Water filter abstract
A water filter is disclosed having a water reservoir in fluid communication
with the porous ceramic core filter element and the drinking water
control valve of a filter assembly, for holding a volume of water
therein. The water reservoir provides a compressed air space, the
air being compressed by an intake flow of water from the filter
assembly. The compressed air in the water reservoir is released
as a washing water control valve of the filter assembly is opened,
thereby causing water from the reservoir to flow backwards through
the filter element from inside out. This reverse flow carries dirt
from small holes in the filter element, for draining from the washing
water control valve.
Water filter claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for cleaning water, comprising:
means for filtering water, said water filtering means including,
(1) a first housing having at least one housing wall and a pair
of opposing end members, one of said pair of end members having
an orifice formed therethrough, (2) a porous ceramic core filter
element disposed within said housing and having a longitudinally
directed bore formed therein for passage of filtrate therethrough,
said longitudinally directed bore of said porous ceramic core filter
element being coupled in fluid communication with said orifice,
(3) a water inlet formed in said housing wall for entry of raw water
therethrough, (4) a conduit extending from said orifice external
to said first housing, (5) a drinking water control valve coupled
to a distal end of said conduit, said conduit providing fluid communication
between said drinking water control valve and said longitudinally
directed bore of said porous ceramic core filter element, and (6)
a washing water control valve coupled to said housing wall and in
fluid communication with an inlet chamber defined between said housing
wall and an external surface of said porous ceramic core filter
element, said filtrate being defined by water passing through said
porous ceramic core filter element from said external surface thereof
to said longitudinally directed bore; and
(7) means for back washing said porous ceramic core filter element
with filtrate simultaneous with providing a flow of said raw water
past said external surface thereof responsive to opening of said
washing water control valve, said back washing means including means
for storage of said filtrate and compressed air, said storage means
including, (a) a second housing having a plurality of wall members
for defining a closed cavity space therein, and (b) an inlet/outlet
port formed on one end of said second housing, said back washing
means further including means for conveying said filtrate from said
storage means via said inlet/outlet port to said conduit disposed
external to said first and second housings, wherein said compressed
air within said storage means produces a flow of said filtrate through
said porous ceramic core filter element from said longitudinally
directed bore to said inlet chamber responsive to said washing water
control valve being in an open condition for removing dirt particles
from pores of said porous ceramic core filter element.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to water filters and relates more
particularly to a water filter which provides a back wash function
to remove dirts from a filter element thereof through a back wash
process.
A variety of water filters are known and widely used for removing
dirts from water. However regular water filters requires regular
cleaning or replacement. Because the average individual lacks either
the time or the knowledge necessary to carry out the task of cleaning
the filter element, often the filter element is left uncleaned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5080788 discloses a water filter with fluid actuated
cleaner which uses a rotator with roller brushes actuated by the
intake flow of water to scrape off dirt adhered to the surface of
the porous ceramic core thereof, therefore the frequency of cleaning
or replacing the filter element can be reduced without affecting
the performance of the water filter. Since the roller brushes can
only remove dirts adhered to the surface of the filter element,
dirts may be tangled in holes on the filter element to contaminate
the flow water passing through and create a restriction to the water
flow volume.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention eliminates the aforesaid problems, According
to the present invention, a water reservoir is disposed by the side
of a water filter device. The water reservoir has a bottom input/output
port connected between a center hole through the longitudinal axis
of the filter element of the water filter device and the drinking
water control valve thereof to hold a volume of water from the water
filter device. As the washing water control valve of the water filter
device is opened, a flow of water is forced to flow through the
filter element inside out, carrying dirt particles from holes of
the filter element for draining from the washing water control valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of
the water filter of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the water filter; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective elevation of the water filter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a water filter as constructed in accordance
with the present invention is generally comprised of a cylindrical
housing 1 a top cover 2 a filter element 3 and a rotator A. The
filter element 3 is vertically fastened inside the housing 1 at
the center and supported on a washer 31. The filter element 3 can
be a porous ceramic core with active carbon for removing solid matters
from the flow of water passing through. The cylindrical housing
1 has an upper open end covered by the top cover 2 and sealed by
a washer 21. The rotator A is fastened inside the cylindrical housing
1 around the filter element 3 having upper and lower floats 44'
and blades 4141' assembled together with screws 5 and locknuts
51. Projecting posts 4242' are disposed on a side of each of the
upper and lower blades 4141'. Access holes 61 on each end of the
roller brushes 6 accommodate the projecting ports, for mounting
the roller brushes 6 thereon. An angled water spray inlet 13 is
positioned adjacent the upper and lower blades 4141', such that
flowing water drives the blades 4141', after the opening of either
drinking water control valve 11 or washing water control valve 12
causing rotator to rotate. In this manner, the roller brushes 6
scrape off dirt adhered to the surface of the filter element 3.
Upon opening the washing water control valve 12 the water containing
the dislodged dirt will drain from the washing water control valve
12 without passing through the filter element 3. Clean water quality
is thereby maintained.
In order to maintain the high performance of the filter element
3 and eliminates restrictions imposed to the water flow volume by
dirt particles, an enclosed water reservoir 7 is disposed by the
water filter and connected to the drinking water outlet pipe 111
by a bottom water pipe 72. As the driving and washing water control
valves 11 12 are turned off, a continuous flow of water is filled
into the water filter. Because the water reservoir 7 is with the
drinking water outlet pipe 111 in fluid communications continuously
filling water into the water filter causes a flow of water to flow
into the enclosed water reservoir 7 compressing the air 71 inside.
As soon as the air pressure of the compressed air 71 and the water
pressure of the intake flow of water are equalized, water is stopped
from entering the water filter. Once the washing water control valve
12 was opened, the compressed air 71 forces a flow of water to flow
backwards through the bottom water pipe 72 into the filter element
3. The flow of water which enters the filter element 3 continuously
flows from the inside to the outside, carrying dirt from the small
holes of the filter element 3 while the roller brushes are rotated
to scrape off dirt adhered to the surface of the filter element
3. As the performance of the filter element 3 is improved, a satisfactory
filtration rate is constantly maintained, and therefore the water
flow volume through the drinking water control valve 11 is never
restricted. |