Filtration equipment

Abstract

Improve the device that measures water characteristics within the filtration system. The present invention relates to a filtration device (1) comprising an inlet funnel (5) with a cartridge mounting part (6), a filtration cartridge (9) mountable on the cartridge mounting part (6), and a detection device (21) with detection means (23) for measuring at least one water property. The detection device (21) comprises an electrical circuit (33) having a control gap, and the filtration cartridge (9) comprises a bridging element (41), the bridging element (41) being arranged to electrically close the control gap (33) when the filtration cartridge (9) is in the cartridge mounting part (6).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filtration device, a filtration cartridge, a filtration assembly, and a method for operating a sensing device in a filtration device. [Background technology]

[0002] Filtration devices are sometimes used as everyday water filters in homes, and are therefore also called tabletop water filters. They are primarily used to remove unwanted substances from tap water. Among these substances are chlorine and substances related to water hardness, such as calcium and magnesium oxide, but also lead, which can get into tap water, especially in older homes with lead pipes.

[0003] Tabletop water filters are often gravity-powered. Other than pouring the water you want to treat into the filter, there's no other action required to filter the water. The water simply flows by gravity through the filter cartridge into the container of water to be filtered.

[0004] The filtration device known from Patent Document 1 includes an inlet funnel with a bottom wall, which has an opening for a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge is inserted into the opening, creating a seal between the opening and the sealing edge of the filter cartridge. In use, water is introduced into the inlet funnel from above and then flows into the filter cartridge through the water inlet. A granular treatment medium for the water is located inside the filter cartridge. The treatment medium typically comprises at least one of ion exchange resin and activated carbon, although other components can also be used as treatment media. The water is treated in the filter cartridge and discharged downward through a water outlet at the bottom of the filter cartridge. The treated water is also called filtrate. The filter cartridge also has an air outlet at the top to allow air from within the filter cartridge to exit upward from the filter cartridge at the start of the filtration process.

[0005] Over time, the effectiveness of the treatment medium deteriorates. At some point, the treatment medium becomes exhausted. To determine this condition, it has been proposed to provide a sensing means to measure the conductivity of the water present in the filtration device. As water is treated, its conductivity changes. Due to ion exchange that occurs during treatment, the conductivity of the treated water decreases. Patent document 2 proposes measuring both the water being filtered (feedwater) and the filtrate, as well as the amount already treated by the cartridge. These characteristics allow one to determine how much material has been absorbed or exchanged by the treatment in the cartridge.

[0006] US Patent No. 5,949,999 also proposes measuring the conductivity of the water in both the feed water and the filtrate, but the measurements are only used to determine the degree of filling.

[0007] Measuring the conductivity or other properties of water requires a power source. Tabletop water filters are generally intended to operate without an external power source or connection to a national power grid, so an internal power source such as a battery is used. As disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,649,999, the battery may be implemented as part of the filtration cartridge together with the conductivity sensing unit. Such cartridges are expensive and therefore undesirable.

[0008] Patent document 3 discloses a detection unit that is independent of the filtration cartridge. The detection unit has its own power supply. This reduces the manufacturing costs of the filtration cartridge, but this solution has another drawback: if the detection unit is constantly running, the power supply will be quickly consumed. Therefore, the user will have to regularly replace not only the filtration cartridge but also the power supply (battery). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 1230166 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 1490302 [Patent Document 3] DE 102008054479 Summary of the Invention

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a more sophisticated sensing unit for measuring the properties of water in a filtration system.

[0011] The object of the present invention is achieved by a gravity filtration device according to claim 1.

[0012] The filtration device comprises an inlet funnel with a cartridge mount, a filtration cartridge positionable in the cartridge mount, and a detection device with detection means for measuring at least one water property, characterized in that the detection device comprises an electrical circuit with a control gap, and the filtration cartridge comprises at least one bridging element, the bridging element being arranged to electrically open or close the control gap, i.e., to open an initially present short circuit in the electrical circuit of the detection device or close an initially open electrical circuit of the detection device, when the filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount.

