DE29511773U1 - Water station - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ATTORNEY y

PO Box 11 53 D*-*7*53W Geciringln

Tel. 07056/4144 - Fax 07056/41 55

Office: Wieselweg 22

20.07.1995

Frank Bohnenberger Dillweißensteiner Strasse 24, 75134 Pforzheim

Water station

The invention relates to a so-called water station for water treatment, i.e. a device for filtering and, for example, additional physical treatment for softening or decalcifying water.

The invention is based on known backwash filters, which are installed behind the water meter to filter the water taken from the public drinking water network, e.g. for the water supply of a single-family house. They have a sleeve-shaped permanent fine filter made of the finest stainless steel sieves, which can be cleaned if necessary by rewinding with already filtered water from the filter drain line. Such water filters therefore no longer have to be opened for cleaning, for example to replace fine filter fleece sleeves, as was previously the case. However, these easy-to-clean backwash filters require a backflow preventer so that no contaminated backwash water can get into the public drinking water network during backwashing. For this purpose, this should be installed as close as possible to the backwash filter.

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95

Before a modern, convenient backwash filter can be used, an additional component must be installed, which means additional assembly work.

In addition to water filtration, water treatment in the sense of water softening or decalcification has become very important today. In so-called physical water treatment, the water flowing in a pipe is led through a so-called water treatment chamber and exposed to the effects of magnetic fields emanating from electromagnets or permanent magnets, or by means of electrodes to those of an electric field, e.g. the periodic voltage pulses of a pulse frequency generator generated by an electronic circuit. Such a treatment chamber - or a treatment room - should, on the one hand, only be provided after a water filter device, as this filters out any foreign bodies that could impair the intended physical water treatment. On the other hand, it should be provided at the beginning of a main water supply line, if possible, in order to be able to protect all subsequent water consumption devices from calcification.

Since a physical decalcification treatment only takes place when water is flowing, the electronic treatment system intended for this purpose only needs to be switched on then. However, it must be possible to determine whether water is flowing or not, for example by means of a device for measuring flow rates or currents, for example in the form of a sensor that is immersed in the water.

In order to be able to physically treat the water filtered here by a backwash filter using electronics depending on the state of motion of the water, a measuring device must be installed as an additional component in the flow path of the water, if possible not in the unfiltered one.

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95

treated or untreated water in order to prevent any possible functional impairments caused by it.

The invention was based on the problem of creating a water station for water filtering and additional physical water treatment by means of an electric field in a device form that is as compact as possible using a known backwash filter, which has at least the devices and components required on the water side, such as a backflow preventer, water treatment chamber and measuring device for treatment on/off control including the respective electrical connections in an arrangement that enables a time-, material- and space-saving installation of the water station at the intended location.

This problem is solved with a water station with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

Because a backflow preventer is located in a flow path section on the inflow side of the head part of a backwash filter and at least one flow path section in the area of the head part is designed as a water treatment chamber that exposes the water flow to an electric field for physical water treatment and at least one measuring device is arranged at least for a water flow-dependent water treatment on/off control in one of the flow path sections of the water station, it is achieved that in order to install a water station formed in this way, e.g. in an existing domestic water supply network, on the water side normally only two - standardized - water pipe connections have to be removed, namely those of the water filter device usually installed behind the water meter in the main water pipe in order to replace them with the inventive water station with dual function. Further installation or connection measures on the water side are not necessary due to the fact that the manufacturer has already pre-assembled and ready for connection.

F. Bohnenberger - "Wasserstation" - 20.07.95 · · Il * ·..

Water station not required. However, it may be advisable to install a test plug in the water pipe before the backwash filter to check the functionality of the backflow preventer.

This water station can therefore be put into use immediately, at least for water filtering, after the connections have been made on the inflow and outflow sides of its backwash filter component - as with a new installation. If there is an existing socket, this may also apply to the electronics intended for the physical water decalcification treatment.

The inventive idea of upgrading a modern backwash filter as a starting or basic device to a double-acting water station that can be installed in a time-, material- and space-saving manner can improve the acceptance of such modern water treatment devices, which basically only require two easy-to-make water-side connections, and thus promote their spread. This also makes their convenience available to many people who are interested in them, especially those who have previously shied away from the effort required for the otherwise diverse separate installations of the individual devices and components required.

For the use of these inventive water stations, it can also be important that their ready-to-install pre-assembly option by the manufacturer ensures a high level of operational reliability. This allows the individual components to be optimally coordinated with one another and, for example, internal flow paths or connecting channels on the water side can be designed and these, as well as the required internal electrical connections, can be designed to be short. This also means that a large number of sealing points, etc. can be eliminated. In addition, this enables a compact design that allows installation under

F. Bohnenberger - "Wasserstation" - 20.07.95 · · J J · ·.«*'

confined spaces, &zgr;. B. especially in old systems that are to be modernized, can greatly simplify and facilitate.

A cost-effective pre-assembly of the water station by the manufacturer is made possible, for example, by a preferred arrangement of the backflow preventer directly in the inflow connection nozzle of the backwash filter head section, i.e. in the first flow path section on the inflow side of the head section. With appropriate design and, for example, a plastic version, this can be pressed into the nozzle opening from the outside, for example, which makes further holding measures unnecessary. This arrangement makes time-consuming separate installation of an accessory containing this backflow preventer, e.g. in the form of a piece of pipe, into the inflow line unnecessary.

A cost-effective solution is to design the water treatment chamber only in the form of a pipe arranged in the head part coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the backwash filter, which is located at least with a lower section inside the fine filter. A flow-optimized pipe also corresponds advantageously to the cylindrical basic shape of the head and the lower part. This can, for example, make it easier to seal the pipe in the area of the pipe passage through the middle head part section, possibly also with a view to separating the flow path sections for unfiltered from those for filtered-treated water.

Such a pipe can, if made of the appropriate material, e.g. made of stainless steel, advantageously also simultaneously form one of the two electrodes required for a physical water decalcification treatment using an electric field. Preferably the outer electrode, in the center of which the second electrode in the form of a rod-shaped, equally coaxially aligned inner electrode can then advantageously be arranged.

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95

For this pipe or electrode arrangement, a partial area of the opening usually formed in the head of a backwash filter, which usually even takes up the entire top surface, can be used to save space. This opening is actually intended for the installation of the pressure reducer with a relieved single-seat valve that is often present in this type of filter. The electrodes, which extend into the sleeve-shaped fine filter on the one hand, can also protrude beyond the head, i.e. their length is not limited by the height of the head. This means that the size of the water treatment room can be adapted to different water treatment situations, for example by changing the length of the two electrode sections protruding beyond the head and thus the volume of the water treatment room, i.e. in an area that is usually not critical in terms of space with regard to the usual installation location of the water station.

Preferably, the electrodes are held at the end of their section that protrudes over the head part by the bottom of a holding housing that is open downwards towards the head part and covers them. This is arranged on the head part in a pressure-tight manner, e.g. screwed into the thread of the top opening, and can thus simultaneously form the flow path for the treated water from the water treatment chamber back to the head part.

Such a holding housing, e.g. made of an insulating material such as plastic, can also be adapted to a possibly application-specific varying length of the two electrode sections protruding beyond the head part by making the length of its side wall correspondingly longer or shorter.

In order to ensure that the water flowing into the water treatment pipe after passing through the fine filter in the lower part can flow out again at its upper end above the head part, the pipe can have corresponding outlet openings there.

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95

The water then flows between the wall of the holding housing and the water treatment pipe back to the head part, in which it is guided through channel-like cavities to the connection piece for the drain line.

For their attachment, the electrode ends provided for this purpose have threaded extensions with which they can be screwed onto the base of the holding housing. In the case of the tubular outer electrode, for example, these have the shape of two threaded rod sections or threaded pins arranged diametrically opposite each other on the circumference of the tube. The extensions are preferably inserted through holes formed accordingly in the base of the holding housing and each screwed onto the outside using a nut.

The length of the extensions can be measured in such a way that one end section of it protrudes far enough beyond the retaining nut so that the wire connecting the electrode to the treatment electronics can also be screwed onto it with a nut. This means that these connecting wires can be very short, which is not unimportant for pulse frequency water treatment.

Using this fastening technique, the electrodes can also be initially fastened separately in the holding housing before this is mounted pressure-tight on the head part, e.g. by screwing it into the thread in its top opening.

Preferably, a cover cap made of an insulating material, e.g. made of the same plastic as the holding housing, is placed and fastened to the base of the holding housing. It covers the electrode extensions and the connecting wires screwed to them and thus also provides protection against contact.

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95 * &idigr;

In order to fully equip the water station for the intended water treatment, a protective housing for the electronics intended for this purpose and for the treatment on/off control, or at least for components thereof, such as circuits and the like, and possibly for setting and monitoring aids, can be arranged on the cover cap in a space-saving manner and without significantly affecting the compact design of the water station. This makes time-consuming separate installation of a protective housing containing these components, which is not mechanically connected to the water station, e.g. on a house wall, unnecessary. This also means that the additional electrical connecting cables required in this case no longer need to be laid and connected.

The measuring device can also be arranged cost-effectively in the form of a flow rate sensor on the head part of the backwash filter, preferably in a flow path section downstream of the water treatment room for its functional reliability, as mentioned above. This can, for example, have the form of an extension part that can be detachably connected to the drain connection piece, which is designed, for example, as an extended union nut screwed onto it with an external thread at the end for connecting the drain line. The length of the union nut is dimensioned such that the water station, including this union nut screwed onto it, can still be inserted into the standardized main water line section occupied by a conventional water filter device that serves exclusively for water filtering, for example.

