PURIFICATION DEVICE FOR WATER
[0002] Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a purification device for water.
[0004] Description of the Background Art
[0005] Purification devices for water that operate according to the principle of
reverse osmosis have been known for many decades in the area of drinking water
purification and are now widely used. They represent an important aid in the production
of safe drinking water. In reverse osmosis, the water to be purified is forced at high
pressure through an ultrafine membrane, wherein the membrane has little or no
permeability for the undesirable substances. In addition to stationary purification
devices, portable purification devices are also known.
[0006] For example, a portable purification device is disclosed in US 5 788 858.
The reverse osmosis unit consists of a plurality of pipes running horizontally in parallel,
held by a metal frame. Plastic is generally used as the pipe material. To be able to use
the purification device at various locations, the unit is mounted on a vehicle.
[0007] An additional purification device for water is known from EP 0 065 070 A2.
The device disclosed includes a meandering pipeline. The pipe arcs are formed around
a supporting frame constructed for this purpose. The pipes in the individual layers have
a gradient so that the unit can be emptied easily.
[0008] To meet the increasing need for water, especially in desert regions, more
and more large, stationary units for drinking water obtainment are being built, which
have a plurality of layers made of essentially horizontal, parallel pipes and operate
according to the reverse osmosis principle.
[0009] A disadvantage of the solutions to date is that in each case supporting
frames, generally made of metal or even stainless steel, specifically adapted to the size
of the purification devices, must be produced. The sizes of the supporting frames must
be adapted to the local circumstances, wherein as a result of the large number of pipes
fastened therein and their high weight, the supporting frame must have adequate
stiffness or static load-bearing ability. Depending on the design of the supporting frame,
various types of intermediate frames must be used for fastening the pipes or welded in
a labor-intensive manner. The intemiediate pieces must have adequate dimensional
stability. Welding processes are generally used to adapt the supporting metal frames. In
addition to meeting the static requirements, additional important prerequisites to be met
for reliable operation are the dimensional stability and the requirements for corrosion
resistance, especially in the case of seawater desalination units. Especially in the case
of use in a corrosive environment, high-quality, expensive stainless steel is often used.
[00010] In addition to the extremely time-intensive construction of the supporting
frames and the high material cost, additional high costs arise especially in the
construction of large units. Furthermore, because of the requirements for quality and
dimensional stability, individual construction is highly error-prone and can only be
carried out by well-trained technical personnel such as welders, mechanics and metal
fabricators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a purification
device for water which reduces the drawbacks of the state of the art.
[00012] According to an embodiment of the invention, a purification device for
water that operates according to the principle of reverse osmosis and has a plurality of
pipes essentially traveling in parallel is supplied, wherein first self-supporting common
parts are provided, which have a plurality of cutouts for positive accommodation of the
pipes, and the common parts can be stacked one on top of the other and a module with
side pieces and intermediate pieces, wherein the first common parts are designed as
intermediate pieces of the module and the side pieces can be connected to the
intermediate pieces.
[00013] One advantage of the purification device according to the invention is that
even large units can be assembled very rapidly at the location of use, in a cost-
advantageous and simple manner. In particular, through the use of first self-supporting
common parts, for the first time even large drinking water recovery units can be erected
easily and reliably without expert personnel. Furthermore, such first common parts can
be produced cost-advantageously on an industrial scale and can be transported in a
space-saving, simple way.
[00014] In a further embodiment, two first common parts stacked one on top of the
other form an opening for receiving at least one pipe. Since each of the first common
parts has only one, preferably semi-circular, recess for accommodating the pipes, the
static load-bearing capacity is only slightly impaired by the discontinuity of the fomi in
the case of the first common parts. Furthermore, the introduction of the pipes, whose
weight can amount to several hundred kilograms can be performed easily and rapidly by
simply lowering them. Furthermore the size of the recess can be easily adapted to the
diameter of the pipes during manufacturing, for example by means of a casting process,
by modifying the molded parts used for manufacturing. In addition, by placing adapter
pieces in the first common parts or around the respective pipe pieces, larger recesses
may also be readily adapted to smaller pipe diameters retrospectively. Furthemiore it is
possible, especially when elastic materials are used as adapters, in addition to the
force-fit connection, also to achieve a form-fit connection between the first common
parts and the pipes. In this way the pipes embedded between the first common parts
can be prevented from translational movement.
[00015] According to another embodiment, the first common parts, especially on
their respective tops and bottoms, have molded pieces which fit together at least
partially when stacked. Correspondingly the first common parts can be aligned relative
to one another without further aid during stacking. Furthermore the first common parts
are thereby protected against slipping sideways and the rigidity and self-supporting
ability of the first common parts and the total purification device are increased.
[00016] In another embodiment, the first common parts can be connected with
second common parts. It is also advantageous if for this purpose molded pieces are
fonned at the head ends of the first common parts to connect the first common parts
with the second common parts at least partially in a fonn-fittlng manner. Studies by the
applicant have shown that it is advantageous to design the second common parts as
side pieces which also have recesses to save weight. In this way it becomes possible in
a simple fashion to prepare a module in which the first common parts are used as
intermediate pieces and the second common parts as side pieces. Especially in the
case of large units, the length of a pipe amounts to several meters and therefore it is
preferred to support the pipes in several sections. Correspondingly it is provided, in
order to avoid placing excessive stress on the pipes, generally made of plastic, that a
module, in addition to two side pieces, can have three rows of intermediate pieces
stacked one on top of the other between the side pieces. As a result of the molded
pieces at the head ends of the first common parts, which for example are made in a
swallow-tail design, and the second common parts having a corresponding
accommodation, it is possible to quickly assemble the modules in a dimensionally stable
manner on site without further aids.
[00017] According to another embodiment, it is advantageous to connect the
second common parts with the first common parts using a fastener, for example,
threaded rods, by means of which in the case of design of the second common parts as
side pieces or in the case of design of the first common parts as intermediate pieces,
the side pieces can be connected with the intermediate pieces in a force-fitting manner.
To guarantee rapid assembly it is advantageous to provide suitable recesses in the first
and second common parts, through which the fasteners can be easily introduced. By
the use of suitable fasteners, among other things, the stability of the module can be
increased substantially. Correspondingly it is also possible to prefabricate entire
modules and transport the individual assembled modules to the site of use and there
connect them rapidly and cost-advantageously into larger units without the previously
customary steel beam construction. Furthermore the size of the units can be easily
varied. Studies by the applicant have shown that it is advantageous to form the side
pieces in a particularly rigid, statically loadable way. Through the fasteners and their
force-locking connection possibility of the intennediate pieces with the side pieces, the
large supporting forces of the pipes and the side walls can be at least partially
transferred. In this way it also becomes possible to stack several modules one on top of
the other without the lowermost pipe layer of the module below or their first common
parts being excessively overloaded.
[00018] In a preferred further embodiment, third common parts are provided as
spacers, which within one module make it possible to determine the distance between
two opposite second common parts in advance without the first common parts already
having to be used for this purpose. Preferably the third common parts at their respective
head ends have molded pieces, for example in a swallow-tall design. In this way the
third common parts can be easily introduced into corresponding recesses in the second
common parts. It is also possible to design the third common parts or the spacers as
supporting bodies to conduct the loads from the supported intermediate pieces to the
side walls. It is especially advantageous if the spacers are introduced at least below the
bottom layer of the first common parts. It is furthemiore advantageous if the spacers
can be connected with the side pieces by fastening means to transfer the large weight
forces of the pieces lying on them into the third common parts,
[00019] In an embodiment, the first and/or second and/or third common parts are
made of steel-reinforced concrete. In this case, by means of the inserted reinforcement,
all types of common parts can be easily adapted to the necessary load-bearing ability.
Furthermore the common parts can be prefabricated and easily transported to the site
of use. It is also possible to produce the necessary common parts at the site of use. A
further advantage is that the material is available almost anywhere and is cost-
advantageous. A high corrosion resistance can be achieved simply and cost-
advantageously through the use of steel reinforced concrete.
[00020] It should be mentioned that in the present invention the term "the common
parts" designates the parts that fulfill a similar function, for example as side pieces or as
intermediate pieces or as supporting pieces, preferably within a module. It is preferred
for the common parts within the respective class of the first common parts, and within
the class of the second common parts, and within the class of the third common parts
and within the class of the fourth common parts to have both a similar external form and
a different external form. In particular it is preferred that a side wall that is attached to a
first side of a module should have a mirror-image shape in comparison to the side wall
that is arranged on the second [side], opposite the first side of a module. In addition it is
advantageous that especially in the case of the first common parts, each common part
need not have a recess for receiving the first fastening means.
[00021] In a further embodiment, it is preferred to make the first and/or the second
and/or the third common parts essentially of plastic or wood or a composite material, for
example a glass fiber reinforced plastic.
[00022] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be
understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating
preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since
various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00023] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed
description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way
of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[00024] Fig. 1 is a top view of first common parts of a purification device in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[00025] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a module using third common parts as
spacers;
[00026] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the module of Fig. 2 with a first layer made
of first common parts; and
[00027] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an almost completely assembled module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00028] According to the illustration in Fig. 1, the purification device in accordance
with the invention has first self-supporting common parts 10 with recesses 12 for
accommodating pipes 14. On the respective head ends 15 of the first common parts 10,
molded pieces, preferably in a swallow-tail design, are provided. Furthermore the first
common parts 10 have cylindrical pass-through first recesses 17, into which first
fastening means 20, preferably in the form of threaded rods, can be introduced. In
addition the purification device in accordance with the invention has two common parts
30 designed as side pieces and third common parts 40 designed as spacers. Both the
second common parts 30 and the third common parts 40 have cylindrical second
recesses 32 or third recesses 42 for receiving part of the fastening means 20.
