Water filter abstract
Filter backwash water saver and water filter to clean swimming
pool filters which takes backwashed water from a filter which is
usually discharged to the environment and instead filters the backwashed
water and returns it to the system. This conserves water and protects
the environment. The backwashed water is pumped into a filter contained
in a canister which is suspended by a bracket which mounts to the
pool cowling. The filtered backwash water is returned to the system
by a specially designed chute which fits into the pool skimmer.
A vinyl check valve is mounted into the chute to allow water to
flow normally when the pool system is forward pumping by allowing
the water to flow into the skimmer under the vinyl check valve.
When backwashing is desired, the weight of the backwashed water
flattens the vinyl check valve and only backwashed water recirculates.
The filter material is easily accessible and easy to change.
Water filter claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filter backwash water saver and water filter in combination
with a swimming pool filter system having a main filter, a skimmer
unit for receiving water from a swimming pool during a forward filtering
cycle, a pump receiving the water from the skimmer unit, a multi-ported
backwash flow valve for controlling a forward flow of water from
the pump through the main filter during the forward filtering cycle
and a reverse flow of water from the pump through the main filter
during a backwash cycle, an outlet hose for discharging filter water
during the forward filtering cycle through the backwash flow valve
from the main filter to the pool and a backwash discharge outlet
for discharging water during the backwash cycle, said filter backwash
water saver and water filter comprising: a backwash filter unit
comprising a hose coupling to input backwashed water, a filter medium
to remove debris from the backwash water, and a filter housing insertable
into the pool and containing the filter medium, a connecting hose
from the backwash discharge outlet of the multi-ported backwash
flow valve to hose the coupling of the backwash filter unit, and
a control valve coupled between the skimmer unit and the backwash
filter unit for permitting a flow of water from the swimming pool
into the skimmer unit during the forward filtering cycle and permitting
a flow of water from the backwash filter unit into the skimmer unit
during the backwash cycle.
2. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as in claim 1
wherein said backwash filter unit comprises an inner cylindrically
shaped strainer made of rigid material and having means defining
a multiplicity of apertures, a circular outlet disk having means
defining a plurality of outlet apertures and a central inlet nozzle
for mounting onto said cylindrical strainer, filter material surrounding
said cylindrical strainer, an outer cylindrical canister containing
said cylindrical strainer, said circular outlet disk and said filter
material, and a circular cap member mounted onto said circular outlet
disk and having an outlet port, said hose coupling being connected
to said central inlet nozzle and said outlet port being coupled
to said control valve, whereby backwash water flows into the central
inlet nozzle and into the cylindical strainer, through the multiplicity
of apertures, up through the filter material, out of the plurality
of outlet apertures and them discharged through the outlet port
to the control valve.
3. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as recited in
claim 2 wherein said circular cap is attached to said circular
outlet disk by a multiplicity of screw type fasteners.
4. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as recited in
claim 3 wherein said attached circular cap and circular outlet
disk are removably secured to said cylindrical canister by a circular
locking ring which clamps onto the outer cylindrical surface of
said cylindrical canister.
5. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as recited in
claim 4 wherein said circular locking ring is locked into a biased
position by a lever with pivoted joint which biases a buckle which
engages a hook.
6. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as recited in
claim 4 wherein said circular locking ring has at least two latch
hooks which extend upward and engage with apertures along the periphery
of said circular filter outlet disk, whereby, when said circular
locking ring is clamped to said cylindrical canister said latch
hooks engage said circular filter outlet disk thereby sealing the
entire backwash filter unit.
7. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as recited in
claim 2 wherein said control valve comprises a vinyl check valve
which is mounted inside a rectangular chute whereby said vinyl check
valve normally curls at the edge permitting forward cycle water
to flow under said vinyl check valve when backwash liquid filtering
is not in progress; and, which uncurls and flattens under the weight
of flowing backwashed water, thereby conducting filtered backwashed
water while blocking any other water from entering said forward
water filtering cycle.
8. A filter backwash water saver and water filter as recited in
claim 1 wherein said filter housing comprises a mounting bail and
associated cowling reinforcing channel and cowling plate, whereby
said cowling reinforcing channel is placed over a cowling at the
periphery of a swimming pool thereby reinforcing said cowling; and,
said cowling plate which is integral to said cowling reinforcing
channel is hooked to engage said mounting bail thereby suspending
said filter housing along the inner surface of said swimming pool.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to liquid processing machinery
and, more specifically, to filters designed to remove debris from
backwashed liquid while returning the backwashed liquid to the normal
forward liquid filtering process.
For the purpose of clarity, swimming pools will be used to exemplify
the problems associated with this mode of filtering, although many
industrial and residential liquid filtering applications present
similar problems and may be solved by use of an embodiment of the
instant invention.
Swimming pools water contains a great deal of debris suspended
in solution including leaves, soil and insects. A number of filtering
systems are available which filter this material which tends to
gather at the top surface of the water due to water tension. Water
flows into a skimmer, is pumped through a filter medium, either
sand or diatomaceous earth and is then returned to the pool. Debris
is trapped on the surface of the filter medium and unless removed
clogs the filter, reducing the flow of water and possibly causing
damage to the pump. Micro organisms may also flourish under these
conditions.
The common remedy to this buildup of debris is to periodically
reverse the water flow through the filter medium thereby dislodging
the debris. This process is referred to as "backwashing"
and is usually accomplished by using a backwash flow valve associated
with the filter. Most filter manufacturers supply this valve as
part of a filter package.
The debris-containing backwashed water is normally conducted through
a long hose and is discharged into the earth or to a sump located
as far as possible from the pool. The cost of water is rising almost
everywhere due to increasing demand and decreasing pollution free
supplies. This backwashed water, therefore, represents a significant
waste of economic and natural resources. Also discharging polluted
debris filled water into the earth is unsightly, unhealthy and illegal
in some localities.
