Filter-Purifier Cartridge Having Separable Elements

This invention relates to a filter and purifier cartridge, and since it finds particular utility in the field of water filtration and purification, embodiments thereof adapted for such use are hereinafter described as illustrative of the invention and the advantages thereof, it being understood that my invention is not restricted to such use.

There is a growing demand for an inexpensive filter element that can be periodically discarded, and a relatively economical purifying element which can be used in combination with the aforementioned filter. Both the efficiency and filter life depend on the mass of purifying material used, and the surface area of the filter. The difficulty arises from the fact that in the present type of radial flow filter-purifier cartridges the fluid does not flow uniformly through the entire volume of the purifying medium, whereas in an axial flow filter-purifier cartridge the relatively small surface area used for filtration of the fluid decreases the life expectancy of the filter.

Objects of the Invention: An object of my invention is to provide a water filter-purifier cartridge consisting of separable purifier and filter elements which can be removed when purifying or filtering efficiency is impaired, and replaced accordingly.

Another object of my invention is the provision for recharging the purifier element with new purifying medium resulting in a marked savings as compared to a throw-away unit.

Still another object of my invention is to combine the efficiency offered by a radial flow through the filter with an axial flow within the purifier element.

An embodiment of my invention capable of accomplishing the foregoing objects and providing the advantages contemplated by them and other advantages is described in the following specification which may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation sectional view of a filter-purifier cartridge embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the hollow step-type threaded plug, the view being a section taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 which is for illustrative purposes only, the numeral 5 indicates a permeable porous tubular filter having a hollow core, with one end of said tubular filter resting against the outside flange at the concentrically enlarged end section of hollow cylinder 6, said hollow cylinder 6 being inserted into the hollow core of the tubular filter 5. The unexpanded section of cylinder 6 is spaced from the sidewall of tubular filter 5 to form the annular space 15. An integrated partition 20 having a series of perforations 22 is located within the unexpanded section of cylinder 6, said partition 20 supports the purifying medium 16 contained within the hollow cylinder 6. The interior of cylinder 6 communicates with the annular space 15 by means of perforations 7 which are circumferentially disposed intermediate the unexpanded internally threaded end section of said hollow cylinder 6 and the perforated partition 20. The interior of hollow cylinder 6 also communicates with annular space 15 by means of axial channels 21 disposed around a partial section of the flanged hollow step-type threaded plug 8 which is screwed into the straight threaded end of hollow cylinder 6, said plug 8 positions the hollow cylinder 6, the tubular filter 5, and seals the adjacent end of said tubular filter 5. The threaded hollow step-type plug 8 will also transmit any axial compressive stress through the hollow cylinder 6 and the tubular filter 5. The circular recess 17 of the flanged hollow step-type plug 8 can be used to center the cartridge in its housing. The purifying medium 16 is contained within the hollow core of cylinder 6 by means of the perforated partition 20 and the perforated disk 9 which has an offset rimmed section resting against the shoulder within the enlarged interior section of the hollow cylinder 6. A permeable porous disk 11 rests against the offset rimmed section of the perforated disk 9 to form chamber 10. A cylinder sealing ring 12 containing an "O" ring 13 within a continuous groove in said sealing ring is inserted into the enlarged hollow core of the expanded section of cylinder 6 and rests against the permeable porous disk 11, the "O" ring seal 13 preventing any leakage between the outer wall of sealing ring 12 and the inner wall of enlarged section of cylinder 6. A ring gasket 14 is positioned atop sealing ring 12 and around the exit port 19 of the cartridge.

In operation the filter-purifier cartridge as shown is subjected to axial compression after said cartridge is inserted into its housing. The cartridge housing is not part of my invention and is not shown. It will be evident that, while the filter housing is not illustrated, one skilled in the art can easily adapt the illustrated cartridge to a hollow cylindrical housing having axially aligned inlet and outlet passages. One skilled in the art will also note that embodiments of the cartridge as shown, are adapted to a common type of filter housing which is screwed onto a double ported end section containing an "O" ring to seal the single open end of said housing.

With the filter-purifier cartridge assembled as illustrated, fluid to be filtered and purified flows radially through the permeable porous tubular filter 5 and enters the annular space 15. The fluid then enters the hollow core of cylinder 6 through the radial perforations 7 and the channels 21. The fluid then flows axially through the perforations 22 of partition 20 and continues flowing through the hollow core of cylinder 6 containing the purifying medium 16 and enters chamber 10 by means of perforations 18 in disk 9. The fluid then flows through the permeable porous disk 11 and exits at discharge port 19, said discharge port communicating with the discharge passage of the cartridge housing. The gasket 14 surrounding the cartridge discharge port 19 and the cartridge housing discharge passage prevents any unprocessed water from being discharged through said cartridge housing discharge passage.

The present invention contemplates an alternate embodiment which can include a reticulated core having a fiber winding as the tubular filter. Similarly, a perforated core being wound with fiber or having a pleated resin impregnated filter paper formed around said core can be used as a tubular filter.

While the embodiments of this invention hereinbefore illustrated and described are fully capable of performing the objects and accomplishing the advantages primarily stated, it will be understood that this invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments hereinbefore set forth, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the claims that follow.