Title of Invention

APPARATUS FOR THE DISINFECTION OF AQUEOUS MEDIA

Abstract ABSTRACT APPARATUS FOR THE DISINFECTION OF AQUEOUS MEDIA Apparatus for the disinfection of aqueous media, in particular for the production of drinking water, whereby the aqueous medium is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and this radiation is provided by a tubular watertight UV source, the source (7) is rigidly arranged in a tank (2), with a round or oval cross section, whereby an electronic control unit (6) is attached to the tank (2) for the control of the source (7), and whereby the electronic control unit (6) is provided with a connection (10) for a power supply, characterized in that the tank (2) is provided with a cover (3) that can be tilted open and has a handle (8), and that the source (7) is arranged substantially along the middle axis of the apparatus (1). Figure 1.
Full Text

Description
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the disinfection of aqueous media.
Water that is contaminated with viruses, bacteria or parasites resents a major problem worldwide. Often there is no access to large-scale facilities which can purify drinking water by means of filtration, chlorination or ozonization. In recent years, ultraviolet radiation has been used for disinfection, where the preferred UV-C spectrum has a wavelength of 254 nm. Watertight radiation source units made of quartz glass are known which are used as immersion units. However, as a rule these are medium-sized to large disinfection facilities, which are also partly based on through-flow. For example, an apparatus with a rigidly mounted UV lamp and a water intake and outflow is known from DE-U-94 20 752. A tank with a fixed UV radiation source in an immersion bell is known from DE-C-25 27 009. Finally, an energy-intensive altemative to such treatment is to boil the water for about 10 minutes to ensure a sufficient degree of disinfection. A portable filter cartridge with a power supply and a specially designed transport case is disclosed in PCT-WO97/06108.
Object of the present invention is to create an apparatus for the disinfection of aqueous media which can be operated at a very low rate of energy, which is extremely flexible in application, is easily portable and can provide fairly small amounts of disinfected water in a short period of time, also ensuring a high degree of operational safety.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the disinfection of aqueous media, in particular for the production of drinking water, whereby the aqueous medium is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and this radiation is provided by a tubular watertight UV source, the source is rigidly arranged in a tank, with a round or oval cross section, whereby an electronic control unit is attached to the tank for the control of the source, and whereby the electronic control unit is provided with a connection for a power supply, characterized in that the tank is provided with a cover that can be tilted open and has a handle, and that the source is arranged substantially along the middle axis of the apparatus.
Preferably the electronic control unit and the source are operated with about 12 Volt direct current (10.5 V to 14.5 V), whereby this current can be obtained by means of a transformer from the primary power supply, although according to a preferred embodiment it is provided in the form of solar power. In principle, however, it is also possible to design the control unit such that the apparatus can be operated from the primary power supply.
Preferably the tank is provided with a bottom, and the electronic control unit is arranged in a housing below the bottom. The apparatus is activated by plugging it into an outlet or by means of a circuit closer. Preferably there is a circuit closer for the electronic control unit, and the die electronic control unit is provided with a timer which shuts off the apparatus after a certain period of time. Of course, a cutout switch can also be provided instead. Preferably, the tank is provided with a cover, and the opening of the tank triggers the shutdown of the source.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross section of the apparatus is substantially round or oval, whereby it resembles a conventional water kettle, and the source is arranged substantially along its middle axis on the bottom and connected through same with the control unit.
The apparatus can be provided with a heating arrangement for the aqueous medium.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is designed as a set with a power supply and a solar module.
Below, the invention is more closely described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a set consisting of the apparatus, a power supply and a solar module;
Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram of the electronic control unit.
Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 according to the invention with a tank 2, a cover 3 that can be tilted open, a bottom 5' and a housing 5 separated from same. Apparatus 1 has a conventional handle 8 and a grommet 4. In housing 5 under bottom 5', an electronic control unit 6 is arranged, which is connected to a power outlet 10 for a power supply U, which is connected to a solar module 12 and which supplies the electronic control unit 6 with 12 V direct current. Electronic control unit 6 controls a UV-source 7, which is arranged in tank 2

standing vertically on bottom 5'. Apparatus 1 is provided with a circuit closer 9, with which the UV source can be turned on.
Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram which demonstrates the other characteristics of the electronic control unit 6, which consists of conventional elements such as transistors T, an IC, diodes D, capacitors C, resistors R, etc., and which is mounted on a circuit board. The circuit has an input 13 for the 12 V direct current. The apparatus is turned on with circuit closer 15. After a certain period of time has elapsed (e.g. 2-6 minutes), which is the suitable period for ensuring sufficient disinfection, shutdown is triggered by a timer 16 activated as the apparatus is turned on. However, if cover 3 is opened before this period has elapsed, the apparatus is automatically turned off by cover switch 14, to protect the eyes of the operator. Control unit 6 supplies and switches UV source 7, which can, for example, accommodate a power of 4 W.


I Claim
1. Apparatus for the disinfection of aqueous media, in particular for the
production of drinking water,
whereby the aqueous medium is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and this radiation is provided by a tubular watertight UV source,
the source (7) is rigidly arranged in a tank (2), with a round or oval cross section, whereby an electronic control unit (6) is attached to the tank (2) for the control of the source (7),
and whereby the electronic control unit (6) is provided with a connection (10) for a power supply,
characterized in that the tank (2) is provided with a cover (3) that can be tihed open and has a handle (8),
and that the source (7) is arranged substantially along the middle axis of the apparatus (l).
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (6) and
the source (7) are operated with 12 Volt direct current.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the tank (2) is provided with a bottom and that the electronic control unit (5) is arranged in a housing (5) under the bottom.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a circuit closer for the electronic control unit (6) is provided, that the electronic control unit (6) is provided with a timer (16), and that the electronic control unit (6) turns the apparatus (1) off after a certain period of time.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening of the tank (2) triggers the shutdown of the source (7).
6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein it is provided with a heating arrangement for the aqueous medium.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein it is designed
as a set with a power supply and a solar module (12).
8. Apparatus for the disinfection of aqueous media, substantially as
hereinabove described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
drawings.


Documents:

in-pct-2001-1795-che abstract duplicate.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che abstract.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che claims duplicate.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che claims.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che correspondence others.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che correspondence po.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che description (complete) duplicate.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che drawings duplicate.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che drawings.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che form-1.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che form-19.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che form-26.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che form-3.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che form-5.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che others.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che pct search report.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che pct.pdf

in-pct-2001-1795-che petition.pdf


Patent Number 201786
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2001/1795/CHE
PG Journal Number 30/2009
Publication Date 24-Jul-2009
Grant Date 31-Aug-2006
Date of Filing 21-Dec-2001
Name of Patentee SHRI. WISMETH, Wolfgang
Applicant Address Hans-Vogel-Strasse 22 D-90765 Fürth
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SHRI. WISMETH, Wolfgang Hans-Vogel-Strasse 22 D-90765 Fürth
PCT International Classification Number A47J 27/21
PCT International Application Number PCT/DE2000/001913
PCT International Filing date 2000-06-10
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 29910816.3 1999-06-22 Germany