GB2560335A

GB2560335A - A water filter apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2560335A
Application number: GB1703642.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carrington Paul; Edward Lindley Christopher
Original assignee: Aquacheck Engineering H Ltd
Current assignee: Aquacheck Engineering H Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-07
Filing date: 2017-03-07
Publication date: 2018-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-07
Also published as: GB201703642D0; GB2560335B

Abstract

A water filter apparatus (1) comprises a housing (2) adapted for detachable securement at one end (3) to a concentric water supply manifold. The housing (2) defines a water flow path through from an inlet (5) to an outlet (6) concentric with the inlet (5) via a filter (7). An air bleed valve (17, Fig 3) is provided at an opposite end of the housing (2) for venting air that collects within the housing (2) during use. Preferably, the air bleed valve (17) is adapted to operate automatically to vent air from the housing (2) when pressure exerted on a component (23, Fig 3) of the valve (17) exceeds a preset threshold. The water filter apparatus (1) is provided primarily for use in a branch off a mains water supply line into a property as a temporary measure should the water supply become contaminated.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A water filter apparatus Abstract Title: Water filter apparatus (57) A water filter apparatus (1) comprises a housing (2) adapted for detachable securement at one end (3) to a concentric water supply manifold. The housing (2) defines a water flow path through from an inlet (5) to an outlet (6) concentric with the inlet (5) via a filter (7). An air bleed valve (17, Fig 3) is provided at an opposite end of the housing (2) for venting air that collects within the housing (2) during use. Preferably, the air bleed valve (17) is adapted to operate automatically to vent air from the housing (2) when pressure exerted on a component (23, Fig 3) of the valve (17) exceeds a preset threshold. The water filter apparatus (1) is provided primarily for use in a branch off a mains water supply line into a property as a temporary measure should the water supply become contaminated.

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A WATER FILTER APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a water filter apparatus, primarily but not exclusively, for use in a branch off a mains water supply line into a property.

While mains water supplies in the United Kingdom are “safe to drink”, having been treated to kill harmful bacteria, the water may still contain other contaminants such as suspended particulate solids that are picked up from the water pipes themselves especially if work is being carried out on the main close to a property. Water companies are now fined heavily if contaminated water is supplied to a property. Hence, it is desirable for a temporary filter apparatus to be fitted to a water supply if main water contamination has been reported or is expected owing to work on the water main in a particular area until the source of contamination has been expunged.

A typical mains water supply network comprises a main water supply pipe that supplies water to a plurality of secondary supply pipes, which are each arranged to supply water to individual residential or commercial properties. Water meters are often installed in the secondary supply pipes so that users can be charged for the water according to their usage. Each water meter is usually located within an insulated chamber that is either located above ground in or adjacent the particular building it serves or is located underground, for example in a pavement or road outside the building. It would therefore be convenient for a temporary water filter apparatus to be fitted in place of a conventional water meter in a water meter chamber should a water supply become contaminated as aforesaid until further contamination has been prevented and the water meter can be replaced instead of the filter apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to provide such a water filter apparatus that can preferably be rapidly and easily fitted and removed when required.

According to the present invention there is provided a water filter apparatus comprising a housing adapted for detachable securement at one end to a concentric water supply manifold and defining a water flow path therethrough from an inlet to an outlet concentric with the inlet via a filter, an air bleed valve being provided at an opposite end of the housing for venting air that collects within the housing during use.

Preferably, the air bleed valve is adapted to operate automatically to vent air from the housing when pressure exerted on a component of the valve exceeds a pre-set threshold.

Preferably also, the filter is a reverse osmosis sediment filter that has a radial flow pattern through the filter from its exterior into a hollow inner core.

Preferably also, an inlet of the air bleed valve is in communication with the hollow inner core of the filter.

Other preferred but non-essential features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a water filter apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section along the line II-II in Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a scrap view showing the circled area III in Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is an end view in the direction of arrow IV in Fig. l.

A water filter apparatus l as shown in the drawings comprises a housing 2 adapted for detachable securement at one end 3 to a concentric water supply manifold. Preferably, the securement is by complementary screw fitments and to this end the end 3 of the housing is tapped as at 4 so that the end 3 can be screwed into the water supply manifold.