Furthermore, in the second common parts 30, fourth recesses 34 are provided for
receiving nuts 33. In this way the second common parts 30, designed as side pieces,
can be aligned horizontally adjacent to one another with negligible space between them.
even when first fastening means 20 are introduced. In addition, fourth common parts 50
are designed with recesses 51 and swallow-tail-shaped molded pieces on the
respective head ends 52 for easily connecting the fourth common parts 50 with the
second common parts 30. Furthennore the fourth common parts 50 have cylindrical,
preferably penetrating fourth recesses 54. By means of the fourth common parts 50, a
flat closing surface can be formed both on the underside of the stack consisting of first
common parts 10 and on its top.
[00029] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 respectively show a possible embodiment of a modular
makeup or assembly of a module 100. According to the illustration in Fig. 2, a second
side wall is placed in the third common part 30 already connected to a first side wall and
designed as a spacer. To save weight, the second common parts 30 designed as side
walls have fifth recesses 135. Furthermore the second common parts 30 preferably
have guides 138 of swallow-tail design for optionally accommodating conrespondingly
shaped third and first common parts 30 and 10, respectively. In the introduced state, the
open space between the side pieces shown is determined by the length of the spacers.
Furthermore as a result of the distance of the guides 138 along a side piece, a grid
dimension or a distance between the support points of the pipes is predetermined within
the two side pieces.
[00030] According to Fig. 3 in the module 100 there are now fourth common parts
50 respectively supported on third common parts 40. Furthermore the assigned section
of the pipe 14 lies in the third recesses 51 of the fourth common parts 50. In the
embodiment shown the pipe 14 is surrounded with elastic sleeves 140 at the supporting
sites to guarantee a form- and force-fitting connection between the pipes 14, when
additionally first common parts 10 are slid into the guides 138.
[00031] Fig. 4 shows a possible embodiment of a practically finished module 100
exhibiting a plurality of pipes 14 embedded between first common parts 10 and between
first and fourth common parts 10 and 50 respectively. Furthermore, threaded rods are
slid in as first fastening means 20 through the module 100 in order to secure the slid-in
common parts against slipping when the module is lifted and to increase the stability of
the modules by first diverting part of the weight of the stack to the side pieces.
[00032] One advantage of the embodiment shown is that through the use of
common parts which additionally have advantageous recesses, easy and rapid
assembly of the modules is made possible without requiring a large number of trained
personnel. Furthermore, the modules can be transported to the site of use either as
construction kits or in the finished state. In particular, modular construction with
common parts, specifically in the case of large units for producing drinking water for
example by seawater desalination, permits a considerable reduction of costs. In
addition, the static calculations for the supporting frames, generally made of steel, which
are particularly tedious to perform in the case of large units are no longer required.
Likewise, tedious monitoring of the quality of weld seams and the dimensional stability
of the frames can be dispensed with.
[00033] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may
be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one
skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
We claim:
1. A purification device for water that operates according to principle of reverse
osmosis, the purification device comprising:
a plurality of essentially parallel pipes;
first self-supporting common parts having a plurality of first recesses for force-
fitting accommodation of the pipes and which represent first common parts that are
stackable on top of one another; and
a module having side pieces and intermediate pieces,
wherein the first common parts are configured as intermediate pieces of the
module and the side pieces are connectable to the intermediate pieces.
2. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein the side pieces are configured
as two common parts.
3. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein the first common parts have
molded pieces that at least partially Interlock when stacked one on the other.
4. The purification device according to claim 3, wherein at head ends of the first
common parts, molded pieces are formed so that the first common parts are
connectable in an at least partially form-fitting way with the second common parts.
5. The purification device according to claim 2, wherein recesses are provided in the
second common parts to reduce the weight.
6. The purification device according to claim 5, wherein the module has two side pieces
and three rows of intennediate pieces stacked one on top of the other between the side
pieces.
7. The purification device according to claim 5, wherein the side pieces are connectable
with the intennediate pieces by a first fastener.
8. The purification device according to claim 6, wherein the side pieces and at least
some of the intermediate pieces have recesses for accommodating the first fastener.
9. The purification device according to claim 6, wherein within the module three
common parts are provided as spacers, which determine the distance between two
second common parts located opposite one another.
10. The purification device according to claim 9, wherein the spacers are configured as
supporting pieces to conduct the loads of supported intermediate pieces to the side
walls.
11. The purification device according to claim 9, wherein the spacers are connectable
with the side pieces by the first fastener.
12. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein the first common parts, and/or
the second common parts, and/or the third common parts are made of steel reinforced
concrete.
13. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein the first common parts, the
second common parts and the third common parts are made of plastic.
14. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein the first common parts, the
second common parts and the third common parts are made of wood.
15. The purification device according to claim 10, wherein the respectively first common
parts and/or the respectively second common parts and/or the respectively third
common parts have a different external form.

A purification device for water is provided, which operates according to the principle of
reverse osmosis and has a plurality of pipes essentially traveling in parallel, wherein first
self-supporting common parts are provided, which have a plurality of recesses for force-
fitting accommodation of the pipes and the common parts can be stacked one on top of
the other. Through the formation of common parts, it is possible to erect large water
treatment plants made from modules in a simple, cost-advantageous manner.