Patent US3786924A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3786924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water purification system
Assignee: Delro Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-22
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A water purification system incorporating a reverse osmosis unit for purifying water is disclosed. The system yields two streams, one of very high purity for drinking and cooking and the like and one of lower quality for use in toilet tanks, lawn watering, garden irrigation and the like. The system provides apparatus and techniques for reconciling the varying flow rates inherent in a domestic water system with the constant flow rate desirable for efficient performance of the reverse osmosis unit. Provision is made for automatic flushing and backwashing of the reverse osmosis element.
Inventors
- 👤 L Huffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D65/00; B01D65/08; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/08; B01D63/00; B01D63/06; B01D63/062; B01D63/065; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/08; B01D2313/083; B01D2313/50; B01D2313/502; B01D2313/90; B01D2313/903; B01D2321/00; B01D2321/20; B01D2321/2083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for concurrent production of high purity water substantially free of dissolved and undissolved solids for uses requiring high purity and utility water for uses not requiring such high purity, comprising: a reverse osmosis unit having a feed water inlet, a permeate outlet, a membrane structure between the feed water inlet and the permeate outlet, said reverse osmosis unit further having a concentrate outlet upstream from the membrane structure in fluid communication with the feed water inlet; conduit means for delivering raw water from a supply source to said feed water inlet; a pump in said conduit means for establishing, when in operation, a pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit from a feed water inlet to permeate outlet; a permeate surge tank connected to said permeate outlet and having outlet means for delivering permeate to a point of use, said surge tank comprising means for maintaining the permeate outlet under a pressure proportional to the quantity of permeate in the tank, and pressure responsive means for activating and deactivating the pump in response to preselected levels of vessel pressure; and means isolating said permeate surge tank from the feed water conduit except through the reverse osmosis unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for concurrent production of high purity water substantially free of dissolved and undissolved solids for uses requiring high purity and utility water for uses not requiring such high purity, comprising: a reverse osmosis unit having a feed water inlet, a permeate outlet, a membrane structure between the feed water inlet and the permeate outlet, said reverse osmosis unit further having a concentrate outlet upstream from the membrane structure in fluid communication with the feed water inlet; conduit means for delivering raw water from a supply source to said feed water inlet; a pump in said conduit means for establishing, when in operation, a pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit from a feed water inlet to permeate outlet; a permeate surge tank connected to said permeate outlet and having outlet means for delivering permeate to a point of use, said surge tank comprising means for maintaining the permeate outlet under a pressure proportional to the quantity of permeate in the tank, and pressure responsive means for activating and deactivating the pump in response to preselected levels of vessel pressure; and means isolating said permeate surge tank from the feed water conduit except through the reverse osmosis unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system according to claim 1 further comprising a concentrate surge tank connected to said concentrate outlet and having outlet means for delivering concentrate to a point of use, a bypass means interconnecting the source of supply and the point of use of concentrate and means disabling flow through the bypass means except when the pressure in the concentrate surge tank drops to source pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said reverse osmosis membrane structure comprises porous fibers individually covered with a semipermeable membrane with the membrane in fluid contact with the feed water inlet and the ends of the fibers in communication with the permeate outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the pressure respOnsive means for activating the pump comprises a pressure responsive device responsive to the pressure between the permeate outlet and the surge tank outlet for activating the pump when said pressure falls to a selected level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said pump is a positive displacement pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said pump is a piston pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the pressure in the surge tank with the pump deactivated is greater than the pressure at the permeator inlet whereby a forward osmotic flow to the concentrate side of the permeator takes place when the pump is deactivated.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
203 words
