200946205 六、發明說明： 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明關於離心液體過濾器，特別是關於飲用水過濾 器。 【先前技術】 ' 用於除去飲用水中爲生物之家庭用水淨化設備，通常 φ 遵循兩種途徑：化學去活化（作用）或機械式過濾。 在化學去活化作用的情況，經常使用鹵化媒介，例如 氯或碘。在水淨化工具中，例如在使用碘源（source)的 情況，從樹脂釋放碘和碘化物至水，以在通常是相對短的 接觸時間和駐留時間內將流經裝置之水內的微生物去活化 。去活化效能是接觸時間、駐留時間、和鹵化媒介之濃度 的乘積。接觸時間和駐留時間愈短’則鹵化媒介之濃度必 須愈高，以獲得大幅度的微生物去活化。在消費者取用水 〇 中的高濃度鹵素會導致奇怪的口味和氣味’且如果長久使 用，高濃度鹵素可導致健康的風險。爲了避免此負面的衝 擊，通常在釋放水供消費之前的最後處理步驟中’藉由碗 去除劑移除殘留的碘和碘化物。例如呈顆粒狀的活性碳（ GAC )是通常使用的去除劑。此外’也可以銀或銅來處理 活性碳，以提昇抗微生物的效率。但是在鄕下地區使用狹 樹脂有其缺點，因爲當爲了使水淨化而用盡樹脂時，可能 難以提供新的碘樹脂。此外’因爲碘是很昂貴的物質’所 以希望減少消耗碘。 -5- 200946205 使用不需鹵素的機械式過濾器，藉由顆粒尺寸分離來 淨化微生物，可達成減少消費碘的目的。例如習知技藝中 已知的陶瓷過濾器，該等過濾器可不需外加碘或氯便可過 濾水。例如JP陶瓷有限公司和Fairey工業陶瓷有限公司 (FICL )提供商用的陶瓷過濾器。Carlson等人之第 2 006/1447 8 1號美國專利申請案揭露另一機械式過濾器的 例子，該申請案描述具有多微孔膜的重力過濾器。200946205 VI. Description of the Invention: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to centrifugal liquid filters, and more particularly to drinking water filters. [Prior Art] 'A household water purification equipment for removing biological substances in drinking water, usually φ follows two routes: chemical deactivation (action) or mechanical filtration. In the case of chemical deactivation, a halogenated medium such as chlorine or iodine is often used. In water purification tools, such as in the case of iodine sources, iodine and iodide are released from the resin to the water to remove microorganisms from the water flowing through the device during generally short contact times and residence times. activation. The deactivation efficiency is the product of contact time, residence time, and concentration of the halogenated medium. The shorter the contact time and residence time, the higher the concentration of the halogenated medium must be, in order to achieve substantial microbial deactivation. High concentrations of halogens in consumer water intake can cause strange tastes and odours' and if used for long periods of time, high concentrations of halogens can pose a health risk. To avoid this negative impact, the residual iodine and iodide are typically removed by the bowl remover in the final processing step prior to releasing the water for consumption. For example, granular activated carbon (GAC) is a commonly used remover. In addition, activated carbon can be treated with silver or copper to increase the efficiency of antimicrobials. However, the use of a narrow resin in the underarm area has its disadvantages because it may be difficult to provide a new iodine resin when the resin is used up to purify the water. Furthermore, because iodine is a very expensive substance, it is desirable to reduce the consumption of iodine. -5- 200946205 The use of a mechanical filter that does not require halogens to purify microorganisms by particle size separation can achieve the goal of reducing consumption of iodine. For example, ceramic filters are known in the art to filter water without the addition of iodine or chlorine. For example, JP Ceramics Co., Ltd. and Fairey Industrial Ceramics Co., Ltd. (FICL) provide commercial ceramic filters. An example of another mechanical filter is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 2,006/1,447, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Cutler等人之美國第645 3 94 1號專利揭露多微孔過濾 q 器和離子交換樹脂的組合，該專利案描述一種重力過濾器 。該重力過濾器具有上腔室和下腔室。該上腔室含有離子 交換樹脂；該下腔是包含微過濾元件。該微過濾元件具有 的過濾能力爲：當依據NSF53標準測試時，減少99.95% 的3〜4微米尺寸顆粒。測得該流動經過的速率爲每升5分 鐘。消費者通常認爲此速率爲不良的低過濾速率。 一般而言，雖然使用微過濾或超過濾膜具有避免樹脂 的優點，但是如果入口水壓不高的話，則流動經過過濾器 〇 的速率可能變得非常慢。就重力過濾器而言，對應於一公 尺以下的高度差，在水入口處的水壓爲1 bar以下的等級 。消費者感覺此速率非常低。 美國第6838005號專利描述另一例子的無鹵素水過濾 器，其爲市面上可買得到之Argonide®公司的產品，且註 冊商標爲Nanoceram®。在此情況中，多孔玻璃纖維基底 內提供氧化鋁奈米纖維’藉由附接至奈米纖維而過濾微生 物。微生物和無機沉積物被充滿高正電性的氧化鋁所吸引 -6- 200946205 ，且永久不釋放地停留在過濾器基底內。過濾器的流動速 率取決於水穿過過濾器之路徑長度。爲了具有高過濾效率 ，該路徑必須很長。但是長的過濾路徑降低水的流動速率 ，如上所述，消費著對低水的流動速率感覺是一種缺點。 【發明內容】 因此，本發明的目的在於提供液體過濾裝置（主要是 Φ 水過濾裝置），其具有高微生物過濾能力，但具有穿過裝 置的高通過量（throughput )。本發明的另一目的在於提 供適於鄕村地區的過濾裝置，在該地區很少供給鹵化的樹 脂。 藉由一種液體過濾裝置來達成此目的，該裝置包含具 有液體入口和液體出口的殼體，且在該液體入口和該液體 出口之間配置過濾器。藉由防止微生物穿越該過濾器，該 過濾器能從穿過過濾器的液體過濾微生物，其中該過濾器 ❹ 可旋轉地配置在該殼體的內側，用於在旋轉該過濾器期間 ，使液體被離心力壓擠穿過該過濾器。該裝置包含用於旋 轉該過濾器的手動驅動機構。 本發明之手動驅動離心水過濾器，是具有高過濾速率 的設備，且適於使用在鄕下地區、難民營、和與軍事目的 有關之快速淨化水生產、及在登山和健行期間。雖然該過 濾器較佳是用於過濾水，但是也可用於其他相關液體的過 據。 雖然不嚴格要求，但是該殼體較佳是封閉的隔室，且 -7- 200946205 從該殼體的外側可接近該驅動機構。例如該殼體包含被蓋 子封閉的基座部分。然後，該驅動機構適當地包含在該蓋 子內或上的把手，且具有延伸穿過該蓋子的驅動連接件。 在某些實施例中，該驅動機構是旋轉機構，且配置有把手 以繞著軸心旋轉，該軸心延伸穿過該蓋子。爲了達成有效 率的過濾，該驅動機構可包含齒輪裝置，用於使該過濾器 之旋轉的轉動頻率相對於該把手的旋轉倍增。 旋轉過濾器的加速度由a= (2π)2 · r . f2与40 · r · f2所 0 定義。此處的r是旋轉過濾器半徑，且f是旋轉頻率（每 秒的圈數）。假定r=0.15公尺，且f=5，對應於一秒的 單一迴轉和5倍的齒輪裝置，則加速度產生約重力15倍 的力。 本發明的過濾裝置有點類似沙拉旋轉器，例如 Guzzini®或Tupper®公司所已知者或第US594090號美國 專利所揭露者，其複製在圖1中。但是可以不同方式建構 本發明之裝置中驅動過濾器的機構，例如藉由包括其他沙 〇 拉旋轉器的驅動原理。第EP 0176450號歐專利申請案、第 FR26 1 8 998號法國專利申請案、第US5 562025號美國專利 案、和第US7 1 1 1 546號美國專利案揭露不同驅動機構的例 子。 過瀘器較佳是呈實質地管狀。「管狀（tubeformed) 」一詞應做廣義地解釋’所以過濾器不需爲圓筒狀，反而 可爲推拔狀（錐狀）或其他形狀。選擇具有穿過過德器之 液體過濾路徑，該路徑實質地沿著離心力的方向。 -8- 200946205 在實際的實施例中，該過濾器包含多微孔過濾器媒介 ，該媒介具有的孔尺寸適於藉由機械式顆粒尺寸分離而從 流體過濾微生物。在此情況中，因爲該等孔的尺寸小於微 生物的尺寸，以防止微生物流入並穿過孔，所以微生物（ 例如細菌和病毒）被保持住而無法進入或大致穿越多微孔 過濾媒介。此對照於Tepper和Kaledin之第US683 8005 號美國專利所揭露者和市面上販售的Nanoceram® ’後者 〇 因爲電荷而使過濾器媒介內側的奈米氧化鋁顆粒吸引顆粒 〇 「多微孔」一詞意指微米和/或次微米範圍內的孔， 例如在0.01〜1微米範圍內。因此，「多微孔」一詞並不 限制孔尺寸在微過濾所用的微米範圍內，而是同樣地意指 用於超過濾以過濾病毒的孔。微過濾膜（MF)通常具有 約0.1〜0.3微米的多孔性，且能過濾比孔還大的細菌、寄 生蟲、和無機顆粒。超過濾膜（UF)通常具有約 © 0.01〜0.04微米的多孔性，且能過濾比孔和病毒還大的細 菌、寄生蟲、和無機顆粒。微過瀘膜通常比超過濾膜具有 較高的流動（速）率。上述數字的多孔性和用於所謂泡泡 點量測之此類過濾器的熟知測試方法相關，其亦和本發明 所提及數字相關。 微多孔膜可以¥產成具有用於顆粒尺寸分離之各種多 孔性。本發明的過濾器可包含具有用於過濾細菌之微過濾 性質的微過濾膜、或包含具有超過濾性質的超過濾膜、或 包含兩者。該超過濾膜具有適於過濾病毒之孔尺寸的孔。 -9- 200946205 爲了使多微孔過濾細菌，在ο·1微米和0.3微米之間的多 微孔尺寸是可行的。而爲了過濾病毒，需要較小的孔尺寸 ，例如在〇.〇1和0.04微米之範圍內的孔。 在—例子中，微過濾膜具有的多孔性是具有0.05〜〇_4 微米的孔尺寸，較佳是在〇.〇 5~0.15微米之間。附加地或 取代性地，過濾器可包含超過濾膜。在另一例子中，超過 濾膜具有的多孔性是具有小於0.04微米的孔尺寸。 在美國通常會依據ΕΡΑ協定測試過濾器，以產生用於 噬菌體MS2病毒（具有20 nm〜30 run的尺寸）之log 4過 濾。但是在對人類有危險且通常出現在熱帶國家之水源的 病毒中，只有小兒麻痺病毒具有類似的尺寸。對人類有危 險的其他病毒通常較大，例如具有約70奈米尺寸的輪狀 病毒。因爲地球上的輪狀病毒很稀少，所以在很多情況對 於具有大於50奈米尺寸的病毒足夠有log 4的減少。 雖然上文已界定孔的尺寸被建構用於過濾細菌和病毒 ，但是可用本發明的裝置過濾其他生物和非生物料，此在 本發明的範圍內。例如本發明的裝置可用於從液體過濾黴 菌、寄生蟲、膠質農藥或化學物質、腐植酸、氣溶膠、和 其他微顆粒。 不同的材料可用於該等過濾器。一種選擇是固體多微 孔陶瓷壁具有穿過該壁的流動路徑，該壁將該流體入口和 該流體出口分離。另一選擇是多微孔過濾器包含多微孔親 水性聚合體壁，其具有穿過該壁的流動路徑，該壁將該流 體入口和該流體出口分離；例如Adriansen等人之第ΕΡ 1 200946205 1 40 333號歐洲專利所揭露者。常使用的聚合體是聚醚楓 (PES )、聚偏二氟乙烯（PVDF)、聚丙烯腈（PAN )。 例如此等過濾器揭露在第EP 241 995號歐洲專利和其內的 參考資料中。呈中空毛細管的其他例子揭露在Scharstuhl 的第WO 98/5 3 90 1號和第WO 98/1 5243號國際專利申請案 中。可以不同合適的方位（例如切線、螺旋、或輻射）將 此等中空纖維配置在本發明的可旋轉過濾器。 φ 在另一實施例中，該過濾器包含正電性吸附性奈米顆 粒，例如以金屬（例如基於氧化锆或氧化鋁）爲主的奈米 纖維。在又一實施例中，纖維基底含有無機纖維，奈米顆 粒附接至該等無機纖維。此纖維基底揭露在Tepper和 Kaledin之第6838005號美國專利內、或如同 Argonide® 公司註冊之商標名稱Nanoceram®的產品，且其間授權給 Ahlstrom®並以DisruptorTM名義販售。在此情況中，由玻 璃纖維提供纖維基底。但是也可以其他纖維取代或附加至 © 玻璃纖維。例如可使用有機聚合體纖維。奈米顆粒可附接 至有機聚合體纖維、或無機纖維、或兩者。 除了其他的聚合體（包括聚四氟乙烯、鐵氟龍（PTFE )、聚氯乙烯（PVC ))，此等聚合體纖維的候選材料是 聚烯。有機纖維含有可釋放的抗微生物物質，使得抗微生 物物質是纖維基底的一部分。在一實施例中，抗微生物物 質嵌在纖維之聚合體基底內，但能夠遷移至纖維的表面。 取代性或附加地，提供抗微生物物質當作纖維的表面塗層 -11 - 200946205 爲了在進入（精）細過濾器之前有粗糙的過濾器顆粒 ，過濾器可包含具有過濾器網孔的預過濾器，該網孔具有 在25和100微米之間的孔尺寸。一種實務的選擇是該預 過濾器是可清洗的聚合體織物網孔。