Water treatment device equipped with a filter cartridge and a rotary agitator.

Abstract

The invention relates to a water treatment apparatus (1) comprising a water receiving container (2) having 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 a drive device for the rotary agitator to create water movement through the filter cartridge and a water agitation vortex to facilitate the removal of various pollutants. The water treatment apparatus includes a guide element for the rotary agitator, the guide element and the agitator being arranged above the filter cartridge. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Water treatment device equipped with a filter cartridge and a rotating agitator. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tap water treatment devices which make it possible to treat pollutants and taste and odor problems present in tap water by filtration and agitation, in order to make it consumable and enjoyable. By pollutants, we mean mainly the chlorine present in the water and also traces of pesticides, medicines or heavy metals, for example, which may also be found in tap water. State of the art

[0002] Water treatment devices are known to those skilled in the art, including, in particular, the water treatment device described in European patent EP1599272B1 which comprises a water receiving container provided with an upper opening and a bottom, a filter cartridge which comprises a bottom plate and a filter sleeve, the bottom plate resting on the bottom of the container. This device also comprises a magnetic rotary stirrer housed in the filter cartridge and a container receiving base provided with a magnetic rotary device for driving the magnetic rotary stirrer to create a movement of the water through the filter sleeve and a vortex for aerating the water in order to eliminate the various pollutants. The magnetic rotary stirrer comprises a base and a fin, the base comprising a convex lower face which is in contact with the bottom plate of the filter cartridge.

[0003] The applicant observes that this design of the water treatment apparatus does not ensure optimal water treatment in a limited time, in particular due to problems of centering the magnetic stirrer relative to the filter sleeve of the filter cartridge, which may occur during activation of the magnetic rotating device, but also due to the position of the magnetic rotating stirrer placed in the filter sleeve of the filter cartridge. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention makes it possible to optimize water treatment in a short time by designing a water treatment apparatus which comprises a water receiving container, said container being provided with an upper opening and a bottom. Furthermore, the water treatment apparatus comprises a filter cartridge arranged on the bottom of the container, a rotary agitator and a base for receiving the container, said base being provided with a device for driving the rotary agitator to create a movement water through the filter cartridge and a water agitation vortex to facilitate the elimination of various pollutants. By pollutant is meant, in a non-limiting manner, largely the chlorine present in the water but also some traces of pesticides, medicines or heavy metals which may also be found in tap water. Remarkably, according to the invention, said water treatment apparatus comprises a guide member for the rotary agitator, the guide member and the agitator being arranged above the filter cartridge.The presence of the guide member makes it possible to maintain the rotary agitator in a fixed position during its rotation by the drive device, this fixed position associated with the position of the rotary agitator above the filter cartridge, ensuring good agitation of the water in the container for the creation of a vortex and thus suitable circulation of the water through the filter cartridge for effective treatment in a reduced time.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the water treatment apparatus according to the invention, the container is movable relative to the base between a treatment position in which the bottom of the container rests on the base and the drive device can drive the rotary agitator and a service position in which the container is separated from the base, the drive device causing the rotary agitator to move by magnetic effect. In other words, the container is removable from the base, magnetic means being implemented between the rotary agitator and the drive device so that said drive device can drive said rotary agitator in rotation when the container is placed on the base. This advantageously makes it possible to lighten the mass of the container during the service of the treated water in a container, in particular a glass.However, variants of the embodiment remain possible with a container and a base forming the same element, i.e. not separable.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the water treatment apparatus according to the invention, the filter cartridge has an annular shape provided with a central cavity, the water being sucked in by the rotary agitator to create a current of water in the filter cartridge. Thus, during treatment, the water circulates by passing through the thickness of the filter cartridge, said thickness being defined by the difference in diameter between an internal contour wall and an external contour wall of the annular shape of said filter cartridge. Other embodiments remain conceivable, for example a disc-shaped filter cartridge, the filtration being carried out for example by the passage of water through the thickness of the filter cartridge, said thickness being in this case defined by two opposite faces of said disc.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the water treatment apparatus which is the subject of the invention, the filter cartridge comprises a container and a filter material, the container being made of a porous material having a mesh size of less than 2 mm, in order to allow the passage of the water to be treated through said container and the porous material and, thus, to filter the water. Other embodiments remain possible, for example a filter cartridge composed solely of a porous material.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the water treatment apparatus which is the subject of the invention, the filter material comprises activated carbon, in particular coconut activated carbon, known for its good chlorine absorption and its resistance to abrasion. Alternatively, it is possible to use activated carbon from coal or bamboo or trees, for example oak. Activated carbons with an inclusion of silver or copper are also possible, for their anti-biofilm and bacterial action. Other filter materials remain possible.

