Water vending apparatus

Abstract

A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water vending system comprising:
 a water vapor distillation apparatus;   a dispensing device, wherein the dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and whereby product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device;   a programmable logic controller;   a primary tank receiving water from the water vapor distillation apparatus;   a secondary tank receiving water from the primary tank and located above the dispensing device; and   an air flow conduit between the primary tank and the secondary tank.   
     
     
         2 . The water vending system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device comprises a nozzle, the nozzle receives water from the secondary tank and the received water is gravity fed. 
     
     
         3 . The water vending system of  claim 1 , wherein the second tank is open to atmosphere via an air intake with an air filter. 
     
     
         4 . The water vending system of  claim 3 , wherein the air filter is a HEPA filter. 
     
     
         5 . The water vending system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device comprises a first fill station and a second fill station, each fill station including a container support, water nozzle and a proximity sensor, and the first station is sized to accept containers too large for second station. 
     
     
         6 . The water vending system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing containing part of the dispensing device, the primary tank, the secondary tank and a transparent section that allowing visual access to the secondary tank. 
     
     
         7 . The water vending system of  claim 1  further comprising a fill pump wherein the fill pump pumps water from the primary tank to the secondary tank. 
     
     
         8 . The water vending system of  claim 1  further comprising an ultraviolet sterilizer coupled to a fluid path between the secondary tank and the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The water vending system of  claim 7  further comprising a chiller tank that may receive water from the primary tank and provide water to the dispensing device and a pump to move to or from the chiller tank. 
     
     
         10 . A water vending system comprising:
 a water vapor distillation apparatus;   a dispensing device, wherein the dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and whereby product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device;   a programmable logic controller;   a primary tank receiving water from the water vapor distillation apparatus;   a secondary tank receiving water from the primary tank via a first fluid path;   a UV sterilizer coupled to a first fluid path; and   a secondary fluid path that allows water to flow from the secondary tank to primary tank; and   a pump to circulate water through the first fluid path wherein the PLC stops the pump when the UV sterilizer is degraded.   
     
     
         11 . The water vending system of  claim 10 , further comprising an air flow conduit between the primary tank and the secondary tank. 
     
     
         12 . The water vending system of  claim 10 , wherein the PLC to cancel vending requests when the PLC receives signals indicating the UV sterilizer is degraded. 
     
     
         13 . The water vending system of  claim 10 , wherein the PLC stops water production by the water vapor distillation apparatus when the PLC receives signals indicating the UV sterilizer is degraded. 
     
     
         14 . The water vending system of  claim 10 , further comprising sensors to detect degradation of the UV sterilizer including burnt out UV bulb or UV intensity below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         15 . The water vending system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispensing device comprises a nozzle, the nozzle receives water from the secondary tank and the received water is gravity fed. 
     
     
         16 . The water vending system of  claim 10 , wherein the second tank is open to atmosphere via an air intake with an air filter. 
     
     
         17 . The water vending system of  claim 16 , wherein the air filter is a HEPA filter. 
     
     
         18 . The water vending system of  claim 15 , wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of parallel passages that provide laminar flow exiting the nozzle.