A system for producing high purity water substantially free of dissolved and undissolved solids for uses requiring high purity, and for producing water for uses not requiring such high purity, comprising: a reverse osmosis unit having a feed water inlet, a permeate outlet, a membrane structure between the feed water inlet and the permeate outlet and a concentrate outlet upstream from the membrane structure; means for interconnecting the feed water inlet of said reverse osmosis unit with said water supply including a pump, said means being arranged to deliver water to the feed water inlet irrespective of pump operation, said pump when in operation establishing a pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit from feed water inlet to permeate outlet; a permeate surge tank for receiving permeate from said permeate outlet; permeate surge tank outlet means for delivering permeate to point of use; a concentrate surge tank connected to said concentrate outlet for receiving concentrate from said reverse osmosis unit; concentrate surge tank outlet means for delivering concentrate to a point of use; control means for activating said pump and means including said permeate surge tank for reversing the pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit when the pump is not in operation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
203 words
A system for producing high purity water substantially free of dissolved and undissolved solids for uses requiring high purity, and for producing water for uses not requiring such high purity, comprising: a reverse osmosis unit having a feed water inlet, a permeate outlet, a membrane structure between the feed water inlet and the permeate outlet and a concentrate outlet upstream from the membrane structure; means for interconnecting the feed water inlet of said reverse osmosis unit with said water supply including a pump, said means being arranged to deliver water to the feed water inlet irrespective of pump operation, said pump when in operation establishing a pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit from feed water inlet to permeate outlet; a permeate surge tank for receiving permeate from said permeate outlet; permeate surge tank outlet means for delivering permeate to point of use; a concentrate surge tank connected to said concentrate outlet for receiving concentrate from said reverse osmosis unit; concentrate surge tank outlet means for delivering concentrate to a point of use; control means for activating said pump and means including said permeate surge tank for reversing the pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit when the pump is not in operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 8 further including a pressure reducing orifice between the reverse osmosis unit and the concentrate surge tank.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for producing high purity water or the like substantially free of dissolved solids for uses requiring high purity and water for uses not requiring such high purity, comprising: a reverse osmosis unit having a feed water inlet, a permeate outlet, a membrane structure between the feed water inlet and the permeate outlet, a concentrate outlet upstream from the membrane structure; means operable in response to permeate demand for establishing a pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit from feed water inlet to permeate outlet and in the absence of permeate demand to reverse the pressure gradient; valving for directing the permeate which flows by osmosis to the inlet side of the reverse osmosis unit when the pressure gradient is reversed, through the concentrate outlet; and a concentrate storage tank having an outlet leading to a point of use and an inlet at the bottom of said tank, said inlet being connected to the concentrate outlet for receiving water therefrom, and an orifice between the concentrate outlet and the concentrate storage tank for ordinarily establishing a pressure gradient between the concentrate outlet and concentrate storage tank.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for producing high purity water or the like substantially free of dissolved solids for uses requiring high purity and water for uses not requiring such high purity, comprising: a reverse osmosis unit having a feed water inlet, a permeate outlet, a membrane structure between the feed water inlet and the permeate outlet, a concentrate outlet upstream from the membrane structure; means operable in response to permeate demand for establishing a pressure gradient across said reverse osmosis unit from feed water inlet to permeate outlet and in the absence of permeate demand to reverse the pressure gradient; valving for directing the permeate which flows by osmosis to the inlet side of the reverse osmosis unit when the pressure gradient is reversed, through the concentrate outlet; and a concentrate storage tank having an outlet leading to a point of use and an inlet at the bottom of said tank, said inlet being connected to the concentrate outlet for receiving water therefrom, and an orifice between the concentrate outlet and the concentrate storage tank for ordinarily establishing a pressure gradient between the concentrate outlet and concentrate storage tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said membrane structure comprises porous fibers individually covered with semipermeable membranes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 further including pressure responsive relief valve means downstream from the orifice for limiting te pressure in the concentrate storage tank, said pressure responsive relief valve means permitting the flow of concentrate through the concentrate outlet under conditions of low concentrate demand relative to concentrate production.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 further including a bypass conduit for connecting the raw water supply with the point of use of concentrate water, and a pressure regulating means for connecting said conduit with the point of uSe when the pressure in the concentrate tank falls to a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 further including a permeate storage tank, an inlet at the bottom of the storage tank connected to the permeate outlet, and an outlet at the bottom of the permeate storage tank for connection to a point of use of permeate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |