Water filter abstract
A water filter device has a collecting pot (1) with a spout (2)
disposed at the front, with a handle (3) disposed at the rear in
opposite relationship, and with an electrical heating element (5)
arranged in the lower boiling region of the collecting pot (1),
in this arrangement the collecting pot (1) is closable at the top
by a lid (4) and provided in the interior is a filter insert (8)
in which a filter cartridge (9) which can be filled with a purification
agent is arranged so that untreated water can be poured into the
filter insert (8) by way of the filter cartridge (9) and can pass
due to the force of gravity to at least under the filter cartridge
(9). The filter insert (8) is arranged in an insulating insert (6)
in such a way that provided between the boiling region at the bottom
in the collecting pot (1) and the filter insert (8) with the filter
cartridge (9) is a partition wall (10 10a) which is generally arranged
at a spacing from the filter insert (8) and which is at least partially
in the form of a horizontally extending plate. Provided in the lower
region of the insulating insert (6) is a through opening (7) for
the connection between the discharge end of the cartridge (9) and
the collecting pot (1). So that such a water filter device can be
simplified to the effect that the filter insert (8) can be removed
separately from the insulating insert (6), in which case the inserts
(6 8) can be better cleaned, the pouring properties of the pot
are improved and operation of the device can be better adapted to
different amounts of water to be purified, it is provided in accordance
with the invention that the through opening (7) is arranged in the
rear region (D) of the collecting pot (1) which is in opposite relationship
to the spout (2), the substantially horizontally extending part
(10a) of the partition wall (10) is inclined rearwardly relative
to the through opening (7) and extends above the boiling region
at least partially over the cross-section of the collecting pot
(1).
Water filter claims
What is claimed is:
1. A water filter device having a collecting pot (1) with a spout
(2) which is disposed at the top front, a handle (3) which is disposed
at the rear in opposite relationship, and an electrical heating
element (5) which is arranged in the lower boiling region (A) of
the collecting pot (1), wherein the collecting pot (1) is closable
at the top by a lid (4) and provided in the interior is a filter
insert (8) in which a filter cartridge (9) which can be filled with
a purification agent is arranged so that untreated water can be
poured by way of the filter cartridge (9) into the filter insert
(8) and can pass due to the force of gravity to at least below the
filter cartridge (9), wherein the filter insert (8) is arranged
in an insulating insert (6) in such a way that provided between
the boiling region (A) in the collecting pot (1) and the filter
insert (8) with the filter cartridge (9) is a partition wall (10
10a) which is generally arranged at a spacing from the filter insert
(8) and which is at least in part in the form of a substantially
horizontally extending plate, and wherein provided in the lower
region of the insulating insert (6) is a through opening (7) for
the communication between the discharge end (27) of the filter cartridge
(9) and the collecting pot (1), characterised in that the through
opening (7) is arranged in the rear region (D) of the collecting
pot (1) which is in opposite relationship to the spout (2), and
the substantially horizontally extending part (10a) of the partition
wall (10) is inclined rearwardly towards the through opening (7)
and extends above the boiling region (A) at least partially over
the cross-section of the collecting pot (1).
2. A water filter device according to claim 1 characterised in
that the through opening (7) is provided with a closure means.
3. A water filter device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised
in that the insulating insert (6) is in the form of an upwardly
open cup and its bottom is formed by the substantially horizontal
part (10a) of the partition wall (10).
4. A water filter device according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterised
in that the substantially horizontal part (10a) of the partition
wall (10) extends substantially over the entire cross-section of
the entire collecting pot (1) in such a way that an insulating space
(B) is disposed under the untreated water region (C) and above the
boiling region (A).
5. A water filter device according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterised
in that provided in the plate-shaped partition wall (10a) of the
insulating insert (6), which is inclined towards the through opening
(7), is a shaft-like depression (23) in which are disposed the through
opening (7) and the filter insert (8).
6. A water filter device according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterised
in that the filter cartridge (9) is held at the spacing (a) from
the bottom (26) of the filter insert (8), forming a filtrate intermediate
storage means (25), and provided beside the bottom of the filter
insert (8) is a discharge opening (28) which can be brought into
alignment with the through opening (7) in the insulating insert
(6).
