US4038163A — Process for the treatment by metallic ions of aqu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 230 words

A process for purifying an aqueous liquid containing impurities, comprising the steps of: passing the aqueous liquid in a uniformly distributed manner between electrodes formed of a single metal the ions of which are capable of effecting both the formation of fine flocculates of impurities and sterilization, continuously subjecting said electrodes to an electric current to effect uniformly scattered emission of monometallic ions through the aqueous liquid thus causing the formation of fine flocculates of the impurities in the aqueous liquid, retaining the fine flocculates in the form of a porous mass, continuing to circulate aqueous liquid through said porous mass whereby further flocculated impurities contained therein are deposited and retained in said porous mass to increase the volume thereof; applying sufficient current to said electrodes to provide said monometallic ions emission at a rate such that a number of free ions sufficient to provide an algicidal or biocidal effect, of the metal of said electrodes, pass through the porous mass with the aqueous liquid, and washing the porous mass of flocculates upon reaching a determined threshold of pressure drop for the aqueous liquid passing through said porous mass, whereby said aqueous liquid is epurated by action of flocculates continuously energized by the emission of said monometallic ions, additional ions of said metal of said electrodes going through said porous mass further providing sterilization properties to said epurated aqueous liquid.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 230 words

A process for purifying an aqueous liquid containing impurities, comprising the steps of: passing the aqueous liquid in a uniformly distributed manner between electrodes formed of a single metal the ions of which are capable of effecting both the formation of fine flocculates of impurities and sterilization, continuously subjecting said electrodes to an electric current to effect uniformly scattered emission of monometallic ions through the aqueous liquid thus causing the formation of fine flocculates of the impurities in the aqueous liquid, retaining the fine flocculates in the form of a porous mass, continuing to circulate aqueous liquid through said porous mass whereby further flocculated impurities contained therein are deposited and retained in said porous mass to increase the volume thereof; applying sufficient current to said electrodes to provide said monometallic ions emission at a rate such that a number of free ions sufficient to provide an algicidal or biocidal effect, of the metal of said electrodes, pass through the porous mass with the aqueous liquid, and washing the porous mass of flocculates upon reaching a determined threshold of pressure drop for the aqueous liquid passing through said porous mass, whereby said aqueous liquid is epurated by action of flocculates continuously energized by the emission of said monometallic ions, additional ions of said metal of said electrodes going through said porous mass further providing sterilization properties to said epurated aqueous liquid.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flocculates retained as a porous mass are retained in a preformed filtering mass whereby the aqueous liquid circulated through the filtering mass is brought into contact with a great surface of filtering material covered by said flocculates.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

The process in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing a filtering mass, measuring a first pressure drop of said aqueous liquid passing through said filtering mass at the beginning of said process, effecting said retention of flocculates in the filtering mass, and carrying out said washing of said filtering mass when said pressure drop rises to substantially four times said first pressure drop.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 216 words

A process for electrolytically treating water in a swimming pool, comprising the steps of: pumping water from said swimming pool, circulating said water in a uniformly distributed manner between electrodes formed of a single metal the ions of which are capable of sterilization and of forming fine flocculate, continuously subjecting said electrodes to an adjustable current thus causing a very uniform emission of metal ions from said electrodes through said water and initiation of fine flocculates, passing said water and initiated fine flocculates through a filtering mass and progressively covering the filter mass material on the whole of its surface with said fine flocculates thereby progressively increasing the volume of the filter, selecting the current applied to the electrodes to provide said uniform emission of metal ions from said electrodes at a rate such that a number of free metal ions sufficient to provide a rise in resistivity of the filtered water and to provide a sterilization effect, pass from such electrodes through the filtering mass, bringing back the water containing said free metal ions from the filtering mass to the swimming pool, measuring pressure drop of said water going through the filtering mass at the beginning of said process and during continuation thereof, and washing said filtering mass when said pressure reaches a determined threshold.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 216 words

A process for electrolytically treating water in a swimming pool, comprising the steps of: pumping water from said swimming pool, circulating said water in a uniformly distributed manner between electrodes formed of a single metal the ions of which are capable of sterilization and of forming fine flocculate, continuously subjecting said electrodes to an adjustable current thus causing a very uniform emission of metal ions from said electrodes through said water and initiation of fine flocculates, passing said water and initiated fine flocculates through a filtering mass and progressively covering the filter mass material on the whole of its surface with said fine flocculates thereby progressively increasing the volume of the filter, selecting the current applied to the electrodes to provide said uniform emission of metal ions from said electrodes at a rate such that a number of free metal ions sufficient to provide a rise in resistivity of the filtered water and to provide a sterilization effect, pass from such electrodes through the filtering mass, bringing back the water containing said free metal ions from the filtering mass to the swimming pool, measuring pressure drop of said water going through the filtering mass at the beginning of said process and during continuation thereof, and washing said filtering mass when said pressure reaches a determined threshold.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-07-25	1981-01-24	1981-07-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-07-25	1985-01-24	1985-07-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-07-25	1989-01-24	1989-07-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process for the treatment by metallic ions of aqueous liquids and device for making the same

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