[0009] According to the water treatment apparatus which is the subject of the invention, the filter cartridge is secured to a support which is movable between an assembled position in which the filter cartridge is arranged in the container and an extracted position in which the filter cartridge is removed from the container. This advantageously allows the cleaning of the filter cartridge and also the cleaning of the container, once the movable support has been removed. Preferably, the filter cartridge is configured to be regenerated by immersion in boiling water, in the extracted position. This is the case when the filter cartridge comprises activated carbon.

[0010] According to a first embodiment of the water treatment apparatus, said movable support is formed by the bottom, the bottom and the filter cartridge passing from the assembled position to the extracted position by a downward axial translation. Thus, the clearance of the bottom of the container relative to the body of the container simultaneously allows the extraction of the filter cartridge. Preferably, according to this first embodiment, the container comprises an annular end crown and the bottom comprises an internal wall which extends upwards and which comprises a seal, the internal wall cooperating in a sealed manner with the annular crown in the assembled position.

[0011] According to a second embodiment of the water treatment apparatus, said movable support comprises a rod which comprises a gripping member arranged above the upper opening of the container, the movable support and the filter cartridge passing from the assembled position to the extracted position by an axial translation upwards. Preferably, according to this second embodiment, the agitator guide member is formed by the rod, variants however remaining possible with an agitator guide member formed separately from the rod.

[0012] According to these first and second embodiments of the water treatment apparatus, or even according to other embodiments, the movable support comprises a surface above which the rotary agitator is defined, the filter cartridge being placed under this surface.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the water treatment apparatus, the container comprises a glass body, preferably a transparent glass to allow viewing of the contents of the container, in particular to view the quantity of water in the container and whether the rotary agitator is in operation. Variants are however still possible with a plastic container, preferably transparent, or even plastic coated with a glass or ceramic deposit, or even with a transparent glass part.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the water treatment apparatus, the latter comprises a control system configured to manage a rotation time of the rotary agitator corresponding to a treatment time. Preferably, the control system comprises at least one sensor chosen from a conductivity sensor which allows a measurement of the conductivity of the water caused by the ions present in the water, and a UV254 type sensor which allows a measurement of the natural organic materials present in the water. However, variant embodiments of the water treatment apparatus remain conceivable, for example a time delay which turns off the drive device after a defined treatment duration. Brief description of the figures

[0015] The following description highlights the features and advantages of the present invention. This description is based on figures, among which:

[0016] [Fig. 1] illustrates a front view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for water treatment according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.2] illustrates a sectional view of this first embodiment of the apparatus water treatment;

[0018] [Fig.3] illustrates an exploded view of the first embodiment of the apparatus of water treatment;

[0019] [Fig.4] illustrates the vortex created in the container during operation of the rotary agitator, with the water treatment apparatus according to this first embodiment of figures 1 to 3;

[0020] [Fig.5] illustrates a front view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for water treatment according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.6] illustrates a sectional view of this second embodiment of the apparatus of water treatment;

[0022] [Fig.7] illustrates an exploded view of this second embodiment of the apparatus of water treatment;

[0023] [Fig.8] illustrates a sectional view of a filter cartridge according to a method of rea lization; Detailed description

[0024] In the remainder of the description, the term device is used to designate a device water treatment according to the invention, unless otherwise indicated.

[0025] In the remainder of the description, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "high", "low"... which could be used, will be used in consideration of the position of the device resting on a horizontal work surface, in the usage situation.

[0026] Furthermore, the same references are used to define the same characteristics on the various embodiments of the device.

[0027] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a container 2 capable of containing tap water, a base 3 for receiving the container 2 and a stopper 4 for closing an upper opening 5 of the container 2 in order to prevent the introduction of impurities into the water contained in said container 2. The tap water is introduced into the container 2 through this upper opening 5. In these Figures 1 to 3, the container 2 comprises a body 6 which is in the form of a carafe which flares downwards and which is provided in its upper end part 6a with a neck 7 ending in said upper opening 5. This neck may be of a shape including a pouring spout facilitating the flow of water when the user helps himself to drink.The body 6 is preferably made of glass and has in its lower end portion 6b an annular crown 8 provided on its external wall 9 with a thread 10, said annular crown 8 defining a lower opening 11 on the body 6. In addition, the container 2 additionally comprises a sole 12 which comprises a bottom 13 and a contour 14 which comprises on its internal wall 15 a thread 16 complementary to said thread 10. Preferably the thread 10 and the thread 16 are designed to allow the screwing and unscrewing of the sole 12 on the annular crown 8 by performing a rotation of a quarter turn. A seal 17 is also present on the internal wall 15 to ensure a seal between the sole 12 and the body 6 during their assembly.The container 2 also comprises a cage 18 which comprises a lower shoulder 19 defining a circular edge 20 whose diameter corresponds substantially with that of an internal cylindrical wall 21 of the annular crown 8, which makes it possible to center said cage 18 relative to the body 6. This lower shoulder 19 of the cage 18 rests on the bottom 13 of the sole 12 assembled with the body 6. The release of the sole 12 obtained by its unscrewing from the annular crown 8 and its axial translation downwards relative to the body 6, simultaneously allows the extraction of the cage 18 from said body 6. The cage 18 comprises a contour wall 22 which comprises windows 23, for example four (only two are visible in [Fig. 3]), uniformly distributed around said contour wall 22. The cage 18 also comprises an upper wall 24 which is perforated by the presence of holes 25.Preferably, this cage 18 is made of stainless steel, other materials remaining possible, for example plastic materials.

[0028] The container 2 also comprises a filter cartridge 26, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 in the form of a disc. [Fig. 8] shows the preferred design of this filter cartridge 26 which is in the form of a ring provided with a central cavity 27. The filter cartridge 26 comprises a container 28 of annular shape made of a porous material which preferably has a mesh size of less than 2 mm and a filter material 29 comprising activated carbon, preferably coconut activated carbon, housed in the container 28. The choice of this mesh size of less than 2 mm allows suitable circulation of water in the filter material 29, while preventing particles of said filter material 29 from escaping from the filter cartridge 26.This filter cartridge 26 is therefore trapped by the cage 18 and the bottom 13 of the sole 12 which thus form a support for this filter cartridge 26 and allow its extraction when removing the sole 12 from the body 6. Once extracted from the body 6 of the container 2, the cage 18 is then easily separable from the bottom 13 to access the filter cartridge 26. This design facilitates access to the filter cartridge 26, in order to carry out its cleaning and regeneration by immersing it in boiling water. Indeed, the use of coconut activated carbon has the ability to regenerate the filter material 29 several times (at least six) by immersion in boiling water to desorb in particular all volatile pollutants such as chlorine for example. Other activated carbons can be used, such as coal activated carbon or activated carbon from bamboo or trees such as oak.

[0029] The container 2 also comprises a rotary stirrer 30, as illustrated in particular in Figures 2 to 4. This rotary stirrer 30 is mounted in pivot connection of axis XI in the center of the upper wall 24 of the cage 18, by means of a guide member 31, which is fixedly mounted on said upper wall 24 in the direction of axis XI and receives the rotary stirrer 30 while allowing it to rotate freely around said axis XL. The rotary stirrer 30 is positioned above this upper wall 24 which has a flat surface. The base 3 of the apparatus 1 comprises a motor 32 which is powered by an energy source 33 which may be, for example, a rechargeable or disposable battery or even a transformer powered by a power cord provided with a plug connecting to the mains.The motor 32 drives a magnetic blade 34 in rotation along an axis X2 which coincides with the axis XI when the container 2 is placed on the base 3, centering means being able to be provided between the lower face 35 of the sole 12 and the upper face 36 of the base 3, for example a central stud on the upper face 36 corresponding with a central cavity on the lower face 35, the shapes of which are complementary, or a small circular edge arranged on the upper face 36 of the base 3, in which the lower face 35 of the sole 12 is placed and centered. The rotary stirrer 30 is furthermore magnetized. Thus, when the container 2 is placed on . the base 3, the magnetic attraction force exerted between the rotary stirrer 30 and the magnetic blade 34 makes it possible to drive the rotation of said rotary stirrer 30 under the rotation of the magnetic blade 34.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], when the container 2 containing tap water is placed on the base 3 and the motor 32 is activated, the rotary agitator 30 begins to rotate under the magnetic effect, which forces the circulation of the water in the direction of the arrows 37, 38 by suction exerted by said rotary agitator 30, the water passing radially through the windows 23 of the contour wall 22 of the cage 18 and the filter cartridge 26, to then exit through the central cavity 27 of the filter cartridge 26, then through the holes 25 of the upper wall 24 of the cage 18, until after a certain time a vortex is created, illustrated [Fig. 4]. This agitation of the water and its passage through the filter cartridge 26 ensures the treatment of the water to extract chlorine and traces of pesticides, medicines or heavy metals, for example.The rotary agitator 30 must be activated for a sufficient time for the water treatment to be effective, before it can be consumed, the water contained in the container 6 passing several times through the filter cartridge 26. For this, the device 1 may include a control system (not shown) configured to manage the rotation time of the motor 32 and, thus, of the rotary agitator 30, ensuring effective treatment of the water, while saving the battery when there is one or saving the energy consumed by the system. This control system may also include a sensor (not shown) in contact with the water chosen from a TDS sensor and a UV254 type sensor, the motor 32 then being stopped and a warning light lit when the sensor measurement goes above a threshold set on the control system of the device 1.The TDS sensor allows a measurement of the conductivity of the water caused by the ions present in the water and the UV254 type sensor allows a measurement of the natural organic materials present in the water. The control system could also include a time delay. Once the water treatment is complete, the rotation of the agitator 30 stops and the water can be consumed, the user then removing the container 2 from the base 3. When the container 2 is released from the base 3, the magnetic attraction between the rotating agitator 30 and the magnetic blade 34 cannot occur due to the distance between the magnets included in the elements 30 and 34 becoming too great, which prevents the activation of the rotating agitator 30 during the pouring of the water into a container such as a glass.

[0031] The same principle of operation and water treatment is implemented on the second variant of the apparatus 1 illustrated in figures 5 to 7. In this variant, the container 2 comprises a body 6 which has the shape of a pitcher, preferably made of glass, with a handle 39, the body 6 being in one piece and comprising a permanent bottom 40 which rests on the base 3. The container 2 comprises a cage 41 which comprises a contour wall 42 comprising windows, comparable to the windows 23 on the cage 18 of the first variant of the device 1 illustrated in figures 1 to 4. The cage 41 comprises in its lower part by a bottom wall 43 formed in a single piece with the contour wall 42, this bottom wall 43 being able to be solid or perforated, said piece forming a container 44 allowing to house therein the filter cartridge 26 identical to that described previously. The cage 41 comprises a closing wall 45 of the container 44, in order to close the cage 41 and to keep in it the filter cartridge 26. This closing wall 45 is perforated by the presence of holes (not illustrated) similar to the holes 25 on the upper wall 24 on the previous variant. The upper wall 45 has a conical shaped surface in figures 6 and 7, a flat shape being however conceivable.This upper wall 45 is extended upwards by a rod 46 which comprises at its upper end 46a a gripping member 47 fixed to the end of the rod 46. The rod 46 and the upper wall 45 can be formed from a single piece or from two pieces fixed together. The container 2 also comprises a rotary agitator 30 which is mounted in rotation on the rod 46, above the upper wall 45, said rod 46 then constituting the rotational guide member along the axis XI of the rotary agitator 30. The cage 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 cage 41 through an upper opening 5 of the container 2, until the bottom wall 43 comes into contact with the bottom 40 of the body 6.In this depressed position, the gripping member 47 is positioned above the opening 5 of the container 2 and a cover 48, secured to the rod 46 or even slidably mounted thereon, closes the upper opening 5 of the container 2. An upward pull in the direction of the axis XI on the gripping member 47 makes it possible to pull the cage 41 and thus to extract the filter cartridge 26 from the container 2. The opening of the cage 41 by the separation of the upper wall 45 from the container 44, makes it possible to access the filter cartridge 26 in order to clean it and regenerate it by immersing it in boiling water, but the entire assembly constituting the rod 46, the cap 48 and the container 44 comprising the filter cartridge 26 can be immersed in boiling water, the gripping member 47 facilitating the experiment of use. .

