Liquid Treatment Device, Method of Manufacturing It and Liquid Treatment System

Abstract

A liquid treatment device includes a container section defining a container for holding liquid to be treated. The container section includes at least part of a body, the body including at least one wall forming at least a bottom of the container. At least one first liquid-permeable window through the wall forming the bottom of the container is provided. The device also includes a liquid treatment section, including a cavity surrounded by a cavity side wall forming at least one second liquid-permeable window for treating liquid passing through it. The cavity side wall is sealingly joined to a liquid-impermeable wall section along the circumference of the cavity side wall and around a liquid path through the cavity and the first liquid-permeable windows at an end of the cavity side wall proximal to the at least one first liquid-permeable windows. The liquid-impermeable wall section is an inseparable part of the body.

Claims

1. A liquid treatment device, including: a container section defining a container for holding liquid to be treated, the container section including at least part of a body, the body including at least one wall forming at least a bottom of the container, wherein at least one first liquid-permeable window through the wall forming the bottom of the container is provided; and a liquid treatment section, including a cavity surrounded by a cavity side wall forming at least one second liquid-permeable window for treating liquid passing through it, wherein the cavity side wall is sealingly joined to a liquid-impermeable wall section along the circumference of the cavity side wall and around a liquid path through the cavity and the first liquid-permeable windows at an end of the cavity side wall proximal to the at least one first liquid-permeable window, wherein the liquid-impermeable wall section is an inseparable part of the body.

2. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein any seams in transitions between the liquid-impermeable wall section and the at least one wall forming at least the bottom of the container are between parts of the body joined by bonding.

3. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid-impermeable wall section adjoins a section of a wall forming the bottom of the container.

4. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid treatment section includes an end wall, sealingly joined to the cavity side wall along the circumference of the cavity side wall at an end of the cavity side wall opposite the end joined to the liquid-impermeable wall section, and wherein at least a section of the end wall inwards of where it is joined to the cavity side wall is liquid-impermeable.

5. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first liquid-impermeable window defines at least part of a flow path between an interior of the container and the cavity.

6. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity side wall includes at least one layer of sheet material, pleated sheet material, functioning as at least one of the at least one second liquid-permeable window.

7. The liquid treatment device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the at least one layer of sheet material is a sheet of textile.

8. The liquid treatment device according to claim 7, wherein at least one layer of sheet material is a sheet of functionalised textile.

9. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, including a further liquid treatment part arranged between an interior of the container and the cavity side wall in a direction of flow.

10. The liquid treatment device according to claim 9, wherein the further liquid treatment part is included in a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge.

11. The liquid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first liquid-permeable window includes an aperture bordered along a circumference by a sealing surface for engaging a sealing rim of a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge a sealing surface tapering inwards in a direction of the cavity.

12. A liquid treatment system, including a container for collecting treated liquid and the liquid treatment device according to claim 1, suspendable above a base of the container for collecting treated liquid.

13. The liquid treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one first liquid-permeable window includes an aperture bordered along a circumference by a sealing surface, a sealing surface tapering inwards in a direction of the cavity, further including a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge provided with a circumferential sealing rim for sealingly engaging the sealing surface.

14. A method of manufacturing the liquid treatment device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: forming a body including at least one of the walls of the container section; and sealingly joining at least one of the liquid-impermeable wall section; and the cavity side wall to the body.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least the cavity side wall is joined to the liquid-impermeable wall section to form an assembly, and wherein the assembly is subsequently joined to a remainder of the body.

16. The liquid treatment device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid-impermeable wall section adjoins a section of a wall forming the bottom of the container, wherein the liquid treatment section includes an end wall, sealingly joined to the cavity side wall along the circumference of the cavity side wall at an end of the cavity side wall opposite the end joined to the liquid-impermeable wall section, and wherein at least a section of the end wall inwards of where it is joined to the cavity side wall is liquid-impermeable.

17. The liquid treatment device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one first liquid-impermeable window defines at least part of a flow path between an interior of the container and the cavity, and wherein the cavity side wall includes at least one layer of sheet material, pleated sheet material, functioning as at least one of the at least one second liquid-permeable window.

18. The liquid treatment device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the at least one layer of sheet material is a sheet of textile, wherein at least one layer of sheet material is a sheet of functionalised textile.

19. The liquid treatment device according to claim 18, including a further liquid treatment part arranged between an interior of the container and the cavity side wall in a direction of flow, wherein the further liquid treatment part is included in a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge, wherein the at least one first liquid-permeable window includes an aperture bordered along a circumference by a sealing surface for engaging a sealing rim of a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge, a sealing surface tapering inwards in a direction of the cavity.

20. A liquid treatment system, including a container for collecting treated liquid and the liquid treatment device according to claim 19, suspendable above a base of the for collecting treated liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 is a side view of a liquid treatment system;

[0053] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of part of a first replaceable liquid treatment device for the liquid treatment system of FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of part of a second replaceable liquid treatment device for the liquid treatment system of FIG. 1; and

[0055] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of a third replaceable liquid treatment device for the liquid treatment system of FIG. 1, wherein the liquid treatment system further includes a separate replaceable liquid treatment cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] A liquid treatment system for the treatment of aqueous liquids such as mains drinking water includes a jug 1 as an example of a container for collecting treated liquid. The jug 1 is provided with a pouring spout 2 and a handle 3. The jug 1 is open at an end opposite a base. The jug 1 has an elongated cross-sectional shape for cross-sections perpendicular to an upright axis 4 that is oriented substantially vertically when the jug 1 is stood on its base.

[0057] The open end of the jug 1 is closed by a lid 5 including a fill opening closed by a pivotable closure element 6. A pivotable spout cover 7 is part of the lid 5 and closes the pouring spout 2 when the jug 1 is stood on its base.

[0058] A liquid treatment device in the form of a funnel 8 is suspended within the jug 1. To this end, an exterior ridge 9 at an, in use, upper end of the funnel 8 is supported by a ledge formed on an interior surface of a side wall of the jug 1. The ledge and ridge 9 need not extend all the way around the circumference of the funnel 8. The ledge is at such a level that the funnel 8 is suspended completely within the jug 1. The lid 5 is supported by the jug 1 and covers a mouth of the funnel 8.

[0059] It is possible to define an upright axis of the funnel 8, in this example aligned with the jug axis 4 when the funnel 8 is suspended in the jug 1. Seen in axial direction, the funnel 8 comprises two adjacent sections. One section 10 defines a container for holding liquid to be treated. Another section 11 defines a cavity through which liquid is forced to flow and in which at least one liquid treatment medium may be arranged.

[0060] The container section 10 includes a side wall separating an interior of the container from the environment. This side wall is closed on itself about the funnel axis. An edge at an in use upper end of the funnel 8 defines a mouth of the funnel 8. The exterior ridge 9 is provided at this end. The side wall slopes inwards towards the liquid treatment section 11 defining the cavity, so that the section 10 defining the container for holding liquid to be treated has no clearly defined bottom wall. In a different embodiment (not shown), there may be such a wall transitioning into the side wall at a clearly defined edge.

[0061] Liquid-impermeable walls of the funnel 8 will generally be made of plastic, e.g. styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), polyethylene polypropylene, styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) or polystyrene. The latter-mentioned two materials, in particular SMA, provide a lasting relatively glossy finish without extensive use of additives. Where the walls are joined, they are bonded, so that a positive material joint is formed. This means that the material of the walls and that of an optional adhesive or filler material is coalesced. The walls may be joined by welding, soldering or adhesive bonding. The walls are self-supporting, maintaining a substantially stable shape without any need for external reinforcement.

[0062] A first implementation (FIG. 2) of the funnel 8 includes a container section 210 and a liquid treatment section 211. The liquid-impermeable funnel side wall 212 transitions seamlessly into a separating wall section 213, so that they are integral parts of the same body, which is made in one piece. The body may be obtained by injection-moulding, for example. In this way, it is impossible for liquid to flow out of a container interior 214 without passing into the liquid treatment section 211.

[0063] The body also includes inner and outer annular depending wall sections 215,216. These are likewise made in one piece with the wall forming at least the bottom of the container section 210.

[0064] The liquid treatment section 211 includes a cavity 217, which in this embodiment is empty.

[0065] A liquid-permeable cavity side wall 218 is closed on itself about an upright funnel axis 219. The cavity side wall 218 is shaped to provide the cavity 217 with an essentially circular cross-section (with the cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the funnel axis 219). The cross-section may be elongated in an alternative embodiment.

[0066] The liquid-permeable cavity side wall 218 includes at least one layer of sheet material. At least one such layer of sheet material may be in the form of a membrane or a woven or non-woven textile arranged to filter microbes. The textile fibres may be functionalised to provide them with chemical or electrophysical properties that enable the sheet material made of these fibres to filter out microbes. For example, the textile material may include silver or a silver salt or compound. It may include electroactive or charge-modified fibres. Such fibres are effective to retain microorganisms through electroadsorption. Material including such fibres may include sites having an electrokinetic potential in the range of 20-75 mV, e.g. 40-70 mV, for example. The fibres of the textile material may include fibres made of or provided with a coating including a metal oxide, e.g. aluminium oxide, aluminium hydroxide or zirconium oxide. A particular example is boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)). The fibres may have a diameter in the range of 2-1000 nm, e.g. in the range of 2-100 nm. They may have a ratio of length to diameter of between 1 and 5, for example.

[0067] Other fibres of one or more layers of sheet material of the cavity side wall 218 may be cellulose fibres, glass fibres, viscose fibres, polyester fibres, polyethylene fibres, polypropylene fibres, cotton fibres or a mixture thereof, optionally with a binder.

[0068] The cavity side wall 218 may include a layer of sheet material comprising activated carbon fibres. Such sheet material is obtainable by heat treatment of a non-woven textile material made of organic fibres to carbonise them, followed by an activation step. Alternatively, a layer of sheet material may include powdered activated carbon, which need not be bound, e.g. powdered activated carbon having a mean particle size (d.sub.50) in the range of 2-10 μm.

[0069] Specific examples of suitable sheet material are provided in WO 03/000407 A1, for example. Compared with a semi-permeable membrane, variants with a functionalised woven or non-woven textile sheet material have a lower resistance to flow whilst still being capable of filtering out microbes.

[0070] Although not shown, a liquid-permeable support tube may be arranged radially inwards of the sheet material. The sheet material may alternatively be arranged on a self-supporting frame. A screen (not shown) arranged radially outwards of the sheet material may protect it in one embodiment.

[0071] Where the sheet material includes a semi-permeable membrane, it may be made of cellulose acetate, polyethersulfone, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, or polycarbonate, for example. The membrane may have porous voids with a mean pore size of between 0.05 and 5 μm, for example, e.g. below 2 μm.

[0072] A liquid-impermeable axial end wall 220 is a separate component, shaped to have an inner and outer annular ridge 221,222 directed towards the container section 210.

[0073] An upper bond 223 sealingly joins the cavity side wall 218 to the container section 210 at one axial end. A lower bond 224 sealingly joins the cavity side wall 218 to the axial end wall 220. In this way, it is impossible for liquid to leave the liquid treatment section 211 without being treated on its way through the cavity side wall 218. The bonds 223,224 may be made with a potting compound such as polyurethane or with a hot-melt adhesive, for example.

[0074] Viewed from the cavity 217, the separating wall section 213 is concave. It is substantially dome-shaped. A venting aperture 225 is provided at the apex of the dome. Slits 226a,b form liquid-permeable inlet windows allowing liquid to pass from a container interior 214 to the cavity 217. These slits 226a,b extend substantially to a base of the dome.

[0075] A second implementation (FIG. 3) of the funnel 8 also includes a container section 310 and a liquid treatment section 311. In this variant, the liquid treatment section 311 is first manufactured separately from the container section 310, whereupon the two sections are assembled such as to become inseparable.

[0076] The liquid treatment section 311 includes an assembly of a liquid-permeable cavity side wall 318 and a liquid-impermeable axial end wall 320. The latter is shaped to have an inner and outer annular ridge 321,322 directed towards the container section 310. The cavity side wall 318 is of the same type as the cavity side wall 218 of the first implementation of the funnel 8 described above. It is similarly joined to the axial end wall 320 by a bond 324. The cavity side wall 318 and the axial end wall 320 form a beaker-shaped component.

[0077] The cavity side wall 318 is sealingly joined to a cap-shaped component 327 at its opposite axial end by a bond 323. To this end, the cap-shaped component includes integral inner and outer annular depending wall sections 315,316. The cap-shaped component 327 thus closes off a cavity 317, which in this embodiment is empty.

[0078] The cavity side wall 318 is closed on itself about an upright funnel axis 319. The cavity side wall 318 is shaped to provide the cavity 317 with an essentially circular cross-section (with the cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the funnel axis 319). The cross-section may be elongated in an alternative embodiment.

[0079] The cap-shaped component 327 is self-supporting and made of liquid-impermeable material. Viewed from the cavity 317, the cap-shaped component 327 is concave. It is substantially dome-shaped. A venting aperture 325 is provided at the apex of the dome. Slits 326a,b form liquid-permeable inlet windows allowing liquid to pass from a container interior 314 to the cavity 317. These slits 326a,b extend substantially to a base of the dome.

[0080] The cap-shaped component 327 is formed with a flange by which the liquid-treatment section 311 is joined to the container section 310. Specifically, a bond 328 (adhesive or welded joint) is provided between the flange and a rim 329 surrounding an aperture in a section of the funnel side wall 312 forming the bottom of the container section 310. Seams in transitions from the cavity side wall 318 to the funnel side wall 312 are thus between parts of the body of the funnel 8 joined by bonding. These sealed connections prevent untreated liquid in a container interior 314 from bypassing the cavity side wall 318.

[0081] In a third implementation of the funnel 8 (FIG. 4), the liquid treatment system further includes a liquid treatment cartridge 430. The liquid treatment cartridge 430 has a liquid-impermeable housing defining a chamber (not shown) arranged to hold one or more liquid treatment media for treating aqueous liquids. The liquid treatment media may include liquid treatment media for the treatment of liquid in a diffusive process, e.g. media removing or adding components to the liquid. In particular, the media may include a liquid treatment medium for the treatment of liquid by sorption, which for present purposes includes ion exchange, adsorption and absorption. The media may include activated carbon. They may include an ion exchange resin, e.g. a cation exchange resin. The cation exchange resin may include cation exchange resin in the hydrogen form. In a particular embodiment, a majority of the ion exchange resin is in the hydrogen form. For more effective use of the available volume, the cation exchange resin may be weakly acidic cation exchange resin. The liquid treatment medium will generally be at least partly in granular form.

[0082] The housing of the liquid treatment cartridge 430 includes a beaker-shaped component 431 and a cap 432. It includes liquid-permeable inlet windows 433, provided in the cap 432, and liquid-permeable outlet windows (not shown), provided in a base of the beaker-shaped cartridge housing component 431. Separating the liquid-permeable inlet windows 433 from the outlet windows in flow direction is a circumferential sealing rim 434. The sealing rim 434 is provided where the cap 432 is joined to the beaker-shaped housing component 431. It may be part of a flange of either of these components 431,432.

[0083] As illustrated, the beaker-shaped cartridge housing component 431 has a generally circular cross-section, being generally conical in shape. In an alternative embodiment, it may have an elongated cross-section. The cartridge 430 may in particular be a cartridge of the type disclosed more fully in international patent application No. PCT/EP2016/051364 or international patent application No. PCT/EP2016/051361 of 22 Jan. 2016.

[0084] A liquid treatment section 411 includes an assembly of parts that is sealingly joined to a container section 410. The assembly includes an axial end wall 420, a cavity side wall 418 and a connecting wall section 435. They surround a cavity 417.

[0085] The axial end wall 420 is shaped to have an inner and outer annular ridge 421,422 directed towards the container section 310. The cavity side wall 418 is of the same type as the cavity side walls 218,318 of the first and second implementations described above. It is similarly joined to the axial end wall 420 by a bond 424. The cavity side wall 418 and the axial end wall 420 form a beaker-shaped component.

[0086] The cavity side wall 418 is sealingly joined to the connecting wall section 435 at its opposite axial end by a bond 423. To this end, the connecting wall section 435 includes integral inner and outer annular depending wall sections 415,416.

[0087] To manufacture the funnel 8 in its third implementation, the assembly of the axial end wall 420, cavity side wall 418 and connecting wall section 435 is manufactured separately from the container section 410. This assembly is subsequently joined to the container section 410 by means of a bond 428 (adhesive or welded joint) that is provided between a flange 436 of the connecting wall section 435 and a rim 429 surrounding an aperture in a section of the funnel side wall 412 forming the bottom of the container section 410.

[0088] The connecting wall section 435 has a relatively large aperture extending through it that provides a passage between a container interior 414 and the cavity 417. It is bordered by a sealing surface 437 arranged to engage the sealing rim 434 of the liquid treatment cartridge 430 when the latter is at least partly inserted into the cavity 417. Thus, the connecting wall section 435 additionally defines a cartridge seat.

[0089] Since any seams in transitions between the cavity side wall 418 and the funnel side wall 412 are between parts joined by bonding, untreated liquid in the container interior 414 cannot bypass the cavity 417. It is thus also forced to pass through the cavity side wall 418. The liquid treatment medium in the liquid treatment cartridge 430 merely pre-treats the liquid, so that any misalignment between the liquid treatment cartridge 430 and the liquid treatment section 411 that is inseparable from the container section 410 will still not result in potentially contaminated liquid ending up in the jug 1.

[0090] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which may be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims.

[0091] Although shown as being the exterior side wall of the liquid treatment section 211,311,411, a further wall may surround the cavity side wall 218,318,418 in each embodiment. Such an exterior side wall may be an integral extension of a beaker-shaped component further including the axial end wall 220,320,420, for example. Outlet windows to allow liquid to egress may be provided in either the radially outer section of the axial end wall between the outer annular ridge 222,322,422 and such an exterior side wall, for example. The section of the axial end wall radially inwards of the inner annular ridge 221,321,421, is liquid-impermeable, however, so that the cavity 217,317,417 is closed at the end distal to the container section 210,310,410.

[0092] In the embodiments in which the cavity 217,317 is not occupied by a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge 430, in use, it may contain one or more liquid treatment media of the type referred to above in connection with the liquid treatment cartridge 430. Such liquid treatment media may in particular be present in the form of a bed of granular matter.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0093] 1—jug [0094] 2—pouring spout [0095] 3—handle [0096] 4—jug axis [0097] 5—lid [0098] 6—closure element [0099] 7—spout cover [0100] 8—funnel [0101] 9—ridge [0102] 10,210,310—container section [0103] 11, 211, 311—liquid treatment section [0104] 212,312,412—funnel side wall [0105] 213—separating wall section [0106] 214,314,414—container interior [0107] 215, 315,415—inner annular depending wall section [0108] 216, 316,416—outer annular depending wall section [0109] 217,317,417—cavity [0110] 218,318,418—cavity side wall [0111] 219, 319,419—funnel axis [0112] 220, 320,420—axial end wall [0113] 221, 321,421—inner annular ridge [0114] 222, 322,422—outer annular ridge [0115] 223, 323,423—upper bond [0116] 224, 324,424—lower bond [0117] 225,325—venting aperture [0118] 226a,b, 326a,b—slits [0119] 327—cap-shaped component [0120] 328—cap flange bond [0121] 329—funnel side wall rim [0122] 430—liquid treatment cartridge [0123] 431—beaker-shaped cartridge housing component [0124] 432—cartridge housing cap [0125] 433—cartridge inlet windows [0126] 434—sealing rim [0127] 435 connecting wall section [0128] 436 connecting wall section flange [0129] 437—sealing surface