LIQUID FILTERING METHOD AND SYSTEM

Abstract

A filtering system (10) includes a filtering apparatus having a filter unit for receiving liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter (14) for coupling the filter unit to the receptacle, and also includes a base (12) having a cradle (26) for receiving the filtering apparatus and a base vacuum delivery port (28). The adapter includes an adapter vacuum receiving port (22) coupled to the vacuum delivery port for driving the liquid through the filter and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. The cradle and the adapter have an interlocking mechanism (52, 54) that locks the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port. The base vacuum delivery port has a vacuum valve (30) constituted as a normally-closed valve automatically forced open when the filtering apparatus locks to the cradle.

Claims

1. A filtering method comprising: (a) coupling a receptacle for filtered liquid to an adapter and connecting a filter unit for liquid to be filtered to the adapter, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter vacuum receiving port; (b) placing the adapter into a cradle of a base in an initial pre-locking position, wherein the base comprises a base vacuum delivery port; (c) first transferring the adapter in the cradle from the initial pre-locking position into a secured pre-locking position; and (d) further transferring the adapter in the cradle from the secured pre-locking position into a locking position, wherein, in the initial pre-locking position, the base vacuum delivery port is disconnected from a vacuum source, wherein, in the secured pre-locking position, the adapter is secured to the base and the base vacuum delivery port is disconnected from the vacuum source, and wherein, in the locking position, the adapter is secured to the base, the base vacuum delivery port is connected to the vacuum source, and the adapter vacuum receiving port drives the liquid to be filtered through the filter unit into the receptacle as the filtered liquid.

2. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial pre-locking position is an unsecured pre-locking position.

3. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transferring consists essentially of a guided sliding operation.

4. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said further transferring consists essentially of a guided sliding operation.

5. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transferring and said further transferring are performed in a single unidirectional sliding operation.

6. The filtering method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first transferring and said further transferring are performed in a single-handed operation.

7. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transferring and said further transferring are performed in a single-handed operation.

8. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transferring comprises interlocking the adapter and the base to connect the adapter vacuum receiving port with the base vacuum delivery port.

9. The filtering method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said further transferring comprises opening a vacuum valve with the base vacuum delivery port to connect the vacuum source with the adapter vacuum receiving port.

10. The filtering method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said further transferring comprises opening a vacuum valve with the base vacuum delivery port to connect the vacuum source with the base vacuum delivery port.

11. A filtering method comprising: (a) coupling a plurality of receptacles for filtered liquid respectively to a plurality of adapters and connecting respective filter units for liquid to be filtered respectively to the plurality of adapters, wherein each of the plurality of adapters comprises a respective adapter vacuum receiving port; (b) placing the plurality of adapters respectively into a plurality of cradles of respective bases in an initial pre-locking position, wherein each of the respective bases comprises a respective base vacuum delivery port; (c) first transferring the plurality of adapters respectively into the plurality of cradles from the initial pre-locking position into a secured pre-locking position; and (d) further transferring the plurality of adapters in the plurality of cradles from the secured pre-locking position into a locking position, wherein, in the initial pre-locking position, the respective base vacuum delivery ports are disconnected from a vacuum source, wherein, in the secured pre-locking position, the plurality of adapters are secured to the respective bases and the respective base vacuum delivery ports are disconnected from the vacuum source, wherein, in the locking position, the plurality of adapters are secured to the respective bases, the respective base vacuum delivery ports are connected to the vacuum source, and the respective adapter vacuum receiving ports drive the liquid to be filtered through the respective filter units and respectively into the plurality of receptacles as the filtered liquid.

12. The filtering method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the initial pre-locking position is an unsecured pre-locking position.

13. The filtering method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first transferring and said further transferring are performed in a single-handed operation.

14. The filtering method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said further transferring is performed essentially simultaneously for all of the plurality of adapters.