[0032] When the container 2 is placed on the base 3, a magnetic attraction force is exerted between the rotating stirrer 30 which is magnetized and the magnetic blade 34 driven in rotation by the motor 32 along the axis X2, as described for the first variant of the apparatus 1 illustrated in figures 1 to 4. In [Fig.6], the motor 32 and the magnetic blade 34 are not illustrated voluntarily, so as not to make said figure cumbersome.

[0033] The two variants of the apparatus 1 described previously with reference to figures 1 to 8 are not limiting. For example: the body 6 of the container 2 may be made of a material other than glass, for example transparent or non-transparent plastic, or coated; the base 3 and the container 2 could be formed from a single piece, in particular in the case of the variant of figures 5 to 7 where the extraction of the cage 41 is carried out by pulling it upwards to take it out through the upper opening 5 of the container 2; The filter cartridge 26 could be formed from a disc instead of a ring; the motor 32 could directly drive the rotary agitator 30 in rotation.

Claims

Claims

1. Water treatment apparatus (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 rotary agitator (30) and a base (3) for receiving the container provided with a device for driving the rotary agitator to create a movement of the water through the filter cartridge and a vortex for stirring the water to facilitate the elimination of the various pollutants, characterized in that said water treatment apparatus comprises a guide member for the rotary agitator, the guide member and the agitator being arranged above the filter cartridge.

2. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (2) is movable relative to the base (3) between a treatment position in which the bottom of the container rests on the base and the drive device can drive the rotary agitator (30) and a service position in which the container is separated from the base, the drive device causing the movement of the rotary agitator by magnetic effect.

3. Water treatment apparatus (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), the water being sucked in by the rotary agitator (30) to create a water current in the filter cartridge.

4. Water treatment apparatus (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), the container being made of a porous material having a mesh size of less than 2 mm.

5. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the filter material (28) comprises activated carbon, in particular coconut activated carbon.

6. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filter cartridge (26) is secured to a support movable between an assembled position in which the filter cartridge is arranged in the container (2) and an extracted position in which the filter cartridge is removed from the container.

7. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the filter cartridge (26) is configured to be regenerated by immersion in boiling water, in the extracted position.

8. Water treatment apparatus (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) passing from the assembled position to the extracted position by an axial translation downwards.

9. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the container (2) comprises an annular end crown (8) and in that the bottom comprises an internal wall (15) which extends upwards and which comprises a seal (17), the internal wall cooperating in a sealed manner with the annular crown in the assembled position

10. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the support comprises a rod (46) which comprises a gripping member (47) arranged above the upper opening (5) of the container (2), the support and the filter cartridge (26) passing from the assembled position to the extracted position by an axial translation upwards.

11. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide member of the rotary agitator (30) is formed by the rod (46).

12. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the support comprises a surface above which the rotary agitator (30) is defined, the filter cartridge (26) being placed below this surface.

13. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the container (2) comprises a glass body (6).

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

15. Water treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the control system comprises at least one sensor chosen from a conductivity sensor, a UV254 type sensor.

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