Water filter abstract
A laminated modular water filter includes a top plate, a bottom
plate and a plurality of superposed intermediate plates disposed
between the top and bottom plates. Each adjacent pair of the top,
intermediate and bottom plates are interconnected removably, and
define an accommodating space therebetween, within which a filter
unit is received fittingly. Each of the top and bottom plates has
a central hole which is in fluid communication with central holes
in the intermediate plates, and two side openings which are in fluid
communication with a plurality of annular outer passages units in
the intermediate plates that are in fluid communication with the
accommodating spaces. Each of the filter units includes two filter
films interconnected fixedly along outer peripheries thereof, and
a filter net disposed between the films so as to define an annular
filtered-water passage between the films that is fluid communication
with the central holes.
Water filter claims
I claim:
1. A water filter for filtering dirty water, which has a plurality
of suspended solid particles, said water filter comprising: a plurality
of superposed annular intermediate plates arranged one above another,
each of said intermediate plates including a top surface with an
annular upper groove, a bottom surface with an annular lower groove,
a central hole formed through a respective one of said intermediate
plates, said central holes in each adjacent pair of said intermediate
plates being aligned with and being in fluid communication with
each other, and an annular outer passage unit formed through the
respective one of said intermediate plates and having an upper end
that is in fluid communication with an outer peripheral portion
of said upper groove in the respective one of said intermediate
plates, and a lower end that is in fluid communication with an outer
peripheral portion of said lower groove in the respective one of
said intermediate plates, said outer passage units in each adjacent
pair of said intermediate plates being aligned with and being in
fluid communication with each other; an annular top plate superposed
on an uppermost one of said intermediate plates and having a bottom
surface with an annular lower groove that is aligned with said upper
and lower grooves in said intermediate plates, a central hole formed
through said top plate and in fluid communication with said central
holes in said intermediate plates, and two side openings aligned
with and in fluid communication with said outer passage unit in
the uppermost one of said intermediate plates; an annular bottom
plate, on which a lowermost one of said intermediate plates is superposed,
said bottom plate having a top surface with an annular upper groove
that is aligned with said upper and lower grooves in said intermediate
plates, each adjacent pair of said top, intermediate and bottom
plates defining an annular accommodating space therebetween, which
is formed cooperatively from a respective one of said upper grooves
in said intermediate and bottom plates and a respective one of said
lower grooves in said top and intermediate plates and which is in
fluid communication with said central holes in said intermediate
plates, a central hole formed through said bottom plate and in fluid
communication with said central holes in said intermediate plates,
and two side openings aligned with and in fluid communication with
said outer passage unit in the lowermost one of said intermediate
plates; a plurality of laminated filter units disposed respectively
within a respective one of said accommodating spaces, each of said
filter units including two annular filter films that are received
fittingly within the respective one of said accommodating spaces
and that are interconnected fixedly along outer peripheral portions
thereof, and an annular filter net that is sandwiched between said
filter films so as to define an annular filtered-water passage between
said filter films, thereby preventing flow of the solid particles
into said filtered-water passage via said filter films, said filtered-water
passages having inner peripheries that are in fluid communication
with said central holes in said intermediate plates so as to permit
water flow between said central holes in said intermediate plates
and said filtered-water passages, the dirty water being capable
of being forced into said openings in said top plate when said central
hole and said openings in said bottom plate are closed such that
the dirty water flows into said filtered-water passages along a
flow path of said outer passage units in said intermediate plates,
said upper and lower grooves in said top, intermediate and bottom
plates and said filter films, thereby forming filtered water, which
in turn flows from said water filter through said central hole in
said top plate; and means for connecting said intermediate plates
removably to said top and bottom plates; whereby, after the solid
particles are deposited on said filter films and when said central
holes in said top and bottom plates are closed, washing water can
be forced into said openings in said top plate so as to flow from
said water filter through said openings in said bottom plate, thereby
removing the solid particles from said filter films; and whereby,
after the solid particles are deposited on said filter films and
when said central hole in said top plate is closed, washing water
can be forced into said central hole in said bottom plate so as
to flow from said water filter through said openings in said top
and bottom plates, thereby removing the solid particles from said
filter films.
2. The water filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said
intermediate plates further includes an annular inner passage unit
that is formed through the respective one of said intermediate plates
and that includes: an upper end in fluid communication with an inner
peripheral portion of said upper groove in the respective one of
said intermediate plates; a lower end in fluid communication with
an inner peripheral portion of said lower groove in the respective
one of said intermediate plates; and an inner periphery in fluid
communication with said central hole in the respective one of said
intermediate plates via the respective filter unit, said inner passage
units in each adjacent pair of said intermediate plates being aligned
with and being in fluid communication with each other.
3. The water filter as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said
filter units has an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral
portion, each of said intermediate plates being made of rubber,
and including: an annular inner plate portion defining said central
hole in the respective one of said intermediate plates therein;
an annular intermediate plate portion disposed around said inner
plate portion; an annular outer plate portion disposed around said
intermediate plate portion; a plurality of angularly equidistant,
vertical inner plates extending integrally and radially between
said inner and intermediate plate portions, each adjacent pair of
said inner plates defining a radial inner passage therebetween,
said radial inner passages cooperatively constituting a corresponding
one of said inner passage units, said inner plates of each adjacent
pair of said intermediate plates clamping said inner peripheral
portion of a respective one of said filter units therebetween; and
a plurality of angularly equidistant, vertical outer plates extending
integrally and radially between said intermediate and outer plate
portions, each adjacent pair of said outer plates defining a radial
outer passage therebetween, said radial outer passages cooperatively
constituting a corresponding one of said outer passage units, said
outer plates of each adjacent pair of said intermediate plates clamping
said outer peripheral portion of the respective one of said filter
units therebetween.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a water filter, and more particularly
to a laminated modular water filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1 a spiral-wound-type first conventional water
filer 1 is shown to include a filter film unit 103 which is disposed
between a pair of supporting nets 104 that are wound fixedly on
a porous inner pipe 105. An outer pipe 106 is disposed fixedly around
the inner pipe 105 and has two ends that are provided with two
fixed end caps 107 respectively. Although the filter 1 can filter
water effectively, it cannot be cleaned by forcing water therethrough.
Furthermore, because it is difficult to remove the film unit 103
from the inner and outerpipes 105 106 the former can only be cleaned
by chemical agents after the filter 1 has been in use for a long
time, thereby resulting in an expensive film-cleaning process.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 a tubular-type second conventional
water filter 2 is shown to include a plurality of tubular filter
films 201 that are disposed within a pipe 202 thereby defining
a filtered-water passage 203 between the pipe 202 and the films
201. Right and left outlets 204 205 are formed respectively in
two end portions of the pipe 202 and are in fluid communication
with the passage 203. The pipe 202 has a left end chamber 206 that
is in fluid communication with the left ends of the films 201 and
a right end chamber 206' that is in fluid communication with the
right ends of the films 201. When it is desired to filter raw water
or sewage water, that is referred to as dirty water hereinafter,
one of the end chambers 206 206' is closed, e.g. by means of a
stop valve (not shown), and the dirty water is forced into the other
one of the end chambers 206 206', e.g. by a pump (not shown). The
dirty water seeps through the films 201 so as to flow into the passage
203 thereby forming filtered potable water, which flows from the
filter 2 through the outlets 204 205. When it is desired to clean
the filter 2 the outlets 204 205 are closed and the end chambers
206 206' are opened so that washing water can be forced into one
of the end chambers 206 206' so as to flow through the water filter
2 and exit the other one of the end chambers 206 206'. Although
the water filter 2 can be cleaned effectively, when the sizes of
the solid particles suspended in the dirty water to be processed
are comparatively large, they are easily stuck within the films
201 thereby affecting adversely the filtering effect of the water
filter 2.
FIG. 4 shows a capillary-tube type third conventional water filter
3 which is similar to the second conventional water filter 2 (see
FIGS. 2 and 3) and which includes a plurality of tubular filter
films 301 that are filled within a pipe 302. The third conventional
water filter 3 has the same drawback as the second conventional
water filter 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a laminated modular water
filter with a plurality of filter units, the number of which can
be increased when the dirty water to be filtered is comparatively
dirty.
Anther object of this invention is to provide a laminated modular
water filter with a plurality of filter units, which can be cleaned
effectively by forcing water through the filter units in opposite
directions.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a laminated
modular water filter with a plurality of filter units, which can
be easily dismounted for cleaning purposes.
According to this invention, a laminated modular water filter includes
a top plate, a bottom plate and a plurality of superposed intermediate
plates disposed between the top and bottom plates. Each adjacent
pair of the top, intermediate and bottom plates are interconnected
removably, and define an accommodating space therebetween, within
which a filter unit is received fittingly. Each of the top and bottom
plates has a central hole which is in fluid communication with central
holes in the intermediate plates, and two side openings which are
in fluid communication with annular outer passages units in the
intermediate plates that are in fluid communication with the accommodating
spaces. Each of the filter units includes two filter films interconnected
along outer peripheries thereof, and a filter net disposed between
the films so as to define a filtered-water passage between the films
that is fluid communication with the central holes.
When it is desired to filter dirty water, the central hole and
the openings in the bottom plate are closed, and the dirty water
is forced into the openings in the top plate. The dirty water flows
into the outer passage units in the intermediate plates and subsequently
into the accommodating spaces so as to seep through the films, thereby
forming filtered water in the filtered-water passages, which flows
from the water filter through the central hole in the top plate.
When the water to be processed is comparatively dirty, the number
of the intermediate plates and the filter units can be increased.
The water filter can be cleaned by: (1) a forward washing method
including the steps of closing the central holes in the top and
bottom plates, and forcing washing water into the openings in the
top plate so as to flow from the water filter through the openings
in the bottom plate; or (2) a reverse washing method including the
steps of closing the central hole in the top plate, and forcing
washing water into the central hole in the bottom plate so as to
flow from the water filter through the openings in the top and bottom
plates; or (3) a dismount washing method including the steps of
removing each of the filter units from the remaining parts of the
water filter and washing the former.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of this invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned perspective view of a first conventional
water filter, in which a filter film unit and two supporting nets
are stretched partially for the sake of illustration;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second conventional water filter;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the second conventional water filter,
taken along Line 3--3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a third conventional water filter;
FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of a laminated modular water filter according to this invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an intermediate plate of the preferred
embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the intermediate plate of the preferred
embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating
the flow path of the water to be filtered;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating
how washing water is forced to flow along forward washing paths
in order to wash a plurality of filter units; and
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating
how washing water is forced to flow along reverse washing paths
indicated by the phantom lines in order to wash the filter units.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 the preferred embodiment of a laminated
modular water filter 100 according to this invention is shown to
include a plurality of superposed intermediate plates 10 a top
plate 20 a bottom plate 30 a plurality of laminated filter units
40 and four lock bolts 50 (only one is shown in FIG. 6). The top
plate 20 is superposed on the uppermost intermediate plate 10. The
lowermost intermediate plate 10 is superposed on the bottom plate
30. Each of the intermediate, top and bottom plates 10 20 30 is
made of rubber, and has a central hole 11 21 31 and four fastener
holes 17 25 35. The central holes 11 21 31 in the intermediate,
top and bottom plates 10 20 30 are in fluid communication with
each other, as shown in FIG. 9. The bolts 50 extend respectively
through the fastener holes 17 25 35 in each of the intermediate,
top and bottom plates 10 20 30 and engage respectively four nuts
51 (only one is shown in FIG. 6), thereby interconnecting the intermediate,
top and bottom plates 10 20 30 removably.
The intermediate plates 10 are arranged one above another. As best
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 each of the intermediate plates 10 includes
a top surface 101 with an annular upper groove 12 a bottom surface
102 with an annular lower groove 13 an annular outer passage unit
14 and an annular inner passage unit 15. Each of the outer passage
units 14 is formed through the respective intermediate plate 10
and has an upper end that is in fluid communication with an outer
peripheral portion of the corresponding upper groove 12 and a lower
end that is in fluid communication with an outer peripheral portion
of the corresponding lower groove 13. Each of the inner passage
units 15 is formed through the respective intermediate plate 10
and has an upper end that is in fluid communication with an inner
peripheral portion of the corresponding upper groove 12 and a lower
end that is in fluid communication with an inner peripheral portion
of the corresponding lower groove 13.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9 the top plate 20 has two side openings
22 that are located on two sides of the central hole 21 and that
are in fluid communication with the outer passage units 14 in the
intermediate plates 10 and a bottom surface 23 with an annular
lower groove 24.
The bottom plate 30 has two side openings 32 that are located on
two sides of the central hole 31 and that are in fluid communication
with the outer passage units 14 in the intermediate plates 10 and
a top surface 33 with an annular upper groove 34.
The upper grooves 12 34 in the intermediate and bottom plates
10 30 are aligned with the lower grooves 13 24 in the intermediate
and top plates 10 20. Each adjacent pair of the intermediate, top
and bottom plates 10 20 30 define an annular accommodating space
40' therebetween, which is formed cooperatively from the respective
upper groove 12 34 and the respective lower groove 13 24 so as
to receive the respective filter unit 40 fittingly therein.
Each of the top and bottom surfaces 101 102 of the intermediate
plates 10 the bottom surface 23 of the top plate 20 and the top
surface 33 of the bottom plate 30 is formed with an annular slot
18 26 36. Each adjacent pair of the intermediate, top and bottom
plates 10 20 30 clamp an O-ring 181 261 361 therebetween, which
is received within the corresponding slots 18 26 36 so as to establish
a liquid-tight seal around the corresponding filter unit 40. Each
of the filter units 40 includes two annular filter films 43 44
that are received fittingly within the corresponding accommodating
space 40' and that are interconnected fixedly along outer peripheral
portions thereof, and a filter net 45 that is sandwiched between
the filter films 43 44 so as to define an annular filtered-water
passage 451 between the filter films 43 44. The filtered-water
passages 451 have inner peripheries that are in fluid communication
with the central holes 11 21 31 in the intermediate, top and bottom
plates 10 20 30. Each of the upper and lower grooves 12 13 24
34 is provided with a seal ring 123 133 243 343 that is disposed
in an inner periphery thereof, that abuts against an inner periphery
of the respective filter film 43 44 and that is disposed between
the corresponding filter film 43 44 and a corresponding one of
the intermediate, top and bottom plates 10 20 30. The upper grooves
12 34 in the intermediate and bottom plates 10 30 are aligned
with the lower grooves 13 24 in the intermediate and top plates
10 20.
When it is desired to filter dirty water, the central hole 31 and
the openings 32 in the bottom plate 30 are closed. Subsequently,
dirty water is forced into the openings 22 in the top plate 20
e.g. by means of a pump (not shown), so as to flow into the outer
passage units 14 in the intermediate plates 10. Because the inner
passage units 15 are in fluid communication with the outer passage
units 14 via the upper and lower grooves 12 13 the dirty water
flows from the upper and lower grooves 12 13 and the outer and
inner passage units 14 15 into the filtered-water passages 451
thereby forming filtered water, i.e. potable pure water. The filtered
water is forced from the filtered-water passages 451 into the central
holes 11 21 31 in the intermediate, top and bottom plates 10
20 30 thereby flowing from the water filter 100 through the central
hole 21 in the top plate 20.
The water filter 100 can be cleaned by three methods, i.e. a forward
washing method, a reverse washing method and a dismount washing
method.
Referring to FIG. 10 the forward washing method includes the following
steps: (1) closing the central holes 21 31 in the top and bottom
plates 20 30; and (2) forcing washing water into the openings 22
in the top plate 20 so as to seep through the filter films 43 44
in a first direction, thereby flowing into the filtered-water passages
451 along forward washing paths indicated by the arrowheads (shown
in solid lines in FIGS. 10 and 11), and subsequently flowing from
the water filter 100 through the openings 32 (see FIG. 6) in the
bottom plate 30.
Referring to FIG. 11 the reverse washing method includes the following
steps: (1) closing the central hole 21 in the top plates 20; and
(2) forcing washing water into the opening 32 in the bottom plate
30 so as to seep through the filter films 43 44 in a second direction
that is opposite to the first direction, thereby flowing from the
filtered-water passages 451 into the outer passage units 14 along
reverse washing paths indicated by the arrowheads (shown in phantom
lines), and subsequently flowing from the water filter 100 through
the openings 22 32 in the top and bottom plate 20 30.
