US3883429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable water supply system
Assignee: World Water Resources Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-25
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1994-03-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided whereby contaminated water is rendered potable. The apparatus comprises: A WATER SOURCE; FIRST AND SECOND PURIFICATION TANKS EACH OF WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL PLANAR BAFFLE, A PREFILTERING MEANS; MEANS FOR PUMPING WATER FROM THE SOURCE TO THE FIRST TANK, FROM THE FIRST TANK TO THE SECOND TANK AND FROM THE SECOND TANK TO AN OUTLET MEANS; A CHEMICAL ADDITION MENAS FOR CHEMICALLY TREATING WATER IN THE SECOND TANK; AND A FIRST AND SECOND RECYCLE MEANS FOR RECYCLING WATER IN THE FIRST AND SECOND TANKS, RESPECTIVELY.
Inventors
- 👤 William E Hanford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:10
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/52; C02F1/5281; B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/01; B01D36/00; B01D36/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
AN APPARATUS FOR RENDERING CONTAMINATED WATER POTABLE WHICH COMPRISES A WATER SOURCE; A FIRST PURIFICATION TANK COMMUNICATING WITH THE WATER SOURCE BY WAY OF A FIRST CONDUIT PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE BAFFLE; A SECOND PURIFICATION TANK COMMUNICATING WITH THE FIRST TANK BY WAY OF A SECOND CONDUIT THE SECOND TANK BEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE BAFFLE; A PREFILTERING MEANS FOR REMOVING PARTICULATE MATTER FROM WATER FLOWING THROUGH THE FIRST CONDUIT; A FIRST RECYCLE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SECOND CONDUIT AND THE FIRST TANK THE FIRST RECYCLE MEANS HAVING A FIRST NORMALLY CLOSED, PRESSURE-RELIEF VALVE, THE VALVE BEING OPEN ONLY WHEN A PRESSURE GREATER THAN ABOUT 8 PSI EXISTS IN THE SECOND CONDUIT; A FIRST PRESSURE FILTER, POSITIONED IN THE SECOND CONDUIT UPSTREAM OF THE FIRST RECYCLE MEANS; A CHEMICAL ADDITION MEANS BEING POSITIONED IN THE SECOND CONDUIT BETWEEN THE FIRST RECYCLE MEANS AND THE SECOND TANK, THE MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF TERMINATING THE FLOW OF WATER INTO THE SECOND TANK WHEN THE LEVEL OF WATER IN THE SECOND TANK REACHES A PRE-DETERMINED HEIGHT; AN OUTLET MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SECOND TANK AND A PURIFIED WATER DISTRIBUTION MEANS; A SECOND RECYCLE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE OUTLET MEANS AND THE SECOND TANK, THE SECOND RECYCLE MEANS HAVING A SECOND NORMALLY CLOSED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE, THE SECOND VALVE BEING OPEN ONLY WHEN THE PRESSURE IN THE OUTLET MEANS EXCEEDS ABOUT 8 PSI; AND A SECOND PRESSURE FILTER POSITIONED IN THE OUTLET MEANS UPSTREAM OF THE SECOND RECYCLE MEANS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
249 words
AN APPARATUS FOR RENDERING CONTAMINATED WATER POTABLE WHICH COMPRISES A WATER SOURCE; A FIRST PURIFICATION TANK COMMUNICATING WITH THE WATER SOURCE BY WAY OF A FIRST CONDUIT PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE BAFFLE; A SECOND PURIFICATION TANK COMMUNICATING WITH THE FIRST TANK BY WAY OF A SECOND CONDUIT THE SECOND TANK BEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE BAFFLE; A PREFILTERING MEANS FOR REMOVING PARTICULATE MATTER FROM WATER FLOWING THROUGH THE FIRST CONDUIT; A FIRST RECYCLE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SECOND CONDUIT AND THE FIRST TANK THE FIRST RECYCLE MEANS HAVING A FIRST NORMALLY CLOSED, PRESSURE-RELIEF VALVE, THE VALVE BEING OPEN ONLY WHEN A PRESSURE GREATER THAN ABOUT 8 PSI EXISTS IN THE SECOND CONDUIT; A FIRST PRESSURE FILTER, POSITIONED IN THE SECOND CONDUIT UPSTREAM OF THE FIRST RECYCLE MEANS; A CHEMICAL ADDITION MEANS BEING POSITIONED IN THE SECOND CONDUIT BETWEEN THE FIRST RECYCLE MEANS AND THE SECOND TANK, THE MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF TERMINATING THE FLOW OF WATER INTO THE SECOND TANK WHEN THE LEVEL OF WATER IN THE SECOND TANK REACHES A PRE-DETERMINED HEIGHT; AN OUTLET MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SECOND TANK AND A PURIFIED WATER DISTRIBUTION MEANS; A SECOND RECYCLE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE OUTLET MEANS AND THE SECOND TANK, THE SECOND RECYCLE MEANS HAVING A SECOND NORMALLY CLOSED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE, THE SECOND VALVE BEING OPEN ONLY WHEN THE PRESSURE IN THE OUTLET MEANS EXCEEDS ABOUT 8 PSI; AND A SECOND PRESSURE FILTER POSITIONED IN THE OUTLET MEANS UPSTREAM OF THE SECOND RECYCLE MEANS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the prefiltering means comprises a coarse filter and a straining means, the straining means being capable of removing particulate matter having a particle size greater than about 75 Mu from water entering the first tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first and second tanks are each provided with three flexible baffles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of the second conduit and the outlet means is provided with a subsurface skimmer positioned beneath the surface of the water level in the first and second purification tanks, such that water entering the second conduit and the outlet means emanates from a level in the tanks intermediate between the level of maximum bacteria density and the level of maximum particulate matter density.