FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a water-purifying device, and more particularly, to a water-purifying device, which can enhance the oxygen content in water up to the desired level.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many benefits may be obtained through the use of water containing an elevated quantity of dissolved oxygen. Increased levels of oxygen in water also act to purify the water, killing a variety of biological and chemical contaminants, as is known in the art. Further, it is believed that humans may obtain certain health benefits by consuming oxygenated water. For example, certain studies have shown that animals such as chickens and turkeys grow heavier for a given grain consumption if their drinking water has elevated oxygen levels.

In one solution, the oxygen content of water may be increased via electrolysis, a process that is well known in the art. Typically, current is supplied to a cathode and an anode positioned in a water solution. The passage of electricity through the solution splits the water molecule causing the formation of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The hydrogen tends to bubble out of solution, whereas a certain quantity of the oxygen molecules are trapped by the water molecules and remain in solution, thereby increasing the dissolved oxygen content of the water.

Currently available systems for oxygenating water with electrolytic cells may not reach desired levels of dissolved oxygen, nor do they function as efficiently as desired. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved system for increasing the dissolved oxygen content of water to desired levels at an improved efficiency and speed. A water-purifying device 100 of the prior art is shown in FIG. 1, which has a water inlet 102 and a water outlet 104. The water source to be filtered flows from the water inlet 102 to the water-purifying device 104. Then the filtered clean water source flows to and exits the water outlet 104 such that the users can drink the filtered clean water directly, or drink after the water is boiled.

In general, the foregoing water-purifying device 100 just simply filters out the impurities in water but cannot further increase the oxygen content in water. Therefore, how to increase the oxygen content in water and increase the oxygen content in human after drinking the water over a long period of time is the problem that the present invention has been made to solve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for increasing the oxygen content of water. The oxygenated water may then be used for a variety of purposes.

The primary objective of the present invention that has been made is to provide a water-purifying device for increasing oxygen content, which improves the conventional water-purifying device, and can filter out the impurities in water, as well as can increase the oxygen content in the water, advantageous to human absorption and metabolism.

In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus for enhancing the oxygen content comprises,

a. a first cylindrical portion adapted to receive water containing oxygen content of a first level from a water supply pipe; b. a second cylindrical portion adapted to deliver water containing oxygen level of a second level towards a water outlet pipe, wherein said second level is higher than said first level;

c. a third cylindrical portion sandwiched between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, wherein a first end of the third cylindrical portion is coupled to the first cylindrical portion and a second end of the third cylindrical portion is coupled to the second cylindrical portion;

wherein the third cylindrical portion comprises at least one sheet along a length of the third cylindrical portion and a surface of the at least one sheet comprises a sine-wave profile so that flow of the water acquires the sine-wave profile when passed through the third cylindrical portion; and wherein the at least one sheet comprising sine-wave profile includes at least 4 crests and troughs so that flow of the water has to face at least 5 crest and troughs when passed through the third cylindrical portion.

In another embodiment, a method for enhancing oxygen content in water is disclosed. The method comprises:

receiving water containing oxygen content of a first level from a water supply pipe and allowing water to flow through a first distance through a first portion of cylindrical pipe; allowing water to flow through a third distance through a third portion of cylindrical pipe such that the flow of the water in the third distance acquires a sine-wave profile such that the flow of the water faces at least 4 crests and troughs when passed through said third distance;

receiving water from the second portion of cylindrical pipe and allowing water to flow through said second cylindrical portion through a second distance for delivering water containing oxygen content of a second level towards a water outlet pipe. To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a water purifier device in accordance with general state of the art;

Figure 2 illustrates an apparatus for enhancing the oxygen content in water in 2D form in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 illustrates a 2D view of the third cylindrical portion containing the sine wave profile sheet as referred in Figure 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a method for enhancing the oxygen content in water using the device referred in Figure 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

Detailed Description:

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to "an aspect", "another aspect" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises...a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figure 2, an apparatus 200 in 2D form for enhancing the oxygen content in water is illustrated. The apparatus 200 comprises a first cylindrical portion 202 adapted to receive water containing oxygen content of a first level from a water supply pipe (not shown). The apparatus 200 further includes a second cylindrical portion 202 adapted to deliver water containing oxygen level of a second level towards a water outlet pipe (not shown), wherein said second level is higher than said first level. A third cylindrical portion 206 is sandwiched between the first cylindrical portion 202 and the second cylindrical portion 204, wherein a first end 208 of the third cylindrical portion 206 is coupled to the first cylindrical portion 202 and a second end 210 of the third cylindrical portion 206 is coupled to the second cylindrical portion 204; wherein the third cylindrical portion 206 comprises at least one sheet 212 along a length of the third cylindrical portion 206 and a surface of the at least one sheet 212 comprises a sine-wave profile so that flow of the water acquires the sine-wave profile when passed through the third cylindrical portion 206; and wherein the at least one sheet 212 comprising sine-wave profile includes at least 4 crests and troughs so that flow of the water has to face at least 4 crest and troughs when passed through the third cylindrical portion 206.

