Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
468 words
A light-weight, compact and efficient distillation apparatus for periodically removing impurities from a quantity of water from a water supply by heating the water to be purified to form steam and condensing the steam to form distilled water, said distillation apparatus comprising: a generally tubular vertically disposed member having a closed upper end and a closed lower end and forming a vaporization chamber therein; a rim member extending about said tubular member at an intermediate level between said upper and lower end thereof and forming an annular rim trough for water around said tubular member, said rim trough having an opening permitting visual inspection of the level of water therein and further providing an overflow for said rim to limit the water level therein to a predetermined maximum level; at least one aperture in said tubular member extending between said vaporization chamber and said rim trough for fluid communication therebetween such that said rim trough supplies water to said vaporization chamber and the water level in said vaporization chamber corresponds to the water level in said rim trough, said water in said rim trough forming a liquid seal between said vaporization chamber and the portion of said rim trough above said aperture such as to prevent the escape of steam from said vaporization chamber; heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber below the level of said aperture such as to vaporize said water in said vaporization chamber; a collector tube having a first end interconnected with said tubular member at a location above said aperture and communicating with said vaporization chamber and having a second end being reversely bent and extending downwardly therefrom such that vaporized water from said vaporization chamber is diverted therefrom along said collector tube; a condenser tube having a larger diameter than said collector tube, said collector tube passing through the interior of said condenser tube and being affixed thereto, the ends of said condenser tube being closed off to define a sealed annular condensing chamber between said condenser tube and said collector tube; an inlet to said condenser chamber; first valve means for selectively regulating inflow from said water supply through said inlet into said condenser chamber such that the water from said water supply condenses the vaporized water in said collector tube; a fill tube interconnecting said condenser chamber and said rim trough for fluid flow therebetween such that said fill tube supplies water to said rim trough and, thereby, to said vaporization chamber; second valve means disposed along said fill tube and regulating the flow of water through said fill tube of said rim trough to provide a selectively controllable feed stock water supply for said vaporization chamber; and an outlet at said second end of said collector tube as to provide a supply of said condensed water from collector tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
468 words
A light-weight, compact and efficient distillation apparatus for periodically removing impurities from a quantity of water from a water supply by heating the water to be purified to form steam and condensing the steam to form distilled water, said distillation apparatus comprising: a generally tubular vertically disposed member having a closed upper end and a closed lower end and forming a vaporization chamber therein; a rim member extending about said tubular member at an intermediate level between said upper and lower end thereof and forming an annular rim trough for water around said tubular member, said rim trough having an opening permitting visual inspection of the level of water therein and further providing an overflow for said rim to limit the water level therein to a predetermined maximum level; at least one aperture in said tubular member extending between said vaporization chamber and said rim trough for fluid communication therebetween such that said rim trough supplies water to said vaporization chamber and the water level in said vaporization chamber corresponds to the water level in said rim trough, said water in said rim trough forming a liquid seal between said vaporization chamber and the portion of said rim trough above said aperture such as to prevent the escape of steam from said vaporization chamber; heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber below the level of said aperture such as to vaporize said water in said vaporization chamber; a collector tube having a first end interconnected with said tubular member at a location above said aperture and communicating with said vaporization chamber and having a second end being reversely bent and extending downwardly therefrom such that vaporized water from said vaporization chamber is diverted therefrom along said collector tube; a condenser tube having a larger diameter than said collector tube, said collector tube passing through the interior of said condenser tube and being affixed thereto, the ends of said condenser tube being closed off to define a sealed annular condensing chamber between said condenser tube and said collector tube; an inlet to said condenser chamber; first valve means for selectively regulating inflow from said water supply through said inlet into said condenser chamber such that the water from said water supply condenses the vaporized water in said collector tube; a fill tube interconnecting said condenser chamber and said rim trough for fluid flow therebetween such that said fill tube supplies water to said rim trough and, thereby, to said vaporization chamber; second valve means disposed along said fill tube and regulating the flow of water through said fill tube of said rim trough to provide a selectively controllable feed stock water supply for said vaporization chamber; and an outlet at said second end of said collector tube as to provide a supply of said condensed water from collector tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The dillation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising overflow means having a first end connected to said vaporization chamber and passing into communication with a portion of the interior of said vaporization chamber below said aperture, an intermediate portion extending upwardly therefrom to a location below said first predetermined maximum level, and extending downwardly therefrom, and a second end adapted to be connected to a drain connection, said opening in said rim providing secondary overflow means in the event of a failure of said primary overflow means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The distillation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular member is mounted to a mounting member for wall mounting thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
496 words
A lightweight, compact and efficient distillation apparatus for periodically removing impurities from a quantity of water from a water supply by heating the water to be purified to form steam and condensing the steam to form distilled water, said distillation apparatus comprising: a generally tubular vertically disposed member having a closed upper end and a closed lower end and forming a vaporization chamber therein; a rim member extending about said tubular member at an intermediate level between said upper and lower end thereof and forming an annular rim trough for water around said tubular member, said rim having an opening permitting visual inspection of the the level of water therein and further providing an overflow for said rim to limit the water level therein to a predetermined maximum level; at least one aperture in said tubular member extending between said vaporization chamber and said rim trough for fluid communication therebetween such that said rim trough supplies water to said vaporization chamber and the water level in said vaporization chamber corresponds to the water level in said rim trough, said water in said rim trough forming a liquid seal between said vaporization chamber and the portion of said rim trough above said aperture such as to prevent the escape of steam from said vaporization chamber; heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber below the level of said apertures such as to vaporize the water in said vaporization chamber; a collector tube having a first end interconnected with said tubular member at a location above said aperture and communicating with said vaporization chamber and having a second end being reversely bent and extending downwardly therefrom such that vaporized water from said vaporization chamber is diverted therefrom along said collector tube; a condenser tube having a larger diameter than said collector tube, said collector tube passing through the interior of said condenser tube and being affixed thereto, the ends of said condenser tube being closed off to define a sealed annular condensing chamber between said condenser tube and said collector tube; an inlet to said condenser chamber; first valve means for selectively regulating inflow from said water supply through said inlet into said condenser chamber such that the water from said water supply condenses the vaporized water in said collector tube and said rim trough for fluid flow therebetween such that said fill tube supplies water to said rim trough and, thereby, to said vaporization chamber; second valve means disposed along said fill tube selectively regulating the flow of water through said fill tube to said rim trough to provide a selectively controllable feed stock water supply for said vaporization chamber; an outlet at said second end of said collector tube such as to provide a supply of said condensed water from collector tube; and float switch means associated with said vaporization chamber and responsive to the decline of the liquid level in said vaporization chamber below a predetermined minimum level to selectively prevent operation of said heating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
496 words
A lightweight, compact and efficient distillation apparatus for periodically removing impurities from a quantity of water from a water supply by heating the water to be purified to form steam and condensing the steam to form distilled water, said distillation apparatus comprising: a generally tubular vertically disposed member having a closed upper end and a closed lower end and forming a vaporization chamber therein; a rim member extending about said tubular member at an intermediate level between said upper and lower end thereof and forming an annular rim trough for water around said tubular member, said rim having an opening permitting visual inspection of the the level of water therein and further providing an overflow for said rim to limit the water level therein to a predetermined maximum level; at least one aperture in said tubular member extending between said vaporization chamber and said rim trough for fluid communication therebetween such that said rim trough supplies water to said vaporization chamber and the water level in said vaporization chamber corresponds to the water level in said rim trough, said water in said rim trough forming a liquid seal between said vaporization chamber and the portion of said rim trough above said aperture such as to prevent the escape of steam from said vaporization chamber; heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber below the level of said apertures such as to vaporize the water in said vaporization chamber; a collector tube having a first end interconnected with said tubular member at a location above said aperture and communicating with said vaporization chamber and having a second end being reversely bent and extending downwardly therefrom such that vaporized water from said vaporization chamber is diverted therefrom along said collector tube; a condenser tube having a larger diameter than said collector tube, said collector tube passing through the interior of said condenser tube and being affixed thereto, the ends of said condenser tube being closed off to define a sealed annular condensing chamber between said condenser tube and said collector tube; an inlet to said condenser chamber; first valve means for selectively regulating inflow from said water supply through said inlet into said condenser chamber such that the water from said water supply condenses the vaporized water in said collector tube and said rim trough for fluid flow therebetween such that said fill tube supplies water to said rim trough and, thereby, to said vaporization chamber; second valve means disposed along said fill tube selectively regulating the flow of water through said fill tube to said rim trough to provide a selectively controllable feed stock water supply for said vaporization chamber; an outlet at said second end of said collector tube such as to provide a supply of said condensed water from collector tube; and float switch means associated with said vaporization chamber and responsive to the decline of the liquid level in said vaporization chamber below a predetermined minimum level to selectively prevent operation of said heating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The distillation apparatus of claims 1, 4, further comprising: a reservoir disposed to receive outflow of condensed water from outlet of said collector tube; a float switch associated with said reservoir; and selectively operable control means for causing said heating means to be turned off and at least one of said valve means to be closed in response to the fluid level in said reservoir exceeding a third predetermined maximum level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
495 words
A lightweight, compact and efficient distillation apparatus for periodically removing impurities from a quantity of water from a water supply by heating the water to be purified to form steam and condensing the steam to form distilled water, said distillation apparatus comprising: a generally tubular vertically disposed member having a closed upper end and a closed lower end and forming a vaporization chamber therein; a rim member extending about said tubular member at an intermediate level between said upper and lower end thereof and forming an annular rim trough for water around said tubular member, said rim having an opening permitting visual inspection of the level of water therein and further providing an overflow for said rim to limit the water level therein to a predetermined maximum level; at least one aperture in said tubular member extending between said vaporization chamber and said rim trough for fluid communication therebetween such that said rim trough supplies water to said vaporization chamber and the water level in said vaporization chamber corresponds to the water level in said rim trough, said water in said rim trough forming a liquid seal between said vaporization chamber and the portion of said rim trough above said aperture such as to prevent the escape of steam from said vaporization chamber; heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber below the level of said apertures such as to vaporize the water in said vaporization chamber; a collector tube having a first end interconnected with said tubular member at a location above said aperture and communicating with said vaporization chamber and having a second end being reversely bent and extending downwardly therefrom such that vaporized water from said vaporization chamber is diverted therefrom along said collector tube; a condenser tube having a larger diameter than said collector tube, said collector tube passing through the interior of said condenser tube and being affixed thereto, the ends of said condenser tube being closed off to define a sealed annular condensing chamber between said condenser tube and said collector tube; an inlet to said condenser chamber; first valve means for selectively regulating inflow from said water supply through said inlet into said condenser chamber such that the water from said water supply condenses the vaporized water in said collector tube and said rim trough for fluid flow therebetween such that said fill tube supplies water to said rim trough and, thereby, to said vaporization chamber; second valve means disposed along said fill tube selectively regulating the flow of water through said fill tube to said rim trough to provide a selectively controllable feed stock water supply for said vaporization chamber; an outlet at said second end of said collector tube such as to provide a supply of said condensed water from collector tube; and float switch means associated with said vaporization chamber and responsive to the decline of the liquid level in said vaporization chamber below a predetermined minimum level to selectively prevent operation of said heating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
495 words
A lightweight, compact and efficient distillation apparatus for periodically removing impurities from a quantity of water from a water supply by heating the water to be purified to form steam and condensing the steam to form distilled water, said distillation apparatus comprising: a generally tubular vertically disposed member having a closed upper end and a closed lower end and forming a vaporization chamber therein; a rim member extending about said tubular member at an intermediate level between said upper and lower end thereof and forming an annular rim trough for water around said tubular member, said rim having an opening permitting visual inspection of the level of water therein and further providing an overflow for said rim to limit the water level therein to a predetermined maximum level; at least one aperture in said tubular member extending between said vaporization chamber and said rim trough for fluid communication therebetween such that said rim trough supplies water to said vaporization chamber and the water level in said vaporization chamber corresponds to the water level in said rim trough, said water in said rim trough forming a liquid seal between said vaporization chamber and the portion of said rim trough above said aperture such as to prevent the escape of steam from said vaporization chamber; heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber below the level of said apertures such as to vaporize the water in said vaporization chamber; a collector tube having a first end interconnected with said tubular member at a location above said aperture and communicating with said vaporization chamber and having a second end being reversely bent and extending downwardly therefrom such that vaporized water from said vaporization chamber is diverted therefrom along said collector tube; a condenser tube having a larger diameter than said collector tube, said collector tube passing through the interior of said condenser tube and being affixed thereto, the ends of said condenser tube being closed off to define a sealed annular condensing chamber between said condenser tube and said collector tube; an inlet to said condenser chamber; first valve means for selectively regulating inflow from said water supply through said inlet into said condenser chamber such that the water from said water supply condenses the vaporized water in said collector tube and said rim trough for fluid flow therebetween such that said fill tube supplies water to said rim trough and, thereby, to said vaporization chamber; second valve means disposed along said fill tube selectively regulating the flow of water through said fill tube to said rim trough to provide a selectively controllable feed stock water supply for said vaporization chamber; an outlet at said second end of said collector tube such as to provide a supply of said condensed water from collector tube; and float switch means associated with said vaporization chamber and responsive to the decline of the liquid level in said vaporization chamber below a predetermined minimum level to selectively prevent operation of said heating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The distillation apparatus of claims 1, 4, 6 wherein said second valve means comprises a flow orifice in said fill tube rim trough causing said flow to be substantially constant notwithstanding variations in supply pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The distillation apparatus of claim 1, 3, 4 or 2 wherein said second valve means comprises a flow orifice in said fill tube rim trough causing said flow to be substantially constant notwithstanding variations in supply pressure.