Suction filter cartridge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suction filter cartridge for use in a water tank, comprising a housing closed in a water-tight manner, a water inlet into the housing, a water outlet out of the housing, an inflow chamber arranged in a water-conducting manner between the water inlet and the water outlet, and an outflow chamber arranged downstream of said inflow chamber, wherein the housing comprises a cover which closes the housing upstream of the outflow chamber in a water-tight manner. The invention is characterised in that a structure for reversing the flow direction for the water flowing through the suction filter cartridge from inflow to outflow is formed in the cover, wherein an activated carbon non-woven is arranged in the cover.

Description

[0001] Patent application Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch Status: 02.10.2024 Our reference: A 6326 / RI

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] "Suction filter cartridge"

[0004] The invention relates to a suction filter cartridge for use in a water tank according to claim 1.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] The use of suction filter cartridges is known for treating water stored in water tanks, e.g., for hot beverage machines such as coffee machines, tea makers, and the like. For this purpose, the water is drawn through the suction filter cartridge by means of a vacuum. The vacuum is generated by a water pump located in the machine. The water then flows over a filter section arranged within the suction filter cartridge.

[0007] Such filter sections typically comprise a mixture of ion exchange resin and activated carbon stored as bulk material, as described, for example, in EP 1 802224 B1, paragraph 4.

[0008] When these suction filter cartridges are put into operation, so-called greywater is produced during the first few cycles. This is water contaminated with particles initially flushed out of the suction filter cartridge. This is a technically inherent but undesirable characteristic of newly commissioned suction filter cartridges.

[0009] Patent application Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch Status: 02.10.2024 Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 2 -

[0010] Purpose and advantages of the invention

[0011] The object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of grey water produced while maintaining a simple structural design, particularly with regard to the simplest possible manufacturing of such a suction filter cartridge.

[0012] The problem is solved, starting from the preamble of claim 1, by its characterizing features. Advantageous and expedient embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0013] Accordingly, the invention relates to a suction filter cartridge for use in a water tank. This cartridge is equipped with a watertight housing, a water inlet into the housing, a water outlet from the housing, an upflow chamber arranged between the water inlet and the water outlet, and an outflow chamber arranged downstream of the upflow chamber. The housing includes a lid that seals the housing watertight upstream of the outflow chamber. The suction filter cartridge is characterized by a structure in the lid for reversing the flow direction of the water flowing through the suction filter cartridge from upflow to outflow, and an activated carbon fleece is arranged in the lid.

[0014] This activated carbon fleece has a very fine filtering effect due to the small pore size of activated carbon, thus retaining all particles washed towards it. Furthermore, its placement as a final filter in the filter section ensures that, due to the lack of any further filter granules downstream, no particles remain in the flow path of the suction filter cartridge that could contaminate the filtrate, i.e., the water flowing through the filter treatment section.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the activated carbon fleece can be designed as an insert in the form of a disc. This allows the activated carbon fleece to be pre-assembled in the lid. Thus, after filling the upflow chamber with the appropriate filter material, typically resin granules, the suction filter cartridge can be easily completed by simply placing the lid, which is fitted with the activated carbon fleece, on top. No further additional work steps are required. Patent application filed by: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch office. Date: October 2, 2024. Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 3 -

[0016] Preferably, the activated carbon fleece can have a central axial through-opening. This allows it to be inserted and, in particular, fixed over a suitable receiving or holding structure.

[0017] Preferably, a support structure for the activated carbon fleece can also be arranged in or on the lid or in the housing. This ensures both reliable positioning and that the activated carbon fleece remains permanently in this position.

[0018] The support structure for the activated carbon fleece can have a grid-like design. The openings in the grid allow water to pass through. Conversely, the grid elements provide contact and / or support areas for the activated carbon fleece, which positively influences its long-term stable positioning. Furthermore, the activated carbon fleece can be secured and correctly positioned in a specially designed recess between the lid and the support structure.

[0019] The support structure for the activated carbon fleece can have a centrally located, axially aligned flange. The activated carbon fleece can then be attached to this flange for mounting.

[0020] Furthermore, the flange and / or the support structure can have connecting elements for attachment to the cover. For example, locking elements can be designed that interact with complementary locking elements on the cover. Locking lugs and complementary openings could be examples.

[0021] The flange can furthermore have an axial through-opening. In particular, it can be designed as a pipe. This embodiment thus offers the possibility for the water to flow through the flange, for example, after it has passed through the filter section in the upflow chamber and the activated carbon fleece.

[0022] By providing access from the interior of the lid to the axial through-opening of the flange, a structure can be created to reverse the flow direction of the water passing through the suction filter cartridge. For example, the flange can be axially shorter than the free space within the interior volume of the lid when a support structure is inserted therein. Patent application. Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch. Date: October 2, 2024. Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 4 -

[0023] Alternatively and / or additionally, further openings can be formed in the wall of the flange, which are positioned downstream of the activated carbon fleece.

[0024] Furthermore, the support structure and / or the flange can form a receptacle and / or a bearing for the upstream end of a pipe forming the outflow chamber. This pipe can be inserted into the through-opening of the flange, or conversely, when mounting the cover onto the housing of the suction filter cartridge, the flange can be placed onto the pipe forming the outflow chamber.

[0025] Alternatively, this pipe could also be coupled to a contact surface on the underside of the support structure, downstream.

[0026] Because the activated carbon fleece, with the edge of its central opening, fits firmly and tightly against the outer wall of the flange, it is ensured that only water that has previously passed through the filter section of the activated carbon fleece can enter the outflow chamber. The same applies to the outer edge of the activated carbon fleece.

