filter device

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter device for collecting particles and / or microparticles in water. The filter device has a filter housing (1) which has an inlet (3), an outlet (5), and a filter component (7). The filter component (7) is arranged between the inlet (3) and the outlet (5) in such a way that a flow path of water flowing into the inlet (3) leads from an inlet-side end (7a) of the filter component (7) with a component in a direction of gravity along a surface of the filter component (7) facing away from a base (1a) of the filter housing (1) in the direction of an outlet-side end (7b) of the filter component (7) or through the filter component (7) to the outlet (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a filter device for collecting particles and / or microparticles.

[0002] For environmental reasons, increased attention has recently been paid to microplastics in wastewater, and it is expected that strict legal standards for the prevention of microplastics in wastewater will have to be met in the foreseeable future. Various filter systems for filtering microplastics are known from the state of the art. What they have in common is that it is complex to clean the filter elements of accumulated microplastic particles or to replace the filter elements. As an example of the state of the art, the document DE 10 2020 207 163 A1 is cited here.

[0003] Microplastics are typically defined as tiny particles of synthetic polymers and plastics, as well as their derivatives, that are less than 5 millimeters in size. Microplastics can either be intentionally added to products, for example, in cosmetics or cleaning products, or they can be created as a waste product from the decomposition of larger plastic pieces. Microplastics enter the environment through many different routes, where they are difficult to degrade and can pose a potential threat to flora and fauna, as well as human health. For example, microplastics are created when clothes are washed. These particles and microparticles are then discharged into the environment with the wastewater from the laundry treatment machine.

[0004] For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that in the disclosure, when referring to particles and / or microparticles, it primarily but not exclusively refers to microplastics.

[0005] There is a need for an easy-to-clean filter device for collecting particles and / or microparticles in water, particularly wastewater from a laundry treatment machine.

[0006] A filter device according to the invention for collecting particles and / or microparticles in water comprises a filter housing. The filter housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a filter component arranged between the inlet and the outlet. The filter component is arranged such that a flow path of water flowing into the inlet leads from an inlet-side end of the filter component with a component in a direction of gravity along a surface of the filter component facing away from a bottom of the filter housing toward an outlet-side end of the filter component or through the filter component to the outlet.

[0007] The water containing particles and / or microparticles flows over a surface of the filter component facing away from the ground and through the filter component. The water flowing through the filter component can thus be cleaned by the particles and / or microparticles present in the water being retained by the filter component. However, since a portion of the water simultaneously flows over the surface of the filter component, this water carries the filtered particles and / or microparticles with it as it flows over the surface of the filter component. This means that the concentration of particles and / or microparticles in the water flowing over the surface of the filter component increases. The contaminated water can then be collected for further treatment before being fed into a wastewater system.The water flowing through the filter component is purified of particles and / or microparticles and can be fed into a wastewater system. It should be noted that, in this disclosure, particles and microparticles primarily, but not exclusively, refer to microplastics.

[0008] Advantageously, a collecting chamber can be formed downstream of the outlet-side filter end in the direction of water flow. This chamber serves to collect particles and / or microparticles washed from the filter component by the flowing water.

[0009] The water in the collection chamber is heavily contaminated with particles and / or microparticles. It can therefore be removed from the collection chamber and further treated separately to remove the particles and / or microparticles.

[0010] Advantageously, a dirt removal opening, closable by a lid, can be formed in the filter housing at the collection chamber. This makes it possible to remove particles and / or microparticles collected in the collection chamber.

[0011] Advantageously, a piston can be arranged in the filter housing, which, when actuated, compresses the particles and / or microparticles collected in the collection chamber. Once a predetermined amount of collected particles and / or microparticles has been reached, the piston can push them out of the collection chamber through the dirt removal opening.

[0012] The piston is an example of a possibility to further treat the water in the collection chamber that is heavily enriched with particles and / or microparticles.