7. A water filter device according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterised
in that the filter insert (8) is rotatable in the depression (23)
of the insulating insert (6) and coupling means (32) are provided
in the lid (4) for rotational actuation.
8. A water filter device according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterised
in that a slider switch (16) arranged on the handle (3) can be brought
into engagement with the coupling means (32) for rotational actuation.
Water filter description
The invention concerns a water filter device having a collecting
pot with a spout which is disposed at the top front, a handle which
is disposed at the rear in opposite relationship, and an electrical
heating element which is arranged in the lower boiling region of
the collecting pot, wherein the collecting pot is closable at the
top by a lid and provided in the interior is a filter insert in
which a filter cartridge which can be filled with a purification
agent is arranged so that untreated water can be poured by way of
the filter cartridge into the filter insert and can pass due to
the force of gravity to at least below the filter cartridge, wherein
the filter insert is arranged in an insulating insert in such a
way that provided between the boiling region in the collecting pot
and the filter insert with the filter cartridge is a partition wall
which is generally arranged at a spacing from the filter insert
and which is at least in part in the form of a substantially horizontally
extending plate, and wherein provided in the lower region of the
insulating insert is a through opening for the communication between
the discharge end of the filter cartridge and the collecting pot.
There are various water filter devices with an electrical heating
element, in which the water is urged by way of a motor-driven pump
through the handle and thus also through the filter insert disposed
in the handle and is then conveyed into the collecting pot. Such
devices frequently have an excessively bulky handle and the overall
design configuration is also complex and from time to time temperamental
in operation as it involves a pressurised system. Descaling is also
difficult and there are problems with indication of the filling
level. Those systems are used nonetheless because the filter cartridge
in the handle, with the purification agent, is not exposed to the
effect of the heat of the heating element, with consequential harm
thereto.
A water filter device which is similar to the kind described in
the opening part of this specification is also already known, in
which however the filter insert is formed in one piece with the
funnel and a shaft-like depression in front region of the funnel
is arranged at the bottom beside the spout. A further cup-shaped
wall configuration is also disposed as an insulating insert on the
funnel at the bottom around the shaft-like depression of the filter
insert, in order to prevent the heat of the heating element or the
heated water from having a damaging influence on the filter cartridge.
It is only the bottom region of the insulating insert that has a
small. substantially horizontally extending plate which at the centre,
like the filter insert, has a through opening so that the purified
water issuing from the filter cartridge can pass through that through
opening into the boiling region.
This last-described water filter device can only be dismantled
by a procedure whereby, together with the filter insert in the form
of the funnel, the insulating insert and the filter cartridge are
also removable. Both the filter cartridge and also the through opening
are disposed in the front region of the collecting pot beside the
spout so that, when pouring out water, a back-up accumulation can
occur and particular measures must be taken so that heated water
is not urged back out of the boiling region into the filter cartridge.
Apart from the difficulties involved in manufacture of such a device,
there are also no measures for feeding on the one hand relatively
small and on the other hand relatively large amounts of water to
the heating element. On the contrary, it is always the same amount
of untreated water that will pass through the filter cartridge and
the through opening into the boiling region.
Therefore the object of the present invention is so to simplify
a water filter device of the kind set forth in the opening part
of this specification that the filter insert in which the filter
cartridge is disposed can be separately removed from the insulating
insert, possibly freshly fitted with a filter cartridge, in which
case the inserts can be better cleaned, the pouring properties of
the pot are improved, and operation of the water filter device can
be better adapted to different amounts of water to be purified.
