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Patent Abstract
A laminated modular water filter includes a plurality of superposed
support units disposed between top and bottom covers. Each adjacent
pair of the top cover, the support units, and the bottom cover define
a filter-receiving space for receiving a filter unit therein. Each
of the support units is comprised of annular inner and outer supporting
members that confine a stirring member therebetween. Each of the
stirring members has an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality
of ribs interconnecting the inner and outer rings.
Patent Claims
I claim:
1. A laminated modular water filter comprising: a plurality of
superposed support units, each of which includes an annular inner
supporting member and an annular outer supporting member that is
disposed around said inner supporting member to define an annular
stirrer-receiving space therebetween, each adjacent pair of said
inner supporting members being interconnected such that a liquid-tight
seal is established therebetween, each adjacent pair of said outer
supporting members being interconnected such that a liquid-tight
seal is established therebetween, each of said inner supporting
members having a central hole, and an outer periphery that is formed
with a fixed guide rail unit therealong, each of said outer supporting
members having an inner periphery that is formed with a fixed guide
rail unit therealong, said inner supporting members being arranged
in a vertical row, said outer supporting members being arranged
in a vertical row; a plurality of stirring members connected respectively
and rotatably to said superposed support units, each of said stirring
members including an inner ring defining a central hole therein
and rotatable along said guide rail unit of a corresponding one
of said inner supporting members, an outer ring disposed around
and spaced apart from said inner ring and rotatable along said guide
rail unit of a corresponding one of said outer supporting members,
and a plurality of ribs, each of which has an inner end formed integrally
with said inner ring, and an outer end formed integrally with said
outer ring, said central holes in said inner rings of said stirring
members being in fluid communication with said central holes in
said inner supporting members in said superposed support units;
a top cover disposed on top surfaces of said inner and outer supporting
members of an uppermost one of said superposed support units and
connected removably with said superposed support units, said top
cover having a central hole in fluid communication with said central
holes in said inner supporting members of said support units, and
at least one side hole that is formed through said top cover, that
is in fluid communication with said annular stirrer-receiving spaces
in said superposed support units, and that permits introduction
of dirty water therethrough; a bottom cover disposed on bottom surfaces
of said inner and outer supporting members of a lowermost one of
said superposed support units and connected removably to said superposed
support units, said bottom cover having a central hole in fluid
communication with said central holes in said inner supporting members
of said superposed support units, and at least one side hole that
is formed through said bottom cover, that is in fluid communication
with said annular stirrer-receiving spaces in said superposed support
units, and that permits introduction of the dirty water therethrough;
each adjacent pair of said top cover, said superposed support units,
and said bottom cover defining a filter-receiving space that is
formed therebetween and that is in fluid communication with said
central holes in said inner supporting members and said side holes
in said top and bottom covers such that the dirty water can flow
from said side holes in said top and bottom covers into said central
holes in said inner supporting members through said filter-receiving
spaces; and a plurality of filter units received respectively and
fittingly within said filter-receiving spaces so as to filter the
dirty water when the dirty water flows through said filter-receiving
spaces, thereby permitting filtered water to exit from said laminated
modular water filter through said central holes in said top and
bottom covers.
2. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of said ribs of said stirring members is curved, and has two
inclined side surfaces so as to provide an enhanced stirring effect.
3. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of said guide rail units of said inner and outer supporting
members includes a plurality of alternately arranged L-shaped first
and second guiding blocks extending integrally and radially therefrom,
each of said first guiding blocks having a vertical plate portion
formed integrally with a corresponding one of said inner and outer
supporting members of said superposed support units, and a horizontal
plate portion extending integrally and radially from an upper end
of said vertical plate portion and having a bottom surface that
is formed with an integral projecting grain for contact with a corresponding
one of said stirring members, each of said second guiding blocks
having a vertical plate portion formed integrally with the corresponding
one of said inner and outer supporting members of said superposed
support units, and a horizontal plate portion extending integrally
and radially from a lower end of said vertical plate portion of
a corresponding one of said second guiding blocks and having a top
surface that is formed with an integral projecting grain for contact
with the corresponding one of said stirring members, said vertical
plate portions of said first and second guiding blocks of each of
said guide rail units of said inner and outer supporting members
of said superposed guide units being aligned with one another along
a circumferential direction of a corresponding one of said guide
rail units of said inner and outer supporting members of said support
units so as to confine said inner ring of a corresponding one of
said stirring members between said projecting grains of said horizontal
plate portions of said first and second guiding blocks of the corresponding
one of said inner supporting members and so as to confine said outer
ring of the corresponding one of said stirring members between said
projecting grains of said horizontal plate portions of said first
and second guiding blocks of the corresponding one of said outer
supporting members.
4. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said top cover has an upwardly and gradually converging top surface,
and an outer peripheral portion that is formed with a plurality
of peripheral holes formed therethrough, said bottom cover having
a downwardly and gradually converging bottom surface, and an outer
peripheral portion that is formed with a plurality of peripheral
holes formed therethrough, said laminated modular water filter further
comprising a plurality of lock bolt and nut units that extend respectively
into said peripheral holes in each of said top and bottom covers
so as to connect said top and bottom covers removably with said
superposed support units.
5. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said inner and outer supporting members of one of each adjacent
pair of said superposed support units are made of a soft material,
and said inner and outer supporting members of the other one of
each adjacent pair of said superposed support units are made of
a hard material so as to establish a liquid-tight seal between each
adjacent pair of said inner supporting members and between each
adjacent pair of said outer supporting members.
6. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 5, wherein
said soft material is polyethylene, and said hard material is propylene-butadiene-styrene
co-polymer.
7. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of said inner supporting members has a circumferential row
of grooves formed in one side surface thereof, and a circumferential
row of tongues formed on the other side surface thereof, said tongues
of each of said inner supporting members engaging respectively and
fittingly said grooves in an adjacent one of said inner supporting
members so that said inner supporting members are arranged in vertical
row.
8. The laminated modular water filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of said outer supporting members has an annular groove formed
in one side surface thereof, and an annular rib formed on the other
side surface thereof, said annular rib of each of said outer supporting
members engaging fittingly said annular groove in an adjacent one
of said outer supporting members so that said outer supporting members
are arranged in a vertical row.
Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a water filter, and more particularly
to a laminated modular water filter.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The applicant's copending U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/646,672
discloses a laminated modular water filter that includes a plurality
of superposed intermediate plates, a top plate, a bottom plate,
a plurality of filter units, and a plurality of rotatable nets with
projections for removing solid particles from filtering films. Although
the laminated modular water filter can achieve its intended purpose,
in actual practice, it has the following disadvantages:
[0005] (1) The top plate, the intermediate plates, and the bottom
plate are solid bodies that increase total weight of the water filter,
thereby resulting in difficulties in the assembly and disassembly
of the water filter.
[0006] (2) Since there is relatively large friction between the
rotatable nets and the filtering films, it is difficult to rotate
the rotatable nets smoothly relative to the filtering films.
[0007] (3) A plurality of seal rings are employed for the purpose
of establishing liquid-tight seals.
[0008] However, flow of water over the seal rings for a long period
of time will cause hydrolysis of the same, thereby resulting in
leakage of water from the laminated modular water filter.
[0009] (4) The top and bottom plates are fastened to each other
by bolts. Because the intermediate plates are clamped between the
top and bottom plates, the top and bottom plates are apt to deform
such that the outer peripheries of the top and bottom plates move
toward each other and such that the central portions of the top
and bottom plates move away from each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of this invention is to provide a lightweight
laminated modular water filter that can remove solid particles effectively
from the filtering films after dirty water is filtered in the laminated
modular water filter.
[0011] Another object of this invention is to provide a laminated
modular water filter that does not provide seal rings.
[0012] Still another object of this invention is to provide a laminated
modular water filter that includes top and bottom covers which are
fastened to each other by bolts and which have specific structures
so as to prevent deformation thereof.
