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 liquid aerating apparatus—in combination with a cylinder containing gas under pressure (53); a cylinder holder (30) for retaining a pressure gas cylinder; an aerating (61) head for retaining a bottle (63) which contains a liquid to be aerated; an intermediate chamber (38), for receiving gas discharged from the cylinder (531); a cylinder valve (32) for normally preventing discharge from the cylinder into the chamber and permitting it when desired; valve actuating means (17′) which have an inactive position, in which they do not act on the cylinder valve, and an active position, in which they cause the cylinder valve to be opened and gas to be discharged from the cylinder to the intermediate chamber; gas conduit mans (20 connecting the intermediate chamber with the aerating head; and auxiliary valve means (39) for sealing off the intermediate chamber from the conduit means when the cylinder valve is not fully closed and the valve actuating means are in the inactive position.

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 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: A liquid aerating apparatus—in combination with a cylinder containing gas under pressure (53); a cylinder holder (30) for retaining a pressure gas cylinder; an aerating (61) head for retaining a bottle (63) which contains a liquid to be aerated; an intermediate chamber (38), for receiving gas discharged from the cylinder (531); a cylinder valve (32) for normally preventing discharge from the cylinder into the chamber and permitting it when desired; valve actuating means (17′) which have an inactive position, in which they do not act on the cylinder valve, and an active position, in which they cause the cylinder valve to be opened and gas to be discharged from the cylinder to the intermediate chamber; gas conduit mans (20 connecting the intermediate chamber with the aerating head; and auxiliary valve means (39) for sealing off the intermediate chamber from the conduit means when the cylinder valve is not fully closed and the valve actuating means are in the inactive position.

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: An apparatus for aerating liquids contained in bottles includes a safety mechanism for detecting irregularities in the bottle and preventing undesired pressurization of a bottle having such irregularities. The apparatus includes a frame with a reference surface. A mechanism for holding the bottle in place causes the bottle to rest against the reference surface. Any irregularity in the bottle causing substantial angular displacement of the bottle activates a safety release valve in the mechanism, thus preventing over pressurization.