GB2171612A - Improvements in or relating to filter apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Filter apparatus, for a caravan, comprises a moulded housing 100 having a lid 117 and containing a removable pump, cable 28 and hose 26. The housing 100 provides a mounting 101 which provides a filter chamber which accommodates a replaceable filter cartridge 102, a window 160 being provided in the front of the cartridge to show when the filter cartridge needs changing.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to filter means for use in apparatus for transferring fluids This invention concerns improvements in or relating to filter means for use in apparatusfor transferring fluids, e.g. from a stored supply to a point of consumption or distribution.

In our co-pending Application No. 21341 82A, from which this apparatus is divided, there is disclosed apparatus, for transferring fluids, comprising an electric pump connected to an end portion of electricity supply conductor means and to an end portion of duct means, characterised in that: (a) The conductor means and duct means each have a respective flexible portion, which flexible portions and the pump are all accommodated in a housing; (b) the housing comprises a mouth provided with a closure memberwhich is movable to open said mouth to permitwithdrawal of said pump from said housing; (c) said duct means is mechanically connected to said housing to hinder separation of the pump and duct meansfrom the housing; and (d) said housing is arranged to permit electricity and pumped fluid to be conveyed through the housing via the conductor and duct means, when the pump is withdrawn from the housing and immersed in a supplyoffluid.

The housing is preferably provided with filter means, which preferably incorporates a mounting fortheflexible portion ofthe duct means orforahose connector to which the flexible portion is secured.

Said co-pending Application also disclosed apparatus, fortransferring fluids, comprising an electric pump connected to an end portion of electricity supply conductor means and to an end portion of duct means, characterised in that: (a) the conductor means and duct means each have a respective flexible portion, which flexible portions and the pump are all accommodated in a housing; (b) the housing comprises a mouth provided with a closure member which is movable to open said mouth to permitwithdrawal of said pump from said housing; (c) said duct means is mechanically connected to said housing to hinder separation of the pump and duct means from the housing; and (d) said housing is provided with filter means to which the duct means is connected sothat pumped fluid can be conveyed through the housing via the d uct means to the fi Iter means.

According to the present invention there is provided filter means, for apparatus fortransferring fluids, comprising a mounting and afiltercartridge; wherein the mounting provides a chamber in which the cartridge is supported, has an inlet duct connectabletoafluidsupplyduct, hasatransferduct leading from said inlet duct to said chamber, has a filtered fluid outlet duct leading from said chamber, and has a secondary outlet duct leading from said inlet duct.

The mounting is preferably moulded to include a removable portion which closes said secondary outlet duct, and the mounting preferably provides sockets for a hose connector and an electrical connector.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided filter means, for apparatus for transferring fluids, comprising a mounting and a replaceable filter cartridge; wherein the mounting provides a chamber having an open end, a duct to admit fluid to said chamber, and a furtherductto release fluid from the chamber; wherein the filter means includes means to close said open end and to provide a seal to constrain, in use, fluid flowing throughsaidchambertoflowthroughthefilterviaa space between a window in one end part of said filter means and a first filter element adjacent to said window.

The first filter element is preferablywhite or of a very pale colour, and a partofthe surface thereof is preferably rendered impervious to give a distinct visual signal relating to the amount of matter removed from the fluid by the first filter element.

Apparatus of the invention may comprise any one or more of the foregoing aspects of the invention, and may include otherfeatures and aspects ofthe invention disclosed herein, and embodiments of apparatus of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:- FIGURE 1 shows; in transverse vertical cross section, apparatus fortransferring fluids incorporating filter means of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a part sectional viewthrough a housing oftheapparatusshowingthefrontupper parts of a mounting and the filter means, with a hose and electrical connector removed to show sockets; and FIGURE 3, showsthe mounting in rearelevation removed from the remainder of the housing, with the hose and electical connector in situ in the sockets.

Apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 to 3 employs a pump (not shown), hose 26, cable 28, sheath 29 and collar 30, and hasa housing 1 00 of advantageous form provided with a mounting 101 which supports and forms part offilter means 102 and serves also as part of duct means.

The housing 100 comprises a plastics body 103, moulded to have open front and rear ends, a moulded cover 104 having an open opening 115 which serves as the mouth forthe housing, a closure member 117, and the mounting 101.

The open front end is surrounded by a rim flange 1 16 which may be secu red to a structu re 50 in any of the ways described hereinbefore with reference to the rim 16, and the periphery of the cover 104 is secured to the flange 1 16to obscure the open front end.

The closure member 117 comprises a panel, which is dimensioned to close a frontopening 115 and hasa free end portion 125. As indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 1,the panel 123 is dimensioned to fit into the opening when the member 117 is in aclosed position, in which the free end portion 125 is held against a recessed portion of the cover 122.

The body 103 has a hollow rearwardly directed upper extension 127 and internal flanges 128 spaced apartfromatopwall 129 ofthe bodywherebyto provideaccommodation intheupperpartofthe bodyforthe closure member 117 when the latter is in a storage position, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Aflange 131 around the rear opening of the body 103, provides sockets to receive tapered projections 132 provided on the mounting 101 wherebyto secure the mounting to the body to close the rear opening.