[0013] According to this invention, a laminated modular water filter
includes a plurality of superposed support units, each of which
includes an annular inner supporting member and an annular outer
supporting member that is disposed around the inner supporting member
to define an annular stirrer-receiving space therebetween. Each
adjacent pair of the inner supporting members are interconnected
such that a liquid-tight seal is established therebetween. Each
adjacent pair of the outer supporting members are interconnected
such that a liquid-tight seal is established therebetween. Each
of the inner supporting members has a central hole, and an outer
periphery that is formed with a fixed guide rail unit therealong.
Each of the outer supporting members has an inner periphery that
is formed with a fixed guide rail unit therealong. The inner supporting
members are arranged in a vertical row. The outer supporting members
are also arranged in a vertical row.
[0014] A plurality of stirring members are connected respectively
and rotatably to the superposed support units. Each of the stirring
members includes an inner ring defining a central hole therein and
rotatable along the guide rail unit of a corresponding one of the
inner supporting members, an outer ring disposed around and spaced
apart from the inner ring and rotatable along the guide rail unit
of a corresponding one of the outer supporting members, and a plurality
of ribs, each of which has an inner end formed integrally with the
inner ring, and an outer end formed integrally with the outer ring.
The central holes in the inner rings are in fluid communication
with the central holes in the inner supporting members in the superposed
support units.
[0015] A top cover is disposed on top surfaces of the inner and
outer supporting members of an uppermost one of the superposed support
units, is connected removably to the superposed support units, and
has a central hole in fluid communication with the central holes
in the inner supporting members of the support units, and at least
one side hole that is formed through the top cover, that is in fluid
communication with the annular stirrer-receiving spaces in the superposed
support units, and that permits introduction of dirty water therethrough.
[0016] A bottom cover is disposed on bottom surfaces of the inner
and outer supporting members of a lowermost one of the superposed
support units, is connected removably to the superposed support
units, and has a central hole in fluid communication with the central
holes in the inner supporting members of the superposed support
units, and at least one side hole that is formed through the bottom
cover, that is in fluid communication with the annular stirrer-receiving
spaces in the superposed support units, and that permits introduction
of the dirty water therethrough. Each adjacent pair of the top cover,
the superposed support units, and the bottom cover define a filter-receiving
space that is formed therebetween and that is in fluid communication
with the central holes in the inner supporting members of the superposed
support units and the side holes in the top and bottom covers such
that the dirty water can flow from the side holes in the top and
bottom covers into the central holes in the inner supporting members
through the filter-receiving spaces.
[0017] A plurality of the filter units are received respectively
and fittingly within the filter-receiving spaces so as to filter
the dirty water when the dirty water flows through the filter-receiving
spaces, thereby permitting filtered water to exit from the laminated
modular water filter through the central holes in the top and bottom
covers.
[0018] Because each of the superposed support units is comprised
of one of the inner supporting members and one of the outer supporting
members, total weight of the laminated modular water filter is relatively
light.
[0019] Preferably, each of the guide rail units of the inner and
outer supporting members of the superposed support units includes
a plurality of alternately arranged L-shaped first and second guiding
blocks extending integrally and radially therefrom. Each of the
first guiding blocks has a vertical plate portion formed integrally
with a corresponding one of the inner and outer supporting members
of the superposed support units, and a horizontal plate portion
extending integrally and radially from an upper end of the vertical
plate portion and having a bottom surface that is formed with an
integral projecting grain. Each of the second guiding blocks has
a vertical plate portion formed integrally with the corresponding
one of the inner and outer supporting members of the superposed
support units, and a horizontal plate portion extending integrally
and radially from a lower end of the vertical plate portion of a
corresponding one of the second guiding blocks and having a top
surface that is formed with an integral projecting grain. In each
of the guide rails, the vertical plate portions of the first and
second guiding blocks are aligned along a circumferential direction
of a corresponding one of the guide rail units so as to confine
the inner ring of a corresponding one of the stirring members between
the projecting grains of the horizontal plate portions of the first
and second guiding blocks of a corresponding one of the inner supporting
members and so as to confine the outer ring of a corresponding one
of the stirring members between the projecting grains of the horizontal
plate portions of the first and second guiding blocks of a corresponding
one of the outer supporting members.
