Gravity Filter Riser Design for Extended Water Residence Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water filter pitchers with cartridge-style filters face challenges in maintaining the moist condition of filter media, which affects their performance and longevity, while also needing aesthetic improvements.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a filter housing with a riser that creates a conduit volume to pool water, maintaining wetness within the filter media cartridge, and features like a diffusion tray and lock-and-key mechanism to enhance filtration efficiency and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the filter media cartridge is raised from the bottom of the water filter pitcher to improve aesthetics, then the aesthetic appeal is improved, but the filter media cartridge may dry out and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appealVSAvoidfilter media performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The internal space is segmented into multiple functional zones: an upper water collection chamber, a middle riser section forming a conduit, and a lower filter housing. This segmentation allows water to be pooled in the upper chamber while the filter cartridge remains elevated for aesthetics, yet maintains moisture through the conduit connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The riser acts as an intermediary structure between the water collection chamber and the filter cartridge. It creates a conduit volume that mediates water flow, allowing water to reach the elevated cartridge while maintaining aesthetic positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If the filter media cartridge is elevated to improve aesthetics, then the visual appearance is improved, but the residence time of water in contact with filter media decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidresidence time

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The water flow path is extended into the vertical dimension through the riser. Water must travel down through the conduit volume formed by the riser before reaching the filter cartridge, adding vertical path length and increasing residence time despite the cartridge's elevated position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The conduit volume created by the riser ensures continuous water flow through a defined path. Water continuously cycles through the conduit and contacts the filter media, maintaining uninterrupted filtration action and extending residence time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Shape

If the filter media cartridge is positioned higher, then the aesthetic appeal is improved, but the wetness of the filter media decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appealVSAvoiddrying of filter media

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses hydraulic principles to manage water flow. The riser creates a conduit that directs water flow to the elevated filter cartridge, ensuring continuous wetting through gravity-driven water circulation without requiring external pumping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 configuration increases the residence time of water in contact with the filter media, preventing drying and promoting filtering efficiency and longevity, while also improving the aesthetic appeal and ensuring compatibility with authorized filter cartridges.

Implementation Method 1

Gravity filter designs configured for increased residence time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

filtering water with the filter media

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10167204B2Gravity filter designs configured for increased residence time

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 KAZ EUROPE SA

AI summary

Embodiments of water filters comprise a filter housing configured to be disposed in a pour tray of a water filter pitcher, wherein a filter media cartridge is disposed inside the filter housing. The filter housing includes a housing floor, housing sidewalls extending upwardly, away from the housing floor, and at least one filter housing outlet disposed in one or more of the housing floor or the housing sidewalls. The filter media cartridge includes filter media, where the filter media cartridge comprises a cartridge floor spaced above the housing floor, cartridge sidewalls extending upwardly, away from the cartridge floor, and at least one filter media cartridge outlet disposed along one or more of the cartridge floor or the cartridge sidewalls. The water filter pitcher further includes a riser extending upwardly, away from the housing floor, and spaced between the housing sidewalls and the cartridge sidewalls, where the riser extends a distance above the cartridge floor. The riser forms a conduit volume.