US4034571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drinking water supply system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-01
•
Granted: 1977-07-12
•
Expires: 1996-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A drinking water supply system for use in vehicles equipped with air conditioning comprises a reservoir for receiving a quantity of potable water and a pump for supplying water from the reservoir. A conduit extends from the pump to a valve situated in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and adapted to regulate water flow from the pump. The conduit extending from the pump to the valve includes a wide, flat portion which is wrapped around a section of the conduit of the air conditioning system of the vehicle that is maintained in a low temperature condition during operation of the air conditioning system. In this manner the water flowing through the drinking water supply system is cooled by heat transfer to the refrigerant of the air conditioning system.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald D. Bollinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N3/00; B60N3/18; F; F25; F25B; F25B40/00; F25B40/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A vehicular drinking water supply system comprising in combination: a vehicular air conditioning system including: compressor means for supplying relatively high temperature, relatively high pressure working fluid; condenser means for receiving refrigerant from the compressor means and for supplying relatively high pressure, relatively low temperature refrigerant; expansion valve means for receiving refrigerant from the condenser means and for supplying relatively low pressure, extremely low temperature refrigerant; evaporator means for receiving refrigerant from the expansion valve means and for returning relatively low pressure, relatively high temperature refrigerant to the compressor means; and conduit means interconnecting the compressor means, the condenser means, the expansion valve means and the evaporator means; the conduit means of the air conditioning system including at least one conduit section which is maintained at a reduced temperature during the operation of the system; said conduit section which is maintained at reduced temperature comprising an unaltered component part of the vehicular air conditioning system; reservoir means for receiving a quantity of potable water and for maintaining said water at ambient temperature; potable water conduit means extending from the reservoir to a discharge point located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and valve means for controlling the flow of water through the potable water conduit means; a portion of the potable water conduit extending from the reservoir to the discharge outlet engaging the conduit section of the air conditioning system which is maintained at a reduced temperature during the operation thereof, whereby the water flowing through the potable water conduit from the reservoir to the discharge outlet is cooled by heat transfer to the refrigerant flowing through the conduit section of the air conditioning system; the point of engagement of the air conditioning conduit section and the potable water conduit being substantially displaced from the reservoir means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A vehicular drinking water supply system comprising in combination: a vehicular air conditioning system including: compressor means for supplying relatively high temperature, relatively high pressure working fluid; condenser means for receiving refrigerant from the compressor means and for supplying relatively high pressure, relatively low temperature refrigerant; expansion valve means for receiving refrigerant from the condenser means and for supplying relatively low pressure, extremely low temperature refrigerant; evaporator means for receiving refrigerant from the expansion valve means and for returning relatively low pressure, relatively high temperature refrigerant to the compressor means; and conduit means interconnecting the compressor means, the condenser means, the expansion valve means and the evaporator means; the conduit means of the air conditioning system including at least one conduit section which is maintained at a reduced temperature during the operation of the system; said conduit section which is maintained at reduced temperature comprising an unaltered component part of the vehicular air conditioning system; reservoir means for receiving a quantity of potable water and for maintaining said water at ambient temperature; potable water conduit means extending from the reservoir to a discharge point located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and valve means for controlling the flow of water through the potable water conduit means; a portion of the potable water conduit extending from the reservoir to the discharge outlet engaging the conduit section of the air conditioning system which is maintained at a reduced temperature during the operation thereof, whereby the water flowing through the potable water conduit from the reservoir to the discharge outlet is cooled by heat transfer to the refrigerant flowing through the conduit section of the air conditioning system; the point of engagement of the air conditioning conduit section and the potable water conduit being substantially displaced from the reservoir means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 1 further characterized by a pump for receiving water from the reservoir and for discharing the water through the potable water conduit to the discharge point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 2 further characterized by pressure switch means and off/on switch means for regulating the operation of the pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 1 wherein the potable water conduit includes a wide, flat portion which is wrapped spirally around the section of the conduit of the air conditioning system which is maintained at reduced temperature during the operation of the air conditioning system so that the air conditioning conduit section extends axially through the spirally wound portion of the wide, flat portion of the potable water conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 1 further including an insulating layer enclosing the conduit section of the air conditioning system and the portion of the potable water conduit wrapped therearound for promoting heat transfer between the water and the refrigerant while restricting heat transfer between the refrigerant and the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
