Reverse osmosis separation apparatus

Claim 2

In a water purifying system, the combination comprising: inlet means adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized feedwater and outlet means adapted to be connected to feedwater utilizing appliance means, tubular reverse osmosis water purIfying means constructed and arranged to allow substantial flushing flow inside the tubes and interposed between said inlet and outlet means and connected serially between a feedwater source and appliance means, a pure water outlet, said purifying means comprising semipermeable membrane means having one side thereof in fluid communication with said inlet means and another side in fluid communication with said pure water outlet, said appliance feeding outlet being in fluid communication with said one side of said membrane for receiving all water from said feedwater inlet not permeating said membrane and feeding the same to appliance means, the pressure applied to said inlet being substantially the same as the pressure of the feedwater source and the flow of feedwater through said inlet being relatively small when said appliance outlet is not conducting water and relatively high to flush said purifying means of concentrated impurities when said appliance outlet is conducting water.

Claim 3

In a water purifying system, the combination comprising: inlet means adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized feedwater and outlet means adapted to be connected to feedwater utilizing appliance means, tubular reverse osmosis water purIfying means constructed and arranged to allow substantial flushing flow inside the tubes and interposed between said inlet and outlet means and connected serially between a feedwater source and appliance means, a pure water outlet, said purifying means comprising semipermeable membrane means having one side thereof in fluid communication with said inlet means and another side in fluid communication with said pure water outlet, said appliance feeding outlet being in fluid communication with said one side of said membrane for receiving all water from said feedwater inlet not permeating said membrane and feeding the same to appliance means, the pressure applied to said inlet being substantially the same as the pressure of the feedwater source and the flow of feedwater through said inlet being relatively small when said appliance outlet is not conducting water and relatively high to flush said purifying means of concentrated impurities when said appliance outlet is conducting water.

Claim 4

In a water purifying system, the combination comprising: inlet means adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized feedwater and outlet means adapted to be connected to feedwater utilizing appliance means, tubular reverse osmosis water purIfying means constructed and arranged to allow substantial flushing flow inside the tubes and interposed between said inlet and outlet means and connected serially between a feedwater source and appliance means, a pure water outlet, said purifying means comprising semipermeable membrane means having one side thereof in fluid communication with said inlet means and another side in fluid communication with said pure water outlet, said appliance feeding outlet being in fluid communication with said one side of said membrane for receiving all water from said feedwater inlet not permeating said membrane and feeding the same to appliance means, the pressure applied to said inlet being substantially the same as the pressure of the feedwater source and the flow of feedwater through said inlet being relatively small when said appliance outlet is not conducting water and relatively high to flush said purifying means of concentrated impurities when said appliance outlet is conducting water.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 further including a selectively operable bypass valve interconnecting said inlet and said appliance feeding outlet.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said membrane means comprises a plurality of membrane cells, at least some of said cells being connected in parallel flow relation so as not to restrict the flow of water to said appliance means.

Claim 7

A reverse osmosis water purification unit adapted for use with changing flow low pressure low mineral content water systems to provide pure water without wastage of water comprising: a plurality of membrane cells, at least some of which are connected together for parallel flow of water therethrough and each including a semipermeable membrane having a first side to be subjected to impure water and a second side from which pure water may be received, said membrane cells defining a closed flow path; inlet means adapted to be connected with an impure water distribution system and being in fluid communication with said one sides of said membrane for receiving and directing all impure input water directly from the water distribution system to said first side of said membranes and being located at one end of said flow path; impure water outlet means in fluid communication with said first side of said membranes and located at the other end of said flow path, said outlet means being constructed and arranged to direct all water from said inlet and passing through said flow path to a point of use, whereby to provide high velocity flow in series with a system to flush concentrated impurities from said membrane cells; a pure water outlet in fluid communication with said second side of said membranes; each of said membrane cells being tubular and comprising an inner tubular semipermeable membrane and an outer support tube; first header means supporting one end of each of the plurality of tubes; second header means supporting the other end of each of the plurality of tubes; first end cap means associated with one of said header means for connecting certain of the tubes for parallel flow and other for serial flow; and second end cap means associated with the other of said header means including said impure water inlet means and said impure water outlet means; one of said end cap means further including said pure water outlet and means in fluid communication with the interface of each tube and the corresponding membrane and said pure water outlet.

Claim 8

A reverse osmosis water purification unit adapted for use with changing flow low pressure low mineral content water systems to provide pure water without wastage of water comprising: a plurality of membrane cells, at least some of which are connected together for parallel flow of water therethrough and each including a semipermeable membrane having a first side to be subjected to impure water and a second side from which pure water may be received, said membrane cells defining a closed flow path; inlet means adapted to be connected with an impure water distribution system and being in fluid communication with said one sides of said membrane for receiving and directing all impure input water directly from the water distribution system to said first side of said membranes and being located at one end of said flow path; impure water outlet means in fluid communication with said first side of said membranes and located at the other end of said flow path, said outlet means being constructed and arranged to direct all water from said inlet and passing through said flow path to a point of use, whereby to provide high velocity flow in series with a system to flush concentrated impurities from said membrane cells; a pure water outlet in fluid communication with said second side of said membranes; each of said membrane cells being tubular and comprising an inner tubular semipermeable membrane and an outer support tube; first header means supporting one end of each of the plurality of tubes; second header means supporting the other end of each of the plurality of tubes; first end cap means associated with one of said header means for connecting certain of the tubes for parallel flow and other for serial flow; and second end cap means associated with the other of said header means including said impure water inlet means and said impure water outlet means; one of said end cap means further including said pure water outlet and means in fluid communication with the interface of each tube and the corresponding membrane and said pure water outlet.

Claim 9

A reverse osmosis unit according to claim 4 wherein each tubular membrane includes a liquid impervious end located beyond an end of the respective support tube and said means in fluid communication with the interface of each tube and the corresponding membrane includes a grooved surface; and sealing means in sealing engagement with said liquid impervious ends to seal the same from said grooved surface.

Claim 10

A reverse osmosis unit according to claim 5 wherein said sealing means comprises a sheet of deformable material having a plurality of apertures Adapted to receive the liquid impervious ends of said tubular membranes, the cross sectional area of said apertures being significantly less than the cross sectional area of said liquid impervious ends.

Claim 11

In a system for separating the solvent in a liquid mixture from the mixture by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: a support tube for a semipermeable membrane, a tubular membrane within said support tube, one of said membrane and said support tube being provided with a liquid impervious end, a mounting arranged so that said liquid impervious end projects from the same, liquid mixture directing means for directing a liquid mixture under high pressure to the interior of said tubular membrane, said directing means and said mounting defining a high pressure area, and sealing means comprising a thin flexible, generally normally planar sheet-like means having an aperture similar in shape to the shape of said liquid impervious end but of significantly smaller size disposed about said liquid impervious end and having one side backed by said mounting and another side facing said high pressure area and having an outturned lip embracing said liquid impervious end within said high pressure area and formed by distortion of the aperture surrounding a portion of the sealing means when the same is applied to the liquid impervious end to thereby provide a seal that responds positively to increasing pressure in said high pressure area.

Claim 12

In a system for separating the solvent in a liquid mixture from the mixture by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: a support tube for a semipermeable membrane, a tubular membrane within said support tube, one of said membrane and said support tube being provided with a liquid impervious end, a mounting arranged so that said liquid impervious end projects from the same, liquid mixture directing means for directing a liquid mixture under high pressure to the interior of said tubular membrane, said directing means and said mounting defining a high pressure area, and sealing means comprising a thin flexible, generally normally planar sheet-like means having an aperture similar in shape to the shape of said liquid impervious end but of significantly smaller size disposed about said liquid impervious end and having one side backed by said mounting and another side facing said high pressure area and having an outturned lip embracing said liquid impervious end within said high pressure area and formed by distortion of the aperture surrounding a portion of the sealing means when the same is applied to the liquid impervious end to thereby provide a seal that responds positively to increasing pressure in said high pressure area.

Claim 13

Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said liquid impervious means is on the end of the tubular membrane.

Claim 14

A reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said mounting comprises a baffle having a groove in fluid communication with the interface of said support tube and said tubular membrane.

Claim 15

In a system for separating the solvent in a liquid mixture from the mixture by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: a support tube for a semipermeable membrane, a tubular membrane within said support tube and having a liquid impervious end extending therefrom, a baffle having an aperture receiving said liquid impervious end, said baffle having a fluid conduit on one side thereof in fluid communication with the interface of said support tube and said tubular membrane and a normally planar lip on the other side thereof surrounding said aperture, said lip projecting into said aperture and being adapted to be distorted by the liquid impervious end of the membrane when the same is placed in the aperture to tightly embrace the same; and means defining a high pressure area adjacent said other side of said baffle including means for introducing a liquid mixture under high pressure into said liquid impervious end.

Claim 16

In a system for separating the solvent in a liquid mixture from the mixture by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: a support tube for a semipermeable membrane, a tubular membrane within said support tube and having a liquid impervious end extending therefrom, a baffle having an aperture receiving said liquid impervious end, said baffle having a fluid conduit on one side thereof in fluid communication with the interface of said support tube and said tubular membrane and a normally planar lip on the other side thereof surrounding said aperture, said lip projecting into said aperture and being adapted to be distorted by the liquid impervious end of the membrane when the same is placed in the aperture to tightly embrace the same; and means defining a high pressure area adjacent said other side of said baffle including means for introducing a liquid mixture under high pressure into said liquid impervious end.

Claim 17

In a reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said lip is integral with said baffle.

Claim 18

In a reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said lip is bonded to said baffle.