The housing 1 defines a water flow path therethrough from an inlet 5 to an outlet 6 concentric with the inlet 5 via a filter 7. This is arranged by providing inlet and outlet channels 8 and 9 to the filter 7 by means of a length of pipe 10 that is located within said one end 3 of the housing 2 whereby the exterior of the pipe 10 together with the interior of the housing 1 defines the inlet channel 8 and the interior the pipe 10 defines the outlet channel 9. In order to keep water flowing through the inlet 5 separate from the filtered water flowing out of the outlet 6, the end 3 of the housing 2 is provided with an annular end-cap 11 that bridges between the end 3 of the housing 1 and the adjacent end of the pipe 10 and that defines a series of water inlets 5. Also, the end of the pipe 10 adjacent the outlet 6 is provided with a groove in which an O-ring seal 12 is located. The seal 12 seals the pipe 10 with an equivalent pipe in the concentric water supply manifold to which the filter apparatus 1 is adapted to be connected.

The filter 7 is located within a part of the housing 2 that is in the form of a detachable cover 13 so that the filter 7 can be removed and replaced when required. The cover 13 maybe made transparent so that the state of the filter 7 can be assessed and without having to remove the cover 13 from the rest of the housing 2.

The filter 7 is preferably a reverse osmosis sediment filter in the form of a cylindrical, cartridge that has a radial flow pattern through the filter from its exterior into a hollow inner core 14. Advantageously, the filter 7 provides a particulate filtering surface that consists of the entire length and circumference of the cylindrical cartridge and may be either a depth filter or a pleated filter, which would offer a greater filtering surface. The cartridge 7 is 7 secured at one end to an end of the pipe 10, preferably by being pushed over the end of the pipe 10, and at its other end is secured over a cylindrical projection 15 at an end of the housing 2 opposite the end 3. One or more shorter projections 16 from the end of the housing 2 retain the filter 7 in a spaced relationship from the end of the housing 2.

Located within the cylindrical projection 15 is an air bleed valve 17, which is provided to vent air from the housing 2, specifically air that builds up in the inner core 14 of the filter 7. Preferably, the air bleed valve 17 is adapted to operate automatically when pressure is exerted on a component of the valve that exceeds a pre-set threshold. The functioning of the filter apparatus 1 is therefore not impaired by a build-up of air within the core 14 of the cartridge filter 7 and air is thereby prevented from being entrained within the water passing out of the filter apparatus 1 into the water supply of the premises to which the filter apparatus 1 is connected.

The air bleed valve 17 is preferably of the hygroscopic air vent type that comprises hygroscopic material that expands when wet and its construction and operation will now be described.

The valve 17 comprises a valve housing 18 that is screwed into or otherwise attached to the cylindrical projection 15 in a fluid-tight relationship, an O-ring 19 being provided between them to form a seal. The housing 18 defines a narrow channel 20 that communicates the inner core 14 of the filter 7 with a cylindrical chamber 21. The chamber 21 is defined by the body of the valve 17 and is closed by a valve end-cap 22. The chamber 21 contains a movable valve seat 23 that can close-off the channel 20 from fluid communication with the chamber 21 and an annular disc 24 that is sealed against the wall of the chamber 21 by an O-ring 25 and that can move up and down within the chamber 21 in the manner of a piston. The chamber 21 is formed into lower and upper parts, the upper part having a smaller diameter than the lower part so that the disc 24 cannot enter it but the two parts communicate with one another via a central aperture 26 in the disc 24. In the upper part of the chamber 21 is a plurality of radially directed passageways 27 formed in a valve cap 22 that communicate the interior of the chamber 21 with the exterior of the filter apparatus 1. In the lower part of the chamber 21 between the valve seat 23 and the disc 24 is located a first set of hygroscopic washers 28. A second set of hygroscopic washers 29 is located in the upper part of the chamber 21 between the disc 24 and the end-cap 22. The washers of the sets 28 and 29 are annular so that a passageway 30 runs down the centre of them along the longitudinal axis of the chamber 21 from the seat 23 through the disc 24 to the end-cap 22.

