EP0641240A1

EP0641240A1 - Ecological water-treatment device

Info

Publication number: EP0641240A1
Application number: EP93909996A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arno W. Latzke
Original assignee: SHECO AG; PRO-CLEAN Medical Vertrieb; FRESHWELL Ltd
Current assignee: PRO-CLEAN Medical Vertrieb
Priority date: 1992-05-23
Filing date: 1993-05-14
Publication date: 1995-03-08
Also published as: CA2136421A1; JPH07507006A; WO1993024203A1; AU4068793A

Abstract

A device for the ecological treatment of small amounts of water with active coal and if required with strong permanent magnetic fields, in particular in the kitchen and in households, has (a) a preferably conical plastic connection piece which can be applied by hand on the outlet of a water tap; (b) a cartridge filled with granulated active coal through which water can flow and if required (c) a tube made of non-ferrous metal, plastic or tubular material, through which water can flow and provided with strong permanent magnets which surround or lie on the tube.

Description

Device for τπnre »ι friendly treatment of water

The present invention relates to a device for the environmentally friendly treatment of small amounts of water with activated carbon and possibly with strong permanent magnetic fields, in particular in the kitchen and in the household.

The treatment of water with activated carbon is of particular interest where the tap water contains chlorine, ozone, dissolved contaminants, discolorations and undesirable taste and / or odorants. It is known that these undesirable impurities can be removed by activated carbon, but there is a difficulty in doing this in a simple manner subsequently in the kitchen and in the household. In order to subsequently clean the entire tap water of a household with activated carbon, very large and costly activated carbon filters are necessary, which must be installed on top of that and above all relatively often have to be filled with new activated carbon. The post-cleaning and removal of flavors and aromas is moreover usually only necessary for the part of the water which is to be drunk immediately or is used for the production of beverages, such as coffee and tea. This cleaning is also desirable when preparing vegetables and dishes. Finally, there are very sensitive indoor plants that are sensitive to chlorine.

The treatment of water with strong magnetic fields is also of interest, since the surface tension of the water is reduced and the treated water therefore behaves like soft water. It is therefore particularly suitable for the preparation of coffee or tea. It is also of interest, for example, to prevent or at least reduce the calcification of coffee machines and steam iron. The invention has for its object to provide such a device for the environmentally friendly treatment of small amounts of water with activated carbon and possibly with strong permanent magnetic fields, which is particularly suitable for kitchens and households and can be used easily, inexpensively and safely .

The treatment of small amounts of water with strong magnetic fields is possible with a device consisting of a non-ferrous metal, plastic or hose material pipe through which water can flow and a strong permanent magnet surrounding this pipe or fastened in the pipe, this device being connected to a funnel . Pipe diameter or the outlet of the same are to be dimensioned so narrow that a maximum of 10 1 / min can flow through with a water column of 10 to 50 cm.

The treatment of small amounts of water with activated carbon is much more difficult because cartridges filled with activated carbon are either too slowly flowed through a water column of 10 to 50 cm to get useful results or the carbon filters have to be made so short and highly porous that insufficient cleaning effect occurs.

The device according to the invention must therefore additionally fulfill the task that a sufficient amount of water is passed through a sufficient amount of activated carbon in a sufficiently short time. This is not possible without using external water pressure.

It has now been found that the task, in particular with regard to activated carbon, can be achieved by connecting a cartridge filled with granular activated carbon and through which water can flow, with a plastic conical nozzle which can be pressed by hand onto the outlet of a water tap. If necessary, the water can also be used before or after are passed through a tube made of non-ferrous metal, plastic or hose material with strong permanent magnets surrounding this tube or adjacent to this tube.

Preferably, the nozzle has one or more planar extensions on the outside, which make it easier to press the nozzle onto the outlet of the tap. In the simplest case, this areal extension consists of a disc firmly connected to the nozzle or of two areal extensions which are offset by 180 ° and which can be pressed with only two fingers at the outlet of the tap.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall of the socket can be provided with a sealing element. As a sealing element, for example, sealing rings come into consideration, which are arranged, for example, in the form of an O-ring, in particular in a horizontal position on the inner wall of the connecting piece. The sealing element, in particular the O-ring, is advantageously fastened to the inner wall, so that the position of the O-ring is not changed by pressing the water tap. The fixation can take place, for example, by gluing. However, it can also be advantageous to partially accommodate the sealing element, in particular the sealing ring, in appropriately prepared grooves on the inner wall of the connecting piece and thus to secure it against changes in position. A further preferred embodiment consists of the “inserted”. to fasten a sealing ring lying on a projection with a snap ring.

In a further embodiment, the material of the connecting piece can be a flexible, rubber-like material, at least in the part that receives the tap, which closes elastically around the tap and, because of its tension, enables a seal. In this embodiment, the nozzle can also be provided with a protuberance running around the inner wall and enable the water tap to be sealed off from the nozzle. The spout made of flexible material is pushed over the tap and the protuberance running around seals the spout after passing through a vent, for example, the tap. Due to the elastic behavior, the protuberance running on the inner wall tries to return to the rest position and due to the pressure involved, the protuberance clings to the outer wall of the tap. Finally, a conical rubber-elastic insert, which in turn has annular knobs or depressions, can also be used in the conical connecting piece, which in turn ensures a better seal.

The preferably conical nozzle has an angle of inclination that is large enough to accommodate different sizes of taps, on the other hand, is not so flat that it is no longer possible to provide adequate sealing when pressed on. The angle of the cone is therefore preferably in the range between 30 and 85 ° and in the simplest case at approximately 75 °. Since in some countries there are also taps with a aerator, which in turn is conical, the nozzle can also be non-conical, i.e. the angle can then also be 90 °. Even for such a nozzle, however, it is advisable to attach a rubber-elastic sealing ring and to secure it against changes in position by gluing or grooving. Since this configuration is very inexpensive, it may also be sensible to also supply such a conical perla. If necessary, a fitting piece that can be screwed onto this can also be supplied in order to be able to use the conical aerator more universally, particularly when traveling.

A conical rubber sleeve with a Shore hardness of 40 to 75 °, with single, inner ones, has proven particularly useful Sealing rings is provided, attached to a suitable bead on the connector and is firmly connected to the connector with a sheathing plastic ring by welding the plastic ring to the connector. This welding is preferably carried out using ultrasound.

All plastics that are perfect under food law and have a certain elasticity are suitable as plastic for the nozzle. Polyethylene and polypropylene, which can also be processed by injection molding, are particularly suitable. If elastomers are used, they must have sufficient hardness to ensure an adequate seal when pressed on by hand. Harder materials coated with an elastic layer are also suitable.

The granular activated carbon preferably has a grain diameter between 0.1 and 1 mm. Grain diameters of 0.5 mm have proven particularly useful. The uniform bed and uniform cleaning properties are produced above all if activated carbon with a grain size that is as uniform as possible is used.

In order to achieve a sufficiently large cleaning capacity, it is advantageous to dimension the cartridge so that it has a larger circumference than the nozzle. The two openings, namely the inlet and the outlet of the cartridge, are preferably closed off by sieve plates. which prevent the activated carbon from escaping undesirably. The lid and bottom of the cartridge are then preferably designed as very flat funnels, the central bore corresponding approximately to the diameter of the conical nozzle.

A preferred embodiment with strong permanent magnets also has a sealing element between the tube which can hold the permanent magnet and the cartridge which preferably contains unscrewable activated carbon. This sealing element can for example, an O-ring made of rubber or other elastic materials. It is also possible to produce the sealing element, for example the sealing ring, from the same material as the material to be used for sealing the connecting piece towards the tap. The O-ring lies, for example, firmly against the outer wall of the tube receiving the permanent magnet in the area of the screw-in end (for screwing in the activated carbon container). The sealing element can be fastened by gluing or by letting it into a groove which surrounds the tube in the circumferential direction. In order to prevent the ring from being pushed out when the tube holding the permanent magnet is screwed into the activated carbon cartridge, a protuberance running around the outer wall of the tube holding the permanent magnet, for example in the form of a web, can also be arranged. The sealing element is then coated on the thread side (opposite the opening receiving the pipe of the permanent magnet receiving tube) so that when the tube is screwed into the cartridge containing activated carbon, the sealing element is squeezed between the opening of the activated carbon cartridge and the circumferential protuberance. In this case, the protuberance running around the outer wall of the tube must be arranged at such a distance from the end that can be screwed into the activated carbon cartridge that sealing by means of the sealing element is made possible.

If the device according to the invention only consist of the nozzle and the cartridge, these can be firmly connected to one another and possibly even be largely produced in one piece during production. Such a device then only has to be provided with the upper sieve bottom, filled with the granular activated carbon, covered with a second sieve bottom and connected to the lower funnel of the cartridge serving as an outlet. In particular if the device according to the invention additionally has a tube with surrounding or adjacent permanent magnets, it is advisable to design the cartridge as a whole to be exchangeable.

It is indeed possible to provide such a cartridge with two screw threads and to screw it to the conical socket on the one hand and the tube with permanent magnets on the other. However, it has proven to be considerably more advantageous for a number of reasons to arrange the tube with the permanent magnets between the nozzle and the cartridge. In this embodiment, crystals of the hard water precipitated by the magnets can be intercepted by the cartridge with activated carbon. If necessary, other undesirable constituents of the water are also activated so that they are absorbed more quickly and thoroughly by the activated carbon. From a manufacturing point of view, such a device is preferred, since the nozzle on the one hand and the tube on the other hand can be manufactured in one piece. Only the permanent magnets then have to be installed. This can be done, for example, by using disc-shaped permanent magnets around a round tube or by inserting rectangular magnetic bars or blocks of magnetic foils lying one above the other on a tube, which is preferably of flat design. In particular, significantly higher magnetic fields can be used in this embodiment. Magnetic field strengths of 2,000 Gauss can be achieved between ^• hard ferrite rods and a flat plastic tube with a 2 to 4 mm thick slot for water to pass through. The higher the magnetic field strengths, the faster and more intensely the water quality is influenced, so that the treated water behaves like softer water. Water pretreated in this way no longer separates the solid constituents derived from the water hardness from the wall of the vessel, but instead precipitates in the form of fine powdery crystals. The devices according to the invention thus make it possible to use the pressure of the water pipe to treat water quantities between 50 ml and 5 l in the shortest possible time in such a way that it meets all requirements. The exchangeable cartridges with activated charcoal can be cleaned from 100 to 500 liters of water, depending on their dimensions, so that they are used up after a few weeks or a few months and should then be replaced. The permanent magnets do not lose their function, so that they can be used for many years.

For larger quantities of water, as is required in hotels, restaurants and commercial kitchens, correspondingly larger devices are required. The magnets and carbon filters must then also be correspondingly larger. Such devices can optionally also be connected to a larger tap with a snap lock or a quick coupling.

The water treatment with the device according to the invention is very environmentally friendly since no chemicals are used. Used cartridges with activated carbon can be easily burned or put in the household waste, especially if the wall of the cartridge and the filter bases are made of polyethylene and / or polypropylene. The treatment with strong permanent magnets also dispenses with the use of chemicals and does not lead to any problems with disposal.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are shown in the attached figures.

FIG. 1 shows the simplest embodiment, consisting of a conical socket and a cartridge with a granular activated carbon firmly connected to it. This is preferably at least partially impregnated with silver ions, so that subsequent germination is prevented. FIG. 2 shows a device in which the treatment is combined with activated carbon and permanent magnets.

FIG. 3 shows a device in which, in a particularly preferred embodiment, a sealing element in the form of an O-ring, preferably made of rubber, is arranged in the nozzle. Other, tentatively elastic materials are also suitable as sealing materials, such as, for example, silicone plastics and other materials used in the sealing industry.

FIG. 4 shows a device according to FIG. 3 with an additional sealing element in the region of the end of the tube receiving the permanent magnet that can be screwed into the activated carbon cartridge. Here, a sealing ring, for example an O-ring made of rubber or another elastic material, is arranged between a web running around the outer wall of the tube and the upper edge of the thread of the activated carbon cartridge. This ensures a reliable seal between the tube holding the permanent magnet and the cartridge containing activated carbon.

