The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 1986
Filed:
Sep. 26, 1983
George S Ellis, III, Chardon, OH (US);
Kinetico, Inc., Newbury, OH (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for purifying a solvent such as water, using a reverse osmosis process. The apparatus includes a reverse osmosis (R.O.) unit 10, a storage tank 24 for storing permeate produced by the reverse osmosis unit, and a flushing arrangement for cleansing the concentrate side of a reverse osmosis membrane at the conclusion of a purifying cycle. In one embodiment, the storage tank 24 communicates with the input to the R.O. unit through a check valve 26 which allows permeate flow from the tank into the R.O. unit but prevents reverse flow. A flow regulating arrangement 34, 40, 42 maintains one of two pressures at the concentrate output. A system controller 50 controls the communication of feed water to the R.O. unit and the concentrate pressure. At the conclusion of a purifying cycle, the system controller terminates the flow of feed water and reduces the concentrate output pressure resulting in the flow of a quantity of permeate from the storage tank into the R.O. unit to flush the concentrate's side of the membrane. In another embodiment of the invention, a separate flushing accumulator 100 receives permeate during a purifying cycle. When the cycle is terminated, the permeate stored in the accumulator is transferred to the input side of the R.O. unit and flushes the membrane. According to a feature of this embodiment, the R.O. unit 10', the flushing accumulator 100' and the system controller 110' are integrated in a unitary package which is relatively maintenance free.