預過濾器本身可爲分 離的過濾器單元，且被組裝成液體過濾器的一部分，或者 其可被模組或連接至液體過濾器中的其他過濾器媒介。在 另一實施例中，用於微過濾或超過瀘的過濾器也可被二次 成型。 ❹ 此外，本發明的液體過瀘器可包含在該預過濾器下游 的細網孔過濾器，該細網孔具有在1和25微米之間的網 孔尺寸，例如在1和3微米之間、或在5和10微米之間 。此外，此過濾器選擇性地爲可清洗的聚合體織物網孔。 該細網孔過濾器可爲獨立的分離過濾器單元，且其一部分 是由穩定性增強塑膠構造二次成型。細網孔過濾器連同預 過濾器可被安裝成液體過濾器的一部分；或者在另一實施 例中，細網孔過減器可和預過濾器分離，但連接至液體過 〇 濾器中的其他過濾媒介。 在另一實施例中，爲了防止生物膜形成在液體過濾器 內，或爲了大致支持液體過濾器的過濾性質，該裝置包含 抗微生物源，用於釋放抗微生物物質至該入口和該過濾器 之間的液體。在另一實施例中，在該入口和該過濾器之排 放口之間配置抗微生物源，因爲抗微生物源能被包含在過 濾器內。 由下列爭論可瞭解消除生物膜之生成的另一優點。過 -12- 200946205 濾器內生物膜的生長可逐漸形成微生物群。在多孔膜破裂 的情況，該微生物群具有釋放大量微生物至終端使用者的 能力。因此，因爲過濾器內的鹵素殺死無生物、或抗微生 物殺死無生物、或只防止微生物生長，而消除生物膜的生 長，可在過濾器損壞的情況中降低感染的風險。 抗微生物源（例如鹵化源）較佳是在多微孔過濾器的 上游，例如在過濾膜片內，此類似第US 645494 1號美國 φ 專利。此和許多其他先前技藝系統不同，該等先前技藝系 統在膜片的下游使用鹵素，以將滑過膜片之微生物去除活 性。該微生物會滑過膜片，是因爲膜片的多孔性沒有小到 足以分離對應尺寸的顆粒。 鹵化樹脂是很昂貴的組件，該抗微生物源可爲無鹵化 樹脂。而上述鹵素源可爲鹵化液體（例如次氯酸鈉液體溶 液）或氣體，其由貯存庫和分配器經過裝置以適當的（速 )率提供至流體。 φ 在另一實施例中，鹵素源可爲固體媒介，例如呈錠劑 或顆粒的形式，其以適當的速率溶解在流動路徑中。本發 明有關的適當候選鹵素源是具有高Η氯異氰酸（TCC A ) 含量的錠劑。這些三氯異氰酸錠劑較佳是具有緩慢的溶解 特性，其導致鹵素的低溶析。在另一實施例中，具有高溶 析特性的三氯異氰酸錠劑，可被設置在剛性多孔錠劑腔室 內，且流入的水旁通略過三氯異氰酸錠劑腔室的大部分， 只有一部分的進水穿過錠劑腔室。此會導致已接觸三氯異 氰酸錠劑的鹵化進水，被旁通繞過三氯異氰酸錠劑的其餘 -13- 200946205 進水所稀釋。應注意的是，該等錠劑沒有鹵化樹脂。 在另一實施例中，將鹵素源設置成位在入口和多微孔 過濾器之間的路徑內的鹵化樹脂。 鹵素（例如碘）的濃度可爲具有低溶析類型。生物膜 的生長隨著時間穩定地發生，且儲存供間歇性使用的過濾 器在儲存期間由於過濾器內其餘的流體的存在，所以生物 膜會生長。爲了防止生物膜生長，即使以低的速率釋放抗 微生物物質也足夠，因爲流體內之抗微生物物質的含量在 @ 儲存期間也穩定地增加。 應認知的是，過濾微生物通常不是過濾所有的微生物 ，而是只過濾微生物至某種程度而已，一般稱爲「i〇g減 少」，其指在入口流體內污染的位準和在過濾器之出口流 體內污染位準之比値。例如減少log 4污染源對應於減少 9 9 · 9 9 %污染源，而減少1 〇 g 5污染源對應於減少9 9 · 9 9 9 % 〇 關於本發明的過濾裝置，「適於藉由機械式顆粒尺寸 〇 分離過濾細菌或細菌及病毒」一語，意含依據預定的減少 位準減少微生物，例如上述減少log 4、log 5、或甚至log 6或log 7。在此方面，細菌的減少位準可和病毒的減少位 準不同，因爲非常有效率的病毒過濾器可爲對過濾細菌非 常有效率，因爲細菌的尺寸較大。 但是在低溶析的實施例中，「log減少」較小。因此 如果液體過濾裝置設有設計的流動，該設計的流動在該過 濾器旋轉的期間穿過該裝置，其中該設計的流動確保對流 -14- 200946205 動穿過該裝置的該流體適當地過濾’且在該流動出口具有 已淨化的流體，建構抗微生物源（較佳是鹵素源）以一速 率釋放抗微生物物質（例如鹵素），該速率比減少在流體 內之該等微生物所需者實質地較小，且在流體以該設計流 動流經該裝置所花之時間的期間內，減少達log 4、或甚 至log 3或log 2。該設計的流動可基於在本發明裝置內之 過濾器的正常速率旋轉期間的過濾能力。 φ 低溶析抗微生物的另一定義由下文所給定。此外，在 此情況中，假設該流體過瀘裝置設有穿過該裝置之設計的 流動，該設計的流動確保對流動穿過該裝置的該流體適當 地過濾，且在該流動出口具有已淨化的流體。但是在此情 況中，建構抗微生物源（例如鹵素源）以一速率釋放該抗 微生物物質，其意味著在微過濾以後液體內抗微生物的含 量比預定的健康協定之預定極限還少。換言之，選擇低的 釋放抗微生物物質的量和速率，以致不會違反預定的官方 ❹ 健康協定（例如世界衛生組織（WHO )協定）。實驗顯示 能保持抗微生物物質（例如碘或氯）的低位準，以致抗微 生物物質不會違反典型的健康協定，但是仍能有效率地防 止形成生物膜和積垢。此是因爲抗微生物物質對微生物的 作用時間相對地長’例如在各間歇使用之間的儲存期間。 在流體內低溶析抗微生物含量的情況中，釋放抗微生 物物質的速率緩慢。例如可調整釋放速率以在流體正流經 裝置時，產生0.01 ppm至1 ppm的相對量，如果鹵素是 換則爲0.01至0.25 ppm。例如确濃度可爲約〇.1 ppm或甚 -15- 200946205 至更少，例如在流經裝置的流體內o.l ppm至0.01 ppm。 相關的目標値是0.01至0.05 ppm，如果本發明的裝置在 不需添加碘去除劑的作業，則較佳是在〇.〇2 ppm的等級 。可選擇剛好可防止形成生物膜的低鹵化媒介溶析，但在 人類取用之前不需鹵素吸收劑來降低濃度。例如美國亞特 蘭大的疾病控制中心（CDC)建議0〜3個月大的嬰兒在長 期消費時，每天的碘最大攝取量爲0.01毫克/天。基於假 設此年紀每天所需水量爲0.5升/天，攝取水內之最大碘濃 度不應高於0.02毫克/升。因此，理想的抗微生物源不應 在每公升的水溶析超過0.02毫克的碘。 此和裝置內超過4 PPm碘濃度不同，該裝置需要在和 鹵素短暫接觸及駐留時間內殺死微生物，且無須多孔過濾 器。關於氯，濃度範圍和目標値比碘高約5至1 0倍，例 如0.1至〇_5 ppm，較佳是在0.25 ppm的等級。 在此情況中，使用具有正電性奈米顆粒的上述纖維基 底，上述的鹵素値可使用在低溶析情況。但是爲了達成穿 過過濾器的高流動速率，釋放速率可適度地較高。例如可 調整速率以在流體內產生多於0.25 ppm的碘相對量，且 較佳是少於2 ppm，較佳是在0.8至1.2 ppm之間，最佳 是約1 ppm。就氯而言，釋放速率是在流體內少於20 ppm ，且較佳是多於1 ppm。 熟知的是，當樹脂是新的時候比樹脂已遭受流體流動 穿過一段長時間，前者的新碘樹脂產生較高濃度的碘。關 於上述本發明的範圍和目標値，其係指長時間的値，而非 -16- 200946205 樹脂的初始値。 在那些情況中，在剛開始流動穿過裝置期間，樹脂或 其他鹵素源具有非常尖銳的釋放鹵素高峰値，藉由在過濾 器之後的鹵素去除劑，可移除該尖銳峰値的齒素濃度。選 擇性地’可設計此去除劑被峰値用完，以致在峰値濃度被 用完時沒有餘留去除劑，且樹脂或其他類型的鹵素源已進 入準穩定狀態的鹵素釋放。 φ 來自樹脂或其他媒介（例如錠劑）的鹵素釋放可取決 於流體的溫度、pH、流動（速）率、黏性、和污染物的等 級。但是因爲鹵素釋放的速率對過濾性質並不重要，鹵素 釋放的任務只在於防止生物膜的生長，所以這些參數的影 響並不重要。就低的鹵素濃度而言，如上所述，鹵素源可 爲低溶析碘樹脂。 在過濾器包含纖維基底而該基底含有正電性吸附性奈 米顆粒的情況中，一種選擇是抗微生物源和纖維基底分離 〇 。在另一實施例中，抗微生物源嵌在纖維基底內，或甚至 併入纖維基底的材料內。 「抗微生物源」一詞並非將本發明限制於單一抗微生 物源。裝置可選擇性地含有超過一種抗微生物源。儘管該 複數抗微生物源的溶析低，如果複數抗微生物源的組合有 利於獲得高效率，其仍令人感興趣。同樣地，「含有正電 性吸附性奈米顆粒的纖維基底」一語，不只含蓋一種類型 的纖維基底，而是在裝置內成功地含有數種纖維基底，該 等纖維基底混合或呈其他組合形式。 -17- 200946205 在許多情況中，藉由包含有去除劑以擷取纖維基底下 游的抗微生物物質，以進一步改善適度或高溶析的實施例 。因此，裝置包含在過濾器和液體出口之間的吸附劑或吸 收劑。例如在抗微生物物質含有鹵素的情況中，鹵素去除 劑可爲活性碳，其選擇性地富含銀。取代性或附加地，去 除劑可爲強的陰離子交換樹脂，例如 Dow Maraton A® Rohm & Haas Amberlite® 〇 雖然本發明的裝置主要導向水的淨化，但是裝置的原 理也可應用於其他液體。 關於裝置的構造特徵，下面的選擇可做爲實際的例子 ，但是不限制本發明的範圍。在較佳的實施例中，裝置具 有供功能適當運作的設計方位，其中該設計方位包含管狀 過濾器的直立旋轉軸線。另一有用的選擇是實質地管狀過 濾器具有葉片（刀葉）或鰭片的內壁，該等葉片或鰭片用 於在過濾器離心運動期間沿著過濾器鏟挖液體。該等葉片 或鰭片確保液體（較佳是水）快速地跟隨離心運動的過濾 器，以有效率地過濾。 例如就家庭用過濾器淡水過濾器而言，過濾能力應爲 每小時1至1 〇 〇公升，如每小時1 0至1 0 0公升或每小時 1 0至50公升。 爲了防止殻體內側形成生物膜，殼體可設有具有抗微 生物源的內壁，用以從壁的表面釋放抗微生物物質。此可 藉由壁之表面上的抗微生物塗層或藉由將抗微生物物質倂 入壁的材料內而達成。做爲進一步的實施例，抗微生物源 -18- 200946205 被包含在壁後面的貯存庫內，其中建構壁供抗微生物物質 穿過壁而遷移至壁的表面。 可購得的不同塗層有很多，例如第 US 6762 1 72、 6632805 、 6469120 、 6120587 、 5959014 、 5954869 ' 6113815、6712121、6528472、4282366 號美國專利所揭露 者。 另一種可能性是含有銀（例如呈膠質的銀形式）的抗 H 微生物塗層。含有銀奈米顆粒（1奈米至100奈米）的膠 質銀會懸浮在在基底內。例如銀膠質會被從礦物（例如沸 石）釋放，該礦物具有開放多孔構造。銀也會被嵌入基底 (例如聚合體表面膜）內。在另一實施例中，在塑膠成型 製程期間，銀可被嵌入整個聚合體的基底內，該等製程通 常爲射出成型、擠製成型、或吹製成型。 可應用於本發明的含銀陶瓷，其揭露於Qian之第US 69243 2 5號美國專利。用於水處理的銀揭露於Souter等人 Φ 的第US 6827874號美國專利和King之第US 6551609號 美國專利。且已知通常使用富含顆粒碳的銀供水淨化之用 。用於水槽的銀塗層揭露在第EP 1 647527號歐洲專利。 可使用在本發明的其他抗微生物金屬是銅和鋅，取代 性或附加地，該等金屬可併入抗微生物塗層內。Edwards 之第US 4906466號美國專利和其內的參考資料，揭露含 有銀和其他金屬的抗微生物塗層。 取代性或附加地，塗層可包含二氧化鈦。二氧化鈦可 施加成薄膜，該薄膜是藉由溶凝膠方法合成。因爲銳鈦礦 -19- 200946205U.S. Patent No. 6,435,94, to the name of U.S. Pat. The gravity filter has an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The upper chamber contains an ion exchange resin; the lower chamber contains microfiltration elements. The microfiltration element has a filtration capacity of 99.95% of 3 to 4 micron size particles when tested according to the NSF 53 standard. The flow rate was measured to be 5 minutes per liter. Consumers generally consider this rate to be a poor low filtration rate. In general, although the use of microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes has the advantage of avoiding the resin, if the inlet water pressure is not high, the rate of flow through the filter enthalpy may become very slow. In the case of a gravity filter, the water pressure at the water inlet corresponds to a level of 1 bar or less corresponding to a height difference of one metre or less. Consumers feel that this rate is very low. Another example of a halogen-free water filter is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,380,005, which is commercially available from Argonide® and is registered under the trademark Nanoceram®. In this case, alumina nanofibers are provided in the porous glass fiber substrate to filter the microorganisms by attaching to the nanofibers. Microorganisms and inorganic deposits are attracted by highly positively charged alumina -6-200946205 and remain permanently in the filter substrate without release. The flow rate of the filter depends on the length of the path through which the water passes through the filter. In order to have high filtration efficiency, the path must be very long. However, long filtration paths reduce the rate of water flow, as described above, consuming a feeling of low water flow rate is a disadvantage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid filtration device (mainly a Φ water filtration device) which has high microbial filtration capacity but has a high throughput through the device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a