Water treatment device equipped with filter cartridge and rotary stirrer

Abstract

The invention relates to a water treatment device (1) comprising a water-receiving container (2) equipped with an upper opening (5) and a bottom, a filter cartridge (26) arranged on the bottom, a rotary agitator (30) and a container-receiving base (3) equipped with means for driving the rotary agitator to generate a movement of water through the filter cartridge and a vortex of water agitation in order to eliminate various contaminants. The water treatment device includes a guide member that rotates the agitator, the guide member and agitator being arranged above the filter cartridge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tap water treatment devices that allow the treatment of pollutants and taste and odor problems present in tap water by filtering and stirring to make it consumable and enjoyable. The pollutants are mainly chlorine present in the water, but also traces of pesticides, drugs or heavy metals that may also be present in the tap water, for example. Background Art

[0002] Water treatment devices are known to those skilled in the art, in particular the water treatment device described in European patent EP1599272B1, which comprises a water receiving container equipped with an upper opening and a bottom, a filter cartridge comprising a bottom plate and a filter sleeve, the bottom plate being placed on the bottom of the container. The device also comprises a magnetic rotary agitator housed in the filter cartridge and a receiving base of the container, the receiving base being equipped with a magnetized rotary device that allows the magnetic rotary agitator to be driven to generate the movement of water through the filter sleeve and the aeration vortex of the water in order to eliminate various pollutants. The magnetic rotary agitator comprises a base and fins, the base comprising a lower convex surface in contact with the bottom plate of the filter cartridge.

[0003] The Applicant has observed that this design of the water treatment device does not ensure optimal water treatment within a limited time, in particular due to problems of centering the magnetic agitator relative to the filter sleeve of the filter cartridge, which may occur during activation of the magnetizing rotary device and due to the position of the magnetic rotary agitator placed in the filter sleeve of the filter cartridge. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention allows to optimize water treatment in a limited time by conceiving a water treatment device, which includes a water receiving container, the container is equipped with an upper opening and a bottom. In addition, the water treatment device includes a filter cartridge, a rotary agitator and a container receiving base arranged at the bottom of the container, and the base is equipped with a driving device of the rotary agitator to produce the movement of water through the filter cartridge, and the stirring vortex of the water, so as to eliminate various pollutants. Pollutants are understood in a non-restrictive manner as most of the chlorine present in the water, but also include trace pesticides, drugs or heavy metals that may also exist in tap water. It is worth noting that according to the present invention, the water treatment device includes a guide member of the rotary agitator, and the guide member and the agitator are arranged above the filter cartridge. The presence of the guide member allows the rotary agitator to be kept in a fixed position during its rotation driven by the driving device, and the fixed position is associated with the position of the rotary agitator above the filter cartridge, ensuring good stirring of the water in the container to generate a vortex, thereby ensuring the proper circulation of the water through the filter cartridge, so as to be effectively treated in a reduced time.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the water treatment device as the subject of the present invention, the container is movable relative to the base between a treatment position and a use position, in which the bottom of the container is placed on the base and the drive device can drive the rotary stirrer, and in the use position, the container is separated from the base, and the drive device causes the movement of the rotary stirrer by a magnetic effect. In other words, the container can be removed from the base, and a magnetic device is implemented between the rotary stirrer and the drive device so that when the container is placed on the base, the drive device can drive the rotary stirrer to rotate. This advantageously allows the weight of the container to be reduced during the use of the water treated in the container (particularly a glass). However, a variation of the embodiment can still be envisioned, in which the container and the base form the same element, i.e., an inseparable element.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the water treatment device that is the subject of the invention, the filter cartridge has an annular shape equipped with a central cavity, and water is sucked in by a rotating agitator to generate a water flow in the filter cartridge. Thus, during the treatment process, the water circulates through the thickness of the filter cartridge, the thickness being defined by the diameter difference between the inner and outer contour walls of the annular shape of the filter cartridge. Other embodiments are still conceivable, such as a disc-shaped filter cartridge, the filtration being performed, for example, by the water passing through the thickness of the filter cartridge, in which case the thickness is defined by two opposite faces of the disc.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the water treatment device as the subject of the present invention, the filter cartridge comprises a container and a filter material, the container being made of a porous material with a mesh size less than 2 mm so as to allow the water to be treated to pass through the container and the porous material, thereby achieving water filtration. Other embodiments are still conceivable, such as a filter cartridge consisting only of a porous material.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the water treatment device as the subject of the present invention, the filter material comprises activated carbon, in particular coconut activated carbon, which is considered to absorb chlorine well and has abrasion resistance. As a variant, it is possible to consider using activated carbon from coal or bamboo or trees (e.g. oak). Activated carbon containing silver or copper is also possible, due to its anti-biofilm and bacterial action. Other filter materials are still possible.

