Water filter abstract
A counter top water filter unit intended for domestic use to be
placed adjacent to a sink and having an inlet at its lower end which
is coupled to the sink faucet through a swivelly mounted 90 degree
elbow capable of 360 degree rotation so as to facilitate the coupling
of the filter to the faucet from either side. The filter unit includes
a cylindrical-shaped carbon particle filter cartridge which has
a longitudinal passage extending from one end to the other, and
a removable pre-filter screen coaxial with the cartridge and surrounding
the cartridge, both elements being removably mounted within a cylindrical
filter housing, the housing being closed at its upper end and open
at its lower end.
Water filter claims
I claim:
1. A counter top water filter unit, comprising:
a) a filter housing having a closed top and an open bottom;
b) a base removably mounted on said open housing bottom and closing
said open housing bottom;
c) an inlet extending through said base into an interior of said
housing;
d) a filter cartridge removably mounted in said housing and having
an upper end and a lower end with a central passage extending between
said upper and lower ends;
e) a pre-filter screen extending around said filter cartridge in
coaxial relationship therewith between the periphery of said filter
cartridge and an inner bore surface of said filter housing to form
an annular passage extending around the periphery of said pre-filter
screen;
f) upper end cap being spaced between said closed housing top and
said filter cartridge upper end;
g) lower end cap being spaced between said base and said filter
cartridge lower end;
h) an elongated outlet fitting mounted on said upper end cap in
a space between said upper end cap and said closed top of said housing
coaxial with said filter cartridge and extending longitudinally
into said filter cartridge central passage and protruding longitudinally
through said closed housing top;
i) an outlet housing in coaxial relationship with said elongated
outlet fitting and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said elongated
outlet fitting;
j) a radial spout fitted into said rotatable outlet housing and
communicating with said central passage of said filter cartridge
through passages extending through said elongated outlet fitting;
k) first sealing means for sealing between said elongated outlet
fitting and an underside of said closed top of said filter housing;
l) second sealing means for sealing between said elongated outlet
fitting and an outer surface of the upper end cap of said cartridge;
and
m) third sealing means for sealing between said outlet housing
and said elongated outlet fitting.
2. A counter top water filter unit according to claim 1 wherein
said first sealing means comprises a first contoured washer.
3. A counter top water filter unit according to claim 1 wherein
said second sealing means comprises a second contoured washer.
4. A counter top water filter unit according to claim 1 wherein
said third sealing means comprises one or more O-rings.
5. A counter top water filter unit according to claim 1 further
comprising reinforcing ribs formed on said lower end cap to provide
radial support for said lower end of said cartridge.
6. A counter top water filter unit according to claim 1 in which
said lower end cap has fins thereon for fitting beneath said lower
edge of said pre-filter screen and within an inner surface of said
pre-filter screen.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with a water filter unit which
includes a main housing including a removable main filter cartridge,
and it is intended primarily for domestic use to filter impurities
out of tap water. The unit may be placed on a usual counter adjacent
to the sink. The filter unit may conveniently be coupled to a diverter
valve which, in turn, is connected to the sink water faucet. The
diverter valve may be manually set for normal water flow from the
faucet into the sink when it is in a first position, and for water
flow through the filter unit of the invention when it is in a second
position.
In the embodiment to be described, the filter unit of the invention
is coupled to the diverter through a 90 degree elbow which is fitted
into the inlet of the filter at its lower end for 360 degree rotational
movement. This permits placement of the filter unit on either the
left side or right side of the sink with a minimum length of connecting
tubing.
The filter unit of the invention in the embodiment to be described
is equipped with a pressure balanced 360 degree rotatable outlet
housing, with an elongated spout being fitted into the outlet housing.
The rotatable outlet housing, in turn, is mounted on an elongated
fitting which extends into the interior of the filter. The subassembly
is constructed to ensure smooth operation of the filter with or
without water pressure in the system and to prevent the top of the
filter from blowing off in the event off pressure buildup in the
spout. The spout is equipped with a sani-tip and screen to provide
a smooth, coherent stream of water without splatter.
A spring-loaded retaining ring is provided between the outlet fitting
and the rotatable outlet housing to assure that the outlet housing
rests firmly against the outer surface of the main housing of the
filter unit to provide a smooth, constant friction bearing surface
for the outlet housing as the spout is turned about the longitudinal
axis of the filter, and to prevent the outlet housing from being
pulled off the filter unit when the unit is carried by the top of
the outlet subassembly.
Custom-designed sealing washers are provided with sealing ribs
to create a leak-proof seal between the filtered and unfiltered
water in the sealed filter unit and between the water within the
filter unit and the outside world.
The filter unit of the invention, in the embodiment to be described,
is also equipped with a pre-filter in the form of a removable and
washable filter screen which extends around the main filter cartridge
and which serves to prevent clogging of the main filter cartridge.