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first pressure filter comprises a sand filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second pressure filter comprises a diatomaceous earth filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which a chemical pretreatment means is provided between the prefilter means and the first tank, the pretreatment means comprising at least one chemical preaddition means responsive to the level of water in the first tank such that the preaddition means is closed when The level of water in the first tank reaches a predetermined height.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which there are provided two preaddition means, the first preaddition means being capable of adding a salt of hypochloric acid to water entering the first tank and the other preaddition means being capable of adding alum to the water entering the first tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a post-treatment means is provided downstream of the second recycle means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the postreatment means comprises an activated charcoal filter and a water demineralization means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a delayed shutoff valve is provided to deactivate the first pressure filter and terminate the flow of water through the first recycle means, the delayed shutoff valve operating at a predetermined time after a pressure greater than about 8 psi exists in the second conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of the subsurface skimmers comprises a flexible pipe which communicates at one end with the second conduit or the outlet means and at the other end with a skimmer filter means, a slidable ballast means attached slidably to the pipe such that the ballast means can be variably positioned along the axis of the pipe, and a skimmer filter means such that water passing from the first tank into the pipe is filtered before entering the second conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which the pipe is constructed of flexible material and the skimmer filter means comprises a closely wound, conical spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
A subsurface skimming apparatus for removing water from a container at a point below the water level in the container which comprises a flexible pipe communicating at one end with a water outlet means and the other end extending below the water level in the container and having a skimmer filter means attached thereto, a slidable ballast means attached slideably to the pipe such that the ballast means can be positioned variably along the axis of the pipe, and a skimmer filter means attached to the end of the pipe below the water level, comprising a closely wound, conical spring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A subsurface skimming apparatus for removing water from a container at a point below the water level in the container which comprises a flexible pipe communicating at one end with a water outlet means and the other end extending below the water level in the container and having a skimmer filter means attached thereto, a slidable ballast means attached slideably to the pipe such that the ballast means can be positioned variably along the axis of the pipe, and a skimmer filter means attached to the end of the pipe below the water level, comprising a closely wound, conical spring.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
450 words
An apparatus for rendering contaminated water potable which comprises a water source; a first purification tank communicating with the water source by way of a first conduit, the first tank being provided with three flexible baffles; a second purification tank communicating with the first tank by way of a second conduit, the second tank being provided with three flexible baffles; a prefiltering means for removing particulate matter from water flowing through the first conduit, which comprises a coarse filter and a straining means capable of removing particles having a size greater than about 75 Mu from water entering the first tank; a first recycle means communicating between the second conduit and the first tank, the second recycle means having a first normally closed pressure relief valve, the valve being open only when a pressure greater than about 8 psi exists in the second conduit; a first pressure filter positioned in the second conduit upstream of the first recycle means and which comprises a sand filter; a chemical addition means being positioned in the second conduit between the first recycle means and the second tank, the means being capable of terminating the flow of water into the second tank when the level of water in the second tank reaches a pre-determined height; an outlet means communicating between the second tank and a purified water distribution means; a second recycle means communicating between the outlet means and the second tank, the second recycle means having a second normally closed pressure relief valve which is open only when the pressure in outlet means exceeds about 8 psi; a second pressure filter positioned in the outlet means upstream of the second recycle means; a subsurface skimmer between tHe second conduit and the first tank at a point beneath the surface of the water in the first tank, and a subsurface skimmer between the outlet means and the second tank at a point beneath the surface of the water in the second tank, each of the skimmers comprising (a) a flexible pipe which communicates at one end with the second conduit or the outlet means and at the other end with a skimmer filter means, (b) a slideable ballast means attached slideably to the pipe such that the ballast means can be variably positioned along the axis of the pipe, and (c) a skimmer filter means such that water passing into the pipe is filtered before entering the second conduit or the outlet means; and a delayed shutoff valve to deactivate the first pressure filter and terminate flow through the first recycle means, the delayed shutoff valve operating at a predetermined time after a pressure greater than about 8 psi exists in the second conduit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
450 words
An apparatus for rendering contaminated water potable which comprises a water source; a first purification tank communicating with the water source by way of a first conduit, the first tank being provided with three flexible baffles; a second purification tank communicating with the first tank by way of a second conduit, the second tank being provided with three flexible baffles; a prefiltering means for removing particulate matter from water flowing through the first conduit, which comprises a coarse filter and a straining means capable of removing particles having a size greater than about 75 Mu from water entering the first tank; a first recycle means communicating between the second conduit and the first tank, the second recycle means having a first normally closed pressure relief valve, the valve being open only when a pressure greater than about 8 psi exists in the second conduit; a first pressure filter positioned in the second conduit upstream of the first recycle means and which comprises a sand filter; a chemical addition means being positioned in the second conduit between the first recycle means and the second tank, the means being capable of terminating the flow of water into the second tank when the level of water in the second tank reaches a pre-determined height; an outlet means communicating between the second tank and a purified water distribution means; a second recycle means communicating between the outlet means and the second tank, the second recycle means having a second normally closed pressure relief valve which is open only when the pressure in outlet means exceeds about 8 psi; a second pressure filter positioned in the outlet means upstream of the second recycle means; a subsurface skimmer between tHe second conduit and the first tank at a point beneath the surface of the water in the first tank, and a subsurface skimmer between the outlet means and the second tank at a point beneath the surface of the water in the second tank, each of the skimmers comprising (a) a flexible pipe which communicates at one end with the second conduit or the outlet means and at the other end with a skimmer filter means, (b) a slideable ballast means attached slideably to the pipe such that the ballast means can be variably positioned along the axis of the pipe, and (c) a skimmer filter means such that water passing into the pipe is filtered before entering the second conduit or the outlet means; and a delayed shutoff valve to deactivate the first pressure filter and terminate flow through the first recycle means, the delayed shutoff valve operating at a predetermined time after a pressure greater than about 8 psi exists in the second conduit.
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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) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |