Method and apparatus for disinfecting a refrigerated water cooler reservoir

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a water dispenser and a method for sanitizing a water dispenser.

The present invention relates to bottled water dispensers (preferably refrigerated), and in particular to an improved bottled water dispenser for dispensing water that is sanitized with ozone, and in particular to an improved method and apparatus for sanitizing water that is dispensed from the water. a water cooling device of the type that includes a cabinet with one or more faucets that are manually actuated to dispense water from the water tank; which is hidden inside the cabinet and wherein air blowers of improved configuration are described which can be used to force air into the tank.

Several types of cabinet type water dispensers are currently used. One of the most common types of such water dispensers has a floor-standing cabinet having an open top into which a large, inverted water bottle is placed. The cylinder is usually made of plastic or glass and has a narrowed neck. The bottle is turned upside down and placed on the top of the cabinet, the neck of the bottle extending into the water-filled reservoir such that the water level in the reservoir rises. When the user draws water with the tap, the fluid level in the reservoir drops and when it falls below the neck of the bottle, water flows from the bottle and bubbles at the bottle inlet until the pressure is equalized. Inverted bottle water dispensers are sold by many companies in the United States and elsewhere. Many dispensers contain cooling devices.

Other types of water dispensers have an outer cabinet that contains a reservoir or a water source. Cabinet water dispensers include one that stores a large cylinder (three or five gallons in volume) at the bottom of the cabinet. The pump transfers the water from the large bottle to the reservoir. The water is usually cooled in the tank.

Another type of water tank simply connects a water source (e.g. a city network or a well) directly to the tank that is hidden in a cupboard. A float valve or other water level controller can be fitted to ensure that the tank is always full of water but not overflowing. Water sent from the municipal network, well, or other source may be filtered or otherwise processed before being sent to the reservoir.

All the water dispensers of the types described which contain cabinets typically have one or more water dispensing taps on the outside of the cabinet. These taps are usually manually operated, but may also be automated. For example, water vending devices dispense water when the user pays for it. The water is automatically dispensed when coins are introduced into the machine.

One problem with cabinet type water dispensers relates to periodic cleaning of the tank. Since the tank is not airtight, air exchange occurs so that bacteria can easily enter the tank after a sufficiently long time has passed. The tanks are usually located in hard-to-reach corners of the cabinet and are difficult to clean by their owners or users.

In the case of inverted bottle dispensers, in addition to the open top problems, the five-gallon bottles themselves are a source of bacteria and germs. Most of these cylinders are transported in trucks where the cylinders are in contact with the ambient air. They are handled by workers who usually grip the cylinder by the neck, which is that part of the cylinder that comes into contact with the open container in use. Unfortunately, it is difficult to convince anyone who carries cylinders to wash their hands frequently enough.

In order to properly clean such a water dispenser or cooling device, the user must carefully clean the neck of the cylinder before placing the cylinder in the cabinet. In addition, the user should empty and clean the tank from time to time. Cleaning the tank in such a water dispenser is time consuming and usually not done regularly.

Dispensing taps, which are housed in popular cabinet type water dispensers, can also be a source of contamination. Taps are typically hand-operated and therefore a source of contamination from the users who use them. Very young children often drink water directly from the faucet, possibly because the faucet is situated at a height above the floor that corresponds to the height where a child's mouth is of a certain age. So cleaning the taps and tank should be part of your routine maintenance.

The process of pumping ozone by means of a bubble reactor in a small, static volume of water with a low water column, in order to obtain a level of dispersed ozone suitable for disinfection

Gaining microorganisms in a short time can be difficult to implement. The main difficulty is the contact surface area and the ozone depress time. The present invention relates to economic means to overcome these disadvantages that limit the disinfectant potential of the ozone process. This is related to the optimization of each operation in small, automated ozonation systems, both above and below the ozonator. The goal of these efforts is to develop a single, cost-effective, long-life system that can clean all water dispensers of the various shapes and sizes in use today.

Until recently, the industry for water ozonation and related cleaning and disinfection equipment developed commercial large-scale, industrial or municipal systems with no space or cost constraints. However, there is a growing need for ozonation equipment of appropriate size and cost for less demanding, small cleaning and disinfection applications such as cleaning of water dispensing equipment.

The main difference between small and large applications is that small applications are usually designed to ozone small, fixed, static volumes of water at controlled intervals until an adequate level of disinfection or sanitization is achieved, as opposed to large ozonation applications of constantly exchanged, large volumes water. The only advantage of small applications is a smaller number of variables occurring at lower temperature, static volumes of ozonated water at a given time. In the course of redesigning equipment and reducing costs to meet the requirements of small applications, it was found that beyond the basic principles, most of the available industrial technologies have little value in this case.

Attempts to use the prior art in small applications have either failed to achieve minimal levels of decontamination or, in cases where success has been achieved, the cost of the systems has not been competitive.

The factors that influence the diffusion of ozone in water by the bubble reactor and its technical limitations for small applications are described below. As a result of cost and space constraints, small applications are limited to using small ambient air fed ozonators that can generate less than 1 wt% ozone. This is comparable to ozone generators powered by refrigerated oxyquitium (LOX) used in large applications, which can generate up to 12% ozone by weight. Ozone is much more soluble in cold water than in room temperature or warm water. Conditions are not optimal in small applications. An application with water dosing is advantageous in that the average water temperature is in the optimal range of 4 - 8 degrees Celsius. The big problem with small applications involving static water tanks with a low (several inches) water column is the contact time of ozone with the water. Bubble reactors usually release more of the working ozone into the atmosphere than they dissipate in the water. The available countermeasures are longer operative times, lower air flows, and smaller bubble sizes. Compare average dispenser water volume of 1-3 liters, water column height of 10.16 * 15.24 cm (4-6 in) (back pressure of 1.03 * 1.45 kPa) and bubble contact time of 0.5 - 2 seconds at 1% ozone concentration, with large-scale systems with columns 40.64 * 50.8 cm (16 - 20 inches) high, pressure 41.37 * 58.61 kPa, providing contact time of 15-20 seconds with 12% ozone by weight. As small systems are mainly discontinuous, cyclic and programmable devices, this factor can be optimized by adjusting the time between operations and using variable capacity ozonators to regulate both cycle length and ozone concentration with respect to substances present in the water, volume water and column height. Additional optimization can be achieved by the choice of diffuser material and controlled air flow. Since small systems are mainly intended for indoor use, rearrangement caused by the use of too much ozone concentration and the discharge of excess working ozone into the atmosphere creates air quality problems. It is important that the optimization of small applications also addresses this problem, which is potentially a health risk.

Small water dispenser applications (especially those using inverted water cylinders) must not introduce large volumes of ozonated air into small open loop bubble reactor tanks containing small volumes of water without the air movement flooding the tank or producing a significant amount of steam that removes most of the water from the reservoir to the atmosphere by evaporation. An additional difficulty is the loss of minimum pressure

In the end face, large bubbles are produced with an inadequate contact surface area, resulting in an almost complete loss of working ozone. These factors can be optimized and are essential for the proper operation of small applications. Although large applications regulate the flow with small bubble diffusers, their use is limited to high ozone concentration gas introduced into large volumes, with small bubble diffusers being mainly used to oxidize biological solids in water jets where the bubble residence time is is not critical. The data does not relate to the parameters of the disinfection or decontamination of drinking water. Consequently, the size of the diffusion gas to water ratio and the area of ​​the diffusion region to the water volume do not apply to low ozone concentrations and time-dependent decontamination of drinking water in small appliances.

Diffuser materials producing small bubbles per unit volume of ozonated air have a much larger surface area than materials of similar volume producing large bubbles. The larger the surface area, the greater the contact diffusion. Within certain limits, this factor can be optimized and is one of the main keys to getting small applications working properly.

Internal bubble pressure: The small bubbles produced by small bubble diffusers have a greater internal pressure and therefore provide more diffusion due to the pressure-temperature dependence.

Moreover, their greater pressure slows down their growth rate, increasing the contact time and diffusion time resulting from the pressure-temperature ratio, and enforces greater structural integrity, reducing their susceptibility to expansion and coalescence. This factor is optimized by the choice of diffuser material and by regulating the airflow and is the next key to properly operating small applications.

While previous patents generally referred to water dispenser ozonators and their various components, the present invention provides means for optimizing ozone diffusion using unique air flow regulation and diffuser fabrication technology. Optimizing the air flow is to achieve two goals: first, to increase the residence time of the air in the corona discharge tube in the cold plasma to increase the ozone concentration, and second, to reduce the amount of large bubbles generated on the diffuser surface. The production of small-sized bubbles in gas diffusion chambers in bubble reactions to increase surface area and contact time has long been an industrial dream. However, the lack of demand, as a result of its engineering success, caused the industry to quit research without achieving its original goals.

Diffuser manufacturers have developed small pore size and low permeability diffusers, which in some cases require higher pump pressures to initiate flow. Higher pressure materials are not optimal for small, open, low pressure or low volume applications as they reduce pump life and often do not provide the appropriate volume of small bubbles for ozonation. They are quite often more prone to pore clogging than materials with a lower pressure to initiate bubble formation. Tests carried out by the applicant have shown that the processing techniques used by different manufacturers for a given medium having identical average particle sizes and the resulting pore sizes can induce large variations in pressure to initiate bubble formation by the diffuser, whereby, at a lowered boiling point, the diffuser not only produces bubbles similar size, but more bubbles with less work. As a rule, a diffuser with a lower vesicle internal pressure for the same material and parameter is characterized by greater spacing between the active channels of the surface pores. In addition, the less restrictive material produces more bubbles of similar size with less vertical velocity variation and turbulence.

These advantageous characteristics result in reduced transverse and vertical coalescence, lower bubble expansion and floating rate, and therefore higher diffusion efficiency. Materials with a lower bubble initiation pressure require greater wall thickness and surface area to achieve the performance of materials with a higher bubble initiation pressure. Otherwise, the bubble size will increase to a suboptimal size.

Conditions to achieve minimum negative bubble reactions in a given diffuser material with average pore diameters and internal bubble pressure, producing bubbles of the given size at a rate of 0.05 - 1 liter / minute in a water column with a height ranging from 2.54 127 cm

(1-50 inches), include the spacing of active pores three times the bubble diameter both vertically and horizontally on the diffuser surface, where the average ratio of the pore diameter to the bubble ranges from about 1: 12.5 to 1 : 50. The application of these proportions to the diffuser surface area is related to performance studies for given water volumes and column height, regardless of changing air flow rates at known ozone concentrations and when recording bubble size and bubble population size in relation to dissolved ozone concentration after a specified time.

After determining the transmission efficiency for each situation, tests were performed for various diffuser surface areas, recording bubble sizes and bubble populations, and determining transmission efficiency. By comparing the results of the various tests as a function of flow rate and time, and the test results as a function of diffuser surface area and comparing the bubble size and population, the optimal surface area of ​​the diffuser material, flow rate and operation duration can be obtained.

The prior art for commercial and industrial applications represents a trade-off between bubble size and bubble volume. The directions of research in industry were negatively affected by the improper use of diffusers with small pore sizes in relation to liquids with a high content of solids and dissolved substances, which cause rapid clogging of the pores, and the attention of researchers was focused on topics related to water with a low content of minerals and solids , for example, disinfecting drinking water. In addition, large commercial and industrial applications do not provide for the shutdown of dynamic systems that operate 24 hours a day.

The use of diffusers with very small pore sizes has been largely abandoned by wastewater treatment plants and drinking water treatment plants due to prejudices and the lack of research results to produce optimally designed materials. Until now, the recent interest in small applications has not resulted in the development of new materials or diffuser geometries.

