WO2011104523A1

WO2011104523A1 - Water supply systems

Info

Publication number: WO2011104523A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/050195
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Cupit
Original assignee: ECOSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Current assignee: ECOSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-26
Filing date: 2011-02-04
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-26
Also published as: GB2478158A; GB2478158B; GB201003292D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a water delivery system for a water dispenser of the type having a housing with a through-hole for receiving the neck (30) of a water bottle (14). The delivery system comprises a removable connector (22) and a reservoir (16). The removable connector comprises a body (26) which is to be received in the through-hole in the dispenser's housing, an inlet spigot (28) which is arranged to communicate and seal with the water bottle, and an outlet spigot (38) which communicates with the inlet spigot and projects from the body of the connector. The reservoir comprises a hollow body housing an inlet aperture which communicates with the hollow body. The reservoir is removably receivable in the housing and its inlet aperture is aligned with the outlet spigot of the removable connector to form a sealed connection when the removable connector is inserted in the through-hole of the housing.

Description

Title: Water supply systems

Description: This invention relates to water supply systems, and in particular, but without limitation to water supply systems for water dispensers.

Water dispensers generally comprise a water supply, which can either be a mains water supply or a water tank, and one or more outlets, such as taps for dispensing the water. For the sake of palatability, it is often desirable for the water to be chilled prior to drinking, especially in hot or humid climates, although there is normally a significant percentage of users that prefer to drink water that has been maintained at ambient temperature. Accordingly, many water dispensers are provided with a pair of outlet taps, one for dispensing room-temperature water and the other for dispensing chilled water.

Chilling of the water in water dispensers is conventionally achieved using a mains powered electric refrigerator whose elements are wrapped around a small reservoir that is filled using water from the water supply. The use of a relatively small reservoir reduces the amount of water that needs to be chilled and maintained at a reduced temperature at any particular time, whilst still containing a sufficient volume of readily available chilled water in case more than one user desires to drink chilled water at about the same time.

Tank-fed water dispensers are generally those that comprise a support column that is used to support a relatively large, removable bottle of potable water off the ground. The neck of the water bottle normally comprises an automatic shut-off valve that can be opened by orienting the bottle neck-down and by locating the neck of the bottle on a pin that pushes open the shut-off valve. Water then flows from the bottie, through a conduit in the pin to a manifold whereupon water from the bottle is directed either directly to a tap that enables room temperature water to be dispensed, or into a small reservoir to be chilled prior to being dispensed via a second outlet tap.

The water bottle is generally changed when it runs out, or every few days or weeks if it is used infrequently. This maintains the bottle within desirable cleanliness limits since bio fiim and other contaminants are usually unable to build up to harmful levels within such relatively short time scales.

For parts of the water supply system in the water dispenser that are not replaced frequently through necessity, a maintenance regime needs to be established to ensure that the water pipes, taps and the chiller unit are regularly cleaned to prevent contaminant build-up and biological hazards. Conveniently, such a maintenance regime can be relatively easily established by making the water supply system, including the means for engaging the bottle, the majority of the pipe work and the chiller reservoir either disposable or removable for cleaning.

A major drawback of known water supply systems is their bulk and the amount of materials they necessarily comprise, which increases transportation, disposal and recycling costs. For example, a typical disposable water system for a water dispenser may comprise an ABS collar for engaging the neck of the water supply bottle and silicone or LDPE pipe work for connecting the collar to a pair of taps with, say, a one-litre HDPE bottle serving as a disposable chiller reservoir located midway along one of the silicone pipes. As such, the overall volume of such a water supply system is relatively large, owing to the inherent volume of the reservoir, which can increase handling and shipping costs. In addition, the overall complexity of the system requires a trained installer to fit the system correctly into the water dispenser, and the fact that it comprises so many different components and materials, makes disposal and recycling relatively difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the above problems and/or to provide an alternative and/or an improved water supply system for a water dispenser.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a water delivery system for a water dispenser comprising a housing having a through hole for receiving the neck of a water bottle, the water delivery system comprising a removable connector and a reservoir, the removable connector comprising: a body receivable in and being adapted to extend through the water bottle receiving aperture of the water dispenser's housing; an inlet spigot for sealingly connecting to the interior of the water bottle; and an outlet spigot communicating with the inlet spigot and projecting from the body of the connector; the reservoir comprising a hollow body and an inlet aperture communicating with the interior of the hollow body, wherein the reservoir is removably receivable within the housing and its inlet aperture is aligned with the outlet spigot of the removable connector to sealingly connect thereto when the removable connector is inserted into the through hole of the housing.

