Filter assembly for a water recycling device

Abstract

A filter assembly (10) for a water recycling device. The filter assembly (10) comprises a filter unit (100) arranged within a chamber (300), the filter unit (100) and the chamber (300) receive process water to be filtered. The filter unit (100) comprises a circumferential screen (101) comprising an internal face (101a) directed into the filter unit (100), and an external face (101b) directed into the chamber (300). The assembly (10) comprises at least one rotatable backflushing arm (200) arranged within the filter unit (100) for providing a stream of backflushing water directed onto the internal face (101a) of the circumferential screen (101). The rotatable backflushing arm (200) is rotatable around a central housing (210). The central housing (210) comprises a first conduit (220) for providing a flow of water to the rotatable backflushing arm (200), and a second conduit (230) provided with an inlet (231) for receiving filtered process water.

Description

[0001] FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR A WATER RECYCLING DEVICE

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a filter assembly for a water recycling device. In particular it relates to a filter assembly comprising a rotatable backflushing arm rotatable around a central housing. The central housing comprises a conduit for providing water to the backflushing arm, and a conduit for receiving filtered water from the filter.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Fresh water is a scarce resource, with only between 0.01% to 2.75% of the water on earth being fresh water. Water processing devices, such as laundry machines and dishwashers, can use up to 100 liters of fresh water in a single washing process. Therefore, recycling water used in these devices is crucial.

[0006] WO 2024 / 076281 Al describes a water recycling device comprising a filtration tank. The filtration tank has a rotatable backflushing arm for providing a stream of backflushing water at the filter side portion of the circumferential screen. The filtration tank comprises an outlet for receiving filtered process wash water from the filter-side portion of the filtration tank. Figure 4 of WO 2024 / 076281 Al shows an arrangement with a filter water inlet and conduit extending adjacent to the filter, within the tank volume.

[0007] Improved devices capable of maintaining uniform pressure while receiving and recycling greater volumes of water would be ideal. Such devices would enhance the filtration process, ensure consistent water quality, and improve the overall performance of water recycling systems. Additionally, debris build-up within a filtration tank is detrimental to device performance and maintainability. Techniques and solutions for reducing debris build up within a filtration tank would be advantageous.

[0008] Summary of the invention

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solves at least the above mentioned problems by providing a filter assembly for a water recycling device. The filter assembly comprises a filter unit arranged within a chamber, the filter unit and the chamber receive process water to be filtered. The filter unit comprises a circumferential screen comprising an internal face directed into the filter unit, and an external face directed into the chamber. The assembly comprises at least one rotatable backflushing arm arranged within the filter unit for providing a stream of backflushing water directed onto the internal face of the circumferential screen. The rotatable backflushing arm is rotatable around a central housing. The central housing comprises a first conduit for providing a flow of water to the rotatable backflushing arm, and a second conduit provided with an inlet for receiving filtered process water.

[0010] Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the appended and dependent patent claims.

[0011] Brief description of the drawings

[0012] These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a cross-sectional view of a filter assembly according to an example. Figure 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a filter assembly according to an example. Fig. 2 shows the region A of Fig. 1.

[0013] Figure 3 is a view of a backflushing arm for a filter assembly according to an example.

[0014] Figure 4 is a top-view of a backflushing arm for a filter assembly according to an example. Detailed description

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 show a filter assembly 10 for a water recycling device. The filter assembly 10 comprises a filter unit 100 which is arranged within a chamber 300. The chamber 300 receives process water to be filtered by the filter assembly 10. The filter unit 100 comprises a screen 101. The filter unit 100 comprises at least one rotatable backflushing arm 200. The rotatable backflushing arm 200 is arranged to rotate around a central housing 210 within the filter unit 100. The central housing 210 comprises a first conduit 220 for providing a flow of water to the rotatable backflushing arm 200 and a second conduit 230 for receiving filtered process water from within the filter unit 100.

[0016] By providing the first conduit 220 for providing the water to the rotatable backflushing arm 200, and the second conduit 230 for receiving filtered process water from within the filter unit 100, within the central housing 210, the filter assembly 10 provides a space efficient arrangement of conduits which minimises debris build-up and maximises filter performance. As the filter assembly 10 is generally intended to be used within a water recycling device the minimised debris build-up and maximised filter performance furthermore increases water recycling performance of the water recycling device. Debris build-up is reduced on the filter assembly 10 as there are no conduits within the chamber 300, receiving and contacting the water to be filtered.

