Water purification system and method including dispensed volume sensing and control

Abstract

A water purification system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path. The system includes a water purification device having an inlet and an outlet in the water flow path and at least one interior volume communicating with the inlet and outlet. A purification medium is disposed within the interior volume of the water purification device. A flow control system is provided controlling a volume of purified water dispensed from the outlet. The flow control system includes an input device configured to allow a user to input a desired volume of purified water to be dispensed from the outlet and a sensing device coupled with the electronic input device and operative to determine the volume of purified water being dispensed from the outlet. A flow regulation device is coupled with the flow control system and operative to stop the discharge of purified water at the outlet upon reaching the desired volume of purified water.

1. A water purification system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path between an inlet and an outlet, the system comprising:
 a water purification device in a water flow path having an outlet, said water purification device having at least one interior volume;  
 a purification medium positioned within the interior volume;  
 a pump for moving water through the purification medium;  
 a flow control system for controlling a volume of purified water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path, the flow control system including an input device configured to allow a user to input a desired volume of purified water to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path during a dispense cycle and a sensing device operable to generate a signal used to determine a volume of purified water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path; and  
 a flow regulation device coupled with the flow control system and operable to stop the discharge of purified water at the outlet of the water flow path when the desired volume of purified water has been dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path.  ; and  
   wherein the flow control system is configured to execute a system leak checking routine to determine whether purified water is leaking from the system based at least in part on the signal from the sensing device used to determine a volume of purified water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path and disable the pump when a leak is detected.   
 
     
     
       2. A water purification system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path between an inlet and an outlet, the system  comprising:
 a recirculating water flow circuit including a recirculating water flow path having an inlet and an outlet;  
   a pump for moving and recirculating water through the recirculating water flow path;   
 a water purification device in a  the water flow path having an outlet , said water purification device having at least one interior volume;  
 a purification medium positioned within the interior volume;  
 an input device configured to allow a user to input a desired volume of water to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path during a dispense cycle;  
 a sensing device operable to generate a signal used to determine a volume of water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path;  
 an electronic control coupled with the sensing device and having an output responsive to the signal for indicating the volume of water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path; and  
 a display coupled to the electronic control and responsive to the output for displaying the volume of water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path. 
 a flow regulation device controlled by the electronic control to selectively dispense purified water through the outlet or recirculate water through the recirculating water flow path;  
   wherein the electronic control is operable to control the flow regulation device to stop the discharge of purified water through the outlet of the water flow path when the desired volume of purified water has been dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path and sets the flow regulation device to automatically recirculate water through the water flow path upon stopping the discharge of purified water through the outlet of the water flow path.   
 
     
     
       3. A water purification device  system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path between an inlet and an outlet, the system  comprising:
 a water purification device in a water flow path having an outlet, said water purification device having at least one interior volume;  
 a purification medium positioned within the interior volume;  
 a pump for moving water through the purification medium;  
 an input device configured to allow a user to input a desired volume of purified water to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path during a dispense cycle;  
 a sensing device configured to sense a fluid characteristic of the water flowing through the water flow path, the fluid characteristic being at least indirectly indicative of the volume of water flowing through the outlet of the water flow path;  
 a flow regulation device coupled to the water flow path and configured to control the discharge of purified water from the outlet of the water flow path; and  
 a control coupled to the input device, the sensing device, and the flow regulation device, the control operating to manipulate information generated by the input device and the sensing device to thereby control the flow regulation device to dispense the desired volume of purified water from the outlet of the water flow path.  ; and  
   a remote dispensing gun for dispensing purified water from the water flow path and connectable to the water flow path at a location separate from the outlet, the control being operable to manipulate information to determine the presence of the remote dispensing gun for controlling the flow of water through the water flow path.   
 