filtration apparatus suitable for the Yucun area where little halogenated resin is supplied. This object is achieved by a liquid filtration device comprising a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and a filter disposed between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet. The filter is capable of filtering microorganisms from the liquid passing through the filter by preventing microorganisms from passing through the filter, wherein the filter ❹ is rotatably disposed inside the casing for making the liquid during the rotation of the filter It is squeezed through the filter by centrifugal force. The device includes a manual drive mechanism for rotating the filter. The manually driven centrifugal water filter of the present invention is a device having a high filtration rate and is suitable for use in underarm areas, refugee camps, and rapid purified water production associated with military purposes, and during mountaineering and hiking. Although the filter is preferably used to filter water, it can also be used for other related liquids. Although not critical, the housing is preferably a closed compartment and -7-200946205 is accessible from the outside of the housing. For example, the housing includes a base portion that is closed by a cover. The drive mechanism then suitably includes a handle in or on the cover and has a drive link extending through the cover. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism is a rotating mechanism and is configured with a handle for rotation about an axis that extends through the cover. In order to achieve efficient filtration, the drive mechanism can include gearing for multiplying the rotational frequency of the rotation of the filter relative to the rotation of the handle. The acceleration of the rotary filter is defined by a = (2π) 2 · r . f2 and 40 · r · f2 0. Here r is the radius of the rotary filter and f is the frequency of rotation (the number of turns per second). Assuming r = 0.15 m and f = 5, corresponding to a single revolution of one second and a gear device of five times, the acceleration produces a force of about 15 times the force of gravity. The filter device of the present invention is somewhat similar to a salad rotator, such as that known from the Guzzini® or Tupper® company or disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,940,090, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, the mechanism for driving the filter in the apparatus of the present invention can be constructed in different ways, such as by the driving principle including other sand rotators. Examples of different drive mechanisms are disclosed in European Patent Application No. EP 0 176 450, French Patent Application No. FR 26 1 998, U.S. Patent No. 5,562,025, and U.S. Patent No. 7,1,1,546. The filter is preferably substantially tubular. The term "tubeformed" should be interpreted broadly. Therefore, the filter does not need to be cylindrical, but may be push-shaped (tapered) or other shapes. A liquid filtration path is selected having a passage through the device, the path being substantially along the direction of the centrifugal force. -8- 200946205 In a practical embodiment, the filter comprises a microporous filter medium having a pore size suitable for filtering microorganisms from the fluid by mechanical particle size separation. In this case, since the pores are smaller in size than the microbes to prevent microorganisms from flowing into and through the pores, microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses are held and cannot enter or substantially pass through the microporous filter medium. This is in contrast to the disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 6,683, 805, to the name of U.S. Patent No. 6,683, 805, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference to U.S. Pat. The term means pores in the micrometer and/or submicron range, for example in the range of 0.01 to 1 micron. Thus, the term "microporous" does not limit the pore size within the micrometer range used for microfiltration, but rather refers to pores used for ultrafiltration to filter viruses. The microfiltration membrane (MF) usually has a porosity of about 0.1 to 0.3 μm and is capable of filtering bacteria, parasites, and inorganic particles larger than the pores. Ultrafiltration membranes (UF) typically have a porosity of about 0.01 to 0.04 microns and are capable of filtering bacteria, parasites, and inorganic particles that are larger than pores and viruses. The micro-pass film generally has a higher flow (speed) rate than the ultrafiltration film. The porosity of the above numbers is related to well-known test methods for such filters for so-called bubble point measurements, which are also related to the numbers mentioned in the present invention. The microporous membrane can be produced to have various porosity for particle size separation. The filter of the present invention may comprise a microfiltration membrane having microfiltration properties for filtering bacteria, or an ultrafiltration membrane having ultrafiltration properties, or both. The ultrafiltration membrane has pores suitable for filtering the pore size of the virus. -9- 200946205 For microporous filtration of bacteria, microporous sizes between ο·1 μm and 0.3 μm are feasible. In order to filter the virus, smaller pore sizes are required, such as pores in the range of 〇.〇1 and 0.04 μm. In the example, the microfiltration membrane has a porosity of from 0.05 to 〇 4 micrometers, preferably between 5 and 0.15 micrometers. Additionally or alternatively, the filter may comprise an ultrafiltration membrane. In another example, the porosity beyond the filter membrane is a pore size of less than 0.04 microns. Filters are typically tested in the United States according to the ΕΡΑ protocol to generate log 4 filtration for phage MS2 virus (with a size of 20 nm to 30 run). However, among the viruses that are dangerous to humans and usually appear in tropical countries, only polio has a similar size. Other viruses that are at risk to humans are typically larger, such as a rotavirus having a size of about 70 nanometers. Because rotaviruses on the earth are rare, in many cases there is a log 4 reduction for viruses with sizes greater than 50 nanometers. While the pore size has been defined above to be constructed for the filtration of bacteria and viruses, other biological and non-biological materials can be filtered by the apparatus of the present invention, which is within the scope of the present invention. For example, the device of the present invention can be used to filter mold, parasites, colloidal pesticides or chemicals, humic acids, aerosols, and other microparticles from liquids. Different materials can be used for these filters. One option is that the solid microporous ceramic wall has a