[0013] The idle state detection device may provide an open electrical circuit that is closed (reconnected) by the filtration cartridge being properly installed in the cartridge mount. Alternatively, the idle state detection device may provide a short circuit that is opened by the filtration cartridge being properly installed in the cartridge mount. Either option ensures that the detection device is only operational when the filtration cartridge is properly placed in the cartridge mount.

[0014] The inventors have found that it is advantageous to have the detection device activated only when a filter cartridge is present in the filtration device. Without a filter cartridge, operating the detection device would waste energy, even if water is present in the filtration device. Therefore, it is most preferable for the bridging element to block the control gap. When a filter cartridge is not present in the cartridge mount, the electrical circuit is not closed and the power supply is not discharged, thereby extending the lifespan. Only when a filter cartridge with a bridging element is placed in the cartridge mount, is the electrical circuit closed and the detection device operational. Therefore, the detection device is automatically activated when the filter cartridge is placed in the inlet funnel, eliminating the need for the user to activate the detection device separately. This facilitates use of the inventive filtration device. The detection device is preferably fixed to or at least partially manufactured integrally with the inlet funnel.

[0015] The electrical circuit may comprise a plurality of control gaps.The sensing device may comprise a plurality of electrical circuits, each having at least one control gap.

[0016] The filtration device is preferably gravity-fed, but may alternatively be manually or (semi-)automatically pumped or pushed.

[0017] The filtration device preferably includes a vessel into which an inlet funnel can be placed. The vessel collects water to be treated in the filtration cartridge, and the water flows through the inlet funnel into the vessel. The vessel can have a variety of shapes, such as a carafe or a box-like container.

[0018] The filtration cartridge preferably includes a container in which a water treatment medium is disposed. The water treatment medium preferably includes at least one of an ion exchange resin and activated carbon. The container is preferably formed from at least two parts to allow the treatment medium to easily enter the container. The filtration cartridge and cartridge mount are preferably complementary to provide a seal against water flowing around the filtration cartridge and act together to open and close the control gap when the filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount. Preferably, one of the container parts includes a circumferential sealing edge that creates a seal with the sealing surface of the cartridge mount when the filtration cartridge is placed in the inlet funnel, preventing water from flowing only around the filtration cartridge and not around it. The container preferably has at least one water inlet at its top and at least one water outlet at its bottom.

[0019] The bridging element preferably comprises a conductive element that electrically blocks the control gap. In this way, the bridging element itself is configured to electrically close the control gap. In such an embodiment, the sensing device may comprise two connection points located on the cartridge mount and spaced apart from each other, the distance defining the control gap. The conductive element is then configured to contact both connection points when the filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount. In this way, the control gap is directly closed by the bridging element. Preferably, the conductive element or bridging element is generally located within or on the sealing edge of the filtration cartridge. The sealing edge is an ideal location for the bridging element, since it will contact the inlet funnel at the sealing surface anyway. In this way, additional contact points between the filtration cartridge and the inlet funnel, which could limit the sealing performance of the seal formed by the sealing edge and sealing surface, can be avoided.

[0020] Some parts of the filtration device, such as the inlet funnel, the container and the vessel of the filtration cartridge, are preferably made of polymer. The conductive elements may also be made of metal, but most preferably, the conductive elements comprise or are made entirely of a conductive polymer. In this way, the conductive elements can be easily adapted to the shape of the inlet funnel. Alternatively, at least one part of the filtration cartridge, particularly the sealing edge, may be manufactured in one piece, preferably by injection molding.