The flow rate sensor is installed in such a union nut e.g. in a through hole formed in one of the hexagonal peripheral surfaces that point backwards when the union nut is screwed on, if necessary only after the latter has been screwed on. This arrangement also allows its connecting cable to the treatment on/off control in the protected

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95

rear area of the water station up to the protective housing.

This arrangement of the flow rate sensor eliminates the need for time-consuming separate installation of an accessory containing such a sensor, e.g. in the form of a piece of pipe, in the drain line leading away from the water filter device.

The cable connecting the flow rate sensor with the on/off control electronics in the protective housing can, for example, be led through a slot in the cover cap, where it is removably connected, for example, by a plug-in device placed in it, to a cable leading from this to the electronics, which - in conjunction with the detachability of the electrode connection wires from the electrode extensions - can, for example, facilitate any maintenance or repair work on the electronics directly at the installation location of the water station.

It is also conceivable to use such a flow sensor to not only determine whether water is flowing or not, but to switch the treatment electronics on or off accordingly. In addition, the amount of water flowing through the water treatment room per unit of time and thus the amount of water to be treated could also be measured, which can fluctuate due to irregular amounts of water drawn off, such as in a household. The intensity of the water treatment could then be adjusted, i.e. regulated, to the amount of water to be treated per unit of time.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below using a schematic drawing.

The water station shown in a side view, partially cut or broken open, consists of a so-called backwash filter 1, as its basic device, so to speak/ with a head part 2 made of die-cast brass and a detachable by

F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95

·

- &iacgr;&ogr; -

Screw the attached lower part 3 made of transparent plastic to a drain valve 4 for backwashing. In the lower part 3 there is a sleeve-shaped, backwashable fine filter 5 made of the finest sieves made of stainless steel .

The backflow preventer 6 required for backwashing the fine filter 5 is, as shown in the section, inserted into the left connection piece 7, which is intended for connecting the inflow line of the water to be treated. It prevents contaminated backwash water from entering the water inflow line during backwashing.

Instead of the pressure reducer with a relieved single-seat valve that is often arranged through an opening in the top of the head part 2 in backwash filters, a water treatment chamber is provided here for physical water decalcification using an electric field in the form of a stainless steel pipe 8 arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the backwash filter. At the same time, it forms one of the two electrodes required for this water treatment, namely the outer electrode, in the center of which the second electrode is arranged as a rod-shaped, equally coaxially aligned inner electrode 9. When water is taken from the water supply network behind the water station, the water filtered by the fine filter 5 flows through the pipe 8, which is exposed to an electric field with the voltage pulses of a pulse frequency generator arranged in the protective housing 12.

The tube or the outer electrode 8 and the inner electrode 9 extend on the one hand into the fine filter 4 and on the other hand protrude over the latter through the opening in the top of the head part 2, with the tube 8 being guided through its middle area in a sealed manner. They are screwed with the protruding end to the bottom of a cup-like or cap-like downwards holding housing 10 made of insulating plastic arranged on the head part 2 in a pressure-tight manner.

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- 11

For this purpose, they have threaded extensions that are inserted into corresponding holes in the base of the holding housing 10 and have an end section that protrudes beyond the base of the holding housing, onto which nuts are screwed to fasten the electrodes. The electrical electrode connecting wires are also screwed onto the extension ends.

A cover cap 11 made of the same insulating plastic as the holding housing 10 covers and protects these connections and the connecting wires. To ensure that the cover cap 11 is arranged in a watertight manner without additional sealing measures, an external ring-shaped recess corresponding to the thickness of the cover cap side wall is formed on the bottom of the holding housing 10 in the upper edge area. This means that the cover cap can be arranged on the holding housing 10 without any joints and without the formation of a step, with two countersunk screws being provided to ensure that it is firmly seated.

The holding housing 10 and the cover cap 11 have a circular cross-section adapted to the diameter of the circular opening in the top of the head part 2.

A protective housing 12 is arranged on the cover cap 11, which contains the electronics both for the physical water decalcification treatment itself and at least for its on/off control, as well as setting and monitoring aids for various operating modes, including corresponding display elements such as LEDs, etc.

Due to the complete electronic installation contained in the protective housing 12, including the treatment on/off control, and the manufacturer's basic presetting, in order to start the intended physical water decalcification, after establishing the two water pipe connections of the water station, all that is needed is to plug the power cable 13 into a socket and, if necessary, switch on the electronics.