[0020] As such, the stirring members can rotate smoothly within
the laminated modular water filter so as to remove solid particles
effectively from the filter units.
[0021] Preferably, the inner and outer supporting members of one
of each adjacent pair of the superposed support units are made of
a soft material, and the inner and outer supporting members of the
other one of each adjacent pair of the supporting support units
are made of a hard material so as to establish a liquid-tight seal
between each adjacent pair of the inner supporting members and between
each adjacent pair of the outer supporting members. As such, there
is no need to provide a seal ring between each adjacent pair of
the top cover, the support units, and the bottom cover. In one embodiment,
the soft material is polyethylene, and the hard material is propylene-butadiene-styrene
co-polymer.
[0022] Preferably, the top cover has an upwardly and gradually
converging top surface, and an outer peripheral portion that is
formed with a plurality of peripheral holes formed therethrough.
The bottom cover has a downwardly and gradually converging bottom
surface, and an outer peripheral portion that is formed with a plurality
of peripheral holes formed therethrough. The laminated modular water
filter further includes a plurality of lock bolt and nut units that
extend respectively into the peripheral holes in each of the top
and bottom covers so as to connect the top and bottom covers removably
to the superposed support units. As such, deformation of the top
and bottom covers can be prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and other features and advantages of this invention
will become apparent in the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred
embodiment according to this invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a support unit
and a stirring member of the preferred embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment,
illustrating the flow path of water when it is being filtered; and
[0028] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of two support units,
two stirring members, and two filter units of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of
a laminated modular water filter according to this invention is
shown to include a plurality of superposed support units 1, a plurality
of stirring members 2, a top cover 3, a bottom cover 4, and a plurality
of filter units 5.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, each of the support units
1 includes an annular inner supporting member 11 and an annular
outer supporting member 12 that is disposed around the inner supporting
member 11 to define an annular stirrer-receiving space 13 therebetween.
In each adjacent pair of the support units 1, one is made of a soft
material, such as polyethylene, and the other one is made of a hard
material, such as propylene-butadiene-styrene co-polymer. As such,
a liquid-tight seal can be established between each adjacent pair
of the inner supporting members 11 and between each adjacent pair
of the outer supporting members 12.
[0031] Each of the inner supporting members 11 has a central hole
111 formed therethrough, a circumferential row of grooves 112 formed
in a top side surface, a circumferential row of tongues 113 formed
in a bottom side surface, a circumferential row of notches 114 formed
in an inner periphery and in fluid communication with the central
hole 111, and a guide rail unit consisting of a plurality of alternately
arranged L-shaped first and second guiding blocks 115, 115' formed
along an outer periphery. Each of the first guiding blocks 115 has
a vertical plate portion (116V) formed integrally with the corresponding
inner supporting member 11, and a horizontal plate portion (116H)
extending integrally, radially, and outwardly from an upper end
of the vertical plate portion (116V) of the first guiding block
115 and having a bottom surface that is formed with an integral
projecting grain 117. Each of the second guiding blocks 115' has
a vertical plate portion (116V) formed integrally with the corresponding
inner supporting member 11, and a horizontal plate portion (116H)
extending integrally, radially, and outwardly from a lower end of
the vertical plate portion (116V) of the second guiding block 115'
and having a top surface that is formed with an integral projecting
grain 117. In each of the inner supporting members 11, the vertical
plate portions (116V) are aligned with one another along a circumferential
direction of the inner supporting member 11. In each adjacent pair
of the inner supporting members 11, the tongues 113 of the upper
inner supporting member 11 engage respectively and fittingly the
grooves 112 in the lower inner supporting member 11 so that the
inner supporting members 11 are arranged in a vertical row.