While diffuser manufacturers typically produce small pore diffusers with relatively uniform mean pore sizes, large pores through which large amounts of air flow outside of the small interconnected pores are found in virtually every material tested. This is often complicated by the inability to effectively close air leaks. Studies have shown that airflow through the high-capacity channels first breaks the generation of large bubbles when the airflow rate is reduced. This allows existing diffusers to be used at near nominal design capacity and serves as a temporary measure until better solutions are developed. The optimal diffuser-airflow balance for small bubbles with reduced proportion of large bubbles, ensuring adequate volumes of the remaining small bubbles for ozonation, occurs on average at about 50% open flow for any diffuser and water column height. This reduction in air volume is approximately equal to the volume of large gas bubbles, indicating inadequate diffusion characteristics.

The present invention thus provides an improved self-sanitizing water dispenser and an ozone production method for cleaning a tank and the water contained therein.

A water dispenser comprising a cabinet having an upper and lower portions in which a water reservoir is disposed and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir is mounted on the cabinet, according to the invention, characterized in that a diffuser for emitting bubbles is arranged in the reservoir. to the tank, and next to the cabinet there is an ozone generator housing with an ozone generator, wherein the ozone generator and the diffuser are connected to each other by air lines for conveying air, and further has a pump for pumping air from the housing to the diffuser by air lines, the pump capacity being from 1 to 10 liters per minute.

Preferably, the pump is a motor-driven or variable-flow electromagnetic diaphragm pump.

Preferably, the pump capacity is from about 1.5 to 2.0 liters per minute.

Preferably, the pump generates an air flow through the housing of 0.05 to 1.0 liters per minute and the diffuser produces bubbles with an average diameter of 0.25 to 0.90 millimeters.

Preferably, the pump has a maximum cut-off pressure of about 34 kPa.

Preferably, the pump has an opening pressure of about 0.7 kPa.

Preferably the diffuser has an average pore size of between 10 and 60 microns.

PL 200 873 B1

Preferably the diffuser has an average pore size of between 10 and 40 microns.

Preferably, the diffuser is made of a material which has pores and pore channels, the pore channels being spaced apart from forming a lateral coalescence of the bubble stream.

Preferably, the diffuser produces bubbles that have a diameter of 0.25 to 0.90 millimeters.

Preferably, the diffuser produces bubbles that have an ascending velocity of about 4.3 to 15.2 centimeters per second.

Preferably, the diffuser produces bubbles having an average diameter of from about 0.1 to 2.0 mm.

Preferably, the diffuser and pump are configured to emit only bubbles that do not expand significantly when floating in the reservoir.

Preferably, the dispenser also includes an adjustable flow meter valve that measures the air flow produced by the blower.

Preferably, the flow meter valve is temperature responsive by changing the flow rate depending on the temperature of the air / ozone mixture that flows through the piping and through the flow meter.

Preferably, the flow meter valve increases the ozone concentration.

Preferably, the valve controls the production of bubbles of optimal size by eliminating larger bubbles.

Preferably, the valve controls the production of optimal sized bubbles by eliminating larger bubbles while reducing or eliminating bubble coalescence into larger, suboptimal bubbles.

Preferably, the flow meter valve delivers an air flow of from 0 to 2 liters per minute.

Preferably, the flow meter valve delivers an air flow of 0.05 to 0.5 liters per minute.

Preferably, at least one tap has at least one port that is accessed by ozone through a conduit.

Preferably, at least one port includes a diffuser.

Preferably the diffuser is removable.

Preferably ozone is produced by the ozone generator in response to manipulation of a tap valve operatively connected to at least one of the taps.

Preferably, the ozone generator is activated when a tap handle operatively connected to at least one of the taps is manually manipulated.

Preferably, at least one of the faucets has a handle operatively connected to at least one faucet and an electrical switch that is activated when the handle is tampered with, the switch being connected to an ozone generator.

Preferably, the diffuser tube has a circular cross section.

Preferably, the diffuser is made of an insoluble, dry ceramic material suitable for contact with food.

Preferably, the diffuser is positioned around the sides of the tank at the bottom of the tank.

Preferably, the reservoir has a vertical sidewall and the diffuser is positioned to direct the bubbles to the sidewall of the reservoir.

Preferably, the dispenser according to claim 1 30, characterized in that it comprises complementary elements including a central water inlet and the diffuser is positioned at a short distance from the tank wall.

Preferably, the ozone generator produces enough ozone to sanitize the water in the reservoir by air bubbles rising only a few inches away.

Preferably, the bubbles rise up from about two to ten inches in the reservoir.

Preferably, the bubbles rise up from about four to eight inches in the reservoir.

Preferably, the dispenser also includes means for allowing the ozone generator to continue generating air flow into the ozone generator housing and the air diffuser through the first and second air conduits for a predetermined period of time after the ozone generator is turned off.

The method of disinfecting a water dispenser, comprising a cabinet with a dispensing tap, a tank and a channel that connects the tap and the tank, according to the invention is characterized in that ozone is produced by means of an ozone generator which is located next to the cabinet, the produced ozone accumulates inside the ozone generator housing , place an ozone diffuser inside the reservoir and ship it

Ozone from the ozone generator housing to the diffuser at a flow rate that increases the ozone level in the reservoir to 0.1-0.8 mg dissolved ozone / liter water.

Preferably, when ozone is transferred from the housing of the ozone generator to the diffuser, the latter has pores which have an average diameter of 10-60 microns.

Preferably, when ozone is transferred from the housing of the ozone generator to the diffuser, bubbles are formed by the diffuser having an average diameter of 0.1-2.0 mm.

Preferably, the diffuser produces bubbles which have an upward velocity of 4.3 to 15.2 centimeters per second.

Preferably, during ozone production with an ozone generator, and when ozone is transferred from the ozone generator housing to a diffuser with the ozone generator, it will preferably produce enough ozone to sanitize the water in the reservoir by bubbling air upward just a few inches.

Preferably, bubbles rise up from 2 inches to 10 inches (5.08 to 25.4 cm) in the reservoir as ozone is transferred from the ozone generator housing to the diffuser.

Preferably, bubbles rise up from 4 inches to 8 inches (10.16 to 20.32 cm) in the reservoir as ozone is transferred from the ozone generator housing to the diffuser.

Preferably, the diffuser is made of a porous ceramic, and the method also includes the step of adjusting the size of the bubbles by the porosity of the ceramic.

Preferably ozone is generated with the generator in response to manipulation of the tap valve.

Preferably, the ozone generator is started when the handle of the tap is manually manipulated.

Preferably, when the diffuser is placed in the reservoir, the bubbles are directed against the side wall of the reservoir.

Preferably, the diffuser is placed around the side of the reservoir at the bottom of the reservoir.

Preferably, the water dispenser includes replenishment means which have a central water inlet and the diffuser is positioned inside the reservoir close to the reservoir wall.

Preferably, the method also includes means for allowing the ozone generator to continue generating air flow into the ozone generator housing and air diffuser through the first and second air conduits for a predetermined period of time after the ozone generator is turned off.

In summary, the present invention provides a cabinet type self-sanitizing water dispenser that includes a cabinet having a top and bottom portions, the top portion of the cabinet having a lid. The upper part can house a tank to which water (e.g. filtered) is supplied from the municipal water supply, a well or from an attached bottle. Some models may have an upper opening to accommodate and support an inverted water bottle, e.g. 3 - 5 gallons (11.36 + 18.927 liters) for dispensing. The bottle contains water to be dispensed and has a neck portion and an outlet.

The tank contained in the cabinet contains water for cooling and dispensing. The cooling system cools the water inside the tank. The tank can be optionally heated. The diffuser (e.g. in the form of a ring) projects bubbles into the reservoir, the diffuser being positioned inside the reservoir at the bottom thereof and preferably next to the reservoir wall, so that the bubbles emitted by the diffuser help to clean the reservoir wall.

The ozone generator is supported inside the housing. Tubes connect it to an air pump to transfer ozone from the ozone generator housing to the diffuser. The blower creates a flow and wires connect the blower to the ozone generator housing. In a preferred embodiment, the ozone may be sent to a reservoir or to a flow channel which is located upstream of the water dispensing faucet.

The tap is fitted with a switch to activate the ozone generator for a specified period of time. The ozone generator is activated for a certain period of time (e.g. a few minutes). After the specified time has elapsed, the ozone generator is turned off. The air pump continues to blow air for a period of time (e.g., several minutes) to dissipate the ozone odor. The air pump is then turned off and the compressor in the cooling system starts working to cool the water.

The diffuser may be in the form of a ring located around the sides of the tank at the bottom of the tank. Such an annular diffuser may be located close to the junction of the bottom of the tank with the side wall of the tank. The diffuser may be of a composite structure that includes a porous core that is partially covered by a non-porous coating. The reservoir preferably has a central portion and the diffuser ring preferably has openings arranged to direct air away from the central portion of the reservoir.

PL 200 873 B1

The reservoir may include a generally vertical side wall. The diffuser may be positioned to direct the bubbles to the sidewall such that the sidewall is scrubbed by the ozone bubbles during the decontamination of the reservoir.

The ozone generator housing may include an upper housing portion, a lower housing portion, and a gasket positioned between the upper and lower portions. The ozone generator is located inside the housing. The housing equipment allows air to flow in and out of the housing. The blower creates an air flow that introduces air into the ozone generator housing and from the ozone generator housing to the air diffuser. Optionally, a HEPA filter may be provided so that the air intake removes airborne microorganisms.

The present invention provides a compact system with a fast, intensive, automated cycle of ozonation and sanitization of a water cooling system and an improved ozone-generating "pipe" (see Figs. 30-35).

A design function that imposes the compactness of the structure is to limit the space for the insulated upper tank cooling room in a typical cooling apparatus tank. The present invention provides an autonomous ozonator module for achieving the shortest possible route of supplying working ozone to the tank diffusion system, to minimize degradation of chemically unstable ozone and to use the short distance to the tank cooling coil producing a lowered air temperature as opposed to room temperature. compressors.

In addition to integration and compactness of the system, low cost of device components, simplicity and reliability are required. The present invention provides a device that is simple, reliable, fault-tolerant and economical, and can deliver a low-cost, concentrated ozone stream to a diffusion system for cyclic, pulsed ozonation of small, variable static volumes of water or faucet water stream. According to the present invention, rapid contact diffusion is very important to achieve decontamination levels that previously could not be achieved by micro-ozonation systems and small ultraviolet radiation decontamination systems. This level of ozone concentration from air-fed mini-ozonators has not been achievable in the past for the decontamination of a water cooling system, and has only been available in an expanded form requiring either a cooled feed gas, or bottled oxygen, or the use of oxyquite (LOX) as the feed gas.

The present invention provides high-capacity mini- and micro-ozonators suitable for intermittent short cycle ozonation. In this way, in addition to sanitizing the cooling system, a good quality of the dispensed water is ensured so that it can still be consumed. The present invention provides a valve / tap configuration with a microswitch connected to the ozonator supply circuit, causing the circuit to activate while the microswitch is depressed. Alternatively, the faucet may be configured to signal the timer / controller upon repeated actuation to the timer / controller that the air pump and ozonator must be activated until released.

In another embodiment, a reservoir float sensor that detects changes in volume / pressure or a differential pressure transducer placed in air or water may be installed in the reservoir of the cooling system and may be used to keep the ozonator operational until the pressure re-stabilizes after delivery is complete. water.

Ozone is supplied by the ozonator / pump to the water channel of the tap, and through the water stream to an additional diffuser located in the water channel of the tap. This design introduces small amounts of diffused ozone into the water stream to produce freshly ozonated water without the risk of ozone being released into the air in amounts hazardous to health. The safe and highly antiseptic properties of freshly ozonated water are known to offer a safe and effective means of decontaminating the external parts of cooling systems, drinking vessels or neutralizing biological substances potentially hazardous to health or spilled, dangerous organic or chemical liquids.

The present invention provides a low energy, economical, intermittent, pulsed cleaning process of reservoir and reservoir water with concentrated ozone, triggered either by the duty cycle of the refrigeration unit compressor or timer / controller circuit, without interrupting the operation of the refrigerant compressor, short ozonation time to bacteriostatic levels followed by a passive dissipation time, repeated continuously, daily for 24 hours and / or manual actuation of the ozonator to supply freshly ozonated water, ozonated to an off-flavor, harmless, bacteriostatic level. This way, there are no harmful bacteria in the water remaining in the bottle

Or in the reservoir of the cooling device or in the water supplied from the point of intake from the municipal water supply.

The high throughput and alternating cycles that characterized the present invention were found to efficiently mix the diffused ozone and residual secondary oxygen groups formed in the water transferred from the water in the reservoir to the water contained in the cylinder, as demonstrated by standard indigo dye tests. These tests consist of introducing indigo dye into the reservoir of the cooling device, after which a water bottle is mounted, the dye dissolves and transfers to the water in the bottle, dyeing the water blue. After the ozonation cycle is completed, the transport of dispersed ozone is observed, when the oxygen-sensitive dye is degraded and the color of the water becomes transparent again.

These new features expand the local automatic decontamination capabilities offered by the water utility to include decontamination not only of the cooling unit reservoir and bottled water, but also tap waterways as well as supply water. The same timer / driver circuit found in cyclical cooling decontamination systems having sufficient memory can be programmed to accommodate both long compressor shutdown cycles, ice ring melting, antiseptic ozonation, scattering, compressor reconnection and an intermittent, repeated disinfection cycle of the cooling system to the bacteriostatic level, as well as manual control of freshly ozonated water production.

In cases where only an occasional pulsed ozonation cycle is required, the timer circuit can be eliminated and a simpler, more economical ozonator-pump-diffuser system can be installed in the cooling system by connecting the feed circuit to the cooling system compressor, so that the pump duty cycle and the ozonator will be implemented along with the cooling cycle.

In the event that the compressor cycle is longer than necessary to achieve antiseptic conditions, the above system may require the installation of a simplified programmable timer / controller that will allow the system to turn on with the compressor but turn off the system after the time required for bacteriostatic ozone levels has elapsed. The cycles that are achieved in the present invention have hitherto not been achievable or have not been offered by existing, retrofitted or integrated air-fed microozonators for water cooling systems, operating cyclically because they could not achieve the ozone concentration and diffusion efficiency that are required. with standard "pulse ozonation" for the cooling system, a maximum water volume of two liters, which is significantly less than the tank volume in large cooling systems in excess of 3.79 liters (1 gallon), or for a low feed water flow rate of 2 L / min maximum, at least up to a bacteriostatic level under constraints in time.

The concentration of ozone required for pulsed ozonation of water with proper diffusion technology, operating at low pressure, is 3 to 4 times the best result achieved by prior art micro-ozonators known to the applicant, meaning that a micro ozonator is needed that can continuously deliver 600 - 800 mg / hour ozone in the air, combined with the best hydrophobic ceramic diffuser material to date, containing micropores and generating low pressure bubbles (preferably a ring-shaped diffuser) mounted on the bottom of a reservoir of a cooling system as described in earlier US Patent No. 6,289,690. The required ozone capacity has been achieved by simply substituting a suitable discharge tube in place of the existing one in said prior art supply circuit, contained in the existing housing.

The length of the intermittent, repeated cycles of the refrigeration micro-ozonator systems, activated by the timer and controller circuit, may be determined by observing how the various substances in the water respond to ozone. Acidic aqueous substances are easy to ozone, but it takes longer for the ozone to dissipate in the water below the palatable level, while alkaline aqueous substances make ozonation difficult and do not maintain ozone for long at any water temperature.

Ideally, for a given cooling system, with an average tank water temperature of 4.44 ° C (40 ° F), the duration of an intermittent, repeated ozonation cycle should be determined from the time required for pulsed ozonation of water with a pH of 9 to bacteriostatic level, with a dispersion time equal to the time it takes to

Distilled water at pH 5.2 was purged of ozone to account for all aqueous substances using one programmed timer cycle.

An additional problem with pulsed ozonation cycles is the presence of bromine in the water. Introducing too much ozone into the water converts bromine and certain bromine compounds into bromates that can cause cancer. The Safe Drinking Water Act has recently been amended to stipulate a maximum bromate level of 10 mg / l in drinking water, which may be reduced to 5 mg / l per year. Oxidation of bromine to bromate by ozone is a function of ozone concentration, ozonation time, temperature and pH of the water.

Dissolved water, in which the conversion of bromine to bromate may occur, has a pH ranging from 1 to 7, in particular fresh or processed water with a pH of 5 to 7 which includes water from distilled water to neutral mineral water, usually supplied in cylinders. Thus, pulsed ozonation may be the only safe, efficient and economical means to reduce bromate formation in the water subjected to ozonization, while achieving appropriate levels of disinfection and / or sanitization. Fortunately, the chilled water temperatures are low enough to limit some of the potential difficulties. With a short action of ozone on water, below the threshold concentration of the supplied ozone, at which the production of bromates occurs, low concentrations of bromates in water containing increased concentrations of bromine and its compounds are obtained.

Pulsed ozonation may also be performed without a timer / controller by selecting the duty cycle duration of the compressor of the cooling system to match the duration of the ozonation cycle as long as it does not adversely affect the ability of the cooling system to operate within its water cooling design parameters. If the water in the cooling system tank is not used in subsequent cycles, the bacteriostatic level of oxidation changes to a bactericidal oxidation state, as static bioorganisms are mostly dead or passive.

The present invention provides an improved corona discharge tube arrangement. While the existing ozonator with a capacity of 200 mg / hour can provide bacteriostatic levels of ozone supplied in 1-2 liters of water in 20 minutes with the right diffusion technology, which can better approximate the cooling cycle of the cooling system and offers better ozone dissipation time due to the reduced amount of ozone introduced into water, the said ozonator cannot impulse ozonation of the water stream flowing from the cooling system to any extent, to be used in a multifunctional ozonation system in a water cooling system or in a system capable of pulsed ozonation of water in the cooling system tank to achieve similar bacteriostatic levels in less than 5 minutes, allocating the remaining 15 minutes to dissipate ozone to a non-palatable level .

The shorter the cycle, the more certain the cooling system and water will be decontaminated. Moreover, these lower capacity mini-ozonators cannot effectively sanitize cooling systems with large tanks with volumes exceeding one or more gallons at any given time. Previously ill-considered and underdeveloped attempts to disinfect water in cooling systems with ozone have envisaged such methods as continuous ozonation of water using small, low-capacity ozonators. This approach has three drawbacks. First, the continuous introduction of ozonated ambient air causes additional energy consumption for the compressor, which must run continuously to cool the water, effectively reducing the lifetime of the compressor, ozonator and pump. Second, the continual introduction of airborne dust, organic matter and microorganisms reduces the life of the discharge pipe and unnecessarily introduces contaminants into the tank and its water content, thereby increasing the load on the oxidation process and making the drinking water potentially not drinkable. If the discharge tube is damaged due to overheating caused by dust and / or moisture formed on the electrode or dielectric, the system continuously introduces a non-oxidized, uncontaminated charge into the cooling system's reservoir or deposits in the discharge tube which may eventually block the flow and lead to damage to the pump. This is one reason why this embodiment offers a cheap, easily replaceable discharge tube. Overall, the cost of ownership is significantly lower than that of a less expensive, replaceable discharge tube in an ultraviolet disinfection system, requiring more frequent replacement. Third, ozonators designed for this purpose are often too inefficient to oxidize substances found in water, where little of the ozone supplied either dissipates or has too little time to concentrate sufficiently to do its job when cooling systems are intense in use.

PL 200 873 B1

In addition to the dielectric breakdown of air leading to ionization, corona discharge generates light and heat during ozone production. Some of this light is in the far ultraviolet range, inducing ionization and causing the cleavage of the diatomic bond in the molecular oxygen. This splitting is necessary for the formation of ozone. Ionizing radiation in the far ultraviolet range can be stopped and reused as a result of reflections. With the use of a cylindrical, mirror surface, in the existing devices, a significant increase in the efficiency of oxygen conversion into ozone is achieved.

In another embodiment of a device according to the present invention, a water dispenser is provided that includes a cabinet having upper and lower portions and an interior. The reservoir is placed inside the cabinet, the reservoir containing water that has a surface. One or more taps are in fluid communication with the reservoir for supplying water from the cabinet. Each faucet preferably has a manually actuated valve handle that opens the faucet for delivery of water through the faucet.

Optionally, a cooling system may be provided for cooling the water in the tank. The ozone generator housing is supported next to, and preferably within, the cabinet, the ozone generator housing including the ozone generator and conduits for conveying air to and from the interior of the housing and to the reservoir.

Air pumps, which are used as part of the present invention, should have sufficient capacity to make up for the pressure loss in the system and continuously supply the sufficient volume of ozonated air needed to disinfect the surface of the tank inside the largest water dispensers and water vending devices without causing permanent deformation of the materials. pumps, overheating, or conditions leading to premature loss of performance or failure. Automated ozonation systems for small, static volumes of water are designed for short, intermittent, cyclic operation; under these conditions, the pumps have enough time to dissipate heat and reshape the materials flexibly, so that the air pumps need not be of the type normally used for long-term continuous operation.

In order to exclude potential damage by the retreating residual operating ozone after shutdown, only those pump components that are ozone-resistant are selected and used. Suitable flexible ozone resistant materials include, for example, Viton and silicon polymers, and for less demanding applications, EPDM rubber material. Tough, ozone-resistant materials include 316 stainless steel ceramics, glass, and polymeric materials such as polycarbonate, Teflon, Kynar, and certain polypropylene structures.

The present invention describes an air pump with design parameters such as long life, low volume and low pressure operation that has proved suitable for sanitizing water dispensers, and includes a maximum shut-off pressure of 34.5 kPa (5 psi), unrestricted flow pressure of 0 .69 kPa (0.1 psi), with an unrestricted flow rate of between 1 and 10 liters / minute, with the ideal range being between approximately 23.44 kPa * 27.58 kPa (3.4 - 4 psi), and an optimum open flow pressure of about 0.69 kPa (0.1 psi), with an unrestricted flow rate of between about 1.2 and 4 L / min. Such pumps can typically be diaphragm, electromagnetic, 100 - 110/220 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz, 2 - 12 W, or 6 - 24 VAC or DC with or without an integrated variable flow control valve, or regulation of the flow speed by means of a variable speed of rotation of the motor, powered by alternating or direct, low voltage, rotary, diaphragm.

These pumps generate enough pressure to overcome any system losses and a hydrostatic level of the water column of 127 cm = 12.41 kPa (50-1.8 psi) at sea level with excess air flow to operate at altitudes above 3.05 km ( 10000 ') when adjusting the air flow rate. The Applicant reserves the right to use pumps with such parameters in the disinfection systems of water dispensers.

The present invention, in one embodiment, extends the permissible geometries of the diffuser structure while retaining the original concept of the ring and the function in order to achieve greater flexibility of the ring shape and type of material, which is adapted to the different tank sizes and tank shapes found in various water dispensers and defines specific range of parameters of the diffuser materials and the characteristics of its operation, suitable for use with pumps with the pressures and capacities listed above. It also introduces new materials, configurations and operating principles for diffusion and small bubble diffusers.

PL 200 873 B1

One alternative to ring geometry with a fixed single material structure is the concept of a universal, flexible, segmented diffuser that can be of different lengths, can be easily joined with other sections made of the same material, with common rivet screws, can be cut to length and can be easily bent to fit any tank shape and size. Such a diffuser emits bubbles from the outer edge towards the side walls of the water dispenser reservoir to produce a scrubbing effect and convection inward and downward flow of water due to the viscous resistance of the water fraction in the reservoir by the small bubbles, thereby eliminating the ingress of bubbles. gas for cylinders in water dispensers using inverted water cylinders and all other types, for the additional purpose of recycling the slow flow or counteracting the very slow flow of bubbles whose dimensions are such that they do not rise rapidly like larger bubbles, thus increasing the retention of the bubbles and the contact time of the water with the ozone.

The present invention employs small segments of diffuser material configured as cylinder hat-shaped pellets (see Figs. 37A-37F) or as stepped rectangular segments with rounded corners having distinct edges at ninety degrees with respect to each other. These segments are housed in a flexible, ozone-resistant silicon or Viton casing material (see Figures 36-40). During the thermal polymerization process, a fluid polymer material is injected under pressure into a mold cavity containing said segments. The silicon or Viton housing conforms to the curved surfaces and edges of the segmented diffuser when cooled and removed from the mold. The polymer body contracts around individual surfaces and edges of the diffuser segments to form a permanent pressure seal that encompasses each segment on all sides except the outer flat surface. The opposite surface is open to the internal common air passage and connection to the air pump. A continuous air duct connected to each diffuser segment is disposed in a flexible material including the diffuser. Sufficient space is provided between the diffusers in order to be flexible with sufficient wall thickness to preclude airflow restriction in the common air supply channel and to conform to the beads found on the bottom of many types of water dispenser tanks. Once formed, the excess lengths of the flexible material may be either trimmed to the desired length or butt-joined and bent to fit the dimensions of the cross-section of the tank in question near its bottom, and then connected by a T-junction to the ozone transfer conduit air. The outer diameter of the diffuser ring should be reduced by at least 0.64 cm (0.25 inch) to provide a sufficient annular gap between the inside diameter of the reservoir and the outside diameter of the reservoir, to minimize the coalescence of bubbles emitted from the diffuser and reflected from the reservoir wall. towards the diffuser surface where bubbles are formed, as well as to arrange an annular guide channel for bubbles to float along the wall of the reservoir and convective water flow around the diffuser.

The full toroidal convective water flow of the reservoir is the only type of turbulence allowed in this embodiment. The diffuser design uses a food-safe, ozone-resistant material that is porous molten aluminum or silicon carbide or porous sintered stainless steel or titanium particles. A particular advantage of the flexible diffuser material, manufactured in long lengths, is that the application is not limited to one closed loop material diameter, but can be configured into several rolls of economical material in a flat coil to provide a larger diffuser surface area if required .

A second, alternative and versatile flexible diffuser design is characterized by a continuous thin narrow strip of diffuser material or food grade sintered stainless steel particles or titanium. Normally these types of materials break when bent. However, new configurations of thin tapes or ribbons made of such materials, 1 mm thick across the plane, allow bending with all but the shortest radii for inclusion in a common thin wall air channel made of either food grade stainless steel , or from a polymer. This design allows for the smallest cross-sectional dimensions of any material in order to minimize water displacement in the reservoir for easily coiling tight, flat spirals according to the surface area required for any diffusion application. Benefit from coiling extra loops or making it narrow, two-sided

The diffuser strip with the required distance between the turns is due to the increase in surface area, the lack of collision coalescence of the bubbles and the forcing of multiple convective water flows for better diffusion mixing and eliminating the possibility of floating bubbles entering the water in the bottle and priming the dispenser.

A third alternative diffuser medium is a flexible tube membrane diffuser. The medium is made of preferably slotted elastomeric pipes which are air permeable but water impermeable, thus forming a check valve. Its main advantages are flexibility and resistance to clogging of pores. Flexible, small diameter thin walled hoses with several rows of slots, the slit length here being defined as 0.25 mm or less, spaced 1-2 mm from each other, forming an inlet on one side of the conduit to form a directional diffuser that provides jets of bubbles with a diameter of 0.25 mm or less that do not coalesce and suddenly exit the medium. Sudden escape can be provided by the Teflon coating of the outer surface of the material. The wall thickness of the material is preferably on the order of 0.25-0.5 mm in order to obtain the desired results. Tubes with an outer diameter of 0.95 cm + 1.91 cm (3/8 + 3/4) are cut to the appropriate length, bent to fit the circumference of the tank, with the opposite ends adapted to the T-joint, the slots are facing outwards towards the walls of the reservoir to form a diffuser ring. Alternatively, a larger section is cut and formed into a flat, helical pattern if application requires a diffuser with a larger surface area. If sufficiently small diameter tubing is not available, short lengths of larger diameter membrane diffuser tubing may be used. The conduits are secured in an annular housing having a conduit cross-section with the flanges facing outwards. A piece of conduit located above the open conduit is then pressure sealed along the edge of the conduit by two snap rings applied to the beads in the conduit to form a pressure seal on the flexible material. The side of the channel ring plane is pierced with a spike in order to connect and to supply air to the common annular air channel.

Acceptable diffuser materials suitable for decontamination application of water dispensers may typically and preferably have the following parameters and characteristics. Such diffusers have the ability to perform optimally at all water column heights considered within the specified operating capacity range of the air pumps. They can produce sufficient amounts of small bubbles in the preferred diameter range of 0.1-1 mm, which exhibit an advantageous floating rate of 1-10 cm / second, in order to obtain good bubble retention and water-ozone contact time and the highest diffusion concentration. ozone. Hard diffuser materials having this controlled airflow performance have average surface pore sizes ranging from 10 - 60 microns with an initial wetted bubble pressure measured in air of 0.69 + 4.83 kPa (0.1 - 0.7 psi), with an air flow rate of between 0.05 and 2 L / mm, depending on the height of the water column and the ozonated volume. Optimal parameter ranges are 10 - 50 microns for medium pore sizes, 0.69 + 3.79 kPa (0.1 - 0.55 psi) for wet medium initial bubble pressures and 0.1 - 0.5 l / min for the flow rate.

Where possible, it is recommended to use hydrophilic, polar or nano-particle coatings applied to the diffuser surfaces which do not close the pores due to the increased surface tension at the pore opening, thereby allowing the formation of small bubbles. The thickness of the coating should be minimal and the coating should be more or less secured by notching the pore to prevent abrasion. Since the light powder coverage is minimal and does not twist inwardly the pore channel, the risk of clogging or contamination of the pore channel or limiting its capacity is minimized. Suitable coating materials for this purpose include, for example, polar metal nanoparticles, spherical aluminum, silicon or silicon carbide nanoparticles, zeolite or silica gel nanomaterials, embedded in the outer surface and abraded so that their presence is restricted to the region immediately adjacent to the notch the pore opening. Such diffusers minimize the production of large, fast-rising bubbles that generate turbulent eddy current flow, contributing to coalescence - bubbles in the lateral and vertical directions. Such diffusers also minimize the vertical variation in bubble flow velocity which contributes to bubble coalescing during the first 2 inch (5.08 cm) of bubble rise above the diffuser.

PL 200 873 B1

The diffusers of the present invention present new principles of diffusion technology. Bubble reactors rely solely on diffuser materials to generate bubbles that provide surface contact with the gas during buoyancy of the bubbles in the water column. A new phenomenon has been observed when experimenting with various semi-permeable external mineral coverings to obtain a directional flow of air bubbles. The samples taken directly under the stream of bubbles emitted by the directed diffuser showed unusually high concentrations of dispersed ozone. Similar diffuser rings with impermeable coating were tested in the same locations for comparison. The second group of diffusers did not show such high levels of diffuse ozone. Tests of unglazed coverings showed that they were semi-permeable to water and could be wetted, i.e. they had a hydrophilic nature. After the coating was hydrated, it had sufficient residual permeability to remove free water by means of capillary pressure back into the diffuser material with the assistance of a water column acting on the internal air pressure in the diffuser. After some time in the water column, the airflow through the permeable diffuser material tended to become dry on the inside due to evaporation. It is not known if this evaporation includes the bound water fraction, but it certainly includes most of the free water. Measurements of ozone concentration in a static water volume as a function of time normally showed an initially high diffusion rate, which after some time reached its maximum value. While this is mainly due to the gradual saturation of the liquid with ozone, it may also be partially due to the evaporation of water from within the stone. The principle used here is to expose the evaporating, pressurized, cold water to an ozone gas atmosphere and create ozone-saturated water vapor and a free phase of water inside the diffuser material, removed with bubbles. Saturated free water and the vapor phase are much more soluble in water than ozone gas. We know that every drop of vapor that hits the surface of a liquid penetrates the liquid because it is immediately subjected to high forces that draw it to the liquid. At any steam temperature, the number of molecules impacting per second per unit surface area is proportional to the vapor pressure. Thus there is an immediate re-transition to the liquid phase. Since ozone dissolves better in cold water and at higher pressure, the assumption of cold vapor, having a very large surface area, participating in the diffusion of ozone, produces vapor that is saturated with gas and converts the vapor to liquid in a short time.

Two diffuser technologies have been developed to accommodate this method of diffusing cold water vapor in the diffuser. The first method uses a passive approach of applying a coating of semi-permeable, capillary material to the outer surface of the existing diffuser material to draw moisture back into the mass of the diffuser with only a column of water. An appropriate diffuser material was selected that has a surface area equal to the exposed surface of the diffuser in contact with the water for bubble diffusion and the surface obscured by the coating, according to the estimated air flow rate needed to achieve adequate mass transport by bubble diffusion per unit time. A coating was then applied which had the required water permeability and compressed air impermeability. This involved selecting a high surface energy coating to be placed on the low surface energy diffuser material to achieve fluid transport back to the diffuser to re-wet the diffuser at the appropriate water column pressure. Adequate coverage, meeting both permeability requirements, supplemented by aggregates of the dispersed phase of hydrophilic or polar materials, was provided by an aluminum-silicon microporous, pseudo-ceramic hydrolytic cement, obtained in the company's cold process. This material eliminates the need for additional baking or sintering of the coating on the diffuser, which would negatively affect permeability. In practice, it is possible to manufacture low-cost diffusers solely from this material. Once set up, water is continuously circulated back to the diffuser and cold water vapor is produced by evaporation inside the diffuser. Water vapor with nanodrops, when exposed to the ozone atmosphere, produces ozone-saturated vapor, which is immediately transferred to the reactor water after being emitted from the diffuser, greatly increasing the diffusion efficiency of the bubble reactor.

We also present an active method of producing a mixture of water vapor and ozone gas in the inner cavity or chamber of the diffuser to which air is supplied. Here, both ozonized air and water mist are pumped into the chamber to pre-mix and diffuse the ozone into vapor inside the diffuser cavity before diffusing the mixture through the more permeable diffuser material into the diffuser.

Water. This type of diffuser comprises an internal diffuser with microscopic pores, preferably axially mounted within the air bubble diffuser. Clean water is pumped through a diffuser with microscopic pores and converted to cold water vapor inside the annular air supply channel where it is mixed with pressurized ozonated air and pumped through the more permeable bubble diffuser material. The volume of the annular reaction chamber is large enough to provide a sufficient contact time for the pressurized gas to dissolve in the cold vapor before being removed through the more permeable bubble diffuser. Since a large proportion of the gas is now dispersed in the water vapor, which is immediately dissolved in the main volume of water, the smaller amounts of remaining gas, surrounded by the vapor, forced through the wetted, tapered openings of the flexible water membrane with capillary pores, allow the production of smaller, but better dispersed , bubbles and anti-bubbles. Anti-bubbles are a known, two-layer form, consisting of a core of a drop of cold water with a greater density, surrounded by a thin layer of gas in the volume of water. This type of bubble does not rise, but flows in the opposite direction, dispersing its gaseous envelope into both the surrounding liquid and the inner water droplet until it disappears. This form of diffusion has a diffusion gas mass transport efficiency equal to or greater than that achieved with the aid of a static mixer-assisted constrictor trap. As this process occurs at the point of use, the normal ozone recycling loop and instability losses associated with the method using venturi siphon streams are eliminated. Since the process uses less gas for a given amount of bubbles, this method is preferred over all other water dispenser disinfection methods. When properly designed to obtain a gas-vapor mixture inside a diffuser, this method can also replace bubble reactors. This new principle of diffusion, and two innovations related to the diffusion technique, are claimed for use in ozone and sanitizing water dispenser systems.

Described herein are two designs for manually regulating or otherwise controlling or measuring airflow through the ozonator and diffuser to increase oxidant concentration and / or to regulate bubble size, bubble population size, and bubble rate for use in decontamination systems. water dispensers.

