IP Library Granted Patent US 12,508,545
Granted Patent B2
US 12,508,545 · App. 15/498,022 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Liquid purification system

Inventors: Joseph Lvovich Shmidt (Woodmere, NY); Sergej Victorovich Smirnov (St. Petersburg, RU); Vadim Nikolaevich Knizel (St. Petersburg, RU)
Assignee: ELECTROPHOR INC.
B01D61/08B01D61/025B01D61/12C02F1/006C02F1/008C02F1/441C02F1/442B01D2313/501C02F1/003C02F1/283C02F1/42C02F1/444C02F1/68C02F2201/004C02F2201/005C02F2209/03C02F2209/05C02F2301/043C02F2301/046C02F2301/066C02F2303/16
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,508,545
App. No.
15/498,022
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The liquid purification system comprises a source liquid supply, a purified liquid feed line to a consumer, a liquid purification unit including a liquid-liquid type container consisting of a body containing a storage cavity for purified liquid and a displacement cavity, at least one liquid purification unit, a drainage line and a liquid flow control system including a source liquid feed section and a purified liquid feed section. The liquid flow control system is configured with a source liquid distribution section arranged for maintaining liquid pressure in the displacement cavity intended mainly for source liquid. The system provides the purified liquid feed to the consumer at any stage of the liquid purification process and after the latter is completed.

Claims (27)

1 . A liquid purification system comprising:

a source liquid supply,

a purified liquid feed line to a consumer,

a liquid purification unit in fluid communication with the source liquid supply and the purified liquid feed line, the liquid purification unit comprising:

a liquid-liquid type container comprising a body and a means that defines a storage cavity for purified liquid and a displacement cavity to receive source liquid from the source liquid supply, said means disposed within the body,

at least one liquid purification means,

a drainage line in fluid communication with the liquid purification means, and

a liquid flow control system including a source liquid feed section, a purified liquid feed section, and a source liquid distribution section,

wherein in the liquid purification unit, the liquid flow control system is configured to maintain liquid pressure in the displacement cavity of the container higher than atmospheric pressure,

wherein the source liquid feed section comprises an inlet in fluid communication with the source liquid distribution section and an outlet in fluid communication with the liquid purification means,

wherein the purified liquid feed section comprises an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid purification means, a first outlet in fluid communication with the purified liquid feed line, and a second outlet in fluid communication with the storage cavity, and

wherein the source liquid distribution section is configured to pass source liquid displaced from the displacement cavity to the source liquid feed section and to distribute and redirect flows of source liquid and purified liquid without using a hydro automatic unit, and

wherein the source liquid distribution section has:

a contra-flow liquid movement arrangement and includes a source liquid recirculation line connected on one end with the displacement cavity for source liquid of the container and on an other end with the source liquid supply and the source liquid feed section;

wherein the source liquid feed section of the liquid flow control system, having the source liquid feed section inlet connected to the source liquid distribution section and the source liquid feed section outlet connected to the liquid purification unit, further comprises a pressure increasing means that produces pressure which is conveyed via the liquid purification unit and the purified liquid feed section to the storage cavity for purified liquid of the container, and exceeds pressure maintained in the displacement cavity for source liquid of the container.

2 . The liquid purification system of claim 1 , wherein the means that defines the storage cavity for purified liquid and the displacement cavity, disposed within the body of the liquid-liquid type container, is made of a polymer material and adapted to reversibly change shape during liquid purification, substantially taking the body's shape.

3 . The liquid purification system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid-liquid type container further comprises a liquid mineralization unit disposed mostly within the storage cavity for purified liquid of the container and coupled to the outlet of the liquid purification unit and the purified liquid feed line to the consumer via the purified liquid feed section.

4 . The liquid purification system of claim 1 , further comprising a drainage liquid recirculation line having a drainage liquid recirculation line inlet connected to the liquid purification unit and a drainage liquid recirculation line outlet connected to the source liquid feed section of the liquid flow control system or to the displacement cavity for source liquid of the container.

5 . The liquid purification system of claim 4 , wherein the drainage liquid recirculation line further includes at least one liquid purification unit.

6 . The liquid purification system of claim 5 , wherein the drainage liquid recirculation line is adapted to perform flushing the liquid purification unit.

7 . The liquid purification system of claim 6 , wherein the drainage liquid recirculation line is further provided with at least one shutoff valve or electromagnetic valve.

8 . The liquid purification system of claim 1 , wherein the drainage line further comprises a source liquid concentration level adjustment means.

9 . The liquid purification system of claim 8 , wherein the source liquid concentration level adjustment means comprises at least one shutoff valve or restrictor.

10 . The liquid purification system of claim 1 , further comprising an automatic liquid purification process stopping means for stopping the liquid purification process when a predetermined amount of purified liquid in the storage cavity for purified liquid of the container is reached.

11 . The liquid purification system of claim 10 , wherein the automatic liquid purification process stopping means comprises a high-pressure control switch and/or a shutoff valve.

12 . The liquid purification system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one source liquid pressure reduction means.