Because the second direction is opposite to the first direction,
the water filter 100 can be cleaned effectively by both the forward
washing method and the reverse washing method.
The dismount washing method includes the following steps: (1) removing
the bolts 50 from the nuts 51; (2) removing each of the filter units
40 from the intermediate, top and bottom plates 10 20 30; and
(3) washing the filter units 40 individually.
Referring once again to FIGS. 7 and 8 each of the intermediate
plates 10 includes an annular inner plate portion 103 an annular
intermediate plate portion 104 an annular outer plate portion 105
a plurality of angularly equidistant, vertical outer plates 143
and a plurality of angularly equidistant, vertical inner plates
153. Each of the inner plate portions 103 defines the central hole
11 in the respective intermediate plate 10. Each of the intermediate
plate portions 104 is disposed around the respective inner plate
portion 103. Each of the outer plate portions 105 is disposed around
the respective intermediate plate portion 104. The outer plates
143 extend integrally and radially between the intermediate and
outer plate portions 104 105. The inner plates 153 extend integrally
and radially between the inner and intermediate plate portions 103
104. Each adjacent pair of the outer plates 143 define a radial
outer passage 144 therebetween. The outer passages 144 cooperatively
constitute the outer passage unit 14. Each adjacent pair of the
inner plates 153 define a radial inner passage 154 therebetween.
The inner passages 154 cooperatively constitute the inner passage
unit 15. The filter units 40 have outer peripheral portions that
are clamped between the outer plates 143 and inner peripheral portions
that are clamped between the inner plates 153.
Each of the inner plate portions 103 is formed with a plurality
of integral flanges 106 that are spaced circumferentially apart
from each other, and two annular slots 122 132 that are formed
respectively in top and bottom surfaces of the respective inner
plate portion 103 between the flanges 106 and the inner plates 153
and that are in fluid communication with the corresponding inner
passage unit 15. Each of the slots 122 132 receives an intermediate
seal ring 123 133 and the inner periphery of the corresponding
filter unit 40 therein. Likewise, an upper seal ring 243 is disposed
between the top plate 20 and the uppermost intermediate plate 10
while a lower seal ring 343 is disposed between the lowermost intermediate
plate 10 and the bottom plate 30. The inner periphery of each of
the filter units 40 is clamped between the corresponding two seal
rings 123 133 243 343 as shown in FIG. 9.
Each of the flanges 106 has flat top and bottom surfaces 107 108.
The flanges 106 of each adjacent pair of the intermediate plates
10 abut against each other by engaging the corresponding top surface
107 and the corresponding bottom surface 108. Each adjacent pair
of the flanges 106 define a space 109 therebetween, which is in
fluid communication with the corresponding central hole 11 and the
annular slots 122 132.
Referring once again to FIGS. 6 and 9 each of the intermediate
and bottom plates 10 30 is formed integrally with a plurality of
upper posts 126 344 that extend upwardly therefrom and that are
disposed within the corresponding upper grooves 12 34 so as to
press against a bottom surface of the corresponding filter unit
40 thereby forming a turbulent water flow around each of the upper
posts 126 344. Each of the intermediate and top plates 10 20 is
formed integrally with a plurality of lower posts 136 244 that
extend downwardly therefrom and that are disposed within the corresponding
lower grooves 13 24 so as to press against a top surface of the
corresponding filter unit 40 thereby forming a turbulent water
flow around each of the lower posts 136 244.
Each adjacent pair of the intermediate, top and bottom plates 10
20 30 are positioned relative to each other by engaging a plurality
of positioning posts 124 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), which are formed on
the top surface of a corresponding one of the intermediate and bottom
plates 10 30 with a plurality of positioning holes 134 (see FIGS.
7 and 8), which are formed in the bottom surface of a corresponding
one of the intermediate and top plates 10 20.
Because the intermediate plates 10 can be easily removed from and
mounted to the remaining parts of the water filter 100 when the
water to be processed is comparatively dirty, the number of the
intermediate plates 10 the intermediate seal rings 123 133 the
O-rings 181 and the filter units 40 can be increased accordingly.
With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous
modifications and variations can be made without departing from
the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended
that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended
claims. |