In accordance with the invention that object is attained in that
the through opening is arranged in the rear region of the collecting
pot which is in opposite relationship to the spout and the substantially
horizontally extending part of the partition wall is inclined downwardly
towards the through opening and extends "at the level above
the boiling region" in the sense of "above the boiling
region" at least partially over the cross-section of the collecting
pot. The arrangement of the through opening in the rear region of
the collecting pot affords better pouring properties, the centre
of gravity is desirably closer to the handle, and a back-flow of
heated boiled water into the filter cartridge is also substantially
excluded. The partition wall mechanically and thermally separates
the boiling region from the untreated water region and is above
the boiling region, unlike the case with the known devices. Due
to the system being operated by the force of gravity, the volume
flow is advantageously afforded by virtue of the geometry of the
inserts and the volume flow can be well matched to the kinematics
of the ion exchanger. That gives good purification properties. When
dealing with a mixture of the purification agent of for example
30% carbon and 70% ion exchanger, it is possible to remove substances
affording taste and smell from the water due to the action of the
carbon while the ion exchanger provides for radical decarbonisation
with the desired filtering speed.
These per se known basic functions of a water filtration unit can
be implemented with the water purification device according to the
invention even when the heating element is switched off. In accordance
with the invention this filter capability can be fully maintained
in accordance with the invention when the use is expanded in the
described manner by the heating element and at the same time water
to be purified is also additionally heated. By virtue of the provision
of the thermal insulation the filter cartridge and its purification
agent contained therein can be kept for example at room temperature.
That makes it possible to promote and stabilise the filtration kinematics.
In a corresponding configuration, it is possible for the filter
insert to be removably connected in the insulating insert so firmly
that untreated water which is poured on over the filter cartridge
certainly cannot pass directly to the bottom of the insulating insert
and thus also the through opening but must first pass through the
filter cartridge. That therefore affords a practical dismantling
option and the inserts can be easily satisfactorily cleaned.
Apart from the possibility of fitting filter cartridges of different
configurations in a water filter device of the kind described hereinbefore
and thus already adapting the operation involved to different amounts
of water to be purified, it is particularly desirable in accordance
with the invention if the through opening is provided with a closure
device. More specifically, it is then possible for the untreated
water region above the filter cartridge to be completely filled
with water and nonetheless for only a desired amount of purified
water which has flowed out of the filter cartridge to be passed
through the through opening into the boiling region. When that amount
is reached, the further through flow can be terminated by the closure
device. It is known to be harmless if the purification agent in
the filter cartridge is in water or also if untreated water remains
above the filter cartridge.
If there is a wish for the total amount of untreated water to be
passed to the boiling region, then the inclination of the substantially
horizontally extending part of the partition wall towards the through
opening makes it possible for no undesired residual amounts to be
left in the insulating insert.
In principle the partition wall can involve various shapes and
positions. A part thereof extends substantially horizontally, which
means that this part which in a preferred embodiment is for example
plate-shaped or disc-shaped only extends generally horizontally,
but nonetheless it can involve a slight inclination towards the
through opening. In another embodiment the partition wall, outside
that primarily horizontally extending part, can also be in the shape
of an upwardly open cup which forms the shaft-like depression of
the insulating insert and which is formed in one piece with the
insulating insert. A filter insert of a suitable configuration which
is also cup-shaped can be arranged in sealing relationship in that
shaft-like depression, and the filter cartridge can be fitted in
the filter insert.
However, even without that shaft-like depression, it is desirable
in accordance with the invention for the insulating insert if it
is in the form of an upwardly open cup and if its bottom is formed
by the substantially horizontal part of the partition wall. In both
embodiments, this substantially horizontal part of the partition
wall is then that part which divides off the boiling region downwardly
so that either water which has just been purified and/or water which
is to be purified is disposed thereabove. That mechanical separation
at the same time also affords thermal insulation for the water which
is disposed above that partition wall, or for the space thereabove,
if the space is not filled with water. It is then possible for the
filter cartridge to be arranged thereabove or therebeside and for
untreated water to be passed through the purification agent without
the water which has then just been purified already having reached
a temperature which would be harmful to the purification agent or
one of its constituents.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the substantially
horizontal part of the partition wall extends substantially over
the entire cross-section of the collecting pot in such a way that
there is an insulating space or chamber under the untreated water
region and above the boiling region. In this embodiment, in the
above-described manner, the untreated water may advantageously not
be reliably heated. In this embodiment, no shaft-like depression
is provided in the partition wall forming the bottom of the cup-shaped
insulating insert. On the contrary the bottom of the partition wall
is the substantially horizontal part of the partition wall (this
differs from the substantially vertically upwardly extending side
walls which in part can also belong to the insulating insert). The
essential function of the insulating insert is to provide for thermal
and spatial/mechanical separation of the boiling region from regions
disposed thereabove.
