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For a better understanding of the nature of the objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following drawing taken in conjunction with the detailed description thereof. In the drawing, reference numbers are employed consistently in the various views to refer to the identical components.
FIG. 1 in the drawing represents a front elevational view of a conventional bottled water equipment which can be adapted to accommodate the present bottled water automatic refill system.
FIG. 2 of the drawing represents a rear elevational view of the conventional bottled water stand of FIG. 1 showing how it is adapted pursuant to the present invention.
FIG. 3 in the drawing is a cut-away sectional view of preferred embodiments of the present system components.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the conventional bottled water cooler 10 comprises a lower frame member 11 which serves as a storage container for various well known appurtenances of a conventional cooler, such as connectors, conduits chilling mechanism (not shown) which are connected in series between the water bottle 12 positioned on top of the stand 11 to the spigot means 13 and 14. In that particular embodiment, such coolers are provided with two spigots generally to give a source of chilled water and hot water. In the latter instance, a heating apparatus would be included within the stand 11 connected in the conduit of the water bottle 12. Such filling machines including many variations are old and well known in the art.
Referring simultaneously to both FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the present invention provides a bottled water automatic refill system that can be adapted to most existing bottled water coolers and in its preferred design, comprises the five gallon plastic bottle 12 which in turn is further defined as comprising the conventionally operated float valve means 15 which is attached inside of the water bottle 12. The float valve 15 is attached thereto via a bulk head tubing fitting 16 which protrudes through the side wall of the five gallon water bottle 12. The tubing fitting or adapter 16 provides for connecting the float mechanism to a purified water supply via the conduit means 17.
The five gallon bottle filling machines 12 also has an additional tubing bulkhead fitting 20 protruding through the rear wall portion of the five gallon bottle 12 to allow connection to the sub-micron air vent filter means 21. The latter mechanism allows the displacement of trapped air inside of the bottle 12 as the bottle fills and empties. In other words, as the bottle 12 is filled with water, air trapped in the bottle will be discharged through the filter. Conversely, as water is emptied from the bottle, suction produced on the bottle will be alleviated by air passing through the filter member 21 which in turn flows through the conduit member 22 connecting the member 21 to the bulk head fitting 20. In such manner, air entering the bottle 12 is purified. To say it another way, the conduit 22 allows the bottle to breath and the filter member 21 scrubs air entering the container 12 at any given time as it breaths. The purpose of the sub-micron rated air filter 21 is to assure that no air borne bacteria will enter the bottle that could possibly contaminate the purified water.
The five gallon bottle 12 is sealed to the base 23 of the water cooler 10 by virtue of the flexible rubber boot/gasket means 24. As well recognized in the bottled water cooler art, an inner container or sump is positioned immediately below the base 23. In a conventional bottled water equipments , as water is drawn from either of the spigots 13 or 14, water exits from the container 12 into the upper tank (not shown) of the cooler; however, the tank does not flow due to the faccum created within the water bottle 12 even though the tank is opened to the atmosphere. However, in the present system, as the water bottle 12 is allowed to breath, then the present design of water bottle 12 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing must be sealed to the tank. The flexible rubber boot or gasket 24 accomplishes this purpose by sealing the neck 25 of the five gallon water bottle 12 to the upper tank (not shown) of the water cooler 10. This is accomplished by providing the member 24 with the elongated flexible constricted portion 26 which is adapted to fit over the neck portion 25 of bottle 12 in a very snug and tight relationship. The member 24 is bellowed by virtue of the convulotions 27 which in turns allows the top portion of the member 24 to fit in various different positions relative to the top of the water container 12 which may vary in design according to its manufacturer as well as provide for the member 24 to accommodate the different design and position of the water hold-up tank (not shown) to which it is likewise connected along its bottom portion 28 which bayonets over the top portion of the tank, thus sealing the tank to the container 12. To assure a beverage production line and air tight fit, a worm gear type clamp is fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the gasket means 24 at its lower end 28.
Conversely, the top most portion of the gasket means 24 is sealed to the water container 12 by virtue of a similar type of clamp or device being mounted circumferentially around the inner lower neck portion 26 of the member 24.
The built in bellows 27 also allows for temporary expansion and contraction as water is drawn from the container 12 via, for example, the spigot 13. The rubber boot/gasket means 24 also allows the bottle to be easily removed for servicing should it become necessary or should sterilization of the bottle be desired in the event the water purification system malfunctions or contaminates enter the system.
FIG. 2 of the drawing illustrates a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporating a small reverse osmosis purification system 30 which in turn is further defined as comprising the series of conventional water filtering members 31, 32, and 33 which function in combination with the reverse osmosis filter 34. In such a system, water from, such a conventional tap water source 35 is fed in series through the filter members 31 and 32 via the connecting conduit 36 and 37 to the reverse osmosis unit 34 which in turn is connected via the conduit 38 to the filter member 33 from which a source of high purified water exits and flows through the conduit 17 into the bottled water machine 12 by virtue of the float means 15, which operates in a conventional fashion by virtue of the leverage action of the buoyant float member 39 operably connected to the main frame portion of the float member 15 by virtue of the elongated connecting means 40 which is hinged to provide articulate motion relative to the main from body of the float mechanism 15 and is operably connected to a plunger mechanism (not shown) positioned therein which includes a conventional valve stem or piston member that is cause to reciprocate against a seated opening therein so as to seal said opening when the buoyant member 13 is in an uprised position. Conversely, when the member 39 is allowed to deflect downward, water enters the container 12 by virtue of the float valve opening 41.
When the float valve means 15 is sealed, pressure increases in the conduit 17, which pressure level is reflected in the flow control member 42 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing which in turn causes flow from the water source 35 to be interupted through the first filter member 31.
The over flow line 43 is provided for catching any moisture that may flow through the sub-micron filter member 21.
It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that many different modifications can be made in the present design of bottled water filling machines without departing from its true scope and spirit. Therefore, what I intend to encompass within the ambit of my invention is that as set forth and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. source:freepatentsonline
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