The operation of the air bleed valve 17 is such that in an air venting condition pressurised air that has built up within the core 14 of the filter 7 enters the chamber 21 via the channel 20 and can then be vented via the passageways 27. Initially, when the hygroscopic washers 28, 29 are dry they do not exert any pressure on the valve seat 23. This enables the air to pass unimpeded from the channel 20 into the chamber 21 and thence into the passageways 27 via the aperture 26 in the disc 24. As air is purged through the valve it is followed by water which also enters the chamber 21 in the same way. The water causes the hygroscopic washers 28 to expand and exert force upon the moveable valve seat 23 as their further expansion is impeded by the disc 24, which cannot move further when it reaches the top of the lower part of the chamber 21. The seat 23 therefore closes off the channel 20 and prevents further passage of air or water. Evaporation of water from the washers 28, the vapour escaping from the valve 17 via the longitudinal passageway 30 and the radial passageways 27, eventually causes the washers 28 to dry out and shrink. This releases the pressure on the valve seat 23 to allow it to open under pressure from air and water in the core 14 of the filter

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The type and nature of the washers 28 therefore determines the level of the pre-set pressure threshold that can be exerted on the valve seat 23 before the valve 17 operates to vent unwanted air from the filter apparatus 1. In high pressure conditions, the pressure exerted by air and water in the channel 20 will exceed the force exerted by the hygroscopic washers 28 on the valve seat 23. If this occurs, the seat 23 is moved away from the channel 20 and seals against the lowermost of the hygroscopic washer 28. The washers 28 in turn seal against the disc 24. Compression of the washers 28 increases their density and impermeability to evaporating water so that high pressures within the core 14 tend to cause a less positive seal action of the valve seat 23 against the channel 20 but a more positive seal against the washers 28.

However, the hygroscopic washers 29 in the upper part of the chamber 21 also act to close the valve 17, in particular if water leaks into the valve 17. Water passing through the valve 17 wets the hygroscopic washers 29 causing them to expand and exert pressure on the disc 24, pushing it downwards in the lower part of the chamber 21. This causes compression of the hygroscopic washers 28 and, in turn, closure of the seat 23 against the channel 20. The washers 29 therefore act as a backup mechanism should the washers 28 fail, which extends the life of the valve 17. The washers 29 do not expand significantly during the normal evaporating process from the washer 28 so that the backup system remains dormant until required in failure conditions.

In use, the filter apparatus 1 is intended to be installed temporarily to overcome the problem of contamination in a mains water supply to a property. To this end the apparatus 1 has been designed to be secured to a concentric water supply manifold in order that it can be fitted in place of a concentric water meter in a water meter chamber as a temporary measure by a water company should a water supply become contaminated or be likely to be contaminated during repair work. Once the water supply is no longer contaminated, the filter apparatus 1 can be removed and the water meter reinstalled. The filter apparatus 1 can then be reused as required and its filter

7 replaced with a fresh filter 7 when necessary.

During use, water flows through the filter apparatus 1 by flowing through the inlet apertures 5 into the inlet channel 8 and thence through the filter 7 into the core 14. Filtered water then flows from the core 14 into the outlet channel 9 and via the outlet 6 back into the water supply pipe to the property. Any air which is contained within the flow tends to collect at the top of the core 14 adjacent the air bleed valve 17. This valve 17 will then operate automatically, as described above, to vent air out of the filtered water in to the water meter chamber and thence to the atmosphere. This prevents air from entering the pipes within the property and causing air locks and water hammer.

Claims

1. A water filter apparatus comprising a housing adapted for detachable securement at one end to a concentric water supply manifold and defining a water flow path therethrough from an inlet to an outlet concentric with the inlet via a filter, an air bleed valve being provided at an opposite end of the housing for venting air that collects within the housing during use.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim l, wherein the air bleed valve is adapted to operate automatically to vent air from the housing when pressure exerted on a component of the valve exceeds a pre-set threshold.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said component is a valve seat that is operable to open and close-off fluid communication between the water flow path through the filter apparatus and an interior chamber of the air bleed valve, which chamber communicates with the exterior of the water filter apparatus .

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the air bleed valve comprises hygroscopic material that expands upon contact with water to exert pressure on the valve seat to close off said fluid communication.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein within said one end of the housing is a pipe the exterior of which pipe, together with the interior of the housing, defines part of the water flow path from said inlet to the filter and the interior of which pipe forms part of the water flow path from the filter to said outlet.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the filter comprises a cylindrical cartridge that is secured at one end to an end of said pipe and at its other end is secured to said opposite end of the housing.

57. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the filter is a reverse osmosis sediment filter that has a radial flow pattern through the filter from its exterior into a hollow inner core.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein an inlet of the air bleed

10 valve is in communication with the hollow inner core of the filter.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the filter is located within a part of the housing comprising a detachable cover that allows the filter to be removed and replaced when required.

10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the cover is transparent.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1703 642.7