While more sophisticated automated feedback controls may be available to measure air flow in ozone decontamination systems, flow-regulated pumps are also available both by adjusting the motor voltage and by using a needle valve mounted in the pump housing. the first design relates to the regulation of flow by means of a needle valve placed in the bore while visually observing the changes in the size of the bubbles in the reservoir. In this case, a flow regulating valve made of either ozone-resistant metal or polymer is positioned either between the air pump and the ozone-producing discharge tube or downstream of the discharge tube located inside a single module together with the timer and controller circuit. The valve stem extends through an opening in the module housing, and a vertically ribbed dial knob with an indicator is disposed on the valve stem. A circular element made of dust with a decalcification technique calibrated to the flow rate and covering a rotation angle range of 340 degrees from closed to fully open, placed on the outer casing with a protrusion embossed in the casing, with its boundary points facing the grooved stripes in the knob, serves as ratchet mechanism to establish a preferred, optimal flow rate.

The second flow regulating structure includes a variable internal flow meter for mounting in the vertical segment of the ozone supply tubing.

A type of existing air flow regulator known as a variable bore spring biased has been modified to a third and preferred method of self-regulating the air flow through the ozonator and diffuser in sanitizing systems of water dispensers. The modification includes the use of two adjustable holes and the adjustment with the bore restrictor screw and a thin bimetallic material forming the valve body which acts as both a heat sink and a secondary regulating mechanism or thermostat. This type of device maintains a certain flow rate in response to changes in temperature and air flow. The addition of a tension adjusting screw allows the flow parameters to be adjusted to a given flow rate. Once adjusted, the flow is and maintained in the conventional manner as outlined above. In this case, the auto-flow regulating mechanism is located downstream of the ozonator.

PL 200 873 B1

The purpose of using a bimetallic material having two different linear coefficients of thermal expansion is to achieve a better response to temperature changes, the outer material being ozone resistant, preferably nickel plated copper as the bimetallic material is designed to react to temperature in resilient way.

The need to add temperature dependent flow control arises from the fact that while damping the air flow in the ozonator can and does increase the working ozone concentration, it also increases air density and temperature. If the flow is held for a long enough time, the elevated temperature can destroy the working ozone, and the expansion of the air volume due to heat will increase the flow rate and decrease the air density. Thus, means are provided for temporarily increasing the air flow to remove excess heat and prevent the destruction of the operating ozone.

The heat from the ozonated air is transferred to the thin bimetallic bimetallic bellows valve body, increasing its linear dimensions, which slightly increases the air flow to the diffuser until the air temperature is again in the optimal range. In this case, the flow control mechanism by automatic valve adjustment resembles a traditional water-cooled engine thermostat, with the addition of a flow control. Since air is a bad conductor of heat, the airflow is directed in a spiral around the entire helical surface of the bimetallic bellows to ensure maximum and uniform heat transfer to the metal. The second adjustable hole or thermostat seat and hole is located in the base of the valve - bellows. After the first hole is adjusted for airflow in cold operation, the mechanism is free to respond to temperature changes to secondary, automatically adjust airflow and air temperature. The device is simple, contains small amounts of readily available, cheap materials and can be manufactured and sold cheaply. The device is claimed for use in ozone decontamination equipment of water dispensers as an automatic system for optimizing air flow and temperature.

For a better understanding of the nature, objects and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numbers designate like elements.

The subject of the application is shown in the drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a section through a preferred embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the ozone generator in the housing and the interior of the water dispenser cabinet, and Fig. 1 , fig. 3 is a partially cross-sectional upper part of the water dispenser according to the invention, which comprises a reservoir, a bottle and an ozone diffuser, fig. 4 - a detail of a preferred embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, illustrating an open reservoir and an ozone diffuser, Fig. 5 - a cross section along the line 5 - 5 of Fig. 4 showing a corner of the reservoir with an ozone diffuser and freezing or cooling coils, Fig. 6 - detail, illustrating the ozone diffuser and its position in relation to the tank, Fig. 7 - a fragment of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, illustrating an alternative diffuser structure, Fig. 8 - a cross-section of the diffuser from Fig. 7, showing a part of its porous body, Fig. 9 - a cross-section of the diffuser from Fig. 7 before grinding a part of the non-porous surface therefrom, Fig. 10 - schematically a part of the diffuser from Fig. 7 while grinding a part of it therefrom non-porous surface, Fig. 11 - cross section diffuser taken along line 11-11 in Fig. 7 ready for operation, Fig. 12 - cross section along line 12-12 in Fig. 7, Fig. 13 - perspective view of a fragment of the diffuser from fig. 7, fig. 14 - cross section of the diffuser from fig. 7 taken along line 14-14, fig. 15 - perspective view of a fragment of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, fig. 16 - fragment cross-section of the second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a detail of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing the tap and valve in the closed position, Fig. 18 - sectional view of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing the tap and the valve in the open position, fig. 19 - partially cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing a tap with a flow meter switch, fig. 20 - fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing the tap of Fig. 19, Fig. 21 - partially in cross section an alternative construction of a tap which is part of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, Fig. 22 - partially in section an alternative construction of a tap which is part of a second example of digging up the water dispenser according to the invention, Fig. 23 - perspective view of a tap with Fig. 22, Fig. 24 is a sectional view through a detail of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing

Fig. 25 is a section through a detail of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing an alternative tap structure, Fig. 26 is a section through a section of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing an alternative construction of a tap, Fig. 27 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, fig. 28 - sectional section of a second embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, and fig. 29 - another section view of a section of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention used in conjunction with a pressurized air flow switch; fig. 30 - perspective view of an alternative structure of the ozone generator that can be used with any of the embodiments of Figs. 1-29, Fig. 31, a fragmentary perspective of the ozone generator of Fig. 30, Fig. 32 - perspective view of the ozone generator of Figs. 30-31, Fig. 33 - perspective view of the ozone generator of Figs. 30-32, Fig. 34 - section taken along line 34-34 in Fig. 32, Fig. 35 - perspective view of an improved generator of Figs. 30-34, Fig. 36 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the water dispenser of the invention showing the improved diffuser, Fig. 37 - perspective view of a third embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention showing an improved rectangular shaped diffuser, Figs. 37A-37C - top, side and bottom views respectively showing a single diffuser element used in the diffuser of Figs. 36-37, Figs. 37D-37F - top, side and bottom views respectively showing a different shape of the diffuser element used in the diffuser of Figures 36-37, Figs. 38 Fig. 41 - detail perspective view of a third embodiment of a water dispenser according to the invention, showing an improved diffuser and methods of making the same, Fig. 41 - detail perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a water dispenser according to the invention showing an improved diffuser, Fig. 42 - perspective view of the diffuser of Fig. 41, Fig. 43 - exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the device according to the invention, illustrating an improved diffuser in cross section, fig. 44 - section of the diffuser of fig. 43, fig. 45 - perspective view of another diffuser that may be used in a water dispenser according to of the invention, Figs. 43A-45A, a diffuser that is similar to that of Figs. 32 45 and using a sintered metal powder sheet through which ozone diffuses in use, Fig. 46 - cross section through a sixth embodiment of a water dispenser according to the invention illustrating another diffuser structure and operation, Figs. 47A - 47C - schematically seventh an embodiment of a water dispenser according to the invention showing another diffuser structure used in the invention, fig. 48 - schematically an eighth embodiment of a water dispenser according to the invention showing another diffuser which has a molten powder coating, fig. 49 - a series variable flow meter with an air flow regulating valve for use with any embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, Fig. 50 is a longitudinal sectional view of the control valve of Figs. 49, Fig. 51, an exploded view of the control valve assembly of Figs. 49-50, Fig. 52 - partially sectioned, thermally compensated air flow regulating valve for use with any embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, shown in the open flow position, Fig. 53 - partly sectioned, the control valve of Fig. 52 shown in the closed flow position, Fig. 54 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, fig. 55 is a section taken along line 55-55 in fig 54, fig. 56 - section along line 56-56 in fig. 54, fig. 57 - exploded fragment of an alternative embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, fig. 58 - cross-section along line 58-58 in fig. 54, fig. 59 - cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention, showing an alternative construction of a tap, fig. 60 - cross section along line 60-60 in fig. 59 parts of the water dispenser according to the invention, fig. 61 - a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention showing another tap structure, and Fig. 62 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the water dispenser according to the invention showing yet another tap structure.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a preferred embodiment of a water dispensing device according to the invention, hereinafter referred to as a water dispenser. Water dispenser 10 includes an improved device that disinfects the open reservoir from time to time with ozone. The water dispenser 10 comprises a cabinet 11 having a bottom 12 and a top 13. The top 13 supports a cover 14 having an opening 17.

The opening 17 has an annular flange 15 and a gasket 16 which contacts the cylinder 18. The cylinder 18 is a commercially available cylinder which, e.g., in the United States, is typically a few gallons (e.g., five gallons) in volume. The cylinder 18 has a narrowed neck 19 which, in use, is placed inside an open reservoir 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The neck 19 of the cylinder 18 has an opening for communicating with the reservoir 20 inside the cabinet 11 which houses the water to be used. consumption.

PL 200 873 B1

When the water level in reservoir 20 drops during use, air bubbles will enter reservoir 18 and water in reservoir 18 will replenish water in reservoir 20 until the pressures equalize.

The interior 21 of the reservoir 20 is surrounded by the side wall 22 of the reservoir and the bottom 23 of the reservoir. The reservoir may, for example, be generally cylindrical in shape and may be made of stainless steel or plastic. The reservoir 20 is open at the top and its upper part 24 is connected to the neck 19 of the cylinder 18. In use, the water surface 25 of the reservoir 20 oscillates slightly as water is drawn, and then the reservoir 20 is refilled with water from the cylinder 18. One or more faucets 26, 27 may be installed to dispense the water placed in reservoir 20. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, for example, the left faucet 26 is connected to a conduit 35 which extends near the surface 25 of the water in the reservoir 20. The faucet 26 thus supplies water from reservoir 20 at ambient temperature that is not close to the freezing or cooling coils 28. The second faucet 27 is connected to a port 36 for communication with the water in the reservoir 20. Since the cooling coils 28 are located in the lower region of the reservoir 20, the tap 27 supplies cold water. In practice, the water dispenser 10 can supply ambient temperature water, cold water or warm water if, for example, the conduit is equipped with a heating element.

In order to cool the water in the lower part of the tank 20, a cooling system can be used which includes a compressor 29. The cooling system comprises lines 30, 31 connected to the compressor 29, through which cooling fluid is transported to the coils 28 and then the milking of the heat exchanger 32 which is part of of a water cooling system in the tank 20. Power to the water dispenser 10 is supplied by electric cables including an electric cable 33 provided with a plug 34. The plug 34 can be attached to a controller 42 having a socket 44 and a plug 43 as shown in Fig. 2. In this way, current can be selectively directed to a compressor 29 via an electrical wire 33 or to an enclosure 40 containing an ozone generator 50 using an electric conductor. 41. Thereby, the compressor 29 can be turned off when the ozone generator 50 is used to send ozone to tank 20 for purifying water contained in tank 20 and to scrub the inner walls of tank 20.

In Figures 1 and 2, an ozone generator 50 that generates ozone to clean the water placed in reservoir 20 is located within housing 40. Additionally, housing 40 houses a motor drive 53 and an air pump 54 that forces air through the housing 57 of the generator. ozone 50 to diffuser 37. Airline 38 connects housing 57 of ozone generator 50 to ozone diffuser 37. The mount 39 provides a connection for attaching the exhaust air conduit 38 to the housing 57 of the ozone generator 50 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The housing 40 may be provided with a flange 45 and holes 46 to secure the housing 40 to an existing cabinet 11 by bolting the housing 40 to the cabinet 11 as shown in Figure 1.