13 . The liquid purification system of claim 12 , wherein the source liquid pressure reduction means is disposed at a source liquid supply output and/or in the source liquid distribution section, and/or in the source liquid feed section of the liquid flow control system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2017
From: SHMIDT, JOSEPH LVOVICH; SMIRNOV, SERGEJ VICTOROVICH; KNIZEL, VADIM NIKOLAEVICH
To: ELECTROPHOR INC.
Reel/Frame 043533/0874 →
Priority Claims (1)
RU RU2014143176 · Oct 27, 2014 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part PCTRU2015000522 · Aug 18, 2015
Related Publication 20170291142A1 · Oct 12, 2017
References Cited (144)
US 2910836A · Karrer · 1959 [cited by applicant]
US 3493496A · Bray · 1970 [cited by examiner]
US 3794172A · Bray · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 4086166A · Martin · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4176063A · Tyler · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4243523A · Pelmulder · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4414113A · LaTerra · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4626346A · Hall · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4704210A · Boze · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4833888A · Kerner · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4891594A · Wilfley · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4921610A · Ford · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4931186A · Ford · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4935143A · Kopp · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4973404A · Weber · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4981594A · Jones · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4983301A · Szuecz · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4997553A · Clack · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5024762A · Ford · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5049272A · Nieweg · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5266203A · Mukhopadhyay · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5503735A · Vinas · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 6068764A · Chau · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6093312A · Boulter · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6103125A · Kuepper · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 6120688A · Daly · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6162361A · Adiga · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6190558B1 · Robbins · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6290856B1 · Beall · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6331253B1 · Schrive · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6355173B1 · Den Bieman · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 7285210B2 · Schmitt · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7338595B2 · VanNewenhizen · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7601256B2 · Beall · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7628921B2 · Efraty · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 8147700B2 · Elektorowicz · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8652331B2 · Zha · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9550150B2 · Smirnov · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10399870B2 · Clark · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10562787B2 · Hoek · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10954141B2 · Wilson · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11439955B2 · Shmidt · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20020011443A1 · Komatsu · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020100716A1 · Bosko · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20050023198A1 · Halemba · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050109703A1 · Newenhizen · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070062870A1 · Chen · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070151925A1 · De Los Reyes · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20090113898A1 · Kirol · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090152197A1 · Lilas · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100018220A1 · Modad · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110180465A1 · Richetti · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110198275A1 · Hayes · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110303660A1 · Yang · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120048790A1 · Voelker · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120055858A1 · Collins · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120168368A1 · De Los Reyes · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120234739A1 · Smirnov et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130126430A1 · Kenley · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130334115A1 · Voelker · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140061129A1 · Hoz · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140110337A1 · Hoz · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20160046503A1 · Hoek · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170209834A1 · Cohen · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180251385A1 · Clark · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200140286A1 · Hoek · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200283309A1 · Reid · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220003218A1 · Hager · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220032218A1 · Shmidt · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220220007A1 · Reid · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 101732901 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 107108267 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 107250063 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 108473341 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108473342 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102006015675 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
DE 202011000680 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
DE 16842406 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 16842407 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 0479492 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
EP 1183212A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
EP 3241807 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 3345871 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3345872 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3372302 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
FR 2940764 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
RU 2004233C1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
RU 2047330 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
RU 2100295 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
RU 20256 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
RU 22434U1 · 2002 [cited by examiner]
RU 2199377 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
RU 2287490 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
RU 2297389 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
RU 2363663 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
RU 2006105261 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
RU 2323036 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
RU 2006121054 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
RU 2323766 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
RU 74909U1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
RU 2331586C2 · 2008 [cited by examiner]
RU 89097 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
RU 2421270C1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
RU 2473472 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
RU 2484884C1 · 2013 [cited by examiner]
RU 2494971 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
RU 2531392 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
RU 2614705 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
RU 2015137550 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
SU 1764094 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
WO 8502783 · 1985 [cited by applicant]
WO 9947226A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO 0076639 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 02055182 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2002055182 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010122336 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011110585 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012112045 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015083717 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015121821 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016108733 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017039485 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
Machine Translaton from the European patent office website of the description of RU 22434 U1. (Year: 2002). [cited by examiner]
Machine Translaton from the European patent office website of the description of RU 2331586 C2 (Year: 2008). [cited by examiner]
Machine Translaton from the European patent office website of the description of RU 2484884 C1 (Year: 2013). [cited by examiner]
International Search Report in corresponding International Application No. PCT/RU2015/000522, dated Dec. 24, 2015, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/RU2015/000890 mailed Apr. 21, 2016, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/RU2016/000466 mailed Jan. 12, 2017; 1 page. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/RU2016/000464 mailed Jan. 19, 2017; 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Supplemental European Search Report and Written Opinion for EP15875786 dated May 16, 2018; 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report in corresponding International Application No. PCT/RU2015/000216, mailed Aug. 13, 2015, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Report on Patentability in corresponding International Application No. PCT/RU2015/000216, mailed Jul. 8, 2015, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Supplemental European Search Report for EP15807541 mailed Feb. 15, 2018; 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Supplemental European Search Report for EP3214046 dated May 16, 2018; 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for EP15807541 mailed Feb. 15, 2018; 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for EP3214046 dated May 16, 2018; 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Report on Patentability in corresponding International Application No. PCT/RU2015/000890 mailed Jul. 18, 2017; 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Extended Search Report in International Application No. PCT/RU2015/000890 mailed May 25, 2018; 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Provisional Opinion and Partial Search Report for EP3345871, dated Apr. 16, 2019; 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Prelminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion of the International Search Authority for PCT/RU2016/000466 issued Mar. 6, 2018; 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Search Opinion for EP3345872, dated Mar. 29, 2019; 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
WO2015121821; EPO Machine Translation (Year: 2020). [cited by applicant]
FR2940764A 1—EPO Machine Translation (Year: 2020). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/RU2019/000309 dated Aug. 13, 2019; 2 pages. [cited by applicant]