DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a low pressure operated fluid valve for RO (Reverse Osmosis) filter system. More specifically, the invention provides a novel low pressure operated fluid valve for RO filter system that works on hydraulic energy without drawing additional power or pressure from the RO filter pump.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A solenoid valve (SV) is an electromagnetic valve or an electro-mechanical valve which controls the flow of liquid or gas.
Solenoid valves are used in a wide range of applications, with high or low pressures, and with small or large flow rates. These solenoid valves use different operating principles that are optimal for the application. In most flow control applications, it is necessary to start or stop the flow in the circuit to control the fluids in the system; therefore, an electronically operated solenoid valve is usually used for this purpose. The solenoid actuated valves can be positioned in remote locations and may be conveniently controlled by simple electrical switches. The most common example found is the Reverse Osmosis Water filters, for auto cut off of input water when the tank gets full.
An electromagnetic solenoid valve (SV) essentially consists of two main components a solenoid and a valve body. A solenoid comprises of an electromagnetically inductive coil around, with an iron core at the center called the plunger. At neutral state, it can be configured to either normally open or normally close. In de-energized state, a normally open valve shall remain open and a normally closed valve shall remain closed. If the current is allowed to flow through the solenoid, the coil around it is energized and creates a magnetic field. The magnetic field creates a magnetic attraction with the plunger, moving it and overcoming the spring force. If the valve is normally closed, the plunger is lifted so that the seal opens the orifice and allows the flow of the media/water through the valve. If the valve is normally open, the plunger moves downward so that the seal blocks the orifice and stops the flow of the media /water through the valve.
The SV for its correct and accurate functioning must be configured and selected according to the particular application at hand and determining the Kv-value (given in cubic meters per hour) and the application’s pressure range. The smaller the valve’s orifice, or stronger the coil, the higher the pressure the valve can shut-off. On the basis of the calculated Kv value, and the pressure range of the planned application, a correspondingly appropriate valve type and its required orifice can be determined.
In diaphragm type SV there is usually a small orifice of diameter 0.5-0.8mm in the diaphragm to release the vacuum when the plunger moves up to allow water to pass through. However, sometimes due to sediment particles present in water even after pre-filtration, these particles tend to stay in circulation and get deposited in the small hole provided in the diaphragm and pack it. Due to this vacuum is created and the diaphragm sticks to the top surface. This ultimately leads to an overflow of water from the tank when system is working or from the reject side of RO when the system is not working. Sometimes distinct clatter sound is produced in SV due to the reduced amount of magnetic field produced and heavy suction from the pump. Further, constant and continues power supply for operating SV is required, which increases the ampere rating of SMPS or power supply.
The state-of-the-art RO systems, such as CN210885577U provides an utility model discloses an RO water purifier. Relating to the technical field of water purification, the device comprises a box body, a front filter element and a pressure barrel, the four clamping type filter element joints are hinged in the box body; the PPF filter element, the UDF filter element, the RO filter element and the rear taste filter element can be respectively clamped with one clamping type filter element joint; wherein the front filter element, the raw water inlet, the PPF filter element and the UDF filter element are connected in sequence; the UDF filter element is communicated with an inlet of the RO filter element through a four-side valve and a non-electric booster pump; the RO concentrated water outlet is communicated with a concentrated water inlet of the non-electric booster pump; a waste water outlet of the non-electric booster pump is communicated with a waste water discharge outlet, an RO filtered water outlet is communicated with one connector of a three-way valve through a four-side valve, the other two connectors of the three-way valve are communicated with a pressure barrel connector and an inlet of a rear taste filter element respectively, and an outlet of the rear taste filter element is communicated with a pure water outlet. The RO water purifier provided by the utility model can save electric power resources, the filter element is convenient to install and replace, and the requirements of users can be better met.
CN213326979U. provides a utility model relates to the field of water purifiers, and discloses a water purifier which comprises a pressure barrel and a filter element, one end of the filter element is connected with a tap water inlet, the other end of the filter element is connected with a four-side valve, the four-side valve is connected with a first water outlet, a second water outlet and a first pressure reducing valve, and the first pressure reducing valve is connected with a second pressure reducing valve. The first pressure reducing valve is connected with the first water outlet and a second pressure reducing valve through a first three-way joint, and the second pressure reducing valve is connected with the pressure barrel. According to the water purifier provided by the utility model, on the premise of not influencing the service life of the filter element, part of concentrated water is drained to daily life by fully utilizing the height difference of water pressure, and a water purifier pressure barrel originally used by an RO (reverse osmosis) water purifier is subjected to pressure relief operation, so that the non-electric water purifier is used; the four-side valve works through the water pressure difference between the first pressure reducing valve and the second pressure reducing valve of the water purifier pressure barrel, and full-automatic water production is achieved.
CN209039190U provides an utility model discloses a non-electric drinking water purification device. The water purifier comprises a PP cotton filter element, a front activated carbon filter element and a hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane assembly which are sequentially communicated through a pipeline, an inlet of the PP cotton filter element is communicated with a tap water faucet through a pipeline; wherein the hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane assembly is provided with a first water outlet and a second water outlet, a valve B is arranged on the first water outlet, the second water outlet is sequentially communicated with the non-electric booster pump, the RO membrane assembly and the rear activated carbon filter element through pipelines, and a valve E is connected to an outlet pipeline of the rear activated carbon filter element. The utility model provides a non-electric drinking water purification device which is provided with a waste water outlet, a filtering device is prevented from being blocked through reverse flushing of waste water, bacteria and impurities are prevented from influencing the quality of purified water, and the purification effect is better. Electricity is not used, so that the safety performance is improved, and the use cost is reduced; the structure is simple, occupied space is small, and operation is convenient.
Therefore, there is a technical gap wherein an alternate to solenoid valve is required to be installed in the RO water purifier systems to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, the main object of the present invention is to provide a low pressure operated fluid valve for RO filter system, operating utilising the system hydraulic energy without drawing additional power, pressure or current from the system.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a low pressure operated fluid valves for RO system that automatically starts and stops the flow of water into the system with the existing hydraulic energy produced by the RO pump without adding additional load on the pump.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a robust low pressure operated fluid valves for RO filter system with reduced failure as compared to existing power-driven valves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel low pressure operated fluid valve for RO system, operating on hydraulic energy produced by the RO pump without drawing additional power and pressure or current from the system.
In an embodiment according to the present invention, the novel low pressure operated fluid valve comprises of housing employing one input water line, one water filter line, one reject water input line, and reject water output line. The housing further comprises of a plunger having seals on both the ends and a compression spring at reject water output line that is rested over one end of the plunger to applying counter force/pressure.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a low pressure operated fluid valve for RO system comprising a housing incorporating an input water line connected to a pump for pumping input the fresh water , a water filter line allowing the pumped fresh water to a filter module, and a reject water input line carrying the reject water to a reject water output line; wherein, the housing compartmentalised in two operating chambers having input water line and a water filter line in first operating chamber and reject water input line and reject water output line in the second operating chamber is incorporated with a plunger having a compression spring at one end; the plunger incorporated between the two operating chambers having first end with first seal and a back end with a second seal and a compression spring; and the first end first seal reversibly closes the input water line in the first chamber and a second seal reversibly closes the reject water input line and reject water output line in the second chamber.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides the low pressure operated fluid valve for RO system wherein the input water line and the reject water output line are aligned in the same axis and the reject water entering the low pressure operated fluid valve through reject water input line pushes the second seal to operate the valve on low pressure and applies counter force/pressure on the subsequent filters used in the system to produce pure water and the reject water. Further, the valve operates on hydraulic energy produced by the RO pump without drawing additional power and pressure or current from the system. The plunger is calibrated to displace at pressure above 40 psi applied through the inlet water pressure from the pump. The low pressure operated fluid valve for RO system wherein the compression spring is calibrated to compress at pressure above 40 psi applied through the reject water pressure.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating low pressure operated fluid valve in a RO filter system, the method comprising steps of pumping fresh water in input water line via a pump to a housing further comprising of compartmentalised in two operating chambers having input water line and a water filter line in first operating chamber and reject water input line and reject water output line in the second operating chamber is incorporated with a plunger having a compression spring at one end; fresh water displacing the first seal at the input water line using water pressure generated by the pump; allowing the fresh water through water filter line to pass through different filters and RO membrane and segregating portable water and reject water; receiving the rejected water from reject water input line to reject water output line via low pressure operated fluid valve; displacing second seal provided at the reject water output line using reject water pressure; allowing flow of rejected water through reject water output line to exit the system; wherein, assistive displacement of the first seal is done by the pressure of the reject water line once water starts flowing from reject water input line to reject water output line; and the compression spring acts as a flow restrictor by applying counter pressure on the filters to produce pure water.
In another embodiment of the present invention the method of operating novel low pressure operated fluid valve in a RO filter system, the valve operates on hydraulic energy produced by the RO pump without drawing additional power and pressure or current from the system whereby load on the operating pump is reduced due to displacement of the first seal once water start moving from reject water input line to reject water output line;
In yet another embodiment, the plunger and the compression spring is calibrated to displace at optimum pressure to operate the system through the reject water pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The object of the invention may be understood in more details and more particularly description of the invention briefly summarized above by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective equivalent embodiments.
FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement of the novel low pressure operated fluid valve according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of the novel low pressure operated fluid valve after receiving fresh water at input water line according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of the novel low pressure operated fluid valve after receiving fresh water at input water line and reject water at reject water input line according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the above objects of the present invention, in one embodiment of present invention provides a novel low pressure operated fluid valves for RO system working on hydraulic energy produced by the RO pump without drawing additional power/ pressure/ current from the system.
Referring to FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred arrangement of the novel low pressure operated fluid valve (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The novel low pressure operated fluid valve (100) comprises of housing and an input water line (102), a water filter line (104), a reject water input line (106) and a reject water output line (108). Further the housing comprises of a plunger (110) having first seal (112) at the input water line (102) and a second seal (114) at reject water output line (108) and a compression spring (116) provided at the reject water output line (108).
In an embodiment the housing is compartmentalised in two operating chambers having input water line (102) and a water filter line (104) in first operating chamber and reject water input line (106) and reject water output line (108) in the second operating chamber. Further the housing comprises of the plunger (110) incorporated between the two operating chambers having first end with first seal (112) and a back end with a second seal (114) with a compression spring (116) towards second seal (114) end. The compression spring (116) provided at the reject water output line (108) rested over the other end of the plunger (110) applies counter force/pressure on the subsequent filters used in the system to produce pure water and the reject water.
In an embodiment, the input water line (102) and the reject water output line (108) are aligned in the same axis and the reject water entering the novel low pressure operated fluid valve (100) also pushes the second seal (114) thus the valve can operate using low pressure.
Referring to FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of the novel low pressure operated fluid valve (100) after receiving fresh water (118) at input water line (102) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fresh water (118) at input water line (102) is pumped through a pump that applies an optimum pressure to the first seal (112) and displaces the plunger (110) towards the reject water output line (108). The pressure exerted by the pump on the first seal (112) allows the fresh water (118) to flow towards the filter water line (104) from where the water will flow through the all filters and RO membrane of the system.
Referring to FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of the novel low pressure operated fluid valve (100) after receiving fresh water (118) at input water line and reject water (120) at reject water input line (106) according to an embodiment of the present invention. As disclosed in FIG. 2, the pressure exerted by the pump on the first seal (112) allows the fresh water (118) to flow towards the filter water line (104) from where the water will flow through the all filters and RO membrane of the system. As fresh water (118) goes through the RO membrane it is divided into portable water and reject water (120). The reject water (120) then again brought into the low pressure operated fluid valve (100) through reject water input line (106). Now, this reject water exerts an additional force/pressure on the second seal (114) and further displaces the plunger (110). This applied additional force/pressure will reduce the load on the pump to move the first seal (112).
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

