Filtering Cartridge Bottom Design for High-Speed Water Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtering devices for liquid purification, such as water filters, face challenges with low filtration speed due to restricted flow areas and complex production processes, especially when using fiber materials with small diameters, which limits the use of smaller sorbents and affects purification efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A filtering cartridge with a bottom made of water-permeable material extending to the external edges of the side walls, using fibers thicker than 0.5 microns, and incorporating reinforcing ribs, allows for increased flow area and the use of smaller sorbent particles, such as activated carbon with particles less than 50 microns, enhancing purification efficiency. The production method involves a split mould with a cutting zone for simultaneous moulding and cutting, simplifying the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mesh with small flow area is used to close outlet openings, then the filtering material is retained, but filtration speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom is segmented into multiple functional zones: a peripheral sealing zone with the water-permeable material extending to external edges, and a central filtration zone with outlet openings. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different purposes - sealing versus high-speed filtration - resolving the contradiction between retention and filtration speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-permeable material extends vertically to the external edges of side walls, utilizing the vertical dimension to create a peripheral sealing barrier. This dimensional extension provides retention functionality without occupying horizontal flow area, thus maintaining high filtration speed while ensuring material retention.
2Manufacturing precision
If fiber materials with small diameter are used, then purification degree increases, but production complexity increases due to cutting difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical cutting methods (which struggle with fine fibers) with injection molding. The molten polymer is injected directly into the mold containing the fiber blank, eliminating the need for mechanical cutting entirely. This substitution resolves the production complexity issue while maintaining the ability to use fine fibers for high purification degree.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the polymer material from solid (requiring cutting) to molten (injectable). By transforming the material parameter from solid to liquid state during processing, the production method can handle fine fibers without cutting, thus reducing production complexity while preserving purification efficiency.
3Strength
If multiple production stages are used to create insertions with plastic frames, then structural integrity is ensured, but production time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the frame structure and the water-permeable material into a single integrated bottom component formed by injection molding. The molten polymer is injected around the fiber blank in one operation, creating both the structural frame and the functional material as a unified piece. This eliminates separate production stages while maintaining structural integrity through the molded frame design.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber blank is placed in the mold before injection, preparing the structure in advance. The subsequent injection process then automatically forms both the frame and integrates the material in one continuous operation. This preliminary positioning enables the merging of production steps and reduces overall production time while ensuring proper structural formation.
4Reliability
If outlet openings with restricted flow area are used, then filtering material is contained, but filtration speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom is segmented into a peripheral sealing zone (with material extending to external edges) and a central filtration zone (with outlet openings). This spatial segmentation allows the containment function to be performed by the peripheral zone while the central zone provides unrestricted flow area for high-speed filtration, resolving the contradiction between containment and filtration speed.
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
This design increases liquid filtration speed and purification efficiency by expanding the flow area and enabling the use of smaller sorbent particles, while simplifying the production technique and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom is made of the water-permeable material that comes to the external edge of side walls and is made of fibers having a sufficiently small diameter by means of the claimed method
Implementation Method 2
water-permeable material extending to the external edges of the side walls
Implementation Method 3
which allows for increased flow area and the use of smaller sorbent particles, such as activated carbon with particles less than 50 microns, enhancing purification efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are filtering cartridge and methods of producing the filtering cartridge for purifying drinking water and other liquids for household, medical and other purposes. A filter cartridge is filled with a filtering material and is configured in the form of an open bowl which can be closed with a lid, having side walls and a bottom with at least one outlet opening which is closed with a water-permeable material, wherein the cartridge bottom is designed such as to make it possible to use the water-permeable material which comes to the external edge of the side walls and is made of fibers with a sufficiently small diameter to allow using the filtering material containing powder particles; furthermore, the entire area between external and internal edges of the walls along the perimeter of the bottom is made of a composite based on a polymer water-permeable material.