The inlet aperture of the reservoir is preferably sealingly closeable, most preferably using a frangible closure means. The frangible closure means may comprise a polymer film that can be pierced by an end of the removable connector's outlet spigot.

The outlet spigot of the removable connector may comprises a pointed end, which end may be adapted for piercing a frangible closure means of the reservoir and/or which may function as a centraliser to guide the end of the spigot into the inlet aperture of the reservoir.

The removable connector may comprise an annular collar or tube adapted to engage around the neck of a bottle, which is preferably shaped to compliment the exterior shape of the neck of the bottle. The annular collar, where provided, may comprise a flared portion for engaging an upper surface of the water dispenser's housing. The inlet spigot may comprise a tube centrally located within the collar, annulus or tube, the upper portion of which may be adapted to actuate a shut-off valve of the water bottle.

The reservoir is preferably at least partially manufactured from a flexible film material. Advantageously, by at least partially manufacturing the second receptacle from a flexible film, it can be collapsible so as to take up a smaller volume during transportation and installation. In addition, when filled with a fluid, such as water, the overall shape of the second receptacle can conform to the shape and/or contours of a container in which it is placed. In the case where the second receptacle is received within and/or in contact with the coils/elements of a refrigeration system, the fact that it can conform to the shape of the coils/elements enables it to have a greatly increased surface area in contact therewith (compared to a relatively rigid receptacle), which can facilitate cooling of the fluid/water therein. The flexible film is preferably a food-grade polymer film and is preferably metallised on one or both sides thereof, which can provide an optical barrier to inhibit bio film growth within the second receptacle, and provide an improved thermal conduction pathway for heat to be transferred from the fluid/water therein to the cooling elements/coils.

The removable connector may further comprise an outlet manifold. The outlet manifold may comprise a flow control valve and/or an air return valve to control the egress of water from the water bottle and to permit a controlled contra-flow of air to balance the air pressure within the water bottle. The air return valve, where provided, may comprise a diaphragm interposed between a pressure-balancing chamber and an intermediate chamber of the manifold and an air inlet that communicates with the pressure-balancing chamber, the diaphragm being movable in response to a difference in water pressure within the chambers to permit air from the air inlet to flow into the water bottle as the diaphragm moves.

The outer dimensions of the outlet manifold are preferably smaller than those of the through aperture of the water dispenser's housing to enable it to be axially insertabie and receivable therethrough.

The outlet manifold may comprise a pair of outlet spigots, a first one of which communicates with the interior of the reservoir, and a second of which is connectable to a first tap. The reservoir may comprise an outlet spigot connectable to a second tap.

The reservoir preferably comprises a relatively rigid end wall portion to which is sealingly bonded a flexible, polymer film bag. The end wall portion may comprise a hollow projection in which is formed the inlet aperture of the receptacle. A sealing means may be provided on the inlet aperture to enable a sealing connection to be made with the outlet spigot of the removable connector.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a removable connector for a water supply system comprising: a body receivable in and being adapted to extend through a water bottle receiving aperture of a water dispenser's housing; an inlet spigot for sealingiy connecting to interior of the water bottle; and an outlet spigot communicating with the inlet spigot and projecting from the body of the connector.

A third aspect of the invention provides a reservoir for a water supply system comprising a relatively rigid end wall portion, an inlet aperture in the end wall portion and a flexible film portion sealingiy affixed around a periphery of the end wall portion.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a water dispenser comprising a water delivery system and/or a removable connector and/or a reservoir as described above.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a water supply system for a water dispenser comprising means for sealingiy communicating with the interior of a water bottle, a reservoir for storing a volume of water and an outlet conduit communicating with the interior of the reservoir, wherein the reservoir comprises an inlet aperture and wherein the means for sealingiy communicating with the interior of the water bottle comprises an outlet spigot that is sealingiy engageable with the inlet aperture of the reservoir to form a direct connection between the water bottle and reservoir. By providing a direct connection between the water bottle and reservoir, the need for a skilled operator to correctly connect together the pipes of the water supply system is removed.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a water supply system for a water dispenser comprising an annular collar for engaging the neck of a water bottle, a reservoir and means for providing a direct connection between the interior of the water bottle and the interior of the reservoir, wherein the annular collar is axially receivable to a predefined extent within a through aperture of a housing of a water dispenser and the means for providing a direct connection between the interior of the water bottle and the interior of the reservoir is removably and sealingly connectable to one or both of the water bottle and the reservoir.

