Filtering device and water purifier

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a filtering device and a water purifier. The filter device comprises a filter bottle, a first central pipe, a first membrane element, a second central pipe and a second membrane element, the filter bottle is provided with a raw water inlet, a purified water outlet and a concentrated water outlet, the first central pipe is communicated with the second central pipe, the first membrane element surrounds the outer side of the first central pipe, the second membrane element surrounds the outer side of the second central pipe, and the first membrane element and the second membrane element are communicated. The first membrane element comprises a first raw water end communicated with the raw water inlet, a first purified water end and a first concentrated water end; the second membrane element comprises a second raw water end communicated with the first concentrated water end, a second purified water end and a second concentrated water end communicated with the concentrated water outlet; the first water purification end is communicated with the cavity in the first central pipe, the second water purification end is communicated with the cavity in the second central pipe, and the second central pipe is communicated with the purified water outlet. Therefore, the filter elements can be connected in series, and high recovery rate is achieved. The two membrane elements share one filter bottle, so that the space utilization rate is higher, and the assembly and the maintenance are simpler.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water purification technology, specifically to a filtration device and a water purifier. Background Technology

[0002] As people's demands for quality of life increase, water purifiers have essentially become indispensable household items. Water purifiers are equipped with filtration devices, commonly including nanofiltration and reverse osmosis filters. These filters effectively remove heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses from the raw water, providing users with high-quality purified water.

[0003] When a filtration system equipped with either of the two types of filter cartridges mentioned above, or both, produces a certain proportion of concentrated water during the filtration process, various impurities are concentrated in this concentrated water and can be discharged through the sewer. Thus, the pure portion of the raw water is provided to the user as purified water, while the portion containing impurities is discarded.

[0004] A key indicator for evaluating the performance of a filtration device is the recovery rate. The recovery rate refers to the ratio between the amount of purified water produced and the total amount of incoming water during the water purifier's treatment process. Currently, some water purifiers on the market use a series connection of filter cartridges, where at least one cartridge filters the concentrated water produced by the previous cartridge, further concentrating the concentrated water after initial concentration by the previous cartridge. This concentrated water is then discharged, while the purified water recovered from all the filters is provided to the user. However, this results in a large number of filter cartridges in the water purifier, occupying more space and creating a complex water circuit. Utility Model Content

[0005] To at least partially address the problems existing in the prior art, embodiments of this utility model provide a filtration device, including a filter bottle. The filter bottle has a raw water inlet, a purified water outlet, and a concentrated water outlet, as well as a first central tube, a first membrane element, a second central tube, and a second membrane element, all housed within the filter bottle. The first and second central tubes are arranged sequentially along the length of the filter bottle, and their adjacent ends are connected and communicate with each other. The wall of the first central tube is provided with a first water passage hole; the wall of the second central tube is provided with a second water passage hole; the first membrane element surrounds the outside of the first central tube, and the second membrane element surrounds the outside of the second central tube. The filter cartridge includes a first raw water end, a first purified water end, and a first concentrated water end. The second membrane element includes a second raw water end, a second purified water end, and a second concentrated water end. The first raw water end is connected to the raw water inlet, the first purified water end is connected to the cavity inside the first central tube via a first water passage, the second purified water end is connected to the cavity inside the second central tube via a second water passage, and the second central tube is connected to the purified water outlet. The first membrane element has a first end face facing the second membrane element along its length, and the second membrane element has a second end face facing the first membrane element along its length. The first concentrated water end is located on the first end face, the second raw water end is located on the second end face, the first concentrated water end is connected to the second raw water end, and the second concentrated water end is connected to the concentrated water outlet. By integrating the first and second membrane elements in a filter bottle, and enabling the second membrane element to receive the concentrated water produced by the first membrane element, the purified water filtered by both is jointly provided to the purified water outlet. This allows for series connection of filter cartridges, achieving a higher recovery rate. Because the first and second membrane elements share a single filter bottle, space utilization is higher, and the water circuit connection remains almost unchanged compared to conventional water purifiers, making assembly and maintenance simpler. Furthermore, the separate first and second central tubes allow the first and second membrane elements to be respectively enclosed within them, requiring only simple plug-in connections during final assembly. Compared to designs where both membrane elements are enclosed within a single central tube, this significantly reduces modifications to existing production processes and lowers production costs.