flow path through the wall that separates the fluid inlet from the fluid outlet. Another option is that the microporous filter comprises a microporous hydrophilic polymeric wall having a flow path through the wall that separates the fluid inlet from the fluid outlet; for example, Adriansen et al., ΕΡ 1 200946205 The disclosure of European Patent No. 40,333. Commonly used polymers are polyether maple (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). For example, such a filter is disclosed in the European Patent No. EP 241 995 and the references therein. Other examples of hollow capillaries are disclosed in International Patent Application Nos. WO 98/5 3 90 1 and WO 98/1 5243 to Scharstuhl. The hollow fibers can be disposed in the rotatable filter of the present invention in different suitable orientations (e.g., tangential, spiral, or radiant). φ In another embodiment, the filter comprises positively-adsorbing nanoparticles, such as nanofibers based on metals such as zirconia or alumina. In still another embodiment, the fibrous substrate contains inorganic fibers to which the nanoparticles are attached. This fibrous substrate is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,683,005 to Tepper and Kaledin, or as a product of the name of Nanoceram®, registered under the name of Argonide®, and is licensed to Ahlstrom® and sold under the name DisruptorTM. In this case, the fibrous substrate is provided by glass fibers. However, other fibers may be substituted or attached to the glass fiber. For example, organic polymer fibers can be used. The nanoparticles can be attached to an organic polymer fiber, or an inorganic fiber, or both. In addition to other polymers (including polytetrafluoroethylene, Teflon (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), the candidate material for such polymeric fibers is a polyolefin. The organic fibers contain a releasable antimicrobial material such that the antimicrobial material is part of the fibrous substrate. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial material is embedded within the polymeric substrate of the fiber but is capable of migrating to the surface of the fiber. Substitutively or additionally, providing an antimicrobial substance as a surface coating for the fibers -11 - 200946205 In order to have coarse filter particles before entering the (fine) fine filter, the filter may comprise a pre-filter with a filter mesh The mesh has a pore size between 25 and 100 microns. One practical option is that the pre-filter is a washable polymer fabric mesh. The pre-filter itself may be a separate filter unit and assembled as part of a liquid filter, or it may be modular or connected to other filter media in the liquid filter. In another embodiment, the filter for microfiltration or over enthalpy may also be overmolded. Further, the liquid filter of the present invention may comprise a fine mesh filter downstream of the pre-filter having a mesh size between 1 and 25 microns, for example between 1 and 3 microns Or between 5 and 10 microns. Additionally, the filter is optionally a washable polymeric fabric mesh. The fine mesh filter can be a separate separation filter unit, and a portion thereof is overmolded by a stability-reinforced plastic construction. The fine mesh filter along with the pre-filter can be installed as part of the liquid filter; or in another embodiment, the fine mesh reducer can be separated from the pre-filter but connected to other liquid helium filter Filter media. In another embodiment, to prevent biofilm formation within the liquid filter, or to substantially support the filtration properties of the liquid filter, the device includes an antimicrobial source for releasing antimicrobial material to the inlet and the filter The liquid between. In another embodiment, an antimicrobial source is disposed between the inlet and the discharge port of the filter because the antimicrobial source can be contained within the filter. Another advantage of eliminating biofilm formation is discussed by the following debate. Over -12- 200946205 The growth of biofilm in the filter can gradually form a microbiota. In the case of a broken porous membrane, the microbiota has the ability to release large amounts of microorganisms to the end user. Therefore, the risk of infection can be reduced in the event of filter damage because the halogen in the filter kills the abiotic, or the anti-microbial kills the organism, or only prevents the growth of the microorganism, thereby eliminating the growth of the biofilm. The antimicrobial source (e.g., a source of halogenation) is preferably upstream of the microporous filter, such as in a filter membrane, similar to the U.S. Patent No. 6,645,494, issued to the U.S. Patent No. 6,645,494. This is in contrast to many other prior art systems that use halogen downstream of the membrane to remove microbes that slide across the membrane. The microorganisms will slide across the membrane because the porosity of the membrane is not small enough to separate particles of corresponding size. Halogenated resins are very expensive components and the antimicrobial source can be a halogen-free resin. The halogen source may be a halogenated liquid (e.g., sodium hypochlorite liquid solution) or a gas supplied to the fluid at a suitable (speed) rate by the reservoir and dispenser through the apparatus. φ In another embodiment, the source of halogen can be a solid medium, for example in the form of a tablet or granule, which dissolves in the flow path at a suitable rate. A suitable candidate halogen source for the present invention is a tablet having a high chloroisocyanate (TCC A ) content. These trichloroisocyanate tablets preferably have a slow dissolution characteristic which results in low dissolution of the halogen. In another embodiment, a trichloroisocyanate tablet having high dissolution characteristics can be disposed in a rigid porous tablet chamber, and the inflowing water bypasses the trichloroisocyanate tablet chamber. Most of the time, only a portion of the influent water passes through the tablet chamber. This results in the halogenated feed water that has been contacted with the trichloroisocyanate tablet, which is diluted by the bypass of the remaining -13-200946205 feed water. It should be noted that the tablets do not have a halogenated resin. In another embodiment, the halogen source is disposed as a halogenated resin positioned in the path between the inlet and the microporous filter. The concentration of halogen (e.g., iodine) can be of a low elution type. The growth of the biofilm occurs steadily over time, and the filter stored for intermittent use grows during storage due to the presence of the remaining fluid in the filter. In order to prevent biofilm growth, it is sufficient to release the antimicrobial substance even at a low rate because