By providing a direct connection between the interior of the water bottle and the interior of reservoir that is removably and sealingly connectable to one or both of the water bottle and the reservoir, the water bottle can be positioned within the interior of the housing of the water dispenser and the annular collar inserted into the through hole of the housing from the exterior thereof, and by doing so, a sealed, direction connection between the water bottle and the reservoir can be formed.

!n a preferred embodiment of the invention, the annular collar may comprises a flared, or frustoconical portion that engages an upper surface of the water dispenser's housing to prevent the collar from being inserted into the housing beyond the predefined extent.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a water supply system for a water dispenser comprising means for sealingly communicating with the interior of a water bottle, a reservoir for storing a volume of water, an outlet conduit communicating with the interior of the reservoir, and a direct connection between the water bottle and reservoir, wherein the reservoir is at least partially manufactured from a flexible film.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a water dispenser comprising a water supply system in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the water supply system of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a side view of the water supply system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of the collar of the water supply system;

Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view through the collar and manifold of the water supply system; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the water supply system in assembled form.

in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, a portion of a water dispenser is shown comprising a housing having an upper support surface 10 for supporting the weight of a water bottle 12. A water supply system 13 is provided beneath the bottle 14 to deliver water from the bottle 4 directly into a reservoir 6, which is surrounded by a refrigeration unit (not shown). The reservoir 16 has a reservoir outlet spigot 18 for connection to an outlet tap (not shown) of the water dispenser. Water can thus flow from the bottle 14, into the reservoir 16 for refrigeration, and out to a tap for consumption by users. The support surface 10 of the water dispenser comprises a generally circular through hole 20 having a radiused lip, which receives a collar 22 having a flared upper portion 24 whose outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the through hole 20, and a generally cylindrical lower portion 26. The flared portion 24 rests on top of the support surface 10, whilst the generally cylindrical portion 26 protrudes downwardly through the through hole 20 and into the main body of the water dispenser. The exterior of the flared portion 24 has a complimentary shape to that of the radiused lip of the through hole 20 so that the two align coaxially and nest together.

In Figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that an upright spigot 28 is located centrally within the cylindrical portion 26 of the collar 22 and extends upwardly into the neck portion 30 of the water bottle 14. The neck portion 30 comprises an annular rubber seal 32 that seals against either the outer surface of the spigot 28 or a captive ball (not shown). The captive ball is pushed out of sealing engagement with the annular seal 32 when the spigot 28 is inserted therein so that once the upright spigot 28 has been sealingly inserted into the annular seal 32, the ball 34 floats to the surface of the water within the bottle 4 permitting water to flow from the interior of the bottle 14 and out through the upright spigot 28.

The upright spigot 28 comprises an internal conduit 34 that communicates with a manifold assembly 36 that has two outlet spigots 38, 40. A first outlet spigot 38 is connected via a flexible plastics or rubber tube to a tap (not shown), and the second, elongate outlet spigot 40 extends downwardly from the manifold assembly 36 and into an inlet aperture 42 of the reservoir 16 to provide a direct connection between the water bottle 14 and the reservoir 16.

The inlet aperture 42 of the reservoir 16 is sealingly closed-off by a frangible plastics film 44. The lower end 45 of the elongate outlet spigot 40 pierces the frangible plastics film 44 as the collar 22 is inserted through the through hole of the 20 of the support surface 10 and pushed home. Such a configuration enables the reservoir 16 to be sealingly closed-off prior to use, which can reduce the likelihood of contamination during transportation and storage. Moreover, since the elongate outlet spigot 40 provides a direct (i.e. a hose-less) connection between the water bottle 4 and the reservoir 16, there are no pipes to connect, which can significantly reduce installation times and reduce the need for trained operators.

In Figures 5 & 6, it can be seen that manifold assembly 36 has a generally cylindrical form and has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as that of the cylindrical portion 26 of the collar. Thus, the manifold assembly 36 is able to pass through the through hole 20 of the housing 10 as the collar 22 is inserted therethrough.