[0017] During use, process water, that is, water to be filtered, is received in the chamber 300. The chamber 300 forms a receptacle for process water. The chamber 300 has a process water inlet 301 from which water is received into the chamber 300. The chamber may comprise a plurality of process water inlets 301 as shown in figure 1. Each of the process water inlets 301 provide water to the chamber 301, on the non-filter side, i.e., the dirty water side, of the filter unit 100. The filter unit 100 is positioned within the chamber 300. The filter unit 100 is generally positioned proximal the base of the chamber 300 with respect to an upper portion of the chamber 300, that is, the filter unit 100 is near or at the bottom of the chamber 300, such that process water filling the chamber 300 surrounds the filter unit 100 even if the chamber 300 is only partially filled with water.

[0018] The filter unit 100 comprises the filter screen 101. The filter screen 101 separates an internal volume of the filter unit 100 from the chamber 300. The filter screen 101 comprises an internal face 101a directed into the filter unit 100. The opposing face of the filter screen 101 is the external face 101b of the filter screen 101 and is directed into the chamber 300, away from the filter unit 100. The filter screen 101 is ideally a circumferential filter screen 101 extending around the filter unit 100. The filter unit 100 has an approximately circular cross-section such that the filter screen 101 forms a cylindrical filter mesh around the filter unit 100.

[0019] The at least one rotatable backflushing arm 200 is arranged within the filter unit 100 and provides a flow of backflushing water at the internal face 101a of the filter screen 101. The flow of backflushing water from the at least one backflushing arm 200 displaces debris and filtered matter from the external face 101b of the filter screen 101. On application of a flow of backflushing water, the displaced debris and filtered matter will thereafter fall within the chamber 300 to a waste outlet 302 or re-enter the volume of process water present within the chamber 300.

[0020] The central housing 210 comprises both the first conduit 220, and the second conduit 230. The central housing 210 is a single housing around which the rotatable backflushing arm 200 rotates. As described previously, both the first conduit 220 and the second conduit 230 extend within the central housing 210. The central housing 210 is centrally located within the filter unit 100. The term central refers to the centre axis, around which the backflushing arm 200 rotates, as the rotation of the arm, and filter unit 100 define a substantially cylindrical filter unit 100.

[0021] The first conduit 220 provides water to the rotatable backflushing arm 200. Water is provided to the first conduit 220 which flows through the conduit 220 and is expelled at a distal portion of the at least one rotatable backflushing arm 200. The first conduit 220 may be referred to as the backflushing conduit 220.

[0022] The second conduit 230 receives filtered process water from within the filter unit 100. In order to receive the filtered water from within the filter unit 100, the second conduit 230 is provided with an inlet 231. The inlet 231 is arranged within the filter unit 100 in proximity to the base 120 of the filter unit 100. The base 120 of the filter unit 100 forms the lower portion of the filter unit 100, and separates, at a lower portion, the internal portion of the filter 100 comprising filtered water, from the external portion of the filter unit 100 generally comprising water in the chamber 300 to be filtered. The inlet 231 is provided above the base 120 of the filter unit 100. The inlet 231, and the entirety of the second conduit 230 is above the base 120 of the filter unit 100. The second conduit 230 does not extend through the base 120 of the filter unit 100. Filtered process water enters the inlet 231 and flows, through the second conduit 231 from the filter unit 100 for re-use and / or storage. The second conduit 230 may be referred to as the filtered water conduit 230. By providing the second conduit 230 above the base 120 of the filter unit 100, there are no components of the filter unit 100, such as conduits etc, which extend into the chamber 300 below the base 120 of the filter unit 100. Such an arrangement improves the performance of the filter assembly 10, and the water recycling device as the filter unit 100, and in particular the inlet 231 to the second conduit 230 may be located nearer the waste outlet 302 of the chamber 300, increasing the amount of water which can be provided to the inlet 231.

