Water filter abstract
A water filter for recreational vehicles (RV) is provided which
includes a ceramic filter element having a radial flange attached
thereto. The flange facilitates filter assembly and replacement
of the filter element in the filter housing. The method of use describes
a quick and easy method of replacing the filter element which is
advantageous to unskilled persons in assembling and attaching the
water filter to the RV.
Water filter claims
We claim:
1. A water filter comprising: a housing, said housing comprising
a body, said body defining a male threaded end, a cap, said cap
defining a female threaded end, said female threaded end for receiving
said male threaded end for joining said body to said cap, said male
threaded end defining a groove, a first o-ring, said first o-ring
positioned in said groove of said male threaded end, said cap female
threaded end defining a groove, a second o-ring, said second o-ring
positioned in said female threaded end groove, a filter element,
said filter element positioned in said housing, a flange, said flange
attached to said filter element, a planar section, said planar section
attached to said flange and extending radially therefrom, said planar
section sandwiched between said first and second o-rings to stabilize
said filter element within said housing.
2. The water filter of claim 1 further comprising a water inlet,
said water inlet attached to said body.
3. The water filter of claim 1 further comprising a water outlet,
said outlet joined to said cap.
4. The water filter of claim 1 wherein said planar section comprises
a disk.
5. The water filter of claim 1 further comprising a water inlet,
said water inlet attached to said body.
6. The water filter of claim 1 further comprising a water outlet,
said water outlet affixed to said cap.
7. The water filter of claim 1 comprising a support tab, said support
tab attached to said flange for strengthening said planar section.
8. A method of filtering water comprising the steps of: a) assembling
a filter having a housing with a cap and a body threadably connected
containing a filter element with a flange having a radially extending
planar section maintained between a first o-ring on the body and
a second o-ring on the cap; b) connecting a water hose to the filter
body; c) allowing water to enter the filter body and pass through
the filter element to filter the same; and d) allowing the filtered
water to exit the filter element through the cap.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein connecting a water hose to the
filter body comprises the step of connecting the male end of a garden
hose to a water inlet on said filter body.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein allowing water to enter the filter
element comprises the step of allowing water to pass from the outer
surface of the filter element to a channel therein.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein allowing water to exit the filter
element comprises the step of allowing the filtered water to exit
through an outlet on the cap.
Water filter description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein pertains to filters for fresh water, and particularly
pertains to a freshwater filter used for an RV (Recreational Vehicle)
or the like.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
It is usual for recreational vehicles, mobile homes, campers and
other vehicles that have indoor plumbing to be connected to a freshwater
line while parked, such as at camping grounds, rallies and otherwise.
Sometimes fresh water sources contain contaminants which may not
be harmful but may have an unpleasant taste, odor or abrasive properties.
In order to remedy this problem various filters have been affixed
to the RV freshwater inlet, generally on the exterior of the RV.
Such water filters utilize many types of cartridges or filter elements
including ceramic types having activated carbon and copper/zinc
alloy particles which can be exchanged or cleaned and replaced as
needed. Certain standard water filters which are available for RV
owners are difficult to install and operate while other available
filters discourage filter element replacement by untrained persons.
Some filter elements do not adequately remove objectionable odors,
taste and particles from the water, while others quickly clog and
are not practical for their intended uses. Thus, with the present
problems and disadvantages of conventional freshwater filters, the
present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to
provide a water filter which can be easily assembled and installed
by untrained persons.
It is another objection of the present invention to provide a water
filter element for an RV or the like which can easily be exchanged
and the filter reassembled and reinstalled without special tools
or equipment.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide
a water filter having a ceramic filter element having copper/zinc
alloy particles and activated carbon particles therein which adequately
removes objectionable odors, debris and the like from fresh water.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide
a water filter which includes a standard ceramic element which is
properly contained within the filter housing by the use of an adhesively
adhered radially extending flange attached to the cylindrical filter
element.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed
description is set forth below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a
water filter and method of use whereby an RV operator can quickly,
easily and conveniently attach a freshwater line to the RV and have
confidence that the delivered water is free of foreign particles,
objectionable odors, taste and the like. The water filter includes
a housing having a main body with a male threaded end for cooperatively
engaging the female threads of a cap. A conventional cylindrical
ceramic filter element formed from diatomascus earth containing
both a copper/zinc alloy and an activated carbon is provided with
a radially extending planar flange which is sandwiched between the
cap and the body upon assembly to stabilize and hold the filter
element in its correct position. The ceramic filter element is commercially
available as from Shen Hung Enterprise Co., Ltd. in Taiwan and sold
as "X-Green Ceramic Cartridge". An o-ring mounted in a
groove in the male threaded end of the body provides a tight, waterproof,
seal and similarly, the cap includes an o-ring mounted in a groove
in the female end. At the lower end of the filter body a freshwater
threaded inlet allows engagement with the male end of a conventional
garden water hose. Water enters the housing body through the inlet
and passes into the space between the outer walls of the filter
element and the filter housing where, under pressure the water is
forced through the filter element containing a copper/zinc alloy
and activated carbon. As the water passes through the filter element
it enters a central, longitudinal channel which is in fluid communication
with a threaded outlet affixed to the cap. The threaded outlet is
joined to the plumbing connection on the exterior of the RV, whereby
filtered water can be supplied as required to the RV occupants.
On schedule or as needed, the water filter can be easily disassembled
and the filter element removed and cleaned or replaced for reassembly
and reattachment to the RV.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a typical RV with the water filter of the invention
positioned thereon;
FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the water filter
as removed from the RV and with the cap and o-rings exploded therefrom;
FIG. 3 demonstrates a front perspective view of the water filter
with the cap removed and the filter element protruding from the
filter body;
FIG. 4 pictures another front perspective view of the filter in
assembled form;
FIG. 5 depicts a right side elevational view of the filter; it
being understood that the left side elevational view is a mirror
image thereof with the top and bottom plan views being identical
thereto;
FIG. 6 illustrates a left end view of the water filter as shown
in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 demonstrates a right end view of the water filter as shown
in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 shows an enlarged cap as removed from the filter body with
an o-ring exploded therefrom;
FIG. 9 features an enlarged fragmented view of the male threaded
end of the body with the o-ring exploded therefrom; and
FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the filter element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND OPERATION
OF THE INVENTION
For a better understanding of the invention and its operation,
turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 demonstrates a typical RV 30
having preferred filter 10 attached thereto for receiving fresh
water via garden hose 31 (shown fragmented) which is connected
to a conventional water source (not seen). Filter 10 is utilized
to remove granular sediment and other impurities, odors, foreign
tastes and the like from fresh water received through garden hose
31. As would be understood, filter 10 is connected along the outside
of RV 30 to a fresh water (pipe) connection which is standard on
most RV's.
In FIG. 2 preferred water filter 10 includes housing 11 having
a main elongated body 12 and a cap 13 both formed of polycarbonate,
preferably by injection molding which are threadably joined when
assembled. Body 12 defines male threaded end 28 shown enlarged in
FIG. 9 which couples with female threaded lend 29 of cap 13 also
seen enlarged in FIG. 8. Body 12 provides a longitudinal rib 26
for strength while cap 13 provides a longitudinal rib 27 which also
increases the structural integrity thereof. In FIGS. 2 and 3 ceramic
filter element 22 is partially exposed which includes flange 20
radially secured thereto, preferably by a two part, waterproof epoxy
although other suitable adhesives may be used. FIG. 10 shows a cross
section of standard filter element 22 which contains activated carbon
particles 34 and copper/zinc alloy particles 35. Filter plate 36
preferably made of Porex.RTM. (a trademark of Porex Technologies
Corp. of Bohannon Road, Fairburn, Ga. 30213) for a rigid, porous
polypropylene homopolymer material with an 1.18 inch diameter (2.99
cm) and a thickness of 0.128 inches (0.32 cm) and having approximately
100 micron openings. Flange 20 is preferably formed of plastic or
other suitable materials and as shown, has a diameter greater than
filter element 22.
Standard resilient o-ring 16 and second o-ring 18 in FIG. 2 are
used to seal filter housing 11 upon assembly. In FIGS. 4 and 5
housing 11 is shown preferably formed from a rigid plastic, tightly
assembled. Thus, as filter element 22 is placed in body 12 of housing
11 flange 20 is positioned against o-ring 16 contained within groove
17 as shown in FIG. 9. Next, as shown in FIG. 2 cap 13 with o-ring
18 contained in groove 19 is then threadably joined to body 12 whereby
flange 20 is sandwiched between o-rings 16 and 18 forming tight
waterproof seals therewith. Flange 20 stabilizes the position of
filter element 22 within filter housing 11 and limits the movement
thereof. As explained, filter element 22 is a conventional ceramic
water filter element containing activated carbon and a copper/zinc
alloy sold under the trademark KDF.RTM. as available from General
Carbon Corporation of Patterson, N.J Filter element 22 is modified
with the addition of flange 20 comprising a radially extending planar
section 32 and is adhered to ceramic element 22. Support tabs 25
(FIG. 2) attached to flange 20 insure planar section 32 is properly,
radially mounted on cylindrical ceramic filter element 22 and provides
strength.
The preferred method of use of water filter 10 includes the assembly
of filter 10 as hereinbefore described as ceramic filter element
22 is filled with particles of activated carbon 34 and copper/zinc
alloy 35 and with filter plate 36 therein. Filter element 22 is
then placed within housing body 11 with flange 20 adhered thereto
having integral support tabs 25 affixed. Flange 20 is preferably
adhesively connected to conventional ceramic filter element 22 by
a suitable, standard waterproof epoxy adhesive. Next, filter element
22 with flange 20 so joined is positioned in housing body 11 with
flange 20 contiguous o-ring 16 which resides in groove 17 of body
11. Next, cap 13 is threadably tightened onto male end 28 of body
12 whereby o-ring 18 of cap 13 located in groove 19 and o-ring 16
on body 12 tightly sandwich flange 20 therebetween. With water filter
10 so assembled, threaded outlet 24 (FIG. 6) is then affixed to
the conventional threaded fitting on RV 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Next,
a commercially available water (garden) hose such as water hose
31 also seen in FIG. 1 is then threadably affixed to water inlet
23 (FIG. 7) on housing 11. Fresh water is then directed through
garden hose 31. As water enters filter housing 11 through inlet
23 it moves along the outer surface of filter element 22 in body
12. Such fresh water under pressure then penetrates filter element
22 where it is filled by activated carbon particles 34 and copper/zinc
alloy particles 35 and then passes into longitudinal central channel
21 (FIG. 3) said filtered water exits outlet 24 (FIG. 4) on cap
13 and is directed into the RV water system for use by the occupants.
Filter 10 allows convenience in replacement of a filter element
and while filter element 22 as seen in FIG. 10 is preferred, other
filter element types with other internal compositions or particles
could likewise be used.
The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory
purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended
claims. |