Improved water filtration systems and methods for manufacturing and using same

Abstract

A water filtration system that includes a hollow housing body having a head portion attached at a first end and a dome attached at a second end. The housing body, head portion and dome are overwrapped with glass fiber rovings and coated with a laminate. The head portion includes an inner collar portion formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer having a tail portion that extends below a medial portion that, on an inner side, includes a head indent for receiving a lock member for retaining a lid member to the head portion. At least some of the tail portion is overmolded with a thermoplastic polymer that forms an outer barrel portion, and a space exists between the overmolded tail portion and a proximal section of the outer barrel portion.

Description

IMPROVED WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AND USING SAMEBACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to water filtration systems and, more particularly, to water filtration systems that include a pressure-sealed closing assembly.

[0003] Brief Description of Related Art

[0004] Horner et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,180,391 B2, 9,815,010 B2 and 10,183,245 B2, disclose water filtration systems that include a housing and a pressure-sealed closing assembly, which can be removed to allow filtration media provided in the form of a cartridge to be inserted into and removed from the housing. The present invention provides improvements to such systems, and methods for manufacturing and using the improved systems.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides water filtration systems that include a pressure- sealed closing assembly. In one embodiment, an improved water filtration system comprises a housing formed of a hollow, tubular housing body to which a head portion is affixed at a first end and to which a dome is affixed at a second end. The housing body, head portion and dome are overwrapped with wound fiberglass roving and coated with an epoxy laminate material. The head portion is preferably closed and pressure sealed by a closing assembly, which comprises a lid member and a lock member in the form of an incomplete annular or ring-shaped body. The lock member expands into a head indent and prevents removal of the lid member. The dome includes an internally threaded opening, which can be coupled, for example, to a T-drain or to an IN / OUT head.

[0006] In another embodiment, the improved water filtration systems further comprise a valve assembly attached to the lid member of the closing assembly that seals the head portion. To prevent sagging of the lid member during depressurization of the water filtration system (e.g., during backwashing to regenerate the filter media and / or cartridge), the system further comprises a support clip, which engages with a top edge of the headportion and a space intermediate the valve assembly and the lid member. The support clip maintains the sealing engagement between the lid member and the head portion when pressure is reduced in the housing and can be removed to allow for removal of the lid assembly.

[0007] Accordingly, a water filtration system can include a hollow housing body having a head portion attached at a first end and a dome attached at a second end, wherein the housing body, head portion and dome are overwrapped with glass fiber rovings and coated with a laminate.

[0008] In the water filtration system described above, the head portion can include an inner collar portion formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer having a tail portion that extends below a medial portion that, on an inner side, includes a head indent for receiving a lock member for retaining a lid member to the head portion. At least some of the tail portion is overmolded with a thermoplastic polymer that forms an outer barrel portion, and a gap exists between the overmolded tail portion and a proximal section of the outer barrel portion.

[0009] In the water filtration system described in the above paragraph, a proximal section of the outer barrel portion bends toward the overmolded tail portion when a lower end portion of the proximal section is attached to an upper end of the housing body. Also, the overmolded tail portion can include a sealing area where an o-ring received in an o- ri ng receiving indent of the lid member contacts an inner side of the head portion.

[0010] In the water filtration system described in the above paragraph, the gap can include an apex that is vertically above the o-ring receiving indent in the lid member when the lid member is received in the head portion. Moreover, beyond the sealing area in a direction away from the head indent the overmolded tail portion can include a tip area that includes a groove.

[0011] In the water filtration system described in the above paragraph, a distributor plate and / or a brine seal ring can joined to the head portion at tip area. The distributor plate and / or the brine seal ring can include a ridge around its periphery that is received in the groove.

[0012] Alternatively, a water filtration system can include a hollow housing body having a head portion attached at an end. The housing body and head portion are overwrappedwith glass fiber rovings and coated with a laminate to form a pressure vessel. The head portion includes an opening that is closed by an upper lid member, and a control valve is connected to the upper lid member.

[0013] In the water filtration system described above, the water filtration system further comprises a support clip, which comprises two forwardly extending arms that are separated from each other by a central opening. The support clip is configured to hold the upper lid member and the control valve in position during depressurization of the pressure vessel.

[0014] In the water filtration system described in the above paragraph, the support clip has a central opening with a recessed area that allows the two forwardly extending arms to flex to be received within a space at the top of the upper lid member between respective projections on an upper head portion and the control valve.