The housing 40 shown in Fig. 2 includes a lower part 47 and an upper part 48. The upper part 48 has an opening 49 to which the housing 57 of the ozone generator 50 can be attached. The ozone generator 50 is located inside the housing 57 as shown in Fig. 2. The housing 57 includes a lower portion 58 and an upper portion 59. The flange 60 of the lower portion 58 and the flange 61 of the upper housing portion 59 cooperate with the gasket 62 when assembled.

Housing 57 is secured to housing 40 by means of bolts 63 inserted through internal threaded holes 64 in housing 40 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In use, controller 42 typically disables ozone generator 50 during normal hours when users draw water. from the water dispenser 10. Since the ozone used to disinfect reservoir 20 has a distinct odor, it is preferable to clean the water in reservoir 20 and clean the inside walls of reservoir 20 and the neck 19 of reservoir 18 at a specific time. The controller 42 may be activated, for example, in the early hours of the morning (e.g., 3:00 am - 4:00 am). A commercially available controller may be available that starts transformer 51 and motor drive 53 only after controller 42 has turned off the compressor 29 and the cooling system. This can be accomplished by cutting off the power to the plug 34 and the electric wire 33 that supply power to the compressor 29.

After disconnecting the compressor 29 from the electrical supply, the transformer 51 and the motor drive 53 are activated. The transformer 51 generates a very high voltage current in the ozone generator 50 to generate ozone inside the housing 57 of the ozone generator 50. During ozone production inside the housing 57, the air pump 54 pumps air into intake conduit 55 and through opening 56 into housing 57. Filter 71 removes airborne microorganisms before they reach air pump 54 and conduit 55. This airflow into housing 57 causes air to be forced out through attachment 39 to air conduit 38 simultaneously.

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The air is then transported through the air line 38 to a diffuser 37 or 37A (Figs. 7-14) located at the bottom, against the side wall of the reservoir 20. The position of the diffuser 37 or 3ZA and the discharge of ozone-carrying air therefrom are shown in greater detail in Figs. 4-14. 14. In Figure 4, showing a top view of reservoir 20, it is seen that the diffuser 37 or 37A preferably extends 360 degrees along the rim of the reservoir 20 at its sidewall 22. This is advantageous because the ozone bubbles 67 are used to clean the inside surface of sidewall 22 as shown in Fig. 3.

The diffuser 37 or 37A may be supported by a plurality of brackets 68 that are positioned between the diffuser 37 or 37A and the bottom 23 of the reservoir 20. Openings 69 of the diffuser 37 are angled with respect to the bottom 23 and sidewall 22 of the reservoir 20 as shown in Fig. 6. An angle of 70, preferably about 45 degrees, defines the alignment of the openings 69 with respect to the side wall 22, 23. This arrangement of the holes 69 ensures that the bubbles 67 are thrown out towards the side wall 22 in order to obtain the maximum cleaning effect of the inner surface of the side wall 22 of the reservoir 20. Cleaning with ozone bubbles 67 cleans the side wall 22 and creates a circulation of water inside. The ozone bubbles 67 hit the water surface 25 in the reservoir 20 and flow inward. This circulation ensures that all the water in the reservoir 20 is cleaned. In addition, directing ozone bubbles 67 from diffuser 37 outward toward sidewall 22 ensures that no ozone bubble 67 enters cylinder 18 through neck 19, which could flood the device.

Figures 7-14 show an alternative diffuser 37A construction. The diffuser 37A has a porous body 72 as shown in Fig. 8 which initially has a hollow cylindrical cross-section. The porous body 72 may be made of a porous ceramic material suitable for contact with food. The porous body 72 is generally C-shaped as shown in Fig. 7, but has the cross section shown in Fig. 11.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 show how the diffuser 37A is constructed, starting with the porous body 72. As shown in Figure 8, the porous body 72 has an inner surface 73 that surrounds the opening 75 and an outer surface 74. As shown in Figure 9, non-porous. a coating (e.g., a non-porous epoxy that can be fired, suitable for contact with food) is applied to the porous body 72 to provide an outer skin 76 that is substantially air-impermeable.

As shown in Fig. 10, a rotating grinding tool 88 having a rotating shaft 89 is used to grind a portion of the non-porous outer skin 76 to expose surface 90 (see Figs. 10 and 11).

When air is introduced through the inlet elbow 79, it enters the opening 75 and then diffuses through the porous body 72. The outer cover 76 prevents air from escaping so that air can only escape through the exposed surface 90. The exposed surface 90 is located on the porous body 72. of the outer C-shaped diffuser portion 37A as shown in Figs. 7 and 11, an enlarged view of the exposed surface 90 is shown in Fig. 13, where arrows 91 indicate the escaping bubbles 92.

An inlet elbow joint 79 has a body 80 with two fittings 81, 82 protruding therefrom. A joining material 83, e.g., a food grade epoxy resin, may be used to connect porous body 72 and its and outer skin 76 to an inlet elbow joint. 79. Each of the couplings 81, 82 has an internal bore 84, 85, respectively, the openings 40 and 85 intersecting in the body 80 so that air can flow from the bore 84 of the coupler 81 to the bore 85 of the coupler 82. The coupler 81 has an external thread 86. so that it can be connected to the air supply line 38. The connector 81 can be another type of connector, such as a knife connector, a compression connector, etc. The inlet elbow 79 in connector 82 may include a similar connecting material for engaging the porous body 72 with an interior surface 73 thereof. The connector 82 structure may be of the knife type, as shown in Fig. 12, with an external thread or the like.

Referring to Fig. 7, the diffuser 37A has a closed end 78 at one end and an inlet elbow joint 79 at its other end. The closed end 78 may be made of the same material that covers 76 of the diffuser 37A as shown in Fig. 14.

Figures 15-27 show an alternative second embodiment of the device according to the invention. In a second embodiment, a manually actuated dispensing tap 100 is provided with a special switch arrangement that automatically starts an ozone generator, such as that shown in

FIGS. 1-14 and described in the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-14. The second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 15-18, comprises a dispensing tap 100, the cabinet 11, reservoir 20 and various conduits have already been described in FIGS. the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14. In other words, in the second embodiment, the dispensing tap 100 replaces the faucets 26, 27 shown in Figs. 1-14. The dispensing tap 100 starts the ozone generator and sends the ozone to the water contained within the reservoir. Ozone is also sent to the channel that connects the tank to the tap, disinfecting drinking water.

As shown in Figs. 15-18, the dispensing tap 100 has a housing 101 to which is attached a handle 102 that allows the user to dispense water from the dispensing tap 100.

When the user 141 presses the handle 102 to place the valve in the open position for dispensing water, as shown in Fig. 18, not only is water supplied to the container that the user is holding, but ozone is also produced to sanitize the horizontal inlet channel. When supplied to the horizontal 105 connected to the outlet 107 of the inlet channel 105, ozone has a very low concentration which is sufficient enough to decontaminate the water supplied, but it is too small to produce an odor or taste.

The dispensing tap 100 has a housing 101 that has an annular flange 103 that can bear against the front surface of a cabinet, such as a cabinet 11, which is shown and described in the first embodiment in Figs. 1-14. The orifice 103 acts as a stop for the housing. 101 after inserting its threaded portion 104 through the opening formed in the front face of the cabinet 11. A threaded portion 104 enables a threaded connection to be made between a nut or other fastener and an externally threaded portion 104 to retain the housing 101 of the tap 100 in an opening in the front of the cabinet 11.

The water that is supplied from the reservoir 20 of the cabinet 11 flows through the reservoir 20 or flow channel which is connected to the horizontal inlet channel 105. The vertical channel 106 extends from the horizontal inlet channel 105 to the outlet 107.

The valve body 108 serves to open and close the outlet 107 as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. In Fig. 17, the outlet 107 is closed. In Fig. 18, outlet 107 is open so that water can be supplied. The valve body 108 (see Fig. 16) has an annular shoulder 109 and a seat 110 for the output core 111. The output core 111 has an annular orifice 119 that fits into the seat 110 in use, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The functional core 111 has an annular groove 120 that is positioned between the lower annular flange 119 and the upper annular flange 118. When assembled, the annular protrusion 109 fits into the annular groove 120.

The return spring 112 ensures that the valve body 108 always returns to the closed position when the user 141 does not press against the handle 102. The operating core 111 engages the seat 113 of the valve body 108. A waterproof gasket 132 is located on top of the valve body 108. A waterproof gasket. 132 and cooperates with the cap 114 to form a watertight seal therewith.

The inner threads 115 of the cap 114 mate with the outer threads 116 of the valve housing 101. The retainer 117 forms a connection between the cap 114 and the double-pin connector 127. A central opening 126 in the cap 114 allows the core 111 to pass through the cap 114. Likewise, vertical, generally, a cylindrical channel 140 located in the double-pin switch 127 allows the work core 111 to pass through it. The upper portion of the work core 111 has a transverse opening 122 that can align with a transverse opening 121 in the handle 102. The pin 123 connects the handle 102 with the opening 121 and the work core 111 with the opening 122, as shown in Figs. 16-18.

The handle 102 has a cam surface 124 that carries the core 111 when the handle 102 is pressed downward by the user 141 as shown by arrow 142 in Figure 18. A metal collar 125 is located on top of the core 111 as shown in Figure 1. 16. The collar 125 is part of a switch arrangement for activating the ozone generator when the handle 102 is pressed into the position shown in Fig. 18. The flange 125 includes the electrical leads 130, 131 of the two-pin connector 127. The metal flange 125 completes the circuit to actuate the ozone generator and air pump when it contacts both electrical leads 130, 131 as shown in Fig. 18.

A plug 129 of a two-pin connector 127 is inserted into a socket 128 on the valve housing 101. Electrical leads 138, 139 on the valve body 101 are connected to the socket 128, and therefore to the plug 129, as shown in Fig. 18. Electrical leads 138, 139 are connected to the ozone generator and air pump shown and described in the first example

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-14. When the handle 102 is pressed to the position shown in Fig. 18, the ozone generator and air pump are simultaneously actuated so that ozone flows through flow conduit 136 to the ozone source connector 133, which is located in the horizontal inlet channel 105 of the housing 101. Alternatively, the ozone generator and the air pump may be started by a timer that is triggered when the handle 102 is depressed. The ozone source connector 133 has an opening 137 and a diffuser 134 that supplies ozone to the water flowing through the horizontal inlet channel 105. A rivet screw 135 may be installed to facilitate connection between the ozone supply conduit 136 and the connector 133.

Figures 19-27 show alternative dispensing tap constructions, indicated by 100A in Figures 19-20; 100B in Fig. 21; 100C in Figures 22-23; 100D in Fig. 24; 100E in Figs. 25 and 100F in Figs. 26-27.

The dispensing tap 100A shown in Figs. 19-20 is similar to a commercially available faucet such as a faucet 26 or 27. Referring to Fig. 19, the dispensing faucet 100A has a body 143, a handle 144, and a flow sensor 145 that activates the ozone generator and air pump. in response to the water flow that is detected by the flow sensor 145. The water flow is detected by the flow sensor 145 when the dispensing tap 100A is opened by depressing the handle 144 and while water is flowing in the horizontal inlet channel 105. The conduit 146 actuated the ozone generator and the air pump 81 when the handle 144 is depressed and water flow was detected. The flow sensor 145 and its conduit 146 are commercially available, the track flow sensor 145 and conduit 146 may be used to activate the air pump and ozone generator of Figs. 1-14.

Referring to FIG. 21, the dispensing tap 100B has a magnetic flow sensor with a magnet 147 and sensors 170.

Referring to Figs. 22, 23, the dispensing tap 100C includes a flow meter, which may be a flow sensor in the form of an electromagnet with conduits. Referring to FIG. 22, the electrical supply line 173 is connected to a solenoid 171 with flow sensors 172. A flow sensor in the form of a solenoid is commercially available. Lines 174,175 connect to a flow sensor 172 and control the operation of the ozone generator and air pump of Figures 1-14.

