WO2013045109A1

WO2013045109A1 - Filter cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2013045109A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/004090
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernd Heitele; Björn SCHATTSCHNEIDER; Roland Scholz
Original assignee: Aquis Wasser-Luft-Systeme Gmbh, Lindau
Priority date: 2011-09-30
Filing date: 2012-09-28
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: DE102011114566A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter cartridge (1, 21) for inserting into a water reservoir, comprising a cartridge housing, a water inlet (3) for water from the reservoir, a water duct inside the housing (1), which comprises at least one filtering section (6), and a water outlet (8). It is distinguished by the fact that between the water inlet (3) and the water outlet (8) there is arranged at least one additional material (13, 14), which is in contact with the water running through.

Description

"Filter cartridge"

For the treatment of water filter cartridges or filter cartridges are already known, a cartridge housing with a water inlet, a water spout and a

Have filter section inside the filter body and for use within a water storage tank

are provided. For this purpose, the filter cartridges are provided with a water inlet opening through which the water from the water reservoir with the onset of the filter cartridge or with the filling of the water reservoir can run. The outlet of the filter cartridge is connected to an outlet of the water supply, so that a separation of raw water in the water reservoir and treated water in the

Water outlet is guaranteed.

Such applications are, for example, in food processors, beverage machines such as fully automatic coffee machines or tea machines with water tank or in so-called

Water filter cans given. In electrical equipment, a suction pump is often provided, the water from the

Storage tank or water reservoir through the

Suction filter cartridge through.

In purely mechanical applications, such as the filter can mentioned above, the water flows from a correspondingly higher elevation solely by gravity

Water reservoir through the filter cartridge in a deeper collection chambers.

The water treatment in the known devices is usually limited to the water softening and optionally still on the withdrawal of interfering flavors, which is why ion exchange resin and / or activated carbon are usually provided in the filter section.

CONFIRMATION COPY The object of the present invention is to provide a

Filter device with improved water treatment

to propose.

This task is based on filter cartridges of

initially mentioned type solved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

The measures mentioned in the dependent claims advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are possible.

Accordingly, according to the invention between the

Water inlet and outlet of the filter cartridge at least one additive arranged, which is added to the water flowing through. With such an additive, the

Water treatment can be further improved. In question here come z. B. Dietary supplements such as vitamins,

Minerals etc. However, it is also possible for flavor carriers,

Flavorings or the like are added to the

To improve water treatment.

Various possibilities for the realization of such

Filter cartridges are given in the subclaims.

So z. B. the arrangement of the additive before the route to be provided within the filter section or after the filter section, in the usual manner with known

Filter materials, such as ion exchange resin and

Activated carbon is provided.

Before the filter section, for example, soluble substances can be added, which are not filterable by the subsequent filter material, so that they are the filter section

can happen. There are also additives before

Filter path conceivable that result in interaction with dissolved substances in the raw water filterable particles or compounds, so that the water treatment is improved by the known filter section. The arrangement of the additive in the region of the filter section allows the addition of the additive without constructive change known filter cartridges.

If the additives are arranged after the filter section, it is also possible to add substances which pass through the filter

Filter line would otherwise filtered out.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, a separate chamber is provided for one or more additives, so that the additive is accommodated separately from the other filter material. In addition, such a chamber offers the advantage that the amount of additives to be added can be influenced by geometry and flow characteristics.

Also conceivable capsules for additives, by which the additive or additives are enclosed by an outer wall, without a chamber in the housing

Filter cartridge must be formed. Such a capsule may be provided with an inlet and / or outlet or for example also an outer wall or outer membrane

have, which is permeable to water and / or also

can be water-soluble.

A membrane may be formed, for example, as a lipid membrane, similar to cell membranes. The outer wall or

For example, membrane may also be impermeable to water, it may have hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties, or may have hydrophobic or hydrophilic regions

to selectively release water-soluble or water-insoluble additives. The outer wall or membrane may, for example, also have a passive or active transport mechanism for additives, for example via so-called

Transport carriers, for example similar or comparable to the active transport mechanism of biological membranes in animal cells.

Also conceivable are carrier materials to which additives are bound, fixed or enclosed, for example by immobilization on carrier materials, such as. B. on Membranes, or by inclusion or immobilization in

Chambers with semipermeable outer wall, for example in a semi-permeable membrane body, z. B. in a hollow fiber membrane.

The substantial release or release and / or solution and / or distribution of additive in the filter cartridge can also be done only by initialization or activation of the filter cartridge by contacting with water, z. B. at flow through the filter cartridge with a first amount of water.

