WO2007018561A1

WO2007018561A1 - Water purification arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2007018561A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/033588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mike Joulakian
Original assignee: Mike Joulakian
Priority date: 2005-07-29
Filing date: 2005-09-21
Publication date: 2007-02-15

Abstract

A tankless, pumpless on demand reverse osmosis water purification system with provisions for filling the system with purified water whenever the system is shut down so that only purified water is dispensed form a faucet and or ice maker and TDS creep is minimized or entirely eliminated.

Description

WATER PURIFICATION ARRANGEMENT

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application serial No. 10/924,401, filed

08/24/2004, Title: WATER PURIFICATION ARRANGEMENT and the teaching and technology thereof are incorporated herein by reference

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention:

This present invention is an improvement to my invention in patent application serial No. 10/924,40 land relates to the water purification art and more particularly to a tankless, pumpless on-demand reverse osmosis water purification system Description of the Prior Art:

As set forth in my above mentioned patent application, over the years there has been an increasing pollution of the water supplies utilized for human consumption, and as populations increase worldwide there is expected to be an accompanying greater amount of pollutants produced which find their way into the water supply. Many of the pollutants are the result of the societal technological advancements and industrial activities which produce more products for human use but also produce more waste products. These waste products may include many toxic contaminants as well as unpleasant or undesired particulate materials which contaminate the aquifers and the water supplies. Such pollution of the water supply has caused many people to install water purification systems in their residences to purify further the tap water supplied by a local municipality. That is, while the municipalities in the industrial nations often add chemicals such as chlorine to the water supply, the resultant water is often not of a quality that many persons find acceptable for use.

SPEC One of the primary types of home water purification systems is the reverse osmosis systems. Such reverse osmosis systems come in many varieties and configurations. These prior art reverse osmosis units can be broadly classified into the under the counter units or over the counter units.

In general the under the counter prior art reverse osmosis units have all of the filtration components secured under the counter which has the sink containing the water input

from the municipality from which the input water to the reverse osmosis system is obtained

and the faucet from which the purified water is dispensed. These prior art under the counter

units have incorporated a semi-permeable filter membrane in a tubular type of pressure vessel. The semi-permeable filter membrane permits water molecules to pass therethrough in a particular direction but is impermeable to certain impurities in the water such as nitrates, heavy metals and salts, chemical fertilizers and many viruses and bacteria. A product water

tube is provided in the center of the pressure vessel and is perforated to allow water to flow to the interior of the product water tube from the semi-permeable membrane. The product water

tube is surrounded by the semi-permeable membrane. The inlet water from the municipality

is introduced into the semipermeable membrane at the household water pressure which may be on the order of. 40 tO 80 pounds per square inch, though some localities may have higher or lower pressures as the household water pressure. However, where the inlet water pressure is too low to provide a proper reverse osmosis operation, it may be necessary to include a

pump at the inlet water line to bring the pressure up to a value that is sufficient for proper

reverse osmosis operation. By reverse osmosis, a fixed amount of the water supplied to the semi-permeable membrane is forced into the outlet , or product water, tube. Particulate matter

in the municipality supplied water delivered to the membrane is removed from the portion of

SPEC the water forced into the product water tube. The water from the product water tube is the

purified water or product water that is utilized. The product water tube often is connected to a tank which holds a supply of the product water from the product water tube and often a pump is utilized to pump the product water from the storage tank to the apparatus such as a

faucet from which the water is dispensed. In many under the counter reverse osmosis units there has also been provided an activated charcoal or carbon filter stage to remove taste- causing impurities such as chlorine and the like from the product water. Under the counter

units are usually professionally installed but, nevertheless, are unobtrusive due to the hidden

location in the cabinet under the counter. However, the prior art under the counter reverse

osmosis systems do take up considerable space in the counter under the sink. Since this under the counter space is often crowded with the pipes and other connectors for the water supply, a garbage disposal unit, a hot water dispenser, as well as numerous boxes of supplies for use at the sink. Thus, space under the counter for all these items has become limited and a

reduction in size of the under the counter reverse osmosis system is often desired. Over the counter reverse osmosis units are generally much smaller than the under the counter reverse osmosis units so as not to take up counter space in the area near the faucet. As

such, the over the counter units do not incorporate a tank to store water but often have limited

carbon filtration capabilities as well as smaller semipermeable membranes. The small size tends to limit the filtration flow rate as well as requiring more frequent replacement of the semipermeable membrane filter element and/or the charcoal or carbon filter. Many of the

prior art reverse osmosis over the counter systems may be considered "on demand" systems

since the water to be used by the consumer flows directly to the faucet from the product water

tube of the reverse osmosis unit as there is no storage tank.

SPEC -A-

When the reverse osmosis unit is not in use in that there is not any water flowing through the semipermeable membrane, the reverse osmosis action ceases as there is no osmotic supply pressure in a flowing stream of water forcing the water through the

semipermeable membrane. As such, some water migrates through the static water in the semipermeable membrane and into the product water tube. Such migrating water is not as filtered as the water provided by the reverse osmosis operation. When the faucet is then

turned on, the first water out of the product water tube is not the fully filtered reverse osmosis water. This is undesirable to the consumer and has limited the acceptability of the prior art "on demand" reverse osmosis units. In the reverse osmosis units in which a storage tank is utilized to store a predetermined amount of purified water, the effect of the migrating water

during the time there is no water flowing from the inlet through the membrane, water in the product water tube of the reverse osmosis unit is highly diluted. The storage tank, though,

takes up valuable under the counter space.

