Drinking water dispenser with built-in UV sterilization system
A water dispenser with built-in UV sterilization system includes a tap, and a water tank with a cooling device. An inlet connects the tank to a water source. A UV radiation source is installed inside the cold water tank. A cooled water outlet is connected to the tap. The dispenser contains a flow sterilizer with an inlet connected to an outlet of the tank for uncooled water. An outlet of the sterilizer is connected to a sterilized water inlet of the tank. A funnel is installed inside the cold water tank under a water source inlet. An upper edge of the funnel is above a water level in the tank, to isolate water in a lower part of the tank from unsterilized water coming from the source. A narrow lower part of the funnel is connected to the outlet for uncooled water.
1 . A drinking water dispenser with built-in UV sterilization system, comprising:
a housing ( 10 );
a device ( 11 ) for connecting to a water source ( 12 );
a tap ( 13 ) for dispensing cooled water to consumers;
a cold water tank ( 14 ) arranged in the housing ( 10 ),
wherein the cold water tank ( 14 ) is equipped with a cooling device ( 15 ),
wherein the cold water tank ( 14 ) has a lower part ( 16 ) to be filled with the cooled water and an upper part ( 17 ) where an air cavity is formed when the cold water tank ( 14 ) is filled with the cooled water,
wherein the cold water tank ( 14 ) has an inlet ( 18 ) for uncooled water coming from the water source ( 12 ) connected to the device ( 11 ) for connecting to the water source ( 12 ),
wherein at least one UV radiation source ( 30 ) is installed inside the cold water tank ( 14 ),
wherein the cold water tank ( 14 ) has a cooled water outlet ( 19 ) connected to the tap ( 13 ), and
wherein the cold water tank ( 14 ) is equipped with an outlet for the uncooled water ( 23 ) and a sterilized water inlet ( 24 );
a flow sterilizer ( 20 ) having an inlet ( 21 ) and an outlet ( 22 ),
wherein the inlet ( 21 ) of the flow sterilizer ( 20 ) is connected to the outlet for the uncooled water ( 23 ), and the outlet ( 22 ) of the flow sterilizer ( 20 ) is connected to the sterilized water inlet ( 24 ); and
a funnel ( 25 ) having a wide upper part ( 26 ) and a narrow lower part ( 27 ) installed inside the cold water tank ( 14 ),
wherein the funnel ( 25 ) is installed under the inlet ( 18 ) for the uncooled water coming from the water source ( 12 ), so that an upper edge ( 28 ) of the funnel ( 25 ) is above a water level ( 29 ) in the cold water tank ( 14 ), to isolate the cooled water in the lower part ( 16 ) of the cold water tank ( 14 ) from the uncooled water coming from the water source ( 12 ), and
wherein the narrow lower part ( 27 ) of the funnel ( 25 ) is connected to the outlet for the uncooled water ( 23 ).
2 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 11 ) for connecting to the water source ( 12 ) comprises:
a bottle receiver ( 36 ) for installation of an upturned bottle, and
a water intake finger ( 31 ) with a water channel ( 32 ) which forms the inlet ( 18 ) for the uncooled water coming from the water source ( 12 ).
3 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 11 ) for connecting to the water source ( 12 , 61 ) comprises means for connecting to a bag-in-box water source.
4 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 11 ) for connecting to the water source ( 12 , 61 ) comprises means for connecting to a water-pipe.
5 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , comprising a water level sensor ( 65 ) in the cold water tank ( 14 ) connected to an electronic control device.
6 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a further tap ( 40 ) for dispensing the uncooled water to consumers, the further tap ( 40 ) being connected to the outlet ( 21 ) of the flow sterilizer ( 20 ); and
a check valve ( 42 ) installed between the flow sterilizer ( 20 ) and the sterilized water inlet ( 24 ).
7 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one UV radiation source ( 30 ) installed in the cold water tank ( 14 ) is installed in the upper part ( 17 ) of the cold water tank ( 14 ).
8 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein said at least one UV radiation source ( 30 ) in the cold water tank ( 14 ) is located in such a way that part of its radiation reaches the funnel ( 25 ).
9 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the flow sterilizer ( 20 ) is positioned in such a way that part of UV radiation from the flow sterilizer ( 20 ) reaches the lower part ( 27 ) of the funnel ( 25 ).
10 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 9 , wherein the lower part ( 27 ) of the funnel ( 25 ) is a vertical pipe.
11 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 9 , wherein inner walls of the lower part ( 27 ) of the funnel ( 25 ) are made of a material reflecting UV radiation.
12 . The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the flow sterilizer ( 20 ) is at least partially located in the cold water tank ( 14 ).