Water filtering system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water filtration systems have inadequate filtration efficiency due to the use of single-stage filters, leading to suboptimal water quality and waste generation from multi-stage systems with complex pipelines and excessive joints.

Innovation Solution

A compact water filtration system with a multi-stage filter cartridge assembly, including pre-filter, fine filter, and post-filter cartridges, and optimized pipeline arrangement with separate purified-water and pure-water pipelines, along with a pump assembly and solenoid valves for controlled water pressure and flow, reducing waste and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a one-stage filter membrane is used for water filtration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the filtration precision deteriorates resulting in suboptimal water quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration system structureVSAvoidfiltration precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The filtration system is divided into multiple stages with different filter membranes having progressively smaller pore sizes. The first filter membrane has a first pore size, the second filter membrane has a second pore size smaller than the first, and the third filter membrane has a third pore size smaller than the second. This segmentation allows each stage to handle different sizes of contaminants, achieving high filtration precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If a multi-stage filter cartridge is used to improve filtration precision, then the filtration precision improves, but the device complexity increases with complicated pipeline and too many joints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration precisionVSAvoidpipeline arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple filter membranes are integrated into a single filter cartridge assembly, where the first, second, and third filter membranes are arranged in sequence within the same cartridge structure. This merging approach achieves high filtration precision through multi-stage filtration while reducing pipeline complexity and the number of joints by consolidating multiple filtration functions into one integrated component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If a multi-stage filter cartridge is used to improve filtration precision, then the filtration precision improves, but the volume of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration precisionVSAvoidsystem volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter membranes are nested within the filter cartridge in a compact arrangement, with each subsequent filter membrane positioned within the structure of the previous stage. This nesting configuration allows multiple filtration stages to be accommodated in a minimized volume, achieving high filtration precision without proportionally increasing system volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 system achieves improved water quality through multi-stage filtration, reduces waste by allowing selective output ports, and conserves energy by optimizing water pressure and flow control, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective filtration process.

Implementation Method 1

a filter cartridge assembly (10), having a water inlet (110) and a purified-water outlet (120)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a pump assembly (60) configured to drive water in the pure-water pipeline to flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 3

first valve (320) located upstream of the pump assembly (60), and configured to control blocking and unblocking of the purified-water pipeline (30)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Solenoid

Data Source

PatentEP3392204B1Water filtering system
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA WATER DISPENSER MFG
  • EP3392204B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A water filtration system (100) is provided. The water filtration system (100) includes: a filter cartridge assembly (10), a water-intake pipe (20), a purified-water pipeline (30), a pure-water pipeline (40) and a sewage discharge pipeline (50). The filter cartridge assembly (10) has a water inlet (110), a purified-water outlet (120), a purified-water return port (130), a pure-water outlet (140) and a sewage discharge port (150). The pure-water pipeline (40) is communicated with the pure-water outlet (140), and the pure-water pipeline (40) has a pure-water output port (410) and a second valve (420) configured to control blocking and unblocking of the pure-water pipeline (40). The sewage discharge pipeline (50) has a first end communicated with the sewage discharge port (150) and a second end communicated with an outside.