Abstract: A system for recovering potable water from the water vapor in ambient air at a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. The system is especially adapt at operating efficiently at low temperatures and/or low humidities. The system is able to operate efficiently at low temperatures and/or low humidities by employing a mechanism for enhancing the buildup of frozen water on the surfaces used to condense the water vapor from ambient air.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 6, 2000
Date of Patent:
July 8, 2003
Assignee:
Aquatronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Terry L. Semrow, Elwin Brooks Petersen, Cory Buckway, Keith C. Warner, Mark H. Nelson, Desiree Ragan, Nick Wells, Greg A. Cameron
Abstract: The specification discloses a pressure-sensitive transducer including two spaced pressure-sensitive subassemblies having matched parameters and which are electrically coupled together in a manner to minimize the effect of acceleration on the transducer. In one embodiment, each subassembly comprises a pair of piezoelectric crystals attached to opposite sides of a conductive mounting plate. The two plates are supported on opposite sides of an insulated annular spacer ring in a manner to face like poled surfaces of the crystals in the same directions. The crystals are electrically coupled together in parallel by conductors which couple each pair of crystals of a subassembly together and to the mounting plate of the other assembly.