If now another preferred embodiment having the above-mentioned
shaft-like depression is considered, then the water filter device
is preferably characterised in that disposed in the plate-like partition
wall which is inclined towards the through opening, of the insulating
insert, is a shaft-like depression in which the through opening
and the filter insert are disposed. In this embodiment the substantially
horizontal part of the partition wall, namely the disc or plate
which is slightly inclined towards the shaft-like depression forms
a first part of the bottom of the generally cup-shaped insulating
insert, and the shaft-like depression forms the remaining bottom
part of the insulating insert. In that case, the filter cartridge
can be substantially completely disposed in the shaft-like depression,
with the result that untreated water which is poured into the insulating
insert at the top can in its entirety leave the filter cartridge
and the shaft-like depression to pass into the boiling region, only
after passing through the filter cartridge. In this embodiment also
the insulating insert, with its horizontal part of the partition
wall and also with its part of the shaft-like depression, spatially
and mechanically separates the boiling region relative to the untreated
water region and the region of the filter cartridge, that is to
say the purification region. In addition thermal isolation is effected
by all parts of the partition wall.
The second embodiment of the invention as just described above
is suitable for a known form of filter cartridges which have found
wide-spread use in domestic water filters.
The other first embodiment described further hereinbefore, in which
the bottom of the cup-shaped insulating insert comprises substantially
only the horizontally extending partition wall, can be used in relation
to a wider filter cartridge of larger diameter but smaller height,
in comparison with that referred to above. While the filter cartridge
of the embodiment with the shaft-like depression without a lid can
be of a height of about 10 cm , in the initially above-described
embodiment with the wider and shorter filter cartridge, it is possible
to use such a cartridge which is about 3 cm in height.
The boiling volume is referred to as the size of the boiling region
(minus the head space for the boiling operation). In a preferred
embodiment this boiling volume is 1.5 litres in size.
The above-mentioned funnel corresponds to the untreated water region
and in the preferred embodiment is of a size of 0.75 litre, that
is to say half the boiling volume.
The funnel and the boiling volume generally determine the structural
height and the filter height of the water purification device, the
overall height of which should therefore generally not exceed 30
cm.
In a good practical embodiment which is preferred in accordance
with the invention the diameter of the collecting pot is 15 cm.
The diameter of the filter cartridge of the first-described, short
wide kind is 8.5 cm and its height is 3.5 cm.
In accordance with the invention, for the embodiment with the shaft-like
depression, it is further desirable if the filter cartridge is disposed
at a spacing from the bottom of the filter insert, forming a filtrate
intermediate storage means, and a discharge opening which can be
brought into alignment with the through opening in the insulating
insert is provided beside the bottom of the filter insert. It will
be appreciated that the filter cartridge is open downwardly so that
purified water can flow downwardly into the filtrate intermediate
storage means and can possibly accumulate there. The described filtrate
intermediate storage means is disposed in the filter insert. It
is in communication with the space on the outside above the above-mentioned
discharge opening which is in the upwardly extending wall of the
filter insert. A plurality of discharge openings can possibly also
be provided in the wall of the filter insert. The purified water
in the filtrate intermediate storage means can however escape from
the filter insert outwardly through the discharge opening in the
filter insert only when the so-called through opening which is in
the wall of the insulating insert is in alignment above the discharge
opening. More specifically, the outlet for the purified water into
the boiling region is then free by virtue of the discharge opening
and the through opening being in mutually superposed relationship.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, provided in the region
of the through opening outside same in the insulating insert is
an annular outlet passage which is open downwardly in an annular
configuration, the arrangement being such that the purified water
can pass out of the filtrate intermediate storage means by way of
the two aligned openings into the annular outlet passage and from
there can flow downwardly into the boiling region.
It will be appreciated that with this structure in respect of the
discharge flow openings and passages, that a closure device for
example for the through opening can be easily installed using simple
means.
