Portable Water Purifier with Reverse Flush and Telescoping Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable water filtering devices face limitations in effectively removing viruses and other contaminants due to pore size constraints, leading to clogging issues and the need for frequent filter replacements, while also being bulky and inconvenient for use.
Innovation Solution
A portable water filtering and purifying device with a telescoping mechanism that applies pressure to force water through filters with small pore sizes, allowing for the removal of a broader range of contaminants and includes a mechanism to reverse flush the filter and integrate disinfecting agents and activated carbon for complete purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pore size of the filter is made smaller to filter out more contaminants including viruses, then the filtering effectiveness is improved, but the filter becomes clogged more quickly and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reverse flushing mechanism that periodically reverses the flow direction through the filter. By applying pressure from the outlet side back toward the inlet side, accumulated contaminants are forced out of the filter medium, preventing clogging and extending service life while maintaining small pore sizes for high filtering effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The reverse flushing action effectively removes and discards accumulated contaminants from the filter, recovering the filter's original performance state. This allows the same filter element to be reused multiple times without replacement, resolving the contradiction between filtering effectiveness and service life
2Reliability
If the pore size of the filter is made smaller to remove viruses and contaminants, then the purification capability is improved, but the device becomes bulkier and less portable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a telescoping mechanism where the inner chamber slides within the outer chamber. When not in use, the chambers are nested together in a compact configuration. During operation, the inner chamber extends to provide adequate space for the filter element, achieving both high purification capability and portability
3Device complexity
If manual suction is used to pass water through the filter, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the flow rate is insufficient and filtering is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pump mechanism that uses pneumatic or hydraulic principles to generate pressure differential across the filter. By creating positive pressure at the inlet and negative pressure at the outlet, the system achieves high flow rates through the small-pore filter without increasing device complexity, as the pump integrates seamlessly into the chamber structure
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 device effectively filters out a wider range of contaminants, including viruses, and extends the life of the filter by allowing for easy cleaning and reuse, providing a reliable and portable solution for purifying water from various sources.
Implementation Method 1
by a pump, water is forced through a filter
Implementation Method 2
water is forced through a filter having a small pore size to filter out a maximum number of contaminants
Implementation Method 3
the filter is sterilized by dipping it in a bleach solution or the like to kill harmful parasites
Data Source
AI summary
A portable water disinfecting and purification apparatus comprising a first chamber into which water to be purified may be drawn by suction or negative pressure, a second chamber into which the water from the first chamber can be forced by a pumping action or positive pressure, whereby the water is passed across a micro-filter positioned within a section of the second chamber through which water can be forced by said pumping action to an outlet for purified water.