In summary, the counter top water filter unit is intended for domestic
use to be placed adjacent to a sink and having an inlet at its lower
end which is coupled to the sink faucet through a swivelly mounted
90 degree elbow capable of 360 degree rotation so as to facilitate
the coupling of the filter to the faucet from either side. The filter
unit includes a cylindrical-shaped carbon particle filter cartridge
which has a longitudinal passage extending from one end to the other,
and a removable pre-filter screen coaxial with the cartridge and
surrounding the cartridge, both elements being removably mounted
within a cylindrical filter housing, the housing being closed at
its upper end and open at its lower end. The filter cartridge has
an upper end cap and a lower end cap, with the upper end cap being
spaced down from the closed top of the filter housing when the cartridge
is in place. An outlet fitting is mounted between the upper end
cap of the cartridge and the closed top of the filter housing, and
extends through an opening in the closed top in coaxial relationship
with the cartridge. The fitting has an internal passage communicating
with the central passage of the cartridge. An outlet housing is
rotatably mounted on the protruding end of the fitting and is secured
to the fitting. A radially-extending elongated outlet spout is fitting
into the outlet housing, and the spout is coupled to the passage
which extends through the outlet housing. The spout and outlet housing
are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the filter. Water entering
through the inlet in the lower end of the filter passes up into
the filter housing and through the annular channel which surrounds
the pre-filter screen. The water then passes through the pre-filter
screen and through the filter cartridge. The resulting filtered
water travels up the central passage of the cartridge and through
the passage in the fitting to the outlet spout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a filter unit which may be
constructed to incorporate the concepts of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side section of the unit of FIG. 1 taken essentially
along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a bottom view taken essentially along the lines 3--3
of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
The filter unit of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3 includes a
tubular filter housing 8 which is supported in an upright position
on a base 21 with the housing and base being in coaxially relationship.
A main cylindrical-shaped filter cartridge 7 is supported within
the filter housing 8 in coaxial relationship. The filter cartridge
7 includes a quantity of carbon particles, or other appropriate
filtering material. The cartridge 7 is constructed to have a central
passage extending from one end of the cartridge to the other.
The filter cartridge 7 includes an upper end cap 7B and a lower
end cap 7A. The lower end cap has reinforcing ribs 7D formed thereon
to provide radial support for the lower end of cartridge 7. An elongated
fitting 18 is mounted on the top of filter housing 8 and extends
through an opening in the top to be interposed in the space between
the upper end cap 7B and the undersurface of the top of filter housing
8. Fitting 18 has a passage extending longitudinally therethrough
which communicates with the central passage 50 of the main filter
cartridge 7. The fitting 18 is sealed to the underside of the top
of filter housing 8 by a specially-designed washer 15 and is sealed
to the top end cap 7B by a second specially-designed washer 14.
Washers 14 serve effectively to seal the fitting to the top end
cap 7B and to the filter housing 8. The fitting is secured to housing
8 by a retaining ring 16.
An outlet housing 17 is rotatably mounted on the protruding end
of the fitting 18 and is effectively sealed with respect to the
fitting by O-rings 3 and 6. The rotatable outlet housing is biased
downwardly against the upper surface of the top of the filter housing
8 by a resilient retaining ring 2 which is held in place by a groove
in fitting 18. The retaining ring 2 serves to bias the lower edge
of the outlet housing 17 against the top surface of the filter housing
8 to provide a smooth bearing surface. The retaining ring provides
constant pressure so as to establish a constant friction between
the rotatable outlet housing 17 and the main filter housing 8 for
smooth operation. A decorative cap 1 is fitted into the top of outlet
housing 17.
A spout 4 is fitted into the side of the rotatable outlet fitting
18 as best shown in FIG. 2 and the spout extends radially outwardly
from the fitting. The fitting has orifices which couples the central
longitudinal passage of the fitting to the interior of the spout,
so that filtered water passing upwardly in the central passage of
the filter cartridge 7 and through the longitudinal passage in fitting
18 will pass through the spout.
The spout has a sani-tip 5 fitted over its distal end, with the
distal end being covered by a usual screen 19 so that a smooth,
coherent stream of filtered water is provided without splatter.
The main filter housing 8 is supported on a base 21 at its lower
end, with the base being in coaxial relationship with the filter
housing. The housing 8 is secured to the base by appropriate clamps
10 and sealed to the base by O-rings 11. An inlet is provided at
the center of the base 22 and a 90 degree elbow 12 is fitted into
the inlet 52. The elbow is coupled to a diverter valve which, in
turn, is coupled to a faucet, with the diverter valve in one position
permitting free flow of the water from the faucet into the sink,
and in its other position causing the water to flow through the
elbow 12 into the interior of the filter housing 8.
An open-ended tubular cover 9 is positioned around the lower end
of the filter housing 8 and is clipped in place by clips such as
the clip 13. The cover is easily removable by depressing the clips,
so that the base may be removed for replacing the cartridge 7.
Unfiltered water from the faucet flows through the elbow 12 and
through the inlet 52 in base 21 into the interior of the filter
housing 8. The water is directed upwardly into the annular passage
between the housing 8 and pre-filter screen 20 with the water passing
through the pre-filter screen and then through the cartridge 7 in
a radial direction into the central passage extending through the
cartridge. The water is then forced upward through the longitudinal
passage of fitting 18 and out through the spout 4 with filtered
water being discharged through the outlet at the end of the spout.
The invention provides, therefore, an improved domestic filter
unit for filtering tap water. The filter unit of the invention is
efficient in its operation, compact and relatively simple in its
construction, and may be easily opened to replace the filter unit.
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and
described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the
following claims to cover all such modifications which fall within
the true spirit and scope of the invention. |