the content of the antimicrobial substance in the fluid is steadily increased during the @ storage period. It should be recognized that filtering microorganisms usually does not filter all microorganisms, but only filters the microorganisms to a certain extent, generally referred to as "i〇g reduction", which refers to the level of contamination in the inlet fluid and in the filter. The ratio of pollution levels in the outlet fluid is 値. For example, reducing the log 4 pollution source corresponds to reducing the 9 9 · 9 9 % pollution source, while decreasing 1 〇 g 5 pollution source corresponds to reducing the 9 9 · 9 9 % 〇. Regarding the filtration device of the present invention, "suitable for mechanical particle size The term "separating and filtering bacteria or bacteria and viruses" means reducing microorganisms according to a predetermined reduction level, such as reducing log 4, log 5, or even log 6 or log 7 as described above. In this regard, the reduction level of bacteria can be different from the reduction level of the virus, because a very efficient virus filter can be very efficient for filtering bacteria because the size of the bacteria is large. However, in the case of low dissolution, the "log reduction" is small. Thus if the liquid filtration device is provided with a designed flow, the flow of the design passes through the device during rotation of the filter, wherein the flow of the design ensures proper filtration of the fluid through the device by convection-14-200946205 And having a purified fluid at the flow outlet, constructing an antimicrobial source, preferably a source of halogen, to release the antimicrobial substance (e.g., halogen) at a rate that is substantially lower than required to reduce the microorganisms in the fluid Smaller, and reduced to log 4, or even log 3 or log 2, during the time it takes for the fluid to flow through the device in the design. The flow of this design can be based on the filtration capacity during normal rate rotation of the filter within the apparatus of the present invention. Another definition of φ low dissolution antimicrobial is given below. Moreover, in this case, it is assumed that the fluid passing device is provided with a flow through the design of the device, the flow of the design ensuring proper filtration of the fluid flowing through the device, and having purified at the flow outlet Fluid. In this case, however, an antimicrobial source (e.g., a source of halogen) is constructed to release the antimicrobial at a rate which means that the antimicrobial content of the liquid after microfiltration is less than a predetermined limit of a predetermined health agreement. In other words, choose a low amount and rate of release of antimicrobial substances so that they do not violate predetermined official health protocols (such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Agreement). Experiments have shown that low levels of antimicrobial substances (such as iodine or chlorine) can be maintained so that antimicrobials do not violate typical health protocols, but are still effective in preventing the formation of biofilms and fouling. This is because the antimicrobial action on the microorganisms is relatively long, e.g., during storage between intermittent uses. In the case of low dissolution of the antimicrobial content in the fluid, the rate of release of the antimicrobial material is slow. For example, the release rate can be adjusted to produce a relative amount of 0.01 ppm to 1 ppm when the fluid is flowing through the device, and 0.01 to 0.25 ppm if the halogen is exchanged. For example, the concentration may be about 1.1 ppm or -15-200946205 to less, for example, in the fluid flowing through the device, from 0.1 ppm to 0.01 ppm. A related target enthalpy is 0.01 to 0.05 ppm, and if the apparatus of the present invention does not require the addition of an iodine removing agent, it is preferably at a level of 〇.〇2 ppm. Low-halogenation media can be selected to prevent the formation of biofilms, but halogen absorbers are not required to reduce the concentration prior to human access. For example, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, USA, recommends that infants aged 0 to 3 months have a maximum daily intake of iodine of 0.01 mg/day during long-term consumption. Based on the assumption that the daily water requirement for this age is 0.5 liters/day, the maximum iodine concentration in the water intake should not exceed 0.02 mg/liter. Therefore, an ideal source of antimicrobial should not dissolve more than 0.02 mg of iodine per liter of water. This is different from the iodine concentration of more than 4 PPm in the device, which requires the microbe to be killed during brief contact with the halogen and residence time, without the need for a porous filter. With respect to chlorine, the concentration range and target enthalpy are about 5 to 10 times higher than iodine, for example 0.1 to 〇_5 ppm, preferably at 0.25 ppm. In this case, the above-mentioned fibrous substrate having positively charged nano particles can be used, and the above halogen halide can be used in the case of low dissolution. However, in order to achieve a high flow rate through the filter, the release rate can be moderately high. For example, the rate can be adjusted to produce a relative amount of iodine in the fluid of more than 0.25 ppm, and preferably less than 2 ppm, preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 ppm, and most preferably about 1 ppm. In the case of chlorine, the release rate is less than 20 ppm in the fluid, and preferably more than 1 ppm. It is well known that the new iodine resin of the former produces a higher concentration of iodine when the resin is new than when the resin has been subjected to fluid flow for a long period of time. With respect to the scope and object of the present invention described above, it refers to the prolonged enthalpy, rather than the initial enthalpy of the resin of -16-200946205. In those cases, the resin or other halogen source has a very sharp release peak during the first flow through the device, and the dentate concentration of the sharp peak can be removed by the halogen remover after the filter. . Optionally, the remover can be designed to be used up by the peak so that no remover remains when the peak enthalpy concentration is used up, and the resin or other type of halogen source has been released into the quasi-stable state of halogen release. The halogen release from the resin or other medium (e.g., tablet) may depend on the temperature, pH, flow rate, viscosity, and contaminant level of the fluid. However, since the rate of halogen release is not critical to the nature of the filtration, the task of halogen release is only to prevent biofilm growth, so the effect of these parameters is not important. In terms