     
     
       4. A water purification system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path between an inlet and an outlet, the system  comprising:
 a recirculating water flow circuit including a recirculating water flow path having an inlet and an outlet;  
   a pump for moving water through the recirculating water flow path;   
 a water purification device in a  the water flow path having an outlet , said water purification device having at least one interior volume;  
 a purification medium positioned within the interior volume;  
 an input device configured to allow a user to input a desired volume of water to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path during a dispense cycle;  
 a sensing device operable to generate a signal  comprising a timer used to determine a volume of water dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path; and  
 an electronic control coupled with the sensing device and havingan electronic control comprising means for correlating a desired volume of purified water input by the user to a dispense time and generating an output responsive to the signaltimer for indicating the volume of water remaining to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path until the desired volume of water to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path is reached; andand causing recirculation through the water flow path after reaching the desired volume of water. 
 a display coupled to the electronic control and responsive to the output for displaying the volume of water remaining to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path until the desired volume of water to be dispensed from the water flow path is reached. 
 
     
     
       5. The water purification system recited in  claim 1  further comprising a remote dispensing gun connected to the water flow path downstream of the interior volume containing the purification medium for dispensing purified water from the water flow path at a location different from the output of the water flow path; and
   wherein the flow control system is configured to execute the system leak checking routine to determine whether purified water is leaking from the system based at least in part on indication of whether the remote dispensing gun is in use.     
     
     
       6. The water purification system recited in  claim 2  wherein the sensing device measures the volume of water flowing into the inlet of the water flow path. 
     
     
       7. The system recited in  claim 2  wherein the sensing device is a vane- type water flowmeter.   
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the vane- type water flowmeter is positioned upstream of the inlet to the recirculating water flow path.   
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the pump can be operated at a full speed and at a lower recirculation speed, and the electronic control controls the speed of the pump in accordance with the following steps:
   setting pump speed to the full speed when the user initiates a desired volume of purified water to be dispensed;        positioning the flow regulation device to dispense purified water through the outlet with the pump set at full speed;        positioning the flow regulation device to stop flow through the outlet when the desired volume of water has been dispensed; and        setting the pump speed to the lower recirculation speed after the flow regulation device has been positioned to stop flow through the outlet.     
     
     
       10. The system recited in  claim 2  wherein a check valve is located in the water flow path downstream of the outlet and upstream of the inlet to help prevent backflow from the inlet. 
     
     
       11. The system recited in  claim 2  further comprising a remote dispensing gun connected to the recirculating water flow path downstream of the interior volume containing the purification medium and upstream of the inlet of the recirculating water flow path for dispensing purified water from the water flow path at a location different from the outlet of the water flow path. 
     
     
       12. The system as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a display coupled to the electronic control for displaying the volume of water that has been dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path. 
     
     
       13. The system recited in  claim 2  further comprising a display coupled to the electronic control for displaying the volume of water remaining to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path until the desired volume of water to be dispensed from the water flow path is reached. 
     
     
       14. The system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the water flow path is a recirculating water flow path and the remote dispensing gun is connected to the water flow path downstream of the interior volume containing the purification medium and upstream of an inlet to the water flow path. 
     
     
       15. The system as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a check valve downstream of the flow regulation device and the remote dispensing gun and upstream of an inlet to the water flow path. 
     
     
       16. The system recited in  claim 4  further comprising a flow regulation device controlled by the electronic control to selectively dispense purified water through the outlet or recirculate water through the water flow path; wherein the electronic control controls the flow regulation device to stop the discharge of purified water through the outlet of the water flow path and automatically recirculates water through the water flow path when the desired volume of purified water has been dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path. 
     
     
       17. The system recited in  claim 4  further comprising a final filter that filters purified water immediately before it exits the system through the outlet. 
     
     
       18. The system recited in  claim 4  further comprising a remote dispensing gun connected to the recirculating water flow path downstream of the interior volume containing the purification medium and upstream of the inlet of the recirculating water flow path for dispensing purified water from the water flow path at a location different from the outlet of the water flow path. 
     
     
       19. The system recited in  claim 4  further comprising a pressure regulator for regulating water pressure of water feeding into the recirculating water flow path. 
     
     
       20. The system as recited in  claim 4  further comprising a display coupled to the electronic control for displaying the volume of water that has been dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path. 
     
     
       21. The system recited in  claim 4  further comprising a display coupled to the electronic control for displaying the volume of water remaining to be dispensed from the outlet of the water flow path until the desired volume of water to be dispensed from the water flow path is reached.