Gravity-flow water filtration device

• US 6,454,941 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Solsky, Stanley D., Cutler, Willard A., Hickman, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cintins, Ivars
• Application Number:
  US09/461,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 210/257.1, 210/259, 210/266, 210/282, 210/257.2, 210/472
• US Class Current: 210/266
• 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 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection

Abstract

A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge for placement in a water filter carafe, comprising a filter cartridge housing with a cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports, wherein the cap is sealingly attached to a top rim of the housing. The filter housing further comprises a gooseneck conduit that is connected to a lower region of the filter housing, with the gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into a side surface of the filter housing. The filter housing also includes a packed bed of ion-exchange resin that is disposed in an upper region of the filter housing and a high surface area cyst-reducing filter element that is disposed in the lower region of the filter housing. The filter element provides at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 μm particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—Health Effects (September 1997). A bottom surface of the ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of a bottom screen, which is attached at the periphery to the side surface of the housing. The filter housing further has a first chamber separating the packed bed of ion-exchange resin from the cyst-reducing filter element and a second chamber proximate to the bottom surface of the filter housing, which is in fluid communication with the gooseneck conduit. The housing also includes an air vent conduit that is connected to the upper region of the filter housing, wherein the air vent conduit has an entry end that opens into the first chamber and an exit end that opens to the outside of the housing. The exit end is positioned above the treated water outlet port of the gooseneck conduit and the exit end is further covered with a hydrophobic membrane. The packed bed of ion-exchange resin and the cyst-reducing filter element each correspond in shape to the shape of the filter housing.

Claims

1. A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge, comprising:

a filter cartridge housing comprising a top rim, a side surface, a bottom surface, and a cap sealingly attached to said top rim, said cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports, said filter housing further comprising;

a gooseneck conduit connected to a lower region of said filter housing, said gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into said side surface of said filter housing;

a high surface area cyst-reducing filter element providing at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 μ

m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—

Health Effects (September

     1997), said cyst-reducing filter element being disposed within said filter housing;

a bottom screen disposed within said filter housing, said bottom screen being attached at the periphery to said side surface of said housing;

a packed bed of ion-exchange resin disposed within said filter housing, wherein a bottom surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of said bottom screen;

a first chamber separating said packed bed of ion-exchange resin and said cyst-reducing filter element;

a second chamber proximate to said bottom surface of said filter housing, said second chamber being in fluid communication with the end opposite said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit and said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit being positioned above the level of said first chamber; and

an air vent conduit having an entry end and an exit end, said air vent conduit being connected to said upper region of said filter housing, said entry end of said air vent conduit opening into said first chamber, said exit end of said air vent conduit opening to the outside of said side surface of said filter housing, said exit end being positioned above the treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit.

2. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is disposed within said upper region and proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, and wherein said cyst-reducing filter element is secured within said lower region and proximate to said bottom surface of said filter housing.

3. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said high surface area cyst-reducing filter element further comprises a cellular honeycomb structure having a plurality of channels separated by porous channel walls, wherein said channels traverse said cyst-reducing filter element from a filter inlet end to a filter outlet end, and include a first plurality of channels open only at said inlet end and a second plurality of channels open only at said outlet end.

4. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said exit end of said air vent conduit further comprises a membrane having at least one hydrophobic side facing the inside of said filter housing.

5. A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge, comprising:

a filter cartridge housing comprising a top rim, a side surface, a bottom surface, and a cap sealingly attached to said top rim, said cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports, said filter housing further comprising;

a gooseneck conduit connected to a lower region of the filter housing, the gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into the side surface of the filter housing;

a high surface area cyst-reducing filter element providing at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 μ

m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—

Health Effects (September

     1997), the cyst-reducing filter element being disposed within the filter housing;

a bottom screen disposed within the filter housing, the bottom screen being attached at the periphery to the side surface of the housing;

a packed bed of ion-exchange resin disposed within the filter housing, wherein a bottom surface of the packed bed of ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of the bottom screen;

a first chamber separating the packed bed of ion-exchange resin and the cyst-reducing filter element;

a second chamber proximate to the bottom surface of the filter housing, the second chamber being in fluid communication with the end opposite the treated water outlet port of the gooseneck conduit; and

an air vent hole in said side wall and proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, said hole opening into and being in fluid communication with said first chamber, said hole being sealed with at least one membrane having at least one hydrophobic side facing the inside of said filter housing;

wherein an opposite side of said bottom screen forms a ceiling at the top of said first chamber, and wherein said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit is positioned above the level of said first chamber.

