Water purification and vending apparatus

Claim 2

A vending apparatus for dispensing water comprising: a. a housing having at least one dispensing station accessible from the exterior thereof; b. a closed treated water tank in the housing; c. a water treating means including a semipermeable membrane filtration structure operating under pressure to pass filtered water and reject impurites including solids and dissolved minerals, said treating means having a filtered water outlet in flow communication with the treated water tank for delivery of filtered water thereto; d. means connecting said membrane filtration structure to a disposal for transmittal of rejected water thereto; e. a flow line having an inlet connected to a source of raw water; f. a pump having an inlet connected to said flow line and an outlet connected to the water treating means to deliver raw water to the upstream side of said membrane filtration structure for treatment therein; g. a dispensing means for dispensing water at said dispensing station; h. means connecting the treated water tank to said dispensing means to transmit treated water from said tank to said dispensing means for dispensing; i. a coin operated means supported by said housing operative to control said dispensing means and effect delivery of a predetermined quantity of treated water in response to deposition of a coin of proper value; j. a carbon fiter between the treated water tank and said dispensing means and arranged whereby all water dispensed passes therethrough; k. means for detecting the purity of the treated water from the water treating means and operative for deactivating from dispensing means when impurities in the treated water exceed a predetermined level; l. a prefilter in said flow line upstream from said pump and operative to remove particles of solids from the raw water; and m. means responsive to differential pressure around said prefilter and operative to deactivate the dispensing means and pump if flow through the prefilter is retarded to a predetermined minimum.

Claim 3

A vending apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and including: a. a valve in said flow line upstream from said prefilter; and b. means responsive to water level in said closed treated water tank operative to open said valve and actuate said pump when the water level is a predetermined low and to deactivate said pump and close said valve when the said water level is at a predetermined high.

Claim 4

A vending apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and including: a. means associated with said valve in said flow line effecting a restricted flow of water to the water treating means on the inlet side of the membrAne therein when said valve is closed; and b. means permitting said restricted flow of water to pass through the connection means for disposal of rejected water.

Claim 5

A vending apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and including: a. a valve controlled flow line having communication with said flow connection and the inlet of the pump for return of a portion of the rejected water for recycling when the pump is operating; b. a branch connection with the flow connection for treated water between the treating means and closed tank; c. means operable to direct flow of treated water from said treating means either to said closed tank or to the branch connection; d. said branch connection being for transmittal of water to a disposal; and e. timer control means operable to actuate said flow directing means at selected intervals and for predetermined time to direct water to said branch for disposal.

Claim 6

A vending apparatus for dispensing water comprising: a. a housing having at least one dispensing station accessible from the extension thereof; b. a closed treated water tank in the housing; c. a water treating means including a semipermeable membrane filtration structure operating under pressure to pass filtered water and reject impurities including solids and dissolved minerals, said treating means having a filtered water outlet in flow communication with the treated water tank for delivery of filtered water thereto; d. means connecting said membrane filtration structure to a disposal for transmittal of rejected water threto; e. a flow line having an inlet connected to a source of raw water; f. a pump having an inlet connected to said flow line and outlet connected to the water treating means to deliver raw water to the upstream side of said membrane filtration structure for treatment therein; g. a dispensing means for dispensing water at said dispensing station; h. means connecting the treated water tank to said dispensing means to transmit treated water from said tank to said dispensing means for dispensing; i. a coin operated means supported by said housing operative to control said dispensing means and effect delivery of a predetermined quality of treated water in response to deposition of a coin of proper value; j. means for controlling quantity of dissolved solids in the filtered water from the water treating means, said controlling means having a conductivity sensing means for sensing a change in dissolved solids level in said filtered water and operative to produce a signal when the dissolved solids content is above a predetermined level; k. means respnsive to said responsive and operative to deactivate the dispensing means and visually indicate the apparatus is inoperative; l. said dispensing station being in the housing and accessible from the exterior thereof; m. a door for said dispensing station and permitting access thereto for location of a water receiving container when said door is open; n. means operatively connected to the dispensing means to prevent dispensing of water when said door is open and permitting dispensing of water when said door is closed; o. said dispensing means having a tubular flow member extending into said dispensing station and having an open discharge and positioned above a water receiving container position for delivery of treated water thereto in response to operation of said pump; and p. a guard member having walls around the discharge end of the dispensing means and extending therebelow, said guard member having an opening in lower portion thereof aligned vertically with said open discharge end, said guard member opening being of a size and spaced from said open discharge end that said discharge end is protected from contact by foreign objects, and discharged water flows through said guard member opening to a receiving container without contact with said guard member.