,CLAIMS:We claim,
1. A low pressure operated fluid valve (100) for RO system comprising:
a housing incorporating an input water line (102) connected to a pump for pumping input the fresh water (118), a water filter line (104) allowing the pumped fresh water (118) to a filter module, and a reject water input line (106) carrying the reject water (120) to a reject water output line (108); wherein,
the housing compartmentalised in two operating chambers having input water line (102) and a water filter line (104) in first operating chamber and reject water input line (106) and reject water output line (108) in the second operating chamber;
the plunger (110) incorporated between the two operating chambers having first end with first seal (112) and a back end with a second seal (114) and a compression spring (116); and
the first end first seal (112) reversibly closes the input water line (102) in the first chamber and a second seal (114) reversibly closes the reject water input line (106) and reject water output line (108) in the second chamber.
2. The low pressure operated fluid valve (100) for RO system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water filter line (104) and the reject water input line (106) are parallel to each other.

3. The low pressure operated fluid valve (100) for RO system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reject water input line (106) and the reject water output line (108) are aligned in same axis.

4. The low pressure operated fluid valve (100) for RO system as claimed in claim 1, the input water line (102) is perpendicular to the water filter line (104), the reject water input line (106) and the reject water output line (108).

5. The low pressure operated fluid valve (100) for RO system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reject water entering the low pressure operated fluid valve (100) through reject water input line (106) pushes the second seal (114) to operate the valve (100) on low pressure and applies counter force/pressure on the subsequent filters used in the system to produce pure water and the reject water.

6. A method of operating low pressure operated fluid valve (100) in a RO filter system, the method comprising steps of:

pumping fresh water (118) via a pump to a housing further comprising of compartmentalised in two operating chambers having input water line (102) and a water filter line (104) in first operating chamber and reject water input line (106) and reject water output line (108) in the second operating chamber and incorporated with a plunger (110) having a compression spring (116) at one end;

fresh water (118) displacing the first seal (112) at the input water line (102) using water pressure generated by the pump;

allowing the fresh water (118) through water filter line (104) to pass through different filters and RO membrane and segregating portable water and reject water;

receiving the rejected water (120) from reject water input line (106) to reject water output line (108) via low pressure operated fluid valve (100);

displacing second seal (114) provided at the reject water output line (108) using reject water (120) pressure;

allowing flow of rejected water (120) through reject water output line (108) to exit the system; wherein,

assistive displacement of the first seal (112) is done by the pressure of the reject water (120) once it starts flowing from reject water input line (106) to reject water output line (108); and

the compression spring (116) acts as a flow restrictor by applying counter pressure on the filters to produce pure water.

7. The method of operating novel low pressure operated fluid valve (100) in a RO filter system as claimed in claim 6, wherein load on the operating pump is reduced due to displacement of the first seal (112) once water starts moving from reject water input line (106) to reject water output line (108).