[0023] The inlet 231 to the second conduit 230 is generally co-axially aligned with the central axis around which the rotatable backflushing arm 200 rotates. As shown in figure 1, the rotatable backflushing arm 200 rotates around a vertical axis aligned with the inlet 231. The rotatable backflushing arm 200 is arranged above the inlet 231.

[0024] As would be understood when examining figure 1, the arrangement of the first conduit 220 and the second conduit 230 results in water flowing within the central housing 210 in different directions. The directions of fluid flow in the first and second conduits 220, 230 within the central housing 210 are substantially opposite each other. In the first conduit 220 backflushing water flows downward and out of the first conduit 220, whilst in the second conduit 230 filtered water flows upward for re-use and / or storage. The direction of water flow within the first conduit 220 and the second conduit 230 are shown with the dashed arrowed lines in figure 1. Backflushing fluid can simultaneously flow out from the backflushing 200 via the first conduit 220, and filtered water can flow in to the second conduit 230 via the inlet 231. Therefore, a backflushing process can be activated to clean the circumferential screen 101 at the same time as filtered water flows into the inlet 231.

[0025] The provision of the central housing 210 with both the first conduit 220 and second conduit 230 ensures that the filtered water can flow within the filter assembly 10 from the filter unit 100 without the need for projections or portions outside the filter unit 100, within the volume of the chamber 300, which are prone to gathering debris and particles. Such projections have been found to be particularly susceptible to fouling as they are located within the non-filtered portion of the chamber 300. By providing the central housing 210 comprising both the backflushing conduit 220 and the filtered water conduit 230 a filter assembly 10 which requires decreased maintenance and has increased filtration performance is achieved.

[0026] As shown in figures 1 and 2 the first conduit 220 and the second conduit 230 may be substantially coaxial within the filter unit 100. Generally, in such an arrangement, a portion of the first conduit 220 surrounds the second conduit 230. The second conduit 230 is thereby arranged at least partially within the first conduit 220 within the filter unit 100. The first conduit 220 is a separate conduit with respect to the second conduit 230. When a portion of the first conduit 220 surrounds the second conduit 230, a wall 232 defining the second conduit 230 separates it from the first conduit 220. The wall 232 defines the portion of the second conduit 230 within the first conduit 220 and is therefore within the first conduit 220. In particular, the wall 232 defines the second conduit 230 within the central housing 210.

[0027] The first conduit 220 is provided with an outlet 221 coinciding with the backflushing arm 200, such that backflushing water is providable to the backflushing arm 200. The first conduit 220 comprises at least one and preferably, a plurality of, outlets 221 to the at least one backflushing arm 200. As shown in figure 2, the first conduit 220 may extend from the outlet 221 coinciding with the backflushing arm 200 in a substantially vertical axis. The substantially vertical axis coincides with the central axis of the central housing 210. The outlet 221 of the first conduit 220 is provided above the inlet to the second conduit 230, such that the inlet 231 to the second conduit 230 can be provided at the base of the filter unit 100.

[0028] The outlet 221 of the first conduit 220 to the at least one backflushing arm 200 is arranged above the inlet 231 to the second conduit 230. The first conduit 220 comprises an inlet 222 distal from the filter unit 100. The inlet 222 to the first conduit 220 is for the provision of backflushing water to the first conduit 220, and subsequently the at least one rotatable backflushing arm 200. As shown in figures 1 and 2, at a region distal the filter unit 100, the second conduit 230 may diverge from the central housing 200 such that they are not coaxial distal the filter unit 100.