298 words
In combination with a vehicular air conditioning system of the type including a compressor for supplying relatively high temperature, relatively high pressure refrigerant, a condenser for receiving refrigerant from the compressor and for supplying relatively high pressure, relatively low temperature refrigerant, an expansion valve for receiving refrigerant from the condenser and for supplying relatively low pressure, substantially low temperature refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving refrigerant from the expansion valve and for returning relatively low pressure, relatively high temperature to the refrigerant to the compressor, and conduit means interconnecting the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the evaporator for conveying refrigerant therebetween, the conduit means including at least one conduit section which is maintained at a reduced temperature during the operation of the air conditioning system, said conduit section which is maintained at reduced temperature comprising an unaltered component part of the vehicular air conditioning system, a system for supplying drinking water in the vehicle incorporating the air conditioning system which comprises: reservoir means for receiving a quantity of potable water and for maintaining said water at ambient temperature; potable water conduit means for conveying water from the reservoir means to a discharge point within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and valve means for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir through the potable water conduit to the discharge point; a portion of the potable water conduit engaging the section of a refrigerant conduit which is maintained at reduced temperature during the operation of the air conditioning system so that water is cooled by heat transfer through the potable water conduit and the conduit section to the refrigerant flowing through the air conditioning system; the point of engagement of the air conditioning conduit section and the potable water conduit being substantially displaced from the reservoir means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
298 words
In combination with a vehicular air conditioning system of the type including a compressor for supplying relatively high temperature, relatively high pressure refrigerant, a condenser for receiving refrigerant from the compressor and for supplying relatively high pressure, relatively low temperature refrigerant, an expansion valve for receiving refrigerant from the condenser and for supplying relatively low pressure, substantially low temperature refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving refrigerant from the expansion valve and for returning relatively low pressure, relatively high temperature to the refrigerant to the compressor, and conduit means interconnecting the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the evaporator for conveying refrigerant therebetween, the conduit means including at least one conduit section which is maintained at a reduced temperature during the operation of the air conditioning system, said conduit section which is maintained at reduced temperature comprising an unaltered component part of the vehicular air conditioning system, a system for supplying drinking water in the vehicle incorporating the air conditioning system which comprises: reservoir means for receiving a quantity of potable water and for maintaining said water at ambient temperature; potable water conduit means for conveying water from the reservoir means to a discharge point within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and valve means for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir through the potable water conduit to the discharge point; a portion of the potable water conduit engaging the section of a refrigerant conduit which is maintained at reduced temperature during the operation of the air conditioning system so that water is cooled by heat transfer through the potable water conduit and the conduit section to the refrigerant flowing through the air conditioning system; the point of engagement of the air conditioning conduit section and the potable water conduit being substantially displaced from the reservoir means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 6 further characterized by pump means for effecting water flow from the reservoir through the potable water conduit to the discharge point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 7 further characterized by pressure switch means and off/on switch means for regulating the operation of the pump means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 6 wherein the potable water conduit includes a portion which is spirally wrapped around the section of the conduit of the air conditioning system which is maintained at reduced temperature during the operation of the air conditioning system so that the air conditioning conduit section extends axially through the spirally wound portion of the potable water conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 9 wherein the portion of the potable water conduit which is wrapped around the section of the air conditioning system conduit has a wide, flat cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 6 further including an insulating layer enclosing the conduit section of the air conditioning system and the portion of the potable water conduit wrapped therearound for promoting heat transfer between the water and the refrigerant while restricting heat transfer between the refrigerant and the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 6 wherein the reservoir means and the potable water conduit means for conveying the water from the reservoir means to the discharge point are formed from sterilizable plastic materials.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 12 wherein the reservoir means is adapted to receive boiling water directly therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drinking water supply system according to claim 13 wherein the reservoir means comprises a container detachably mounted on the vehicle to facilitate refilling thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |