FILTER DEVICE PARTICULARLY FILTER CARTRIDGE FOR WATER FILTERS IN AIRCRAFT

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter device (100), particularly a filter cartridge (10), for water filters in aircraft comprising a housing (11), wherein the housing (11) comprises an entry region (12) for water to be filtered and a discharge region (24) for filtered water, and wherein a first filter unit (26) and a second filter unit (27) are arranged in the housing (11). The first filter unit (26) comprises an activated charcoal filter (28) and the second filter unit (27) comprises a microfilter (30).

Claims

1-24. (canceled)

25. A filter device, particularly a filter cartridge, for water filters in aircraft, comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises an entry region for water that is to be filtered, and a discharge region for filtered water, characterised in that a first filter unit and a second filter unit are arranged in the housing, wherein the first filter unit comprises an activated carbon filter, and wherein the second filter unit comprises a microfilter.

26. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the filter device can be arranged, and/or is arranged, in a filter container approved, preferably for use in aircraft, particularly for passenger aeroplanes, and/or in that the filter device is designed such that in a state in which the filter device is arranged in a filter container, there is no reservoir of water within the filter device, so that the filter device can be removed from the filter container without contamination of an external region of the filter container.

27. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the entry region has a grid structure, through which water can enter into the filter device.

28. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the housing is essentially cylindrical in shape, with a lateral surface, and a first end face, and a second end face, and/or in that the entry region is arranged in a lateral surface of the housing.

29. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the housing, and/or the first filter unit, has a diameter of between 50 mm and 100 mm, preferably of between 70 mm and 90 mm, further preferably of between 80 mm and 90 mm, particularly preferably of between 85 mm and 87 mm, most preferably of 86 mm and/or that the first filter unit has an inner diameter of between 20 mm and 80 mm, preferably of between 30 mm and 60 mm, more preferably of between 57 mm and 59 mm, particularly preferably of 58 mm.

30. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that that the first filter unit has a height of between 50 mm and 150 mm, preferably of between 80 mm and 120 mm, more preferably of between 100 mm and 110 mm, particularly preferably of between 105 mm and 106 mm, most preferably of 105.5 mm and/or that the housing has a height of between 50 mm and 150 mm, preferably of between 100 mm and 140 mm, more preferably of between 110 mm and 130 mm, particularly preferably of between 120 and 130 mm, most preferably of 124.2 mm.

31. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the housing comprises a cover and a base, wherein the discharge region is arranged in the base, and/or wherein the cover, and/or the base, are arranged on the first, and/or the second, end face, and are preferably adhesively bonded to the first filter unit and/or that the base has a, particularly cylindrical, reception region, in which the second filter unit is arranged, wherein sealing means, particularly sealing rings, are preferably arranged between the second filter unit and the reception region.

32. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the first end face is a lower end face of the housing, and/or in that the discharge region is arranged in the first end face, wherein the discharge region preferably comprises, or is, an outflow pipe connection, which in particular is provided with an external thread.

33. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the microfilter has a multiplicity of pores, wherein the pores have a size of between 0.001 μm and 1.0 μm, preferably of between 0.01 μm and 0.5 μm, more preferably of between 0.1 μm and 0.3 μm, particularly preferably of between 0.15 μm and 0.25 μm, most preferably of 0.2 μm.

34. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the first filter unit encloses the second filter unit at least partially, preferably completely, in a circumferential direction, wherein the first filter unit is preferably designed in the form of a hollow cylinder, wherein furthermore, the second filter unit is preferably designed in the form of a hollow cylinder, and wherein the second filter unit is arranged in an inner region, or an inner space, of the first filter unit.

35. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the filter device is designed such that water that is to be filtered can flow in a flow direction through the entry region, through the first filter unit, through the second filter unit and through the discharge region, in this order, and/or vice versa.

36. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that a third filter unit is arranged between the first filter unit and the second filter unit, wherein the third filter unit preferably comprises a multiplicity of pores or grid openings, wherein the pores, and/or the grid openings, of the third filter unit have a diameter of between 50 μm and 200 μm, preferably of between 75 μm and 125 μm, particularly preferably of 100 μM.

37. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that a protective mesh, and/or a protective grid, is arranged on an outer face, and/or an inner face, of the first filter unit, wherein the protective mesh, and/or the protective grid, is designed such that an escape of activated carbon particles from the first filter unit can be, and/or is, prevented.

38. The filter device according to claim 25, characterised in that the activated carbon filter consists of, or comprises, acid-washed coconut shell and/or that the activated carbon filter of the first filter unit has a pore size of between 0.001 μm and 2.0 μm, preferably of between 0.01 μm and 1.0 μm, more preferably of between 0.3 μm and 0.7 μm, particularly preferably of between 0.4 μm and 0.6 μm, most preferably of 0.5 μM.

39. A filter container with a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water inlet and the water outlet are arranged in a lower region, preferably on a lower face, of the filter container, characterised in that a filter device according to one of the aforementioned claims is arranged in an inner space of the filter container.

40. The filter container according to claim 39, characterised in that the water outlet is connected to the discharge region, particularly to the outflow pipe connection.

41. The filter container according to one of the claim 39, characterised in that between an outer wall of the filter container and the housing of the filter device an, particularly circumferential, intermediate space is arranged, so that water entering through the water inlet can enter into the intermediate space, at least partially surrounding the filter device, and can enter into the filter device through the entry region of the filter device.

42. The filter container according to one of the claim 39, characterised in that the filter container is designed in two parts.

43. A water filter in an aircraft, comprising a filter device according to claim 25, and/or comprising a filter container according to claim 39.