Thus, the dispensing behavior and / or solution behavior and / or distribution behavior of additive in the

Filter cartridge before and after initialization or activation of the filter cartridge by contact with water

controlled influenced.

By adhering to a maximum relative

Humidity in the filter cartridge until the first use of the filter cartridge with water, for example, an uncontrolled release or release and / or distribution and / or distribution of the additive in the filter cartridge before the first startup of the filter cartridge with water can be prevented or at least significantly reduced.

Depending on the type and condition of the

Additive may also be adhering to a specific

Humidity range in the filter cartridge with

Production be beneficial. It has proven to be particularly advantageous if an air moisture content of less than 95% relative humidity, is maintained during production of the filter cartridge. A capsule form can also be used to accommodate many capsules with the same or different additives in the water flow. Another variant for the addition of additives would be the addition of compacts or other types pre-dimensioned solid body of additives or

Containing additives, for. B. in tablet form, so that the additives solve controlled, especially at

Slowly dissipate the flow and / or release slowly over time. Also in this application form it is possible several different sized tablets with one or more additives over the flow path inside the cartridge to distribute.

In a particular embodiment, the arrangement of an additive or more additives within the filter section is provided in the form that the or

Additives are mixed under the filter material of the filter section. The one or more additives can be mixed in the filter material, for example, in powder or granular form. However, other forms of admixing are readily conceivable,

for example in the form of the capsules or tablets described above. Pre-sized solid bodies, for example granules, tablets or pellets, for example, can be used in combination of different sizes in order to allow a predetermined release of additive quantities over a certain volume range or to allow a predetermined release gradient of additive over a certain volume range.

Various embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will become apparent from the following

Figures explained in more detail.

Show individually

Figure 1 shows a filter cartridge for a filter can with

Additive in the filter material,

FIG. 2 shows a filter cartridge for a filter can with an additive in a central downpipe,

FIG. 3 shows a filter cartridge for a filter can with a chamber for additives;

FIG. 4 shows a filter cartridge for a suction application with additive in the filter material, Figure 5 shows a filter cartridge for suction application with

Additive chamber and

FIG. 6 shows a filter cartridge for suction applications with an additive capsule.

The filter cartridge 1 according to FIG. 1 is provided for insertion into a discharge funnel of a filter can. For this purpose, it comprises an outer circumferential sealing edge 2 and one or more upper-side water inlet openings. The

Filter cartridge 1 is designed as AufStromkartusche, that is on the outside here is a downflow chamber provided through which the water flows downwards, where it is diverted inwards in a AufStromkammer 5. In the upflow chamber 5 is this filter material, so that the

Upstream chamber 5 forms the filter section 6. Above the filter section 6 and the upflow chamber 5, the water flows through outlet screens 7 in a central downpipe

Water outlet 8 of the cartridge 1. The outer wall 9, together with the bottom 10 and the lid 11, the housing 12 of the filter cartridge first

In the variant according to FIG. 1, one or more additives 13, 14 are now introduced into the bed of the filter material, whose upper side 15 can be seen in the drawing,

mixed. The one or more additives 13, 14 may be mixed as described above, for example, either as capsules, tablets, granules or powder.

The filter cartridge 1 according to FIG. 2 substantially corresponds to the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

Deviating now is a capsule 16 with additive 17 inserted into the downpipe 18. The capsule 16 can the

Additive 17 in turn in the form of other capsules, or in the form of other pre-sized solid bodies, such as pellets or granular or powdered or in liquid form. The capsule can be a solid housing with inlet and outlet or even an outer wall or

Membrane, with z. B. partially permeable or semipermeable Have properties for additives and / or dissolved additives in water as described above.

Instead of the capsule 16 could also another

Pre-dimensioned body, for example, with a large outer wall surface or a body with a large

semipermeable outer wall surface, for example formed from numerous small individual bodies with semipermeable

External wall surface, for example, a

Hollow fiber membrane bundle, in the interior of which additives are immobilized or incorporated, are used.

Instead of the capsule 16 and a compact of solid additive could be used in the downpipe 18.

The filter cartridge 1, 2 according to FIG. 3 again essentially corresponds to the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Deviating is now above the downpipe 18 and

above the outlet sieves 7 a chamber 19 is provided, is housed in the additive 20. The additive or additives can in turn be accommodated in all the variations described above or else in the chamber 19.

Figure 4 shows a filter cartridge 21 as in the water tank of a filter device, for example in a

Water dispenser or a coffee machine, a tea machine or other beverage machine in suction application for

Use can come.