FIGS. 5 and 5a show a device which is particularly small and handy and is therefore particularly suitable for being carried on trips in order to be able to use the device practically anywhere where drinking water from pressure lines is available. Since the quality of the water is very different and fluctuating worldwide, it is possible according to the invention to provide better drinking water practically everywhere for private consumption. The device according to FIG. 5 consists of a plastic nozzle which can be pressed by hand onto the outlet of a water tap and a cartridge which is filled with granular activated carbon and through which water can flow, at least the upper part of the filling consisting of carbon which additionally contains mineral additives such as Contains zeolites and the lower part of the filling consists of coal, which is also impregnated with silver ions. Figures 6 and 6a show a device which is suitable for normal household use and also contains the two different types of coal mentioned above, but in two separate containers. These can in turn preferably be screwed together so that they can also be exchanged and replaced individually.

FIGS. 7 and 7a show an embodiment of the device which has proven very useful for being carried on trips according to FIGS. 5 and 5a. It consists of the manually pressable plastic nozzle, an exchangeable cartridge that is filled with two types of activated carbon, a screw-on drainage chamber, a conical rubber sleeve that is attached to a bead on the nozzle and welded to the nozzle with a plastic ring. In order to also be usable on smaller taps, a second, narrower rubber sleeve can also be supplied, which can be inserted into the first rubber sleeve.

FIG. 8 shows a tried-and-tested design of the device for the household, consisting of the plastic nozzle that can be pressed on by hand, a larger, screw-on cartridge with two types of activated carbon and the same rubber sleeve as in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment with a permanent magnet using the same screw-on cartridge as in FIG. 8.

Coal filters are preferably also used in the case of coal which, through special absorptive mineral additives such as silica, alumina and natural or synthetic zeolites, is able to remove heavy metals such as lead from the water. This can be of particular importance in houses or communities in which there are still lead pipes or water pipes soldered with lead solder, which lead to an undesired lead contamination of the water. Such a material is manufactured and sold, for example, by Engelhard under the names ATC TM and ATS TM. It is impregnated onto the surface of microporous activated carbon granules.

Since these mineral additives can be inactivated by silver ions, the carbon filters are therefore preferably filled with two layers of different activated carbon. The lower layer then preferably consists of activated carbon, which is impregnated with silver ions, while the upper layer consists of activated carbon, which contains no silver ions and is instead mixed or impregnated with the mineral additives. These two layers are preferably separated from one another by a sieve plate or a filter fleece.

The upper activated carbon can both absorb the cationic heavy metals such as lead dissolved in water and remove the undesired components such as flavors, smells, chlorine and organic contaminants such as pesticides and herbicides. Depending on the special needs of regions and the water present there and the impurities present therein, the upper and lower layers can be chosen to be the same or of different strengths. The lower layer is preferably again impregnated with silver ions.

For cost reasons, the cartridge can also be filled with a mixture of the two types of activated carbon. This mixture is at least initially as effective as the two types in separate parts of the cartridge. The service life of such cartridges may be a little shorter because silver ions can inactivate the mineral additives prematurely.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Device for the environmentally friendly treatment of small amounts of water with activated carbon and possibly with strong permanent magnetic fields, especially in the kitchen and in the household, characterized in that it consists of

a) a plastic nozzle which can be pressed by hand onto the outlet of a water tap,

b) a cartridge filled with granular activated carbon, through which water can flow and

c) if appropriate, a pipe made of non-ferrous metal, plastic or hose material through which water can flow and with which strong permanent magnets surround this pipe or lie against this pipe.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle has one or more planar extensions on the outside, which facilitate pressing the nozzle to the outlet of the tap.

3. Device according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the nozzle is conical and / or has on its inner wall elastic sealing elements.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing element arranged on the inner wall is a sealing ring or a rubber-elastic insert with knobs or grooves.

5. The device according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the cartridge has a larger circumference than the Stut¬ zen and is completed at both openings by sieve plates.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cartridge is designed to be exchangeable.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least the upper part of the filling consists of coal, which additionally contains mineral additives such as zeolites and the lower part of the filling consists of coal, which is additionally impregnated with silver ions.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tube is arranged with the permanent magnet between the nozzle and cartridge.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tube is flat.