US3887463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reverse osmosis system with automatic valve for module operation control
Assignee: Desalination Systems Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-06
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1994-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A reverse osmosis system includes a pressurized purified water storage container and an automatic valve. The valve has a sealing member spanning a first internal cavity and movable responsive to the pressure of purified water in the storage container. A central internal cavity is of effective cross sectional area smaller than that of the first cavity spanned by a sealing member operatively connected to the member sealing the first cavity. A third cavity has an opening of cross sectional area smaller than the effective cross sectional area of the central cavity and leading to the central cavity which may be opened or shut off by a sealing member operatively connected to the sealing member in the central cavity. When the pressure in the storage container rises above a predetermined value, it acts through the sealing members in the first and central cavities to shut off the pressurized feed solution introduced into the third cavity from flowing through the opening of the third cavity into the second cavity and thence to the input of a semipermeable membranecontaining module. When the pressure in the storage container drops below a lower predetermined value, it acts through the sealing members in the first and central cavities to open the opening of the third cavity leading to the central cavity, thus restoring flow of feed solution through the central cavity and thence to the input of the semipermeable membrane-containing module.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald T Bray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:43
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/122; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/12; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/18; B01D2313/90; B01D2313/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
A reverse osmosis water purification system comprising a module containing a semipermeable membrane and having an inlet for introduction of pressurized feed water thereinto, means for releasing concentrate from said module, means for transferring purified water produced by said module into a storage container and for maintaining said purified water in said storage container under elevated pressure, means for dispensing purified water from said container, and an automatic valve for controlling the introduction of pressurized feed water into said inlet of said module thereby to regulate the pressure of the purified water under elevated pressure in said storage container, in which the improvement comprises: a. said automatic valve comprising a body having a first internal cavity having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area and having a connection above said movable seal communicating with said storage container; b. said body having a central internal cavity communicating with said inlet for introducing pressurized feed water into said module, and having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area operatively connected to said movable seal spanning said first internal cavity, the effective cross sectional area of said central internal cavity being less than the effective cross sectional area of said first internal cavity; c. said body having a third internal cavity connected to a supply of pressurized feed water for said module and having an opening leading to said central internal cavity, said opening being of area smaller than the effective cross sectional area of said central cavity, and a movable seal operatively connected to the movable seal in said central internal cavity and adapted to close the opening leading from said third intErnal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first internal cavity is above a first predetermined pressure and adapted to open the opening leading from said third internal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first cavity is below a second predetermined pressure which is below said first predetermined pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
A reverse osmosis water purification system comprising a module containing a semipermeable membrane and having an inlet for introduction of pressurized feed water thereinto, means for releasing concentrate from said module, means for transferring purified water produced by said module into a storage container and for maintaining said purified water in said storage container under elevated pressure, means for dispensing purified water from said container, and an automatic valve for controlling the introduction of pressurized feed water into said inlet of said module thereby to regulate the pressure of the purified water under elevated pressure in said storage container, in which the improvement comprises: a. said automatic valve comprising a body having a first internal cavity having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area and having a connection above said movable seal communicating with said storage container; b. said body having a central internal cavity communicating with said inlet for introducing pressurized feed water into said module, and having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area operatively connected to said movable seal spanning said first internal cavity, the effective cross sectional area of said central internal cavity being less than the effective cross sectional area of said first internal cavity; c. said body having a third internal cavity connected to a supply of pressurized feed water for said module and having an opening leading to said central internal cavity, said opening being of area smaller than the effective cross sectional area of said central cavity, and a movable seal operatively connected to the movable seal in said central internal cavity and adapted to close the opening leading from said third intErnal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first internal cavity is above a first predetermined pressure and adapted to open the opening leading from said third internal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first cavity is below a second predetermined pressure which is below said first predetermined pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
340 words
A reverse osmosis water purification system comprising a module containing a semipermeable membrane and having an inlet for introduction of pressurized feed water thereinto, means for releasing concentrate from said module, means for transferring purified water produced by said module into a storage container and for maintaining said purified water in said storage container under elevated pressure, means for dispensing purified water from said container, and an automatic valve for controlling the introduction of pressurized feed water into said inlet of said module thereby to regulate the pressure of the purified water under elevated pressure in said storage container, in which the improvement comprises: a. said automatic valve comprising a body having a first internal cavity having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area and having a connection above said movable seal communicating with said storage container; b. said body having a central internal cavity communicating with said inlet for introducing pressurized feed water into said module, and having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area operatively connected to said movable seal spanning said first internal cavity, the effective cross sectional area of said central internal cavity being less than the effective cross sectional area of said first internal cavity; c. said body having a third internal cavity connected to a supply of pressurized feed water for said module and having an opening leading to said central internal cavity, said opening being of area smaller than the effective cross sectional area of said central cavity, and a movable seal operatively connected to the movable seal in said central internal cavity and adapted to close the opening leading from said third intErnal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first internal cavity is above a first predetermined pressure and adapted to open the opening leading from said third internal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first cavity is below a second predetermined pressure which is below said first predetermined pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
340 words
A reverse osmosis water purification system comprising a module containing a semipermeable membrane and having an inlet for introduction of pressurized feed water thereinto, means for releasing concentrate from said module, means for transferring purified water produced by said module into a storage container and for maintaining said purified water in said storage container under elevated pressure, means for dispensing purified water from said container, and an automatic valve for controlling the introduction of pressurized feed water into said inlet of said module thereby to regulate the pressure of the purified water under elevated pressure in said storage container, in which the improvement comprises: a. said automatic valve comprising a body having a first internal cavity having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area and having a connection above said movable seal communicating with said storage container; b. said body having a central internal cavity communicating with said inlet for introducing pressurized feed water into said module, and having a movable seal spanning its effective cross sectional area operatively connected to said movable seal spanning said first internal cavity, the effective cross sectional area of said central internal cavity being less than the effective cross sectional area of said first internal cavity; c. said body having a third internal cavity connected to a supply of pressurized feed water for said module and having an opening leading to said central internal cavity, said opening being of area smaller than the effective cross sectional area of said central cavity, and a movable seal operatively connected to the movable seal in said central internal cavity and adapted to close the opening leading from said third intErnal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first internal cavity is above a first predetermined pressure and adapted to open the opening leading from said third internal cavity to said central internal cavity when the pressure above said movable seal in said first cavity is below a second predetermined pressure which is below said first predetermined pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A valve according to claim 1, in which said first cavity in the body of said valve is near one end thereof, and said central cavity is between said first cavity and said third cavity is near the other end of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A valve according to claim 1, in which the cross sectional area of the said seal spanning the said central cavity is from one-third to two-thirds of the cross sectional area of the said seal spanning the first cavity, and the cross sectional area of the said opening of the said third cavity is from one-half to slightly less than the cross sectional area of the said seal spanning the said central cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A valve according to claim 1, in which a unitary double step piston has a large end forming a movable seal in said first cavity, a central section forming a movable seal in said central cavity, and a small end forming a movable seal to open and close the opening of said third cavity into and from communication with the said central cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A valve according to claim 4, in which the large end of said step piston has a resilient O-ring slidably sealing it to the interior wall of said first cavity, the central section of said piston has a resilient O-ring slidably sealing it to the interior wall of said central cavity, and said small end has a resilient O-ring slidably sealing it to the interior wall of said third cavity when said piston is in position to close the opening of said third cavity from communication with said central cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
A reverse osmosis water purification system according to claim 1, in which the said automatic valve shuts off the flow of pressurized feed solution to said module when the pressure of purified water in said storage container is greater than a first pressure which is a predetermined proportion between one-third and two-thirds of the pressure of said pressurized feed solution, and restores flow of pressurized feed solution when the pressure of purified water in said storage container is less than a second pressure which is lower than said first predetermined pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3679055A
Cited
US3794173A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |