Water purification apparatus

Claim 2

In a water distilling and hot water heating apparatus comprising a domestic hot water supply meas including a hot water tank, a feed means to the hot water tank and a withdrawal means from said tank, the improvement comprising: (a) a water still means for holding water, leaving a vapor space above the water, comprising a closed container, (b) a feed water supply means, for providing at the said still, water at a rate of flow in excess of the rate of flow of distilled water, (c) a heating means to vaporizing the water in the container, (d) a waste water exit port means for removing any liquid water accumulating above a water level in the container, (e) a water vapor exit port means, positioned above the water level in the vapor space, for withdrawing water vapor from the said container, (f) means connected to the water vapor exit port, and extending through a substantial length of the hot water tank, for conducting the water vapor and for transferring the heat of condensation of the water vapor from said still the water in the hot water tank, and (g) means connected to the waste water exit port, and extending through a substantial length of the hot water tank, for transferring the latent heat of the waste water to the water in the hot water tank.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the heating means for withdrawing the distilled water at a flow rate about equal to that of the waste water flow rate out of the container.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the waste water exit port means comprises a vertical tube, having an opening at a height level within the container, with the opening of size to remove any water accumulating above that level, wherein the tube is positioned within a separate housing.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the the housing comprises a vertical cylinder closed at the upper end, and open at the lower end, with the open end of the cylinder extending below the tube opening and the water level in the container.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a plate, is attached to the vertical tube and positioned below the cylinder opening, is of a horizontal plane area larger than the horizontal plane area of said opening.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the water vapor exit port means, comprises a vertical tube extending into the vapor space, an opening in the tube into the vapor space, and a protecting means to prevent droplets of water from entering the opening.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the protecting means is a curve in the tube to place the opening in a vertically downward direction.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a closed chamber means, located inside the closed container, for holding a quantity of water, leaving a vapor space above the water level, (b) means defining an opening in the chamber to receive water from the feed water supply, (c) an outlet means in the chamber below the water level in the closed container for maintaining the level of the water in the chamber means and the closed container at about the same level, and (d) a vapor vent means in the chamber for venting vapors to the atmosphere, wherein the construction and position of the chamber means is such that heat transfer from the heated water in the closed container heats water in the chamber to a temperature approaching that of the boiling point of water.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a vapor vent means in the hot water tank venting vapors to the atmosphere.

Claim 11

In a water distilling and hot water heating apparatus comprising a domestic hot water supply mean including a hot water tank, a feed means to the hot water tank and a withdrawal means from said tank, the improvement comprising: (a) a still means comprising an enclosed first container, located at the top of the hot water tank for holding water, leaving a vapor space above a water level, (b) a feed water supply means for providing a water at the said still at a rate of flow in excess of the rate of flow withdraw, as distilled water, (c) a heating means for vaporizing the water in the first container, (d) a volatile organic compound removing means for venting to the atmosphere the volatile organic compounds comprising a second container positioned in heat conduction communication with the water in the first container, and means for allowing the water to flow from the second container into the first container (e) a waste water exit port means for removing any liquid water accumulating above a water level in the first container, (f) a water vapor exit port means, positioned above the water level in the vapor space, for with drawing the water vapor, (g) means connected to the water vapor exit port, and extending through a substantial length of the hot water tank, for conducting the water vapor and for transferring the heat of condensation of the water vapor from said still to the water in the hot water tank, and (h) means connected to the waste water exit port, and extending through a substantial length of the hot water tank, for transferring the latent heat of the waste water to the water in the hot water tank.

Claim 12

In a water distilling and hot water heating apparatus comprising a domestic hot water supply mean including a hot water tank, a feed means to the hot water tank and a withdrawal means from said tank, the improvement comprising: (a) a still means comprising an enclosed first container, located at the top of the hot water tank for holding water, leaving a vapor space above a water level, (b) a feed water supply means for providing a water at the said still at a rate of flow in excess of the rate of flow withdraw, as distilled water, (c) a heating means for vaporizing the water in the first container, (d) a volatile organic compound removing means for venting to the atmosphere the volatile organic compounds comprising a second container positioned in heat conduction communication with the water in the first container, and means for allowing the water to flow from the second container into the first container (e) a waste water exit port means for removing any liquid water accumulating above a water level in the first container, (f) a water vapor exit port means, positioned above the water level in the vapor space, for with drawing the water vapor, (g) means connected to the water vapor exit port, and extending through a substantial length of the hot water tank, for conducting the water vapor and for transferring the heat of condensation of the water vapor from said still to the water in the hot water tank, and (h) means connected to the waste water exit port, and extending through a substantial length of the hot water tank, for transferring the latent heat of the waste water to the water in the hot water tank.