Filtration equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter device (1), comprising: an inlet funnel (5) having a filter cartridge seat (6); a filter cartridge (9) which can be placed in the filter cartridge seat (6); and a sensing device (21) comprising a sensing member (23) for measuring at least one water characteristic. The sensing device (21) comprises an electrical circuit having a control gap (33), and the filter cartridge (9) comprises a bridging element (41), wherein the bridging element (41) is arranged such that when the filter cartridge (9) is located in the filter cartridge seat (6), the bridging element electrically closes the control gap (33).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter device, a filter element, a filter assembly and a method for operating a sensing device in a filter device.

[0002] Filtration devices are used as water filters for everyday home use, which is why they are also called tabletop water filters. They are primarily used to remove unwanted substances from tap water. These substances include chlorine and hardness-forming agents such as calcium and magnesium oxide, as well as lead, which can enter tap water due to the use of lead pipes, especially in older homes.

[0003] Tabletop water filters are usually gravity-operated. Besides pouring the water to be treated into the water filter, no work is required to filter the water. The water simply flows downward through the filter cartridge due to gravity and into the container for the filtered water.

[0004] The filtering device known from EP 1 230 166 B1 comprises an inlet funnel with a bottom wall, which is provided with an opening for a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge is inserted into the opening, thereby forming a seal between the opening and the sealing edge of the filter cartridge. In use, water is introduced into the inlet funnel from above and then flows into the filter cartridge through the water inlet. A granular treatment medium for the water is located inside the filter cartridge. The treatment medium usually comprises ion exchange resin and / or activated carbon, but other components can also be used as treatment medium. In the filter cartridge, the water is treated and then leaves the filter cartridge downwardly through the water outlet at the bottom of the filter cartridge. The treated water is also referred to as filtrate. The filter cartridge is also provided with an air outlet at its top to allow air to leave the filter cartridge upwardly from the inside of the filter cartridge at the beginning of the filtration process.

[0005] Over time, the effectiveness of the treatment medium deteriorates. At a certain point, the treatment medium is used up. In order to determine this state, it has been proposed to provide a sensing member for measuring the conductivity of the water present in the filter device. As the water is treated, its conductivity changes: due to the ion exchange that occurs during the treatment, the conductivity of the treated water is lower. In EP 1 490 302 B2, it is proposed to measure both the water to be filtered (feed water) and the filtrate, as well as the volume that has been treated by the filter element. These characteristics make it possible to determine how much substance has been absorbed or exchanged inside the filter element through the treatment.

[0006] DE 10 2008 054 479 A1 also proposes measuring the water conductivity in the feed water and in the filtrate, but these measurements are used only for determining the fill level.

[0007] Measuring the conductivity or other properties of water requires a power source. Since tabletop water filters are typically designed to operate without being connected to an external power source or the national grid, an internal power source, such as a battery, is used. As disclosed in EP 1 490 302 B2, the battery can be implemented as part of a filter cartridge along with the conductivity sensing unit. Such cartridges are expensive and therefore undesirable.

[0008] DE 10 2008 054 479 A1 discloses a sensing unit that is independent of the filter cartridge. The sensing unit includes its own power supply. While this reduces the cost of manufacturing the filter cartridge, this solution has another disadvantage: if the sensing unit is always active, the power supply is quickly depleted. Consequently, the user must regularly replace not only the filter cartridge but also the power supply (battery).

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a more sophisticated sensing unit for measuring water properties within a filtration device.

[0010] The objects of the present invention are achieved by a gravity-operated filtering device.

[0011] The filtration device comprises an inlet funnel having a filter cartridge receptacle, a filter cartridge receptacleable to the filter cartridge receptacle, and a sensing device comprising a sensing member for measuring at least one water characteristic. The filtration device is characterized in that the sensing device comprises an electrical circuit having a control gap, and the filter cartridge comprises at least one bridging element, wherein the bridging element is arranged such that, when the filter cartridge is positioned in the filter cartridge receptacle, the bridging element electrically opens or closes the control gap, i.e., opens a short circuit initially present in the electrical circuit of the sensing device or closes an initially open electrical circuit of the sensing device.

[0012] The sensing device may, in its idle state, provide an open circuit that can be closed (bridged) by a filter cartridge correctly seated in the filter cartridge receptacle. The sensing device may alternatively, in its idle state, provide a short circuit that can be broken by a filter cartridge correctly seated in the filter cartridge receptacle. Both alternatives ensure that the sensing device is only operable when the filter cartridge is correctly seated in the filter cartridge receptacle.

[0013] The inventors have found that it is advantageous if the sensing device is only operated when a filter cartridge is present in the filtering device. In the absence of a filter cartridge, operating the sensing device would be a waste of energy even if water is present in the filtering device. It is therefore most preferred if the bridging element closes the control gap. When there is no filter cartridge in the filter seat, the circuit is not closed and power is not consumed, thereby extending its life. Only when a filter cartridge with a bridging element is placed in the filter seat is the circuit closed and the sensing device operable. Therefore, when the filter cartridge is placed in the inlet funnel, the activity of the sensing device is also automatically initiated, so that the user does not have to initiate the activity separately. This facilitates the use of the filtering device of the present invention. The sensing device is preferably fixed to the inlet funnel or is at least partially manufactured integrally with the inlet funnel.

[0014] The electrical circuit may comprise more than one control gap.The sensing arrangement may comprise more than one electrical circuit, each circuit having at least one control gap.

[0015] The filter device is preferably gravity operated. Alternatively, the filter device can also be operated by a manual or (semi) automatic pump or press.

[0016] The filtration apparatus preferably includes a container into which the inlet funnel can be placed. The container collects the water processed within the filter cartridge, and the treated water flows downward from the inlet funnel into the container. The container can have a variety of shapes, such as a glass carafe or a box-like container.

[0017] The filter cartridge preferably comprises a housing in which a water treatment medium is arranged. The water treatment medium preferably comprises an ion exchange resin and / or activated carbon. The housing is preferably formed of at least two parts so that the treatment medium can easily enter the housing. The filter cartridge and the cartridge seat are preferably complementary so that they provide a seal against water flowing around the filter cartridge and so that they act together to open or close the control gap when the filter cartridge is placed in the cartridge seat. Preferably, one of the components of the housing comprises a circumferential sealing rim which forms a seal with the sealing surface of the cartridge seat when the filter cartridge is placed in the inlet funnel, thereby ensuring that water only flows into the filter cartridge and does not flow around the filter cartridge. The housing preferably has at least one water inlet at its top and at least one water outlet at its bottom.

[0018] The bridging element preferably comprises a conductive element for electrically closing the control gap. In this way, the bridging element itself is configured so that it electrically closes the control gap. In such embodiments, the sensing device may have two connection points located at the filter cartridge seat and set at a certain distance from each other, which define the control gap. The conductive element is then configured so that it contacts the two connection points when the filter cartridge is placed in the filter cartridge seat. In this way, the control gap is closed directly by the bridging element. Preferably, the conductive element or the bridging element is typically located in or on the sealing edge of the filter cartridge. Since the sealing edge arbitrarily contacts the inlet funnel at the sealing surface, it provides an ideal position for the bridging element. In this way, it is possible to avoid the generation of additional contact points between the filter cartridge and the inlet funnel, which additional contact points may limit the sealing ability of the seal generated by the sealing edge and the sealing surface.

[0019] Several components of the filtration device, such as the inlet funnel, the housing of the filter cartridge, and the container, are preferably made of a polymer. The conductive element can also be formed of metal, but most preferably, it comprises or is entirely formed of a conductive polymer. In this way, the conductive element can be easily adapted to the form of the inlet funnel or preferably manufactured integrally (in particular by injection molding) with at least a portion of the filter cartridge (in particular, with the sealing edge).

