Ozonating apparatus for drinking water

Claim 2

Apparatus for purifying drinking water, comprising a pair of tanks, at least one of which is vented to atmosphere, first valve means electrically actuatable to supply water to said one tank, a diffuser mounted in said one tank adjacent its lower end, an ozone generator electrically actuatable to supply ozone gas to said diffuser to be distributed thereby to the water in said one tank, means connecting together said tanks to convey ozonated water from said one to the other of said tanks, second valve means for withdrawing water from said other tank, a pair of spaced switches mounted externally of said tanks for controlling the operations of said generator and said first valve means, switch operating means including an actuating member mounted to reciprocate between said switches and a first limit position in which said member operates one of said switches when the quantity of water in said one tank falls below a first value, and to operate the other of said switches when said quantity of water in said one tank increases a predetermined amount above said first value, and circuit means connected to said switches and responsive to the operation of said one switch to actuate said generator and said first valve means to feed ozone gas and water, respectively, to said one tank, and operative upon the operation of said other switch to deactuate said first valve means, said circuit means including means operative each time said one switch is operated to actuate said generator for a predetermined period of time independently of the oepration of said other switch.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a conduit connected at one end to an air supply and at its opposite end to the inlet of said generator, said conduit having a portion thereof extendingly longitudinally through said one tank and the water therein, whereby the air in said conduit is cooled by the water in said one tank before reaching said generator.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means mounting said one tank for vertical movement, and resilient means connected to said one tank to resist downward movement thereof upon admission of water to said one tank, and operative to shift said one tank upwardly upon withdrawal of water therefrom, said switch actuating member being connected to said one tank for movement thereby selectively into engagement with said switches as the quantity of the water in said one tank changes.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a pump for pumping water from said one to said other tank, a pressure switch connected in said circuit means and responsive to the pressure in said other tank momentarily to operate said pump, independently of the two first-named switches, whenever the pressure in said other tank falls below a predetermined value, and means mounting said one switch for operation by said actuating member immediately following each operation of said pump.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating member is mounted on the outside of said other tank for movement in opposite directions between said switches to operate the latter, a second, buoyant member is mounted in said other tank to float on the water therein, and to move vertically in said other tank as the level of the water therein changes, and means connects said members to transmit the motion of said second member to said actuating member.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means connecting said tanks comprises a first pipe opening at opposite ends on the interiors of said tanks adjacent the lower ends thereof, a third tank is mounted adjacent said other tank and is connected intermediate its ends by a second pipe with said other tank above said first pipe to receive water from said other tank, all three of said tanks are vented to atmosphere, and said one switch is positioned to be operated by said actuating member when the level of the water in said third tank falls below said second pipe.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said manually operable valve means is connected to said third tank adjacent the lower end thereof, and a filter is mounted in said third tank between said second pipe and said manually operable valve means to filter water before the latter is discharged from said third tank.

Claim 9

Apparatus for purifying drinking water, comprising a container for water, means including a first, normally-closed valve operable to supply water to said container, a second valve operable to withdraw water from said container, electrical control means connected to said water supply means and responsive to predetermined changes in the quantity of water in said container automatically to open said first valve to replenish the supply of water in said container each time said quantity falls below a predetermined value, a plurality of separate ozone generators, and a normally-closed outlet valve interposed between each generator and said water supply means and operative, when open, to connect the output of the associated generator to said water supply means, said control means including selector means for selectively energizing one of said generators and opening its associated outlet valve each time said first valve is opened, said selector means comprising a manually-indexible selector switch movable selectively to a plurality of different posItions in each of which it connects a different one of said generators and outlet valves in circuit with said control means, said water supply means including a first solenoid operative, when energized to open said first valve, said control means further including first switch means connected in circuit with said first solenoid to energize the latter each time the quantity of water in said container falls below said predetermined value, and said selector means including second switch means operative to energize said one generator for a predetermined interval each time said first solenoid is energized.

Claim 10

Apparatus for purifying drinking water, comprising a container for water, means including a first, normally-closed valve operable to supply water to said container, a second valve operable to withdraw water from said container, electrical control means connected to said water supply means and responsive to predetermined changes in the quantity of water in said container automatically to open said first valve to replenish the supply of water in said container each time said quantity falls below a predetermined value, a plurality of separate ozone generators, and a normally-closed outlet valve interposed between each generator and said water supply means and operative, when open, to connect the output of the associated generator to said water supply means, said control means including selector means for selectively energizing one of said generators and opening its associated outlet valve each time said first valve is opened, said selector means comprising a manually-indexible selector switch movable selectively to a plurality of different posItions in each of which it connects a different one of said generators and outlet valves in circuit with said control means, said water supply means including a first solenoid operative, when energized to open said first valve, said control means further including first switch means connected in circuit with said first solenoid to energize the latter each time the quantity of water in said container falls below said predetermined value, and said selector means including second switch means operative to energize said one generator for a predetermined interval each time said first solenoid is energized.