Water Filter Cartridge Port Shield for Contaminant Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional water filter cartridges in refrigerator systems become blocked over time due to saturation with contaminants, compromising the integrity and functionality of the water ports, leading to unfiltered water delivery.
Innovation Solution
A water filter cartridge design featuring a filter housing with a port shield and connector part that encloses and secures water ports, preventing contaminant exposure and ensuring continuous filtration, including a filtration material like activated carbon within the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional water filter cartridges are used with water ports exposed in the casing, then water can be delivered through the filter, but the water ports become blocked and compromised over time due to saturation with contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
A port shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the water ports and the contaminated water environment. The port shield encloses the water ports, preventing direct exposure to contaminants while still allowing water flow through designated openings, thus protecting the water ports from blockage and damage
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cartridge is divided into distinct functional zones: a protected zone containing the water ports enclosed by the port shield, and an exposed zone where the filtration media contacts the water. This segmentation isolates the vulnerable water ports from the contaminant-rich environment
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the filtration media continuously filters water, then contaminants are removed from the water, but the filtration media becomes saturated and blocks water flow over time
Solution Approach 1:
The port shield extracts and isolates the water ports from the main filtration chamber environment. By creating a separate protected space, the design allows the filtration media to continue its contaminant removal function without the water ports being exposed to the same saturation and blockage issues
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 design enhances water filtration, extends the cartridge's lifespan by protecting water ports from contamination, and maintains effective water delivery over time.
Implementation Method 1
The water filter's filtering media can adsorb or remove contaminants such as sand, rust, and cysts within the flow of water
Data Source
AI summary
A water filter cartridge is provided. The water filter cartridge includes a filter housing enclosing a filtration material therein. A port shield is connected at one end of the filter housing and disposed between the filter housing and a connector part adapted for securing the water filter cartridge to a refrigerator filter part. The port shield is provided for at least partially covering a water inlet port and a water outlet port extending at least between the connector part through the port shield and at least partially through the filter housing. The port shield at least partially encloses the water inlet and/or water outlet port therebetween and also separates the filtration material and unfiltered water within the filter housing from the portions of the water inlet and outlet port within the port shield.