Replaceable integrated water filtration and sterilization cartridge and assembly therefor

• US 5,529,689 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amos Korin
• Inventors: Korin, Amos
• Primary Examiner(s): McCarthy, Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/310,955
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 210/748, 210/452, 210/443, 210/232, 250/432 R, 250/435-438, 422/186.3
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3223 Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor

Abstract

A filtration/sterilization assembly which comprises: a filtration housing comprising a base unit and an outer housing, the base unit comprises a permeate channel, a port for removing permeate from the permeate channel, a feed channel disposed about the permeate channel, and a port for feeding a feed stream into the feed channel; and an integrated filtration and sterilization cartridge replaceably disposed within the filtration housing; wherein the outer housing is disposed about the cartridge so as to form a feed chamber between the inner surface of the outer housing and the outer surface of the filtration member and wherein the feed chamber is in contact with the feed channel of the base unit, and wherein permeate from the cartridge is passed through to the permeate channel for discharging from the assembly.

Claims

1. An integrated water filtration and sterilization cartridge which comprises:

a first end plate and a second end plate;

.

a filtration member disposed between said first and second end plates, said filtration member being securely affixed to both said first and second end plates; and

an ultraviolet lamp affixed to said first end plate and disposed within the interior of said filtration member such that a permeate chamber is formed between said ultraviolet lamp and the inner surface of said filtration member, wherein said first and second end plates, said filtration member and said ultraviolet lamp form an integrated unit that is removable and replaceable as a single cartridge.

2. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said first end plate further comprises at least one permeate through-hole disposed therein and in contact with said permeate chamber.

3. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1 further comprising a counter current sleeve disposed between said ultraviolet lamp and the inner surface of said filtration member.

4. The integrated cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said first end plate further comprises at least one permeate through-hole disposed between said ultraviolet lamp and said inner surface of said filtration member and in contact with said permeate chamber.

5. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said filter member is affixed to said first and second end plates by means of an adhesive material.

6. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet lamp is disposed within a quartz tube.

7. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said filter member is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

activated carbon, adsorption resins, ion exchange resins, zeolite, reduction catalysts, paper, polymers, clay, ceramics, metals, nylon, wood pulp, cellulose, cotton, and fibers.

8. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said filter member is in the form of one of the following:

string wound filter, fiber composite molded filter, pleated filter, hollow fiber membrane, spiral wound membrane, and plate and frame membrane.

9. A filtration/sterilization assembly which comprises:

a filtration housing comprising a base unit and an outer housing, said base unit comprises a permeate channel, a means for removing permeate from said permeate channel, a feed channel disposed about said permeate channel, and a means for feeding a feed stream into said feed channel; and

a replaceable and integrated water filtration and sterilization cartridge which comprises;

a first end plate and a second end plate;

a filtration membrane disposed between said first and second end plates, said filtration member being securely affixed to both said and second end plates; and

an ultraviolet lamp affixed to said first end plate and disposed within the interior of said filtration member such that a permeate chamber is formed between said ultraviolet lamp and the inner surface of said filtration member, wherein said first and second end plates, said filtration member and said ultraviolet lamp form an integrated unit that is removable and replaceable as a single cartridge, and wherein said first end plate comprises at least one permeate through-hole disposed therein and in contact with both said permeate chamber and said permeate channel;

said outer housing is disposed about said integrated water filtration and sterilization cartridge so as to form a feed chamber between the inner surface of said outer housing and the outer surface of said filtration member and wherein said feed chamber is in contact with said feed channel of said base unit.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said base unit further comprises a means for dispensing said permeate, said dispensing means being connected to said means for removing permeate from said permeate channel.

11. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said base unit further comprises a means for supplying power to said ultraviolet lamp.

12. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said integrated filtration and sterilization cartridge further comprises a counter current sleeve disposed between said ultraviolet lamp and the inner surface of said filtration member.

13. The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said permeate through-hole in said first end plate is disposed between said ultraviolet lamp and said inner surface of said counter current sleeve and in contact with said permeate chamber.

14. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said filter member is affixed to said first and second end plates by means of an adhesive material.

15. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said ultraviolet lamp is disposed within a quartz tube.

16. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said filter member is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

activated carbon, adsorption resins, ion exchange resins, zeolite, reduction catalysts, paper, polymers, clay, ceramics, metals, nylon, wood pulp, cellulose, cotton, and fibers.

17. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said filter member is in the form of one of the following:

string wound filter, fiber composite molded filter, pleated filter, hollow fiber membrane, spiral wound membrane, and plate and frame membrane.

18. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said permeate channel is formed between the outer surface of said first end plate and the adjacent surface of said base unit.

19. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said feed channel is formed between the outer surface of said first end plate and the adjacent surface of said base unit.

20. An in-line filtration/sterilization assembly which is capable of being replaceably mounted directly within a feed stream, said assembly comprises:

a filtration housing comprising a base unit and an outer housing, said base unit comprises a means for removing permeate from said assembly, and said outer housing comprises means for feeding said feed stream into said assembly;

a replaceable and integrated water filtration and sterilization cartridge which comprises;

a first end plate and a second end plate;

a filtration membrane disposed between said first and second end plates, said filtration member being securely affixed to both said and second end plates; and

an ultraviolet lamp affixed to said first end plate and disposed within the interior of said filtration member such that a permeate chamber is formed between said ultraviolet lamp and the inner surface of said filtration member, wherein said first and second end plates, said filtration member and said ultraviolet lamp form an integrated unit that is removable and replaceable as a single cartridge;

said outer housing is disposed about said integrated filtration and sterilization cartridge so as to form a feed chamber between the inner surface of said outer housing and the outer surface of said filtration member and wherein said feed chamber is in contact with said means for feeding said feed stream into said assembly, and wherein said base unit is disposed at the opposite end of said cartridge as said outer housing so as to form a permeate compartment between the inner surface of said base unit and the outer surface of said first end plate, and wherein said permeate compartment is in contact with said means for removing permeate from said assembly and said first end plate comprises at least one permeate through-hole disposed therein and in contact with both said permeate chamber and said permeate compartment.

21. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein said base unit further comprises a means for supplying power to said ultraviolet lamp.

22. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein said integrated filtration and sterilization cartridge further comprises a counter current sleeve disposed between said ultraviolet lamp and the inner surface of said filtration member.

23. The assembly according to claim 22 wherein said permeate through-hole in said first end plate is disposed between said ultraviolet lamp and said inner surface of said counter current sleeve and in contact with said permeate chamber.

24. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein said filter member is affixed to said first and second end plates by means of an adhesive material.

25. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein said ultraviolet lamp is disposed within a quartz tube.

26. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein said filter member is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

activated carbon, adsorption resins, ion exchange resins, zeolite, reduction catalysts, paper, polymers, clay, ceramics, metals, nylon, wood pulp, cellulose, cotton, and fibers.

27. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein said filter member is in the form of one of the following:

string wound filter, fiber composite molded filter, pleated filter, hollow fiber membrane, spiral wound membrane, and plate and frame membrane.