[0020] In other embodiments, the inlet funnel includes a conductive element for electrically opening or closing the control gap, and is characterized in that the bridging element is configured to act on the conductive element when the filter cartridge is in the cartridge receptacle, causing the conductive element to open or close the control gap. In this way, the conductive element need not be present in the filter cartridge, making its manufacture more economical. According to one embodiment, the control gap is opened by the filter cartridge when a short circuit exists in the idle state. In this embodiment, the closed control gap bypasses the sensing component in the idle state, making it impossible to measure water properties unless the filter cartridge is properly seated in the cartridge receptacle. According to another embodiment, the control gap is closed by the filter cartridge when the control gap is open in the idle state. In this embodiment, the open control gap opens the electrical circuit in the idle state, preventing the sensing component from measuring water properties unless the filter cartridge is properly seated in the cartridge receptacle. The bridging element can, for example, be a pin or a rib. The conductive element can also comprise metal and / or a conductive polymer. The bridging element preferably protrudes from the housing.

[0021] The conductive element in such an embodiment is preferably included in a mechanical switch configured to open and close an electrical circuit, wherein the bridging element is configured to act on the mechanical switch so that the switch is opened or closed when the filter cartridge is located in the cartridge seat. When a short circuit is present in the idle state of the sensing device, the switch is opened by the bridging element, and when the control gap is open in the idle state, the switch is closed by the bridging element. For example, if the bridging element is a pin, the inlet funnel may include a hole into which the pin enters and at the bottom of which the switch is located. When the filter cartridge is placed in the cartridge seat, the pin enters the hole and presses down on the mechanical switch, thereby opening or closing the mechanical switch and opening or closing the electrical circuit together with the mechanical switch.

[0022] In some preferred embodiments, the sealing rim of the filter element is n-fold rotationally symmetrical about the main vertical axis of the filter element and comprises n bridging elements arranged symmetrically on the sealing rim about the vertical axis, where n ≥ 2. In particular, n < ∞, thus excluding a circular form. This configuration makes it easy for the user to correctly insert the filter element into the filter seat, which means to insert the filter element into the control gap that causes the bridging elements to open or close the circuit. Most preferably, the sealing rim is doubly rotationally symmetrical about the main axis of the filter element and comprises two bridging elements.

[0023] In another preferred embodiment, the sealing edge of the filter element is non-rotationally symmetrical around its main vertical axis. In particular, the sealing edge and the sealing surface are configured so that the filter element can only be placed in one operational position in the filter element seat. It is important in the present invention that the bridging element is precisely arranged at the control gap, which is ensured by the asymmetric configuration. Most preferably, the filter element has an asymmetric element (such as a protrusion or a ridge), which more preferably includes a bridging element. This even further ensures that the bridging element is in the correct position when the filter element is placed in the inlet funnel. The asymmetric element is most preferably located at the sealing edge.

[0024] The sensing device is preferably configured to measure at least one of the following: fill level, water conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), levels of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride, nitrate, sulfate, copper (Cu) and other elements or minerals (particularly major and trace ions typically present in tap water) or a combination thereof.

[0025] The sensing device preferably comprises a control unit and a power supply.The sensing device may also comprise a display or other means for outputting a signal, such as an LED or LCD.

[0026] The sensing device preferably comprises at least two separate sensing members, in particular n separate sensing members, wherein at least one of the sensing members is only operable when the control gap is opened or closed according to the two alternatives of the present invention, respectively. Providing two or more sensing members makes it possible to measure several of the above-mentioned water properties or to measure a specific property twice or more, preferably once in the feed water and once in the filtrate. Therefore, one of the sensing members is preferably configured to measure above the sealing surface, and the other sensing member of the sensing members is preferably configured to measure below the sealing surface. In other words, one of the sensing members is preferably arranged in the inlet funnel above the sealing surface, and one of the sensing members is preferably arranged in the inlet funnel below the sealing surface or in the container. In such embodiments, the filter element may also comprise at least two bridging elements, one bridging element for each sensing member. Although typically in all gravity-operated filtration apparatus the unfiltered water is retained by the seal in the portion of the inlet funnel above the sealing surface (the feed section) and the filtered water is collected in the portion below the sealing surface (the filtrate section), the present invention should of course be understood to include every arrangement which allows the above-mentioned water properties to be measured separately before and after filtration, whether these measurements occur above or below the sealing surface.

[0027] The problem of the present invention is also solved by a filter cartridge for a filter device, in particular a gravity-operated filter cartridge, comprising a housing with an ion exchange resin therein, the housing having a water inlet and a water outlet. The filter cartridge is characterized in that the filter cartridge comprises a bridging element, which is configured such that when the filter cartridge is located in a cartridge seat of the filter device, the bridging element opens or closes a control gap of an electrical circuit.

[0028] The bridging element is preferably a different element from the sealing rim.

[0029] A filter element according to the invention may generally have any of the features described above in relation to the filter element.Most preferably, the bridging element of the filter element comprises an electrically conductive element for closing the control gap.

[0030] The problem of the present invention is also solved by a filter assembly, in particular a gravity-operated filter assembly, comprising an inlet funnel with a filter cartridge receptacle and a sensing device comprising a sensing member for measuring at least one water property. The filter assembly is characterized in that the sensing device comprises an electrical circuit with a control gap, the electrical circuit being configured such that when a filter cartridge comprising a bridging element is located in the filter cartridge receptacle, the control gap is electrically opened or closed by the bridging element.

[0031] The filtration assembly preferably comprises a container in which the inlet funnel is placeable.

[0032] The problem addressed by the present invention is also solved by a method for operating a sensing device in a filter apparatus, in particular a gravity-operated filter apparatus, comprising a sensing member for measuring at least one water property. The method is characterized in that the sensing device comprises an electrical circuit with a control gap, and the control gap is opened or closed by placing a filter cartridge into a cartridge receptacle of the filter apparatus. Preferably, the filter cartridge is placed in the cartridge receptacle such that a bridging element of the filter cartridge is arranged at the control gap, thereby closing the electrical circuit.

[0033] If the sensing device is configured to measure both above and below the filter cartridge receptacle, the control unit can compare the measured values. In this case, the sensing device can check whether the water treatment has resulted in a sufficient decrease in the characteristic, for example, a difference in conductivity greater than 50 μS / cm. If this is not the case, the sensing device can output a signal to be recognized by the user. Specifically, when a new, unused filter cartridge is placed in the filter cartridge receptacle, the sensing device can first check for this decrease. This decrease can be determined by taking the average of the first five to ten measurements. If there is little to no decrease, the sensing device can output a signal indicating that the filtration system is not functioning properly or that the feedwater has a low characteristic value. If the decrease at the beginning of the filter cartridge's life is sufficient, the sensing device can repeatedly measure the characteristic during its lifespan to determine when the filter cartridge has worn out. This is preferably determined by comparing the instantaneous decrease with the decrease at the beginning of the filter cartridge's lifespan. If the decrease falls below an initial threshold, for example, below 30%, the sensing device can output a signal indicating that the filter cartridge has worn out.

[0034] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the examples shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the following is shown:

[0035] Figure 1a A filter device according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0036] Figure 1b according to Figure 1a The inlet funnel of the filtration device;

[0037] Figure 1c according to Figure 1a filter elements of filtration equipment;

[0038] Figure 2 Another embodiment of a filter element according to the present invention in a top view;

[0039] Figure 3 Another embodiment of a filter element according to the invention is shown in a perspective view.

[0040] Figure 1a The gravity-operated filtration apparatus 1 shown comprises an inlet funnel 5 which can be removably placed in a container (not shown).The container can generally have a variety of shapes, such as a glass carafe or a box-like container.

[0041] Also there Figure 1b The inlet funnel 5 shown in FIG has a filter cartridge seat 6 into which a filter cartridge 9 can be removably placed. In this embodiment, the filter cartridge seat 6 is generally cylindrical in shape with an elliptical base. The filter cartridge seat 6 has a circumferential sealing surface 7 in its upper region that is generally elliptical in shape.

[0042] Also there Figure 1c Filter cartridge 9 shown in the figure comprises a housing 11 in which a water treatment medium (not visible) is arranged. The water treatment medium may comprise ion exchange resin and / or activated carbon. The housing 11 comprises a water inlet 12 at its top, and the housing 11 comprises a water outlet (not visible) at its bottom. The position and size of the water inlet 12 are shown only by way of example. In other embodiments, the water inlet 12 may be placed in different positions or may have different shapes and / or sizes. The housing 11 may additionally have an air outlet (not shown) at its top. The housing 11 also comprises a sealing edge 13 around its circumference. The sealing edge 13 extends symmetrically around the main vertical axis X of the filter cartridge 9. The sealing edge 13 interacts with the sealing surface 7 of the cartridge seat 6 so that water from above enters the filter cartridge 9 through the water inlet and does not flow around the filter cartridge 9.

[0043] Above the sealing surface 7, the inlet funnel 5 comprises a feed section 15 into which the water to be treated (feed water) can be poured. This water then enters the filter cartridge 9 where it is treated.

[0044] Below the sealing surface 7, the inlet funnel 5 comprises a filtrate section 17 into which the filtered water (filtrate) flows before flowing further downwards into the container through the funnel outlet 19. The filtrate is thus collected in the container and can then be poured out by the user.

[0045] The gravity operated filtration apparatus 1 further comprises a sensing arrangement 21. The sensing arrangement 21 comprises a sensing member 23 for measuring at least one water property. In other embodiments, the sensing arrangement 21 may comprise more than one sensing member 23. The inlet funnel 5 and the sensing arrangement together define a filtration assembly.

[0046] The sensing member 23 comprises two electrodes 27a, 27b arranged in the filtrate section 17. The electrodes 27a, 27b enable the sensing member 23 to measure the conductivity of the filtrate around the electrodes 27a, 27b. One electrode 27a of the sensing member 23 is directly connected to the control unit 31 of the sensing device 21. The sensing device 21 comprises a control gap 33 between the other electrode 27b and the control unit 31. The control unit 31 and the electrodes 27a, 27b thus form an electrical circuit of the sensing device 21 with said control gap 33. Due to the control gap 33, the connection between the electrode 27b and the control unit 31 is disconnected. The connection starts from the control unit 31 and ends in the connection point 37a. The connection starts from the electrode 27b and ends in the connection point 37b. In Figure 1b In the shown state, due to the control gap 33 , the sensing device 21 cannot measure the conductivity of the filtrate via the sensing member 23 and the control unit 31 .

[0047] Figure 1a The interaction of the filter cartridge 9 with the sensing device 21 is shown when the filter cartridge 9 is placed in the cartridge receptacle 6. The filter cartridge 9 includes a bridging element 41 in the form of a conductive element (e.g., a metal strip or a conductive polymer). When the filter cartridge 9 is placed in the cartridge receptacle 6, the bridging element 41 interacts with the control gap 33, closing the control gap 33 and the connection between the control unit 31 and the electrode 27b. The sensing device 21 is then operational and can measure the conductivity in the filtrate segment 17.

[0048] The control unit 31 includes a display (not shown) on which information on the measured conductivity is displayed.

[0049] Figure 2 The filter cartridge 9 shown comprises a housing 11 having a water inlet 12 at its top. The main vertical axis X of the filter cartridge 9 extends perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. A water treatment medium (not shown) is arranged inside the housing 11. The filter cartridge 9 comprises a circumferential sealing rim 13 which is asymmetrical with respect to the main vertical axis X, having an asymmetric element 45 in the form of a ridge.

[0050] Figure 3 The filter element 9 shown is similar to Figure 1c The filter cartridge 9 is shown. The filter cartridge has a housing 11 with a water inlet 12 at its top and a water outlet (now visible) at its bottom. The housing 11 is provided with a circumferential sealing rim 13. Figure 3In the embodiment of the filter insert 9 shown, the sealing rim 13 is doubly rotationally symmetrical about the main vertical axis X of the filter insert 9. Two bridge elements 41 are arranged on the sealing rim 13. The bridge elements 41 are arranged doubly rotationally symmetrical about the main vertical axis X.

