Abstract: A device for purifying a liquid in particular water is provided with an ozonating unit for treatment of said liquid with ozone and with a storage reservoir hydraulically connected to the ozonation unit. The device is provided with recirculation means for recirculating said treated liquid from said storage reservoir through a recirculation line. The recirculation line is provided with at least one filtration unit.

Abstract: A device for purifying a liquid in particular water is provided with an ozonating for treatment of said liquid with ozone and with a storage reservoir hydraulically connected to the ozonation unit. The device is provided with re-circulation means for re-circulating said treated liquid from said storage reservoir through a re-circulation line. The re-circulation line is provided with at least one filtration unit.

Abstract: Water dispenser, which comprises, in addition to a water container, a filter element contained within a filter housing having an inlet and a dispensing outlet, a source of pressure and first valve and first conduit means for feeding water from the container to the filter housing inlet; means for feeding gas to the filter inlet to create gas pressure at the inlet, consisting of a reservoir, and the control means comprise the third conduit and valve means for permitting or preventing the admission of water into the reservoir, second valve and conduit means for controlling the level of the water in the reservoir, a pressure gauge for monitoring the pressure at the filter inlet; and control means for controlling the gas feeding means to cause or stop the feeding.

Abstract: Water dispenser, which comprises, in addition to a water container, a filter element contained within a filter housing having an inlet and a dispensing outlet, a source of pressure and first valve and first conduit means for feeding water from the container to the filter housing inlet; means for feeding gas to the filter inlet to create gas pressure at the inlet, consisting of a reservoir, and the control means comprise the third conduit and valve means for permitting or preventing the admission of water into the reservoir, second valve and conduit means for controlling the level of the water in the reservoir, a pressure gauge for monitoring the pressure at the filter inlet; and control means for controlling the gas feeding means to cause or stop the feeding.

Abstract: Water dispenser, which comprises, in addition to a water container, a filter element contained within a filter housing having an inlet and a dispensing outlet, a source of pressure and first valve and first conduit means for feeding water from the container to the filter housing inlet; means for feeding gas to the filter inlet to create gas pressure at the inlet, consisting of a reservoir, and the control means comprise the third conduit and valve means for permitting or preventing the admission of water into the reservoir, second valve and conduit means for controlling the level of the water in the reservoir, a pressure gauge for monitoring the pressure at the filter inlet; and control means for controlling the gas feeding means to cause or stop the feeding.

Abstract: A domestic water filtration system includes a first water treatment unit (7) with a replaceable ion exchange resin water softener cartridge (15) accommodated in a canister (19) and a second water treatment unit (8) with a replaceable filter cartridge (16) including an activated carbon block (16a) wrapped with a depth filter (22a) and a membrane filter (22b). A flow control device comprising a three way valve (2) has an inlet (12) for connection to the mains water supply and two outlets (13, 14) respectively connected to the inlets of the water treatment units (7, 8) so that rotation of the valve spindle (10) in one direction from an off position allows water to flow to the inlet (3) of the first treatment unit (7) and in the other direction from the off position allows water to flow to the inlet (5) of the second treatment unit (8).

Abstract: A domestic apparatus for purifying drinking water, comprising a feed water inlet and a purified water outlet, a filter device comprising prefilter means (52) and microporous membrane filter means (53) interposed between said inlet and said outlet, and means for driving the water through said filter at a constant flow rate (51). A method of purifying drinking water, which comprises causing the water to flow at a constant flow rate through a purification filter device comprising prefilter means and microporous membrane filter means.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for purifying water is described. The apparatus includes a supporting housing, a source of power, a filter device containing at least one interchangeable filter unit having one or more filter elements, a mechanism for driving water through the filter device and a timing mechanism for monitoring elapsed time of operation and a mechanism for monitoring cumulative volume of water having flowed through the filter device which are each coupled to a filter memory. The mechanism for driving water through the filter device includes a cylinder holder on which an interchangeable gas pressure cylinder can be mounted, a gas release mechanism housed in the cylinder holder, a flow regulator and conduits connecting the other components together.

Abstract: There is provided in accordance with the invention a method for filtering comprising the steps of: providing a filter assembly comprising a depth filter and at least one microporous membrane; determining an optimal fluid velocity of the filter assembly by the steps of: operating identical filter assemblies at different constant fluid velocities, each for a time duration which terminates when a given total pressure drop is reached thereacross; noting the total throughput for such time duration; and based on the total throughput for each of said different constant fluid velocities, establishing a functional relationship between fluid velocity and total throughput for said filter assembly; and operating the filter assembly at a constant fluid velocity which corresponds to a desired total throughput.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for protecting patients and equipment from the damaging effects of stray laser light emissions. Porous barrier materials are selected to have a pore geometry functionally related to the wavelength of emitted laser so as to cause destructive interference of the light beam when the beam encounters the porous material.

Abstract: Methods of producing solute-rejecting dynamic membrane filters are described comprising depositing a bed of fumed silica particles on a porous substrate having a pore size of 0.025-3 microns, the silica particles being substantially spherical and uniform and having a nominal particle diameter of 20-80 A.

Abstract: The invention provides a water filter, particularly suited for household use, with valving which enables either a bypass mode or a filtering mode. During the filtering mode the water flows through a number of filtering layers one of which is a microporous membrane and during the bypass mode the water flows parallel to and against the membrane so as to cleanse the membrane of material accumulated thereon during the filtering mode.