[0021] In another embodiment, the inlet funnel includes a conductive element that electrically opens or closes the control gap, and the bridging element is configured to act on the conductive element so that the conductive element opens or closes the control gap when the filtration cartridge is positioned in the cartridge mount. This eliminates the need for a conductive element on the filtration cartridge, resulting in higher manufacturing costs. According to one embodiment, the control gap is opened by the filtration cartridge when a short circuit exists in the idle state. In this embodiment, the closed control gap in the idle state bypasses the sensing means, so that the water characteristics cannot be measured unless the filtration cartridge is properly mounted in the cartridge mount. According to another embodiment, the control gap is closed by the filtration cartridge when the control gap is open in the idle state. In this embodiment, the open control gap in the idle state interrupts the circuit, so that the sensing means cannot measure the water characteristics unless the filtration cartridge is properly mounted in the cartridge mount. The bridging element can be, for example, a pin or a rib. The conductive element may further include at least one of a metal and a conductive polymer. The bridging element preferably protrudes from the container.

[0022] In such an embodiment, the conductive element is preferably provided on a mechanical switch configured to open or close an electrical circuit, and the bridging element is configured to act on the mechanical switch so that the switch is opened or closed when the filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount. The switch is opened by the bridging element when a short circuit is present in the detection device's idle state, and closed by the bridging element when the control gap is open in the idle state. For example, if the bridging element is a pin, the inlet funnel may have a hole into which the pin fits and into which the switch is located at the bottom. When the filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount, the pin fits into the hole and presses the mechanical switch to open or close, opening or closing the electrical circuit.

[0023] In some preferred embodiments, the sealing edge of the filtration cartridge has n-fold rotational symmetry (n>2) about the main vertical axis of the filtration cartridge and comprises n bridging elements symmetrically arranged on the sealing edge with respect to the vertical axis. In particular, n<∞, thus excluding a circular shape. Such a configuration makes it easier for the user to correctly insert the filtration cartridge into the cartridge mount, allowing the filtration cartridge to slide in so that the bridging elements open and close the control gap of the electrical circuit. Most preferably, the sealing edge has two-fold rotational symmetry (point symmetry) about the main axis of the filtration cartridge and comprises two bridging elements.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment, the sealing edge of the filtration cartridge is rotationally asymmetric about its main vertical axis. In particular, the sealing edge and sealing surface are configured so that the filtration cartridge can be placed in the cartridge mount in only one operable position. In the present invention, it is important that the bridging element is accurately positioned in the controlled gap, and this is ensured by the asymmetric configuration. Most preferably, the filtration cartridge has an asymmetric element, such as a protrusion or bump, and more preferably is provided with a bridging element. This further ensures that the bridging element is in the correct location when the filtration cartridge is placed in the inlet funnel. Most preferably, the asymmetric element is located on the sealing edge.

[0025] The sensing device is preferably configured to measure at least one of the following: fill level, water conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride, nitrate, sulfate, copper (Cu), and other elements or minerals, particularly major and trace ions commonly present in tap water, or combinations thereof.

[0026] The detector preferably comprises a control unit and a power supply. The detector may further comprise a display or other means for outputting a signal, such as an LED or LCD.

[0027] The detection device preferably comprises at least two separate detection means, in particular n separate detection means, where at least one detection means is operable only when the control gap is opened or closed according to each of the two options of the present invention. Providing two or more detection means allows for measuring several of the aforementioned water properties, or for measuring a property more than once, preferably once in the feedwater and once in the filtrate. Thus, one detection means is preferably configured to measure above the sealing surface, and the other detection means is preferably configured to measure below the sealing surface. In other words, one detection means is preferably located in the inlet funnel above the sealing surface, and one detection means is preferably located in the inlet funnel or in the vessel below the sealing surface. In such an embodiment, the filtration cartridge may comprise at least two bridging elements, one for each detection means. Generally, in all gravity filtration devices, unfiltered water is retained by the seal in the portion of the inlet funnel above the sealing surface (the feed portion) and filtered water is collected in the portion below the sealing surface (the drain portion); however, it should be understood that the present invention includes all arrangements that allow the above-mentioned water properties to be measured separately before and after filtration, regardless of whether these measurements are made above or below the sealing surface.

[0028] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a filtration cartridge, in particular a gravity filtration cartridge, for a filtration device, comprising a container with an ion exchange resin therein, a container with a water inlet and a water outlet, characterized in that the filtration cartridge comprises a bridging element configured to open and close a control gap in an electric circuit when the filtration cartridge is placed in a cartridge mount of the filtration device.

[0029] The bridging element is preferably a different element from the sealing edge. A filtration cartridge according to the invention may generally comprise any of the features described above for filtration cartridges. Most preferably, the bridging element of the filtration cartridge comprises a conductive element that closes the control gap.

[0030] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a filtration assembly, in particular a gravity filtration assembly, comprising an inlet funnel with a cartridge mount and a sensing device with sensing means for measuring at least one water property, characterized in that the sensing device comprises an electrical circuit with a control gap, configured such that the control gap is electrically opened and closed by the bridging element when a filtration cartridge with the bridging element is located in the cartridge mount.

[0031] The filtration assembly preferably includes a vessel in which the inlet funnel can be placed.

[0032] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a method for operating a sensing device in a filtration system, in particular a gravity filtration system, comprising sensing means for measuring at least one water property, characterized in that the sensing device comprises an electrical circuit having a control gap, and the control gap is opened or closed by placing a filtration cartridge in a cartridge mount of the filtration system. Preferably, the filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount such that a bridging element of the filtration cartridge is placed in the control gap, thereby closing the electrical circuit.

[0033] If the detection device is configured to measure above and below the cartridge mount, a comparison between the measurements can be made by the control unit. In such a case, the detection device may determine whether the water treatment leads to a sufficient decrease in the property (e.g., a difference in conductivity of more than 50 μS / cm). If not, the detection device may output a signal for recognition by the user. In particular, the detection device may first check for decrease when a new, unused filtration cartridge is placed in the cartridge mount. Decrease may be determined by taking the average of the first 5 to 10 measurements. If there is no or little decrease, the detection device may output a signal indicating that the filtration device is not functioning properly or that the water supply already has a low value for the property. If there is sufficient decrease at the beginning of the filtration cartridge's life, the detection device may repeatedly measure the property during its life to determine the end of use of the filtration cartridge. This is preferably determined by comparing the instantaneous decrease with the decrease at the beginning of the filtration cartridge's life. If the decrease falls below an original threshold, e.g., below 30%, the detection device may output a signal indicating that the filtration cartridge is exhausted.

[0034] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a filtering device according to the present invention. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b shows the inlet funnel of the filtration device of FIG. 1a. [Figure 1c] FIG. 1c shows the filtration cartridge of the filtration device of FIG. 1a. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of another embodiment of a filtration cartridge according to the present invention in a top view. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a filtration cartridge according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The gravity filter 1 shown in Figure 1a includes an inlet funnel 5 that can be removably mounted on a container (not shown). The container may be provided in a variety of shapes, typically a carafe or a box-like container.

[0037] The inlet funnel 5, also shown in Figure 1b, has a cartridge mounting portion 6 in which a filtration cartridge 9 can be removably placed. In this embodiment, the cartridge mounting portion 6 has a generally cylindrical shape with an elliptical bottom. The cartridge mounting portion 6 has a generally elliptical circumferential sealing surface 7 in its upper region.

[0038] The filtration cartridge 9 shown in FIG. 1c also includes a container 11 in which a (non-visible) water treatment medium is disposed. The water treatment medium may include an ion exchange resin and / or activated carbon. The container 11 includes a water inlet 12 at its top and a (non-visible) water outlet at its bottom. The location and size of the water inlet 12 are shown for illustrative purposes only. In other embodiments, the water inlet 12 may be located in a different location or have a different shape and / or size. The container 11 may further include an air outlet (not shown) at its top. The container 11 also includes a sealing edge 13 around its periphery. The sealing edge 13 extends symmetrically about the main vertical axis X of the filtration cartridge 9. The sealing edge 13 interacts with the sealing surface 7 of the cartridge mount 6 so that water coming from above enters the filtration cartridge 9 through the water inlet and does not flow around the filtration cartridge 9.

[0039] Above the sealing surface 7, the inlet funnel 5 is provided with a water supply 15 into which the water to be treated (feed water) is poured. This water then enters the filter cartridge 9 where it is treated.

[0040] The inlet funnel 5 below the sealing surface 7 is provided with a filtering section 17 into which the filtered water (filtered liquid) flows and then through the funnel outlet 19 into a vessel, where the filtered liquid is collected and poured by the user.

[0041] The gravity filter 1 further comprises a sensing device 21. The sensing device 21 comprises a sensing means 23 for measuring at least one water property. In other embodiments, the sensing device 21 may comprise one or more sensing means 23. The inlet funnel 5 and the sensing device together define a filter assembly.

[0042] The sensing means 23 includes two electrodes 27a and 27b arranged in the filtration section 17. The electrodes 27a and 27b enable the sensing means 23 to measure the conductivity of the filtrate around the electrodes 27a and 27b. One electrode 27a of the sensing means 23 is directly connected to the control unit 31 of the sensing device 21. A control gap 33 is provided between the other electrode 27b of the sensing device 21 and the control unit 31. The control unit 31 and the electrodes 27a and 27b form an electrical circuit of the sensing device 21 with the control gap 33. Due to the control gap 33, the connection between the electrode 27b and the control unit 31 is cut off. The connection comes from the control unit 31 and terminates at connection point 37a. The connection coming from the electrode 27b terminates at connection point 37b. In the state shown in FIG. 1b, the control gap 33 prevents the sensing device 21 from measuring the conductivity of the filtrate via the sensing means 23 and the control unit 31.

[0043] 1a shows the interaction of the filtration cartridge 9 with the sensing device 21 when it is placed in the cartridge mount 6. The filtration cartridge 9 comprises a bridging element 41 in the form of a conductive element, for example a metal strip or a conductive polymer. When the filtration cartridge 9 is placed in the cartridge mount 6, the bridging element 41 interacts with the control gap 33 to close it, thus closing the connection between the control unit 31 and the electrode 27b. The sensing device 21 is then operable and can measure the conductivity in the filtration section 17.

[0044] The control unit 31 is provided with a display unit (not shown) on which information about the measured conductivity is displayed.

[0045] The filtration cartridge 9 shown in Figure 2 comprises a container 11 having a water inlet 12 at its top. A main vertical axis X of the filtration cartridge 9 extends perpendicular to the drawing plane. A water treatment medium (not shown) is arranged inside the container 11. The filtration cartridge 9 comprises a circumferential sealing edge 13 that is asymmetrical with respect to the main vertical axis X with an asymmetrical element 45 in the form of a protruding portion.

[0046] The filtration cartridge 9 shown in Figure 3 is similar to the filtration cartridge 9 shown in Figure 1c. The container 11 has a water inlet 12 at the top and a water outlet (currently visible) at the bottom. The container 11 is provided with a circumferential sealing edge 13. In the embodiment of the filtration cartridge 9 shown in Figure 3, the sealing edge 13 is rotationally symmetric by 180 degrees (point symmetry) about the main vertical axis X of the filtration cartridge 9. Two bridging elements 41 are arranged on the sealing edge 13. The bridging elements 41 are arranged symmetrically and point symmetrically about the main vertical axis X. The present application provides the following aspects, for example: [Document name] Claims [Point 1] an inlet funnel (5) equipped with a cartridge mounting portion (6); a filtration cartridge (9) that can be placed in the cartridge mounting portion (6); A filtration device (1) comprising a sensing device (21) having sensing means (23) for measuring at least one water property, the sensing device (21) comprises an electrical circuit having a control gap (33); The filtration cartridge (9) is provided with a bridging element (41), which is arranged to electrically open or close the control gap (33) when the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mount (6). A filtration device (1) characterized by: [Point 2] Filtration device (1) according to aspect 1, characterized in that the bridging element (41) comprises an electrically conductive element that electrically closes the control gap. [Point 3] A filtering device (1) according to aspect 2, characterized in that the electrically conductive element is provided in or on the sealing edge (13) of the filtering cartridge (9). [Point 4] 4. The filtration device (1) according to aspect 2 or 3, characterized in that the conductive element contains a conductive polymer. [Point 5] the inlet funnel (5) is provided with a conductive element for electrically opening or closing the control gap (33); the bridging element (41) is configured to operate on the conductive element such that the conductive element opens or closes a control gap when the filtration cartridge (9) is positioned in the cartridge mount (6), wherein the conductive element is provided in a mechanical switch that opens or closes the electrical circuit; The bridging element (41) is configured to act on the mechanical switch when the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mount (6). A filtering device (1) according to aspect 1, characterized in that: [Point 6] 6. The filtration device (1) according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, characterized in that the sealing edge (13) of the filtration cartridge (9) has n-fold rotational symmetry around a main vertical axis (X) of the filtration cartridge (9), and the sealing edge (13) comprises n bridging elements (41), n ​​being equal to or greater than 2, arranged symmetrically on the sealing edge (13) about the vertical axis (X). [Point 7] 6. The filtration device (1) according to aspects 1 to 5, characterized in that the sealing edge (13) of the filtration cartridge (9) is rotationally symmetrical about the main vertical axis (X) of the filtration cartridge (9). [Point 8] The detection device (21) The degree of filling and The conductivity of the water, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and copper (Cu), or combinations thereof; The filtration device (1) according to aspects 1 to 7, characterized in that it is configured to measure at least one of the following: [Point 9] 9. The filtration device (1) according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, characterized in that the detection device (21) comprises at least two separate detection means (23), at least one of the detection means (23) being operable only when the control gap (33) is closed. [Point 10] The filtration device (1) according to aspect 9, characterized in that one of the detection means (23) is arranged in the inlet funnel (5) above the sealing surface (7) of the cartridge mounting portion (6), and one of the detection means (23) is arranged in the inlet funnel (5) below the sealing surface (7). [Point 11] A filter cartridge (9) for a filtration device (1), comprising a container (11) having an ion exchange resin therein, the container (11) having a water inlet (12) and a water outlet, The filtration cartridge (9) comprises a bridging element (41) configured to open or close a control gap (33) of an electric circuit when the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mount (6) of the filtration device (1). A filtration cartridge (9). [Point 12] Filtration cartridge (9) according to aspect 11, characterized in that the bridging element (41) comprises an electrically conductive element. [Point 13] A filtration assembly comprising an inlet funnel (5) with a cartridge mounting portion (6) and a sensing device (21) having sensing means (23) for measuring at least one property of water, The detection device (21) The filter cartridge (9) includes an electric circuit having a control gap (33) configured so that the control gap (33) is electrically opened or closed by the bridging element (41) when the filter cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mounting portion (6). A filtration assembly comprising: [Point 14] A method for operating a sensing device (21) in a filtration device (1), the sensing device (21) comprising sensing means (23) for measuring at least one water property; The sensing device (21) comprises an electric circuit having a control gap (33), and the control gap (33) is opened or closed by placing the filter cartridge (9) in the cartridge mounting portion (6) of the filter device (1). 1. A method for activating a detection device (21) in a filtering device (1), comprising: [Point 15] 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mount (6) such that a bridging element (41) of the filtration cartridge (9) is positioned in the control gap (33), thereby closing the electrical circuit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1. Filtration equipment 5 Entrance funnel 6 Cartridge mounting part 7 Sealing surface 9 Filtration Cartridge 11 Container 12 Water Inlet 13 Sealing edge 15 Water supply section 17 Filtration section 19 Funnel Exit 21 Detection device 23 First detection means 27a electrode 27b Electrode 31 Control Unit 33 Control gap 37a Connection point 37b Connection point 41 Crosslinking element 45 Asymmetric Elements X main vertical axis

Claims

1. an inlet funnel (5) equipped with a cartridge mounting portion (6); a filtration cartridge (9) that can be placed in the cartridge mounting portion (6); A filtration device (1) comprising a sensing device (21) comprising sensing means (23) for measuring at least one water property, the sensing device (21) comprises an electric circuit having a control gap (33); the filtration cartridge (9) is provided with a bridging element (41), the bridging element (41) being arranged to electrically open or close the control gap (33) when the filtration cartridge (9) is arranged in the cartridge mounting part (6); the bridging element (41) comprises a conductive element that electrically closes the control gap, the conductive element being provided in or on the sealing edge (13) of the filtration cartridge (9); A filtration device (1) characterized by:

2. 2. The filtering device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive element contains a conductive polymer.