By providing such a configuration, it is not necessary for the housing 10 to comprise an attachment, locating grooves or other engagement means for retaining the collar 22 or manifold in situ, as is the case for known water supply systems for water dispensers. In addition, even if such engagement means are provided below the housing 10 of the water dispenser, a water supply system 13 according to the invention can nevertheless by used since the present water supply system 13 merely locates through the through hole of the housing 10 from above, and does not require, or interfere with, any engagement means that may be located below the upper surface of the housing 10.

The outlet manifold 36 comprises an intermediate chamber 50 that communicates with the conduit 34 of the upright spigot 28 and which stores a small quantity of water therein. The outlet spigots 34, 36 communicate with this small volume of water, which is topped up automatically as users consume water from the taps or reservoir. The manifold 36 additionally comprises a pressure-balancing chamber 52, which comprises a diaphragm valve 54. Water pressure acting downwardly on the diaphragm 54 from the water bottle presses against it to form a seal with a peripheral lip 56 of the pressure-balancing chamber 52. However, when water is consumed from the bottle 12, a slight decrease in pressure is created therein, which reduces the downward pressure on the diaphragm 54. The water pressure in the intermediate chamber 50 is thus slightly greater than that in the pressure- balancing chamber 52, which causes the diaphragm 54 therebetween to lift slightly thereby breaking the seal. An air inlet 58 communicates with the pressure-balancing chamber 54 and as the diaphragm 54 lifts, a bubble of air is introduced into the chamber 52, which moves past the diaphragm 54 and into the bottle via an air contra-flow conduit 60 and the upright spigot 34 to balance the air pressure in the bottle 12. The pressure-balancing chamber 52 therefore prevents a drop in pressure (vacuum) within the bottle from reaching a level whereby it might prevent water from being able to flow out of it.

The manifold assembly 36 comprises a number of injection moulded plastics components that are clipped together during assembly to form a unit, which is then clipped to the bottom of the cylindrical portion 26 of the collar 22. Turning now to Figures 1 , 3 and 6, the refrigeration reservoir 16 is manufactured from a plastics end wall portion 62 to which is bonded a food- grade, metallised, polymer film bag 64. The end wall 62 comprises a generally planar surface 66 that defines the end wall of the reservoir 16, and a peripheral lip 66 to which the open end of the bag 64 is sealingly welded and/or bonded using a bead of hot melt (thermoplastic) glue. Extending outwardly from the outer surface of the end wall is a first hoilow projection 70 that comprises the reservoir inlet aperture 42. A reservoir outlet spigot 18 is also provided on the end wail 62, which has a conduit that communicates with the interior of the reservoir 16. A boss/nipple may also be provided that the end of a flexible tube (not shown) can sealingly connect to. A flexible outlet pipe can be connected to the outlet spigot 18 and to the nipple to seal off the reservoir. However, shortly before use, the end of the pipe connected to the nipple can be detached and affixed to the tap of the water dispenser.

By utilising a flexible poiymer film bag 64, the reservoir 16 is designed to be foldable so as to occupy the minimum possible volume during transportation, and to enable it to be easily inserted into the refrigeration system of the water dispenser. However, when filled with water, the water pressure within the reservoir 16 causes it to inflate, and to make intimate contact with the elements of the refrigeration unit of the water dispenser. By providing conformal and/or intimate contact, and by the use of a relatively thin film having a metallised coating thereon, a much more efficient thermal conduction pathway is created between the water within the reservoir and the refrigeration elements. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, for example, the shape, dimensions and materials of manufacture may be changed depending on the size and/or design of the water dispenser that the water supply system 13 is designed to be used in conjunction with.

Claims

Claims:

1. A water delivery system for a water dispenser comprising a housing having a through hole for receiving the neck of a water bottle, the water delivery system comprising a removable connector and a reservoir, the removable connector comprising: a body receivable in and being adapted to extend through the water bottle receiving aperture of the water dispenser's housing; an inlet spigot for sealingiy connecting to the interior of the water bottle; and an outlet spigot communicating with the inlet spigot and projecting from the body of the connector;

the reservoir comprising a hollow body and an inlet aperture communicating with the interior of the hollow body, wherein

the reservoir is removably receivable within the housing and its inlet aperture is aligned with the outlet spigot of the removable connector to sealingiy connect thereto when the removable connector is inserted into the through hole of the housing.

2. A water supply system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture of the reservoir is sealingiy closeable using a frangible closure means.