of a low halogen concentration, as described above, the halogen source may be a low elution iodine resin. In the case where the filter comprises a fibrous substrate and the substrate contains positively-adsorbing nanoparticles, one option is to separate the antimicrobial source from the fibrous substrate. In another embodiment, the antimicrobial source is embedded within the fibrous substrate, or even incorporated into the material of the fibrous substrate. The term "antimicrobial source" does not limit the invention to a single source of anti-microbial. The device may optionally contain more than one source of antimicrobial. Although the dissolution of the plurality of antimicrobial sources is low, it is still of interest if the combination of the plurality of antimicrobial sources is advantageous for achieving high efficiency. Similarly, the term "fiber substrate containing positively-adsorbing nanoparticle" encompasses not only one type of fibrous substrate but also several fibrous substrates in the device, which are mixed or otherwise Combination. -17- 200946205 In many cases, embodiments in which moderate or high dissolution is further improved by including a remover to extract the antimicrobial substance downstream of the fibrous substrate. Thus, the device contains an adsorbent or absorber between the filter and the liquid outlet. For example, in the case where the antimicrobial substance contains a halogen, the halogen remover may be activated carbon which is selectively rich in silver. Alternatively or additionally, the remover can be a strong anion exchange resin such as Dow Maraton A® Rohm & Haas Amberlite®. Although the apparatus of the present invention is primarily directed to the purification of water, the principles of the apparatus can be applied to other liquids as well. Regarding the structural features of the device, the following selections may be made as practical examples, but do not limit the scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the device has a design orientation for proper functioning of the function, wherein the design orientation comprises an upright axis of rotation of the tubular filter. Another useful option is that the substantially tubular filter has the inner walls of the blades (blades) or fins that are used to dig the liquid along the filter during the centrifugal movement of the filter. The vanes or fins ensure that the liquid, preferably water, quickly follows the centrifugal filter to filter efficiently. For example, in the case of household filter fresh water filters, the filtration capacity should be 1 to 1 〇 liter per hour, such as 10 to 100 liters per hour or 10 to 50 liters per hour. In order to prevent the biofilm from forming inside the casing, the casing may be provided with an inner wall having an anti-microbial source for releasing the antimicrobial substance from the surface of the wall. This can be achieved by an antimicrobial coating on the surface of the wall or by impregnating the antimicrobial material into the material of the wall. As a further example, the antimicrobial source -18-200946205 is contained within a reservoir behind the wall where the walls are constructed for the antimicrobial material to migrate through the wall to the surface of the wall. There are a number of different coatings that are commercially available, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,762,172, 6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Another possibility is an anti-H microbial coating containing silver (for example in the form of colloidal silver). The colloidal silver containing silver nanoparticles (1 nm to 100 nm) is suspended in the substrate. For example, silver colloids are released from minerals such as zeolites, which have an open porous structure. Silver is also embedded in the substrate (e.g., the polymeric surface film). In another embodiment, during the plastic molding process, silver can be embedded in the substrate of the entire polymer, such as injection molding, extrusion molding, or blow molding. A silver-containing ceramic that can be used in the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,924,245, to the entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. The silver used for the water treatment is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,827, 874 to Souter et al., and U.S. Patent No. 6,551,609, toK. It is also known to use a silver water supply rich in particulate carbon for purification. A silver coating for a sink is disclosed in European Patent No. EP 1 647 527. Other antimicrobial metals that may be used in the present invention are copper and zinc, and alternatively or additionally, such metals may be incorporated into the antimicrobial coating. U.S. Pat. Alternatively or additionally, the coating may comprise titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide can be applied as a film which is synthesized by a sol gel method. Because anatase -19- 200946205
Ti〇2是光觸媒’所以具有二氧化鈦的薄膜在暴露於紫外線 和周圍光的外表面是有用的。此外’二氧化鈦的奈米結晶 體可嵌在聚合體內。此外’銀奈米顆粒會和用於提昇效率 的二氧化鈦複合。 例如薄膜塗層可具有像數微米的厚度。取代性或附加 地’塗層可包含反應砂院季錢塩化合物，其來自以Ti〇2 is a photocatalyst' so that a film having titanium dioxide is useful for exposure to ultraviolet rays and the outer surface of ambient light. Further, the nanocrystal of titanium dioxide can be embedded in the polymer. In addition, 'silver nanoparticles will be combined with titanium dioxide for improved efficiency. For example, a thin film coating can have a thickness of a few microns. Substituting or additionally the coating may comprise a reaction sand yard monoxide compound derived from
Microbe ShieldTM爲商標的 AEGIS®公司，且用於冷氣空 調。當其呈液體施加至材料時，AEGIS®抗微生物物質內 爲 ❹ 的活性成份形成無色、無氣味、充滿正電的聚合體塗層， 其化學地結合已處理過的表面，且實際上不能移除。 關於此點’下列觀察是重要的。當本發明的此等過濾 器使用在鄕下地區做爲家庭用的淨水過濾器時，只在短的 時間間隔期間內重複使用過濾器。通常從水孔或附近的河 流取得水，然後過濾。一天發生數次此動作，但只在短時 間的期間內。此意涵著過濾器在大部分的時間沒有流動。 在內壁表面設有抗微生物物質的情況，抗微生物物質的釋 ❹ 放不需對穿過過濾器的全部水提供某一劑量的抗微生物物 質。釋放的速率只要在過濾之間的時間間隔內，抗維生微 生物物質的含量高到足以防止形成生物膜便已足夠。因此 考慮此過濾習慣，即使從殼體的內壁釋放低溶析的抗微生 物物質，仍足以防止產生積垢和生物膜。「只需低溶析」 有利於殻體之內壁持續長期提供抗微生物物質。 可藉由內表面的表面塗層造成從殼體內壁釋放抗微生 物物質，如上所述，該塗層例如釋放銀的表面塗層。在另 -20- 200946205 一實施例中，內壁具有表面，抗微生物物質可從壁的內側 遷移而穿過壁，例如由於倂入壁之材料內的抗微生物物質 、或由於提供在壁後面之貯存庫內的抗微生物物質，該等 抗微生物物質能遷移穿過壁並進入殼體內的流體中。可建 構殼體的內壁成爲也含有貯存庫之積層的一部分。 【實施方式】 φ 圖1是美國第5904090號專利之習知沙拉旋轉器的複 製品。沙拉旋轉器10具有基座12和籃體14。蓋子16封 閉籃體14。在蓋子16內，安裝可旋轉驅動板30。驅動板 30連接至籃體14，且當可旋轉的把手32驅動該驅動板30 時，驅動板30使籃體旋轉。在把手和驅動板30之間，設 有齒輪。此原理已被用做本發明之液體過濾器的靈感，此 將於下文詳細說明。 圖2例示本發明之液體過濾裝置（較佳是水淨化裝置 Φ ) 20的原理。該裝置20包含具有基座22的殻體，該基座 具有基座底部24和界定向上開口凹陷的圓筒壁26。蓋子 28覆蓋該向上開口凹陷。呈圓筒管狀之可旋轉的過濾器 30配置在基座22的內側。該過濾器30配置在過濾器底部 32和過濾器頂部34之間，且界定第一儲存隔室36供未過 率液體（較佳是水）之用。過濾器底部32被封閉，而過 濾器頂部34具有中央開口 38當作液體入口，進入入口的 液體可被提供進入過濾器30內側之第一儲存隔室36內。 圓筒過濾器可旋轉地被支撐在支撐柱（例如軸心）40上。 -21 - 200946205 該支撐柱40安置在分隔壁42上，該分隔壁42具有開口 至第二（下）儲存隔室45。該第二儲存隔室45供已淨化 液體（較佳是已淨化水）之用。 來自第一儲存隔室36的液體流經過濾器30，並經過 在分隔壁42中的開口 44而進入第二儲存隔室45。由於流 體的重力壓力使流體經過過濾器30而發生上述液體的過 濾。但是當旋轉過濾器3 0時，離心力提昇經過過濾器3 0 的流體壓力。藉由繞著軸心50旋轉把手46來達成旋轉過 濾器30。該把手46設在可旋轉的把手支座48上。軸心 50驅動齒輪裝置52，該齒輪裝置52具有連接件54嚙合 至過濾器頂部34，且當把手46繞著軸心50轉動時，使連 接件54旋轉。旋轉速率取決於齒輪裝置52，齒輪裝置52 可爲各種齒輪，例如正齒輪、行星齒輪、蝸輪、或依據其 他類型的齒輪。過濾器30的旋轉速率較佳爲把手46之旋 轉速率的倍數。例如把手46的一個完全旋轉可產生過濾 器30二、或三、或更多個旋轉。一旦液體被淨化和儲存 在第二儲存隔室45內，當打開閥56時，液體可經由液體 出口 5 4流出。 做爲對水過濾的預處理，在第一液體隔室36內可選 擇性地設置抗微生物源58。抗微生物源58釋放抗微生物 物質至第一液磨隔室36內的未過濾水。該釋放的程度可 爲：能使用最終去除劑供最終移除抗微生物物質。在另一 實施例中，以緩慢的速率添加抗微生物物質（例如鹵化的 物質）至水用於低的溶析，使得不需移除步驟用於消費已 200946205 過濾的水。 爲了只釋放小量的抗微生物物質至水，在另一實施例 中，可就在水入口 38的下游處設置抗微生物源，使得只 有在塡注隔室36期間’水正在通過抗微生物源時，才可 拾取微量的抗微生物物質（例如已鹵化的物質）。 在圖2中，過濾器顯示成圓筒狀，但是其他形式也可 會g，例如錐形、在向上或向下方向呈推拔、具有弧形管的 0 形狀、或甚至是具有上開口的半球或球形過濾器。再者， 雖然直立的旋轉軸較佳，但是本發明不需嚴格這樣。在另 一實施例中，旋轉軸可爲水平或傾斜。 下文將更詳細地說明具有媒介的過濾器。圖3例示過 濾器30之一部分60的放大視圖。圖3a是本發明過濾器 30的第一實施例。過濾器30包含相對粗糙的預過濾器61 ，用於防止具有25〜100微米等級尺寸的顆粒和微生物進 入過濾器。預過濾器較佳是具有25至100微米網孔尺寸 ❹ 且可清洗的聚合體織物過濾器。在預過濾器61之後，具 有略小網孔尺寸的第二預過濾器62設置在過濾器30內。 第二預過濾器62較佳是可清洗的聚合體織物網孔或非織 聚合體過濾器媒介，且具有1至25微米尺寸的網孔或孔 。此二過濾器61、62可爲分離的過濾器，且能從其餘的 過濾器30分別拆卸或者當作成對的（twin )的單元。爲 了保持該等網孔和非織物的形狀，此等過濾器可由穩定化 聚合體格網（grid)二次成型（overrn〇uld)。 過濾器30內的次一過濾步驟63是具有微過濾或超過 -23- 200946205 濾能力的多微孔過濾器層，例如具有移除0.02至0.2微米 尺寸之顆粒和微生物的過濾能力。此種過濾器的例子是具 有孔的陶瓷過濾器或多孔聚合體膜，其阻止具有比孔尺寸 更大尺寸的顆粒和微生物。在另一實施例中，多微孔過濾 器包含具有正電性且吸附性奈米顆粒的纖維基底。該等奈 米顆粒例如奈米氧化鋁（譬如Nanoceram® )。此纖維基 底可爲多層配置，且被保持在二次成型的塑膠構造（例如 網）之間。 在消費之前必須移除所添加之呈鹵化物質形式的抗微 生物劑情況中，可選擇性地包含進一步過濾步驟64 ’其具 有顆粒狀活性碳用於移除殘留物質、或具有另一類型的鹵 素去除劑。此步驟只是選擇性地，因爲在許多情況中，選 擇添加低溶析率之呈鹵素形式的抗微生物物質，所以不需 任何進一步的步驟來移除所添加的物質。 在圖3b中，例示另一實施例的過濾器配置，其具有 在二過濾器61、62和多微孔過濾器63之間的抗微生物源 65。此抗微生物元可取代圖2所示的抗微生物源58或添 加另外的抗微生物物質至流體。過濾器30內的此類型抗 微生物源65，可和預過濾器上游之抗微生物源58的類型 不同。 上游源5 8可爲如圖2所例示的分離源5 8，或可整合 成圖3c所例示之過濾器的一部分。如同另一種選擇（如 圖3d所例示），抗微生物物質可倂在多微孔纖維63內。 圖4例示過濾器30的上視圖，其中的過濾器設有複 -24- 200946205 數鰭片66，以在旋轉期間輕易地將水加速。圖4中所顯示 的鰭片數目並非限制本發明。本發明可依據情況配置更多 或更少的鰭片。 雖然圖1的沙拉旋轉器用於啓發本發明之液體過濾裝 置’但是本發明並不限於此習知技藝例子的佈局和驅動機 構。本發明的裝置在請求項的範圍內可具有多種修飾實施 例和驅動機構。 ❹ 【圖式簡單說明】 本發明參考圖式詳細說明於上文。其中， 圖1是習知技藝第US 5904090號美國專利沙拉旋轉 器的複製； 圖2例示本發明的第一實施例； 圖3a至3d例示不同種類的過濾器； 圖4例示過濾器實施例的上視圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 1 0 :沙拉轉器 12 :底座 14 :籃體 16 :蓋子 2〇 :液體過濾裝置 22 :基座 24 :基座底部 -25- 200946205 26 :圓筒壁 28 :蓋子 3 0 :驅動板（過濾器） 32 :把手 32 ：(過濾器）底部 34 ：(過濾器）頂部 36:第一儲存隔室 3 8 :中央開口 4 0 :支撐柱 42 :分隔壁 44 :開口 45 :第二儲存隔室 46 :把手 48 :把手支座 5 0 :軸心 52 :齒輪裝置 54 :出口 5 4 :連接件 5 6 :閥 5 8 :抗微生物源 60 :部分 6 1 :(粗糙的）預過濾器 62 :第二過濾器 63 :(次一）多微孔過濾器 -26- 200946205 64 :進一步過濾步驟 65 :抗微生物源 66 :鰭片（葉片）Microbe ShieldTM is a trademark of AEGIS® and is used for air conditioning. When applied as a liquid to a material, the active ingredient in the AEGIS® antimicrobial substance forms a colorless, odorless, positively charged polymer coating that chemically bonds to the treated surface and does not actually move except. Regarding this point, the following observations are important. When the filters of the present invention are used as a water purification filter for household use in the underarm area, the filter is reused only for a short time interval. Water is usually taken from a water hole or a nearby river and then filtered. This action occurs several times a day, but only for a short period of time. This means that the filter does not flow for most of the time. In the case where an antimicrobial substance is provided on the inner wall surface, the release of the antimicrobial substance does not require a certain dose of the antimicrobial substance to be supplied to all the water passing through the filter. The rate of release is sufficient to prevent the formation of biofilms as long as the amount of anti-vitamin microbial material is high enough during the time interval between filtrations. Therefore, considering this filtering habit, even if the low-solubility anti-microbial substance is released from the inner wall of the casing, it is sufficient to prevent the formation of scale and biofilm. "Only low dissolution" is beneficial to the long-term supply of antimicrobial substances on the inner wall of the shell. The release of the antimicrobial material from the inner wall of the housing can be caused by a surface coating of the inner surface which, for example, releases a surface coating of silver, as described above. In an embodiment of another -20-200946205, the inner wall has a surface against which the antimicrobial material can migrate from the inside of the wall, for example due to antimicrobial material within the material of the wall, or due to being provided behind the wall Antimicrobial substances in the reservoir that can migrate through the wall and into the fluid within the housing. The inner wall of the configurable casing becomes part of the laminate that also contains the reservoir. [Embodiment] φ Fig. 1 is a replica of a conventional salad rotator of U.S. Patent No. 5,904,090. The salad rotator 10 has a base 12 and a basket 14. The lid 16 encloses the basket 14. Within the cover 16, a rotatable drive plate 30 is mounted. The drive plate 30 is coupled to the basket 14, and when the rotatable handle 32 drives the drive plate 30, the drive plate 30 rotates the basket. A gear is provided between the handle and the drive plate 30. This principle has been used as an inspiration for the liquid filter of the present invention, which will be described in detail below. Fig. 2 illustrates the principle of the liquid filtering device (preferably water purifying device Φ) 20 of the present invention. The device 20 includes a housing having a base 22 having a base bottom 24 and a cylindrical wall 26 defining an upwardly open recess. A cover 28 covers the upward opening recess. A cylindrical tubular rotatable filter 30 is disposed inside the base 22. The filter 30 is disposed between the filter bottom 32 and the filter top 34 and defines a first storage compartment 36 for unreacted liquid, preferably water. The filter bottom 32 is closed and the filter top 34 has a central opening 38 as a liquid inlet into which the liquid entering the inlet can be provided into the first storage compartment 36 inside the filter 30. The cylindrical filter is rotatably supported on a support column (e.g., a hub) 40. - 21 - 200946205 The support column 40 is disposed on a partition wall 42 having an opening to a second (lower) storage compartment 45. The second storage compartment 45 is for use with a purified liquid, preferably purified water. The liquid from the first storage compartment 36 flows through the filter 30 and through the opening 44 in the dividing wall 42 into the second storage compartment 45. Filtration of the liquid described above occurs as the fluid passes through the filter 30 due to the gravitational pressure of the fluid. However, when the filter 30 is rotated, the centrifugal force increases the fluid pressure passing through the filter 30. The rotary filter 30 is achieved by rotating the handle 46 about the axis 50. The handle 46 is provided on a rotatable handle holder 48. The shaft 50 drives a gearing 52 having a coupling member 54 