[0015] In the water filtration system described in the above paragraph, the forwardly extending arms have outer edges that flare out, and bear against the projections on the upper head portion when being inserted.

[0016] Also, a method for supporting an upper lid member and a control valve connected to the upper lid member that closes an opening in a head portion of a pressure vessel during depressurization includes the following steps: obtaining a support clip including two forwardly extending arms that are separated from each other by a central opening; and sliding the arms of the support clip in a space between projections on the head portion and the control valve and between a lower flange on the control valve and an inner dome section of the upper lid member. If desired, the outer edges of each arm of the support clip flare out to form respective beveled edges between a flared out area and a recessed area on each outer edge. When the beveled edges are provided, sliding the arms of the support clip further includes sliding the arms of the support clip in the space between projections on the head portion and the control valve and between the lower flange on the control valve and the inner dome section of the upper lid member until the beveled edges pass the projections.

[0017] The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described below, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIGS. 1A and 1 B show section views taken through the longitudinal axis of exemplary composite pressure vessels according to one embodiment of the invention in a T-drain configuration and an IN / OUT head configuration, respectively.

[0019] FIGS 2A and 2B are enlarged views of the dome and base of the composite pressure vessels shown in FIGS. 1A and 1 B, respectively.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the (prior art) upper closing assembly of U.S. Pat. Nos.9,180,391 B2.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section view taken through the center of an improved upper closing assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a section view through the center of an improved head portion according to the invention to which a distributor plate has been attached.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a section view through the center of an improved head portion according to the invention to which a brine seal ring has been attached.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a photograph showing a prototype water filtration system that comprises a composite pressure vessel according to the present invention and the hands of a person about to install a “support clip” on the water filtration system.

[0025] FIGS. 8-10 are photographs showing the support clip first shown in FIG. 7 being installed onto water filtration system.

[0026] FIG. 11 is a photograph showing the support clip shown in FIG. 10 being removed from the water filtration system.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Enpress, LLC, and / or its predecessors in interest have developed and disclosed various technology in the field of composite pressure vessels and water filtration systems that utilize them including, but not limited to, Carter et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,354,495 and 7,810,670, and Horner et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,180,391 B2, 9,815,010 B2 and 10,183,245 B2, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as iffully rewritten herein. The present invention improves upon this technology in several ways, as disclosed herein.

[0028] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a water filtration system that comprises a composite pressure vessel that comprises a hollow, cylindrical polymeric housing body (sometimes referred to in some of Applicant’s prior art as a “liner”) to which a thermoplastic dome similar, in some respects, to that shown in Fig. 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,670 B2 is attached at a first end (in the same manner as described in said patent), and to which an upper closing assembly that is similar, in some respects, to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,180,391 B2, is attached at a second end (in the same manner as described in said patent). The outer portions of the housing body, dome and the upper closing assembly are overwrapped and wound with fiberglass roving material and coated with an epoxy laminate material, which is heat cured. The opening in the upper closing assembly is preferably closed and pressure sealed by a lid member and a lock member in the form of an incomplete annular or ring-shaped body, which is removably received within an indent formed in an annular head portion of the upper closing assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the dome includes an internally threaded opening.

[0029] FIGS. 1 A and 1 B show a sectional view taken through a longitudinal axis of an exemplary composite pressure vessel system 100 that includes a hollow housing 102 having a body 103 with a first or upper head portion 104 which is closed and pressure sealed by a first or upper closing assembly 106 and a dome 108, opposite from the first head portion 104. The upper closing assembly 106 cooperates with the upper head portion 104 and the dome 108 to form a pressure-sealed closing system. The system 100 in FIG. 1A also includes a T-pipe 112 communicating an interior of the housing 102 with external water lines (not shown), and a support stand 114 on which the housing 102 rests. With reference to FIG. 1 B, the bottom (dome end) of the housing 102 is received within and supported by the support stand 114 that receives an IN / OUT head 115, which communicates with an interior of the housing 102. Although not illustrated, it should be appreciated that a thermoplastic dome could be attached at the top of the pressure vessel (in place of a pressure relief closure such as shown in the drawing figures). This configuration is suitable when, for example, a filter media and / or a cartridge is used. Insuch a configuration, an IN / OUT head, control valve or T-drain could be installed at the top and at the bottom of the vessel.

