Water recycler for dental operatories

Claim 1

A dental evacuating system for operatories to withdraw debris and liquids from the oral cavity of dental patients comprising in combination, a. water seal-type vacuum pump means requiring a supply of water at all times and including inlet and discharge ports, b. conduit means leading from an operatory to the inlet port of said pump means, c. an air-water separator unit including a tank having inlet and discharge means, said discharge means being at a level above said inlet ports of said water seal vacuum pump means to provide feed by gravity, d. exhaust conduit means leading from the discharge port of said pump means to the inlet means of said separator unit, e. at least the lower portion of said tank serving as a water reservoir to supply sealing water to said pump means by gravity, f. discharge means on said tank arranged and operable to maintain a minimum amount of water therein at all times, g. fresh water conduit means connectable to a supply of municipal water, h. a flow-control valve connected to said fresh water conduit means, i. a timer connected to said valve and operable to open the same for successive very short predetermined intervals of time to permit limited flow of fresh water therethrough, and j. delivery conduit means for said fresh water connected at one end to said valve and at the other end to the lower portion of said tank to deliver fresh water intermittently to said tank as controlled by said valve to maintain said minimum amount of water therein at all times, k. whereby only fresh water passes through said flow control valve, thereby obviating any possible clogging of said valve with debris as where "gray water" passes through the valve, and said short intervals of timed delivery of fresh water to said tank affords economy in water consumption.