The mounting is moulded to provide duct means including an inlet duct 133, a transfer duct 134 leading from the inlet ductto a chamber 135 ofthe filter means, an outlet duct 1 36 from the rear of the chamber, and a secondary outlet duct 137 ofthe duct means leading from the inlet duct 133; and is moulded to serve as a rearwallforthe housing in which wall an aperture 138 is provided to serve as a socketforan electrical connector 140 (FIGURE 3) to extend through the mounting orwall.

The inlet duct 133 is shaped to provide a socketfor a hose connector 139to which the hose 26and sheath 29 are clamped byafurthercollar30,thecable 28 being taken from the sheath adjacentthefurther collar 30 to the connector 140. The connectors 139 and 140 comprise portions of a common moulding 141 which is secured to the mounting byfastenersto connect mechanically the pump to the housing.

The filter meansfurther comprises a filter cartridge assembly 150 comprising a filter cartridge 151, a cap member 152 to close an opening atthefront ofthe chamber, and a seal 153to constrain fluid supplied bythe pumptothechambertoflowthroughthe cartridge 151 to the outlet duct 136 via a space 154 between the cap member 152 and a first filter 155 of the cartridge.

The cartridge 151 containsthefirstfilter 155, which is a stiffthin coarse filter, a second filter 156 offiner porosity which is preferably resilient, a main filter 157 of activated charcoal which is preferably chemically treated to have a bactericidal effect, afinal fine filter 158 preferably of a resilient material, and a porous stiff end plate 159.

The cap member 152 is moulded from a clear transparent material so asto provide a window 160 through which a white or very light coloured front of thefirstfilter 155 can be seen when the closure member 117 is opened. A small zone 161 ofthefront of the filter 155 is rendered impervious and smooth so that matter removed from thewaterdoes not adhere easily to the zone 161,so that, in use, when such matter accumulates on or in the firstfilterthe remainder ofthe front will become discoloured thereby causing the zone 161 to be easily visually distinguished from the remainder to give a visual signal thatthe filter cartridge assembly 150 needsto be changed. The zone 161 may be constituted by a plaque of clear silicone wax or plastics material.The cap member 152 also has finger grip flanges 162with lugs 163to engage in slots 164 in the bodywhereby to releasably retain the filter cartridge assembly 150 in the housing.

The mounting is moulded so that the secondary outlet duct 137 is closed by a removable portion 165 which can be cut-offifthe secondary outlet is to be used e.g. for a supply of unfiltered water to a water heater. In use the main inlet pipe or hose 53 ofthe structure is connected to the outlet duct 136, and a cable of the structu re's electrical system is taken to the rearoftheconnector 140 and connected bythe connector 140 to the cable 28.

The housing hasasmallfluiddrain 166 between the body 103 and the cover 104.

The invention is not confined to the details ofthe foregoing embodiment and many variation are possible within the scope of the invention; the filter means may be used individually; and any ofthe features and details disclosed herein may be used in any suitable combination.

Claims (16)

1. Filter means comprising a mounting, releasable closure means, and a replaceable filter cartridge and sealing means; wherein the mounting provides a filter chamber having an open end, a duct to admit fluid to said chamber, and an outlet duct to release fluid from said chamber; wherein the filter cartridge is disposed in said filter chamber, and contains a first filter at one end of the cartridge; wherein said closure means is provided with a window and arranged to close said open end; wherein said sealing means is arranged to constrain, in use, fluid flowing into said chamber to flow through said filter cartridge to the outletductvia a space between said window and the firstfilter; and wherein thefirstfilter is alongside and confronts said window so asto be visible through said window.

2. Filter means as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the closure means and filter cartridge are connected to form a removablefilterassembly.

3. Filter means as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein thefirstfilteriswhiteorofaverypalecolour.

4. Filter means as claimed in Claim 1,2 or3wherein part of the surface of the firstfilter is rendered impervious for giving a visual indication ofthe amount of matter removed from the fluid bythefirst filter.

5. Filter means as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4wherein said inlet duct is connected to said chamber by a transfer duct, and is connected to a secondary outlet duct for unfiltered fluid.

6. Filter means as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the mounting is moulded to include a removable portion which closes the secondary outlet duct.

7. Filter means as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6wherein said closure means comprises a cap member moulded from transparent material.

8. Filter means as claimed in Claim 7 as appended to Claim 2 wherein the cap member is adapted to releasablyengagethe mounting to retainthefilter assembly in the mounting.

9. Filter means as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein a second filter, offiner porosity than the first filter, is provided nextto thefirstfilter in said cartridge.

10. Filter means as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the filter cartridge containsfurtherfiltersdisposed between the second filter and a porous end plate.

11. Filter means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.

12. A filter cartridge assembly, for use in the filter means as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, comprising a cap member formed to provide a transparent window and secured to one end of a filter cartridge, the filter cartridge containing a first filter which is disposed alongside and confronts said window across a space therebetween so as to be visible through said window, to provide, in use, a visual signal relating to the amount of matter removed by the first filter from fluid passed through the assembly.

13. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the first filter is white or of a very pale colour.

14. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 wherein part ofthe surface of the first filter is rendered impervious for giving a visual indication of the amount of matter removed from the fluid by the first filter.

15. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12,13 or 14 wherein the filter cartridge contains a main filter of actuated charcoal and a second filter of resilient material disposed between the first and the main filters.

16. A filter assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawings.