WATER PURIFICATION MODULE

Abstract

The water purification module includes a tubular receiving container with a base member and a removable lid with through bores, through which liquid to be purified may be supplied at the top into the interior of the receiving container. The water purification module also includes a tubular filter insert, which is removably suspended within the inner wall of the receiving container and is sealed with respect to the inner wall of the receiving container by an annular seal, and at least one extraction opening for purified liquid, which extends through the wall of the receiving container and/or the base member.

Claims

1. A water purification module comprising: a tubular receiving container with a base member and a removable lid with through bores, through which liquid to be purified may be supplied at a top into an interior of the tubular receiving container, a tubular filter insert, which is removably suspended within an inner wall of the tubular receiving container and is sealed with respect to the inner wall of the tubular receiving container by an annular seal and at least one extraction opening for the purified liquid, which extends through the inner wall of the tubular receiving container and/or the base member.

2. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removable lid is screwed with an external screw thread into an internal screw thread on the tubular receiving container.

3. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removable lid is provided with a bayonet fitting.

4. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein fastened to an upper surface of the removable lid there is a connecting coupling for the liquid to be supplied, which is in communication with the through bores extending obliquely to a lower edge of the removable lid.

5. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filter insert is connected at its upper end to an upper filter holder, which rests on an internal shoulder on the inner wall of the receiving container.

6. A water purification module as claimed in claim 5 wherein a lower end of the tubular filter insert is connected to a lower filter holder.

7. A water purification module as claimed in claim 6 wherein both filter holders include circularly arranged through openings, which are covered by filter sieves.

8. A water purification module as claimed in claim 7 wherein the through openings have an egg shape or a lancet shape.

9. A water purification module as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper filter holder has a filling opening for the filter material, which is closable by a closure lid and that the removable lid has a central cavity on its underside for receiving the closure lid.

10. A water purification module as claimed in claim 9 wherein a strap may be fastened to the closure lid, with which the tubular filter insert may be lifted out of the receiving container.

11. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein a venting passage extends through the removable lid, which connects a cavity below the removable lid with the exterior and which is provided with a vent button.

12. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular filter insert is refillable or disposable.

13. A water purification module as claimed in claim 1 wherein arranged on a side wall of the tubular receiving container there is a functional block with a connecting coupling for removing purified liquid and a sample extraction valve and further functional elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 are schematics of flow plan variants of a water purification module.

[0024] FIG. 2 are multiple views of the components of the water purification module.

[0025] FIG. 3 are multiple detailed views of the water purification module.

[0026] FIG. 4 are multiple detailed views of a module insert having a disposable design.

[0027] FIG. 5 are multiple detailed views of a module insert having a refillable design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a flow plan (1), which is connected at its inlet (50) to raw water via a backflow preventer. This raw water is processed by means of main components described below into a ready-to-use, ultrapure liquid and removed, for instance, as an intermediate product at the extraction point (9) or as a final product at the extraction point (10).

[0029] The raw water can be processed in a first stage by means of a reverse osmosis system (6) and/or by a water purification module, e.g. demineraliser (3) and removed at connection (9) by means of an ultrafilter/sterile filter as an intermediate product. For further purification, the liquid precleaned of chemical substances is cleaned of the remaining chemical substances by means of a further water purification module (3), e.g. filled with polisher resin, and conducted in microbiologically cleaned form to extraction point (10) via a sterile filter or ultrafilter.

[0030] In order to avoid stagnation, the liquid can be circulated by means of a pump and UV lamp both during an extraction process and also preferably in periods without extraction. It will be apparent that the important liquid parameters, such as temperature and conductivity, are monitored by means of sensors (20).

[0031] Further devices common in water purifiers, such as dry running protection, pressure reducers and prefiltration, pumps, flow meters and UV lamps are shown but not described in more detail. The flow meter (57) and other sensors are also usable at other metrologically relevant positions, such as for instance, at the drainage outlet (58).

[0032] FIG. 1 shows flow plan variants which demonstrate that e.g. one water purification module (3) could be omitted by the use of an EDI, electrode ionisation module (59), or both water purification modules (3) could be omitted by the use of a two-stage reverse osmosis system. The combination and variation of EDI (59), reverse osmosis system (6) and water purification module (3) enable the highest water quality and can reduce the replacement intervals of the same.

[0033] An exemplary construction of a process constructed to flow plan (1) is water purification device (2), shown in perspective in FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the components, which are visible from the exterior, of the water purification module (3), comprising a cylindrical tube member (12), a base with plate (13) for standing on when opening the lid (11).

[0035] A functional block (17), e.g. for measuring conductivity and temperature and, if needed, flow (20), a sample extractor (19) and a connecting coupling (18) can optionally be attached laterally. The functional block (20) can include an indicator, e.g. in the form of a light and/or an acoustic signal emitter, which signals the usage condition of the filter media/material used and indicates a potential exchange.

[0036] A further extraction point (21) is optionally installed in the base portion (13). The handles (14), a connecting coupling (15) and a vent (16) complete the lid (11).

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the water purification module (3) in detail and in section.

[0038] The liquid advantageously flows via the connecting coupling (15) into the lid (11) and through the circular/obliquely arranged bores (30) situated in the lid and a bore situated in the centre of the lid to the lower edge of the lid. It flows from there via the circularly arranged, egg- or lancet-shaped filter flow openings (36) of the filter insert (4/5) through the filter material (53) and discharges at the lower filter holder (34) out of the circularly arranged, egg- or lancet-shaped filter flow openings (36) out of the filter insert (4/5) and flows out via annular gap (51) and functional block (17) and/or via connection (21). Connection (21) can be closed internally when not in use.

[0039] A reversal of the flow path is possible.

[0040] Seal (32) ensures a complete separation between the primary and secondary sides of the filter insert (4/5) by peripherally sealing against the sealing surface (43) of the upper filter holder (33). The sealing ring (32) is inserted into a groove in the tube (12). Sealing ring (32) is preferably constructed in the form of a lip seal. However, every other seal which is possible in this context may also be used and every other position of the sealing ring on the filter insert (4/5) is possible.

[0041] In order to support the tube wall (12) against deflection and to ensure the seal between the primary and secondary sides of the filter insert (4/5), an additional reinforcement of the tube wall (12) in the vicinity of the screw thread (28) and the seals (32/31) can be considered.

[0042] Air located in the interior of the filter insert (4/5) and on the upper side of the filter insert (4/5) can discharge out of the venting hose (27) via a vent bore (22) by pressing the vent button (26).

[0043] The venting hose (27) serves to conduct the air and the air-water mixture for hygienic reasons and the samples of liquid on the primary side.

[0044] The venting valve (16) closes automatically by means of spring (25) and seal (24). The venting passage (22) is opened by pressing the button (26). The vent button (26) is preferably constructed in a signal colour.

[0045] Lid (11) has a sawtooth-shaped screw thread (28), which engages in the corresponding screw thread on the tube (12). In order to ensure the seal of the lid (11), a sealing ring (31) is inserted into a peripheral groove in the lid (11). On the peripheral edge (52), the lid (11) has spherical protuberances (29) inserted, which ensure a spacing of the lid (11) from the upper edge of the tube (12) in order to prevent adhesion of the lid (11). Lid (11) projects deeply into the tube (12) in order to reduce the volume of liquid in the water purification module (3) to a minimum so that no liquid escapes when opening the lid (11) and removing the filter insert (4/5).

[0046] Instead of the screw thread (28), it is also common to use a bayonet closure, which is not illustrated here.

[0047] FIGS. 4 and 5 show module insert (4/5), wherein module insert (4) is usable as a disposable item and module insert (5) is reusable.

[0048] The module insert (4/5) is inserted into the container (3) with the lid (11) of the module (3) open. Module insert (4/5) rests on a ledge (56) on the tube (12) by means of a projection (55) on the filter holder (33).

[0049] A strap can be attached via bore (39) or in general to the filter holder (33) for the purpose of better handling of the module (4/5).

[0050] Module insert (4/5) consists of an upper filter holder (33) and a lower filter holder (34). The filter holders (33/34) are connected in module insert (4) with a film hose (35) and in module insert (5) with a hard, tubular cylinder.

[0051] The filter holder (33/34) itself is covered with a filter sieve (37) or with the webs, between the egg- or lancet-shaped flow openings (36), in order to hold the filter material (53) in the interior of the module inserts (4/5).

[0052] The mesh size of the filter sieve (37) is matched to the filter material (53).

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the filter insert (4) as a disposable design. For this purpose, a film hose (35) is pulled over small ledges (45) on the filter holders (33/34) and connected to the filter holders (33/34) over their entire periphery by means of adhesive band (42). The film hose (35) can also be fastened to the filter holder (33/43) by means of welding. In order to fill the module (4), the filling opening (46) is used, the filter material (53) introduced and is subsequently closed again by means of closure lid (38).

[0054] FIG. 5 shows the construction of the filter insert (5) as a refillable filter insert. For this purpose, there is the possibility, in addition to the film hose (35), of affixing a cylindrical hard-shelled material (44) to the filter holders (33/34).

[0055] The upper closure lid (38) can be inserted into two latching openings (54) via the opening (46) in the upper filter holder (33). Latches (47) engage with their latch detent (48) with a latch lug (49). Depending on the construction of the latch detent (48) and latch lug (49) there is the possibility of opening the closure lid or to construct it so that it can only be opened destructively.

[0056] In order to distinguish different filter inserts (4/5) filled with different filter materials or batches, the filter lid can be marked with a colour or in some other way. In order to empty the filter material (53), the filter inserts (4/5) can be suspended by means of suspension pegs (40), with the closure lid (38) open, and emptied.

[0057] It is stressed that the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. On the contrary, all the features disclosed may be individually combined with one another in any sensible manner.