A number of inventions have addressed the issue of pool filtering
in general. For example, C. Whitmer (U.S. Pat. No. 3969248), M.
Baker (U.S. Pat. No. 4194975) and V. Kelly (U.S. Pat. No. 4115276)
addressed general pool filtering systems, a backwash system for
swimming pools and a multi-port backwash valve respectively, but,
none of these inventions relates in any way whatsoever with the
problem of discharged backwashed water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to
provide a filter backwash water saver and water filter to clean
swimming pool filter which filters debris-filled backwash water
and returns the filtered backwash water to the swimming pool thereby
preventing any waste of precious water.
A further object is to provide a filter backwash water saver and
water filter to clean swimming pool filter which takes backwashed
water from the backwash waste water outlet of a backwash flow valve,
filter the water and return the filtered water to the pool via the
skimmer.
A further object is to provide a filter backwash water saver and
water filter to clean swimming pool filter which may be left in
place during normal operation of the swimming pool pump and which
is activated only when the backwash flow valve is switched from
a "normal" position to a "backwash" position.
A yet further object is to provide a filter backwash water saver
and water filter to clean swimming pool filter in which the filter
materials are inexpensive, easy to clean and easy to replace.
A still further object is to provide a filter backwash water saver
and water filter to clean swimming pool filter which may be securely
attached to the cowling of any swimming pool.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description
proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention
may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are
illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction
illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows:
FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric pictorial showing the invention
installed in a typical swimming pool plumbing circuit.
FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric pictorial of the invention per
se.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 the invention 10 is shown installed into a swimming
pool. In normal operation water enters skimmer 12 and flows through
hose 14 into strainer assembly 16 through pump 18 and through
hose 20 where it enters backwash flow valve 22 via port 29. Backwash
flow valve 22 determines the direction of water through filter cannister
24 which typically contains either sand or diatomaceous earth. In
normal, forward filtering operation, control knob 26 is in the downwards
position and water passing through hose 20 enters filter cannister
24 at filter port 28 runs through the filter medium and exits through
port 30. Forward filtered water exits through port 31 and hose 32
and finally returns to the swimming pool via water jet 34.
When the filter medium needs cleaning control knob 26 is pulled
upwards. Water flowing into backwash flow valve 22 through port
29 now enters filter cannister 24 through port 30 where it rises
through debris filled filter medium causing this debris to be backwashed
and rise to the top of the filter medium. Debris-filled backwashed
water exits filter cannister 24 via port 28 and enters backwash
flow valve 22. This water with high particulate content exits backwash
flow valve 22 via port 36 and hose 37 and enters the instant invention
10 where it is filtered by material contained in filter housing
38 and returns to the system via a chute 40 which conducts filtered
backwashed water to skimmer 12.
Filter housing 38 is equipped with a mounting bail 42 which is
used to support the instant invention 10. Since the cowling 44 of
a pool is not exceptionally strong a cowling reinforcing channel
46 is placed over cowling 44 to prevent distortion of the cowling.
An cowling plate 48 integral to cowling reinforcing channel 46
is provided with a hook 50 which engages mounting bail 42. The instant
invention 10 is therefore securely suspended in the water.
The detailed operation and construction of the backwash filter
itself may best be understood with reference to the exploded view
shown in FIG. 2. Debris-filled backwash water enters the instant
invention 10 via hose 37 at hose coupling 52 which typically may
be fabricated from polyvinyl chloride fittings. Water passes through
an aperture provided in the center of filter outlet disk 54. It
then flows into cylindrical strainer 56 whose outer periphery has
a multiplicity of apertures. Cylindrical strainer 56 is also typically
fabricated using polyvinyl chloride. Water passes through these
apertures and passes through filter materials 58 and 60 which may
fabricated typically from gauze type material, or polyester fluff
or any other available filter material. Filtered backwash water
then is forced through the multiplicity of apertures in filter outlet
disk 54 where it then flows into circular cap 56. A port 59 is provided
through which filtered backwashed water now flows into chute 40.
Four self tapping screws 60 62 64 and 66 are used to secure circular
cap 56 to filter outlet disk 54. Two of these screws, 64 and 66
also secure chute 40 to filter outlet disk 54 by first passing through
holes in mounting tabs 68 and 70 respectively. The insant invention
10 is held together by a locking ring 72 which clamps around the
outside of filter housing 38. A lever 74 which is free to pivot
on pivoted joint 76 is used to bias hook 78 and buckle 80 so that
when lever 74 is snapped to the right, locking ring 72 is firmly
clamped to filter housing 38. At least two latch hooks, typified
by 82 and 84 mate with aperture on the periphery of filter outlet
disk 54 so that when lever 74 is snapped to the right the instant
invention 10 is securely assembled.
In typical operation, the filter materials 58 and 60 may be cleaned
by disassembling the instant invention 10 and rinsing the filter
materials 58 and 60 approximately once every four backwashings depending
upon the degree of particulate suspension.
Filtered backwash water which leaves port 59 in circular cap 56
pours onto a vinyl check valve 86 mounted into the chute by any
known means, which curls sharply at both edges when no water is
resting on top of it. In normal forward filtering applications,
water flows into skimmer 12 by flowing under vinyl check valve 86.
It is possible, therefore, to operate the pool filter system in
the forward filtering mode without removing the instant invention
10. When water exits port 59 however, the weight of the water flatten
vinyl check valve 86 and the only water which may enter skimmer
12 is the filtered backwashed water.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown
and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will
be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes
in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation
can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit of the invention. |