GB2329852A

GB2329852A - Portable water filter with movable filter element

Info

Publication number: GB2329852A
Application number: GB9821532A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Colin Brebner; Alfred Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-10-02
Filing date: 1998-10-02
Publication date: 1999-04-07
Also published as: WO2000057985A1; AU3158499A; GB9720821D0; GB9821532D0

Abstract

A filter assembly comprises a fluid-tight container 10, a movable filter member 20, and sealing means 28 between the filter member and the container walls. The filter member may be replaceable, and comprise at least one antibacterial filter element 30, and at least one ion exchange. The container may be in the form of a jug, and may be provided with a lid 12. There may be provided a hand operated plunger 14 connected to the filter member, so that by exerting a downwards force on the plunger, the filter member passes over a volume of water inside the container. The sealing means ensure that no unfiltered water escapes outside the filter member during operation. There may also be provided a protection device 32 that floats on top of the filtered water, to protect it from airborne contaminants. The protective device may comprise a fine metallic silver mesh 31 with antibacterial properties, supported on a buoyant expanded polymer frame 34. The filter assembly may be used to purify contaminated water for drinking, may be portable, and dimensioned so as to be easily stored for travelling purposes.

Description

FILTER DEVICE This application relates generally to filter devices. However, aspects of the invention described herein will also have other applications, such as in jug filters and kettles.

Water filter devices are useful, for example, in the removal of unwanted species from water to render it potable and safe for general food preparation. Contaminants are generally removed by some type of filtration process as the volume of water to be treated traverses a filter medium.

Drinking water filters are well known and widely used by both the public and in industry. Many known filters are plumbed directly into a water supply and rely on water pressure to urge the water through the filter medium. However, a number of companies produce jug filters which rely on gravity to filter the water which is poured into the top of a jug assembly equipped with a filter medium.

Known jug filters which cannot easily be fitted into suitcases or other carrying means are not suited for travel purposes or outdoor use owing mainly to their size. Such jug filters take a considerable time to filter a limited quantity of water, for example up to 10 minutes, and require continuous refilling to produce filtered water in sufficient quantity to satisfy most needs, such as those of an average family. Invariably, jug filters are not used to remove bacteria due to the time and/or pressure required to force the water through a filter medium of a suitably fine porosity. Conventional jug filters usually have to be filled by a tap or another jug or kettle. Depending on the filter medium used, the filtered water may be substantially free of chlorine and therefore susceptible to contamination by airborne contaminants after it has been filtered.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved filter method and filter device.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of filtering a fluid in which a filter means traverses the volume of fluid to be filtered.

Preferably, the volume of fluid to be filtered is provided in a fluid-tight container and a filter means movable within the container traverses the volume of fluid such that it traps the unfiltered fluid in a separate portion of the container to the filtered fluid.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter device comprising a fluid-tight container, filter means movable though a portion thereof and sealing means between the filter means and the container walls.

Preferably, the filter means comprises a filter member provided on a plunger assembly and includes at least one filter medium.

In one embodiment, the filter member comprises first and second filter media and a peripheral sealing element disposed in a position substantially therebetween.

One or more of the filter media, preferably the leading filter media, may be impermeable to bacteria and particulates below a sub-micron dimension, such that these species are entrapped by the filter with other impurities. Preferred filter media are of known exchange / sorptive types. One or more of the filter media may have antibacterial or bactericidal properties.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of protecting fluids from airborne contaminants by substantially covering exposed fluid surface area with a medium having antibacterial activity.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for protecting fluids from airborne contaminants comprising a medium having antibacterial properties which is disposed to substantially cover the water surface area.

Preferably, this protection device comprises a substantially two dimensional layer which may be floated upon the surface of the water. Accordingly, preferred protection devices comprise a fine mesh of silver wire supported by a buoyant expanded polymer framework. The shape of the protective layer as a whole generally conforms to that of the container.

Preferred embodiments include a hand operated water press filter which is operable by a plunge action as generally described above. Bacteria and the like can be easily and swiftly filtered from water and the device can be used in various countries on different water qualities and in various situations without the need for water pressure. The device is readily portable and can be easily cleaned and dried making it suitable for use by holiday makers, camping enthusiasts, caravan owners, boat owners, walkers and the like.

Preferred devices also protect the purified water from airborne contaminants since the mesh which is preferably silver provides the antibacterial activity necessary to compensate for removal of chlorine in the untreated water.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example orly, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a preferred filter device; Figure 2 is a plan view of a preferred water protection device; and Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection device of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings in particular, preferred filter devices comprise a fluid tight container 10 having substantially parallel sides (i.e. an approximately uniform or untapered cross-section), a lid 12 which covers the container when in place, and a plunger member 14.

The plunger member 14 comprises a plunger rod 16, a press filter handle 18 at the top of the rod, and a filter member 20 at the bottom of the rod. The plunger rod passes through an opening 36 in lid 12 and a central bush 38 which forms part of protection device 32.

Filter member 20 comprises an upper retaining element 22 and a lower retaining element 24 between which are disposed an upper filter medium 26, an annular sealing element 28 and a lower filter medium 30. Components 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 collectively make up the filter member 20 also referred to as the "filter cartridge".

Referring also to Figures 2 and 3, there is provided a water protection device 32 on plunger rod 16 between the handle 18 and the filter member 20. The water protection device 32 comprises an antibacterial medium which covers the water surface area. In this example, this medium is a substantially two dimensional fine metallic silver mesh 31 supported on a buoyant expanded polymer frame 34. The fine silver mesh has antibacterial properties.

Depending on the application, the filtration media will be selected to remove unwanted species from water and thereby render it purified. In the case of a water filter for providing water suitable for drinking and general food preparation, contaminants are removed by a process of exchange or sorption on iron exchange and sorptive media contained in the upper 26 and lower 30 portions of the cartridge 20.

The leading filter medium, i.e. the lower filter medium 30 as shown, has antibacterial properties. Typically the cartridge contains a volume of a weak acid cation exchange resin, for example in the hydrogen ion form having an ion exchange capacity of between about 2 and 4.5 equivalents per litre and a particle size of between about 200 to 1200 micrometers (diameter) Optionally, the or each resin may be mixed with a volume of a weak basic ion exchange resin having a similar ion exchange capacity and particle size distribution and/or a granular activated carbon with a similar capacity and particle size distribution.

The preferred activated carbon (charcoal) is of vegetable or animal origin and contains elemental silver to inhibit micro biological growth.

The filter member 20 is replaceable. It can be in various other forms but generally represents a piston-like cartridge of a similar shape to the water-tight container 13. Typically, it is in the form of a flattened cylinder comprising more than a single filter medium.

The dimensions of the filter member 20 are selected to be just less than those of the container 10 such tha annular sealing element 28 provides a tight fit where it slidably contacts the internal walls of the container 10. Element 28 ensures no unfiltered fluid escapes outside the filter member 20 during the motion of the plunger assembly and thereby urges all of the water through the filter media during its traverse.

The volume of exchange/sorptive media (known as the "bed volume") is preferably calculated to treat between about 5 and 20 bed volumes of water to ensure removal of between two thirds and one hundred percent of the contaminants present in a single traverse of the water volume. Preferably, te total filtration capacity of the filter member 20 can treat w? to one hundred litres of water, depending on the design cr-teria, and water quality.

The present method and apparatus allows enou h pressure to be exerted on the filter medium to ensure a steady downward movement through the water being filtered, removing unwanted contaminants and bacteria.

The filter device is operated by filling the water vessel 10 with water to the required level while the plunger assembly 14 and lid 12 are removed. Then, filter member 20 of the plunger assembly 14 is inserted above the water line and slowly pressed using the handle 18 of the assembly 14. This drives the filter member 20 down through the volume of water to be filtered until the handle 18 prevents further movement by contact with the lid 12 or until the filter member 20 contacts the base of the vessel 10, depending on relative dimensions thereof.

At a first extreme of the preferred plunger 14 motion, the filter member 20 is in a position with substantially all of the unfiltered fluid in front of it.

After the filter member 20 has traversed an initial volume of water under the action of the user's hand, a portion of the fluid has been urged through the filter member 20 and has accumulated behind it. The unfiltered fluid remains separated from the filtered fluid by the sealing action of element 28.

At the furthest extreme of the plunger 14 motion, substantially all of the fluid in the container 10 has been forced through the filter member 20.

Once an initial volume of water has passed through the filter member 20, protection device 32 floats on tap of the purified water to protect it from airborne contaminants, including bacteria and particulates. As the filter member 20 continues through the volume of water to the maximum extent of its motion the protection device 32 slides relative to the plunger rod 16 under the buoyant force provided by the floating framework 34.

The treated water can then be decanted from he jug as required. Alternatively, the jug may be stored in a refrigerator or other storage means until suth time as it may be required.

Preferred embodiments provide a swift and efficient method of producing large quantities of pure,potable,bacteria free water.

The preferred method can be employed with water containers of various sizes according to the required use and water can be introduced to the vessel 10 from large containers or other suitable sources. The apparatus is not constrained by receiving water from taps or jug kettles or other like sources and can receive water by any reasonable means, such as large containers or other suitable sources. Untreated water remains trapped beneath the lower filter medium 30 of filter member 20 which has bactericidal properties while the water above has been filtered in the same action by the upper filter media 26.

As an example, a glass or plastic jug having a substantially uniform cylindrical shape and capable of containing one litre of water to be treated would be used in conjunction with a mounted filtration cartridge 20 (corresponding to filter member 20) of substantially the same internal diameter and containing between about 80 and 140 ml of exchange resin. The mounted filtration cartridge 20 is pushed at a uniform rate through the volume of water using the plunger assembly over a period of about 10 seconds. By comparison to known methods, this period of about 10 seconds required to filter 1 litre of water is far less than the conventional period which would range between 120-220 seconds, for example in the case of a gravity feed jug filter.

Impurities, including bacteria, are swiftly and easily removed from water. The device can be used in various locations, including different countries where water quality varies, and even in situations where there is little or ro water pressure available. The apparatus is portable and can be easily cleaned and dried. It is therefore useful in the home and useful for holiday makers, camping enthusiasts, caravan owners, boat owners, walkers and the like. In domestic applications such as tea, coffee or ice making, the filter can produce a sufficient quantity of water to fill an electric kettle or coffee maker (approximately 1 litre).

The design of the water container in combination with the plunger assembly including the filter cartridge enables a compact design which typically approaches half the dimensions of a conventional jug filter having a comparable capacity.

Preferably, components of the filter member 20, including the upper filter medium 26 and the lower filter medium 24 at least, or the entire cartridge including retainers 22 and 24, can be easily recharged, replaced or recycled.

The construction of the filter member 20 shown is not intended to be limiting. For example, it will vary where a different arrangement of filter media 26,30 or a different number of filter media are used.

In one modified version, there is only one filter media. In other modified versions, there will be more than two filter media.

The sealing means and retaining means will depended on the design of the filter member 20. For example, the sealing means, in this example element 28, may be a substantially planar elastomeric disc with openings therein to allow the passage of water or an annular member.

Various retaining means may be employed, such as types which are connectable to the plunger rod by a screw thread, bayonet fittings or other removable engaging means In another modified version the entire plunger assembly 14 and / or the protection device are replaceable.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A filter device comprising a fluid-tight container, filter means movable though a portion thereof and sealing means between the filter means and the container walls.
2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the filter means comprises a filter member provided on a plunger member.
3. A device as in claim 2, wherein the plunger member is operable by a hand action of the user.
4. A device as in claim 2 or 3, wherein the filter member includes more than one filter medium.
5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the filter member comprises first and second filter media and the sealing means comprises a peripheral sealing element disposed in a position substantially between said first and second filter media.
6. A device as in any preceding claim, wherein at least one filter medium has bactericidal properties.
7. A device as in claim 6, wherein the leading filter medium has bactericidal properties.
8. A device as in any preceding claim, wherein at least one filter member is operable to remove bacteria, particulates and other impurities of sub-micron dimensions.
9. A device as in any preceding claim, wherein at least one filter media is selected from ion exchange and sorptive types.
10. A device as in any preceding claim, comprising means for protecting the filtered fluid from contamination by airborne contaminants.
11. A device as in claim 10, wherein the means comprises a medium having antibacterial properties which is disposed to substantially cover the water surface area.
12. A method of filtering a fluid in which a filter member traverses the volume of fluid to be filtered.
13. A device for protecting fluids from airborne contaminants comprising a medium having antibacterial properties which is disposed to substantially cover the fluid surface area.
14. A method of protecting fluids from airborne contaminants by substantially covering exposed fluid surface area with a medium having antibacterial activity.
15. A filter device substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
16. A device for protecting fluids from airborne contaminants substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.