15. A liquid filtering system comprising: a filtering apparatus comprising: a filter unit configured to hold a filter and to receive liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter configured to couple the filter unit to the receptacle, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter vacuum receiving port configured to couple to a base vacuum delivery port in order to apply a vacuum driving force for driving the liquid to be filtered through the filter and, as the filtered liquid, into the receptacle, and a base comprising: a cradle configured to receive the filtering apparatus, and the base vacuum delivery port, configured to couple, on one side, to a vacuum source and, on another side, to the adapter vacuum receiving port, wherein the cradle and the adapter comprise an interlocking mechanism configured to lock the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the adapter vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port, and wherein the base vacuum delivery port comprises a vacuum valve constituted as a valve automatically forced open from a normally closed position when the filtering apparatus is locked to the cradle.

16. A liquid filtering system comprising: a filtering apparatus comprising an adapter arranged to receive a filter unit for filtering a liquid with a filter, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter vacuum receiving port; a base comprising a cradle configured to receive the filtering apparatus and arranged to output the liquid following the filtering as filtered liquid to a receptacle, wherein the base further comprises a base vacuum delivery port; wherein the adapter and the base are arranged to apply a vacuum driving force for driving the liquid to be filtered through the filter and into the receptacle, wherein the base vacuum delivery port is coupled, on a first side, to a vacuum source and, on a second side, to the vacuum receiving port, wherein the cradle and the adapter comprise an interlocking mechanism configured to lock the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the adapter vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port, and wherein the base vacuum delivery port comprises a vacuum valve constituted as a valve that is biased in a normally closed state to open only when the filtering apparatus is locked to the cradle in the locking position.

17. A liquid filtering system comprising: a plurality of filtering apparatuses each comprising a respective adapter arranged to receive a respective filter unit for filtering a respective liquid with a respective filter, wherein each respective adapter comprises a respective adapter vacuum receiving port; a plurality of bases each comprising a respective cradle configured to receive a respective one of the filtering apparatuses and arranged to output a respective one of the liquids following the filtering as filtered liquid to a respective receptacle, wherein each respective base further comprises a respective base vacuum delivery port; wherein respective ones of the adapters and the bases are arranged to apply a vacuum driving force for driving the respective liquids to be filtered through the respective filters and into the respective receptacles, wherein the respective base vacuum delivery ports are coupled, on respective first sides, to a vacuum source and, on respective second sides, to the respective vacuum receiving ports, wherein the respective ones of the cradles and the adapters comprise respective interlocking mechanisms configured to lock the respective filtering apparatuses to the respective cradles in respective locking positions in which the respective adapter vacuum receiving ports are sealingly coupled to the respective base vacuum delivery ports, and wherein the base vacuum delivery ports each comprises a respective vacuum valve constituted as a valve that is biased in a normally closed state to open only when the respective filtering apparatuses are locked to the respective cradles in the respective locking positions.

18. The filtering system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the respective bases are configured essentially mutually identically to one another.

19. The filtering system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the respective bases are each fixed to a single central base holder.

20. The filtering system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the single central base holder is connected to the vacuum source via a central vacuum conduit.

21. A filtering apparatus, comprising: an adapter configured to couple a filter unit for filtering a liquid to a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and configured to couple to a cradle of a base for the filtering apparatus, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter vacuum receiving port configured to couple to a base vacuum delivery port, an adapter locking mechanism configured to lock to a base locking mechanism, wherein the adapter locking mechanism and the base locking mechanism together form an interlocking mechanism, wherein the vacuum receiving port comprises a pipe socket configured to mate with the base vacuum delivery port, wherein the base vacuum delivery port comprises a vacuum channel, wherein the interlocking mechanism is configured to assume at least (i) a pre-locking position and (ii) a locking position, wherein the adapter and the base are configured to slidingly engage in respective guides on the adapter and the base in the pre-locking position and in the locking position, wherein, in the pre-locking position, the vacuum receiving port fails to penetrate into the vacuum channel, and wherein, in the locking position, the vacuum receiving port mates sufficiently with the base vacuum delivery port to penetrate into the vacuum channel.

22. The filtering apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the pre-locking position comprises (i-i) an unsecured pre-locking position and (i-ii) a secured pre-locking position, and the interlocking mechanism is configured to assume variously (i-i) the unsecured pre-locking position, (i-ii) the secured pre-locking position, and (ii) the locking position, wherein the adapter and the base are configured to slidingly engage in the respective guides on the adapter and the base in the unsecured pre-locking position, in the secured pre-locking position, and in the locking position, wherein, in the unsecured pre-locking position, the vacuum receiving port is axially offset from the base vacuum delivery port, wherein, in the secured pre-locking position, the vacuum receiving port mates with the base vacuum delivery port without penetrating into the vacuum channel, and wherein, in the locking position, the vacuum receiving port mates sufficiently with the base vacuum delivery port to penetrate into the vacuum channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1: a perspective view of a liquid filtering system according to the invention in its (unsecured) pre-locking position, wherein of its filtering apparatus only the adapter is shown;

[0037] FIG. 2: a perspective view of the liquid filtering system of FIG. 1 in its locking position;

[0038] FIG. 3: a longitudinal section of the liquid filtering system of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 4: a longitudinal section of the liquid filtering system of FIG. 2;

[0040] FIG. 5: a perspective view of a liquid filtering system according to the invention in its secured pre-locking position, wherein of its filtering apparatus only the adapter is shown and

[0041] FIG. 6: a longitudinal section of the liquid filtering system of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like items.

[0043] FIGS. 1 and 3 on the one hand and FIGS. 2 and 4 on the other hand illustrate a liquid filtering system 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in its unsecured pre-locking position and in its locking position, respectively. FIGS. 5 and 6, finally, illustrate an additional pre-locking position, namely a secured pre-locking position. As far as possible said figures are to be discussed together in the following.

[0044] The system shown comprises a base 12 and a filtering apparatus of which, for the sake of clarity, only its adapter 14 is shown. The adapter 14 comprises an upper interface 16 to be connected with a filter unit (not shown), especially a filter funnel, to hold a filter layer and to receive the liquid to be filtered. The adapter 14 also comprises a lower interface 18 to be screwed, with a thread 20 to the neck of a receptacle (not shown), especially a bottle, to receive filtered liquid from the filter unit.

[0045] Finally the adapter 14 comprises an adapter vacuum receiving port 22, which may be coupled to a vacuum source in order to apply a low pressure in the receptacle inducing a vacuum driving force to drive the liquid to be filtered through the filter layer and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. Thus, the adapter vacuum receiving port 22 is connected to the lower interface 18 of the adapter 14. The adapter vacuum receiving port 22 comprises a pipe socket 24 extending perpendicular to the liquid flow direction through the adapter 14 and constituting a third interface of the adapter 14.

[0046] The base 12 comprises a cradle 26 to receive the adapter 14 and a base vacuum delivery port 28 to be coupled to the adapter vacuum receiving port 22. Said base vacuum delivery port 28 comprises a vacuum valve 30 essentially consisting of a vacuum channel 32, a valve body 34 and a valve seat 36 against which the valve body 34 is sealingly pressed by a spring 38. In order to provide a secure vacuum sealing the valve body 34 is armed with a gasket 40 within its contacting area to the valve seat 36. The vacuum valve 30 may, on its end averted to the adapter 14, be connected to the vacuum source, especially via a central vacuum conduit (not shown) inside a central base holder (not shown) to which the base is fixed, especially as one of a plurality of bases. The force of the spring 38 is directed towards the adapter 14, i.e. it is a reset force closing the vacuum valve 30 against the suction of the vacuum source.

[0047] When coupling the adapter 14 to the cradle 26 in the (unsecured) pre-locking position (FIGS. 1 and 3) the pipe socket 24 is not or only exiguously inserted into the base vacuum delivery port 28, as can be seen in FIG. 3. When being transferred to the locking position (FIGS. 2 and 4), the pipe socket 24 further intrudes into the base vacuum delivery port 28, dislocating the valve body 34 from the valve seat 36 against the force of the spring 38, as can be seen in FIG. 4. In this position air can, in principle, be sucked from the filtering apparatus, especially from its receptacle, through the pipe socket 24 and the open vacuum valve 30 to the vacuum source. When the adapter 14 is removed from the locking position the spring 38 resets the valve body 34 to its closing state.

