초록 ▼

A filter element 28 for a gravity-flow water filter. An inlet screen 44 divides a cylinder 48 into two functionally distinct portions, an overflow chamber 24, and a filter body 26 which contains a filter medium 54. A wire half-loop 16 suspends overflow chamber 24 from an adjustable water source and

A filter element 28 for a gravity-flow water filter. An inlet screen 44 divides a cylinder 48 into two functionally distinct portions, an overflow chamber 24, and a filter body 26 which contains a filter medium 54. A wire half-loop 16 suspends overflow chamber 24 from an adjustable water source and positions overflow chamber 24 to catch the water outflow from the source. Wire half-loop 16 also positions overflow chamber 24 at a distance from the source so that there is a gap 22 between overflow chamber 24 and the source. The potential for water rising and spilling from overflow chamber 24 induces a user to adjust the source flow to less than a characteristic rate. When the flow is adjusted so that water level in overflow chamber 24 is not rising, the water level continues dropping until the flow of water from the source continuously enters the screened entrance of filter body 26 with no appreciable pressure head. Thus water moves more slowly through filter body 26 and filter medium 54 than if there were an appreciable pressure head at the entrance to filter body 26. With slower water motion, there is longer water-to-filter-medium contact, giving superior filtering effectiveness. Filtered water from filter element 28 is captured and accumulated in a receiver container 40 for later use.

대표청구항 ▼

A filter element for a gravity-flow water filter for home water treatment, comprising: (a) a filter body of impermeable material which contains a filter medium selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, activated alumina, and ion exchange resin, said filter body having means defining an

A filter element for a gravity-flow water filter for home water treatment, comprising: (a) a filter body of impermeable material which contains a filter medium selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, activated alumina, and ion exchange resin, said filter body having means defining an inlet and means defining an outlet, said inlet being above said outlet, (b) foraminous inlet means fixed at said inlet and foraminous outlet means fixed at said outlet so that a flow of water may pass through the combination of said filter body and said foraminous inlet means and said foraminous outlet means while said filter medium remains inside said filter body, (c) an overflow chamber attached to said inlet, i) said overflow chamber being formed by an impermeable, stiff wall attached to said filter body in a watertight connection, said stiff wall essentially maintaining its shape if said overflow chamber is filled with water, ii) said overflow chamber surrounding and extending above said inlet, the upper edge of said wall forming an entrance to said overflow chamber, whereby water from means defining an adjustable water source may fall into said overflow chamber, and from there move through said inlet into said filter body, iii) said overflow chamber being limited in water holding capacity to a maximum of 0.4 liters, whereby said overflow chamber will fill, overflow and spill inconveniently when the flow rate of water entering said overflow chamber exceeds a characteristic flow rate, said characteristic flow rate being the constant flow rate allowed by the resistance to flow presented by said inlet and by the portion of said filter element below said inlet when water continuously just covers said inlet, whereby the possibility of an inconvenient water overflow and spill from said overflow chamber induces and gives motive for a user to introduce water to said overflow chamber by adjusting said adjustable water source to a flow rate less than said characteristic flow rate, which adjustment is guided by noting whether the water level in said overflow chamber is rising or falling, whereby the water level in said overflow chamber will drop until the stream of water from said adjustable water source falls into said overflow chamber and enters said inlet with no appreciable head of water standing above said inlet, whereby water will move more slowly through said filter medium than if there had been an appreciable head of water at said inlet, whereby said filter medium acts more effectively on water flowing through said filter medium, whereby said user is discouraged from the alternative way of introducing water of giving inconveniently numerous discrete fillings to said limited overflow chamber in order to filter a convenient quantity of water, (d) a wire half-loop attached to said overflow chamber.