3. A water supply system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outlet spigot of the removable connector comprises a pointed end.

4. A water supply system as claimed in any of claims 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the removable connector comprises an annular collar for engaging the neck of the water bottle.

5. A water supply system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the annular collar comprises a flared portion for engaging an upper surface of the water dispenser's housing.

6. A water supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir is at least partially manufactured from a flexible film material.

7. A water supply system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flexible film comprises a food-grade polymer film.

8. A water supply system as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the flexible film comprises a metallised coating on one or both sides thereof.

9. A water supply system according to any preceding claim, wherein the removable connector further comprises an outlet manifold.

10. A water supply system according to claim 9, wherein the outlet manifold comprises a flow control valve.

11. A water supply system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the outlet manifold comprises an air return valve.

12. A water supply system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the air return valve comprises a diaphragm interposed between a pressure-balancing chamber and an intermediate chamber of the manifold and an air inlet that communicates with the pressure-balancing chamber, the diaphragm being movable in response to a difference in water pressure within the chambers to permit air from the air inlet to flow into the water bottle as the diaphragm moves.

13. A water supply system according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the outer dimensions of the outlet manifold are smaller than those of a through hole of the water dispenser's housing.

14. A water supply system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the outlet manifold comprises a pair of outlet spigots, a first one of which communicates with the interior of the reservoir, and a second of which is connectable to a first tap.

15. A water supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir comprises an outlet spigot connectable to a second tap.

16, A water supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir comprises a relatively rigid end wall portion to which is sea!ingly bonded a flexible, polymer film bag.

17. A water supply system according to claim 16, wherein the end wall portion comprises a hollow projection in which is formed the inlet aperture of the receptacle.

18. A water supply system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the inlet aperture of the reservoir comprises a sealing means.

19. A removable connector for a water supply system comprising: a body receivable in and being adapted to extend through a water bottle receiving aperture of a water dispenser's housing; an inlet spigot for sealingly connecting to interior of the water bottle; and an outlet spigot communicating with the inlet spigot and projecting from the body of the connector.

20. A removable connector as claimed in claim 19, wherein the outlet spigot comprises a pointed end.

21. A removable connector as claimed in claims 19 or claim 20, wherein the body comprises an annular collar portion for engaging the neck of the water bottle.

22. A removable connector as claimed in any of claims 19, 20 or 21 , wherein the annular collar comprises a flared portion for engaging an upper surface of a water dispenser's housing.

23. A removable connector according to any of claims 19 to 22, further comprising an outlet manifold.

24. A removable connector as claimed in claim 23, wherein the outlet manifold comprises a flow control valve.

25. A removable connector as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the outlet manifold comprises an air return valve.

26. A removable connector as claimed in claim 25, wherein the air return valve comprises a diaphragm interposed between a pressure-balancing chamber and an intermediate chamber of the manifold and an air inlet that communicates with the pressure-balancing chamber, the diaphragm being movable in response to a difference in water pressure within the chambers to permit air from the air inlet to flow into the water bottle as the diaphragm moves.

27. A removable connector as claimed in any of claims 23 to 26, wherein the outer dimensions of the outlet manifold are smaller than those of a through hole of the water dispenser's housing.

28. A removable connector as claimed in any of claims 23 to 27, wherein the outlet manifold comprises a pair of outlet spigots, a first one of which spigots communicates directly with the interior of a reservoir, and a second of which is connectable to a first tap.

29. A reservoir for a water supply system comprising a relatively rigid end wail portion, an inlet aperture in the end wall portion and a flexible film portion sealingly affixed around a periphery of the end wall portion.

30. A reservoir as claimed in claim 29, wherein the inlet aperture is sealingly closeable using a frangible closure means.

31. A reservoir as claimed in claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the flexible film portion comprises a food-grade polymer film.

32. A reservoir as claimed in any of claims 29, 30 or 31 , wherein the flexible film portion comprises a metallised coating on one or both sides thereof.

33. A reservoir as claimed in any of claims 29 to 32, wherein the inlet aperture is formed in a hollow projection formed in the end wall portion.

34. A reservoir as claimed in any of claims 29 to 33, wherein the inlet aperture comprises a sealing means.

35. A water dispenser comprising a water delivery system according to any of claims 1 to 18.

36. A water supply system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

37. A removable connector substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

38. A reservoir substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.