As shown in Figs. 24-27, the dispensing tap 100D includes a conventional body 26 with an extension tube 176. As shown in Fig. 24, a flow sensor 145 is mounted in an extension tube 176 having a flow passage 177. Extension tube 176 may be glued to or bolted to a standard extension tube 176. , a commercially available tap 26 or 27 (also shown in Figs. 1-14). Lines 136 for transmitting ozone from ozone generator 50 (shown in Fig. 1 14) are connected to a connector 133 mounted directly on a conventional faucet 26. A diffuser 134 supplies ozone to the flow conduit 177 upstream of the faucet 26. The components of the dispensing faucet 100D shown in Fig. 24 are used to actuate the ozone generator 50 and the air pump 54 from there. Figures 1-14, where the water flow is detected by the flow sensor 145 and the conduit 146.

The dispensing tap 100E of FIG. 25 includes an extension tube 178 with a conduit 179. An electromagnetic flow sensor 172 including an electromagnet 171 supplied with line 173 is mounted in conduit 179. Sensor 172 is connected by conduits 174,175 to an ozone generator 50 and an air pump 54 (from Figs. 1-14) and controls their operation. The pipe 178 having a channel 179 may be glued or bolted to a standard tap 26 (see Fig. 25).

As shown in FIGS. 26,27, the dispensing tap 100F has a tube 180 with a flow passage 181. Both the flow sensor 145 and the diffuser 134 with a connector 133 are mounted in the tube 180. The tube 180 may be glued, bolted, or otherwise connected to it. faucet 26. A nut 182 secures the faucet 100F to the cabinet 111 and reservoir 20 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. 28 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a water dispenser 10A according to the invention. As shown in Fig. 28, ozone is produced in response to the actuation of the tap to sanitize the water. In Fig. 28 the ozone generator is not shown, but is connected to the pump P 186 which is actuated by a timer 185. The ozone generator 50 of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-14 can also be used in the embodiment shown in Figs. fig. 28 producing ozone, which is pumped by pump 186 and passed through conduit 136 to diffuser 37. Conduit 136 may also be routed to extension tube 184 which is connected to conventional faucet 26. As shown in Figure 28, extension tube 28 is positioned between tap 26 and reservoir 20. Fig. 28 shows an inverted cylinder 18 water cooling system having a cabinet 11 with an opening in its top as shown and described in Figs. 1-14. The inverted cylinder 18 has a neck 19 that extends into the reservoir 20. When the tap 26 is actuated to supply water,

The water level drops from the first water level 189 to the lower water level 190. This lowers float 188, with a contact 193 in float 188 completing a circuit with the two electric wires 194, 196. When this occurs, timer 185 starts the pump. 186 and an ozone generator to pump ozone into the diffuser 137 or extension tube 184. Thus, ozone is produced in response to the user actuating the tap 26, which presses the tap handle 26.

Fig. 29 shows a third embodiment of the water dispenser 10B according to the invention. Referring to Fig. 29, the upper portion 13 of cabinet 11 is provided with a timer 185 and a pump 186. Pump 186 pumps ozone which is generated by the ozone generator as shown and described in Figs. 1-14 or Figs. 30-34. 36. As shown in Fig. 29, pressure sensors 191, 192 are mounted connected to timer 185 and pump 186 through lines 197, 198. When the water level drops from the upper level 189 to the lower level 190, either one or both of the sensors 191, 192 may be used to monitor the pressure changes in the tank 20 to activate the timer 185 and pump 186. As in the embodiment of Fig. 28, the water level drops from level 189 to level 190 when the faucet 26 is opened by pressing the handle. Thus, ozone is supplied to the reservoir 20 using the diffuser 37 and / or the extension tube 184 of the flow conduit 136. Thus, ozone is generated in response to the opening of the tap 26.

Figures 30-35 show an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention. The ozone generator 150 in the form of the ozone discharge tube of Figs. 30-35 is a dielectric tube 151, which may be, for example, a cylindrical Corning® or Pyrex® glass tube having a central longitudinal opening 152. Two layers of adhesive film are applied. onto the outer surface 166 of the pipe 151. The layers include a film adhesive tape layer 153 and a film adhesive tape layer 155. Each of these layers may be in the form of an adhesive tape having release films. In Fig. 30, a portion of the adhesive film tape 153 has a release film 154. A smaller portion of the adhesive film tape 155 has a release film 156.

Arrows 157 in FIG. 30 schematically indicate the directions of application of each portion of the adhesive film tapes 153 and 155 to the outer surface of tube 151. Electrode 158 is positioned inside tube 151 to occupy a portion of opening 152. One end of electrode 158 includes a clip 164 that is attached to it. at the end of tube 151. An exposed portion 165 of electrode 158 is disposed on the outer surface 156 of tube 151. The foil adhesive tape 153 is preferably of sizes and shapes that allow it to contact and shield the exposed portion 165, as shown in Figures 30 and 31.

In Figure 30, both the exposed portion 165 and the foil adhesive tape 155 have a width D1. The foil adhesive tape 153 is spaced from the foil adhesive tape 155 and is sized and shaped such that it can surround the pipe 151 and include a length of the pipe 151 as shown in Figure 31. The pipe 151 is partially filled by an electrode 158. A sheet of foil adhesive tape 153 with a width D2 equal to the portion of electrode 158 that runs along the sheet after electrode 158 has been placed in opening 152 of tube 151 is shown in Figure 31. Two metal spring clips 159 are connected to electrical conductors 167, 168 that are mounted on the PCB 169. Thus, the circuit board may include a timer that is electrically coupled to the ozone generator power circuit and the air pump to start the ozone generator 150 via the resilient clamps 159 and conductors 168. A simple timer starts the ozone generator 150 for a selected period of time. At about the same time, the air pump 169 may be started by the timer. A timer circuit turns off the ozone generator 150 and air pump 169 after the required time has elapsed.

Flow conduit 160 is attached to the end of tube 151 as shown in Fig. 32. Likewise, discharge conduit 161 is mounted to end of tube 151 which is on the opposite side of tube 160. Once assembled, glass tube 159 may be covered and shielded. by protective shell 162. Air pump 169 may be connected to conduit 160 to direct air through opening 152 of pipe 151. Referring to FIG. 34, the negative polarity film 153 acts as a reflector tube to concentrate the far ultraviolet around the central longitudinal axis of the tube 151 and past the electrode 158, thereby increasing efficiency. This differs from previous systems in which the far ultraviolet is not reflected and concentrated but is scattered. The ozone generator 150 may be used in place of the ozone generator 50 of any embodiment shown in Fig. 1 - 16 or as an ozone generator in the embodiments shown in Figs. 17-29.

In Fig. 34, a reflector tube, formed by a negative (-) foil electrode, acts as a cylindrical mirror to concentrate the far ultraviolet that cleaves oxygen molecules around the central longitudinal axis of the tube 151 on the positive electrode (+ ). Far ultraviolet, reaching

Being far beyond the main heat source, it does not contribute significantly to the central longitudinal heating axis of the working air. Most of the resistive dielectric heating is absorbed by the material of a light but high surface area thin outer negative foil electrode and is radiated into the ambient air outside the tube. In this process, the ozone generator 150 in the form of the ozone discharge tube remains cold and does not contribute to ozone degradation. This differs from some prior art systems in which the ionizing far ultraviolet radiation is not reflected and concentrated, but is diffused.

Figures 36-47 show various diffuser designs that may be used in the method and apparatus embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 1-35.

In Fig. 36, a diffuser 37B is shown in a perspective view. The diffuser 37B is circular in shape, but may also be rectangular in shape as shown in Figure 37. The diffuser 37B includes a silicon tube 200 that has a conduit 201 for conveying air. The fixture 202 includes a joint 203 that allows air to be supplied from the ozone generator according to any of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-35 into the conduit 201 of the silicon tube 200. The silicon tube 200 has a wall 204 that surrounds the opening 201. The wall 204 has a plurality of openings 205, each opening 205 including a diffuser insert 206 (see Figs. 37A-37F). Figs. 37A-37C show an embodiment of the collar. Figs. 37D-37F show an insert with a collar and a cylindrical base. The inserts 206 are made of a diffuser material, such as, for example, a diffuser stone insert material. The diffusers 206 can be made of sintered metal suitable for contact with food (e.g. aluminum, stainless steel). The insert material 206 may be selected for any of the inserts 206 shown in FIG. 37A.

Figures 38-40 show another diffuser 37C in perspective views. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 38-40, the diffuser 37C may include modules 213 connected by a knife fitting 214 to an additional fitting 215 connecting modules 213 into a circle. Fitting 215 has an inlet 216 that can be connected to conduits connecting the ozone generator to the diffuser 37C. Blade 217 shown in Fig. 40 indicates that each module 213 can be cut to length.

The diffuser 37C is formed of modules 213 connected one after the other. One module 213 is shown in Figures 38 and A 39. Module 213 may be in two stamped parts (Figure 38) or it may be stamped in one piece (Figure 39). Each module 213 includes a tube 207 having a flow opening 212. In Fig. 38, the flow opening 212 may be formed by mating longitudinal slots each having a semicircular cross-section that face each other after the top 210 and bottom 211 are assembled. Inserts 206 are inserted into the diffuser slots 209. which may be made of a food grade sintered metal, stone, or any other material shown in the drawings of the embodiments described herein. The seats 209 are surrounded by cylindrical walls 208. The inserts 206 may have flanged bottoms. The flow opening 212 shown in Fig. 39 may be formed with the pull-out core.

Figures 41-42 show a ring-shaped additional diffuser 37d with a cylindrical diaphragm tubular structure of small diameter. The diffuser 37d is an elongated, cylindrical tube 218 that may be flexible and has a cylindrical wall 219 that surrounds the channel 220. The wall 219 of the tube 218 is provided with a plurality of small slots 221 through which ozone can escape from the channel 220 of the tube 218. Connector 222 is a T-mount that is attached to opposite ends of tube 218 to form a circular diffuser as shown in Figure 42, leaving one portion of connector 222 as an inlet through which ozone can be delivered through connector 222 to the conduit. 220, then through diffuser slots 221 into surrounding reservoir 20.

Another embodiment of the diffuser 37E is shown in Figs. 43-45. The diffuser 37E includes an annular body 223 having an externally disposed annular flow channel 224. The annular flow channel 224 is covered by an annular membrane or annular sheet 231 that has a thin-walled membrane structure comprising numerous small pass-through slotted 232. Annular diaphragm sheet 231 may be made of any ozone resistant material, for example, food grade silicon, EPDM rubber, Viton, etc.

Annular flow channel 224 is provided with an inlet port 225 through which ozone may be passed in the direction indicated by arrow 226. Arrows 227 schematically indicate ozone exiting flow channel 224 through slots 232 of sheet 231 into surrounding reservoir 20 for ozonation of reservoir water. twenty.

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Suitably shaped, interlocking annular portions may be used to secure the upper retaining ring 228 and lower retaining ring 229 to the body 223 and hold the membrane sheet 231 in place. The upper retaining ring 228 has a locking ring portion 240 that forms an locking engagement with the locking ring portion 241 of the body 223. Similarly, the locking ring portion 242 on the body 223 forms an locking engagement with the locking ring portion 243 of the lower retaining ring 229, the mounting of both the upper 228 and lower 229 retaining rings on the body 223 is shown in Figs. 44-45.

The mounted diffuser 37E has a central opening 230. The slots 232 and the annular sheet 231 face the opposite of the central opening 230, so that the ozone exiting the slotted openings 232 may follow arrows 227 to scrub the side wall of the cylindrical vessel, similar to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-14. In this way, the slotted opening 232 is positioned very close to the sidewall 22 of the reservoir 20, so that ozone bubbles exiting the openings 232 can scrub the sidewall 22 of the reservoir 20 and sanitize it. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the diffuser 37E shown in Figs. 43-45 may be square or rectangular in order to more closely match the square or rectangular shape of the vessel if desired.

