Central Tube Assembly for Water Filter Cartridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing central tubes for household water purifiers are complex in structure, making mass production difficult due to their design, and they inefficiently manage the flow direction of raw and purified water, resulting in significant waste during the reverse osmosis/nano-filtration process.
Innovation Solution
A central tube assembly for a filter cartridge is designed with a simple structure, featuring slotted half-tubes and reinforcing ribs to facilitate mold making and mass production, allowing raw and purified water to flow perpendicular to the tube, thereby optimizing flow passages and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional central tube design is used for household water purifiers, then the structure is complex and difficult to manufacture, but the flow direction management is inefficient causing significant waste
Solution Approach 1:
The central tube is divided into two separate half-tubes (first half-tube and second half-tube) that are fitted together. Each half-tube has its own flow passage (first flow passage and second flow passage) with slots for water input and output. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing each half-tube to be molded separately while maintaining the perpendicular flow direction management needed to reduce water waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow direction from parallel to perpendicular relative to the central tube axis. The first water inlet and second water inlet are positioned on side walls perpendicular to the tube axis, while water outlets are positioned at ends or side walls. This dimensional change in flow arrangement enables efficient water management while simplifying the tube structure for mass production.
2Productivity
If the central tube structure is simplified for mass production, then manufacturing becomes easier, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the central tube into two fitted half-tubes, each component can be manufactured using simple molding processes suitable for mass production. The fitting connection between half-tubes maintains structural integrity while allowing each part to have a simplified geometry that is easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The central tube assembly combines two separate half-tube components into a unified structure. This composite approach allows each half-tube to be optimized for manufacturing while the combined assembly achieves the required structural strength through the fitting connection and coordinated flow passage design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies the central tube structure, enables mass production, and improves the efficiency of water filtration by reducing flow resistance and supporting the membrane element, leading to enhanced performance and reduced waste in the filtration process.
Implementation Method 1
an inner surface of at least one of the first flow passage and the second flow passage is provided with a reinforcing rib abutting against the membrane element
Implementation Method 2
the fitting surfaces of the first half-tube and the second half-tube are slotted respectively to provide the first flow passage and the second flow passage
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Provided are a central tube for a filter cartridge and a filter device having same. The central tube (100) comprises a first half tube (1), a second half tube (2) and a membrane element (3), wherein the first half tube (1) has a first mating surface, and the first mating surface is grooved to form a first flow channel (111); the second half tube (2) has a second mating surface, the second mating surface is grooved to form a second flow channel (21), and the first half tube (1) and the second half tube (2) are butt-jointed to form a hollow, straight tube shape; and the membrane element (3) is arranged between the first half tube (1) and the second half tube (2) and seals the first flow channel (111) and the second flow channel (21), respectively.