[0030] FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged views of the dome 108 and support stand 114 for the composite pressure vessels shown in FIGS. 1 A and 1 B, respectively. The hollow body 103 is preferably made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene or another olefinic thermoplastic polymer or copolymer. The dome 108 is also preferably made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene or another olefinic thermoplastic polymer or copolymer that will readily bond with the hollow body or liner 103 via spin welding. A fiber-reinforced, internally threaded insert 117 is integrally molded with the dome 108 before the dome is attached to the hollow body 103.

[0031] As is evident in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the dome 108 includes a recessed portion at its upper terminus, which is surrounded by the lower terminus of the body 103. These two contacting surfaces are joined together by spin-welding. The T-pipe 112 and the IN / OUT head 115, respectively, are connected to the composite pressure vessel at the dome end via the internal threads of the internally threaded insert 117.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the upper head portion 104 and the upper closing assembly 106 previously disclosed by Applicant in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,180,391 B2, 9,815,010 B2 and 10,183,245 B2 and is thus identified as prior art. The upper head portion 104 and the upper closing assembly 106 in FIG. 3 are the same as the upper head portion 104 and the upper closing assembly 106 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1 B. The upper head portion 104 includes a proximal section 124, which is bulbous in FIG. 3, having a lower end portion configured to be attached to an upper end of the body 103, and a distal section 126 spaced from the proximal section 124 along a taper such that the distal section 126 defines an outer diameter less than that of the proximal section 124. The taper provides a mechanical gripping surface for filaments wound over the upper head portion 104 and the body 103.

[0033] The upper head portion 104 is formed of an outer barrel portion 104A and an inner collar portion 104B. The outer barrel portion 104A may be formed of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene or another olefinic thermoplastic polymer or copolymer that will readily bond with the body 120. The inner collar portion 104B may be formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer, which need not be thermoplastic. For example, the inner collarportion 104B may be formed of a glass-fiber filled olefinic polymer or copolymer (e.g., polypropylene).

[0034] The upper head portion 104 may be formed by overmolding the outer barrel portion 104A onto the inner collar portion 104B such that the outer barrel portion 104A at least partially covers an outer side of the inner collar portion 104B. The term “overmolded”, as used herein, means that the outer barrel portion 104A has been bonded to the inner collar portion 104B by a molding process in which a molten polymer used to form one of the outer barrel portion 104A or the inner collar portion 104B is injected into a mold containing the other of the outer barrel portion 104A or the inner collar portion 104B (or a precursor thereof). Furthermore, it is also possible to overmold a thermoplastic precursor with a fiber-reinforced polymer (or vice-versa) to form a blank, and then remove material from the blank to form the upper head portion 104.

[0035] With reference to the upper head opening 116, it is noted that the inner surface of the upper head portion 104 defines the upper head opening 116. As shown in FIG. 3, an outward portion of the inner surface of the upper head portion 104 is formed of the inner collar portion 104B, while an inward portion of the inner surface of the upper head portion 104 is formed of the outer barrel portion 104A. Further, the inner collar portion 104B (i.e., the outward portion of the upper head portion 104) defines a substantially uniform diameter and circumference, while the outer barrel portion 104A (i.e., the inward portion of the upper head portion 104) defines an inwardly tapering diameter and circumference.

[0036] The upper closing assembly 106, which closes and pressure seals the housing 102 at the upper end, includes a first or upper lid member 128 and a first or upper lock member 130. The upper lid member 128 may be an injection molded plastic body, define a generally circular shape when viewed from above, and have an outer diameter which corresponds to that of the inner diameter of the upper head portion 104 (i.e., the diameter of the upper head opening 116). More particularly, a lateral outer surface of the upper lid member 128 has a maximum diameter at an outward (upward in FIG. 3) portion thereof, with an inwardly-tapered inward (downward in FIG. 3) portion defining a lesser diameter. The maximum diameter of the lateral outer surface of the upper lid member 128 is greater than the diameter defined by the tapered part of the outer barrel portion 104A.Accordingly, when the upper lid member 128 is placed in the upper head opening 116, the outward portion of the upper lid member 128 contacts the inward portion of the upper head portion 104 and is prevented from passing thereby. As such, a maximum depth at which the upper lid member 128 may be received within the upper head portion 104 and the body 120 is set.

[0037] The upper lid member 128 is formed of an outer annular section 134 integrated with an inner dome section 136. The outer annular section 134 includes an upper or outward-facing surface 138 which is substantially parallel to a plane of the upper head opening 116, and defines a lid indent formed of a substantially horizontally oriented press section 140 which extends around an outer circumferential periphery of the outer annular section upper surface 138, and a vertically oriented safety ledge 141 disposed at an inner radial edge of the press section 140. The press section 140 is an outward / upward facing surface of the upper lid member 128 which is horizontally oriented. The upper lid member 128 may also include an o-ring receiving indent 132 formed as an annular indent along an inward (lower) portion of the lateral outer surface of the upper lid member 128. The provision of an o-ring may facilitate the sealing of the upper head opening 116 by the upper lid member 128.

[0038] The inner dome section 136 protrudes in an upward direction, away from the body 103, to an apex which is centrally disposed relative to the upper head opening 116. The outer annular section 134 and inner dome section 136 may be integrally formed such that the upper lid member 128 constitutes a single, unitary piece (as illustrated). The upper lid member 128 may be provided with a pair of handles 142 secured thereto via securing means. The handles 142 vertically extend from the upper lid member 128 so as to provide a gripping or leverage point for a user trying to place or remove the upper lid member 128.

[0039] A pressure release mechanism 144 is provided as a selectively actuatable pressure release button on the apex of the upper lid member inner dome section 136. In this regard, an opening may be defined through the apex of the first lid member inner dome section 136 so as to communicate with an interior of the housing 102. The pressure release mechanism 144 is provided within this opening so as to protrude upwardly therefrom. In a base state (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) the pressure release mechanism 144closes and seals the opening defined through the apex of the upper lid member inner dome section 136. The pressure release mechanism 144 may be actuated by pressing downwardly or inwardly thereon so as to open the opening and allow pressure within the housing 102 to be released.

[0040] A head indent 148 is defined in the inner surface of the upper head portion 104. The head indent 148 extends along an entire circumference of the inner surface of the upper head portion 104 at a generally intermediate vertical position of the upper head portion 104, and may be defined entirely in the inner collar portion 1048. An inner, vertically-oriented surface of the head indent 148 defines a diameter and circumference greater than an inner diameter and circumference of the upper head portion 104 (i.e., the upper head opening 116). A height of the head indent 148 is substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, a height of the upper lock member 130 such that a portion of the upper lock member 130 can be received within the head indent 148 so as to engage the upper lock member 130 with the upper head portion 104. It is noted that the inner collar portion 104B is formed to be stronger and / or more rigid than the outer barrel portion 104A. As such, by defining the head indent 148 in the inner collar portion 104B, the upper lock member 130 may engage the upper head portion 104 at a more rigid and secure portion.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section view taken through the center of an improved upper head portion 204, which in a preferred embodiment, is utilized in place of the upper head portion 104 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1 B. The upper closing assembly 106 can remain the same. As is evident in FIG. 4, the improved upper head portion 204 includes changes to what corresponds to the inner collar portion 104B and the outer barrel portion 104A shown in FIG. 3. In the improved upper head portion 204, the inner collar portion 204B, which is analogous to the inner collar portion 104B shown in FIG. 3, is still formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer, but now features a tail portion 204C that is relatively thinner to any tail portion shown in FIG. 3. The tail portion 204C extends below a medial portion 204D that, on an inner side, includes a head indent 248 (analogous to head indent 148 shown in FIG. 3) for receiving the upper lock member 130. The tail portion 204C is substantially encapsulated (overmolded) with the thermoplastic polymer that forms a portion of an outer barrel portion 204A (analogous to the outer barrel portion 104A shown in FIG. 3), but now a gap or space 250 exists between the overmolded tail portion 204Cand a proximal section 224 (analogous to the proximal section 124 shown in FIG. 3) of the outer barrel portion 204A. This gap or space 250 can have an apex 252 that is vertically above the o-ring receiving indent 132 in the upper lid member 128 when the upper closing assembly 106 is received in the improved upper head portion 204. This gap or space 250 provides some flexibility, which improves the ability to join the outer barrel portion 204A to the body 103 (see FIGS. 1A and 1 B) via spin welding. In this regard and because of the gap or space 250, the proximal section 224 of the outer barrel portion 204A can bend towards the tail portion 204C when a lower end portion of the proximal section 224 is attached to an upper end of the body 103.

[0042] The redesign of the inner collar portion 204B to include the tail portion 204C, which can be overmolded, also lengthens the area where the o-ring received in the o-ring receiving indent 232 of the upper lid member 128 contacts the inner side of the upper head portion 204 thereby improving the sealing function. Below this sealing area is a tip area 254 that includes a (downwardly facing in FIG. 4) groove 256, which is not present in the upper head portion 104 shown in FIG. 3. This tip area 254 and groove 256 can be provided at a lower end of the outer barrel portion 204A and used to attach other structures to the upper head portion 204.

[0043] For example, FIG. 5 shows a section view through the center of the improved upper head portion 204 to which a distributor plate 270 has been attached to the tip area 254. The distributor plate 270 could include the features disclosed in Stolarik et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,901 ,576 B2, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully rewritten herein. The distributor plate 270 can also include a ridge 272 around its periphery that is configured to be received in the groove 256 provided in the tip area 254 of the outer barrel portion 204A. It will be appreciated that additional distributor plates could be installed to the housing body / liner before the both of (or the last of) the dome and head portions have been attached to the housing body / liner, e.g., as taught in the incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 7,901 ,576 B2.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a section view through the center of the improved upper head portion 204 to which a brine seal ring 280 has been attached to the tip area 254. The brine seal ring 280 can provide a sealing surface of a brine seal of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, for example. The brine seal ring 280 can include a ridge 282 around itsperiphery that is configured to be received in the groove 256 provided in the tip area 254 of the outer barrel portion 204A.

[0045] FIG. 7 depicts a water filtration system 300 that includes a composite pressure vessel similar to that described above. In FIG. 7, an exemplary commercially available water conditioning control valve (hereafter control valve 302) has been attached to the upper lid member 128 at the location where the pressure release mechanism 144 is shown in FIG. 3. Control valves of this type typically include a switch, which can either be in a “service” position or a “backwash” position. During a change from “service” to “backwash” the control valve 302 typically switches the direction of flow of the water in the vessel (to cleanse / regenerate the media / filter within). This results in a greatly reduced flow rate (i.e., to about 1 gallon per minute). When in the “backwash” position, a port in the control valve 302 opens and the backwash flow exits to a drain. Because the flow rate is low (as compared to the flow rate in “service” mode) and the inside of the vessel is in communication with a drain (which is at or near atmospheric pressure), the pressure in the vessel is effectively reduced to atmospheric pressure. When the pressure inside the vessel is reduced down to or near atmospheric pressure, the weight of the control valve 302 (and associated plumbing) could result in the upper lid member 128 and the attached control valve 302 sagging down to its lowest position, which is the position used when installing the upper lock member 130 (see FIG. 3). Once the system is ready to go back into “service” mode and the control valve 302 switches back to the “service” position, the pressure in the pressure vessel returns to a normal (higher) pressure, the upper lid member 128 and the control valve 302 will lift again. This movement of the upper lid member 128 and the control valve 302 is noticeable and undesirable.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a person about to install a support clip 310 on the water filtration system 300. The support clip 310 is a flat, substantially rigid member, which includes two forwardly extending arms 312, 314 that are separated from each other by a central opening 316. The central opening 316 is defined by a substantially semi - circular edge 318 at the rear, but also includes a recessed section 320 that extends rearwardly from the semi - circular edge 318. The recessed section 320 is generally rectangular (but could take other configurations) and allows the two forwardly extending arms 312, 314 to flex slightly to allow each arm 312, 314 to be received within a space at the top of the upperlid member 128 between projections 304 (similar projections, which are not numbered, are shown in FIG. 3) on the upper head portion 204 (see FIGS. 4 - 6) and the control valve 302, and to also bias the two arms 312, 314 back into position.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows the support clip 310 in the process of being installed. As evident in FIG. 8, the forwardly extending arms 312, 314 slide in the space between the projections 304 and the control valve 302 and between a lower flange 330 on the control valve 302 and the inner dome section 136 of the upper lid member 128. The installer’s thumbs are inserted into openings 332, 334 to the rear of the forwardly extending arms 312, 314. The installation process continues in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, outer edges of each arm 312, 314 of the support clip 310 flare out slightly to form respective beveled edges 342, 344 (see also FIG. 7) between a flared out area 346, 348 and a recessed area 352, 354 on each outer edge. As the support clip 310 is initially being slid between the lower flange 330 on the control valve 302 and the inner dome section 136, the flared out area 346, 348 of each arm 312, 314 bears against respective projections 304 on the upper edge of the upper head portion 204. Beyond each flared out area 346, 348 is the recessed area 352, 354. When each beveled edge 342, 344 passes the respective projection 304 on the upper edge of the upper head portion 204, the support clip 310 is “locked” into position, as is shown in FIG. 10.

[0048] FIG. 11 shows the support clip 310 being removed. In FIG. 11 , the beveled edges 342, 344 on the outer edges of the arms 312, 314 are bearing and sliding against the respective projection 304 on the upper edge of the upper head portion 204, which squeezes the arms 312, 314 together sufficiently to allow withdrawal of the support clip 310 from the position shown in FIG. 10. The support clip 310, when “locked” into position, keeps upper lid member 128 and the control valve 302 attached thereto in the “up” position despite the pressure drop within the tank during backwashing. The material used to make the support clip 310 can be an engineering plastic or other material, such as stainless steel.

[0049] The invention thus permits the use of a water filtration system that comprises a dome at the bottom and a head at the top, which includes an opening that is closed by a lid member. The lid member can include a relief valve or a water conditioning control valve. The housing can receive filtration members that are in the form of replacementcartridges or canisters or distributor plates can be installed within the housing or to a bottom head (in place of a dome) and filtration media can be supported on the distributor places. It is also possible to attach supports for RO membranes to the head. Use of the support clip prevents sagging of the lid assembly to which the water conditioning control valve is attached during backwashing.

[0050] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A water filtration system comprising a hollow housing body having a head portion attached at a first end and a dome attached at a second end, wherein the housing body, head portion and dome are overwrapped with glass fiber rovings and coated with a laminate.

2. The water filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes an inner collar portion formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer having a tail portion that extends below a medial portion that, on an inner side, includes a head indent for receiving a lock member for retaining a lid member to the head portion, wherein at least some of the tail portion is overmolded with a thermoplastic polymer that forms an outer barrel portion, and wherein a gap exists between the overmolded tail portion and a proximal section of the outer barrel portion.

3. The water filtration system according to claim 2, wherein a proximal section of the outer barrel portion bends toward the overmolded tail portion when a lower end portion of the proximal section is attached to an upper end of the housing body.

4. The water filtration system according to claim 2, wherein the overmolded tail portion includes a sealing area where an o-ring received in an o-ring receiving indent of the lid member contacts an inner side of the head portion.

5. The water filtration system according to claim 4, wherein the gap includes an apex that is vertically above the o-ring receiving indent in the lid member when the lid member is received in the head portion.

6. The water filtration system according to claim 4, wherein, beyond the sealing area in a direction away from the head indent the overmolded tail portion includes a tip area that includes a groove.

7. The water filtration system according to claim 6, further comprising a distributor plate is joined to the head portion at the tip area.

8. The water filtration system according to claim 7, wherein the distributor plate includes a ridge around its periphery that is received in the groove.

9. The water filtration system according to claim 6, further comprising a brine seal ring for a reverse osmosis seal joined to the head portion at the tip area.

10. The water filtration system according to claim 9, wherein the brine seal ring includes a ridge around its periphery that is received in the groove.

11. A water filtration system comprising a hollow housing body having a head portion attached at an end, wherein the housing body and head portion are overwrapped with glass fiber rovings and coated with a laminate to form a pressure vessel, wherein the head portion includes an opening that is closed by an upper lid member, and wherein a control valve is connected to the upper lid member.

12. The water filtration system according to claim 11 , wherein the water filtration system further comprises a support clip, which comprises two forwardly extending arms that are separated from each other by a central opening, and wherein the support clip is configured to hold the upper lid member and the control valve in position during depressurization of the pressure vessel.

13. The water filtration system according to claim 12, wherein the support clip has a central opening with a recessed section that allows the two forwardly extending arms to flex to be received within a space at the top of the upper lid member between respective projections on an upper head portion and the control valve.

14. The water filtration system according to claim 13, wherein the forwardly extending arms have outer edges that flare out, and bear against the projections on the upper head portion when being inserted.

15. A method for supporting an upper lid member and a control valve connected to the upper lid member that closes an opening in a head portion of a pressure vessel during depressurization of the pressure vessel, the method including: obtaining a support clip including two forwardly extending arms that are separated from each other by a central opening; and sliding the arms of the support clip in a space between projections on the head portion and the control valve and between a lower flange on the control valve and an inner dome section of the upper lid member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein outer edges of each arm of the support clip flare out to form respective beveled edges between a flared out area and a recessed area on each outer edge, and sliding the arms of the support clip further includes: sliding the arms of the support clip in the space between projections on the head portion and the control valve and between the lower flange on the control valve and the inner dome section of the upper lid member until the beveled edges pass the projections.

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