet <NUM> of the flow sterilizer <NUM>. The outlet <NUM> of the flow sterilizer <NUM> is connected to the inlet <NUM> for sterilized water.

Any flow sterilizer of suitable capacity can be used as a flow sterilizer. It is preferable to use a flow sterilizer, where sterilization of flowing water is carried out using semiconductor ultraviolet radiation sources.

The funnel <NUM> is installed in the cold water tank <NUM> so that its upper edge <NUM> is always above the water level <NUM>. The outlet <NUM> of the water channel <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> of the air channel of the water intake finger <NUM> are inside the upper wide part <NUM> of the funnel <NUM>. Thus, all water from the bottle <NUM> passes through the funnel <NUM>, which prevents the unsterilized water coming from the bottle into the sterilized water in the tank <NUM>.

One or several UV radiation sources <NUM> are located in the cold water tank <NUM> in its upper part <NUM>. UV radiation sources <NUM> are located above the water level <NUM> and above the upper edge <NUM> of the funnel <NUM>, so that part of the UV radiation comes into the funnel <NUM> thereby preventing the development of pathogens inside the funnel <NUM>. The UV sources <NUM> are located on different sides of the funnel <NUM> so that the funnel does not obscure the interior of the tank <NUM> and all water in the tank <NUM> is illuminated by the radiation of UV sources <NUM>.

During the operation of the dispenser, the unsterilized water from the bottle entering the dispenser through the water intake finger <NUM> comes into the funnel <NUM>, from where it comes to the flow sterilizer <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>, and the sterilized water that has passed through the flow sterilizer <NUM> enters the cold water tank <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>. The sterilized water is cooled to a set temperature, usually <NUM>-<NUM>, in the cold water tank <NUM>.

Cooled water is dispensed to consumers through the outlet <NUM>, valve <NUM> and tap <NUM>. When water is dispensed to consumers from the tap <NUM>, the same amount of water enters the water tank <NUM> from the bottle <NUM>. Maintaining the water level <NUM> in the tank <NUM> is controlled through the air channel <NUM> of the water intake finger <NUM>. Since the funnel <NUM> and the tank <NUM> form communicating vessels, the water in the funnel <NUM> is at the same level <NUM> as in the tank <NUM>. As soon as the water level <NUM> in the tank <NUM> and, accordingly, in the funnel <NUM> falls below the inlet <NUM> of the air channel <NUM>, the water from the bottle <NUM> starts flowing into the funnel <NUM>, and enters the lower part <NUM> of the cold water tank through the flow sterilizer <NUM>, the water level in the tank <NUM> rises, respectively, the water level in the funnel <NUM> rises, and when the water covers the inlet <NUM> of the air channel <NUM> of the water intake finger <NUM>, the flow of water from the bottle <NUM> stops.

Thus, during the operation of the dispenser, all water entering the cold water tank <NUM> from the bottle <NUM> is sterilized by flowing through the flow sterilizer <NUM>. The sterilized water in the tank <NUM> is maintained sterile using UV radiation from the sources <NUM> located in the tank <NUM>.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the dispenser. The dispenser in <FIG> differs from the dispenser in <FIG> in that it additionally contains the tap <NUM> for dispensing uncooled sterilized water to consumers. The tap <NUM> for dispensing uncooled water through the solenoid valve <NUM> is connected to the outlet <NUM> of the flow sterilizer <NUM>. The check valve <NUM> is installed before the inlet <NUM> for sterilized water in the tank <NUM>, which passes the water coming from the flow sterilizer <NUM> into the cold water tank <NUM>, but prevents the outflow of sterilized water from the tank <NUM> into the path for uncooled water in uncooled sterilized water dispensing mode through the tap <NUM>.

When the dispenser is operating, the valve <NUM> opens to dispense uncooled water to consumers and the water from the funnel <NUM> comes to the tap <NUM> through the outlet <NUM> and the flow sterilizer <NUM>. When water flows out of the funnel <NUM>, the water level <NUM> in the funnel <NUM> falls, thereby opening the inlet <NUM> of the air channel <NUM> of the water intake finger <NUM> and the water flowing out of the bottle <NUM> through the funnel <NUM> and the flow sterilizer comes to the tap <NUM>. After closing of the valve <NUM>, the water level in the funnel <NUM> is restored to the original value corresponding to the water level <NUM> in the cold water tank <NUM>.

In this way, the uncooled water dispensed to consumers is also sterilized. Besides, the dispensing of uncooled water to consumers does not affect the operation of the cold water tank. This design is also convenient in that adding the possibility of dispensing uncooled water to consumers does not require redesigning of the dispenser.

When dispensing cooled water to consumers, this dispenser operates similarly to the previously described dispenser in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows yet another embodiment of the dispenser. The dispenser in <FIG> differs from the dispenser in <FIG> with the design of flow sterilizer. In this implementation, the flow sterilizer contains the internal UV radiation source <NUM>, which is located inside the chamber <NUM> connected to the outlet <NUM> of the cold water tank <NUM>. The internal UV radiation source <NUM> is located in such a way that its radiation comes to the lower part <NUM> of the funnel <NUM>. The lower part <NUM> of the funnel <NUM> is made in the form of a vertical pipe. The water flowing through the funnel <NUM> is sterilized by ultraviolet radiation from the internal source <NUM> during the flowing through the lower part <NUM> and through the chamber <NUM>. It is preferable to use a narrowly directed internal UV radiation source <NUM> so that part of its radiation also comes from below of the water intake finger <NUM> to sterilize it.

Otherwise, this dispenser does not differ from the dispenser described previously and shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows still another embodiment of the dispenser. A general view of this dispenser is shown in <FIG>. This is a dispenser connected to an external water source. Such external source can be, for example, a bag-in-box water package located on top of the device or a free-standing water container or municipal water-pipe.

This dispenser differs from the dispenser described previously and shown in <FIG> in that water from the external source <NUM> enters the cold water tank <NUM> through the pipeline <NUM>, under the lower end of which <NUM> is located the funnel <NUM>. Water level in the tank <NUM> is controlled by the electronic control device (not shown) opening and closing the solenoid valve <NUM> installed in the pipeline <NUM> depending on the signal coming from the water level sensor <NUM> installed in the cold water tank <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A drinking water dispenser with built-in UV sterilization system comprising a housing (<NUM>) and installed in the housing (<NUM>):
a device (<NUM>) for connecting to a water source (<NUM>);
a tap (<NUM>) for dispensing cooled water to consumers;
a cold water tank (<NUM>) equipped with a cooling device (<NUM>) and having a lower part (<NUM>) to be filled with water and an upper part (<NUM>) where an air cavity is formed when the tank (<NUM>) is filled with water, wherein
the cold water tank (<NUM>) has an inlet (<NUM>) for water coming from the source (<NUM>) connected to the device (<NUM>) for connecting to the water source (<NUM>), at least one UV radiation source (<NUM>) is installed inside the cold water tank (<NUM>),
the cold water tank (<NUM>) has a cooled water outlet (<NUM>) connected to the tap (<NUM>) for dispensing cooled water to consumers, wherein
the dispenser additionally contains a flow sterilizer (<NUM>) having an inlet (<NUM>) and an outlet (<NUM>),
the cold water tank (<NUM>) is additionally equipped with an outlet for uncooled water (<NUM>) and an sterilized water inlet (<NUM>),
the inlet (<NUM>) of the flow sterilizer (<NUM>) is connected to the outlet for uncooled water (<NUM>), and the outlet (<NUM>) of the flow sterilizer (<NUM>) is connected to the sterilized water inlet (<NUM>), characterised in that
a funnel (<NUM>) having a wide upper part (<NUM>) and a narrow lower part (<NUM>) is installed inside the cold water tank (<NUM>), wherein the funnel (<NUM>) is installed under the inlet (<NUM>) for water coming from the source (<NUM>), so that an upper edge (<NUM>) of the funnel (<NUM>) is above the water level (<NUM>) in the tank (<NUM>), to isolate water in the lower part (<NUM>) of the tank (<NUM>) from unsterilized water coming from the source (<NUM>), and the narrow lower part (<NUM>) of the funnel (<NUM>) is connected to the outlet for uncooled water (<NUM>).