In reverse osmosis filtration systems, the municipality supplied household water pressure is typically on the order of 40 pounds per square inch to 80 pounds per square inch. With such osmotic pressure, there is provided about one gallon of purified water into the

product water tube to be used by the consumer and about three gallons of waste water, often called brine, according to the operation of the present invention, that is discarded into the

drain. Since impurities have been filtered out by the reverse osmosis action, the remaining

brine has a higher concentration of impurities than the inlet supply water and thus is not considered to be usable by the consumer and is, therefore, discarded. Consequently, there is often provided a connection from the reverse osmosis unit for directing the brine to the waste

water drain.

SPEC Thus, there has long been a need for an under the counter reverse osmosis unit that is compact in size and volume and still provides an acceptable flow rate of purified water without the introduction of unpurified water to the consumer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention as set forth in my above mentioned

application serial No. 10/924,401 to provide an improved under the counter reverse osmosis unit that is compact in size.

It is another object of that invention to provide an under the counter reverse osmosis unit that is free of a storage tank and free of a pump.

It is another object of that invention to provide an under the counter reverse osmosis unit that provides the purified water on demand without using a storage tank for holding a supply of purified water.

It another object of that invention to provide an under the counter reverse osmosis

unit that allows on demand provision of purified water but does not allow water to be used by

the consumer which is not subjected to the purification provided by reverse osmosis to be

dispensed to the user.

It is yet another object of that invention to provide a more efficient reverse osmosis water purification system that minimizes the amount of waste water or brine.

It is yet another object of that invention to provide a reverse osmosis water purification system in which both a pre-filter stage or post filter stage such as provided by a

charcoal filter is encased in the same pressure vessel as the reverse osmosis water purification

components.

As utilized herein, the term "tankless" refers to the arrangements in which there is not

utilized a tank to store the water which has been purified by the reverse osmosis action and is

SPEC which water is then supplied to the consumer.

While the invention described in my above mentioned application serial No. 10/924,401 achieves these objectives, it has been found that even greater reduction in the propensity of creep of the total dissolved solids (TDS) into the membrane outlet, or product water, tube is often desired. That is, It has been found that in a typical reverse osmosis under

the counter water purification system utilizing a storage tank for holding the water that is used

by the consumer, the water in the product water tube from the membrane to the faucet is

contaminated by the TDS creep during the non-flowing condition when no water is being used by the consumer. Thus, this water should be discharged into the waste water drain after the faucet is turned on and before water is dispensed to the consumer. After that time interval in which the product tube is emptied, in such systems, water may flow from the storage tank, through any additional filtration and to the faucet for consumption. The time delay from the "faucet on"up to the dispensing of water from the faucet, which is associated with the time

necessary for the discharging of the water from the membrane and product water tube which has been subjected to TDS creep before water for consumption is dispensed at the faucet, has

been found to be undesirably long in many applications.

Thus, there has long been a need for a compact, under the counter reverse osmosis water purification system that provides purified water on demand and which virtually eliminates TDS creep in to the water that is consumed by the user and substantially

minimizes the time delay for dispensing of water to the consumer.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to achieve the objects of the

invention described and claimed in my co-pending patent application serial number 10/924,

401 as set forth above and to provide an under the counter, reverse osmosis water purification

SPEC arrangement that virtually eliminates TDS creep.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an on demand consumable

water reverse osmosis water purification arrangement in which TDS creep is virtually eliminated and also minimizes the time delay rom the "faucet on" condition to the dispensing of consumable water.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an on demand reverse osmosis water purification arrangement which does not utilize a pump and does not utilize a

storage tank to store the water to be used by the consumer and in which water is dispensed without significant delay when the faucet is opened..

It is yet another object of that invention to provide an under the counter, reverse osmosis water purification arrangement which does not utilize a pump and does not utilize a storage tank to store the water to be used by the consumer and in which the TDS creep into the consumer utilized water supply is virtually eliminated and the is a minimal time delay in

the dispensing of water for the consumer to consume. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an under the counter,

reverse osmosis water purification arrangement which does not utilize a pump and does not utilize a storage tank to store the water to be used by the consumer and in which the TDS

creep into the consumer utilized water supply is virtually eliminated and in which a continuous flow of purified water may be maintained by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described in my prior application serial No. 10/924,401, there is provided, in a

preferred embodiment thereof, a pressure vessel in which there is a semipermeable membrane

SPEC having a central cavity. A perforated product water tube is provided in the central cavity of the semipermeable membrane.. A carbon filter stage in the form of an activated carbon cake

is provided to treat the water. Depending upon the location of the carbon cake, it can be utilized to treat all the water introduced into the semipermeable membrane or to treat the purified water coming out of the outlet tube.

Depending upon the placement of the activated charcoal, water from the municipality is fed into the reverse osmosis unit. As noted above, in one embodiment of the invention described in my co-pending application serial No. 10/924,401, all of the water passes through

the carbon cake and then into the semipermeable membrane in which embodiment all of the inlet water is treated by the charcoal. In another embodiment of the invention as described in

my application serial No. 10/924,401 the charcoal filter is placed at the product water tube so that only the water flowing from the product water tube is filtered by the charcoal filter. The

municipal water supply is at a pressure, for example in the range of 40 to 80 pounds per square inch to provide the osmotic pressure to the reverse osmosis unit. As noted above, if the inlet water pressure is too low, a pump may be utilized to boost the inlet water pressure to a value sufficient for proper reverse osmosis operation. The flowing water through the membrane forces a portion thereof through the membrane and into the product water tube.

The product water tube is connected directly to the faucet. As noted above, when the faucet is first turned on after a period of non use, the first water which would flow the faucet may

not be as fully filtered because of TDS creep or migration of the TDS through the membrane

during the periods of non use. In preferred embodiments of the invention in patent application

serial number 10/924,401, a flow control system is provided and includes a solenoid operated diverter valve arrangement to prevent the first flow of water from the product water tube

SPEC entering the faucet and diverts the first flow of water into the water drain. After a very brief time interval, the diverter valve arrangement directs the water from the product water tube into the faucet for consumption. The unique flow control system of the invention as so described in my co-pending application serial No. 10/924,401 provides the increased

efficiency to minimize the waste water.

The activated carbon stage of filtration may, if desired, be placed downstream of the product water tube so that only the water flowing from the product water tube is treated by the activated charcoal.

According to the principles of the present invention, it has been found that an even greater reduction, or virtual elimination of, TDS creep into the potable water supplied and an

further minimization of the time delay between when, for example, a faucet is turned on and water is dispensed may be uniquely achieved.

In the present invention, the flow of water to and/or through the various components

is controlled by providing a plurality of check valves and solenoid operated valves. The

solenoid operated valves are controlled to open and close as determined by a microprocessor programmed according to the principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The embodiments of the invention set forth in my prior application serial No.

10/924,401 are understood from the following detailed description taken together with Figures 1 through 5, inclusive, of the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference

characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention set forth in my prior

SPEC application serial No. 10/924,401;

Figure 2 illustrates an alternate faucet embodiment useful in the practice of the invention set forth in my prior application serial No. 10/924,401 ;

Figure 3 illustrates an product water tube useful in the practice of the invention my prior application serial No. 10/924,401 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the flow control system useful in the practice of the

invention in my prior application serial No. 10/924,401 invention;

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in my prior application serial No. 10/924,401; and,. Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated on Figure 1 a preferred embodiment

of the invention of my prior application serial No. 10/924,401. As shown thereon, that invention of a tankless, pumpless on demand reverse osmosis water purification system is

generally designated 10. The embodiment 10 has a pressure vessel 12 comprised of a

generally tubular body member 14, an inlet end 16 and a discharge end 18. The inlet end 16 has an inlet end cap 20 that is threadingly coupled to the body member 14 as indicated at 22 through an adapter 24 that is fixedly coupled to the body member 14 as indicated at 25. An "O" ring 23

may be provided between the adapter 24 and the inlet end cap 20 to provide a sealing

engagement therebetween.

The discharge end 18 has a discharge end cap 26 that is fixedly coupled to the body

member 14 as indicated at 28. As assembled as shown on Figure 1, the pressure vessel 12 is

SPEC designed to withstand for continuous operation the operating pressure of the water supplied thereto which, for example, may be on the order of 40 to 80 pounds per square inch. The pressure vessel 12 contains a filter membrane 30 that may be, for example, spiral wound. The filter membrane 30 is a reverse osmosis membrane comprised of a suitable semi-permeable

material, such as cellulose triacetate, polyamide or other suitable materials that slowly allows water molecules to pass therethrough in a radial direction as indicated by the arrows 32 while

rejecting the passage of dissolved salts, minerals and suspended particles. A filter membrane 30 of cellulose triacetate is capable of removing from the water flow indicated by the arrows

32 such dissolved salts and minerals as lead, fluorides, cadmium, aluminum, sodium, arsenic, and nitrates. Such a filter membrane is also capable of preventing the passage of the water in

the direction indicated by the arrows 32 smaller size particulate such as sand and clay. As is known in the prior art, the amount of water flowing in the radial direction indicted by the arrows 32 is less than the amount of water flowing axially in the direction of the arrows 34.

The pressure vessel 12 also is provided with a pre filter 36 such as a cake of activated carbon or the like which is utilized to remove, inter alia, the larger particulate mater in the

water. Water from the supplier of the water such as a municipality or the like provides the water at an inlet port 40 in a water manifold 42 at a predetermined pressure.

Such pressure may be, for example, on the order of 40 pounds per square inch to 80 pounds per square inch though some localities may have a higher or lower inlet water pressure. pressure. . The inlet water flows through an inlet solenoid valve 44 and into an inlet tube 46 flowing in the direction of the arrows 48 to the pressure vessel 12. All of the water from the

inlet tube flows through the pre-Ofilter 36 in the direction of the arrows 50. After passing

through the pre-filter 36 the water flows through the membrane 30 in the directions of the

SPEC arrows 34 in axial direction and the arrows 32 in the radial direction.

A product tube 52, which is illustrated in greater detail on Figure 3 is in the center of the pressure vessel 14 and the membrane 30 is wrapped therearound. The product tube 52 as

shown on Figure 3 is tubular about a centerline 54 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 56 through the wall 58 thereof to allow the water flowing in the direction of the arrows 32 to enter the interior 60 of the product tube 52. Water flows in the product tube 52 from a first end 60 to a second end 62 thereof. The first end 60 is sealed closed to prevent the water flowing from the carbon cake pre-filter 36 from entering the first end 60 of the product

tube 52. The second end 62 of the product tube 52 is connected to a transfer tube 64 which is connected to a product tube 66 as indicated at 68. For the condition of water flowing through

the semi-permeable membrane 30 at the osmotic pressure provided by the inlet water

pressure, the water flowing in the direction of the arrows 32 in the semi-permeable membrane 30 is the water purified by reverse osmosis that is directed to a faucet 70. The water flowing in the product tube 66 as indicated by the arrows 72 passes through a check valve 74 and into a branched tube 76. Water flowing into the branched tube 76 in the direction of the arrow 78

is directed to flow through a faucet solenoid valve 80 and into a faucet supply tube 82 and

then is directed to the faucet 70.

As shown on Figure 1, the water flowing through the semi-permeable membrane 30 in

the direction of the arrows 34 is the waste water or brine. The waste water is directed into a

discharge tube 90 as indicted by the arrows 92 and, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, through a valve 94 and into a discharge port 96 in the manifold 42 and to the drain

port 98 in the manifold 42 for draining to the household waste water connection.

The valve 94 is a flow control valve that is preset upon installation to control the

SPEC amount of water flow rate through the embodiment 10. Since the amount of water that is purified by the reverse osmosis action as indicted by the arrows 78 as flowing to the faucet 70 is on the order of, for example, 18 to 25 per cent of the total water flowing into the

embodiment 10 as indicated by the arrow 48, the valve 94 is adjusted to provide a sufficient

pressure drop there across so that this desired purified water flow rate is maintained for the

inlet water pressure at the place of installation. The valve 94 could, if desired, be replaced by a given length of small diameter tubing that provides the pressure r drop required to achieve the specified purified water flow rate. The setting of the valve 94 or the length of tubing utilized to provide the pressure drop is a one time setting since the inlet water pressure, at the point of installation in general does not vary with time in a significant amount to require a

different setting.

It has been found that for the condition of water not flowing through the semi¬

permeable membrane 30, that is, for example, when the inlet solenoid valve 44 is closed, the water in the semi-permeable membrane is static. In such a condition, it has been found that

the water flowing in the direction of the arrows 32 into the product tube 52 does not undergo the reverse osmosis purification and there is a creep of the unpurified water from the semipermeable membrane 30 into the product tube 52. According to the principles of the present

invention, the water in the product tube 52 for the condition of the faucet being opened to initiate the flow of water through the semi-permeable membrane 30 is first directed to the

branch 76B of the diverter tube 76 by maintaining the solenoid 80 closed and into a flush

solenoid 102. Such water flows into the flush port 104 of the manifold 42 and then to the

discharge port 98. After a predetermined time period calculated by the time necessary to

purge the water from the product tube and allow the purified water from the reverse osmosis

SPEC action to fill the product tube, the flush solenoid valve 102 is closed and the faucet solenoid valve 80 is open allowing water to flow to the faucet 70

As shown on Figure 1, the facet 70 is provided with a button 104 that is depressed to initiate the flow of water. Indicator lights may also be provided on the faucet 70 as described below in greater detail.

As shown on Figure 2, there is depicted an alternate form of a faucet 70' useful in the

practice of the present invention. The faucet 70' is similar to the faucet 70 except that a lever

110 is provided to open the faucet instead of the button 104.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown a schematic diagram of the embodiment 10. As shown on Figure 4, there is provided a control box 120 powered by the electrical input from the transformer 112 which is supplied with, for example 110 to 220 volt, 50 to 60 cycle AC power and delivers 12 volts DC to the control box 120. The inlet solenoid 44, the faucet

solenoid 80 and the flush solenoid 102 are normally closed solenoids. When actuated, they open to allow the flow of water therethrough. When they are closed, no water is permitted to

flow therethrough. When it is desired to obtain water from the faucet 70, the faucet 70 is

actuated by pressing the button 104 or the lever 110 (Figure 2) or any other structure utilized to open the faucet. Upon actuation, an actuation signal is sent from the faucet to the control box 120. The control box 120 has a micro processor therein which is provided with a plurality of adjustable switches. Upon receiving the actuation signal from the faucet 70, the micro processor in the control box 120 sends a first control signal to open the inlet solenoid

44 and a second control signal to the flush solenoid 102. After a predetermined time interval

which may be set by the switches in the micro processor, a the second control signal to the

flush solenoid 102 is terminated and the flush solenoid is closed. Upon closure of the flush

SPEC solenoid 102 a third control signal is sent from the control box 110 to the faucet solenoid 80

and the faucet solenoid 80 is opened, thereby allowing water to flow from the faucet 70 (or 70'). Since under this condition water is flowing through the semi-permeable membrane 30, water purified by the reverse osmosis action flows into the product tube 52 and then to the faucet 70. The time interval that the flush solenoid 102 is open is determined by the size of the product tube, that is, how much water it contains and by the water pressure.

When the button 104 or the handle 110 is released, the actuation signal from the faucet 70 is terminated and the micro processor terminates the first control signal thereby

closing the inlet solenoid 44 and terminates the third control signal thereby closing the faucet

solenoid. 80.

In the embodiment 10 as shown on Figure 1, the carbon cake 10 provides the pre filtering action to all of the inlet water as indicated by the arrow 48. However, in some applications it has been found to be desirable to provide the pre-fϊlter action of the carbon cake 36 only to the water flowing to the faucet 70. Such an arrangement allows the

utilization of a smaller carbon cake and/or less frequent replacement thereof. Figure 5

illustrates an embodiment 150 showing the purified water outlet line 66'; that is provided with a chamber 152 in which a carbon cake 36' is placed. In the embodiment 150, only the water

flowing to the faucet is passed through the carbon cake 36'.

In other applications it has been found desirable to provide the pre filtering action of the carbon by providing a carbon tube in the pressure vessel 14 and surrounding the semipermeable membrane . In such an embodiment, the end of the semi-permeable membrane is

sealed from the inlet water 48 so that all the inlet water is directed through the carbon tube.

The opposite end of the semi-permeable membrane is open to the water after it has passed

SPEC through the carbon tube and lows through the semi-permeable membrane to allow the reverse osmosis action to take place.

In some applications it may be desired to provide a an actuation signal from a source other than the faucet. In such an embodiment, a probe port 160 (Figure 1) may be provided and a probe (not shown) inserted therein to detect the TDS in the water and generate an

actuation signal in response to the detected TDS and send the actuation signal to the control box 1 10 for causing the generation of the various control signals to the solenoid valves 44, 80 and 102 as described above.

Figure 6 illustrates, in schematic diagram form, the present invention of an embodiment 200 of a water purification arrangement 202. As described below, there are four

separate phases of operation of the embodiment 200. These phases are:

1. DISPENSE PHASE

2. POST DISPENSE PHASE

3. PURIFY PHASE 4. SHUT DOWN PHASE

Table 1 below shows the position of each of the solenoid control valves 240, 242, 244

and 246 in embodiment 1 during each of the phases of operation. The position of the

solenoid control valves 240, 242, 244 and 246 are controlled by electrical actuation signals

from a control box 218. As shown on Figure 6, the water purification arrangement 202 of embodiment 200

incorporates a pressure vessel 210 in which there is a reverse osmosis filter membrane 212. The pressure vessel 210 may be generally similar to the pressure vessel 12 described above

and the filter membrane 212 and all of the associated components may be substantially the

SPEC same as the filter membrane 30 and associated components described above and illustrated in Figure 1. The pressure vessel 210 has an inlet end 214 and a discharge end 216 as described above in connection with the pressure vessel 12 of Figure 1.

A control box 218 containing a microprocessor with a plurality of adjustable switches (not shown) is provided in the embodiment 200. The control box 218 is programmed to

operate the various solenoid valves of the present invention, as described below, to proved the flow paths of the water used in the embodiment 200.

The embodiment 200 controls the flow of purified water to a faucet connection 271 to

which a faucet 220 is connected and which may be similar to the faucet 70 described above in connection with the embodiment 10 of Figure 1. The embodiment 200 may also control the flow of water to an ice maker 222 connected to an ice maker connection 273. Depending upon the location and arrangement of the faucet 220 and ice maker 222, a single water

purification arrangement 202 of embodiment 200 may be utilized to control both the flow of

purified water to the faucet 220 and the ice maker 222. Alternatively, a separate water

purification arrangement 202 of embodiment 200 may be utilized for each of the faucet 220 and ice maker 222. The following description of operation of embodiment 200 is for the application wherein one water purification arrangement 202 is utilized for supplying purified water to both the faucet 220 and the ice maker 222 which, as noted below, may also include the chilled water dispenser found in many refrigerator/freezer appliances.

A drain 223 is provided into which the waste water which may be generated during

each phase of operation is directed. A product water conduit 224 delivers the purified water

from the discharge end 216 of the pressure vessel 210 to the faucet 220 and ice maker 222

during the DISPENSE phase of operation.

SPEC An accumulator 226 is also provided and the accumulator 226 has a top section 228 and bottom section 230. In order to aid in the control of the flow of water in the embodiment 200, there are provided four check valves 232, 234, 236 and 236, with the arrows thereon in Figure 6 indicating the free flow direction and four solenoid valves 240, 242, 244 and 246. The solenoid valves 240, 242, 244 and 246 are normally closed and open upon receipt of an appropriate actuation signal received from the control box 218. In Figure 6, the symbol "•" indicates a connection of the shown conduits.

Table 1 below shows the position of each of the solenoid valves 240, 242, 244 and

246 during each of the four main phases of operation of the embodiment 200. The time periods of 3 seconds open and then close during the DISPENSE phase and one minute open and then close during the SHUT DOWN phase for the valve 244 are for a representative system and these time periods may be increased or decreased as desired for particular

applications of the present invention.

SYSTEM OPERATION The water purification arrangement 202 of embodiment 200 operates in the following

manner in order to produce the purified water for consumption as may be dispensed from the

faucet 220 and /or ice maker 222. For clarity of description, the term "ice maker" as utilized

herein and in the appended claims also refers to both the structure utilized to make ice in a freezer and also to the structure for dispensing chilled water from a dispenser found on many refrigerator/freezer units to the extent such structure is present in the particular application of

the installation of the arrangement 202..

More than one minute from the last time the faucet 220 and/or ice maker 222 was

dispensing water, the embodiment 200 is in the SHUT DOWN phase of operation. In the

SPEC SHUT DOWN phase, after the above noted one minute, all of the solenoid valves 240, 242,

244 and 246 are closed. No water is flowing into the water purification arrangement 202 from the municipal water supply 221 which may be at, for example, 80 pounds per square inch (PSI) as described above in connection with Figure 1.

When the faucet 220 is opened the DISPENSE phase is initiated and a first control signal indicated at 250 is generated by the opening of the faucet and the first control signal 250 is supplied to the control box 218. The first control signal 250 may be an electrical signal

generated in the manner as described above in connection with the operation of the faucet 70 of Figure 1. For control of the dispensing of water to an ice maker, the "on" electrical signal that is used to control the initiation of the making of ice in an ice maker, such as the

conventional ice maker often incorporated in a freezer or freezer/refrigerator unit, may be used as a first control signal 251 to initiate the operation of the water purification arrangement 202 of embodiment 200 for allowing purified water to flow to the ice maker.

Upon receipt of the first control signal 250 and/or 251, the control box 218 generates

and transmits a first actuation signal 252 to open the valve 240. At the same time a second actuation signal 254 is generated by the control box 218 and sent to valve 244 to open for a first time period, which first time period may be on the order of three seconds, although

greater or less time may be used as desired for particular applications. After the first time

period, the control box generates a third actuation signal 254a sent to valve 244 to close valve 244. An appropriate timer circuit in the control box 218 controls the duration of the first time period. When valve 240 is open, water from the municipal water supply as indicated at 221

and flows through a water inlet connection 275, through valve 240, into a first conduit 277 and

into the inlet connection 279 at inlet end 214 of the pressure vessel 210 and into the filter

SPEC membrane 212. Water from the discharge end 216 of the pressure vessel 210 after flowing through the filter membrane 212 and being subjected to the water purifying reverse osmosis action flows from the discharge connection 281 of the pressure vessel 210, into the product

water tube 224 and through a connection indicated at 329 to a branched conduit 283. The

branched conduit 283 has a first branch 285, second branch 287 and third branch 289. The first branch 285 is connected to the product water tube 224 and second branch 287 as indicated at 329. The third branch 289 is connected to the second branch as indicated at 331.

The water from the second branch flows through check valve 232 into the faucet connection 337 and into faucet 220 and/or the ice maker 222 which may be connected to the second branch 287 as indicated at 337. The water from the third branch 289, which is connected to the second branch 287 as indicated at 331 flows through check valve 234 and

into accumulator bottom inlet connection 291 and into the bottom section 230 of the

accumulator 226 to provide the bottom section 230 of the accumulator 226 with the purified

water. A pressure switch 241 is provided in the bottom section 230 of accumulator 226 and, as described below, generates a pressure control signal for transmission to the control box 218

when a preset pressure of the purified water therein is reached The preset pressure may be, for example, 30 PSI for water pressure at the municipal water supply as indicated at 221 in the

range generally provided.

Since solenoid valve 244 is open during the first time period, the top section 228 of

accumulator 226 is vented to the drain 223 through the accumulator top outlet connection 293,

through sixth conduit 313 which is connected to third conduit 211 as indicated at 351, through

valve 244, through third conduit 211 and through check valve 238 and to the drain connection 299. The venting of the upper section 228 of accumulator 226 to the drain 223 to atmospheric

SPEC pressure allows the water pressure in the bottom section 230 of accumulator 226 to increase to reach the reset pressure of the pressure switch and open the circuit. The third conduit 211 is connected to first branch 285 as indicted at 327 and to the waste water conduit 217 as indicated at 325. After the first time period, valve 244 closes and purified water continues to flow to the faucet/ice maker.

When the faucet/ice maker is closed, a second control signal 250a or 251a is generated

and sent to the control box 218. The second control signal 250a/251a causes the control box

218 to send appropriate actuation signals to the solenoid valves to end the DISPENSE phase and enter the POST DISPENSE phase. To enter the POST DISPENSE phase the control box 218 generates and sends a fourth actuation signal 254a to valve 244 causing the valve 244 to open. In the POST DISPENSE phase, water continues to flow through valve 240 and through the membrane 212 in the pressure vessel 210, purified water is still made and waste water continues to flow through check valve 238 to the drain 223. To the extent that the lower

section 230 of the accumulator 226 has not been filed during the DISPENSE phase, purified

water continues to flow through tyhird branch 289, check valve 234 into the inlet connection 291 at the bottom section 230 of accumulator 226 and into the lower portion 230 of the accumulator 226 until the accumulator 226 is completely filled with purified water. With valve

244 open, as the lower portion 230 of accumulator 226 fills, water in the upper portion 228 of the accumulator 226 and water in the third conduit 211 is forced through the check valve 238

to the drain 223. The micro processor in the control box 218 is programmed to allow the system to stay in the POST DISPENSE phase for a preselected time period. This preselected

time period is determined by the pressure in the lower section 230 of accumulator 226 and

when the pressure of the purified water in the lower section 230 achieves the preset pressure of

SPEC pressure switch 241 which may be, for example, 30 PSI as noted above, the pressure control signal is sent to control box 218.

During the POST DISPENSE phase, as noted above, the valve 244 is open and the upper portion 228 of the accumulator is vented to atmosphere through the drain 223 thereby

allowing the lower portion 230 of the accumulator 226 to be filled with the purified water.

Since the faucet/ice maker is/ are closed, once the lower portion 230 of the accumulator 226 is

filled, which may take longer than the time for the pressure therein to reach the preset pressure of 30 PSI the only water flow in the system is through the membrane 212, through waste water

connection 297 at the pressure vessel 210, into waste water conduit 217, through drain

connection 299 to the drain 223. If, during the POST DISPENSE phase the faucet and/or the ice maker is turned on, the micro processor in the control box 218 is programmed to cause the generation of actuation signals that terminates the POST DISPENSE phase and causes the valves to revert to the DISPENSE phase positions thereof as described above.

When the pressure switch 241 reaches the preset pressure, the circuit to the control box 218 is closed and the pressure control signal sent from the pressure switch 241 terminates the POST DISPENSE phase and the control box 218 generates actuation signals to cause the

system to enter the PURIFY phase. To enter the PURIFY phase from the POST DISPENSE

phase, the micro processor generates and sends to valve 240 a fifth actuation signal 252a which closes the valve 240, generates and sends to valve 242 a sixth actuation signal 260 causing the valve 242 to open, generates and sends to valve 244 a seventh actuation signal 254b causing valve 244 to close and generates and sends to valve 246 an eighth actuation

signal 262 causing valve 246 to open. In the PURIFY phase, water from the municipal water

supply 221 is blocked from entering the membrane 212 by closed valve 240 and, with valve

SPEC 242 open, water from municipal water supply 221 flows into sixth conduit 353 into the upper section 228 of the accumulator 226 through seventh conduit 311 and through upper inlet

connection 303. Seventh conduit 311 is connected to sixth conduit 353 as indicated at 355 In

some applications it may be desired to utilize a single connection at the upper section 228 of accumulator 226 to allow water to flow both in and out of the top section 228. In the embodiment 200 as illustrated in Figure 6, for clarity of description, there are shown separate inlet and outlet connections 293 and 303 to the accumulator 226 at the upper section 228 and 291 and 305 at lower section 230 of accumulator 226. The water pressure of the water from

municipal water supply 221 acts on the piston 227 in accumulator 226 forcing the purified

water out of the lower outlet connection 305 at lower section 230 of accumulator 226 and into

fifth conduit 225 which is connected to first conduit 277 as indicated at 323. In some applications it maybe desired to utilize the same connection at the lower section 230 to allow the flow of water both into and out of the lower section 230. Check valve 234 prevents flow to the faucet connection 271 or ice maker connection 273 and the purified water from the lower

section 230 of accumulator 226 flows through the fifth conduit 225, through check valve 236 and into the membrane 212. With valve 246 open, the purified water enters the membrane 211

from the fifth conduit 225 and water that is in the membrane 212 is forced out through product water conduit 224, through first branch 285 of branched conduit 283, through valve 246 and check valve 238, through the drain connection 299 to the drain 223. Simultaneously, water

continues to flow through the waste water conduit 217, through check valve 238 and drain

connection 299 to the drain 223. The purified water from the fifth conduit 225 thereby fills the

membrane 212. With the purified water filling the membrane 212, there is no source for TDS

creep since there is no unpurified water on either side of the membrane 212.

SPEC If the PURIFY cycle is interrupted by the faucet and/or the ice maker being turned on, the micro processor in the control box 218 causes tht system to revert to the DISPENSE phase and then, sequentially, the POST DISPENSE phase, and the PURIFY phase. Such repetition

occurs as often as required. The duration of the PURIFY phase is controlled by the time it takes the pressure in the

lower section 228 of accumulator 226 to reach the preset value of the pressure switch 241,

such as the 30 PSI described above. .The duration of time that it takes to reach the preset pressure allows sufficient time for the membrane 212 to be fully saturated by purified water. When the preset pressure is reached, the pressure switch sends the pressure control signal to the control box 218 and the control box 218 sends appropriate actuation signals to the appropriate valves to enter the SHUT DOWN phase.

In the SHUT DOWN phase, the micro processor is programmed to generate and send

to valve 242 a ninth actuation signal 260a to close valve 242, to generate and send to valve 246 a tenth actuation signal 262a to close valve 246, and an eleventh actuation signal 254b to

open valve 244 for a second preselected time period, such as one minute, and then send a twelfth actuation signal 254b to close valve 244 at the end of the second time period. During the one minute that valve 244 is open in the SHUT DOWN phase any residual water under pressure in the fifth conduit 211 is vented to the drain and any residual pressure on the system

is removed. With valves 240, 242, 244 and 246 closed in the SHUT DOWN cycle, the system is filled with the purified water and thus virtually eliminating TDS creep so that when the

faucet/ice maker is next turned on to start the DISPENSE phase, only purified water flows

thereto.

SPEC

TABLE 1

VALVE CONDITION

Notes:

¹ Valve 244 opens for, e.g., 3 seconds at beginning of dispense phase and then closes. ²Valve 244 opens for, e.g., 1 minute at beginning of shut down phase and then closes.

A pre filter such as the carbon cake 36 or post filter carbon cake 152 described above

may be incorporated into the embodiment 200 as may be desired.

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention as illustrated

schematically on Figure 6 of the drawing provides a tankless, pumpless on demand reverse osmosis water purification system which is primarily designed for under the sink installation,

though other locations for the installation may be utilized for particular applications. The arrangement of the present invention as illustrated on Figure 6 provides a virtual elimination of

TDS into the product water supply. Although a specific embodiment of the present invention have been described above

with reference to Figure 6 of the drawing, it should be understood that such embodiment is by

way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible

SPEC specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present

invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claim 1. A reverse osmosis water purification system for receiving a tap water supply and for producing therefrom a purified water supply, comprising, in combination: a tap water inlet connection; a pressure vessel having a water inlet end and a discharge end; and said pressure vessel having a water inlet connection at said water inlet end, a waste water discharge connection and a purified water discharge connection; a reverse osmosis semi-permeable membrane in said pressure vessel; a product water tube in said reverse osmosis semi-permeable membrane and said product water tube connected to said purified water discharge connection of said pressure vessel to discharge purified water therefrom; a drain connection; a faucet connection; a waste water conduit having a first end connected to said waste water discharge connection of said pressure vessel and a second end connected to said drain connection for discharging waste water from said reverse osmosis semi-permeable membrane into said drain connection; an accumulator having an upper water storage section and a lower water storage section, and a pressure switch in said lower water storage section, and said accumulator having: a water inlet connection and water outlet connection at said upper water storage

section; and, a water inlet connection and a water outlet connection at said lower section;

a first conduit for connecting said tap water inlet connection to said water inlet connection of said pressure vessel; a first valve having an open position for allowing flow therethrough and a closed position for blocking flow therethrough, and said first valve in said first conduit intermediate said tap water inlet connection and said water inlet connection of said pressure vessel;

a second conduit having a first end connected to said first conduit intermediate said inlet water connection and said first valve, and a second end connected to said inlet connection at

said upper storage section of said accumulator;

a second valve having an open position for allowing flow therethrough and a closed position for blocking flow therethrough, and said second valve in said second conduit

intermediate said connection to said first conduit and said water inlet connection at said top section of said accumulator; a third conduit having a first end connected to said water outlet connection of said upper section of said accumulator and a second end connected to said waste water conduit

intermediate said drain connection and said waste water discharge connection of said pressure

vessel; a third valve having an open position for allowing water to flow therethrough and a closed position for blocking the flow of water therethrough, and said third valve in said third conduit intermediate said first end and said second end of said third conduit; a purified water conduit having a first end connected to said purified water discharge

connection of said pressure vessel and a second end;

a branched purified water conduit having: a first branch having a first end connected to said purified water conduit and a

second end connected to said third conduit intermediate said third valve and said waste water

conduit; a second branch; and, a third branch; a fourth valve having an open position for allowing water to flow therethrough and a closed position for blocking the flow of water therethrough, and said fourth valve in said first branch of said branched purified water conduit intermediate said purified water connection of said pressure vessel it and said third conduit; said second branch of said branched purified water conduit having a first end connected

to said purified water conduit and a second end connected to said faucet connection;

said third branch of said branched purified water conduit having a first end connected to

said second branch of said branched purified water conduit and a second end connected to said water inlet connection at said lower section of said accumulator;

a fifth conduit having a first end connected to said water outlet connection at said lower section of said accumulator and a second end connected to said first conduit intermediate said first valve and said water inlet connection at said pressure vessel;

a control box for receiving a plurality of control signals and generating a plurality of

actuator signals, a first group of said plurality of actuator signals generated in response to said

plurality of control signals, and a second group of said plurality of actuator signals generated in

response to predetermined time intervals, and said plurality of actuator signals for selectively causing the opening and closing of said first, said second, said third and said fourth valves.

