LIQUID FILTRATION CARTRIDGE AND A SYSTEM FOR LIQUIED FILTRATION

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a filter cartridge, a filtration system and a process for filtering and disinfecting water for medical and/or dental purposes. Filter cartridge (10) comprises: (a) a vessel (16) comprising a first cavity; (b) a filter media (18) having a second cavity, wherein said filter media is disposed in said vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of said filter media (18) and an inner surface of said vessel (16); (c) a first end cap (14) attached to a first end of said vessel (16), wherein said first end cap (14) is configured to form a first outlet (12); wherein said filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches.

Claims

1. A filter cartridge comprising: a. a vessel comprising a first cavity; b. a filter media having a second cavity disposed in the vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of the filter media and an inner surface of the vessel; c. a first end cap attached to a first end of the vessel, wherein the first end cap is configured to form a first outlet, wherein the filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches.

2. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises one or more polymers.

3. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter cartridge is configured to be disposed in a dental chair water reservoir.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises one or more openings.

5. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is pleated.

6. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is tubular shape.

7. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media has thickness in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm.

8. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is hydrophobic.

9. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media has a pore size in the range of from 0.9 to 1.8 micron nominal.

10. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is capable of removing particles having a diameter in the range of from 20 to 800 nm.

11. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is capable of removing particles having a diameter in the range of from 20 to 400 nm.

12. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is capable of withstanding a pressure in the range of up to 80 psi.

13. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the filter media is capable of removing substantial portion of bacteria, virus, cysts, and combinations thereof.

14. The filter cartridge of claim 4 wherein the filter media is coupled to said vessel and said first end cap thereby forming filtration path through the one or more openings into said first compartment, and then into the second cavity and subsequently out via a backflow valve disposed in said first outlet.

15. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the disinfectant media comprises a solid or a liquid composition.

16. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the first outlet extends outwardly and comprises one or more angled away projections.

17. A filtration system comprising: a. a water reservoir; b. an air pressure source; and c. a filter cartridge comprising: a vessel comprising a first cavity; a filter media having a second cavity disposed in the vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of said filter media and an inner surface of the vessel; and a first end cap attached to a first end of the vessel, wherein the first end cap is configured to form a first outlet; wherein the filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches.

18. A process for filtering water comprising the steps of: a. providing a filtration system comprising; i. a water reservoir; ii. an air pressure source; and iii. filter cartridge comprising: a vessel comprising a first cavity and one or more openings; a filter media having a second cavity disposed in the vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of said filter media and an inner surface of the vessel; a first end cap attached to a first end of the vessel, wherein the first end cap is configured to form a first outlet; wherein the filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches. b. providing water in the water reservoir; c. pressurizing the water via the air pressure source; and d. channeling the pressurized water from the water reservoir via the one or more openings into the second cavity and in contact with the disinfectant media; thereby filtering the water before exiting the filtration system via said first outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is exemplary; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a filtration system;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a filtration system;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a filtration system;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of a filtration system removing a portion of dental water bottle showing filter cartridge disposed therein;

[0013] FIG. 4a is a first embodiment of a filter media;

[0014] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a filter media;

[0015] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a filter cartridge;

[0016] FIGS. 7 & 6 are front view and side view of a filter cartridge;

[0017] FIGS. 8 & 9 or top view and bottom view of a filter cartridge, respectively;

[0018] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a filter cartridge;

[0019] FIG. 11 is a side view of a filtration system illustrating water flow through the system; and

[0020] FIG. 12 &13 are cross longitudinal & cross-sectional views of a filter cartridge, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present disclosure provides a filter cartridge, a filtration system and a process for filtering and disinfecting water for medical and/or dental purposes. In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 3-10, filter cartridge (10) comprises: (a) a vessel (16) comprising a first cavity; (b) a filter media (18) having a second cavity, wherein said filter media is disposed in said vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of said filter media (18) and an inner surface of said vessel (16); (c) a first end cap (14) attached to a first end of said vessel (16), wherein said first end cap (14) is configured to form a first outlet (12); wherein said filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches. First outlet 12 can extend outwardly and can comprise one or more angled away projections (24). Vessel (16) comprises a first cavity configured to receive a filter media (18). Vessel (16) can be made from any polymeric materials. Such polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and combinations thereof. In one embodiment vessel (16) can be made from a protective mesh. Vessel (16) can be made via any method including, but not limited to, injection molding or the like. Vessel (16) can comprise one or more openings (17). One or more openings (17) may have any shape, for example, one or more openings (17) may have a shape selected from the group consisting of square, circle, oval, rectangle, or the like. In one embodiment, one or more openings (17) may have an irregular shape. In one embodiment, the filter media is coupled to the vessel and the first end cap thereby forming filtration path through said one or more openings into the first compartment, and then into the second cavity and subsequently out via an outlet in the first end cap though a back pressure valve.

[0022] The filter media is a filtration material having a pore size in the range of 0.9 to 1.8 u nominal. In one embodiment, the filter media is pleated, and in an alternative embodiment, filter media is flat and preferably in a tubular shape. The filter media can have any thickness, for example the filter media can have a thickness in the range of from 1 mm to 2 mm. In one embodiment, the filter media is hydrophobic. In one embodiment, the filter media is capable of removing particles having a diameter in the range of less than 800, for example, less than 400, or less than 200, or less than 100, or less than 10, or less than 1. In one embodiment, the filter media is capable of removing particles having a diameter in the range of from 20 to 800, or in the alternative from 20 to 400.

[0023] The filter media is capable of withstanding a pressure in the range of up to 120 psi, for example, the filter media is capable of withstanding a pressure in the range of 10 to 80 psi, for example, in the range of 15 to 30 psi (nominal). The filter media is also capable of removing substantial portion of bacteria, virus, cysts, and combinations thereof, for example, the filter media is capable of removing at least 99.99% of the bacteria, virus, cysts and combinations thereof. Such filter media is commercially available from Ahlstrom under the trade name Ahlstrom Disruptor.

[0024] Filter media can be pleated or flat. Filter media may be formed into a circular shape configured to be disposed in the vessel.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1-4 & 11, the present disclosure provides a filtration system (11) comprising: (a) a water reservoir (20); (b) an air pressure source (24); and (c) a filter cartridge (10) comprises: (a) a vessel (16) comprising a first cavity; (b) a filter media (18) having a second cavity, wherein said filter media is disposed in said vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of said filter media (18) and an inner surface of said vessel (16); (c) a first end cap (14) attached to a first end of said vessel (16), wherein said first end cap (14) is configured to form a first outlet (12); wherein said filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, referring to FIG. 18, the present disclosure provides a process for filtering water comprising the steps of: (A) providing a filtration system (11) comprising; (i) a water reservoir (20); (ii) an air pressure source (24); and (iii) a filter cartridge (10) comprising: (a) a vessel (16) comprising a first cavity; (b) a filter media (18) having a second cavity, wherein said filter media is disposed in said vessel thereby forming a first compartment therebetween an outer surface of said filter media (18) and an inner surface of said vessel (16); (c) a first end cap (14) attached to a first end of said vessel (16), wherein said first end cap (14) is configured to form a first outlet (12) wherein said filter cartridge is in the range of at least greater than 3 inches to 5 inches; (B) providing water in said water reservoir (20); (C) pressurizing said water via said air pressure source (24); (D) channeling said pressurized water from said water reservoir via said one or more openings into the second cavity; thereby filtering said water it before exiting said filtration system via said first outlet (12).

[0027] The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.