IP Library Granted Patent US 10,457,574
Granted Patent B2
US 10,457,574 · App. 15/638,022 · Granted Oct 29, 2019

Reverse osmosis systems with built in pressure regulation

Inventor: Timothy Allen Beall (Redondo Beach, CA)
Assignee: Topper Manufacturing Corporation
C02F1/441B01D61/08B01D61/12B01D65/08B01D2311/14B01D2313/20C02F1/003C02F2201/004C02F2209/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,457,574
App. No.
15/638,022
Granted
Oct 29, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems for counter top and under the counter use having a self contained reverse osmosis filter system having a manifold assemble under which parts of the self contained reverse osmosis filter system are attached, and a raw water pressure regulator also attached under the manifold assembly, the raw water pressure regulator having an inlet for coupling to a source of raw water and an outlet coupled to the inlet for the self contained reverse osmosis filter system, whereby the ratio of product water to waste water may be maximized under normal operating conditions without clogging the self contained reverse osmosis filter system if the pressure of the source of raw water is high.

Claims (36)

1. A reverse osmosis filtration system comprising, as a single self-contained assembly:

a manifold assembly with a lower side to which parts of the reverse osmosis filtration system are attached, including a product water storage tank, cartridges that contain a reverse osmosis filtration membrane and other filters, and a control valve hydraulically controlling the operation of the reverse osmosis filtration system; and

a raw water pressure regulator contained within the self-contained reverse osmosis filtration system and coupled to the lower side of the manifold assembly, the raw water pressure regulator having a raw water inlet for coupling to a source of raw water and a pressure regulated outlet coupled to the manifold assembly;

the raw water pressure regulator operating independently of the control valve.

2. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is set to a regulated pressure that maximizes a ratio of product water to waste water under normal operating conditions without clogging the reverse osmosis filtration membrane.

3. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 2 , wherein the regulated pressure is between 510 and 590 kPa.

4. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 2 , wherein the product water storage tank has a burst pressure selected based on the regulated pressure.

5. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 4 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is spaced away from an axis of the product water storage tank so as to not interfere with the coupling of the product water storage tank to the lower side of the manifold assembly.

6. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulated outlet of the raw water pressure regulator is coupled to the manifold assembly so that the raw water pressure regulator and the coupling to the lower side of the manifold assembly are located entirely below the manifold assembly.

7. A reverse osmosis filtration system comprising, as a single self-contained assembly:

a manifold assembly having an upper manifold plate and a lower manifold plate hot welded together; the manifold assembly having a lower side to which parts of the reverse osmosis filtration system are attached, including a product water storage tank, cartridges that contain a reverse osmosis filtration membrane and other filters, and a control valve hydraulically controlling the operation of the reverse osmosis filtration system; and

a raw water pressure regulator contained within the self-contained reverse osmosis filtration system and coupled to the lower side of the manifold assembly, the raw water pressure regulator having a raw water inlet for coupling to a source of raw water and a pressure regulated outlet coupled to the manifold assembly;

the raw water pressure regulator operating independently of the control valve.

8. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 7 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is set to a regulated pressure that maximizes a ratio of product water to waste water under normal operating conditions without clogging the reverse osmosis filtration membrane.

9. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 8 , wherein the regulated pressure is between 510 and 590 kPa.

10. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 8 , wherein the product water storage tank has a burst pressure selected based on the regulated pressure.

11. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 10 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is spaced away from an axis of the product water storage tank so as to not interfere with the coupling of the product water storage tank to the lower side of the manifold assembly.

12. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 7 , wherein the pressure regulated outlet of the raw water pressure regulator is coupled to the manifold assembly so that the raw water pressure regulator and the coupling to the lower side of the manifold assembly are located entirely below the manifold assembly.

13. A reverse osmosis filtration system comprising, as a single self-contained assembly:

a manifold assembly with a lower side to which parts of the reverse osmosis filtration system are attached, including a product water storage tank having a flexible bladder therein for separating squeeze water and product water, cartridges that contain a reverse osmosis filtration membrane and other filters, and a control valve hydraulically controlling the operation of the reverse osmosis filtration system; and

a raw water pressure regulator contained within the self-contained reverse osmosis filtration system and coupled to the lower side of the manifold assembly, the raw water pressure regulator having a raw water inlet for coupling to a source of raw water and a pressure regulated outlet coupled to the manifold assembly;

the raw water pressure regulator operating independently of the control valve.

14. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 13 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is set to a regulated pressure that maximizes a ratio of product water to waste water under normal operating conditions without clogging the reverse osmosis filtration membrane.

15. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 14 , wherein the regulated pressure is between 510 and 590 kPa.

16. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 14 , wherein the product water storage tank has a burst pressure selected based on the regulated pressure.

17. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 16 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is spaced away from an axis of the product water storage tank so as to not interfere with the coupling of the product water storage tank to the lower side of the manifold assembly.

18. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 13 , wherein the pressure regulated outlet of the raw water pressure regulator is coupled to the manifold assembly so that the raw water pressure regulator and the coupling to the lower side of the manifold assembly are located entirely below the manifold assembly.

19. A reverse osmosis filtration system comprising, as a single self-contained assembly:

a manifold assembly having an upper manifold plate and a lower manifold plate hot welded together; the manifold assembly having a lower side to which parts of the reverse osmosis filtration system are attached, including a product water storage tank having a flexible bladder therein for separating squeeze water and product water, cartridges that contain a reverse osmosis filtration membrane and other filters, and a control valve hydraulically controlling the operation of the reverse osmosis filtration system; and

a raw water pressure regulator contained within the self-contained reverse osmosis filtration system and coupled to the lower side of the manifold assembly, the raw water pressure regulator having a raw water inlet for coupling to a source of raw water and a pressure regulated outlet coupled to the manifold assembly;

the raw water pressure regulator operating independently of the control valve.

20. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 19 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is set to a regulated pressure that maximizes a ratio of product water to waste water under normal operating conditions without clogging the reverse osmosis filtration membrane.

21. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 20 , wherein the regulated pressure is between 510 and 590 kPa.

22. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 20 , wherein the product water storage tank has a burst pressure selected based on the regulated pressure.

23. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 22 , wherein the raw water pressure regulator is spaced away from an axis of the product water storage tank so as to not interfere with the coupling of the product water storage tank to the lower side of the manifold assembly.

24. The reverse osmosis filtration system of claim 19 , wherein the pressure regulated outlet of the raw water pressure regulator is coupled to the manifold assembly so that the raw water pressure regulator and the coupling to the lower side of the manifold assembly are located entirely below the manifold assembly.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2019
From: NEXT-RO, INC.
To: TOPPER MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049287/0818 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2017
From: JAY, TIMOTHY
To: NEXT-RO, INC.
Reel/Frame 043784/0056 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2017
From: NEXT-RO, INC.
To: JAY, TIMOTHY
Reel/Frame 043739/0552 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2017
From: BEALL, TIMOTHY ALLEN
To: NEXT-RO, INC.
Reel/Frame 043685/0839 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14462378 · Aug 18, 2014
Continuation 13030808 · Feb 18, 2011
Provisional Application 61306429 · Feb 19, 2010
Related Publication 20170297927A1 · Oct 19, 2017