Spigot Filter Cartridge with Segmented Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water filter designs for jug containers, coolers, and spigoted vessels are limited in accommodating diverse filter media and novel filter housings, and often require a small filter cartridge that is difficult to integrate with spigot designs, especially when the outlet tap is near the bottom, restricting the ability to ensure all water passes through a filtration unit.
Innovation Solution
A filter assembly with a fluid dispensing spigot and a filter housing that forms a fluid-tight seal, featuring a cylindrical or angled design with apertures for fluid ingress, allowing for pleated paper or extruded carbon filter media, and an adapter for secure attachment to the spigot, ensuring all water passes through the filter before exiting, with removable cartridges for easy replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a small filter cartridge is used to accommodate the spigot outlet near the bottom, then the device complexity is reduced, but the filtration effectiveness deteriorates because not all water can pass through the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a perforated plate. The filter cartridge is positioned in the upper chamber, and water is forced through the filter media by pressure differential created during dispensing. This segmentation allows a larger filter surface area without increasing the overall height constraint, ensuring all water passes through the filter.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a horizontal perforated plate to separate chambers, creating a two-chamber configuration that utilizes horizontal space rather than just vertical space. This dimensional approach allows the filter cartridge to have sufficient surface area while maintaining compatibility with the spigot outlet position near the bottom.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional spigot design is used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the adaptability to diverse filter media and novel filter housings is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves multiple functions: it provides a fluid-tight seal between the filter housing and spigot, supports the filter housing, and accommodates various spigot configurations. The adapter's universal design with sealing elements and mounting features allows it to work with different spigot types while maintaining ease of operation and enabling diverse filter media options.
3Ease of operation
If the filter housing is positioned away from the spigot outlet, then the ease of filter replacement is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to potential bypass flow
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter acts as an intermediary component that maintains fluid-tight sealing between the filter housing and spigot even when the filter housing is positioned away from the outlet. The adapter's sealing elements prevent bypass flow while allowing the filter housing to be easily removed and replaced, solving both the ease of replacement and water bypass 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 solution ensures all water flowing to the outlet tap passes through the filter unit, providing effective filtration of heavy metals, viruses, and contaminants, while allowing for easy filter replacement and compatibility with various spigot configurations, enhancing the reliability of filtered water dispensing systems.
Implementation Method 1
pleated paper or extruded carbon filter media
Implementation Method 2
filter media enclosed within the filter housing
Data Source
AI summary
Filter cartridge designs for use in conjunction with valves of the faucet or spigot type for withdrawing liquids at relatively low pressures from containers such as gravity feed jugs, ice chests, coolers, collapsible travel bags, and the like, wherein the filter cartridge housings have various shapes and attachment schemes to the spigot subassembly.