Water producing and dispensing machine

Abstract

A machine capable of generating and dispensing potable water is disclosed. Novel features of the inventive machine include continuous water filtration, a durable primary outer housing unit designed to minimize damage during transportation and handling, and a hot gas injection system designed to allow the generation of water from ambient air at temperatures as low as 50° F.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A water producing and dispensing machine comprising: 
 (a) a housing unit having an air inlet and an air outlet;    (b) a dehumidifier system disposed within said housing unit, said dehumidifier system comprising an air blower, wherein as said air blower draws ambient air into said housing unit through said air inlet and into said dehumidifier system, water condenses from said air as water droplets;    (c) a water containment tank in communication with said dehumidifier, said tank disposed within said housing unit and structured for receiving said water droplets from said dehumidifier system; and    (d) a water dispensing and filtration system disposed within said housing unit and in communication with said water containment tank, said water dispensing and filtration system comprising: 
 (i) a water delivery tube having one end positioned within said water containment tank to remove water from said water containment tank and a second end in communication with a spigot,  
 (ii) a water pump connected to said water delivery tube,  
 (iii) at least one water filter in communication with said water delivery tube, and  
 (iv) a water return tube having one end positioned within said water containment tank and a second end in communication with said water delivery tube; whereby when said water pump is activated and said spigot is closed, water is drawn from said water containment tank through said water delivery tube, through said at least one water filter, and through said return tube back into said water containment tank.  
   
     
     
         2 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 1 , wherein said water dispensing and filtration system further includes a dispensing switch for opening and closing said spigot via a valve connected to said spigot, wherein when said dispensing switch is activated to open said valve, water carried through said water delivery tube is diverted from said water return tube and dispensed through said spigot; and wherein when said dispensing switch is activated to close said valve, water continues to flow from said water delivery tube through said return tube and into said water containment tank.  
     
     
         3 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 2 , wherein said water return tube has a narrow diameter near said one end positioned within said water containment tank, thereby further causing water to be diverted from said return tube to and through said spigot upon activation of said dispensing switch to open said valve.  
     
     
         4 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 1 , further including a secondary housing compartment secured within said housing unit, wherein said dehumidifier system is disposed within said secondary housing compartment.  
     
     
         5 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 4 , wherein said housing unit comprises a pair of parallel opposing side frames each having an upper end and a lower end connected to one another by at least one support bar, each of said side frames further having a front end and a rear end perpendicular to, and connected with, said upper end and lower end of said each of said side frames, and wherein each of said side frames has a cross bar perpendicularly connected to said front and lower ends, each of said cross bars of said pair of side frames positioned in parallel and configured to support said secondary housing.  
     
     
         6 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 5 , wherein said housing unit further comprises at least two shock absorbing mounts disposed on each of said cross bars for securing said secondary housing compartment thereon.  
     
     
         7 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 1 , wherein said dehumidifier system comprises an evaporator, a compressor for pumping a refrigerant gas, a condenser, and an air blower, wherein said dehumidifier system is designed to remove water from ambient air drawn into said housing unit through said air inlet as said ambient air moves over said evaporator and condenses thereon as water droplets.  
     
     
         8 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 7 , wherein said water dispensing and filtration system further includes a dispensing switch for opening and closing said spigot via a valve connected to said spigot, wherein when said dispensing switch is activated to open said valve, water carried through said water delivery tube is diverted from said water return tube and dispensed through said spigot; and wherein when said dispensing switch is activated to close said valve, water continues to flow from said water delivery tube through said return tube and into said water containment tank.  
     
     
         9 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 8 , wherein said water return tube has a narrow diameter near said one end positioned within said water containment tank, thereby further causing water to be diverted from said return tube to and through said spigot upon activation of said dispensing switch to open said valve.  
     
     
         10 . A water producing and dispensing machine comprising: 
 (a) a housing unit having an air inlet and an air outlet, said housing unit further comprising a pair parallel opposing side frames, each having an upper end and a lower end connected to one another by at least one support bar, each of said side frames further having a front end and a rear end perpendicularly connected to said upper and lower ends of said each of said side frames;    (b) a dehumidifier system disposed within said housing unit, said dehumidifier system comprising an air blower, wherein as said air blower draws ambient air into said housing unit through said air inlet and into said dehumidifier system, water condenses from said air as water droplets;    (c) a water containment tank in communication with said dehumidifier, said tank disposed within said housing unit and structured for receiving said water droplets from said dehumidifier system;    (d) a water dispensing and filtration system disposed within said housing unit and in communication with said water containment tank; and    (e) said housing unit further including a plurality of outer panels releasably secured to said pair of side frames and support bars, thereby allowing access to said dehumidifier system, water dispensing and filtration system, and water containment tank when necessary.    
     
     
         11 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 10 , further including a secondary housing compartment secured within said housing unit, wherein said dehumidifier system is disposed within said secondary housing compartment.  
     
     
         12 . The water producing and dispensing machine of  claim 11 , wherein each of said side frames has a cross bar perpendicular to and connected with said front and lower ends, each of said cross bars of said pair of side frames positioned in parallel and configured to support said secondary housing compartment on a series of shock absorbing mounts positioned on said cross bars, thereby minimizing any vibrational damage to said dehumidifier system upon transport and handling.