[0027] According to one variant, the suction filter cartridge can also incorporate a bypass line for the parallel routing of raw water to the water flowing in the upflow chamber, in the form of a double pipe gap. This allows for an optimization of the suction filter cartridge's filter capacity.

[0028] A double-pipe gap, as used here, is a gap between two coaxially nested pipe sections. For example, the pipe forming the outflow chamber can be located inside a pipe forming a radial inner wall of the upflow chamber. The gap formed between these two pipe walls is then called a double-pipe gap.

[0029] By providing an adjustment device for setting the effective flow cross-section of the bypass line, the filter performance can also be adapted to the quality of the raw water available on site. This achieves an approximation of maximum capacity utilization with minimum volume. Patent application

[0030] Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch office. Status: October 2, 2024. Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 5 -

[0031] The bypass line ends in the direction of flow through the housing in front of the activated carbon fleece, so that the water flowing through the bypass line is filtered together with the main flow flowing through the upflow chamber.

[0032] Patent application Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch Status: 02.10.2024 Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 6 -

[0033] Character description

[0034] An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the attached figures.

[0035] They show:

[0036] Figure 1: An exemplary sectional view of a suction filter cartridge with a lid and an activated carbon fleece arranged therein.

[0037] Figure 2: An example of the lid from Fig. 1 with activated carbon fleece and a support structure in exploded view.

[0038] Figure 3: A modified version of the figure with a bypass.

[0039] Figure 1 shows in detail a suction filter cartridge 1 for use in a water tank. Its watertight housing 2 has a water inlet 3, a water outlet 4, an upflow chamber 5 arranged between the water inlet 3 and the water outlet 4, and an outflow chamber 6 arranged downstream of it.

[0040] A lid 7 seals the housing 2 upstream of the outflow chamber 6 in a watertight manner.

[0041] In the lid 7 a structure for reversing the flow direction of the water flowing through the suction filter cartridge from upstream to downstream is formed and an activated carbon fleece 8 is arranged.

[0042] Furthermore, a support structure 9 is provided for the activated carbon fleece 8. This can be arranged in or on the lid 7 or in the housing 2 and includes a flange 11, which can be designed, for example, as a tube.

[0043] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the lid 7, the activated carbon fleece 8 and the support structure 9.

[0044] A receptacle 12 for the upstream end of the downstream chamber 6 can be formed on the support structure 9 and / or the flange 11. For the purposes of this patent application, applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch office. Status: October 2, 2024. Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 7 -

[0045] The supporting structure on the lid can each have a connecting element 19, 20.

[0046] For example, in the case of noses and complementary openings or recesses.

[0047] The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figure 1, but with an additional bypass line 13 and an adjustment device 14 for the bypass, which is shown by way of example and only schematically and is preferably operable by turning.

[0048] Arrows 18 represent the flow direction of the water to be treated by the suction filter cartridge. Furthermore, identical reference symbols refer to identical features in the disclosed figures.

[0049] Patent application Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch Status: 02.10.2024 Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 8 -

[0050] Reference symbol list

[0051] 1 suction filter cartridge

[0052] 2 cases

[0053] 3 Water inlet

[0054] 4 Water outlet

[0055] 5 Upflow chamber

[0056] 6. Outflow chamber

[0057] 7 lids

[0058] 8 activated carbon fleece

[0059] 9 Support structure

[0060] 10 Through-hole activated carbon fleece

[0061] 11 Flange support structure

[0062] 12 Intake for outflow chamber

[0063] 13 Bypass line

[0064] 14 Bypass adjustment device

[0065] 15 Through opening flange

[0066] 16 Inner wall of the upflow chamber

[0067] 17 filter-side tank connection base

[0068] 18 Arrow

[0069] 19 Connecting element

[0070] 20 connecting element

Claims

Patent application Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch Status: 02.10.2024 Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 1 - Claims 1) Suction filter cartridge (1) for use in a water tank, comprising a watertight housing (2), a water inlet (3) into the housing (2), a water outlet (4) from the housing (2), an upflow chamber (5) arranged between the water inlet (3) and the water outlet (4), and an outflow chamber (6) arranged downstream thereof, wherein the housing (2) comprises a cover (7) which seals the housing (2) upstream of the outflow chamber (6) in a watertight manner, characterized in that a structure for reversing the flow direction of the water flowing through the suction filter cartridge from upflow to outflow is formed in the cover (7), wherein an activated carbon fleece (8) is arranged in the cover (7). 2) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the activated carbon fleece (8) is designed as an insert in the form of a disc. 3) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the activated carbon fleece (8) has a central axial through-opening (10). 4) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a support structure (9) for the activated carbon fleece is arranged in or on the lid (7) or in the housing (2). 5) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (9) for the activated carbon fleece (8) has a rust-like structure. 6) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (9) for the activated carbon fleece (8) has a centrally axially aligned flange (11 ). 7) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flange (11 ) is designed as a tube. Patent application Applicant: ACLARIS GmbH, Lindau, Rebstein branch Status: 02.10.2024 Our reference: A 6326 / RI - 2 - 8) Suction filter cartridge (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (9) and / or the flange (11 ) is designed as a receptacle (12) for the upstream end of the outflow chamber (6). 9) Suction filter cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bypass line (13) for the parallel guidance of raw water to the water flow in the upflow chamber (5) is designed in the form of a double pipe gap. 10) Suction filter cartridge (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bypass line (13) terminates in the direction of flow through the housing (2) in front of the activated carbon fleece (8), so that the water flowing via the bypass line (13) is filtered together with the main flow flowing through the upflow chamber (5). 11 ) Suction filter cartridge (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an adjusting device (14) is provided for adjusting the effective flow cross-section for the bypass line.

Images