44. A method for filtering water in an aircraft, using a filter container according to claim 39, characterised in that water that is to be filtered is introduced into a lower region of the filter container through a water inlet, in that the water is passed through an activated carbon filter, and then through a microfilter, and in that the filtered water exits through a water outlet in the lower part of the filter container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0051] The invention is explained in more detail below, with the aid of the figures. Here:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of a filter device,

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a filter device,

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a filter device,

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a further view in perspective of a filter device,

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a plan view onto a filter device,

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a filter container,

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a filter container,

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of a filter container with a filter device,

[0060] FIG. 9 shows an internal view of an upper part of a filter container,

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a detail of an upper part of a filter container with a filter device,

[0062] FIG. 11 shows a detail of a lower part of a filter container with a filter device, and

[0063] FIG. 12 shows a further detail of a lower part of a filter container with a filter device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a filter device 100, which is designed as a filter cartridge 10. The filter device 100 is designed for use in water filters in aircraft, particularly aeroplanes. The filter device 100 comprises a housing 11, wherein an entry region 12 is arranged in an outer wall 13, that is to say, in a lateral surface 14, of the housing 11. The entry region 12 comprises a grid structure 15, which in turn consists of the superposition of honeycombs 16, and passage openings 17 arranged in the honeycombs 16. The filter device 100 further comprises a base 19 on a first end face 20 and a cover 18 on a second end face 21. Centrally in the base 19 is arranged a discharge region 24 in the form of an outflow pipe connection 22. The outflow pipe connection 22 has an external thread 23.

[0065] The flow direction of the water that is to be filtered is marked with the arrow 25. The water that is to be filtered enters the filter device 100 through the entry region 12, passes through a first filter unit 26 arranged in the housing 11, and a second filter unit 27, as shown in FIG. 2, and exits through the outflow pipe connection 22.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the filter device 100. In the housing 11 is arranged a first filter unit 26, particularly of cylindrical design. The first filter unit 26 comprises an activated carbon filter 28. In an inner space 29 of the first filter unit 26 is arranged a second filter unit 27, which comprises a micro filter 30. The base 19 and the cover 18 of the filter unit 100 are attached on the lower, first end face 20 and the upper, second end face 21 of the housing 11, and are adhesively bonded to the first filter unit 26 at adhesive bonding points 31. The base 19 of the filter device 100 has a discharge region 24 designed as an outflow pipe connection 22, which is centrally arranged in the base 19. Furthermore, the base 19 has a reception region 32 for the second filter unit 27. The second filter unit 27 can be screwed or pressed into the reception region 32. Furthermore, sealing means 33, for example sealing rings 34, are provided between the reception region 32 and the second filter unit 27. The reception region 32 is also of cylindrical design. The diameter 35 of the housing 11 is 86 mm. The inner diameter 36 of the first filter unit 26 is 58 mm. A protective grid 39 or a protective mesh 40 is arranged on the inner face 37 and the outer face 38 of the first filter unit 26, particularly between the grid structure 15 and the first filter unit 26; this is designed such that an escape of particles of the activated carbon filter 28 is prevented. This measure prevents the microfilter 30 of the second filter unit 27 from clogging.

[0067] A side view of the filter device 100 is shown in FIG. 3.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a view in perspective of the filter unit 100, and FIG. 5 is a plan view onto the cover 18 of the filter unit 100. The cover 18 has alignment ribs 41.

[0069] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a filter container 42. The filter container 42 has a water inlet 44 and a water outlet 45 in the lower region 43. The filter container 42 can be opened by way of a security mechanism 46, so that a filter device 100 (FIG. 8) arranged inside the filter container 42 can be removed.

[0070] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section through the filter container 42 of FIGS. 6 and 7. Inside the filter container 42 is arranged a filter device 100 according to one of the FIGS. 1 to 5. The filter container 42 is designed in two parts and has an upper part 47 and a lower part 48. An intermediate space 50 is formed between the outer face 38 of the filter device 100, particularly between the grid structure 15, and the outer wall 49 of the filter container 42. This allows water that is to be filtered to enter into the filter container 42 from below, through the water inlet 44. The water then flows from the outside, through the grid structure 15, through the activated carbon filter 28, through the microfilter 30, and through the outflow pipe connection 22, and the water outlet 45 of the filter container 42. By virtue of the entry and exit of the water that is to be filtered, or the filtered water, into and out of the filter container 42, or more particularly, the filter device 100, in the lower region 43, it is always possible to ensure that the water runs out of the filter container 42 and the filter device 100, and thus no standing water reservoir is formed inside the filter container 42 or the filter device 100.

[0071] FIG. 9 shows a view onto the inner face of the upper part 47 of the filter container 42 with alignment grooves 51, with which the alignment ribs 41 of the cover 18 of the filter device 100 can engage, as shown in the detailed drawing of FIG. 10.

[0072] FIGS. 10 to 12 show details of the filter container 42 with the filter device 100 from FIG. 8. In particular, it can be seen in FIG. 11 how the discharge region 24 of the filter device 100, designed as an outflow pipe connection 22, is connected to the water outlet 45 of the filter container 42 by way of an external thread 22 and a sealing ring 52.

[0073] Returning to FIG. 2, it is shown there that both the housing 11 of the filter device 100 and the first filter unit 26 and the second filter unit 27 are essentially of cylindrical design, and are arranged concentrically relative to one another. In a non-obligatory form of embodiment, a third filter unit 53, which has a multiplicity of pores or grid openings, can be arranged between the first filter unit 26 and the second filter unit 27. A further filter stage can be implemented with the third filter unit 53.

[0074] The height 54 of the first filter unit 26 is 105.5 mm.