[0029] The at least one backflushing arm is rotationally connected to the central housing 210. The at least one backflushing arm 200 has a first, proximal end at the central housing 210. The at least one backflushing arm 200 comprises a first radial element 201 which extends radially from the central housing 210. The at least one backflushing arm 200 further comprises a spray element 205 at the second, distal end of the backflushing arm 200. Both the radial element 201 and the spray element 205 are provided with internal cavities such that water may flow within the backflushing arm 200. As described previously, water flows from the opening 221 in the second conduit 220 through the radial element 201 and out from the spray element 205 at the internal face 101a of the filter screen 101. The angle of extension of the first radial element 201 of the backflushing arm 200 is radially outwards from the central housing 210. The spray element 205 extends substantially orthogonal from the axis of extension of the first radial element 201, which is vertically in figure 1. The spray element 205 extends substantially parallel to the filter screen 101. That is, the spray element 205 extends outwardly in two directions from the axis of extension of the radial element 201. The spray element 205 has an axis of extension which is substantially parallel to the internal face 101a of the filter screen 101. The spray element 205 has a length along its axis of extension which substantially corresponds to the height of the filter screen 101, such that spray element 205 is capable of spraying along the full height of the filter screen 101.The at least one backflushing arm 200 may be attached to a central hub 211 at the central housing 210. The central hub 211 thereby forms the rotatable connection point for the at least one backflushing arm 200. The central hub 211 may be a collar comprising a lip which holds the proximal end of the at least one backflushing arm 200 in position at the hub 211.

[0030] The rotatable backflushing arm 200 is longitudinally fixed at the central housing 210, such that it is substantially fixed in the vertical axis shown in figure 1. That is, the central hub 211 is at a fixed location on the central housing 210. The fixing of the rotatable backflushing arm 200 ensures that the spray element 205 is longitudinally, vertically in figure 1, fixed relative the circumferential screen 101. Such an arrangement provides for improved reliability in the backflushing system.

[0031] The backflushing arm is shown in figure 3 and 4. Advantageously, the spray element 205 is a foil shaped spray element 205. The term foil shaped as used herein means that the spray element 205 has a decreased camber at its leading edge 251 and a decreased camber at its trailing edge 252, with respect to the camber between the leading and trailing edges 251, 252. Therefore, the camber is greater between the leading edge 251 and the trailing edge 252. The leading edge 251 is the edge of the spray element 205 in the direction of rotation. The trailing edge 252 is the edge of the spray element 205 opposite the direction of rotation. The direction of rotation is shown in figure 4 by the arc with an arrow in the clockwise direction. The foil shaped element has been shown to more effectively rotate within the filter unit 100. Reducing the fluid resistance on the spray element 205 of the backflushing arm 200 during rotation improves the backflushing, and therein filtering performance. As the backflushing arm is rotated by the force of the expulsion of water from the backflushing arm 200, by reducing the fluid resistance experienced by the backflushing arm, a reduced pressure is necessary to rotate the backflushing arm 200. This reduces the pressure and / or volume of fluid required to rotate the backflushing arm 200 and subsequently increases device performance, and in particular filtering and water recycling performance.

[0032] The radial element 201 may be referred to as a radial arm 201. The radial element 201 of the backflushing arm 201 may be provided with a foil shape. The leading edge 261 of the radial element 201 and the trailing edge 262 of the radial element 201 may have a decreased camber with respect to the camber between the leading and trailing edges 261, 262 of the radial element 201. As with the foil shape of the spray element 205, providing the radial element 201 with a foil shape has been shown to reduce fluid re si stance / drag on the backflushing arm 200 when the backflushing arm is spraying the internal face 101a of the filter screen. It is especially advantageous if both the radial element 201 and the spray element 205 are provided with a foil shape to reduce the fluid pressure during rotation. The leading edge 251 refers the edge of the spray element 205 in the direction of rotation of the spray element during a backflushing event. The leading edge 251 is the first edge of the spray element 205 through the water during a backflushing event. The trailing edge 252 refers to the edge opposite the leading edge 251 and forms the rear of the spray element 205 during a backflushing event.

[0033] The spray element 205 has at least one opening 206 forming the outlet for the backflushing arm 200. The opening 206 is generally proximal the trailing edge 252 of the spray element 205 with respect to the leading edge 251. That is, the opening 206 is provided near or at the trailing edge 252 of the spray element 205 The opening 206 is ideally a slit opening 206 which extends along the length of the spray element 205 such that the full length of the internal face 101a of the filter screen 101 receives a spray of water from the backflushing arm 200. The at least one backflushing arm 200 is rotated by the force of the water expelled form the opening 206 and is generally not powered by a motor etc. Such that the at least one backflushing arm 200 is rotatable by the force of the expelled water, the opening 206 is provided at the spray element 205 at an angle such that water is directed out from the opening 206 and provides a rotational force to the backflushing arm 200. As shown in figure 4, the angle of the expelled water from the opening 206 is between greater than 0° with respect to the axis formed by a radial line extending from the rotational axis of the backflushing arm 200 through the central axis of extension of the radial element 201. The angle defining the angle at which water is expelled from the spray element 205 is marked a in figure 4. The angle marked a may be from about 20° to about 60°. The angle marked b may therefore be from about 70° to about 30°. Ideally, the angle a is from about 35° to about 45°, and most preferably about 40°. An angle from about 35° to about 45°, such as about 40° has been shown to provide the optimal backflushing performance with respect to both rotational speed and removal of debris from the filter screen 101.

[0034] Generally, the filter unit 100 comprises a plurality of backflushing arms 200. Each of the backflushing arms 200 in the plurality being equally radially spaced around the central housing 200. As shown in figures 1 to 4, the filter unit 100 may be provided with two backflushing arms 200 opposed to each other.

[0035] The first conduit 220 may be provided with a water quality sensing device 250. The water quality sensing device may be a water quality sensing device as described in WO 2023 / 319553 Al for measuring colour and / or turbidity of the water provided to the backflushing arm 200. Ideally, if the first conduit 220 is provided with a water quality sensing device 250, the second conduit 230 diverges from within the first conduit 220 at a location proximal the filter unit 100 with respect to the location along the first conduit 220 of the water quality sensing device 250. That is, a portion of the second conduit 230 is not within the first conduit 220, at the location along the first conduit 220 where the water quality sensing device 250 is provided. The second conduit 230 diverges from the first conduit 220 at a location above the central housing 210 in the arrangement shown in figure 1. The second conduit 230 may extend at an angle outward from the central axis of the portion of the second conduit 230 which is provided within the first conduit 220. An elbow in the second conduit 230 is thereby formed to separate the axes of the first conduit 220 from the second conduit 230. As described above, within the central housing 210, the second conduit 230 is generally within the first conduit 220. This ensures that the water quality sensing device 250 may measure the quality of water in the first conduit 220 without obstruction from the second conduit 230.

[0036] The first conduit 220 may comprise an opening 240 at a region distal the filter unit 100. The opening 240 may enable a scrubbing device to be inserted within the first conduit 220. Such an opening 240 for a cleaning device is especially suitable if a water quality sensor 250 as described in WO 2023 / 219553 Al provided at the first conduit 220. The opening 240 is normally sealed with a sealing plug / screw and openable during maintenance. The scrubbing device may be used to clean and displace any debris from a region corresponding to the location of the water quality sensor 250.

[0037] The filter assembly 10 comprises a wall 11 surrounding the first conduit 220 and the second conduit 230. The wall 11 is attached to the filter unit 100 at a first edge 12 and generally extends to an upper portion of the chamber 300 distal the filter unit 100. The wall 11 thereby enables the filter assembly to be removed as a single unit for maintenance or replacement purposes. On removal of the filter assembly 10 from the chamber 300 the first conduit 220, the second conduit 230 and the filter unit 100 are removed from the chamber 300 as a single unit.

[0038] A water level sensor 260 may ideally be in a fixed relationship with the second conduit 230, such as fixed to the wall 11, and thereby fixed to the filter unit 100. The water level sensor 260 is arranged to detect the water level at the inlet 231 to the second conduit 230. By providing the water level sensor 260 at the water level of the inlet 231 to the second conduit 230 the water level at the inlet 231 is reliably detectable. Additionally, by fixing the water level sensor 260 to the wall 11 which is connected to the filter unit 100. When the filter assembly 10 is removed for maintenance as described above, the water level sensor 260 is also removable which simplifies the maintenance process.

[0039] As shown in figure 1, the filter unit 100 is generally positioned near the bottom of the chamber 300 such that as much of the water volume as possible within the chamber 300 is filterable by the filter unit 100.

[0040] In some instances, the filter assembly 10 may be incorporated within a washing machine. In such an arrangement, the washing machine forms the water recycling device. The filter assembly 10 may be provided within or in fluid connection to the drum of a washing machine. The water to be recycled in such an arrangement is the process wash water from a washing cycle. The filter assembly 10 may be provided within a washing machine, such as within the housing of the washing machine, or the filter assembly may be provided separately in a module which is in fluid connection to the washing machine.

