GB2498987A

GB2498987A - Filter cartridge regenerator

Info

Publication number: GB2498987A
Application number: GB1201789.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Joseph Williamson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-02
Filing date: 2012-02-02
Publication date: 2013-08-07
Also published as: GB201201789D0

Abstract

A domestic, mains or battery powered, portable device for restoring the function of water filter cartridges commonly used as jug water filters comprises an unit 1 consisting of an upper compartment 4 and a lower compartment 9 separated (when placed in the device) by a filter cartridge 5 which is to be cleaned. A solution is made to flow from the upper compartment to the lower compartment, through the filter cartridge in order to rejuvenate the filter cartridge. Removable adaptors 6 permit the unit to accommodate filter cartridges of various shapes and sizes. The adapters may incorporate tabs 7 to facilitate removal of the adapters. A channel 2 may join the lower and upper compartments, so that the solution in the lower compartment can be recirculated back to the upper compartment. Suitably, a motorised pump 3 is used to facilitate recirculation of the solution. The unit can also comprise an overflow channel 16.

Description

1

Jug Water Filter Cartridge Regenerator

FiELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a domestic, mains or battery powered, portable domestic device for restoring the function of water filter cartridges commonly used in jug water filters. The device essentially comprises a unit consisting of an upper compartment and a lower compartment separated (when placed in the device) by a filter cartridge. An appropriate solution is made to flow through the device, through the filter cartridge (from the upper compartment to the lower compartment) and restore the ability of the cartridge to filter water. Removable adaptors permit the unit to accommodate filter cartridges of various shapes and sizes

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Jug Water Filters are in widespread use and help primarily in lowering the calcium and magnesium content of drinking water this can make the water more pleasant to drink and also reduces lime-scale in water and small domestic appliances. The filter cartridges that are used in jug-type water filters work by allowing the water to filter through their contents to "purify" the water of unwanted characteristics. Gradually, the filter cartridge capaciiy becomes exhausted a i id ii i ic&uw to be replaced with 3 fresh cartridge. The filter cartridges are disposed of when no longer effective and this may be a fairly frequent occurrence; depending on volume of water filtered and the "hardness" of the water. The disposal of exhausted filter cartridges and replacement with new fresh ones is both a costly and a wasteful practice (in both monetary and environmental considerations).

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STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The invention addresses the disposable nature of the filter cartridges by enabling them to be restored to their ability to filter water and therefore be used multiple times. The Jug Water Filter Cartridge Regenerator is a portable device into which a filter cartridge from a jug water filter is placed and rejuvenated so that it can be re-used to again filter water. This will allow the re-use of the same filter cartridge many times over. The filter cartridge is regenerated by an appropriate solution flowing through it so that its ability to filter water is restored. The device effectively is a domestic water filter cartridge rejuvenation and recycling system meaning that there is no need to dispose of the filter cartridge. The device is able to cater for different types (shapes and sizes) of filter cartridge by means of removable, interchangeable adaptors; these also facilitate removal of the filter cartridges.

The flow of solution is by means of a pump that may be either mains or battery powered.

A timer function may be incorporated into the device to limit the operation of the pump to a pre-determined length of time for regeneration.

The filtering action may be either gravity fed or pressurised.

Introduction to the Detailed Description

Sample embodiments of the invention shall be explained more closely with reference to accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1: cross-sectional lateral view of the device showing the flow of solution and position of the filter cartridge in the device,

Figure 2: cross-section lateral view of the device showing an alternative embodiment of a pressurised system,