A desirable embodiment of the invention is characterised in that
the filter insert is rotatable in the depression of the insulating
insert and coupling means are provided in the cover for rotational
actuation. More specifically, if the filter insert is rotated by
a drive from above, then the described discharge opening (in the
filter insert) can be brought out of alignment with respect to the
through opening (in the insulating insert) which is disposed on
the outside directly therebeside and in contact therewith. Depending
on the rotational position of the filter insert, it is possible
in that way to close or open the through opening. In that respect
it is particularly desirable if the coupling means for rotational
actuation of the filter insert are provided in the cover. In other
words, the filter insert has upstanding portions which extend substantially
vertically through the untreated water region in such a way that
suitably congruent portions permit rotational movement of the filter
insert, from the cover, without the fingers having to be put into
the untreated water region.
It is further desirable in accordance with the invention if a slider
switch arranged on the handle can be brought into engagement with
the coupling means for rotational actuation. It is assumed therefore
that vertically upwardly extending filter insert limbs which can
be surrounded by untreated water are fixedly secured to the filter
insert. Then, a rotary knob should be disposed above the filter
insert in the cover, with corresponding rotary knob limbs extending
vertically downwardly from the rotary knob in such a way that they
can be brought into engagement with the filter insert limbs. When
then the rotary knob is turned, the filter insert is rotated by
way of the interengaging limbs as a coupling means. If now a slider
switch can also be brought into engagement with the coupling means
among which the rotary knob can also be counted, then the position
of the slider switch can be coupled to the rotational position of
the filter insert. That coupling can mean for example that it is
only in a given rotational position of the filter insert that the
slider switch can be actuated, with the consequence that it is only
then that the heating element can be brought into heating operation.
Desirably, the position adopted is that rotational position of the
filter insert at which the two openings are out of alignment with
each other in order then to actuate the slider switch and therewith
the heating element. In practical operation this means that the
user must first bring water to be purified into the lower part of
the boiling region, whereafter he moves the rotary knob into the
closed position in order only thereafter to switch on the heating
element. Then, even heat which rises from the heating element will
not be readily able to pass by a backflow effect downwardly into
the filter cartridge or even the purification agent. This measure
also advantageously serves for thermal isolation for the purification
agent from the heat generated by the heating element.
In spite of the thermal and also spatial separation of the boiling
region from the other functional regions of the water filter device
according to the invention, it can be simplified in regard to manufacture
and also use for the filter insert is just as separate from the
filter cartridge as the insulating insert. The device according
to the invention can therefore easily be fitted with a fresh filter
cartridge, with a small number of steps. In operation the appropriate
arrangements of through opening, filter cartridge, handle and spout
predetermine good pouring properties, while nonetheless the unit
can be satisfactorily cleaned. The configuration and structure of
the insulating insert on the one hand and the filter insert on the
other hand make it possible to have various different design configurations
for closure devices for the through opening. In that way, in operation,
depending on the user wishes, the through opening can be opened
or closed logically and in a clearly visible fashion so that little
or a great deal of water to be purified can pass into the boiling
region.
Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention
will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a partly broken-away side view of a water filter device
of a first embodiment with a short filter cartridge of larger diameter,
FIG. 2 is a plan view onto the cover with a rotatable closure,
FIG. 3 is a similar plan view to FIG. 2 but in which the cover
has been removed from the collecting pot and the view is onto the
filter cartridge,
FIG. 4 is a further similar plan view to FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 but with
the filter insert removed so that the view is onto the substantially
horizontal part of the partition wall extending over the entire
cross-section of the collecting pot,
FIG. 5 is a similar cross-sectional view to FIG. 1 but in a direction
perpendicular to that shown in FIG. 1 in broken-away form, illustrating
the upper part of the entire device,
FIG. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view to FIG. 1 but of a second
embodiment with a collecting pot which is elongate when viewed from
above. wherein the cover is correspondingly shown separately lifted
off at the top and the electrical plug base is also shown separately
removed at the bottom,
FIG. 7 is a similar cross-sectional view to FIG. 6 also of the
same embodiment as FIG. 6 but wherein the electrical plug base
is removed and the cover is fitted onto the pot,
FIG. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view to FIG. 7 but with the
rotary knob being turned through 90.degree. into another position
at top right and with the slider switch also moved into its switch-on
position, and
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the collecting pot of the second embodiment
of FIGS. 6 to 8 but showing the oval cover in the removed condition
and thereby viewing directly onto the filter cartridge and the filter
insert surrounding same, which insert has been previously rotated
into the closed position.