[0041] The terms upper and lower as used herein refer, unless otherwise indicated, to the orientation of the filter assembly as shown in figures 1 and 2. Water received in the chamber 300 of the filter assembly 10 gathers in the lower part of the chamber 300 due to gravity. Unless otherwise indicated, the term lower generally refers to elements which are closer the region of the chamber 300 in which water gathers in the orientation shown in figures 1 and 2. Correspondingly, the term upper refers to the region distal the region where water gathers in the chamber 300 in the orientation shown in figures 1 and 2. Additionally, unless indicated otherwise, the terms above and below correspond to the orientation of the filter assembly as shown in figures 1 and 2.

[0042] Although, the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims.

[0043] In the claims, the term “comprises / comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and / or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms “a”, “an”, “first”, “second” etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A filter assembly (10) for a water recycling device, the filter assembly (10) comprising:- a filter unit (100) arranged within a chamber (300), the filter unit (100) and the chamber (300) for receiving process water to be filtered, the filter unit (100) comprising a circumferential screen (101) comprising an internal face (101a) directed into the filter unit (100), and an external face (101b) directed into the chamber (300),- at least one rotatable backflushing arm (200) arranged within the filter unit (100) for providing a stream of backflushing water directed onto the internal face (101a) of the circumferential screen (101), wherein, the rotatable backflushing arm (200) is rotatable around a central housing (210), wherein the central housing (210) comprises a first conduit (220) for providing a flow of water to the rotatable backflushing arm (200), and a second conduit (230) provided with an inlet (231) for receiving filtered process water.

2. The filter assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein the second conduit (230) is arranged at least partially within the first conduit (220) within the filter unit (100).

3. The filter assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inlet (231) to the second conduit is arranged above a base (120) of the filter unit (100), the base forming the lower portion of the filter unit (100).

4. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein, during use of the filter assembly (10), backflushing water flows in a first direction through the first conduit (220) and simultaneously flows in a second, substantially opposite, direction through the second conduit (230) within the central housing (210).

5. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the backflushing arm (200) is rotationally connected to the central housing (210), and comprises a first radial element (201) extending radially from the central housing (210), and a secondspray element (205) extending substantially orthogonal to the axis of extension of the first radial element (201).

6. The filter assembly (10) according to claim 5, wherein the spray element extends outwardly in two directions from the axis of extension of the first radial element (201), such that the spray element (205) has an axis of extension substantially parallel to the internal face (101a) of the filter screen (101).

7. The filter assembly (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the spray element (205) is a foil shaped spray element (205) extending from the radial element (201), wherein the foil shaped spray element (205) has a decreased camber at both a leading edge (251) and trailing edge (252) with respect to the camber of the foil shaped element (205) between the leading and trailing edges (251, 252).

8. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the radial element (201) is a foil shaped radial arm (201) having a decreased camber at both a leading edge (261) and a trailing edge (262) with respect to the camber between the leading and trailing edges (261, 262) of the radial arm (201).

9. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the spray element (205) has an opening (206) at which the water from the backflushing arm (200) is expelled, wherein the opening (206) is provided such that water exits the spray element (205) at an angle of about 20° to about 60°, such as about 35° to about 45° with respect to the axis of extension of the first radial element (201).

10. The filter assembly (10) accordingto any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first conduit (220) comprises an outlet (221) to the at least one backflushing arm (200), and wherein the outlet (221) is arranged above the inlet (231) to the second conduit (231).

11. The filter assembly (10) accordingto any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the inlet (231) to the second conduit (230) is arranged co-axially with an axis around which the rotatable backflushing arm (200) rotates.

12. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the backflushing arm (200) is longitudinally fixed at the central housing (210).

13. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first conduit (220) is a separate conduit with respect to the second conduit (230), and wherein a wall (232) defines the second conduit (230) and separates it from the first conduit (220) within the central housing (210).

14. The filter assembly (10) according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the wall (232) defining the second conduit (230) is within the first conduit (220) within the central housing (210).

15. A washing machine comprising the filter assembly (10) according to any of claims

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