FR2620948A1 - FILTERING UNIT FOR WATER FILTRATION INSTALLATION, IN PARTICULAR AN AQUARIUM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter unit arranged to avoid the delicate and unpleasant operations of replacing or washing aquarium filters. The unit consists of a distribution block 20 essentially comprising a four-way valve, and a filter unit 21 which is of the disposable type and which is fixed under the distribution block 20 by quick-connect members of the screw type or bayonet type. The four-way valve has a plastic body 22 and a rotary plug 26 provided with a single seal. The filter unit 21 contains one or more filter materials 48 to 50, housed between a peripheral envelope 40 of rigid synthetic material, a central tube 44 and a perforated upper wall. Filter units according to the invention can be connected in series or in parallel in an external filtration circuit of an aquarium, or in a laboratory installation.

Description

FILTERING UNIT FOR WATER FILTRATION INSTALLATION,

NOTABLY AN AQUARIUM

  The present invention relates to a filter unit for a water filtration installation, in particular an aquarium, comprising at least one filter interposed in a water circuit between an inlet duct and a water duct.

  output, and a shutter member for closing at will this circuit.

  In installations used to filter aquarium water, one or more filter units containing a filter cartridge housed in a generally cylindrical housing are usually used. These cartridges should be periodically cleaned or replaced, and for this it is necessary to uncouple the filter unit from the water circulation lines, then open it to extract the cartridge. This

  Operation is unpleasant in two ways, especially in a home.

  On the one hand, water is often spread to the dismantling of the filter unit, either from the pipes or from this unit itself. It is then necessary to provide a water collection tank specifically for this operation. On the other hand, the filter cartridges loaded with waste are smelly, so that the opening of the filter unit and the extraction of the cartridge causes disgust in many users. In general, it should be noted that the replacement or the cleaning of the aquarium filters represents, especially in domestic uses, a rather long operation, unhygienic, and delicate in certain cases because of the risk of bad winding and leaks. Furthermore,

  rebooting the pump may present difficulties.

  An attempt to remedy some of these problems is described in the French utility certificate No. 2'431'253. It is a filter unit comprising an inverted pot-shaped housing which encloses the filter cartridge and which is closed at its base by a removable assembly equipped with water supply and discharge connections, as well as of an organ

  shutter in the form of a rotary slide closing off the peripheral ducts

  water entry. However, with this system, the water outlet duct is not closed and it still allows some water emission when the inlet and outlet connections are cut. Moreover, the problem of odors at the change of the cartridge is not solved, since it is still necessary to remove the housing cover for this operation. The present invention therefore aims to provide a filter unit

  to avoid the problems mentioned above.

  For this purpose, the filter unit according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a filter block containing the filter cartridge, and a distribution block provided with a closure member, an inlet connection and a water supply connection, a first connection port communicating with the inlet duct of the filter block and a second connection port communicating with the outlet duct of the filter block, in that shutter member is arranged to simultaneously close the first and the second connection orifice, and in that the filter block and the distribution block comprise mutual connection members ensuring both a removable attachment of the filter block to the block of distribution and sealing

of the water circuit.

  Preferably, the shutter member is a four-way valve having a

cylindrical rotary plug.

  In an advantageous embodiment, a first pair of channels of the valve, including the inlet fitting and the first connection port, is in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug, and a second pair of channels, comprising the second connection port and the starting connection, is in another plane perpendicular to this axis. The plug can be housed inside a one-piece valve body in a synthetic manner in a cylindrical housing open at one end, the sealing of this housing on the side of its opening being provided by an O-ring housed in a circumferential groove of the

bushel.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter block is of the disposable type, and said connecting members comprise

  fixing members of the screw or balancer type.

  Preferably, the filter block comprises a peripheral envelope provided with at least one upper opening, a central tube perforated at its base, and one or more filtering masses housed between the peripheral envelope and the central tube. A perforated-cheeked reel-shaped distribution piece can be inserted between the distribution block and the upper face of the filter block.

  The invention and its advantages will become more apparent in the following description

  of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of a water filtration installation of an aquarium, comprising two filter units according to the present invention, the FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section of an embodiment of a filter unit of this installation, composed of a filter block and a distribution block, FIG. 3 represents the distribution block, seen from below. after removal of the filter block, and

  FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

  Figure 1 schematically shows an aquarium I equipped with a filter installation of the external type, that is to say in which the pump and the filter organs are outside the aquarium. In this example, the water circuit comprises in series a suction strainer 2, two filtering units 3 and 4, a pumping unit 5, a tube 6 for returning the water

  in the aquarium, and pipes 7 to 10 connecting the successive elements 2 to 6.

  With the exception of the filter units 3 and 4 according to the present invention, all the other elements of the installation are known and do not need to be described here in detail. It should be noted, however, that the pumping unit 5 shown here is a unit of the conventional type composed of an electric pump 12 and a filtration tank 13 in which the water circulates as indicated by the arrows, but that could be constituted solely by a pump. On the other hand, instead of two filter units 3 and 4 connected in series upstream of the pump, one or more can be provided, with a series or parallel assembly, and one or more units Furthermore, the two units 3 and 4 may be identical or different, in particular contain filters of different nature depending on the conditions.

  of the aquarium and the installation.

  Figures 2 to 4 illustrate an advantageous embodiment of the filter unit 3 or 4. It is composed of a distribution block 20 and a filter block 21 removably attached under the block 20. The block distribution 20 comprises a one-piece body of synthetic material 22, equipped with a connection 23 for the arrival of water and a connection 24 for the departure thereof, these connections being for example of the interlocking type, for their connection to the respective pipes 7, 8 or 9. In this case, the connections 23 and 24 are on opposite sides of the body 22, but it is also possible to provide embodiments in which they are on the same face, for example. example the upper face. Inside the body 22, a cylindrical housing 25 contains a rotary plug 26 forming with the body 22 a four-way valve which selectively communicates the inlet connection 23 with a first port 27 connecting the block 21 , and the starting connection 24 with a second orifice 28 connecting the block 21. These two orifices 27 and 28 open out next to each other in the lower face of the body 22, the orifice 27 being off-center and flared in 27a. Through the plug 26 and in the open position of the valve, the flow of water takes place simultaneously in two bent passages 29 and 30, as seen in the figures. It suffices to turn the bushel 26, for example 1800, by a sufficient angle to simultaneously close off

  the four holes of the four-way valve constituted by the unit 20.

  The shape of the plug 26 and its arrangement in the body 22 appear particularly in FIG. 4. The cylindrical housing 25 provided in the body is blind, being open only on a front face 32 of the body, which makes it easy to ensure the sealing the valve by means of a single O-ring (not shown) housed in a circular groove 33 of the plug. Indeed, the adjustment of the plug in the housing 25 provides sufficient relative sealing between bores 34 and 35 in which are fixed the respective connectors 23 and 24, while the seal placed in the groove 33 ensures a perfect seal vis-à-vis -vis from the outside. A second circular groove 36 is formed on the periphery of the plug to allow its retention in the body 22 by a tangential pin 37. On the side of the front face 32 of the body, the plug 26 has a control handle 38. In this case a small blind cavity 39 (Fig. 2) is provided in the plug, which is in the same radial plane as the orifice 27 (or 28 if the circulation of water is provided in the opposite direction) and which is accessible ,

  in the normal position illustrated in fig. 2, through an orifice 39a of the body 22.

  This makes it possible to insert into the cavity 39 a pellet of an active product and to drop this pellet into the filter block 21 by means of a rotation of the

bushel 26.

  Of course, the plug 26 may also include a conduit directly communicating the inlet connection 23 with the starting connection 24 in a position where the orifices 27 and 28 are closed, so as to allow the pump to circulate the water while the filter block is switched off. On the other hand, it is obvious that we could circulate the water through the whole unit in the opposite direction to what is described here,

  depending on the type of filter used.

  The connectors 23 and 24 are bent at 90 and are pivotally mounted in the bores 34 and 35 of the body 22, where they are each held together by a screw

  or tangential pin 60 engaged in a circular groove 61 of the connector.

  A second groove is provided for an O-ring seal 62. The possibility of pivoting the fittings facilitates their connection to the

  connecting lines and allows these lines to be guided at will.

  In the embodiment illustrated particularly in FIG. 2, the filter block 21 comprises a cylindrical envelope 40 in the form of a pot, whose upper edge 41 is provided with an external thread to be releasably screwed into a threaded ring 42 fixed to the body. 22, or possibly in a thread formed directly in this body. The edge 41 is pressed against a seal 43. A central tube 44, having perforations 45 at its base, is integral with the bottom 46 of the casing 40 and a transverse wall having perforations 47. surrounding the central tube 44 is filled with one or more filter masses 48, 49, 50 that the water

  crosses successively before exiting through tube 44.

  In this example, there is provided, between the lower face of the body 22 and the upper face of the filter block, a distribution piece 52 in the form of a coil, having two perforated parallel cheeks 53 and 54 and a central orifice 55. Around this orifice, the piece 52 has a slightly conical socket -6- fitting relatively tightly on a conical tip 56 of the body 22, and opposite a conical tip 57

  interlocking in the same manner in the flared end of the tube 44.

  The free space 58 located between the flanges 53 and 54 ensures a uniform distribution of water in the filter material from the off-center orifice 27 (Figure 3). Apart from the filtering materials, the entire filter unit 21 can be made of synthetic material, inexpensively. In addition, a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention is to realize this unit in "disposable" form, that is to say to discard after use, so that the user no longer needs to open or wash the filter. The change of the filter is then summarized in the following operations: - rotate the plug 26 so as to close the two orifices 27 and 28; unscrew the filter block 40 and discard it after having recovered the piece 52; adapt the part 52 in a new filter block 40 and screw this block under the distribution block 20; - restore the water circuit in the filter by returning the bushel 26 in its

initial position.

  As the filter block 21 is under the block 20, all these operations can be performed without spreading water. The change of block 21 is extremely fast and easy. Finally, the user does not touch the filter material and does not have to open the block, so it does not suffer foul odors. It can simply close the block by means of a plug

  Thread supplied with each new block.

  The embodiment described above may be subject to multiple modifications or variations, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the filter block can have any form appropriate to the intended application and contain different filters. Its upper part may be arranged so as to avoid the use of an intermediate piece (52) and to have only two orifices which are placed in front of the corresponding orifices 27 and 28 of the distribution block by means of a bayonet connection of the two blocks. The distribution block can be integrated into a more complete set, including for example the circulation pump and / or other

  similar blocks associated with a battery of filters.

  Moreover, the invention can be applied to many other filtration installations than those of aquariums. The ease of switching off and handling the "disposable" filter block is also of interest in all installations where hazardous or dirty products are filtered, especially in chemical or medical analysis laboratories. -8-

Claims (9)

  1. Filtering unit for water filtration system, in particular an aquarium, comprising at least one filter interposed in a water circuit between an inlet duct and an outlet duct, and a closure member allowing to shut off at will this water circuit, characterized in that it comprises a filter block (21) containing the filter, and a distribution block (20) provided with said closure member (26), a coupling of (23) and a starting connection (24) for water, a first connection port (27) communicating with the inlet duct of the filter block, and a second connection port ( 28) communicating with the outlet duct of the filter block, in that the closure member (26) is arranged to close the first and second connection ports (27 and 28) simultaneously, and in that the filter block and the distribution block comprise mutual members of. connection (41 to 43) providing both a removable fixing of the filter block to the distribution block and the sealing of the circuit of water.   2. Filter unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said shutter member is a four-way valve having a rotary valve cylindrical (26).   A filter unit according to claim 2, characterized in that a first pair of channels of the valve, comprising the inlet fitting (23) and the first connecting port (27), is in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug (26), and that a second pair of channels, including the second connection port (28) and the starting connection (24),   found in another plane perpendicular to this axis.   4. Filter unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the plug has on its cylindrical surface a blind cavity (39) which is located in said first plane and which communicates alternately, by rotation of the plug, with the first connection orifice ( 27) and with a hole (39a)   introducing a tablet of active product.   -9 5. Filter unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the plug (26) is housed inside a one-piece valve body (22) made of synthetic material, in a cylindrical housing (25) open at one end only , and in that the sealing of this housing on the side of its opening is provided by an O-ring housed in a circumferential groove (33) of the plug. Filter unit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the valve body (22) has two cylindrical lateral bores (34 and 35) for mounting the inlet and outlet connections (23 and 24), each of these connections is bent and pivotally mounted in the corresponding cylindrical bore by means of an O-ring seal (62) and a tangential screw or pin (60) engaged in a circular groove (61) of the fitting.   Filter unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the filter block (21) is of the disposable type, and in that said connecting members comprise fixing members of the type   screw (41 and 42) or bayonet.   8. Filter unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the filter block (21) comprises a peripheral envelope (40) provided with at least one upper opening (47), a central tube (44) perforated at its base, and one or more filter masses (48 to 50) housed between the peripheral envelope and the central tube.   Filter unit according to Claim 8, characterized in that a perforated cheek piece distribution piece (52) is inserted between the   distribution block (20) and the upper face of the filter block.