Claim 2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

a plurality of check valves, each of said plurality of check valves allowing flow in a first

direction and blocking flow in a second direction opposite said first direction.

Claim 3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein: a first of said plurality of check valves in said second branch of said branched conduit

intermediate said purified water conduit and said faucet connection and said ice maker connection for allowing flow in the direction of said faucet connection and said ice maker connection and blocking flow in the opposite direction;

a second check valve of said plurality of check valves in said third branch of said branched conduit intermediate said connection of said third branch to said second branch and said first check valve for allowing flow in the direction of said accumulator and blocking flow in the opposite direction;

a third check valve of said plurality of check valves in fifth conduit intermediate said

accumulator and said connection of said fifth conduit to said first conduit for allowing flow in

the direction of said connection of said fifth conduit to said first conduit asd blocking flow in the opposite direction; and, a fourth check valve of said plurality of check valves in said waste water conduit intermediate said connection of said fifth conduit to said waste water conduit and said drain connection for allowing flow to said drain connection and blocking flow in the opposite

direction.

Claim 4. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein each of said first, said second, said

third and said fourth valves are closed and wherein: a first portion of said first group of said plurality of actuating signals causing said first

valve to open, said second valve to close and said fourth valve to open.

Claim 5. - The arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein: a first portion of second group of said plurality of actuator signals causes said third valve to close after a first preselected time interval.

Claim 6. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein said first valve is open and said

second valve is closed, said third valve is closed and said fourth valve is closed and wherein: a second portion of said first group of said plurality of actuating signals causes said third valve to open.

Claim 7. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein said first valve is open, said second

valve is closed, said third valve is open and said fourth valve is closed and wherein: a third portion of said first group of said plurality of actuating signals causes said first valve to close, said second valve to open, said third valve to close and said fourth valve open.

Claim 8. The arrangement defined in claim 7 and further comprising:

said pressure switch in said lower section of said accumulator for generating a pressure control signal for the condition of pressure in said lower section at a predetermined value and

transmitting said pressure control signal to said control box.

Claim 9. The arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein said first valve is closed, said second valve is open, said third valve is closed and said fourth valve is open and wherein:

said control box receives said pressure control signal and in response thereto generates a

third portion of said first group of said plurality of actuation signals causing said second valve

to close, said third valve to open and said fourth valve to close.

Claim 10. The arrangement defined in claim 9 wherein: a second portion of said second group of said actuation signals causes said third valve to close after a second preselected time period.

Claim 11. A reverse osmosis water purification system for receiving a tap water supply and for producing therefrom a purified water supply, comprising, in combination: a tap water inlet connection;

a pressure vessel having a water inlet end and a discharge end; and said pressure vessel having a water inlet connection at said water inlet end, a waste water discharge connection and a purified water discharge connection;

a reverse osmosis semi-permeable membrane in said pressure vessel; a product water tube in said reverse osmosis semi-permeable membrane and said product water tube connected to said purified water discharge connection of said pressure vessel to discharge purified water therefrom;

a drain connection;

a faucet connection;

an accumulator having an upper water storage section and a lower water storage section, and a pressure switch in said lower water storage section; a plurality of conduits for selectively interconnecting said tap water connection, said drain connection, said faucet connection, said water inlet connection of said pressure vessel, said waste water discharge connection of said pressure vessel, said purified water discharge

connection of said pressure vessel, said upper water storage section of said accumulator and

said lower water storage section of said accumulator; a plurality of valves selectively positioned in said plurality of conduits for allowing flow

in said plurality of conduits in an open position of said valves and blocking flow in said

plurality of conduits in a closed position of said valves; a control box for generating a plurality actuation signal in response to the receipt of a

plurality of control signals for selectively opening and closing said valves to provide selective flow in said conduits.,

whereby water purified by reverse osmosis action by said reverse osmosis semi- permeable membrane saturates said reverse osmosis semi-permeable membrane for a shut down phase condition.

Claim 12. The arrangement defined in claim 11 and further comprising:

a plurality of check valves selectively located in said plurality of conduits for allowing flow in a first direction and blocking flow in a second direction opposite said first direction.

Claim 13. The arrangement defined in claim 12 and further comprising: a first of said plurality of valves in a first of said plurality of conduits and intermediate

said tap water inlet connection and said water inlet connection of said pressure vessel.

Claim 14. The arrangement defined in claim 13 and further comprising:

a second of said plurality of valves in a second of said plurality of conduits and intermediate said tap water inlet connection and said upper water storage section of said accumulator.

Claim 15. The arrangement defined in claim 14 and further comprising: a third of said plurality of valves in a third of said plurality of conduits and intermediate

said upper water storage section of said accumulator and said drain connection.

Claim 16. The arrangement defined in claim 15 and further comprising:

a fourth of said plurality of valves in a fourth of said plurality of conduits and intermediate said purified water discharge connection of said said pressure vessel and said drain connection.

Claim 17. The arrangement defined in claim 11 wherein: said accumulator has a water connection for allowing flow into and out of said upper water storage section and said accumulator has a water connection for allowing flow into and

out of said lower water storage section of said accumulator.

Claim 18. The arrangement defined in claim 11 and further comprising:

an ice maker connection; a chilled water discharge connection; and, said plurality of conduits further includes a fifth conduit for interconnecting said ice

maker connection to said purified water discharge connection and a sixth conduit for interconnecting said chilled water discharge connection to said purified water discharge

connection.

Claim 19. The arrangement defined in claim 11 wherein: said pressure switch generates one of said plurality of control signals and transmits said

one of said plurality of control signals to said control box.