[0013] Advantageously, the piston may comprise a filter means which, when the piston is actuated, allows water to flow from the collection chamber through the piston into the clean water chamber, into which the flow path of the water leads through the filter component, but retains particles and / or microparticles.

[0014] Because the piston is equipped with a filter medium, when the piston is activated, the water from the collection chamber flows through the piston into the clean water chamber. The particles and / or microparticles remain in the collection chamber and are compressed there. Once a certain amount of particles and / or microparticles is reached in the collection chamber, they can then be pushed out through the dirt removal opening by the piston and disposed of or recycled.

[0015] Advantageously, a settling chamber can be formed at the inlet, in which a flow path of the water is formed in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity.

[0016] According to this design, larger particles in the water can sink to the bottom of the settling chamber due to the effect of gravity, so that less contaminated water reaches the filter component. Thus, only microparticles remain in the water, which then flows over the surface of the filter component or through it.

[0017] Advantageously, the filter component can separate a dirty water chamber from the clean water chamber. The flow path of a portion of the water from the dirty water chamber through the filter component leads into the clean water chamber, while the flow path of another portion of the water leads along the surface of the filter component facing away from the floor.

[0018] Thus, a large portion of the water is already purified of the particles and / or microparticles and can be discharged into the wastewater system without further treatment. Only the portion of the water flowing along the surface of the filter component, which washes away the accumulation of particles and / or microparticles from the surface of the filter component, requires separate treatment.

[0019] Advantageously, the filter component can comprise a curved screen. The curved screen can be provided with a filter medium or have longitudinal gaps along the direction of water flow on the surface of the filter component facing away from the bottom of the filter housing. Furthermore, an inlet-side end of the curved screen can be further away from the filter housing bottom than an outlet-side end.

[0020] Since the inlet end of the bend is arranged much higher than the outlet end, the flow velocity of the water can be advantageously influenced, ensuring that a discontinuous cleaning of the curved screen and the filter medium takes place by the water flowing along the surface of the curved screen.

[0021] Advantageously, the filter medium can be a fabric with a mesh size of 30 to 300 µm, or longitudinal gaps can have a width of 30 to 300 µm.

[0022] This mesh size or width of the longitudinal gaps ensures reliable filtration of microparticles.

[0023] Advantageously, the ratio of width to height of the filter housing can be 1 to 4 or 3 to 1.

[0024] This width-to-height ratio allows for space-saving installation in the base of a washing machine or other household appliance that discharges water contaminated with particles and / or microparticles. The device can also be designed as a stand-alone unit.

[0025] Advantageously, the inlet of the filter housing can be connected to a wastewater connection of a water-conducting household appliance. This can be, in particular, a laundry appliance such as a washing machine or washer-dryer, or a dishwasher.

[0026] It is also advantageous to connect wastewater pipes from more than one water-bearing household appliance to the filter housing.

[0027] Advantageously, the filter device can be integrated into a base of a water-conducting household appliance, or can also be arranged as a separate device next to a water-conducting household appliance or several water-conducting household appliances.

[0028] A currently preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of a filter device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a sectional perspective view of the filter device according to the invention.

[0029] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described.

[0030] The filter device according to the invention has a filter housing 1. This is provided with an inlet 3 and an outlet 5. The inlet 3 can be connected to a wastewater line of a water-conducting household appliance, such as a washing machine. The outlet 5 can be connected to a wastewater line leading into a sewage system.

[0031] Inside the filter housing 1, opposite the inlet 3, there is a wall 19 that extends upwards from a bottom 1a of the filter housing 1. The wall 19, together with the side walls of the filter housing 1, defines a settling chamber 21.

[0032] Settling chamber 21 has a significantly larger cross-section than inlet 3. This results in the water (wastewater, dirty water) flowing from inlet 3 into settling chamber 21 being significantly slowed in its flow velocity. Thus, the water in settling chamber 21 slowly rises until it reaches an inlet-side end 7a of a curved screen 7. Due to the slow rise in the water level, coarser particles, whose density is higher than that of the water, can already settle. The curved screen 7 extends from the inlet-side end 7a downwards to an outlet-side end 7b in the direction of the outlet 5. Adjacent to the outlet-side end 7b there is a collecting chamber 9. The dirty water, which is still contaminated with particles and / or microparticles, flows, after reaching a threshold at the inlet-side end 7a, on the surface of the curved screen 7 facing away from the floor 1a in the direction of the outlet-side end 7b.The dirty water seeps through a filter medium arranged in the curved screen 7 or through longitudinal slots provided in the curved screen 7. Particles and / or microparticles present in the water are filtered out, leaving them on the surface of the curved screen 7. The water that seeps through the curved screen 7 enters a clean water chamber 25 located below the curved screen 7. From the clean water chamber 25, the purified water can be discharged into a wastewater system through the outlet 5.

[0033] Since new dirty water is continually fed through the inlet 3 into the filter housing 1, a discontinuous water flow occurs on the surface of the curved screen 7. While a portion of this dirty water seeps through the curved screen 7, portions of the water are repeatedly guided along the surface of the curved screen 7 to the collection chamber 9, whereby this water flushes particles and / or microparticles present on the surface of the curved screen 7 towards the collection chamber 9. As a result, the surface of the curved screen 7 is regularly cleaned of particles and microparticles, which accumulate in ever-increasing concentrations in the collection chamber 9.

[0034] In the Fig. 1 the flow direction of the water (waste water, dirty water) is indicated by arrows.

[0035] The area above the curved screen 7 is defined as the dirty water chamber 23.

[0036] In the housing wall of the filter housing 1, there is a dirt removal opening 15 at the collecting chamber 9, which is sealed watertight by a removable cover 16.

[0037] The collecting chamber 9 has a cross-sectional shape of a cylinder 14, which seamlessly transitions into the dirt removal opening 15. At an end of the cylinder 14 facing the inlet 3, a piston 13 is provided, which is axially movable within the cylinder 14 toward the dirt removal opening 15. According to the embodiment, the piston is actuated via a lever 11 and a linkage 12.

[0038] If a large amount of dirty water containing particles is present in the collection chamber 9, it can be pushed by the piston 13 toward the dirt removal opening 15. The piston is provided with a filter material through which the water can flow, when the piston 13 is actuated, into the clean water chamber 25, essentially in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the piston. In this way, the particles present in the dirty water in the collection chamber 9 are separated from the dirty water and compressed at the dirt removal opening 15.

[0039] According to the embodiment, the piston is manually operated via the lever 11, whereby a user can determine how full the collection chamber 9 is already with compacted particles using a scale on the travel path of the lever 11. Upon reaching a predetermined fill level, the cover 16 can be removed from the dirt removal opening 50, and the compacted particles and / or microparticles can be pushed out of the dirt removal opening 15 by means of the piston 13. The piston is then returned to its original position, and dirty water containing particles and / or microparticles can once again be introduced into the filter housing 1.

[0040] An overflow 17 is also provided on the filter housing 1, through which the dirty water can flow away in the event of a failure of the piston mechanism or the filter, e.g. due to clogging of the filter, and it is not possible for the dirty water to be filtered and flow out of the clean water chamber 25 as clean water.

[0041] According to the embodiment, the curved screen 7 is formed by a perforated plate with a perforation ranging from 1 to 7 mm. This perforated plate serves as a framework for the filter medium. The filter medium is a fabric with a mesh size between 30 and 300 µm. This mesh size allows microparticles to be filtered out of the wastewater. Depending on requirements, it is of course possible to use even smaller mesh sizes, although this may reduce the filter performance. As an alternative to the filter fabric, the curved screen 7 can be designed with longitudinal gaps with a width between 30 and 300 µm. The term "longitudinal gap" refers to the flow direction of the wastewater (also referred to as wastewater) on the surface of the curved screen 7.

