DUAL STAGE ULTRAFILTER DEVICES IN THE FORM OF PORTABLE FILTER DEVICES, SHOWER DEVICES, AND HYDRATION PACKS

• US 20070163943A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nephros, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nephros, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Gregory, Summerton, James, Barta, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 7,534,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/335
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/166 Hydration systems attached to the body by straps, e.g. incorporated in a backpack
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/20 of flexible material; Collapsible or stackable cups
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/06 External membrane module supporting or fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/086 Meandering flow path over the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/10 Specific supply elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/105 Supply manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/125 Discharge manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/20 Specific housing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/201 Closed housing, vessels or containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/24 Specific pressurizing or depressurizing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/243 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/90 Additional auxiliary systems integrated with the module or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/903 Integrated control or detection device
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2319/025 Permeate series
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/145 Ultrafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/021 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/04 comprising multiple hollow fibre assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/022 : Membrane sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/002 : using small portable filters for producing potable water, e.g. personal travel or emergency equipment, survival kits, combat gear C02F1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 : by ultrafiltration or microfiltration

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.

Claims

1. A hand held dual-stage filtration cartridge comprising:

a cartridge including a housing having a first sterilization stage including first semi-permeable filtering elements and a second sterilization stage including second semi-permeable filtering elements, the housing having a first end and a second end with the first end including a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port and a member that divides the housing into the first sterilization stage and the second sterilization stage, the fluid inlet port being in fluid communication only with the first sterilization stage, while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second sterilization stage, wherein the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements are sealed at the second end of the housing so as to cause the fluid entering the fluid inlet port to flow within lumen sections of the first semi-permeable filtering elements and then be filtered by being conducted across the first semi-permeable filtering elements and then subsequently being filtered again by being conducted across the second semi-permeable filtering elements and into the lumen sections of the second semi-permeable filtering elements prior to being discharged through the fluid outlet port; and

a pump mechanism for pumping fluid into first sterilization stage and through both the first and second stages so that twice filtered fluid id discharged through the fluid outlet port.

2. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 1, wherein a first end of the housing includes an inner header space between a header end wall and first ends of the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements, the inner header space including an inner wall that divides the inner header space into a first inner header space and a second inner header space, the fluid inlet port being in fluid communication only with the first inner header space while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second inner header space.

3. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first and second inner header spaces are concentric with respect to one another.

4. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 2, further including:

a first potting compound disposed at the first ends of the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements, the first potting compound permitting fluid communication between the first inner header space and the first semi-permeable filtering elements as well as between the second inner header space and the second semi-permeable filtering elements; and

a second potting compound at the second ends of the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements for sealing off the second ends thereof.

5. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 1, wherein the fluid enters the first stage and is discharged from the second stage at the same end of the housing.

6. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 1, wherein the pump mechanism comprises a piston pump that is operable to draw fluid from a source into a holding chamber associated with the piston pump before being discharged into the first sterilization stage.

7. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 6, wherein the fluid is delivered through a first conduit from the source to the holding chamber and is discharged through a second conduit from the chamber to a first inner header space that is in fluid communication with only the first sterilization stage, the first conduit having a first one way valve associated therewith, while the second conduit has a second one way valve associated therewith such that when the fluid is being drawn into the holding chamber, the first valve is open and the second valve is closed and when the fluid is being discharged from the holding chamber to the first inner header spacer, the second valve is open and the first valve is closed.

8. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 7, further including:

a winder mechanism for winding and unwinding the first conduit into a dry storage compartment that is separate from an inner header space that has a first section where the fluid is received and flows into the first sterilization stage and a second section where the fluid is discharged from the second sterilization stage.

9. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 1, wherein the pump mechanism is a hand operable bellows type pump mechanism that is disposed at the second end of the housing and expands and contracts in a longitudinal direction along the length of the housing to an open position and a closed position, respectively, wherein the bellows type pump mechanism includes a cap and a bellows member having one end attached to the second end of the housing and a second end attached to the cap such that the cap can rotate relative to the bellows member, the bellows member having a fluid holding chamber formed therein.

10. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 9, wherein the fluid is delivered through a first conduit from the source to the holding chamber and is discharged through a second conduit from the chamber to a first inner header space that is in fluid communication with only the first sterilization stage, the first conduit having a first one way valve associated therewith, while the second conduit has a second one way valve associated therewith such that when the fluid is being drawn into the holding chamber, the first valve is open and the second valve is closed and when the fluid is being discharged from the holding chamber to the first inner header spacer, the second valve is open and the first valve is closed.

11. A hand held dual-stage filtration cartridge comprising:

a cartridge including a housing having a first sterilization stage including first semi-permeable filtering elements and a second sterilization stage including second semi-permeable filtering elements, the housing having a first end and a second end with the first end including a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port and a member that divides the housing into the first sterilization stage and the second sterilization stage, the fluid inlet port being in fluid communication only with the first sterilization stage, while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second sterilization stage, wherein the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements are sealed at the second end of the housing so as to cause the fluid entering the fluid inlet port to flow within lumen sections of the first semi-permeable filtering elements and then be filtered by being conducted across the first semi-permeable filtering elements and then subsequently being filtered again by being conducted across the second semi-permeable filtering elements and into the lumen sections of the second semi-permeable filtering elements prior to being discharged through the fluid outlet port; and

an integral shower head in fluid communication with the fluid outlet port and formed at the first end of the housing for discharging twice filtered fluid.

12. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 11, wherein a first end of the housing includes an inner header space between a header end wall and first ends of the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements, the inner header space including an inner wall that divides the inner header space into a first inner header space and a second inner header space, the fluid inlet port being in fluid communication only with the first inner header space while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second inner header space.

13. The dual-stage filtration cartridge of claim 11, wherein the shower head has a shower outlet conduit that is configured to mate with a plurality of interchangeable shower head nozzles.

14. A wearable, mobile hydration apparatus comprising:

a body constructed to be worn by a person and including;

a first fluid storage member for storing an untreated fluid;

a hand operable pump mechanism for drawing the untreated fluid from the first fluid storage member;

a fluid treatment device fluidly connected to the first fluid storage member for receiving the untreated fluid and includes elements for treating the untreated fluid to form treated water; and

a second fluid storage member fluidly connected to the fluid purification device such that it receives and stores the treated water as a result of the operation of the pump mechanism.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the body comprises a back pack to be worn on the person'"'"'s back and that contains the first fluid storage member, the pump mechanism, the fluid purification device and the second fluid storage member, with at least a portion of the pump mechanism being accessible by the person to permit operation of the pump mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the hand operable pump mechanism is one of a piston pump mechanism and a diaphragm pump mechanism.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second fluid storage members comprises an expandable/compressible bladder.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second bladders are formed as a single, integral structure.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first and second fluid storage members are arranged adjacent one another and occupy a given space such that as untreated water is discharged from the first fluid storage member and delivered to the second fluid storage member, the volumes of the individual fluid storage members change however the volume of the given space remains substantially the same.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pump mechanism and the fluid treatment device are formed as a single, integral cartridge.

21. A wearable, mobile hydration unit with dual-stage sterilization comprising:

a flexible structure constructed to be worn by a person and including;

a first bladder for storing unsterilized, raw water;

a cartridge including a housing having a first sterilization stage including first semi-permeable filtering elements and a second sterilization stage including second semi-permeable filtering elements, the housing having a first end and a second end with the first end including a fluid inlet port that receives the raw water from the first bladder and a fluid outlet port and a member that divides the housing into the first sterilization stage and the second sterilization stage, the fluid inlet port being in fluid communication only with the first sterilization stage, while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second sterilization stage, wherein the first and second semi-permeable filtering elements are sealed at the second end of the housing so as to cause the fluid entering the fluid inlet port to flow within lumen sections of the first semi-permeable filtering elements and then be filtered by being conducted across the first semi-permeable filtering elements and then subsequently being filtered again by being conducted across the second semi-permeable filtering elements and into the lumen sections of the second semi-permeable filtering elements prior to being discharged through the fluid outlet port as purified water;

a hand operable pump mechanism for drawing the raw water from the first bladder and delivering it through the fluid inlet port into the first sterilization stage; and

a second bladder fluidly connected to the fluid outlet port of the cartridge for receiving and storing the purified water.

22. A dual stage filtration apparatus comprising:

a first filtration stage including first semi-permeable filtering elements and a second filtration stage including second semi-permeable filtering elements and a fluid inlet port for receiving raw unfiltered fluid and a fluid outlet port for discharging purified fluid after it has passed through the first and second filtration stages, wherein the apparatus has an intrastage space that receives fluid that has been filtered in the first filtration stage prior to being filtered again in the second filtration stage, the fluid inlet port being in fluid communication only with the first filtration stage, while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second filtration stage, and

a feature that permits visual inspection of at least a portion of the second semi-permeable filtering elements to detect whether a breach has occurred in the first filtration stage.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second filtration stages are disposed in a single cartridge housing and the feature is associated with the cartridge housing and overlies the second filtration stage so as to provide an unobstructed view of the second semi-permeable filtering elements.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a breach has occurred in the first sterilization stage occurs when discoloration is visible in the second semi-permeable filtering elements.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fluid comprises water that contains colored particulates.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the housing is formed of a transparent or translucent material and the feature includes a label that is attached to an outer surface of the housing and includes a first cutout formed therein and that is disposed over the portion of the second semi-permeable filtering elements such that the second semi-permeable filtering elements are visible.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the label includes a second cutout formed therein and that is disposed over a portion of the first semi-permeable filtering elements such that the first semi-permeable filtering elements are visible.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the housing is formed of an opaque material with the exception of a first window formed of a transparent or translucent material and formed as an integral part of the housing, the first window overlaying the portion of the second semi-permeable filtering elements such that the second semi-permeable filtering elements are visible.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the opaque housing includes a second window formed of a transparent or translucent material and formed as an integral part of the housing, the second window overlaying a portion of the first semi-permeable filtering elements such that the first semi-permeable filtering elements are visible.