Via bottom-side slots 22, water passes from a tank in which the filter cartridge is located to the inlet opening 23 and from there in the upward flow to a sieve 24, the one

Limited to the flow chamber 25, in which filter material

located. The upstream chamber 25 thus immediately forms the filter section 26. At the top, the water is diverted via a porous body 27 into the water inlet 28 of a downpipe 29. From the downpipe 29, the treated water flows sealed from the raw water in the tank through a seal 30 in an outlet, not shown, of the water tank in the corresponding beverage machine.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, one or more additives 31, 32 are mixed in the filter material, which is in the form of a charge, the upper side 33 of which is illustrated

is shown.

The nature and form of the additives 32, 31 can turn

be provided in many ways, in particular, the type of admixture of those of the prescribed additives 13, 14 correspond.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 corresponds essentially to the respective one according to FIG. 4, wherein a chamber 34 is now formed in the porous body 27 in which an additive 35 is accommodated in the manner already described several times.

The embodiment according to FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG

Essentially with reference to Figures 4 and 5 described

Design variants.

The filter cartridge 2 comprises here in the lower area a capsule 36 with additive 37. This capsule 36, which in turn can be formed as already described with housing, inlet and outlet, with or without outer wall or membrane, etc., from below into the Drop tube 19 used and can be mounted very easily. In particular, such

Use in finished filter cartridges 21, 2 to be made later. Instead of the capsule 36 may also be a

Pressling or the like can be used.

These and other embodiments can ensure by the addition of additives that the improvement of the water treatment according to the invention is achieved. List of reference numbers:

1. filter cartridge

2nd sealing edge

3. inlet opening

4. Abstromkammer

5. Abstromkammer

6. Filter section

7. outlet screens

8. Water outlet

9. outer wall

10th floor

11. Lid

12. Housing

13. Additive

14. Additive

15th top

16th capsule

17. Additive

18th downpipe

19th Chamber

20. Additive

21. Filter cartridge

22nd slot

23. inlet opening

24. Sieve

25. On the current chamber

26. Filter section

27. porous body

28th water intake

29. Downpipe

30. seal

31. Additive

32. additive

33. top

34th Chamber

35. Additive

36th capsule

37. additive

Claims

Claims :

1. Filter cartridge (1, 21) for insertion in a

Water reservoir having a cartridge housing (12), a water inlet (3) for water from the reservoir, a water guide inside the housing (1) comprising at least one filter section (6) and a water outlet (8), characterized in that between the Water inlet (3) and the water outlet (8) at least one additive (13, 14)

is arranged, which is in contact with the water flowing through.

2. Filter cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the additive with respect to the flow direction in front of the filter section (6) is arranged.

3. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additive is arranged relative to the flow direction in the filter section (6).

4. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additive is arranged with respect to the flow direction after the filter section (6).

5. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a chamber (19) for additive (20) is provided.

6. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more additives are arranged in a capsule, the one

having water-permeable outer wall or semipermeable membrane.

7. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more additives are provided in a capsule with outer wall or outer membrane, in particular lipid membrane.

8. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of capsules is provided for additive.

9. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that additive as

pre-dimensioned solid body, e.g. B. is provided as a tablet or compact.

10. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of

pre-dimensioned solid bodies, e.g. B. granules and / or tablets and / or compacts of different sizes with additive is provided.

11. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additive in a capsule with a hydrophobic outer wall or hydrophobic semipermeable outer wall, for example, hydrophobic semipermeable

Outer membrane is provided.

12. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a predetermined

Release gradient for additive over a certain amount of filtrate and / or over a predetermined period of use is made possible.

13. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that additive is provided in a capsule with outer wall or outer membrane and that an active and / or passive transport mechanism is involved in the release of the additive.

14. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substantial release and / or solution of the additive or additives from a capsule, tablet or other solid state form into the filter cartridge only by initialization or Activation of the filter cartridge is provided by contacting with water and / or flowing through water.

15. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during production of the

Filter cartridge in the interior of the filter cartridge

Humidity content of less than 95% relative

Humidity is provided.

16. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a humidity in the interior of the filter cartridge of less than 95% Relative

Humidity is maintained until initialization or activation of the filter cartridge by contacting with water and / or flowing through with water.

17. Filter cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter section includes an ion exchanger, in particular a cation exchanger.

18. Filter cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter section contains activated carbon.

19. Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more additives in a pre-dimensioned body formed of numerous small individual bodies with semipermeable

External wall surface, for example, a

Hollow fiber membrane bundle is introduced.

20. Water reservoir for a device for

Water treatment characterized in that a

Filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims

is provided.

21. Filter device for water treatment with

Water reservoir characterized in that a

Filter cartridge according to one of claims 1-10 is provided.