The first embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 and the second
is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9. The cross-sectional view in FIG.
1 is a view taken along line I--I in FIG. 2. Similarly the cross-sectional
view in FIG. 7 is a view taken along line VII--VII in FIG. 9. In
that respect, the cover shown in the cross-sectional views is omitted
in FIGS. 2 and 9. Furthermore FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section
(broken away) taken along line V--V in FIG. 2.
The collecting pot 1 with a spout 2 provided at the top front thereof
and a handle 3 disposed at the rear in opposite relationship is
closable at the top by a cover or lid 4. It is provided at the bottom
with an electrical heating element 5 while in the upper region disposed
in an insulating insert 6 with a through opening 7 is a filter insert
8 with filter cartridge 9 the arrangement being such as to afford
a boiling region in the collecting pot 1 at the bottom beside the
heating element 5 up to the height of the substantially horizontal
part 10a of the partition wall which is generally identified by
reference 10 and which is part of the insulating insert 6. Besides
the boiling region A, in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to
5 above the partition wall 10 of the insulating insert 6 an insulating
space B is formed by the described structure and in particular the
partition wall 10 while contained thereabove and in particular over
the filter cartridge 9 is the untreated water which is in the so-called
untreated water region C. The insulating space B surrounds the filter
cartridge 9 in an annular configuration and is also present beneath
same for it is disposed between the walls of the insulating insert
6 on the one hand and the filter insert on the other hand.
The collecting pot 1 stands on an electrical plug base 11 with
an electrical supply lead 12. An electrical plug connector 13 provides
in per se known manner for the supply of electrical power by way
of plug bars 15 which are only shown in part and which are disposed
in a plug protection arrangement 14. The connected electrical heating
element 5 can be switched on and off by way of a switch 16. The
switch is disposed in a clearly visible position, at which the user
can easily reach it, at the upper end of the handle 3.
The spout 2 is closable with a cover 17 which pivots up by way
of a rotating mechanism 18 when the collecting pot is being poured
out and which falls back into the closure position again when the
collecting pot 1 is put back. FIG. 2 also clearly shows the rotatable
closure 19 in the lid 4 with associated gripping limb 20 for pouring
untreated water fresh from above into the untreated water region
2 when the lid 4 is fitted in place. The lid itself can be actuated
and is to be gripped by way of the lid handle 21.
While in both embodiments the connecting pot 1 is produced from
a transparent material, for example plastic material or glass, in
the first embodiment the electrical heating element 5 is disposed
under the so-called metal heating bottom 22 while in the second
embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 9 the electrical heating element 5 is fixed
above the bottom 22a of the collecting pot 1.
It will be seen that in both embodiments the through opening 7
is arranged in the rear region D of the collecting pot 1 which
is in opposite relationship to the spout 2. The substantially horizontally
extending part 10a of the partition wall 10 is inclined towards
the through opening 7 that part 10a extending at the height above
the boiling region A. In the first embodiment it is disposed predominantly
in the entire cross-section of the collecting pot 10 while in the
second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 the partition wall,
outside the substantially horizontally extending part 10a also has
a vertically upwardly extending part 10b, by virtue of which the
insulating insert 6 forms a shaft-like depression 23 in the rear
region D of the collecting pot 1.
The insulating insert 6 is essentially in the form of an upwardly
open cup, the bottom of which is the substantially horizontal part
10a of the partition wall 10 in plate or disc form. In the first
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 the disc is approximately circular.