6. A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge, comprising:

a filter cartridge housing comprising a top rim, a side surface, a bottom surface, and a cap sealingly attached to said top rim, said cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports, said filter housing further comprising;

a gooseneck conduit connected to a lower region of said housing, said gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into said side surface of said filter housing;

a high surface area cyst-reducing filter element providing at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 μ

m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—

Health Effects (September,

     1997), said cyst-reducing filter element being secured within said lower region and proximate to said bottom surface of said filter housing;

a bottom screen disposed within an upper region of said housing and above said filter element, said bottom screen being attached at the periphery to said side surface of said housing;

a packed bed of ion-exchange resin disposed within said upper region and proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, wherein said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is bounded at the top by said cap of said filter housing, and wherein a bottom surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of said bottom screen;

a first chamber separating said packed bed of ion-exchange resin and said cyst-reducing filter element, said first chamber being bounded at the top by an opposite side of said bottom screen, said opposite side of said bottom screen forming a ceiling at the top of said first chamber;

a second chamber separating said cyst-reducing filter element and said bottom surface of said filter housing, said second chamber being in fluid communication with the end opposite said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit and said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit being positioned above the level of said first chamber; and

an air vent conduit having an entry end and an exit end, said air vent conduit being connected to said upper region of said filter housing, said entry end of said air vent conduit opening into said first chamber, said exit end of said air vent conduit facing the outside of said side surface of said filter housing, said exit end being positioned above the treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit.

7. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said high surface area cyst-reducing filter element further comprises a cellular honeycomb structure having a plurality of channels separated by porous channel walls, wherein said channels traverse said cyst-reducing filter element from a filter inlet end to a filter outlet end, and include a first plurality of channels open only at said inlet end and a second plurality of channels open only at said outlet end.

8. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 7 wherein said cellular honeycomb structure is made of ceramic.

9. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 7 wherein said cellular honeycomb structure further comprises activated carbon.

10. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said packed bed of ion-exchange resin occupies the space between said bottom screen and a horizontal plane at the level of said top rim of said housing, and wherein said cyst-reducing filter element corresponds in shape to the shape of said filter housing and fits snugly into said filter housing.

11. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said air vent conduit is disposed within and adjacent to said packed bed of ion-exchange resin in said upper region of said filter housing.

12. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said bottom screen is substantially parallel to said cyst-reducing filter element.

13. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit is positioned at least about one centimeter above said topmost surface of said cyst-reducing filter element.

14. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said exit end of said air vent conduit further comprises a membrane having at least one hydrophobic side facing the inside of said filter housing.

15. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said exit end of said air vent conduit further comprises two membranes, each having a hydrophilic side and a hydrophobic side, wherein each of said hydrophilic sides are joined together whereby one of said hydrophobic sides faces the inside of said filter housing and the other of said hydrophobic sides faces the outside of said filter housing.

16. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said exit end of said air vent conduit further comprises a membrane having two hydrophobic sides.

17. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said untreated water inlet ports of said cap are located on a raised top surface and on a side skirt extending therefrom, said cap further comprising a baffle plate attached to the inside of said raised top surface of said cap, wherein approximately half the number of said untreated water inlet ports are located on each side of said baffle plate.

18. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said bottom screen is attached at an angle to said side surface of said housing, said bottom screen providing said first chamber with a low area underneath said ceiling at one end and a high area underneath said ceiling at an opposite end, and wherein said air vent conduit is disposed within said upper region and at a peripheral surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin, said air vent conduit being on the same side of the filter housing as said gooseneck conduit and wherein said entry end of said air vent conduit opens into said high area underneath said ceiling of said first chamber.

19. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 9, wherein said cyst-reducing filter element is secured slantingly at said angle to said side surface of said housing.

20. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said bottom screen has a convex shape with respect to said topmost surface of said cyst-reducing filter element, said bottom screen providing said first chamber with a high area underneath said ceiling in the middle and a low area underneath said ceiling at the periphery, and wherein said air vent conduit is disposed in the middle of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin, said entry end of said air vent conduit opening into said high area underneath said ceiling of said first chamber.

21. A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge, comprising:

a filter cartridge housing comprising a top rim, a side surface, a bottom surface, and a cap sealingly attached to said top rim, said cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports, said filter housing further comprising;

a gooseneck conduit being attached to a lower region of said housing, said gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into said side surface of said filter housing;

a cellular honeycomb cyst-reducing filter element secured within said lower region and proximate to said bottom surface of said filter housing, said cyst-reducing filter element comprising a plurality of channels separated by porous channel walls, wherein said channels traverse said element from a filter inlet end to a filter outlet end, and include a first plurality of channels open only at said inlet end and a second plurality of channels open only at said outlet end, said cyst-reducing filter element providing at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 μ

m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—

Health Effects (September

     1997);

a bottom screen disposed within an upper region of said housing and above said cyst-reducing filter element;

a packed bed of ion-exchange resin attached to an upper region and proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, wherein a topmost surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is bounded by said cap of said filter housing, and wherein a bottom surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of said bottom screen, said packed bed of ion-exchange resin being smaller in circumferential size than said filter housing;

a first chamber surrounding said packed bed of ion-exchange resin within said upper region of said filter housing, said first chamber separating said packed bed of ion-exchange resin and said cyst-reducing filter element;

a second chamber separating said cyst-reducing filter element and said bottom surface of said filter housing, said second chamber being in fluid communication with the end opposite said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit; and

an air vent hole in said side wall and proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, said hole opening into and being in fluid communication with said first chamber, said hole being sealed with at least one membrane having at least one hydrophobic side facing the inside of said filter housing;

wherein an opposite side of said bottom screen forms a ceiling at the top of said first chamber, and wherein said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit is positioned above the level of said first chamber.

22. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said bottom screen is concave in shape with respect to said topmost surface of said cyst-reducing filter element, said bottom screen providing said first chamber with a low area underneath said ceiling in the middle and a high area underneath said ceiling at the periphery.

23. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said bottom screen is substantially parallel to said cyst-reducing filter element and wherein said untreated water inlet ports of said cap are located on a raised top surface and along the bottom periphery of a side skirt extending therefrom, said cap further comprising a baffle plate attached across the inside of said raised top surface of said cap, said baffle plate being parallel to said skirt of said cap.

24. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit is positioned at least about one centimeter above said topmost surface of said cyst-reducing filter element.

25. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said cyst-reducing filter element corresponds in shape to the shape of said filter housing and fits snugly into said filter housing.

26. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said cellular honeycomb cyst-reducing filter element is made of ceramic.

27. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is surrounded by a resin holder screen that is water impermeable, said resin holder screen being attached to said housing, and wherein said bottom screen is attached at the periphery to the bottom of said resin holder screen, said bottom screen being water permeable.

28. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is surrounded by a resin holder screen that is water permeable, said resin holder screen being attached to said housing;

and wherein said filter cartridge further comprises a water permeable screen conduit traversing the center of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin, wherein said water permeable screen conduit has an open end at the top that is adapted for receiving a stream of untreated water and an opposite closed end that is proximate to said bottom screen, and wherein said bottom screen is attached at the periphery to the bottom of said resin holder screen, said bottom screen being water impermeable.

29. A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device, comprising:

a water filter carafe having a pour spout;

a water filter cartridge, said filter cartridge being mounted in a receptacle located in an untreated water reservoir of said filter carafe, said filter cartridge further comprising;

a filter cartridge housing comprising a top rim and a bottom surface, said top rim being sealed by a cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports that are located on a raised top surface and on a skirt extending therefrom, said cap being in fluid communication with said untreated water reservoir of said filter carafe, said filter housing further comprising;

a gooseneck conduit connected to a lower region of said housing, said gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into said side surface of said filter housing;

a cellular ceramic honeycomb cyst-reducing filter element having a plurality of channels separated by porous channel walls, wherein said channels traverse said cyst-reducing filter element from a filter inlet end to a filter outlet end, and include a first plurality of channels open only at said inlet end and a second plurality of channels open only at said outlet end, said cyst-reducing filter element providing at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 μ

m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—

Health Effects (September

     1997), said cyst-reducing filter element being secured within said lower region and proximate to said bottom surface of said filter housing;

a bottom screen disposed within an upper region of said housing and above said filter element, said bottom screen being attached at the periphery to said side surface of said housing;

a packed bed of ion-exchange resin disposed within an upper region and proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, wherein a topmost surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is bounded by said cap of said filter housing, and wherein a bottom surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of said bottom screen;

a first chamber separating said packed bed of ion-exchange resin and said cyst-reducing filter element;

a second chamber separating said cyst-reducing filter element and said bottom surface of said filter housing, said second chamber being in fluid communication with the end opposite said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit and said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit being positioned above the level of said first chamber; and

an air vent conduit having an entry end and an exit end, said air vent conduit being connected to said upper region of said filter housing, said air vent conduit having an entry end opening into said first chamber and an exit end proximate to said top rim of said filter housing, said exit end being positioned outside and above said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit of said filter housing;

wherein said cyst-reducing filter element corresponds in shape to the shape of said filter housing, and wherein said air vent conduit further comprises at least one membrane having at least one hydrophobic side facing the inside of said filter housing.

30. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein said packed bed of ion-exchange resin occupies the space between said bottom screen and a horizontal plane at the level of said top rim of said housing, and wherein said cyst-reducing filter element fits snugly into said filter housing.

31. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein said air vent conduit is disposed within and proximate to said packed bed of ion-exchange resin in said upper region of said filter housing.

32. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein said honeycomb cyst-reducing filter element comprises activated carbon.

33. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein said bottom screen is substantially parallel to said cyst-reducing filter element, and wherein said cap further comprising a baffle plate attached to the inside of said raised top surface of said cap, wherein approximately half the number of said untreated water inlet ports are located on each side of said baffle plate.

34. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein said bottom screen is attached at an angle to said side surface of said housing, said bottom screen providing said first chamber with a low area underneath said ceiling at one end and a high area underneath said ceiling at an opposite end, and wherein said entry end of said air vent conduit opens into said high area underneath said ceiling of said first chamber.

35. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 34, wherein said cyst-reducing filter element is secured slantingly at said angle of said bottom screen in said filter housing.

36. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein said bottom screen has a convex shape with respect to said topmost surface of said cyst-reducing filter element, said bottom screen providing said first chamber with a high area underneath said ceiling in the middle and a low area underneath said ceiling at the periphery, and wherein said air vent conduit is disposed in the middle of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin, said entry end of said air vent conduit opening into said high area underneath said ceiling of said first chamber.

37. The replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device of claim 29, wherein each of said exit end of said air vent conduit and said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit is positioned on an opposite side of said filter carafe from said pour spout.