The diffuser shown in Figures 43A and 44A is similar to that shown in Figures 43-45. Sheet 231A is a sheet of sintered metal (e.g., sintered titanium) that is ozone resistant. Body 223A includes air passage 224A. Fitting 225A transmits ozone to channel 224A through inlet 226A. Top ring 228A and bottom ring 229A secure sheet 231A to body 223A.

Figures 45A-45C show a further alternative embodiment of a stainless steel diffuser 223B. Sheet 231A may be made of single or multiple layers. The body 223B may be made of thin-walled stainless steel strip or roll-corrugated ribbon made of sheet metal. A sheet of metal may be used to form the body 223B as shown in Fig. 45A. The body 223B and the sheet 231A may be circular in shape as shown in Fig. 45C.

In Fig. 46, another diffuser 37F is shown. The diffuser 37F has a diffuser configuration for diffusing gas into water. The water surface 233 above the diffuser 37F provides an auxiliary value determining the pressure change of the water column. The diffuser 37F is intended to have a body 234 that has a covering 235 of a low permeability material with a porous connected channel 236, the low permeation capillary channel 237 being connected to a circumferential channel 236 as shown in Fig. 46. The pressure difference caused by the water column is exploited below the water surface 233 and the capillary action of the channels 237 draws water back to the diffuser sensor 238. A more permeable stone diffuser material 239 is located adjacent to the open diffuser center 238 and is connected to the channel 244.

Ozone is piped to the open center 238 of the diffuser 37F from the ozone generator, similar to the cases described with respect to Figs. 1-35. Ozone then flows through the channels 244 and mixes with the water which is drawn through the channels 236, 237 as a result. the pressure variation caused by the water surface 233. The emitted bubbles 245 contain a mixture of gas and water with gas dispersed.

In Figs. 47A, 47B, and 47C, the diffuser 37G is shown.

The diffuser 37G uses a water supply pump 250 and a gas supply pump 251. Flow channel 252 transports pumped water to the lower permeability portion 253 of diffuser 37G. Pump 251 pumps ozone through flow conduit 254 to the higher permeability portion 255 of diffuser 37G. In Figs. 47B-47C, the lower permeability portion 253 of the diffuser 37G is shown with a water layer 256 facing the pores of the low permeability portion 253. In fig. 47C, droplets of cold steam 257 with dissolved gas pass through the pores of the less permeable portion 253 and appear as a mixture 258 of gas and vapor.

Referring to Fig. 48, a diffuser 37H is shown which may be in the form of a substantially hydrophobic medium 260 with high permeability and low initial bubble pressure. The gaps 261 between the particles are sufficient enough for the bubbles to escape without collision or coalescence. A coating 263 of sintered powders of a substantially hydrophobic or microparticulate material (or nanoparticle material) is positioned at the outlet of the pore or opening 262 providing a variation in the surface energy and thus permeability of the elastic membrane surface from the water layer. This configuration results in a fine, flexible membrane with a low pressure drop across the diffuser 37H. Water is continuously drawn through the surface of the pore, wetting it and creating a narrow diameter orifice 262.

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Figures 49-51 show a variable flow meter with an air flow regulating valve for measuring small volumes of ozonated air. The control valve 270 shown in Figs. 49-50 has on its opposite ends press fit couplings 271,272 that can be connected to plastic or other free-flow conduits. Tube 273 has a flow channel 274 in which there is a ball fitting 276 275 which is threadedly connected to the top of tube 273. A press fit 271 located on fitting 276 extends into flow channel 274 as shown in Fig. 50.

An internally threaded sleeve 277 is attached to the enlarged bottom 278 of the tube 273. An O-ring 279 may be positioned between the flange 280 of the tube 277 and the flange 281 of the interference fit 272. The valve component 282 includes a flange 283 with an external thread 284 that mates with it. with internal thread 285 of the sleeve 277. In use, the user may grasp the tapered surface 286 of the sleeve 277 and rotate it to reposition component 282 relative to the tapered seat 287, thereby adjusting the amount of air flowing through the flow channel 274. The ball 275 indicates the amount of flow as the tube 273 can be transparent and may contain appropriate indicators.

Referring to Figures 52 and 53, a thermally compensated air flow control valve 300 for variable air flow is shown. The regulating valve 300 comprises a body 301 having an inner chamber 302 which has an inlet 303 and an outlet 304. The chamber 302 includes a bellows 305. As ozonated air flows from inlet 303 to outlet 304, it flows circumferentially around bellows 305 as indicated by arrows 306 at Fig. 52.

Bellows 305 has an internal chamber 307 that responds to the temperature of the gas flowing from inlet 303 to outlet 304. If the gas flowing as indicated by arrow 306 is too cold, bellows 305 retracts in the direction of arrow 308 so that the valve seat 309 is closed by a tapered surface 310 located at the bottom of bellows 305 as shown in Fig. 53. An adjustment knob 311 may also be installed to precisely adjust the position of bellows 305. The bellows 305 may be a spiral bellows made of plated copper, which is very temperature sensitive, constituting the expanding or contracting material of the thermostat.

Figures 54-58 show a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention. The water dispenser 400 has a cabinet 401, which may be in the form of an inverted water bottle cabinet. However, the present invention can also be used with other types of cabinets, such as, for example, cabinets that contain a water bottle in the bottom of the cabinet, or cabinets that are connected directly to a water source, eliminating the water bottle.

The cabinet 401 has an upper portion 402 that includes an annular flange 403 surrounding the opening 405. A seal 404 seals between the cylinder 406 and the cabinet 401.

The cylinder 406 has a neck 407 and an opening 408 that communicates with the reservoir 409. The reservoir 409 has a bottom 410, which may be square or circular, and sidewalls 411. An outlet 412 located in the bottom 410 of the reservoir 409 is connected to a flow conduit 413. A flow channel. 413 has a flow port 414 for water flow between reservoir 409 and faucet 415.

Referring to Figs. 55-57, faucet 415 has a valve 416 that can be grasped and actuated by a user to open outlet 417 such that water flows through port 417 into a selected glass, mug, and the like. Such valves 415 for actuating tap 415 are known in the art.

The flow channel 418 of the tap communicates with the opening 414 of the channel 413. In addition to the flow channel 418 of the tap 415, two channels are provided in the tap 415 which extend through the tap 415. This is a first channel 419 and a second channel 420. The first channel 419 extends into the opening 427. with internal thread. The opening 427 includes a diffuser stone insert 423 which has an opening 424 through which air can enter the opening 427 and then create small air bubbles in the flow channel 418 of the tap 415 as indicated by arrows 435 in Fig. 55.

In use, ozone is sent via ozone line 430 to connector 428 and then to first channel 419 as indicated by arrows 436 in Fig. 55. Ozone that flows in line 430 and first channel 419 produces small ozone bubbles to disinfect and disinfect. sanitizing flow channel 418 of faucet 415 as well as flow opening 414 of channel 413. Since the flow passage 418 of the tap 415 is adjacent to the walls 411 of the reservoir 409, in most or all of the water cooling dispensers, it does not increase the amount of gas bubbles entering the water cylinder and therefore does not increase the amount of water supplied.

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In Figures 54 and 55 it can be seen that bubbles which enter channel 418 of the tap 415 flow in the direction of arrows 435 in the horizontal portion of channel 413 and then into the vertical portion of channel 413 in Figure 54 where they rise to up to the outlet 412 and enter reservoir 409. Thus, the same bubbles that are used to sanitize the flow channel 418 of the tap and the first channel 419 also arrive and aid in the sanitization of reservoir 409.

Reservoir 409 is also sanitized using conduit 437 that extends from ozone generator module 432 to diffuser 434 in the direction indicated by arrows 439 in Figure 54. Second conduit 420 receives ozone from reservoir 409. Ozone flows through ozone conduit 431 which is connected to with a connector 429 and a second channel 420 as shown in FIG. 17. Ozone flowing in the second channel 420 arrives at a dispensing opening 417 in the tap at a tangent 421 to the tap 415. This causes a helical flow of ozone inside dosing opening 417 as indicated schematically by arrow 422 in Figures 56 and 57.

The ozone generator module 432 may include an ozone generator 438 and an air pump 440. The air flow, schematically indicated by arrow 433, may be produced by using a pump to convey the ozone produced to lines 430, 431, and 437.

Figures 59-62 show other faucet and channel constructions that connect to the faucet for ozone decontamination. Referring to Fig. 59, reservoir 441 includes sidewall 443 and bottom 444. Reservoir 441 has a single opening 442 into which the inlet portion 455 of tap 450 is inserted. Ozone is conveyed to both tap 450 and reservoir 441 through conduit 430. Conduit 430 it receives the air flow directly from the pump 440 and the ozone generator 438, and conduit 431 is eliminated. Ozone in this case flows along line 430 to line 446A and on to diffuser 434 and to line 446B and on to diffuser 434A.

The faucet 450 includes conduits 446A, 446B communicating with the junction 445. The conduits 446A, 446B include a T-shaped portion as shown in Fig. 59 disposed within the conduit 453 of the tap 450. The conduits 446A, 446B extend between the junction 447 and the diffuser 434A. . Thus, ozone flows from the ozone generator 438 through line 430 to connector 445, and then through line 446A to connector 447 and then to diffuser 434. In addition, ozone flows from the ozone generator 438 through line 430 to connector 445 and then on to line 446B and then to diffuser 434A. The only opening that is formed in the walls 443, the bottom 444, or the reservoir 441 is the opening 442 in which the inlet portion 455 of the tap 450 is located, as shown in Fig. 59.

A valve 452 is used to actuate the tap 450, which opens the conduit 453 so that water can flow from the reservoir 441 through conduit 453 to the outlet 451. Arrow 448 in Fig. 59 indicates the direction of ozone flow in conduit 430 during use. The annular flange 454 of the tap 450 forms an attachment to the cabinet 401 and is secured to the opening 442 using an interference fit, glue, or other suitable connection.

Referring to Figs. 61 and 62, two additional faucet structures are shown, indicated as faucet 460 in Fig. 61 and faucet 460A in Fig. 62. The faucet 460 in Fig. 62 has a channel 461, an annular flange 462, and an inlet portion 464. The faucet 460 includes also the ozone channel 465 which communicates with channel 461. Valve member 467 prevents ozone from flowing directly from line 430 to water inlet 456. When ozone is supplied to channel 461, back pressure causes valve member 467 to close. The valve member 467 is pivotally attached to the tap 460 at the pivot axis 468. The valve member 467 is normally closed by gravity and back pressure and is opened when water is supplied, that is, when valve 452 is open. The valve member 467 may be partially open due to buoyancy. However, it closes when ozone begins to flow as indicated by arrow 466. The tap 460 includes the same dispensing portion that includes the valve member 452 and the spout 451 as shown in Figure 59. These portions have been removed from Figure 61 for clarity of the drawing.

In Figure 61, arrow 466 indicates the flow of ozone from conduit 430 through junction 463 to ozone channel 465. Ozone, flowing in conduit 465, reaches junction 447, which is connected to diffuser 434. Ozone flows from conduit 430 to diffuser 434 without the need to do so. second opening in reservoir wall 443. Arrow 469 schematically illustrates the opening and closing of valve member 467.

In Fig. 62, another faucet 460A is shown. The faucet 460A is a design that can be used to modify an existing faucet as the faucet inlet portion 464A is an additional new feature. In Figure 62, an existing coolant / dispenser faucet is milled to accommodate an additional faucet inlet portion 464A. The tap inlet portion 464A includes a water inlet 471 and an ozone conduit 470. The ozone channel 470 communicates with a connection 473, which may be integrally formed with the inlet portion 464A of the faucet. Arrow 472 in FIG. 62 shows the flow direction of the water supply when valve 452 is open and water flows from reservoir 441 to water inlet 471 and into channel 461 of the tap. When no water is supplied and ozone should be conveyed through line 430, valve member 467 is closed by gravity and back pressure. Ozone enters channel 461 and ozone channel 470.

The above embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is limited only by the following claims.