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- 12 -

On the head part 2, a pre-pressure manometer is mounted on the inflow side and a back-pressure manometer 15 on the outflow side with identical cylindrical housings. In order to be able to maintain the position of the manometers 14 and 15 as determined by the corresponding head part holes, the holding housing 10 has an almost circular cross-sectional tapering adapted to the radius of the two cylindrical manometer housings. This also allows a compact, slim design of the entire water station to be maintained.

On the drain side of the head section 2, an extended union nut 16 with an external thread for connecting this line is screwed onto the connection piece for the drain line. It has a hole in one of the hexagonal surfaces facing backwards, into which a flow rate sensor 17 is inserted. It is used to determine whether water is flowing through the water station and therefore the water treatment should be switched on or whether it should be switched off again due to water stagnation. A cable 18 running on the outside of the back from the flow sensor to the cover cap 11 transmits the measured value signals to the treatment on/off control in the protective housing 12.

The inventive combination of backwash filter 1, treatment chamber 8 for a physical water decalcification treatment - here including a complete electronics for water treatment and for water flow-dependent treatment on/off control housed in the protective housing 12 arranged almost immediately adjacent to it - and flow rate sensor 16 for this treatment control in a single compact device called a water station enables its space- and time-saving installation, in particular a retrofit installation in an existing domestic water pipe network directly in front of a wall, without, for example, the time- and cost-consuming need to first remove the existing inlet and outlet water pipes of a conventional water filter device that is to be replaced with it.

F. Bohnenberger- "Wasserstation" -20.07.95 ,· J . J J .· .·..;···,

- 13 -

ing outdated technology, for example, having to move it further away from the wall.

·

F. Bohnenberger - "Water station" - 20.07.95

Reference2oaklist

1 backwash filter

2 Headboard

3 Lower part

4 Drain valve

5 fine filters

6 Backflow preventer

7 Inflow line connection piece

8 Water treatment room / pipe

9 Inner electrode

10 Holding housing

11 Cover cap

12 protective housing

13 Power cable

14 Pre-pressure gauge

15 Back pressure gauge

16 Union nut

17 Flow sensor

18 Sensor connection cable

Claims (11)

F, Bohnenberger - "Wasserstation" - 20.07.95 %mJ ej !.* * · - 14 - Protection claims 1. Water station for water treatment, with a backwash filter (1) with a head part (2) with connection nozzles on the inflow side (7) and the outflow side (16) and cavities representing sections of the flow path of the water through the backwash filter (1), and a lower part (3) with a backwashable fine filter (5), characterized by the following features: - in a flow path section on the inflow side of the head part (2) there is a backflow preventer (6), - at least one flow path section in the region of the head part (2) is designed as a water treatment chamber (8) exposing the water flow to an electric field for physical water treatment and - at least one measuring device (17) for at least one water flow-dependent water treatment on/off control is arranged in one of the flow path sections (16) of the water station. 2. Water station according to claim 1, characterized in that the backflow preventer (6) is arranged in the inflow connection piece (7). 3. Water station according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water treatment chamber is formed by a tube (8) arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the backwash filter (1) in the head part (2), at least with a lower section located within the fine filter (5), which represents an external electrode, and that in the center of the tube (8) a rod-shaped, likewise coaxially aligned internal electrode (9) is arranged. F. Bohnenberger - "Water Station" - 20.07.95 4. Water station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring device is a flow rate sensor (17) arranged in a nozzle extension part (16) detachably connected to the drain connection nozzle. 5. Water station at least according to claim 3, characterized in that the two electrodes (8, 9) extend on the one hand into the fine filter (5) and on the other hand protrude beyond the head part (2) through an opening in the top thereof and are attached here at the end to the bottom of a cup-like holding housing (10) which is open downwards towards the head part (2) and is arranged on the head part (2) in a pressure-tight manner, the tube (8) having water outlet openings in the region of its attachment end. 6. Water station according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening ends of the electrodes (8, 9) have threaded extensions, one end section of which projects upwards over the bottom of the holding housing (10). 7. Water station according to claim 6, characterized in that a cover cap (11) is arranged on the bottom of the holding housing (10). 8. Water station at least according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding housing (10) and the cover cap (11) have a cross-section adapted to the diameter of the top opening of the head part (2). 9. Water station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pre-pressure manometer (14) is mounted on the head part (2) on the inflow side and/or a back-pressure manometer (15) is mounted on the outflow side. F. Bohnenberger - "Wasserstation" - 20.07.95 * * * &iacgr; I I . * II*,, -&Igr;&bgr;- 10. Water station at least according to claim 8 and 9, with pressure gauges (14, 15) with identical cylindrical housings, characterized in that the holding housing (10) in the area of the pressure gauges (14, 15) has an approximately circular cross-sectional tapering adapted to the radius of the pressure gauge housing. 11. Water station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a protective housing (12) is arranged on the cover cap (11), which contains at least components for electronic water treatment and treatment on/off control as well as setting and monitoring aids intended for this purpose.