[0006] For example, along the length of the filter bottle, a gap is provided between the first membrane element and the second membrane element. The filtration device also includes a first separator, which includes an outer wall and a separator plate. The outer wall encloses the gap outside the first and second membrane elements. The separator plate is located within the gap and connected to the inner side of the outer wall. The separator plate is provided with a central tube through-hole and a flow-limiting hole disposed around the central tube through-hole. The adjacent ends of the first and second central tubes that are connected to each other pass through the central tube through-hole. The first concentrate end is connected to the second raw water end through the flow-limiting hole. The first separator can connect the first concentrate end of the first membrane element and the second raw water end of the second membrane element, preventing the concentrate at the first concentrate end, i.e., the concentrate after preliminary filtration by the first membrane element, from mixing with, for example, raw water or concentrate after filtration by the second membrane element. The structure of the first separator facilitates the placement of the flow-limiting hole, which can maintain the pressure required for the operation of the first membrane element and can also guide the concentrate after filtration by the first membrane element, improving the filtration effect of the second membrane element.

[0007] For example, a one-way valve is provided on the flow-limiting orifice. The one-way valve may include a spring and a water-stopping element. When the filtration assembly is working, the concentrated water pressure at the first concentrated water end can push the water-stopping element of the one-way valve to compress the spring, causing the one-way valve to open. When the filtration assembly stops working, the concentrated water pressure disappears, and the water-stopping element closes the flow-limiting orifice under the action of the spring, preventing the highly concentrated concentrated water from the second membrane element from flowing back to the first membrane element. The one-way valve configuration is particularly suitable for embodiments where the first membrane element uses a nanofiltration membrane and the second membrane element uses a reverse osmosis membrane. When the filtration assembly stops producing water, some concentrated water cannot be completely drained and remains in the first and second membrane elements. The concentrated water concentration in the second membrane element is higher, and without a one-way valve, salt may diffuse into the first membrane element through the flow-limiting orifice. Because the reverse osmosis membrane has a higher desalination rate, even if the residual concentrated water has a high salt content, not much salt will seep into the purified water. However, the nanofiltration cartridge has a lower desalination rate, and if it is soaked in highly concentrated concentrated water, more salt will seep into the purified water. Therefore, the one-way valve can prevent highly concentrated water from seeping into the purified water through the nanofiltration membrane, thus preventing the first cup of water from failing to meet quality requirements.

[0008] For example, the separator has a first surface and a second surface facing a first end face and a second end face respectively. The first surface is spaced apart from the first end face, and the second surface is spaced apart from the second end face. The first separator also includes a first rib disposed on the first surface and a second rib disposed on the second surface, with the first rib and the second rib abutting against the first end face and the second end face respectively. The abutting of the first rib and the second rib against the first end face and the second end face respectively not only enhances the strength of the first separator but also supports the first membrane element and the second membrane element, thus separating the first surface from the first end face and the second surface from the second end face. Since the concentrate from the first membrane element is discharged from the first end face and then enters the second membrane element through the second end face, the separation of the first surface and the first end face can form a channel for the concentrate to pass through, so that the outflowing concentrate will not experience large and uneven resistance due to the first surface abutting against the first end face.

[0009] For example, the separator has a first surface and a second surface facing the first end face and the second end face respectively, and the distance between the first surface and the first end face is greater than the distance between the second surface and the second end face. This provides a buffer space for the concentrate output from the first end face, extending the service life of the filter assembly.

[0010] For example, the first central tube has a first end and a second end opposite to each other along the length of the filter bottle. The first end is adjacent to the second central tube and inserted into the adjacent end of the second central tube, and the second end is inserted into the bottom of the filter bottle. A first separator is sleeved on the outside of the end of the second central tube. The first separator can guide all the concentrate at the first concentrate end to the flow restrictor, and cooperates with the first central tube and the filter bottle to form a limiting relationship between them.

[0011] For example, the first central tube also has an intermediate section connected between the first end and the second end, the inner diameter of both the intermediate section and the second end being larger than the inner diameter of the first end. The second end is sealed by a plug. Thus, the first central tube can be inserted into the second central tube, and the first central tube can be demolded from the second end. This makes the structure of the first central tube simpler and easier to manufacture. The plug can be a standard part to reduce costs, and the assembly of such a filter assembly is also simpler.

[0012] For example, the first central tube and the second central tube each have opposite ends along the length of the filter bottle. The filter bottle includes a bottle body and a cap. The bottle body has an opening, and the cap seals the opening. The raw water inlet, purified water outlet, and concentrated water outlet are all located on the cap. The opposite ends of the first central tube are fixed to the bottom of the bottle body, and the opposite ends of the second central tube are fixed to the cap. Fixing the opposite ends of the first central tube to the bottom of the bottle body and the opposite ends of the second central tube to the cap securely positions the first and second central tubes at the center of the filter bottle and also limits the movement of the first and second membrane elements. During the assembly of the filter assembly, the assembled components can be inserted into the bottle body. After the cap is closed, the cap and bottle body can be connected together by spin welding, ultrasonic welding, or sealant. If the cap and bottle body are detachably connected, the user can replace one of the first and second membrane elements individually, making the filter assembly convenient and cost-effective.