Extending from the edge thereof are vertically upstanding parts
10b, like the walls of the cup, and in the lower part they enclose
the insulating space B and in the upper part the untreated water
region C. Disposed within the annular insulating space B is a filter
cartridge 9 which is held in a filter insert 8. It has a wider upper
region, enclosing the untreated water region C. and the narrower
lower region in which the short filter cartridge 9 of the somewhat
larger diameter is disposed. The filter insert 8 is open downwardly
so that the purified water can drip out of the bottom of the filter
cartridge 9 directly into the insulating space B or onto the partition
wall 10 and more precisely onto the substantially horizontal part
10a. That partition wall 10 is substantially flat and is inclined
towards the rear region D of the collecting pot 1 as far as the
through opening 7. Consequently all water will try to flow out of
the insulating space B to the through opening 7. The purified water
or filtrate leaves the insulating insert 6 through the opening 7.
The filter insert 8 is also cup-shaped and is removably fitted in
the upper region of the insulating insert. The vertical position
of the filter insert 8 is ensured by virtue of resting on a plurality
of support ribs 33. The connection of the insulating insert in the
collecting pot 1 is afforded by being shrunk in place, clamping
or by another suitable fixed connection. Both in regard to the embodiment
of FIGS. 1 to 5 and also FIGS. 6 to 9 instead of the fixed connection
it is also alternatively possible to ensure vertical positioning
of the insulating insert 6 by a respective lateral support step
34 which rests on the upper edge of the pot 1.
In operation therefore, when the rotatable closure 19 in the lid
4 is opened, the user can pour the untreated water from above into
the filter insert 8 onto the filter cartridge 9 the intake sieve
of which is shown in FIG. 3. The filter cartridge 9 can be removed
from the filter insert by means of the handle 24. When untreated
water is poured in at the top, at room temperature, then it flows
substantially still at room temperature through the through opening
7 downwardly into the boiling region A. There, the water is heated
by the heating bottom and collects in the collecting pot 1 in order
to be poured out as required by way of the spout 2. When the water
is poured out, the water level in the boiling region A inclines
in the direction such that it moves away from the opening 7. in
other respects the collecting pot 1 can be handled like a conventional
kettle.
The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is in principle of
a similar structure to the first embodiment and in operation behaves
in a similar fashion, with only a few differences which are described
hereinafter. The same parts of the water filter device of the second
embodiment are denoted by the same references as in the first embodiment.
At the bottom in the boiling region A the heating element 5 is
fluid-tightly fixed in the lower part of the collecting pot in such
a way that the rearwardly outwardly extending plug connection is
arranged in a space in the collecting pot 1 at the bottom on the
handle. Disposed thereabove, that is to say also outside the heating
element 5 is the filter cartridge 9 arranged in a shaft-like depression
which is generally identified by reference numeral 23. This in practice
involves a part of the cup configuration of the insulating insert
6 which accommodates the filter cartridge. While this insulating
insert which is generally identified by reference numeral 6 considered
overall, is again in the form of an upwardly open cup, the shaft-like
depression 23 is disposed at the bottom right end of the cup (see
FIG. 8). This depression 23 is formed by vertically upwardly extending
parts 10a of the partition wall 10 which parts are arranged in
the form of a cylindrical configuration. The partition wall 10 is
in one piece with the substantially horizontal part 10a of the partition
wall 10. When the lid 4 is removed from the collecting pot 1 and
a view is taken from above onto the device the illustration in FIG.
9 will be seen. Shown to the left of the handle 3 is the filter
cartridge 9 which is held in the filter insert 8. This once again
is fitted into the insulating insert 6 in such a way that untreated
water which is flowing away can only pass through the filter cartridge
downwardly and into the boiling region A. Extending to the left
of the cartridge 9 as far as the spout 2 is the substantially horizontal
part 10a of the partition wall 10 which is part of the insulating
insert 6. This horizontal part 10a is also substantially flat, it
is in the form of an oval plate or disc with a large recess at the
right (for the filter cartridge 9) and a small recess at the left
(for the spout cover 17).
It will be seen from the views in FIGS. 6 to 8 that water which
flows out of the untreated water region C can only flow away by
way of the filter cartridge 9 towards the right and downwardly into
the boiling region A.
