AU784535B2 - A water treatment apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: WATER CORPORATION BERNARD KEVIN O'LEARY LORD COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

A WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS METHOD DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Application Number PR3430 filed on March 1 i, 2001 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:

TITLE

"A WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS METHOD" The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus and method.

It is known to require an apparatus and method which allows a measured quantity of a water treatment chemical to be added to a water supply. The water treatment chemical may be supplied in powdered form, in which case complete dissolving of the chemical may be required within a known quantity of water in order for the concentration of the resulting solution to be known.

One such water treatment chemical is calgon, or sodium hexametaphosphate. Calgon is known as an agent which will maintain calcium in solution in water, thus Spreventing the formation of CaCO 3 scale in domestic water heating appliances.

Previous attempts to introduce calgon into domestic water supply have been hampered by difficulties in fully dissolving powdered calgon into water in such a way .oo..i that an accurate quantity can be dispensed into the water supply. In particular, solution concentrations above 5% have not been readily available.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages of previous water treatment methods and apparatus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a water treatment apparatus comprising at least one tank, the tank having an outlet, the tank including a water permeable basket arranged, in use, to receive a solute, the water permeable basket having apertures with a size in the range 0.8mm to 1.00mm, the tank being arranged to be filled with water into which the solute can dissolve, wherein dissolved solute can be dispensed via the outlet into water being treated.

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The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut away view of a water treatment apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a water treatment apparatus 10 having a first tank 12 and a second tank 14. Each of the tanks 12,14 is substantially cylindrical, and includes a lid portion 16. a side wall 18 and a base portion 20. The tanks 12. 14 will hereinafter be described with respect to the first tank 12, and it will be appreciated 10 that the second tank 14 is substantially identical to the first tank 12.

The lid portion 16 is substantially circular, and includes a hinge 22 along a diameter of the lid portion 16. The lid portion 16 is therefore arranged to open and allow access to the interior of the tank 12, through an opening 17 having approximately half the area of the lid portion 16.

The tank 12 includes a water permeable basket 24. The water permeable basket 24 is arranged to be attached to the side wall 18 of the tank 12 adjacent the opening 17. A portion of the water permeable basket adjacent to the side wall 18 may be complementary in shape to the side wall 18. Preferably, the volume of the water permeable basket 24 is in the range of 15% 20% of the total volume of the tank 12.

The water permeable basket 24 comprises an inner permeable wall and an outer permeable wall. The inner permeable wall may be constructed from wire having a diameter in the range .35mm to .40mm, with the inner permeable wall including apertures with wire spacing in the range .8mm to 1.0mm. The outer permeable wall may be constructed from wire having a diameter of approximately 2.5mm, with the outer permeable wall including apertures with wire spacing in the range 14mm to 1 Rmm The inner permeable kwall and the outer permeable vwall may be .m-ounted onto a frame. The outer permeable wall provides structural support to the inner permeable wall.

An air diffusing means 26 is provided within the tank 12. The air diffusing means 26 comprises a tubular first member 27 which extends through the tank 12 from a first end 28 adjacent the lid portion 16 to a second end 30 adjacent the base portion .i The first end 28 is located externally of the tank 12. The second end 30 is located .oo..i internally of the tank 12. The air diffusing means 26 further comprises a tubular 10 second member 32 which forms the periphery of a square shape disposed centrally of .ooo.i the base portion 20. The square shape formed by the second member 32 has a width approximately half the diameter of the base portion 20. The second member 32 is fluidly connected to the first member 27. The second member 32 includes apertures 33 spaced around the second member 32 which allow, in use, air to be injected into the tank 12 through the air diffusing means 26.

The first member 27 extends through the lid portion 26 at a location away from the .7.i opening 17. The first end 28 is thus positioned above the lid portion 16 and outside the tank 12. A valve 34 is attached to the first end 28.

A compressed air source 36 such as an air compressor is arranged to supply compressed air via the valves 34 to the air diffusing means 26.

An outlet 38 is provided in the side wall 18 adjacent the base portion 20 of each of the tanks 12,14. The outlet 38 is opened or closed via the action of a valve 40. Each of the outlets 38 is fluidly connected to a metering pump 42.

The metering pump 42 is connected to a water supply, and is arranged to provide a preeut,rminu lquaniLLy of a water treatmenlt solution firoi a tank 12, 14 via the valve to the water supply.

In use, a soluble water treatment chemical is placed within the water permeable basket 24 of the first tank 12. The first tank 12 is then filled with water, and left to allow the water treatment chemical is allowed to fully dissolve into the water. A solution is thus formed. The concentration of solution formed by this apparatus may be as high as Once the water treatment chemical is fully dissolved, the valve 34 is opened.

10 Compressed air from the compressed air supply 36 is thus introduced into the air diffusing means 26, and travels along the first member 27 to the second member 32 and then through the apertures 33 into the first tank 12. The air acts to mix the solution.

The valve 40 is then opened, thus forming a fluid connection between the first tank 12 and the metering pump 42. The metering pump 42 is thus able to dispense solution from the first tank 12 into a water supply.

.i Whilst the first tank 12 is fluidly connected to the metering pump 42, the outlet valve of the second tank 14 is closed. This allows the dissolving and mixing process as described hereinabove to be carried out in the second tank 14. When the supply of solution from the first tank 12 is exhausted, the valve 40 of the second tank 14 is opened and the valve 40 of the first tank 12 is closed. This rotation of the tanks allows for a constant supply of solution to be available for the metering pump. It will be appreciated that more than two tanks could be used for this purpose.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (5)

1. A water treatment apparatus comprising at least one tank, the tank having an outlet, the tank including a water permeable basket arranged, in use, to receive a solute, the water permeable basket having apertures with a size in the range 0.8mm to 1.00mm, the tank being arranged to be filled with water into which the solute can dissolve, wherein the dissolved solute can be dispensed via the outlet into water being treated.

2. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the water permeable basket is constructed from wire having diameter in the range 0.35mm to 0.40mm.

3. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the water permeable basket further includes an outer permeable wall, the outer permeable wall having apertures with a size in the range 14mm to 18mm.

4. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the outer permeable wall is constructed fronm %wire having a diameter nf about

11- Cr A water treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water permeable basket has a volume in the range 15% to 20% of the volume of the tank. 6. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tank includes an air diffusing means. 7. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the air diffusing s means has a tubular first member and a tubular second member, apertures being provided in at least one of the tubular first member and the tubular second member through which air can be supplied to the tank. 8. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the tubular second member is adjacent a base portion of the tank, the apertures being in the tubular second member. 9. A water treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the water treatment apparatus comprises at least two tanks. 10. A water treatment apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 28TH DAY OF FEBRIARY 2006. Water Corporation By their Patent Attorneys LORD AND COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.