[0013] For example, the second raw water end and the second concentrated water end are arranged opposite each other along the length of the filter bottle. The filtration device also includes a second separator surrounding the second concentrated water end. The second separator has a third end and a fourth end opposite each other along the length of the filter bottle. The third end is fixed to the end of the second membrane element facing away from the first membrane element, and the fourth end is fixed to the bottle cap. The second concentrated water end is connected to the concentrated water outlet via a concentrated water channel between the second separator and the second central tube. Both the first membrane element and the second membrane element are spaced apart from the filter bottle and form a first raw water channel. A second raw water channel is formed between the second separator and the filter bottle. The raw water inlet is connected to the first raw water end of the first membrane element sequentially via the second raw water channel and the first raw water channel. The raw water passes through the first raw water channel but does not enter the first membrane element or the second membrane element; it only enters the first membrane element from the end face of the first membrane element forming the first raw water end. The concentrate at the first concentrate end is blocked and restricted by the first separator, so that the raw water in the first membrane element maintains sufficient pressure. The concentrate that has been pre-filtered by the first membrane element can only reach the second raw water end. The concentrate that has been filtered by the second membrane element can only flow to the concentrate outlet under the restriction of the second separator. This simplifies the structure of the bottle cap, making it easier to inject and demold the bottle cap, and also makes the assembly of the filter assembly simpler.

[0014] For example, the first membrane element includes one or more of nanofiltration membranes and reverse osmosis membranes, and the second membrane element includes one or more of nanofiltration membranes and reverse osmosis membranes. Nanofiltration membranes can produce water at lower operating pressures and have lower equipment requirements. Reverse osmosis membranes, with smaller pore sizes than nanofiltration membranes, can remove a larger proportion of salts from the raw water, thus providing higher quality purified water.

[0015] An embodiment of this utility model also provides a filtration device, a water purifier, characterized in that it includes the aforementioned filtration device and a wastewater ratio valve, the wastewater ratio valve being connected to the concentrate outlet of the filtration device. The wastewater ratio valve can maintain the pressure during the operation of the filtration device and indirectly affects the flow rate of the flow restrictor.

[0016] The advantages and features of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The following drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference as part of this invention, are provided for understanding the invention. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and their descriptions, serving to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a filtering device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the filtration device shown in the image;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The overall cross-sectional view of the filtration device shown in the figure;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 2 The exploded view of the filter device shows a perspective view of one angle of the partition plate.

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of the partition plate shown in the figure;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a water circuit diagram of a water purifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0025] 10. Tap water inlet; 20. Pre-filter cartridge; 30. Inlet solenoid valve; 40. Booster pump; 50. Wastewater ratio valve; 60. Concentrate outlet; 100. Filter bottle; 110. Raw water inlet; 120. Clean water outlet; 130. Concentrate outlet; 140. Bottle body; 150. Bottle cap; 141. Opening; 200. First central tube; 210. First water passage hole; 220. First end; 230. Second end; 240. Intermediate section; 300. First membrane element; 310. First raw water end; 320. First clean water end; 330. First concentrate end; 340. First end face; 400 410. Second central tube; 500. Second water passage; 510. Second membrane element; 520. Second raw water end; 530. Second purified water end; 540. Second concentrate end; 600. Second end face; 610. First separator; 620. Outer wall; 621. Separator plate; 622. Central tube through hole; 623. Flow limiting hole; 624. Check valve; 625. First surface; 626. Second surface; 630. First rib; 640. Second rib; 700. Second separator; 710. Third end; 720. Fourth end; 800. First raw water channel; 900. Second raw water channel. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following description, numerous details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, which may be practiced without one or more of these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion with the present invention, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail.

[0027] To fully understand the embodiments of this utility model, a detailed structure will be presented in the following description. Obviously, the implementation of the embodiments of this utility model is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. Preferred embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below; however, in addition to these detailed descriptions, this utility model may have other embodiments.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of this utility model provides a filtration device, which may include a filter bottle 100. The filter bottle 100 may be provided with a raw water inlet 110, a purified water outlet 120, and a concentrated water outlet 130. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the raw water inlet 110, the purified water outlet 120, and the concentrated water outlet 130 may be arranged side by side along one side of the filter bottle 100 in the circumferential direction. In embodiments not shown, these openings may also be provided on the end face of the filter bottle 100 along the length direction. Figure 2As shown, the filtration assembly may further include a first central tube 200, a first membrane element 300, a second central tube 400, and a second membrane element 500, all housed within a filter bottle. The first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 may both be nanofiltration membranes or both be reverse osmosis membranes. Alternatively, one of the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 may be a nanofiltration membrane, and the other may be a reverse osmosis membrane. Nanofiltration membranes can produce water at lower operating pressures and have lower equipment requirements. Reverse osmosis membranes have smaller pore sizes than nanofiltration membranes, allowing them to remove a larger proportion of salt from the raw water, thus providing higher quality purified water. In embodiments not shown, the first membrane element 300 may also include a membrane formed by combining a reverse osmosis membrane and a nanofiltration membrane, or a structure formed by combining one or both of these membranes with other types of filtration elements.

[0029] The first central tube 200 may have a first water passage hole 210 on its wall, and the first membrane element 300 may surround the outside of the first central tube 200. The first membrane element 300 includes a first raw water end 310, a first purified water end 320, and a first concentrate end 330. The first raw water end 310 is connected to the raw water inlet, and the first purified water end 320 is connected to the cavity inside the first central tube 200 via the first water passage hole 210. In one specific embodiment, the first membrane element 300 may include a membrane bag. The open end of the membrane bag is connected to the first water passage hole 210 of the first central tube 200, so that the inner surface of the membrane bag is in communication with the first central tube 200. The membrane bag may be wrapped around the first central tube 200 by means of, for example, winding or stacking, so that the first membrane element 300 forms a columnar structure surrounding the first central tube 200. Raw water may enter from one end face of the columnar structure and flow in the flow channel formed by the gap on the outer surface of the membrane bag. This side end face can be considered as the first raw water end 310, which is connected to one end of the flow channel. Purified water can enter the membrane bag and reach the first water passage 210 through the opening of the membrane bag. The other end of the flow channel forms the first concentrate end 330, which is the other side end face of the columnar structure. The concentrated water flows out of the flow channel. In an embodiment not shown, the first raw water end 310 can be located on the side surface of the first membrane element 300, and the first concentrate end 330 can be located on opposite end faces of the first membrane element 300 along its length. In summary, raw water can be concentrated by the first membrane element 300 to form concentrate, and the resulting purified water enters the cavity of the first central tube 200 through the first water passage 210.

[0030] The second central tube 400 may have a second water passage hole 410 on its wall, and the second membrane element 500 may surround the outside of the second central tube 400. Similar to the first membrane element 300, the second membrane element 500 may also include a second raw water end 510, a second purified water end 520, and a second concentrated water end 530. The second purified water end 520 communicates with the cavity inside the second central tube 400 via the second water passage hole 410, and the second central tube 400 is connected to the purified water outlet 120. The structure and principle of the second membrane element 500 are similar to those of the first membrane element 300, which can concentrate the raw water and output purified water to the cavity of the second central tube 400. The first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400 may be arranged sequentially along the length of the filter bottle 100, and adjacent ends of the first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400 may be connected to each other. The purified water produced by the first membrane element 300 and the purified water produced by the second membrane element 500 can be output through the purified water outlet 120 via the first central pipe 200 and the second central pipe 400 connected to each other.

[0031] The first membrane element 300 has a first end face 340 facing the second membrane element 500 along its length, and the second membrane element 500 has a second end face 540 facing the first membrane element along its length. A first concentrate end 330 is located on the first end face 340, and a second raw water end 510 is located on the second end face 540. The first concentrate end 330 is connected to the second raw water end 510, and the second concentrate end 530 is connected to the concentrate outlet 130. Thus, the concentrate after preliminary concentration by the first membrane element 300 can be used as raw water supplied to the second membrane element 500.

[0032] The first end face 340 and the second end face 540 are opposite to each other. The concentrated water output from the first membrane element 300 can reach the second membrane element 500 through a shorter and simpler path, making the structure of the filter element assembly relatively simple. During the production of the filter element assembly, the first membrane element 300 can be surrounded on the first central tube 200, and the second membrane element 500 can be surrounded on the second central tube 400, following ordinary filter element production methods. The first central tube 200 and its attached first membrane element 300, and the second central tube 400 and its attached second membrane element 500 can be produced separately. Finally, the first central tube 200 and its attached first membrane element 300 can be easily connected to the second central tube 400 and its attached second membrane element 500.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, the recovery rate of the first membrane element 300 can be 0.67, meaning the amount of purified water produced is approximately two-thirds of the input raw water, and about twice the amount of concentrate produced. The recovery rate of the second membrane element 500 can be 0.75. Taking 3 liters (L) of raw water as an example, the first membrane element 300 can produce 2L of purified water and 1L of concentrate. The second membrane element 500 further filters the 1L of concentrate, producing 0.75L of purified water and 0.25L of concentrate. Thus, the final recovery rate of the filter assembly is approximately 0.92, significantly higher than either the first membrane element 300 or the second membrane element 500. Of course, the recovery rates of the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 in this application can be reasonably selected according to the performance requirements of the filter assembly. The above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the parameters of the filter assembly.

[0034] In the above technical solution, by integrating a first membrane element 300 and a second membrane element 500 into a filter bottle 100, and allowing the second membrane element 500 to receive the concentrated water produced by the first membrane element 300, the filtered water from both is jointly supplied to the purified water outlet 120. This achieves series connection of filter elements, resulting in a higher recovery rate. Since the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 share a single filter bottle 100, space utilization is higher, and the water circuit connection remains almost unchanged compared to conventional water purifiers, making assembly and maintenance simpler. Furthermore, the separate first central tube 200 and second central tube 400 allow the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 to respectively surround the first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400, requiring only simple plug-in connection during final assembly. Compared to the scheme where the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 surround the same central tube, this significantly reduces modifications to existing production processes and lowers production costs.

[0035] For example, a gap may be provided between the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 along the length direction. The filtration device may also include a first separator 600, which may include a peripheral wall 610 and a separator plate 620. The peripheral wall 610 encloses the gap outside the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500. The separator plate 620 is located within the gap and connected to the inner side surface of the peripheral wall 610. The separator plate 620 is provided with a central tube through hole 621 and a flow-limiting hole 622 disposed around the central tube through hole 621. The adjacent ends of the first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400 pass through the central tube through hole 621. The first concentrate end 330 is connected to the second raw water end 510 through the flow-limiting hole 622. The peripheral wall 610 is sealed to the side wall of the first membrane element 300 and also sealed to the side wall of the second membrane element 500, so that the concentrate output by the first membrane element 300 is contained within the gap and does not leak to the outside. The concentrate can be guided to the flow-limiting orifice 622, and after being limited by the orifice, it reaches the second membrane element 500. (Reference) Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the raw water flows outside the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500. This separates the concentrate and the raw water, preventing them from interfering with each other. In some embodiments, the flow-limiting orifice 622 can be located near the outer side of the second membrane element 500 in the radial direction perpendicular to its length, allowing the concentrate to pass through a longer flow channel within the second membrane element 500 for better filtration. The separator plate 620 remains sealed to the outside of the central tube, preventing the concentrate from directly reaching the second raw water end 510 without passing through the flow-limiting orifice 622.

[0036] In the above technical solution, the first separator 600 connects the first concentrate end 330 of the first membrane element 300 and the second raw water end 510 of the second membrane element 500, preventing the concentrate at the first concentrate end 330 (i.e., the concentrate after preliminary filtration by the first membrane element 300) from mixing with, for example, raw water or the concentrate after filtration by the second membrane element 500. The structure of the first separator 600 facilitates the installation of a flow-limiting orifice 622. The flow-limiting orifice 622 maintains the pressure required for the operation of the first membrane element 300 and also guides the concentrate after filtration by the first membrane element 300, improving the filtration effect of the second membrane element 500.

[0037] Exemplarily, a one-way valve 6221 can be provided on the flow-limiting orifice 622. Specifically, the one-way valve 6221 may include a spring and a water-stopping element. When the filtration assembly is working, the concentrated water pressure at the first concentrated water end 330 can push the water-stopping element of the one-way valve 6221 to compress the spring, causing the one-way valve 6221 to open. When the filtration assembly stops working, the concentrated water pressure disappears, and the water-stopping element closes the flow-limiting orifice 622 under the action of the spring, preventing the highly concentrated concentrated water from the second membrane element 500 from flowing back to the first membrane element 300. The scheme of setting the one-way valve 6221 is particularly suitable for embodiments in which the first membrane element 300 uses a nanofiltration membrane and the second membrane element 500 uses a reverse osmosis membrane. When the filtration assembly stops producing water, some concentrated water cannot be completely drained and remains in the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500. The concentrated water concentration in the second membrane element 500 is high, and without the one-way valve 6221, salt may diffuse into the first membrane element 300 through the flow-limiting orifice 622. Because reverse osmosis membranes have a high desalination rate, even if the residual concentrate has a high salt content, not much salt will seep into the purified water. Nanofiltration cartridges, on the other hand, have a lower desalination rate; if soaked in highly concentrated concentrate, more salt will seep into the purified water. Therefore, the one-way valve 6221 prevents highly concentrated concentrate from seeping into the purified water through the nanofiltration membrane, thus preventing the first cup of water from failing to meet quality requirements.

[0038] For example, the separator 620 has a first surface 623 facing the first end face 340, which is spaced apart from the first end face 340. Since the concentrate from the first membrane element 300 is discharged from the first end face 340 and then enters the second membrane element 500 via the second end face 540, the spaced-apart first surface 623 and the first end face 340 form a channel for the concentrate to pass through, preventing the outflowing concentrate from experiencing significant and uneven resistance due to the first surface 623 abutting against the first end face 340. Specifically, the concentrate discharged from the first end face 340 can flow with minimal resistance to the flow-limiting orifice 622 within the spaced-apart channel. The flow-limiting orifice 622 maintains the raw water pressure within the first membrane element 300 and ensures that the water pressure acting on the first end face 340 is uniform, almost eliminating areas of excessive or insufficient pressure. The separator 620 also has a second surface 624 facing the second end face 540, which is spaced apart from the second end face 540. This creates a channel for water to flow between the second end face 540 and the second surface 624.

[0039] The first separator 600 may further include a first rib 630 disposed on the first surface 623 and a second rib 640 disposed on the second surface 624. The first rib 630 and the second rib 640 may abut against the first end face 340 and the second end face 540, respectively. In this way, the first rib 630 and the second rib 640 can not only enhance the strength of the first separator 600, but also support the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500, so that the first surface 623 is spaced apart from the first end face 340, and the second surface 624 is spaced apart from the second end face 540.

[0040] For example, the distance between the first surface 623 and the first end face 340 is greater than the distance between the second surface 624 and the second end face 540. This provides a buffer space for the concentrate output from the first end face 340, extending the service life of the filter assembly.

[0041] Exemplarily, the first central tube 200 has a first end 220 and a second end 230 opposite each other along its length. The first end 220 is adjacent to and inserted into the end of the second central tube 400, and the second end 230 is inserted into the bottom of the filter bottle 100. The first separator 600 may be sleeved on the outside of the end of the second central tube 400. In some embodiments, the outer wall of the first separator 600 may be spaced apart from the inner wall of the filter bottle 100, forming a passage for raw water to pass through around the first separator 600. In this embodiment, the first central tube 200 may provide a certain positioning function for the first separator 600, preventing it from moving in a radial direction perpendicular to the length direction relative to the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500. In other embodiments, the outer wall of the first separator 600 may have a portion that fits against the inner wall of the filter bottle 100, so that the first separator 600 is positioned inside the filter bottle 100. In this embodiment, the first separator 600 can cooperate with the filter bottle 100 to limit the position of the first central tube 200 from the other end, thereby fixing the position of the first central tube 200, and simultaneously positioning the end of the second central tube 400 connected to the first central tube 200. In summary, the first separator 600 can guide all the concentrate from the first concentrate end 330 to the flow restrictor 622, and cooperate with the first central tube 200 and the filter bottle 100 to form a limiting relationship between them.

[0042] For example, the first central tube 200 may further include an intermediate section 240 connecting the first end 220 and the second end 230, wherein the inner diameters of both the intermediate section 240 and the second end 230 are larger than the inner diameter of the first end 220, and the second end 230 is sealed by a plug. Thus, the first central tube 200 can be inserted into the second central tube 400, and the first central tube 200 can be demolded from the second end 230. This results in a simpler structure for the first central tube 200, facilitating production. The plug can be a standard part to reduce costs, and the assembly of such a filter assembly is also simpler.

[0043] For example, the first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400 each have opposite ends along their length. The filter bottle 100 may include a bottle body 140 and a bottle cap 150. The bottle body 140 has an opening 141, and the bottle cap 150 seals the opening 141. The raw water inlet 110, the purified water outlet 120, and the concentrated water outlet 130 are all disposed on the bottle cap. As described above, adjacent ends of the first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400 are connected together. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the adjacent end of the first central tube 200 is the first end 220 mentioned above, and the opposite end is the second end 230. The opposite end of the first central tube 200 is fixed to the bottom of the bottle body, and the opposite end of the second central tube 400 is fixed to the bottle cap, so that the first central tube 200 and the second central tube 400 are firmly positioned at the center of the filter bottle 100, and can also limit the position of the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500.