[0051] List of Figure Numbers

[0052] 1 Filtration equipment

[0053] 5. Entry funnel

[0054] 6 filter element seat

[0055] 7 Sealing surface

[0056] 9 filter element

[0057] 11 Housing

[0058] 12 Water Inlet

[0059] 13 Sealing edge

[0060] 15 Water supply section

[0061] 17 Filtrate Section

[0062] 19 Funnel outlet

[0063] 21 Sensing device

[0064] 23 first sensing member

[0065] 27a electrode

[0066] 27b electrode

[0067] 31 control unit

[0068] 33 Control Gap

[0069] 37a Connection Point

[0070] 37b Connection Point

[0071] 41 Bridging Element

[0072] 45 Asymmetric components

[0073] X main vertical axis

Claims

1. A filter assembly comprising an inlet funnel (5) having a filter cartridge seat (6) and comprising a sensing device (21), the sensing device comprising a sensing member (23) for measuring at least one water property, It is characterized in that The sensing device (21) comprises: An electric circuit, in which a short circuit exists in an idle state of the sensing device (21), the electric circuit being provided with a control gap (33), the control gap being configured such that when a filter element (9) comprising a bridging element (41) is located in the filter element seat (6), the control gap (33) is electrically disconnected by the bridging element (41) to disconnect the short circuit and thereby initiate activity of the sensing device (21); or An electric circuit is open in an idle state of the sensing device and is provided with a control gap (33), which is configured so that when the filter element (9) including the bridge element (41) is located in the filter element seat (6), the control gap (33) is electrically closed by the bridge element (41) to close the initially open electric circuit and thereby initiate the activity of the sensing device (21).

2. A filtering device (1), comprising: The filter assembly according to claim 1; the filter element (9) is capable of being placed in the filter element seat (6) of the inlet funnel (5), wherein the bridging element (41) included in the filter element (9) is arranged so that when the filter element (9) is located in the filter element seat (6), the bridging element (41) electrically opens or closes the control gap (33).

3. The filtering device (1) according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The bridging element (41) comprises an electrically conductive element for electrically closing the control gap.

4. The filtering device (1) according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The conductive element is located in or on the sealing edge (13) of the filter element (9).

5. The filtering device (1) according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The conductive element includes a conductive polymer.

6. The filtering device (1) according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The inlet funnel (5) includes a conductive element for electrically opening or closing the control gap (33), and the bridging element (41) is configured to act on the conductive element when the filter element (9) is located in the filter element seat (6), so that the conductive element opens or closes the control gap (33), wherein the conductive element is included in a mechanical switch configured to open and close the circuit, and the bridging element (41) is configured to act on the mechanical switch when the filter element (9) is located in the filter element seat (6), so that the switch is opened or closed.

7. The filter device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, It is characterized in that The sealing edge (13) of the filter element (9) is n-fold rotationally symmetrical about a main vertical axis (X) of the filter element (9) and comprises n bridging elements (41) arranged symmetrically on the sealing edge (13) about the vertical axis (X), where n≥2.

8. The filter device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, It is characterized in that The sealing edge (13) of the filter element (9) is rotationally asymmetric around the main vertical axis (X) of the filter element.

9. The filter device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, It is characterized in that The sensing device (21) is configured to measure at least one of the following: fill level, water conductivity, total dissolved solids, and levels of Ca, Mg, Na, K, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and Cu, or a combination thereof.

10. The filter device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, It is characterized in that The sensing device (21) comprises at least two separate sensing members (23), wherein at least one of the sensing members (23) is operable only when the control gap (33) is closed.

11. The filter device (1) according to claim 10, It is characterized in that One of the sensing members (23) is arranged in the inlet funnel (5) above the sealing surface (7) of the filter element seat (6), and one of the sensing members (23) is arranged in the inlet funnel (5) below the sealing surface (7).

12. A method for operating a sensing device (21) in a filter apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein: The control gap (33) is opened or closed by placing the filter element (9) into the filter element seat (6) of the filter device (1).

13. The method according to claim 12, It is characterized in that The filter element (9) is placed in the filter element seat (6) such that the bridging element (41) of the filter element (9) is arranged at the control gap (33), thereby closing the electrical circuit.

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