that engages the filter top 34 and rotates the connector 54 as the handle 46 rotates about the shaft 50. The rate of rotation is dependent on the gearing 52, which may be various gears such as spur gears, planet gears, worm gears, or other types of gears. The rate of rotation of the filter 30 is preferably a multiple of the rate of rotation of the handle 46. For example, a full rotation of the handle 46 can produce two, or three, or more rotations of the filter 30. Once the liquid is purified and stored in the second storage compartment 45, the liquid can flow out through the liquid outlet 54 when the valve 56 is opened. As a pretreatment for water filtration, an antimicrobial source 58 is optionally disposed within the first liquid compartment 36. The antimicrobial source 58 releases the antimicrobial material to the unfiltered water within the first liquid mill compartment 36. The degree of release can be such that the final remover can be used for the final removal of the antimicrobial material. In another embodiment, an antimicrobial substance (e.g., a halogenated material) is added to the water at a slow rate for low dissolution so that no removal step is required to consume the water that has been filtered by 200946205. In order to release only a small amount of antimicrobial material to the water, in another embodiment, an antimicrobial source may be placed just downstream of the water inlet 38 such that only water is passing through the antimicrobial source during the injection compartment 36 Only a small amount of antimicrobial substances (such as halogenated substances) can be picked up. In Figure 2, the filter is shown in a cylindrical shape, but other forms may also be g, such as tapered, drawn in an upward or downward direction, having a 0 shape with a curved tube, or even having an upper opening. Hemisphere or spherical filter. Further, although the upright rotating shaft is preferred, the present invention does not need to be strict. In another embodiment, the axis of rotation can be horizontal or inclined. The filter with the medium will be explained in more detail below. FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion 60 of filter 30. Figure 3a is a first embodiment of a filter 30 of the present invention. The filter 30 contains a relatively coarse pre-filter 61 for preventing particles and microorganisms having a size of 25 to 100 μm from entering the filter. The pre-filter is preferably a polymer fabric filter having a mesh size of 25 to 100 microns and being washable. After the pre-filter 61, a second pre-filter 62 having a slightly smaller mesh size is disposed within the filter 30. The second pre-filter 62 is preferably a washable polymeric fabric mesh or non-woven polymer filter media and has a mesh or aperture of 1 to 25 micron size. The two filters 61, 62 can be separate filters and can be separately detached from the remaining filters 30 or treated as a pair of units. In order to maintain the shape of the mesh and non-woven fabric, the filters may be over-molded by a stabilized polymer grid. The next filtration step 63 in the filter 30 is a microporous filter layer having microfiltration or filtration capacity in excess of -23-200946205, for example, having a filtration capacity to remove particles and microorganisms having a size of 0.02 to 0.2 microns. An example of such a filter is a porous ceramic filter or porous polymeric membrane that blocks particles and microorganisms having a larger size than the pore size. In another embodiment, the microporous filter comprises a fibrous substrate having positively charged and adsorbent nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles are, for example, nano alumina (e.g., Nanoceram®). The fibrous substrate can be in a multi-layer configuration and held between overmolded plastic constructions (e.g., mesh). In the case where the added antimicrobial agent in the form of a halogenated material must be removed prior to consumption, a further filtration step 64' may be optionally included which has granular activated carbon for removal of residual material or has another type of halogen Remover. This step is only optional because, in many cases, the addition of an antimicrobial substance in the form of a halogen having a low rate of dissolution is selected, so that no further steps are required to remove the added substance. In Fig. 3b, a filter arrangement of another embodiment is illustrated having an antimicrobial source 65 between two filters 61, 62 and a microporous filter 63. This antimicrobial element can replace the antimicrobial source 58 shown in Figure 2 or add additional antimicrobial material to the fluid. This type of antimicrobial source 65 within the filter 30 can be of a different type than the antimicrobial source 58 upstream of the pre-filter. The upstream source 58 may be a separation source 5 8 as illustrated in Figure 2 or may be integrated into a portion of the filter illustrated in Figure 3c. As an alternative (as illustrated in Figure 3d), the antimicrobial material can be trapped within the microporous fibers 63. Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the filter 30 with the filter provided with a plurality of fins 66 to accelerate the water during rotation. The number of fins shown in Figure 4 is not limiting of the invention. The present invention can configure more or fewer fins depending on the situation. Although the salad rotator of Fig. 1 is used to inspire the liquid filtering device of the present invention', the present invention is not limited to the layout and driving mechanism of this prior art example. The apparatus of the present invention can have a variety of modified embodiments and drive mechanisms within the scope of the claims. ❹ [Simplified description of the drawings] The present invention is described in detail above with reference to the drawings. 1 is a reproduction of a US patent salad rotator of US Pat. No. 5,904,090; FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 3a to 3d illustrate different types of filters; FIG. 4 illustrates a filter embodiment. Top view. [Main component symbol description] 1 0 : Salad rotator 12 : Base 14 : Basket 16 : Cover 2 〇: Liquid filter device 22 : Base 24 : Base bottom - 25 - 200946205 26 : Cylinder wall 28 : Cover 3 0: drive plate (filter) 32: handle 32: (filter) bottom 34: (filter) top 36: first storage compartment 3 8: central opening 4 0: support column 42: partition wall 44: opening 45 : second storage compartment 46 : handle 48 : handle holder 50 : shaft 52 : gear unit 54 : outlet 5 4 : connection piece 5 6 : valve 5 8 : antimicrobial source 60 : part 6 1 : (rough Prefilter 62: second filter 63: (next) microporous filter -26- 200946205 64: further filtration step 65: antimicrobial source 66: fins (blades)
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