3. the inlet funnel (5) is provided with an electrically conductive element for electrically opening or closing the control gap (33); the bridging element (41) is configured to operate on the conductive element such that the conductive element opens or closes a control gap when the filtration cartridge (9) is positioned in the cartridge mount (6), wherein the conductive element is comprised in a mechanical switch that opens or closes the electrical circuit; The bridging element (41) is configured to act on the mechanical switch when the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mount (6). Filtration device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it

4. 4. The filtering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing edge (13) of the filtering cartridge (9) has n-fold rotational symmetry around a main vertical axis (X) of the filtering cartridge (9), and the sealing edge (13) comprises n bridging elements (41), where n is greater than or equal to 2, arranged on the sealing edge (13) symmetrically about the vertical axis (X).

5. 4. The filtering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing edge (13) of the filtering cartridge (9) is rotationally symmetrical about the main vertical axis (X) of the filtering cartridge (9).

6. The detection device (21) The degree of filling and The conductivity of the water, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS); concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and copper (Cu), or a combination thereof; 6. The filtering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is configured to measure at least one of the following:

7. 7. A filtering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the detection device (21) comprises at least two separate detection means (23), at least one of the detection means (23) being operable only when the control gap (33) is closed.

8. 8. The filtering device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that one of the detecting means (23) is arranged in the inlet funnel (5) above the sealing surface (7) of the cartridge mounting portion (6), and one of the detecting means (23) is arranged in the inlet funnel (5) below the sealing surface (7).

9. A filtration cartridge (9) for a filtration device (1), comprising a container (11) having an ion exchange resin therein, the container (11) having a water inlet (12) and a water outlet, the filtration cartridge (9) comprises a bridging element (41) configured to open or close a control gap (33) of an electrical circuit of a sensing device for measuring at least one water property when the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mount (6) of the filtration device (1); the bridging element (41) comprises a conductive element that electrically closes the control gap, the conductive element being provided in or on the sealing edge (13) of the filtration cartridge (9); A filtration cartridge (9) characterized by:

10. A filtration assembly comprising an inlet funnel (5) with a cartridge mounting portion (6) and a sensing device (21) having sensing means (23) for measuring at least one property of water, The detection device (21) an electrical circuit having a control gap (33) configured to be electrically opened or closed by a bridging element (41) when a filtration cartridge (9) having the bridging element (41) is placed in the cartridge mounting portion (6); the bridging element (41) comprises a conductive element that electrically closes the control gap, the conductive element being provided in or on the sealing edge (13) of the filtration cartridge (9); A filtration assembly comprising:

11. A method of operating a sensing device (21) in a filtration system (1), the sensing device (21) comprising sensing means (23) for measuring at least one water property; the sensing device (21) comprises an electric circuit having a control gap (33); a filtration cartridge (9) intended to be placed in the cartridge mount (6) of the filtration device (1) comprises a bridging element (41), the bridging element (41) comprising a conductive element for electrically closing the control gap, the conductive element being provided in or on a sealing edge (13) of the filtration cartridge (9), The control gap (33) can be opened or closed by placing the filtration cartridge (9) on the cartridge mount (6). A method for activating a detection device (21) in a filtering device (1), comprising:

12. A method as described in claim 11, characterized in that the filtration cartridge (9) is placed in the cartridge mounting portion (6) so that when the bridging element (41) is positioned in the control gap (33), it thereby closes the electrical circuit.

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