[0044] During the assembly of the filter assembly, the first central tube 200, along with the first membrane element 300 surrounding it, can be firstly assembled with the first separator 600. Then, the second central tube 400, along with the second membrane element 500 surrounding it, can be assembled to the other side of the first separator 600. Gaps that need to prevent leakage can be sealed with sealant or other methods. The assembled components can be inserted into the bottle body 140. After the bottle cap 150 is closed, the bottle cap 150 can be connected to the bottle body 140 by spin welding, ultrasonic welding, or sealant. In embodiments not shown, the bottle cap 150 and the bottle body 140 are detachably connected, allowing the user to replace either the first membrane element 300 or the second membrane element 500 individually. The filter assembly described above is easy to assemble and has a low cost.

[0045] For example, the second raw water end 510 and the second concentrated water end 530 can be arranged opposite each other along the length direction. The filtration device also includes a second separator 700 surrounding the second concentrated water end 530. The second separator 700 has a third end 710 and a fourth end 720 opposite each other along the length direction. The third end 710 is fixed to the end of the second membrane element 500 facing away from the first membrane element 300, and the fourth end 720 is fixed to the cap 150. The second concentrated water end 530 is connected to the concentrated water outlet 130 via a concentrated water channel between the second separator 700 and the second central tube 400. Both the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 are spaced apart from the filter bottle 100 and form a first raw water channel 800. A second raw water channel 900 is formed between the second separator 700 and the filter bottle 100. The raw water inlet 110 is connected to the first raw water end 310 of the first membrane element 300 in sequence via the second raw water channel 900 and the first raw water channel 800. Thus, raw water can pass through the first raw water channel 800 formed by the outer sides of the first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 and the inner wall of the bottle body 140, but does not enter the first membrane element 300 or the second membrane element 500. It only enters the first membrane element 300 from the end face of the first raw water end 310 formed by the first membrane element 300. The concentrated water at the first concentrated water end 330 is blocked and restricted by the first separator 600, so that the raw water in the first membrane element 300 maintains sufficient pressure. The concentrated water that has been preliminarily filtered by the first membrane element 300 can only reach the second raw water end 510. The concentrated water that has been filtered by the second membrane element 500 can only flow to the concentrated water outlet 130 under the restriction of the second separator 700. This simplifies the structure of the bottle cap 150, facilitates the injection molding and demolding of the bottle cap 150, and makes the assembly of the filter assembly simpler.

[0046] This application also provides a water purifier, such as... Figure 6As shown, the system includes a pre-filter cartridge 20, an inlet solenoid valve 30, a booster pump 40, the aforementioned filtration device, and a wastewater ratio valve 50. The inlet of the wastewater ratio valve 50 is connected to the concentrated water outlet 130 of the filtration device, and the outlet of the wastewater ratio valve 50 can be connected to the concentrated water discharge outlet 60 of the water purifier, thereby discharging the concentrated water to the outside. The pre-filter cartridge 20 can perform preliminary filtration of the raw water, preventing large particles such as sediment and rust from entering the filtration device and extending its lifespan. The inlet solenoid valve 30 can be connected to the tap water inlet 10 to prevent water from passing through the filtration device under tap water pressure, causing accidental water discharge or continuous concentrated water flow leading to water waste. The booster pump 40 can provide the rated pressure required for the operation of the filtration device. The wastewater ratio valve 50 can maintain the pressure during the operation of the filtration device and indirectly affects the flow rate of the flow restrictor 622. Optionally, the wastewater ratio valve 50 can be constructed as a small orifice, allowing only concentrated water to flow through at a certain flow rate. Optionally, the wastewater ratio valve 50 is adjustable, allowing the filtration device to operate at an optimal working pressure. The first membrane element 300 and the second membrane element 500 shown in the figure are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent independent components.

[0047] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "front", "rear", "up", "down", "left", "right", "horizontal", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", and "bottom" indicate the orientation or positional relationship, which are usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself.

[0048] For ease of description, relative terms such as "above," "over," "on the upper surface of," and "above" are used here to describe the regional positional relationship of one or more components or features shown in the figures to other components or features. It should be understood that relative terms include not only the orientation of the component as depicted in the figure but also different orientations during use or operation. For example, if the components in the figures are inverted as a whole, "above" or "above other components or features" will include cases where the component is "below" or "under" other components or features. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." Furthermore, these components or features may also be positioned at other different angles (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this document intends to include all such cases.

[0049] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0050] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0051] This utility model has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the utility model to the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of this utility model, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A filter device, characterized in that The filtration device comprises: a filter bottle having a raw water inlet, a purified water outlet and a concentrated water outlet; and a first central tube, a first membrane element, a second central tube and a second membrane element, all of which are accommodated in the filter bottle, wherein: the first central tube and the second central tube are arranged in sequence along the length direction of the filter bottle, and the adjacent ends of the first central tube and the second central tube are connected to each other and communicate, the tube wall of the first central tube is provided with first water passing holes, and the tube wall of the second central tube is provided with second water passing holes; the first membrane element surrounds the outside of the first central tube, and the second membrane element surrounds the outside of the second central tube, the first membrane element comprises a first raw water end, a first purified water end and a first concentrated water end, and the second membrane element comprises a second raw water end, a second purified water end and a second concentrated water end; the first raw water end communicates with the raw water inlet, the first purified water end communicates with the cavity in the first central tube through the first water passing holes, the second purified water end communicates with the cavity in the second central tube through the second water passing holes, and the second central tube communicates with the purified water outlet; the first membrane element has a first end face facing the second membrane element along the length direction, the second membrane element has a second end face facing the first membrane element along the length direction, the first concentrated water end is located on the first end face, the second raw water end is located on the second end face, the first concentrated water end communicates with the second raw water end, and the second concentrated water end communicates with the concentrated water outlet.

2. The filter device of claim 1, wherein, Along the length direction, a space is provided between the first membrane element and the second membrane element, and the filtration device further comprises a first partition piece, which comprises: a peripheral wall enclosing the space outside the first membrane element and the second membrane element; and a partition plate located in the space and connected to the inner side surface of the peripheral wall, the partition plate is provided with a central tube through hole and a flow limiting hole outside the peripheral wall of the central tube through hole, wherein: the mutually connected adjacent ends of the first central tube and the second central tube are arranged in the central tube through hole; the first concentrated water end communicates with the second raw water end through the flow limiting hole.

3. The filter device of claim 2, wherein, A one-way valve is arranged on the flow limiting hole.

4. The filter device of claim 2, wherein, The partition plate has a first surface and a second surface respectively facing the first end face and the second end face, the first surface is spaced apart from the first end face, and the second surface is spaced apart from the second end face, the first partition piece further comprises a first convex rib arranged on the first surface and a second convex rib arranged on the second surface, and the first convex rib and the second convex rib abut against the first end face and the second end face respectively.

5. The filter device of claim 2, wherein, The partition plate has a first surface and a second surface respectively facing the first end face and the second end face, and the distance between the first surface and the first end face is greater than the distance between the second surface and the second end face.

6. The filter device of claim 2, wherein, The first center tube has a first end and a second end opposite along the length direction, the first end is adjacent to the second center tube and inserted into an adjacent end portion of the second center tube, and the second end is inserted into the bottom of the filter bottle; The first partition is sleeved outside the end portion of the second center tube.

7. The filter device of claim 6, wherein, The first center tube further has an intermediate section connected between the first end and the second end, the intermediate section and the second end both have an inner diameter larger than that of the first end, and the second end is sealed by a plug.

8. The filter device of claim 1, wherein, The first center tube and the second center tube respectively have opposite end portions opposite along the length direction, The filter bottle comprises a bottle body and a bottle cap, the bottle body has an opening, the bottle cap covers the opening, the raw water inlet, the purified water outlet and the concentrated water outlet are arranged on the bottle cap, The opposite end portions of the first center tube are fixed to the bottom of the bottle body, and the opposite end portions of the second center tube are fixed to the bottle cap.

9. The filter device of claim 8, wherein, The second raw water end and the second concentrated water end are arranged opposite along the length direction, The filter device further comprises a second partition, the second partition surrounds the second concentrated water end, the second partition has a third end and a fourth end opposite along the length direction, the third end is fixed to an end portion of the second membrane element opposite to the first membrane element, and the fourth end is fixed to the bottle cap, the second concentrated water end communicates with the concentrated water outlet via a concentrated water passage between the second partition and the second center tube, The first membrane element and the second membrane element are both spaced apart from the filter bottle and form a first raw water passage, a second raw water passage is formed between the second partition and the filter bottle, and the raw water inlet communicates with the first raw water end of the first membrane element in sequence via the second raw water passage and the first raw water passage.

10. The filter device of claim 1, wherein, The first membrane element comprises one or more of a nanofiltration membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane, and the second membrane element comprises one or more of a nanofiltration membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane.

11. A water purifier characterized by comprising: Comprise: The filter device according to any one of claims 1-10; And A waste water ratio valve connected to the concentrated water outlet of the filter device.

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