Figure 3: shows a view of the device from above (with lid removed),

Figure 4: is as per figure 3 but shows a different cartridge adaptor,

Figure 5: cross sectional lateral view (as per figure 1) but with the cartridge and adaptor as shown in figure 4.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows the device essentially comprising the body of the unit 1 consisting of an upper compartment 4 - bounded above by a lid 10 - and a lower compartment 9 separated, when placed in the device, by a filter cartridge with adaptor 6. The filter cartridge is shown for illustrative purposes only as it is not part of the invention. The filter cartridge is held in place by an adaptor 6 that incorporates tabs 7 to facilitate easy removal (of adaptor and cartridge). The adaptor is required so that the unit can accommodate different shape/sizes of filter cartridge and it for this reason that the aperture 12 is oversized. From the lower compartment, a channel 2 leads back to the upper compartment and an appropriate solution is moved towards this compartment (direction arrows) by a motorised pump 3. Once in the upper compartment the solution flows through the filter cartridge (represented by 5) influenced by gravity. The solution has an effect on the filter material to gradually restore the ability of the cartridge to filter water. A separate filter 8 at the base of the lower compartment ensures that no solid particles can interfere with the method of propulsion or obstruct the flow of solution. With any pumped system there is the possibility of overflow if a blockage occurs so an overflow channel 16 is incorporated to manage this risk and also to help ensure the pump does not operate "dry". The device is bounded above by a lid 10 that prevents splashes and promotes hygiene, whilst a pouring spout 11 facilitates disposal of the solution.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the solution would be pumped under pressure through the filter cartridge rather than relying purely on gravity. Essentially, although the principles of the regeneration are the same as in the previous embodiment, this is a pressurised system and in this embodiment (figure 2) the lid 10 would be more securely attached as it would need to form a seal 17 with the body of the device to prevent leakage of the pressurised solution. This embodiment of the invention may be preferable to a gravity filtered system.

In Figure 1 the filter cartridge to be restored is represented by 5 but there is widespread use of two shapes of filter cartridge: one that is circular when viewed from above and one that is more of a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The following text shows how these different cartridge shapes are accommodated by one device.

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Figure 3 illustrates detail of the adaptor 6 that would accommodate a filter cartridge that is circular in cross section 5 when viewed from above. The adaptor is the shaded section ana ii ensures the filter cartridge is accepted by the aperture 12. It is more readily seen how the pouring spout 11 will facilitate ease of disposal of liquid. The "lifting tabs" 7 facilitate removal of the adaptor and filter cartridge from the unit

Figure 4 shows a different shaped cartridge as represented by 14 - and it is held in place tightly by a sleeve/adaptor 13 that surrounds the cartridge to ensure the solution in the device flows through the filter medium. The aperture 12 in which the filter cartridge is housed is oversized so that it can accept removable adaptors allowing the fitting of cartridges of different shapes and sizes (shown also in Figure 3 and Figure 5). The adaptors incorporate "tabs" 7 to facilitate easy removal of the adaptor and thereby the filter cartridge from the body of the device.

Figure 5 shows the lateral cross-sectional view of the cartridge 14 and the adaptor 13 as depicted in Figure 4. It can be seen that the device is able to accept this cartridge as well as the circular cylindricai type of cartridge owing to the removable, and interchangeable, adaptors.

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Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A domestic, portable water filter cartridge rejuvenation and recycling system that consists of a portable device for restoring the function of jug water filter cartridges to filter water.

2. A portable domestic device according to claim 1, in which an appropriate solution is circulated to flow through a water filter cartridge.

3. A portable domestic device according to claim 1, which by means of removable, interchangeable adaptors can accommodate different shapes and sizes of jug water filter cartridges.

4. Removable, interchangeable adaptors as per claim 3 that incorporate a device to aid lifting/removal of the adaptors.

5. A domestic portable filter cartridge regenerating device according to claim 1, in which a pumped system incorporates an overflow channel.

5. A portable domestic device according to claim 1, in which a pumped system incorporates an overflow channel.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS

1. A domestic portable device for regenerating and recycling one or more water filter cartridges, primarily as found in jug water filters, comprising means to circulate an appropriate solution through the device by a mains or battery powered motorised pump and when a filter cartridge is inserted into the device by way of an adaptor for different cartridges, for said solution to flow continuously through the filter cartridge and restore the filtering ability of the jug water filter cartridge.

2. A domestic portable filter cartridge regenerating device according to claim 1, in which the circulation of solution is provided by a motorised pump incorporated within the body of the device and where the flow of solution through the filter cartridge can be dictated by gravity or it can be under pressure from the pump, and where said pump which may be controlled by a timer switch provides continuous circulation of the solution whilst the pump is operative.

3. A domestic portable filter cartridge regenerating device according to claim 1, which by means of removable and interchangeable adaptors can accommodate different shapes and sizes of jug water filter cartridges.