IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0576553
(2009-10-09)
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등록번호 |
US-8343338
(2013-01-01)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Watts Water Technologies, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
▼
A valve assembly having a first valve defining an inlet connected to the inlet supply and an outlet connected to the concentrate chamber, a second valve defining an inlet connected to the permeate chamber and an outlet connected to the faucet, and a third valve defining an outlet connected to drain,
A valve assembly having a first valve defining an inlet connected to the inlet supply and an outlet connected to the concentrate chamber, a second valve defining an inlet connected to the permeate chamber and an outlet connected to the faucet, and a third valve defining an outlet connected to drain, a port connected to the concentrate chamber, and an inlet connected to the inlet supply. The port is selectively in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and inlet. When the faucet opens, the first valve opens, the second valve has permeate flowing, and the third valve opens a flowpath between the third valve port and the inlet due to pressure dropping in the second valve. When the faucet closes, the first valve closes and the third valve opens another flowpath between the third valve port and outlet due to pressure created in the second valve.
대표청구항
▼
1. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly comprising: a) an inlet supply;b) a reverse osmosis membrane for receiving the inlet supply and creating permeate and concentrate;c) a tank connected to the reverse osmosis membrane for storing the permeate in a permeate chamber and the concentrate in a
1. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly comprising: a) an inlet supply;b) a reverse osmosis membrane for receiving the inlet supply and creating permeate and concentrate;c) a tank connected to the reverse osmosis membrane for storing the permeate in a permeate chamber and the concentrate in a concentrate chamber;d) a faucet for dispensing the permeate;e) a drain for disposal of waste; andf) a valve assembly including three sub-assembly valves: i) the first sub-assembly valve defining an inlet connected to the inlet supply and an outlet connected to the concentrate chamber;ii) the second sub-assembly valve defining an inlet connected to the permeate chamber and an outlet connected to the faucet; andiii) the third sub-assembly valve defining an outlet connected to drain, an inlet connected to the inlet supply, and a port connected to the concentrate chamber, wherein the port is selectively in fluid communication with the third sub-assembly outlet and inlet, whereinwhen the faucet is closed, the first sub-assembly valve is closed at least in part due to pressure created in the second sub-assembly valve, the second sub-assembly valve has no flow, and the third sub-assembly valve is set to open a first flowpath between the third sub-assembly port and outlet at least in part due to pressure created in the second sub-assembly valve, andwhen the faucet is open, the first sub-assembly valve is opened at least in part due to pressure dropping in the second sub-assembly valve, the second sub-assembly valve has the permeate flowing there through, and the third sub-assembly valve is set to open a second flowpath between the third sub-assembly port and the inlet at least in part due to pressure dropping in the second sub-assembly valve. 2. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein upon closing the faucet after dispensing an amount of permeate, the pressure rebuilds in the second sub-assembly valve gradually such that the first sub-assembly valve remains open until the permeate chamber is substantially full. 3. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a piston assembly within the first sub-assembly valve and a rolling diaphragm coupled to the piston assembly intermediate the first sub-assembly valve and second sub-assembly valve. 4. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a check valve in the second sub-assembly to prevent backflow from the second sub-assembly outlet. 5. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a piston assembly within the third sub-assembly valve. 6. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the piston assembly includes a piston seal coupled to a piston rod. 7. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising a first seal ring mounted in a first recess on an end of the piston seal such that the first seal ring only contacts a first sealing surface to selectively close the first flowpath. 8. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising a second seal ring mounted in a second recess on the piston seal such that the second seal ring only contacts a second sealing surface to selectively close the second flowpath. 9. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 8, further an annular stop on the piston seal to form the second recess. 10. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the second recess is an annular groove that sealingly enters a tubular channel formed by the third sub-assembly valve to close the second flowpath. 11. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the piston seal has a central tapered portion. 12. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising a rolling diaphragm coupled to the piston assembly intermediate the second sub-assembly valve and third sub-assembly valve. 13. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the permeate and concentrate chambers are operatively connected so that the concentrate in the concentrate chamber pressurizes the permeate in the permeate chamber. 14. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a filter assembly connected before the reverse osmosis membrane. 15. A reverse osmosis liquid filtering assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the inlet supply is pressurized water. 16. A valve assembly comprising: a first valve defining an inlet adapted to be connected to an inlet supply and an outlet adapted to be connected to a concentrate chamber;a second valve defining an inlet adapted to be connected to a permeate chamber and an outlet adapted to be connected to a faucet;a third valve defining an outlet adapted to be connected to drain, a port adapted to be connected to the concentrate chamber, and an inlet adapted to be connected to the inlet supply, the port being selectively in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and inlet; anda piston assembly in the third valve including a piston seal coupled to a piston rod, wherein the piston seal has a central tapered portion, whereinwhen the faucet opens, the first valve opens, the second valve has permeate flowing, and the third valve opens a first flowpath between the third valve port and the inlet due to pressure dropping in the second valve, andwhen the faucet closes, the first valve closes and the third valve opens a second flowpath between the third valve port and outlet due to pressure created in the second valve,wherein the permeate chamber and the concentrate chamber are formed in a storage tank having an outer container housing an expandable resilient bladder, an inside of the expandable bladder forming the permeate chamber, while an area outside the expandable resilient bladder and the outer container forms the concentrate chamber so that pressure generally equalizes within the storage tank and, in turn, higher pressure in the concentrate chamber urges permeate from the storage chamber and lower pressure in the concentrate chamber reduces resistance on permeate into the permeate chamber. 17. A valve assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein upon closing the faucet after dispensing an amount of permeate, pressure rebuilds in the second valve gradually such that the first valve remains open until the permeate chamber is substantially full. 18. A valve assembly as recited in claim 16, further comprising a first seal ring mounted in a first recess on an end of the piston seal such that the first seal ring only contacts a first sealing surface to selectively close the first flowpath. 19. A valve assembly as recited in claim 16, further comprising a second seal ring mounted in a second recess on the piston seal such that the second seal ring only contacts a second sealing surface to selectively close the second flowpath.
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