[0042] According to the embodiment, the piston is actuated via the lever 11, which is done manually at the appropriate time. Alternatively, the piston can also be actuated electrically or hydraulically, and this actuation can occur automatically when a certain amount of particles is reached in the collection chamber 9 or at predetermined times.

[0043] The cover 16 is preferably attached to the dirt removal opening 15 via a bayonet lock. Alternatively, a screw cap can also be provided. As an alternative to the already mentioned discontinuous operation, which ensures thorough cleaning of the curved screen 7 and thus an increased service life, it is possible to provide a pre-tank connected to a pump. Thus, continuous operation is also possible, which is particularly preferred in the case in which a large number of water-conducting household appliances are connected to the filter device according to the invention. A preferred ratio of height to width of the filter device is 4 to 1 or 1 to 3. This height-to-width ratio enables optimal control and a high level of clarification.

[0044] The invention has been described using a currently preferred embodiment. However, this description is not to be construed as limiting.

[0045] For example, it is possible to provide the filter housing with a flap in the lid to carry out maintenance work such as replacing the curved sieve.

[0046] It is also possible to construct individual components of the device in a modular manner, allowing them to be additionally assembled if necessary.

[0047] The collection chamber can be designed as a channel. The walls and floor of the channel can be designed to slope toward the dirt removal opening.

[0048] The dirt removal opening can be preceded by a pipe open at the top, in which the dirty water that has run over the surface of the filter is collected. The pipe can be designed so that it is closed with a cover before the piston is actuated. The piston is then guided in the closed pipe. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 207 163 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Filter device for collecting particles and / or microparticles in water, comprising a filter housing (1) comprising: an inlet (3), an outlet (5), and a filter component (7) arranged between the inlet (3) and the outlet (5) in such a way that a flow path of water flowing into the inlet (3) leads from an inlet-side end (7a) of the filter component (7) with a component in a direction of gravity along a surface of the filter component (7) facing away from a bottom (1a) of the filter housing (1) in the direction of an outlet-side end (7b) of the filter component (7) or through the filter component (7) into a clean water chamber (25) and to the outlet (5). [2] Filter device according to claim 1, wherein in the flow direction of the water downstream of the outlet-side filter end (7b) a collecting space (9) is formed for collecting particles and / or microparticles flushed from the filter component (7) by the flowing water. [3] Filter device according to claim 2, wherein in the filter housing (1) at the collecting space (9) a dirt removal opening (15) which can be closed by means of a cover (16) is formed in order to remove particles and / or microparticles collected in the collecting space (9) therefrom. [4] Filter device according to claim 3, wherein a piston (13) is arranged in the filter housing (1) in order to compress the particles and / or microparticles collected in the collecting space (9) when actuated and to push them out of the collecting space (9) through the dirt removal opening (15) when a predetermined amount of collected particles and / or microparticles is reached. [5] Filter device according to claim 4, wherein the piston (13) has a filter means which, upon actuation of the piston (13), allows a flow of water from the collecting space (9) through the piston into the clean water chamber (25), into which the flow path of the water leads through the filter component (7), but retains particles and / or microparticles. [6] Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a settling chamber (21) is formed at the inlet (3), in which a flow path of the water is formed in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity. [7] Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter component (7) separates a dirty water chamber (23) from the clean water chamber (25), wherein the flow path of a part of the water leads from the dirty water chamber (23) through the filter component (7) into the clean water chamber (25), while the flow path of another part of the water leads along the surface of the filter component (7) facing away from the bottom (1a). [8] Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the filter component (7) has a curved screen with a filter medium or a curved screen with longitudinal gaps along the flow direction of the water on the surface of the filter component (7) facing away from the bottom (1a) of the filter housing (1), and an inlet-side end (7a) of the curved screen is further away from the filter housing bottom (1a) than an outlet-side end (7b). [9] Filter device according to claim 8, wherein the filter medium is a fabric with a mesh size of 30 to 300 µm, or the longitudinal gaps have a width of 30 to 300 µm. [10] Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a ratio of width to height of the filter housing is 1:4 or 3:1.

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