Water filter abstract
A water filter includes an egg-shaped housing formed from a lower
shell and an upper shell. The lower shell is divided into an intake
chamber and an outflow chamber. A filter or membrane is placed between
the upper and lower shells.
Water filter claims
What is claimed is:
1. A water filter apparatus comprising: (a) a lower shell having
an intake chamber and an outflow chamber divided by an internal
divider, and a water intake leading to the intake chamber; (b) an
upper shell having an intake chamber and a outflow chamber divided
by an internal divider, said internal divider defining an opening
providing fluid communication between the intake and outflow chambers;
(c) a filter means disposed between the respective intake chambers
of the lower and upper shells, such that water must pass through
the filter to pass from the lower shell intake chamber to the upper
shell intake chamber; (d) wherein the lower shell and upper shell
mate to form a substantially egg-shaped housing and the outflow
chambers of each of the lower and upper shells form one main outflow
chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising activated charcoal
filter means associated with the upper shell internal divider opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cleanout valve
formed in the lower shell to remove solid impurities from the bottom
of the lower shell intake chamber.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for creating
a vortex in an incoming water stream.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ultraviolet light
source.
Water filter description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority benefit of Canadian Patent
Application 2355444 filed Aug. 17 2001.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to water filters generally and an
in-line domestic water filtering apparatus.
Domestic water supplies often contain impurities which affect the
colour, taste or safety of drinking water. Therefore, there is a
need in the art for effective and cost efficient water filter.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a water filter apparatus which
has a lower intake chamber. Water which enters the apparatus is
filtered upwards, such that impurities retained by the filter fall
to the bottom of the intake chamber. The apparatus is preferably
egg-shaped. The shape promotes a swirling action of water entering
the intake chamber, which aids to clean the filter surface. Accordingly,
in one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a water
filter apparatus comprising: (a) a lower shell having an intake
chamber and an outflow chamber divided by an internal divider, and
a water intake leading to the intake chamber; (b) an upper shell
having an intake chamber and a outflow chamber divided by an internal
divider, said internal divider defining an opening providing fluid
communication between the intake and outflow chambers; (c) a filter
means disposed between the respective intake chambers of the lower
and upper shells, such that water must pass through the filter to
pass from the lower shell intake chamber to the upper shell intake
chamber; (d) wherein the lower shell and upper shell mate to form
a substantially egg-shaped housing and the outflow chambers of each
of the lower and upper shells form one main outflow chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodiment
with reference to the accompanying simplified, diagrammatic, not-to-scale
drawings. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment the apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 2--2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2A is a detail showing a vortex creating intake valve.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3--3 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a detail of a portion of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention provides for a water filter. When describing
the present invention, all terms not defined herein have their common
art-recognized meanings.
The apparatus (10) according to the Figures comprises a water filter
including a lower shell (12) and an upper shell (14). The lower
shell is divided by an internal divider (16) into an intake chamber
(18) and an outflow chamber (20). Water enters the intake chamber
of the lower shell through intake valve (22) The upper shell is
divided by an internal divider (24) into matching intake chamber
(26) and outflow chamber (28). The upper divider defines an opening
(30) which permits water to flow between the intake and outflow
chambers.
A filter (32) is placed between the intake chambers of the upper
and lower shells. The filter may be any suitable water filtering
membrane or filter media. Preferably the filter is effective to
prevent passage of unwanted water-borne impurities and does not
easily clog. The filter is clamped between the upper and lower shells
as is shown in FIG. 4. An O-ring gasket (34) provides a seal to
prevent leakage.
In one embodiment, an activated charcoal filter (36) may be associated
with the upper opening (30) to further treat the water passing through
the apparatus.
In operation, water enters through the intake valve and fills the
lower intake chamber. It then passes through the filter upwards
into the upper intake chamber where it then passes through the optional
activated charcoal filter into the outflow chamber. When the upper
and lower shells are mated together, the two outflow chambers form
one chamber and water exits through an outflow valve (38). In one
embodiment, a germicidal ultraviolet light (42) may be provided.
Preferably, the UV light is mounted in the upper shell (14) to illuminate
the outflow chambers (20 28).
Solids and other impurities retained by the filter settle to the
bottom of the intake chamber and may be removed through solids removal
port (40).
The apparatus is substantially egg-shaped. In one embodiment, it
is egg-shaped with truncated ends, as shown in the Figures. This
design gives a very high strength. As well, the curved surfaces
of the lower intake chamber promote a swirling action of water as
it flows through the chamber. The swirling action assists in cleaning
the filter, preventing clogging. In one embodiment, the intake valve
(22) may be configured to input a vortex or spiral movement to the
incoming water, as is shown in FIG. 2. The intake valve may have
vanes (44) to deflect the incoming water stream.
It is intended that this apparatus be used inline in conventional
water supply plumbing. The supply pressure forces water through
the apparatus. However, those skilled in the art will recognize
that the apparatus may be used to process batches of water if the
intake water is sufficiently pressurized to move water through the
apparatus.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications,
adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure
can be made without departing from the scope of the invention claimed
herein. |