That discharge flow occurs through the shaft-like depression 23
in which the filter cartridge 9 is carried and from there into the
filtrate intermediate storage means 25 which extends at a spacing
a (FIG. 6) from the bottom 26 of the filter insert 8 to the discharge
end 27 of the filter cartridge 9. The bottom 26 of the filter insert
8 is in the shape of a circular disc. Disposed in the side walls
of the filter insert 8 which extend vertically upwardly from the
bottom 26 at the outside thereof, on diametrally oppositely disposed
sides are discharge openings 28. The discharge openings 28 in the
filter insert 8 in the opened position in FIG. 6 are in alignment
with corresponding through openings 7 which are also arranged at
diametrally opposite sides in the insulating insert 6. In contrast,
in the view shown in FIG. 8 the filter insert 8 is turned through
90.degree. so that the sectional view in FIG. 8 is a view onto the
above-mentioned discharge opening 28. It is no longer in alignment
with a through opening 7 so that the discharge for purified water
is blocked in that position in FIG. 8. In the other position in
FIGS. 6 and 7 purified water firstly passes from the filtrate intermediate
storage means 25 through the discharge opening 28 in the filter
insert 8 and thereafter through the through opening 7 in the insulating
insert 6 into an annular outlet passage 9 which is disposed by virtue
of two annular walls at the lower end of the shaft-like depression
23 and which is open downwardly. In that way there is a direct communication
between the boiling region A and by way of the openings 7 28 with
the filtrate intermediate storage means 25. It will also be seen
that a further disc-shape insulating space 31 is provided between
the bottom 26 of the filter insert 8 and the bottom 30 of the shaft-like
depression 23. The space 31 represents further thermal protection
for the space under the filter cartridge 9 and thus for temperature
isolation in respect of the purification agent in the filter cartridge
9.
The filter insert 8 is rotatable in the depression 23 of the insulating
insert 6 by means of coupling means which are generally identified
by reference 32. Those coupling means are disposed on the one hand
on the filter insert 8 more specifically being so-called filter
insert limbs 33; and on the other hand in the form of rotary knob
limbs 34 on a rotary knob 35 which is rotatable by way of the engagement
of a rotary handle 36 in the lid 4.
FIG. 6 shows at the top the lid 4 and the rotary knob 35 with rotary
handle 36 which is rotatable in the lid 4 about the dash-dotted
axis 37 and a through opening 38 for the slider switch 16.
When, in the opened position in FIG. 6 the lid 4 is fitted onto
the collecting pot 1 the rotary knob limbs 34 engage into the gaps
between the filter insert limbs 33 in the manner shown in FIG. 7.
From there on, even when the untreated water region C is filled
with water the filter insert 8 can be rotated by rotating the rotary
knob 35 in such a way that the through openings 7 can be brought
out of alignment with the discharge openings 28. When a rotational
movement of 90.degree. for example of the rotary handle 36 is effected,
that gives the position shown in FIG. 8. In that position the through
opening 38 for the sliding switch 6 can no longer be seen. Instead,
there is view onto the discharge opening 28 under the filter cartridge
9. The filtrate intermediate storage means 25 is closed outwardly.
If it is assumed that, in that closed position in FIG. 8 there
is sufficient water in the boiling region A, then the slider switch
16 can be pushed into the through opening 38 which is positioned
in suitable opposite relationship in such a way that the heating
element 5 is switched on and heats up. That can avoid heated water
passing back into the filtrate intermediate storage means 25 through
the discharge opening 28 and the through opening 7.
List of references 1 collecting pot 2 spout 3 handle 4 lid 5 electrical
heating element 6 insulating insert 7 through opening 8 filter insert
9 cartridge 10 partition wall 10a horizontal part of the partition
wall 10b vertically upwardly extending part of the partition wall
11 electrical plug base 12 electrical supply lead 13 electrical
plug connector 14 plug protection arrangement 15 plug bars 16 electrical
switch 17 cover of the spout 18 rotating mechanism 20 handle limb
21 lid handle 22 heating bottom 23 shaft-like depression 24 handle
of the filter cartridge 25 filtrate intermediate storage means 26
bottom 27 discharge end of the filter cartridge 28 discharge opening
29 annular outlet passage 30 bottom of the shaft-like depression
31 plate-shaped insulating space 32 coupling means 33 support rib
34 support step a spacing A boiling region B insulating space C
untreated water region D rear region of the collecting pot |