[0048] However, since the valve body 34 as well as the pipe socket 24 usually are of circular shape there is the danger that the valve body 34 obstructs the exit of the pipe socket 24. Thus, the embodiment shown in the drawings provides a pipe socket 24 with apertured side walls closed to its valve side end. Air may stream through these apertures 42.

[0049] In order to provide a sealed connection of the adapter vacuum receiving port 22 to the base vacuum delivery port 28 the pipe socket 24 penetrates a sealing ring 44. In the embodiment shown in the drawings this sealing ring 44 is of elastomeric material and has walls which are, in a longitudinal section, V-shaped. This facilitates the penetration of the pipe socket 24 and provokes a self-sealing effect according to the so called Bernoulli Effect.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in the drawings the locking position is defined by a snap-lock between the adapter 14 and the cradle 26. The adapter 14 is provided with two opposed, resiliently pivotable levers 46. The upper rims of these levers 46 provide an adapter guiding rail 48 interacting with a corresponding base guiding rail 50 on the side rims of the cradle 26. These guiding rails 48, 50 provide for a guided transfer of the adapter 14 from the pre-locking position (FIGS. 1 and 3) to the locking position (FIGS. 2 and 4). The levers 46 are, at their upper rims, provided with projections 52. In the unsecured pre-locking position these projections are free from corresponding projections 54 on the base guiding rails 50. In the locking position, however, they engage behind each other to effectively lock the adapter 14 to the cradle 26. Due to the resilience of the levers 46 this locking is effected automatically when transferring the adapter 14 from the pre-locking position to the locking position. This transfer can easily be effected single-handed wherein fingers of the operator may engage behind special terraces 56 of the base 12.

[0051] The embodiment shown comprises two different pre-locking positions, namely the unsecured pre-locking position of FIGS. 1 and 3 and the secured pre-locking position of FIGS. 5 and 6. The upper rim of the lever 46 is provided with not only the protrusion 52 but also with an additional protrusion 53 equally suitable to establish a snap-lock connection when interacting with the corresponding protrusions 54 on the rim of the cradle 26. However, in this position no vacuum connection between the base vacuum delivery port 28 and the adapter vacuum receiving port 22 is established as can be easily seen from FIG. 6. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment the above mentioned guided transfers of the adapter from the (unsecured) pre-locking position of FIGS. 1 and 3 to the locking position of FIGS. 2 and 4 takes course via the secured pre-locking position of FIGS. 5 and 6. In practice, this secured pre-locking position is the preferred “waiting position” for prepared filtering apparatuses waiting to be connected to the vacuum to start the filtering process.

[0052] In order to open the snap-lock in the locking position the levers 46 may be manually, preferably single-handedly, pivoted to disengage the projections 52, 54. Then, the reset force of the spring 38 supports the transfer of the adapter 14 from its locking position into the direction of its pre-locking position while simultaneously closing the vacuum valve 30. By keeping the levers 46 pivoted the operator may overrun the secured pre-locking position and detach the filtering apparatus completely. Alternatively he or she may release the levers 46 in order to have filtering apparatus snap into the secured pre-locking position, e.g. to temporarily interrupt the filtering process.

[0053] The embodiments as discussed in the specific description and as shown in the drawings are illustrative examples only. In view of the disclosure given here, one skilled in the art is enabled to realize a wide spectrum of variations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0054] 10 liquid filtering system [0055] 12 base [0056] 14 adapter [0057] 16 upper interface of 14 [0058] 18 lower interface of 14 [0059] 20 thread [0060] 22 adapter vacuum receiving port [0061] 24 pipe socket [0062] 26 cradle [0063] 28 base vacuum delivery port [0064] 30 vacuum valve [0065] 32 vacuum channel [0066] 34 valve body [0067] 36 valve seat [0068] 38 spring [0069] 40 gasket [0070] 42 aperture [0071] 44 sealing ring [0072] 46 lever [0073] 48 adapter guiding rail [0074] 50 base guiding rail [0075] 52 projection on 46 [0076] 53 additional projection on 46 [0077] 54 corresponding projection [0078] 56 terrace