Reverse osmosis kit for producing potable water from seawater

Claim 1

An apparatus for the production of potable water from sea water adapted to be lowered to depths of at least 130 fathoms below the surface of the sea and comprising: (a) potable water collecting means including: (i) a support member having a semipermeable membrane secured thereto and adapted to permit substantially potable water to permeate therethrough, at pressures corresponding to said depths below the surface, into potable water collecting chamber defined by said support member and said semipermeable membrane; and (ii) outlet means to recover said substantially potable water from said potable water collec-ting chamber; (b) potable water storage means including: (i) inlet means for receiving said potable water from said collecting means; (ii) outlet means to recover said potable water; and (iii) pressure relief valve means adapted to relieve air pressure therein and thereby maintain an internal pressure substantially equal to ambient external pressures during recovery of said apparatus from said depths; and (c) pressure relief and check valve means defining a one-way flow path for said potable water from said collecting means to said storage means, to prevent any backpressure, created during raising of the apparatus from said depths, from reaching and damaging the semi-permeable membrane.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the production of potable water from sea water adapted to be lowered to depths of at least 130 fathoms below the surface of the sea and comprising: (a) potable water collecting means including: (i) a support member having a semipermeable membrane secured thereto and adapted to permit substantially potable water to permeate therethrough, at pressures corresponding to said depths below the surface, into potable water collecting chamber defined by said support member and said semipermeable membrane; and (ii) outlet means to recover said substantially potable water from said potable water collec-ting chamber; (b) potable water storage means including: (i) inlet means for receiving said potable water from said collecting means; (ii) outlet means to recover said potable water; and (iii) pressure relief valve means adapted to relieve air pressure therein and thereby maintain an internal pressure substantially equal to ambient external pressures during recovery of said apparatus from said depths; and (c) pressure relief and check valve means defining a one-way flow path for said potable water from said collecting means to said storage means, to prevent any backpressure, created during raising of the apparatus from said depths, from reaching and damaging the semi-permeable membrane.

Claim 3

An apparatus for the production of potable water from sea water adapted to be lowered to depths of at least 130 fathoms below the surface of the sea and comprising: (a)a potable water collecting means including: (i) an outer casing; (ii) porous support member secured within said outer casing thereby defining an inner and outer chamber; (iii) a sea water inlet and outlet in said outer chamber; and (iv) a semipermeable membrane mounted on said support member and adapted to allow substantially potable water to permeate therethrough into said inner chamber at pressures corresponding to said depths; (v) outlet means to recover said substantially potable water from said inner chamber; (b) a potable water storage means including (i) inlet means for receiving said potable water from said collecting means; (ii) outlet means to recover said potable water; and (iii) pressure relief valve means adapted to relieve air pressure therein and thereby maintain an internal pressure substantially equal to ambient external pressures during recovery of said apparatus from said depths; and (c) pressure relief and check valve means defining a one-way flow path for said potable water from said inner chamber to said storage means, to prevent any back-pressure, created during raising of the apparatus from said depths, from reaching and damaging the semi-permeable membrane.

Claim 4

An apparatus for the production of potable water from sea water adapted to be lowered to depths of at least 130 fathoms below the surface of the sea and comprising: (a)a potable water collecting means including: (i) an outer casing; (ii) porous support member secured within said outer casing thereby defining an inner and outer chamber; (iii) a sea water inlet and outlet in said outer chamber; and (iv) a semipermeable membrane mounted on said support member and adapted to allow substantially potable water to permeate therethrough into said inner chamber at pressures corresponding to said depths; (v) outlet means to recover said substantially potable water from said inner chamber; (b) a potable water storage means including (i) inlet means for receiving said potable water from said collecting means; (ii) outlet means to recover said potable water; and (iii) pressure relief valve means adapted to relieve air pressure therein and thereby maintain an internal pressure substantially equal to ambient external pressures during recovery of said apparatus from said depths; and (c) pressure relief and check valve means defining a one-way flow path for said potable water from said inner chamber to said storage means, to prevent any back-pressure, created during raising of the apparatus from said depths, from reaching and damaging the semi-permeable membrane.