In a preferred embodiment, the water flows above and below the sheet 212 forming the sine profile.

In a preferred embodiment, the sine-wave profile includes at 5 crests and troughs respectively and preferably 6.

In a preferred embodiment, crests and troughs are of equal size and have range between 17-21 mm in height (depth) respectively, and preferably 19.2 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, crests and troughs are of equal size and have range between 408-420 mm in height (depth) respectively, and preferably 410-412 mm.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and third cylindrical portion 206 are of equal size.

In another embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and third cylindrical portion 206 have size in the range of 200- 225 mm and preferably 218 mm. In another embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and third cylindrical portion 206 have size in the range of 490-420 mm and preferably 500 mm.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and third cylindrical portion 206 are made up of same or different material.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and third cylindrical portion 206 are made up of metallic material including aluminium, iron, stainless steel, copper.

In an embodiment, the sheet 212 is made up of same or different material of the material used for first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and third cylindrical portion 206.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202 is provided with an inlet for allowing the water to flow inside through a water inlet pipe.

In an embodiment, the second cylindrical portion 204 is provided with an outlet for delivering water to the outlet pipe. Preferably, the apparatus 200 is fixed before the water tank. In an embodiment, the apparatus 200 is fixed vertically.

In an embodiment, the oxygen content of the second level is dependent upon the flow speed of water.

In an embodiment, the oxygen content of the second level is dependent upon the number of crest and depths.

It has been further found that if the water at sufficient flow speed is allowed to pass through the apparatus 200, optimum level of oxygen content up to 28-33 per cent is achieved. It has been further found that due to the presence of crest and trough in the flow of water, the small sediments of water further get cracked down and get sufficiently dissolved in water. In an embodiment, a water impurity filter may further be attached to the delivery end of the second cylindrical portion for removing the impurities that do not get sufficiently dissolved.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and the third cylindrical portion 206 are suitably joined to each other.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and the third cylindrical portion 206 may be formed out of a single tube or pipe or single cylindrical portion.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and the third cylindrical portion 206 may be formed out of a different tube or pipe or single cylindrical portions and are suitably joined.

In an embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 202, second cylindrical portion 204 and the third cylindrical portion 206 form a single cylindrical portion tube/ pipe.

In an embodiment, the sheet 212 is suitably welded or fixed to the edges and/ or inner boundaries of the third cylindrical portion.

Referring to Figure 3, a 2D view of the third cylindrical portion 300 containing the sine wave profile sheet 212 (as illustrated in referred in Figure 1) is illustrated. The sine wave profile sheet 212 (as referred in Figure 2) is suitably joined by means of welding of pasting using adhesive from the edges on the outside hollow tube 302 such that the incoming water flows above and below the sheet in the form of a curve undergoing crest and troughs.

Referring to Figure 4, a method for enhancing oxygen content in water a method for enhancing the oxygen content in water using the device referred in Figure 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The method 400 comprises step 402 of receiving water containing oxygen content of a first level from a water supply pipe and allowing water to flow through a first distance through a first portion of cylindrical pipe 202. The first cylindrical portion 202 is a hollow tube or pipe having length of the first distance. Thereafter, at step 404 the water is allowed to flow through a third distance through a third portion of cylindrical pipe 206 such that the flow of the water in the third distance acquires a sine-wave profile such that the flow of the water faces at least 4 crests and troughs when passed through said third distance. The third cylindrical portion 206 is constructed in suitable manner such that it includes a sheet having at least 5 crests and troughs. Thereafter, the method 400 includes step 306 of receiving water from the second portion of cylindrical pipe 204 and allowing water to flow through a second cylindrical portion 204 through a second distance for delivering water containing oxygen content of a second level towards a water outlet pipe, such that the second level is higher in number than the first level of oxygen content.

The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims. Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of the subject matter.