Claim 7

A vending apparatus for dispensing water comprising: a. a housing having at least one dispensing station accessible from the extension thereof; b. a closed treated water tank in the housing; c. a water treating means including a semipermeable membrane filtration structure operating under pressure to pass filtered water and reject impurities including solids and dissolved minerals, said treating means having a filtered water outlet in flow communication with the treated water tank for delivery of filtered water thereto; d. means connecting said membrane filtration structure to a disposal for transmittal of rejected water threto; e. a flow line having an inlet connected to a source of raw water; f. a pump having an inlet connected to said flow line and outlet connected to the water treating means to deliver raw water to the upstream side of said membrane filtration structure for treatment therein; g. a dispensing means for dispensing water at said dispensing station; h. means connecting the treated water tank to said dispensing means to transmit treated water from said tank to said dispensing means for dispensing; i. a coin operated means supported by said housing operative to control said dispensing means and effect delivery of a predetermined quality of treated water in response to deposition of a coin of proper value; j. means for controlling quantity of dissolved solids in the filtered water from the water treating means, said controlling means having a conductivity sensing means for sensing a change in dissolved solids level in said filtered water and operative to produce a signal when the dissolved solids content is above a predetermined level; k. means respnsive to said responsive and operative to deactivate the dispensing means and visually indicate the apparatus is inoperative; l. said dispensing station being in the housing and accessible from the exterior thereof; m. a door for said dispensing station and permitting access thereto for location of a water receiving container when said door is open; n. means operatively connected to the dispensing means to prevent dispensing of water when said door is open and permitting dispensing of water when said door is closed; o. said dispensing means having a tubular flow member extending into said dispensing station and having an open discharge and positioned above a water receiving container position for delivery of treated water thereto in response to operation of said pump; and p. a guard member having walls around the discharge end of the dispensing means and extending therebelow, said guard member having an opening in lower portion thereof aligned vertically with said open discharge end, said guard member opening being of a size and spaced from said open discharge end that said discharge end is protected from contact by foreign objects, and discharged water flows through said guard member opening to a receiving container without contact with said guard member.

Claim 8

A water dispensing apparatus comprising: a. a hoUsing having at least one dispensing station accessible from the exterior thereof; b. a treated water tank in the housing; c. a water treating means including a micronic membrane filtration structure operating under pressure to pass filtered water and reject impurities including solids and dissovled minerals, said treating means having a filtered water outlet in flow communication with the treated water tank for delivery of filtered water thereto; d. means connecting said membrane filtration structure to a disposal for transmittal of rejected water thereto; e. a flow line having an inlet connected to a source of raw water; f. a pump having an inlet connected to said flow line and an outlet connected to the water treating means to deliver raw water to the upstream side of said membrane filtration structure for treatment therein; g. a dispensing means for dispensing water at said dispensing station; h. means connecting the treated water tank to said dispensing means to transmit treated water from said tank to said dispensing means for dispensing; i. a prefilter in said flow line upstream from said pump and operative to remove particles of solids from the raw water; and j. means responsive to differential pressure around said prefilter and operative to deactivate the dispensing means and pump if flow through the prefilter is retarded to a predetermined levle.

Claim 9

A water dispensing apparatus comprising: a. a hoUsing having at least one dispensing station accessible from the exterior thereof; b. a treated water tank in the housing; c. a water treating means including a micronic membrane filtration structure operating under pressure to pass filtered water and reject impurities including solids and dissovled minerals, said treating means having a filtered water outlet in flow communication with the treated water tank for delivery of filtered water thereto; d. means connecting said membrane filtration structure to a disposal for transmittal of rejected water thereto; e. a flow line having an inlet connected to a source of raw water; f. a pump having an inlet connected to said flow line and an outlet connected to the water treating means to deliver raw water to the upstream side of said membrane filtration structure for treatment therein; g. a dispensing means for dispensing water at said dispensing station; h. means connecting the treated water tank to said dispensing means to transmit treated water from said tank to said dispensing means for dispensing; i. a prefilter in said flow line upstream from said pump and operative to remove particles of solids from the raw water; and j. means responsive to differential pressure around said prefilter and operative to deactivate the dispensing means and pump if flow through the prefilter is retarded to a predetermined levle.

Claim 10

A water dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 and including: a. a carbon filter between the treated water tank and said dispensing means and arranged whereby all water dispensed passes therethrough; and b. means for detecting the purity of the treated water from the water treating means and operative for deactivating the dispensing means when impurities in the treated water exceed a predetermined level.