[0009] According to the water treatment device that is the subject of the invention, the filter cartridge is integral with a support that is movable between an assembly position, in which the filter cartridge is arranged in the container, and a withdrawal position, in which the filter cartridge is removed from the container. This advantageously allows cleaning of the filter cartridge and cleaning of the container after removal of the movable support. Preferably, the filter cartridge is configured to be regenerated by immersion in boiling water in the withdrawal position. This is the case when the filter cartridge comprises activated carbon.

[0010] According to a first embodiment of the water treatment device, the movable support is formed by a bottom, the bottom and the filter cartridge being moved from the assembly position to the extraction position by axial downward translation. Thus, the disengagement of the container bottom relative to the container body simultaneously allows the filter cartridge to be extracted. Preferably, according to this first embodiment, the container comprises an annular end crown, and the bottom comprises an inner wall extending upward and comprising a seal, which inner wall cooperates with the annular crown in a sealing manner in the assembly position.

[0011] According to a second embodiment of the water treatment device, the movable support comprises a rod, the rod comprising a gripping member arranged above the upper opening of the container, the movable support and the filter cartridge are moved from the assembly position to the extraction position by axially translating upwards. Preferably, according to this second embodiment, the guide member of the agitator is formed by the rod, however, variations are still possible with the guide member of the agitator formed separately from the rod.

[0012] According to these first and second embodiments of the water treatment device, and even according to other embodiments, the movable support comprises a surface above which the rotating agitator is defined and below which the filter cartridge is placed.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the water treatment device, the container comprises a glass body, preferably transparent glass, to allow the contents of the container to be displayed, in particular for displaying the amount of water in the container and whether the rotating stirrer is in operation. However, variations are still possible, with plastic containers, preferably transparent containers, even plastic containers coated with glass or ceramic deposits, or even transparent glass parts.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the water treatment device, it comprises a control system configured to manage the rotation time of the rotary stirrer corresponding to the treatment time. Preferably, the control system comprises at least one sensor selected from a conductivity sensor and a UV254 type sensor, the conductivity sensor allowing the measurement of the conductivity of the water caused by the ions present in the water, the UV254 type sensor allowing the measurement of the natural organic materials present in the water. However, variant embodiments of the water treatment device are still conceivable, such as a timer that turns off the drive device after a defined treatment duration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The following description clarifies the features and advantages of the present invention. The description is based on the following drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 A front view showing a first embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view showing this first embodiment of a water treatment device;

[0018] Figure 3 An exploded view showing a first embodiment of a water treatment device;

[0019] Figure 4 Show according to Figures 1 to 3 The water treatment device of the first embodiment generates a vortex in the container during operation of the rotary agitator;

[0020] Figure 5 A front view showing a second embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view showing this second embodiment of the water treatment device;

[0022] Figure 7 showing an exploded view of this second embodiment of the water treatment device;

[0023] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a filter cartridge according to one embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description, unless otherwise indicated, the term "device" is used to refer to the water treatment device according to the present invention.

[0025] In the following description, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "top", "bottom" etc. that may be used will take into account the position of the device placed on a horizontal work surface in the case of use.

[0026] Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used to define the same features of the various variant embodiments of the device.

[0027] See also Figures 1 to 3 The device 1 comprises a container 2 capable of containing tap water, a base 3 allowing the container 2 to be received and a stopper 4 allowing the upper opening 5 of the container 2 to be closed to prevent the introduction of impurities into the water contained in the container 2. The tap water is introduced into the container 2 through this upper opening 5. In these Figures 1 to 3In the embodiment of the present invention, the container 2 comprises a body 6 in the form of a bottle opening downwards, which is provided with a neck 7 terminating at said upper opening 5 in its upper end portion 6a. The neck may be in the shape of a pouring spout which promotes the flow of water when the user drinks. The body 6 is preferably made of glass and has an annular crown 8 in its lower end portion 6b, which is provided with a thread 10 on its outer wall 9, which defines a lower opening 11 on the body 6. In addition, the container 2 also comprises a bottom plate 12, which comprises a bottom 13 and a profile 14, which comprises a tapping 16 complementary to said thread 10 on its inner wall 15. Preferably, the thread 10 and the tapping 16 are designed to allow the bottom plate 12 to be screwed into and out of the annular crown 8 by rotating a quarter turn. A seal 17 is also present on the inner wall 15 to ensure the seal between the bottom plate 12 and the body 6 during assembly. The container 2 also comprises a holder 18 comprising a lower shoulder 19 defining a circular edge 20, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the diameter of the inner cylindrical wall 21 of the annular crown 8, which allows said holder 18 to be centered relative to the body 6. This lower shoulder 19 of the holder 18 rests on the bottom 13 of the base plate 12 assembled with the body 6. The detachment of the base plate 12, obtained by unscrewing the annular crown 8 and its axial downward translation relative to the body 6, simultaneously allows the holder 18 to be extracted from said body 6. The holder 18 comprises a profile wall 22 comprising windows 23 evenly distributed around said profile wall 22, for example four (in Figure 3 Only two are visible in the figure). The holder 18 also comprises an upper wall 24 which is perforated by the presence of holes 25. Preferably, the holder 18 is made of stainless steel, other materials are still conceivable, such as plastic.

[0028] The container 2 also includes a filter cartridge 26, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, and is disc-shaped. Figure 8A preferred design of the filter cartridge 26 is shown, which is in the form of a ring provided with a central cavity 27. The filter cartridge 26 comprises an annular container 28, made of a porous material, preferably with a mesh of less than 2 mm, and a filter material 29, comprising activated carbon, preferably coconut activated carbon, contained in the container 28. The mesh of less than 2 mm is selected to allow proper circulation of water in the filter material 29, while preventing particles of said filter material 29 from escaping from the filter cartridge 26. The filter cartridge 26 is thus constrained by the holder 18 and the bottom 13 of the bottom plate 12, which thus form a support for the filter cartridge 26 and allow it to be extracted when the bottom plate 12 is removed from the body 6. Once extracted from the body 6 of the container 2, the holder 18 can be easily separated from the bottom 13 in order to access the filter cartridge 26. This design facilitates access to the filter cartridge 26 in order to achieve its cleaning and its regeneration by immersing it in boiling water. In fact, the use of coconut activated carbon has the ability to regenerate the filter material 29 several times (at least six times) by immersion in boiling water, in particular to desorb all volatile pollutants such as chlorine. Other activated carbons that can be used, such as coal activated carbon or bamboo activated carbon or wood such as oak activated carbon.

[0029] The container 2 also includes a rotary agitator 30, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown. The rotary stirrer 30 is mounted in the center of the upper wall 24 of the holder 18 in a pivot connection about the axis X1 by means of a guide member 31, which is fixedly mounted on said upper wall 24 in the direction of the axis X1 and receives the rotary stirrer 30 while allowing it to rotate freely about said axis X1. The rotary stirrer 30 is located above the upper wall 24 having a flat surface. The base 3 of the device 1 comprises a motor 32 powered by a power source 33, which may be, for example, a rechargeable or disposable battery or even a transformer powered by a power cord equipped with a socket connected to the power grid. The motor 32 drives the magnetic blade 34 to rotate along the axis X2, which coincides with the axis X1 when the container 2 is placed on the base 3. The centering device can be arranged between the lower surface 35 of the bottom plate 12 and the upper surface 36 of the base 3, such as a central column on the upper surface 36, which corresponds to a central cavity with a complementary shape on the lower surface 35, or a small circular edge arranged on the upper surface 36 of the base 3, in which the lower surface 35 of the bottom plate 12 is located and centered. The rotary stirrer 30 is also magnetized. Therefore, when the container 2 is placed on the base 3, the magnetic attraction exerted between the rotary stirrer 30 and the magnetic blade 34 allows the rotary stirrer 30 to be driven in rotation under the rotation of the magnetic blade 34.

[0030] like Figure 4As shown, when the container 2 containing tap water is placed on the base 3 and the motor 32 is activated, the rotary stirrer 30 starts to rotate under the effect of magnetism, which forces the water to circulate in the direction of arrows 37, 38 through the suction applied by the rotary stirrer 30, and the water radially passes through the filter cartridge 26 and the window 23 of the contour wall 22 of the holder 18, then leaves through the central cavity 27 of the filter cartridge 26, and then leaves through the hole 25 of the upper wall 24 of the holder 18, until a vortex is generated after a certain time, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown. This agitation of the water and its passage into the filter cartridge 26 ensures the treatment of the water so as to extract, for example, chlorine and traces of pesticides, drugs or heavy metals therefrom. The rotary agitator 30 must be activated for a sufficiently long time for the water treatment to be effective before it can be consumed, the water contained in the container 6 passing through the filter cartridge 26 several times. To this end, the device 1 may include a control system (not shown) configured to manage the time of rotation of the motor 32, and thus the time of rotation of the rotary agitator 30, to ensure effective treatment of the water while saving batteries when present or saving energy consumed by the system. The control system may also include a sensor (not shown) in contact with the water, the sensor being selected from a TDS sensor and a UV254 type sensor, so that when the measured value of the sensor exceeds a threshold value set on the control system of the device 1, the motor 32 stops and a warning light is illuminated. The TDS sensor allows the measurement of the water conductivity caused by the ions present in the water, and the UV254 type sensor allows the measurement of the natural organic materials present in the water. The control system may also include a timer. Once the water treatment is completed, the rotation of the agitator 30 stops, and the water can be consumed, and the user then removes the container 2 from the base 3. When the container 2 is detached from the base 3, since the distance between the magnets included in the elements 30 and 34 becomes too large, the magnetic attraction between the rotary agitator 30 and the magnetic blades 34 cannot be generated, which prevents the activation of the rotary agitator 30 during pouring water into a container such as a glass.

[0031] exist Figures 5 to 7 The same operating principle and water treatment are achieved in the second variant of the device 1 shown. In this variant, the container 2 comprises a body 6 in the shape of a jar, preferably made of glass, with a handle 39, which is integral and comprises a permanent bottom 40 placed on the base 3. The container 2 comprises a holder 41 comprising a contour wall 42 comprising a window, with which Figures 1 to 4The holder 41 comprises, in its lower part, a bottom wall 43, which may be solid or perforated, formed in one piece with a contour wall 42, this one-piece forming a receptacle 44 allowing to house therein a filter cartridge 26 identical to that described above. The holder 41 comprises a closing wall 45 of the receptacle 44 so as to close the holder 41 and to retain therein the filter cartridge 26. This closing wall 45 is perforated by the presence of holes (not shown) similar to the holes 25 on the upper wall 24 in the previous variant. The upper wall 45 is Figure 6 and Figure 7 The upper wall 45 has a conical surface, but a planar shape can be considered. The upper wall 45 is extended upward by a rod 46, which includes a gripping member 47 fixed to the end of the rod 46 at its upper end 46a. The rod 46 and the upper wall 45 can be formed by a single piece or two pieces fixed to each other. The container 2 also includes a rotary agitator 30, which is rotatably mounted on the rod 46 above the upper wall 45, and the rod 46 then constitutes a guide member that rotates along the axis X1 of the rotary agitator 30. The holder 41 and the rod 46 form a support for the filter cartridge 26, which can be placed in the body 6 of the container 2 by pushing the holder 41 into the upper opening 5 of the container 2 until the bottom wall 43 contacts the bottom 40 of the body 6. In this pushed-in position, the gripping member 47 is located above the opening 5 of the container 2, and the cover 48 fixed to the rod 46 or even slidably mounted on the rod 46 closes the upper opening 5 of the container 2. Pulling upwards on the gripping member 47 in the direction of the axis X1 allows pulling the holder 41 and thus extracting the filter cartridge 26 from the container 2. Opening the holder 41 by separating the upper wall 45 relative to the container 44 allows access to the filter cartridge 26 so that it can be cleaned and regenerated by immersing it in boiling water. However, the entirety of the stem 46, the plug 48 and the container 44 containing the filter cartridge 26 can be immersed in boiling water, and the gripping member 47 facilitates the use experience.

[0032] When the container 2 is placed on the base 3, as Figures 1 to 4 In the first variant of the device 1 shown, a magnetic attraction force is exerted between a magnetized rotating stirrer 30 and a magnetic blade 34 driven in rotation by a motor 32 along the axis X2. Figure 6 The motor 32 and the magnetic blade 34 are intentionally not shown in order not to complicate the figure.

[0033] References Figures 1 to 8 The two variants of the device 1 described are not limiting. For example, the body 6 of the container 2 may be made of a material other than glass, such as transparent or non-transparent plastic, or may be coated; the base 3 and the container 2 may be formed as a single piece, in particular Figures 5 to 7In a variant case, the retainer 41 is extracted by pulling it upwards so that it can be removed through the upper opening 5 of the container 2; the filter cartridge 26 can be formed by a disk instead of a ring; the motor 32 can directly drive the rotary agitator 30 to rotate.

Claims

1. A water treatment device (1), comprising: a water receiving container (2) provided with an upper opening (5) and a bottom; A filter cartridge (26) arranged on the bottom, a rotating agitator (30), and a base (3) for receiving a container, wherein the base is equipped with a driving device for the rotating agitator to generate movement of water through the filter cartridge and a stirring vortex of the water to promote the elimination of various pollutants, characterized in that the water treatment device includes a guiding member for the rotating agitator, and the guiding member and the agitator are arranged above the filter cartridge.

2. The water treatment device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container (2) is movable relative to the base (3) between a processing position and a use position, wherein the bottom of the container is placed on the base and the drive device is capable of driving a rotary agitator (30), and in the operating position, the container is separated from the base and the drive device causes the movement of the rotary agitator by magnetic effect.

3. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The filter cartridge (26) has an annular shape provided with a central cavity (27), and water is sucked in by the rotating agitator (30) to generate a water flow in the filter cartridge.

4. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The filter cartridge (26) comprises a container (28) and a filter material (28), wherein the container is made of a porous material with a mesh size of less than 2 mm.

5. The water treatment device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The filter material (28) comprises activated carbon, in particular coconut activated carbon.

6. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The filter cartridge (26) is integral with a support member that is movable between an assembly position, in which the filter cartridge is arranged in the container (2), and a withdrawal position, in which the filter cartridge is removed from the container.

7. The water treatment device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The filter cartridge (26) is configured to be regenerated by immersion in boiling water at the extraction location.

8. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that: The support is formed by the bottom, the bottom and the filter cartridge (26) being movable from the assembly position to the extraction position by axial downward translation.

9. The water treatment device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The container (2) comprises an annular end crown (8), and the bottom comprises an inner wall (15) extending upwards and comprising a seal (17), said inner wall cooperating in a sealing manner with the annular crown in the assembled position.

10. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that: The support comprises a rod (46) comprising a gripping member (47) arranged above the upper opening (5) of the container (2), the support and the filter cartridge (26) being moved from the assembly position to the extraction position by axial upward translation.

11. The water treatment device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that: The guide member of the agitator (30) is formed by the rod (46).

12. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that: The support includes a surface above which a rotating agitator (30) is defined, and below which the filter cartridge (26) is positioned.

13. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The container (2) comprises a glass body (6).

14. The water treatment device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The water treatment device comprises a control system for managing the rotation time of a rotary agitator (30) corresponding to the treatment time.

15. The water treatment device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that: The control system comprises at least one sensor selected from conductivity sensor, UV254 type sensor.

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