[0032] Each of the outer supporting members 12 has an annular groove
121 formed in a top surface, an annular rib 122 (see FIG. 4) formed
on a bottom surface, and a guide rail unit consisting of a plurality
of alternately arranged L-shaped first and second guiding blocks
123, 123' formed along an inner periphery. Each of the first guiding
blocks 123 has a vertical plate portion (124V) formed integrally
with the corresponding outer supporting member 12, and a horizontal
plate portion (116H) extending integrally, radially, and inwardly
from an upper end of the vertical plate portion (124V) of the first
guiding block 123 and having a bottom surface that is formed with
an integral projecting grain 125. Each of the second guiding blocks
123' has a vertical plate portion (124V) formed integrally with
the corresponding outer supporting member 12, and a horizontal plate
portion (124H) extending integrally, radially, and inwardly from
a lower end of the vertical plate portion (124V) of the second guiding
block 123' and having a top surface that is formed with an integral
projecting grain 125. In each of the outer supporting members 12,
the vertical plate portions (124V) are aligned with one another
along a circumferential direction of the outer supporting member
12. In each adjacent pair of the outer supporting members 12, the
annular rib 122 of the upper inner supporting member 12 engages
fittingly the annular groove 121 in the lower supporting member
12 so that the outer supporting members 12 are also arranged in
a vertical row.
[0033] Each of the stirring members 2 is made of polyethylene,
and includes an inner ring 21 that defines a central hole 22 therein
and that is rotatable between and that contacts the projecting grains
117 of the first and second guiding blocks 115, 115' of the corresponding
inner supporting member 11, an outer ring 23 that is disposed around
and that is spaced apart from the inner ring 21 and that is rotatable
between and that contacts the projecting grains 125 of the first
and second guiding blocks 123, 123' of the corresponding outer supporting
member 12, and a plurality of curved ribs 24, each of which has
an inner end formed integrally with the inner ring 21, an outer
end formed integrally with the outer ring 23, and two inclined side
surfaces 241 (see FIG. 3) that can increase the stirring effect
of the corresponding stirring member 2. As such, each of the stirring
members 2 is confined within the stirrer-receiving space 13 of the
corresponding support unit 1. The central holes 22 in the inner
rings 21 are in fluid communication with the central holes 111 in
the inner supporting members 11.
[0034] The top cover 3 includes:
[0035] a ring plate 31 abutting against the top surfaces of the
inner and outer supporting members 11, 12 of the uppermost support
unit 1;
[0036] a hollow central post (C1) extending integrally and upwardly
from a center of the ring plate 31;
[0037] two hollow side posts (C2) extending integrally and upwardly
from the ring plate 31 and located on two sides of the central post
(C1);
[0038] three thin annular ribs (R1) formed on a top surface of
the ring plate 31 and disposed around the central post (C1);
[0039] a thick annular rib (R2) formed on an outer peripheral portion
of the top surface of the ring plate 31 and disposed around the
thin annular ribs (R1);
[0040] a central hole 32 formed through the ring plate 31 and the
central post (C1) and in fluid communication with the central holes
111 in the inner supporting members 11;
[0041] two side holes 33, 34, each of which is formed through the
ring plate 31 and the corresponding side post (C2) and is in fluid
communication with the stirrer-receiving spaces 13 in the support
units 1;
[0042] a circumferential row of vertical peripheral holes 35 formed
through the thick annular rib (R2) and shaped as counterbores; and
[0043] a plurality of radial ribs (36) formed on the top surface
of the ring plate 31 so as to connect with the thin and thick annular
ribs (R1, R2) and the side posts (C2).
[0044] Each of the radial ribs (36) has a height that increases
gradually from a radial outer end to a radial inner end, as shown
in FIG. 4. As such, the top cover 3 has an upwardly and gradually
converging top surface.
[0045] The bottom cover 4 is disposed on the bottom surfaces of
the inner and outer supporting members 11, 12 of the lowermost support
unit 1. The bottom cover 4 has a ring plate 41, a central hole 42,
two side holes 43, 44, a circumferential row of peripheral holes
45, and a downwardly and gradually converging bottom surface. As
the structures of the top and bottom covers 3, 4 are symmetrical
with respect to the support units, the bottom cover 4 will not described
in greater detail herein.
[0046] A plurality of lock bolt and nut units extend respectively
into the peripheral holes 35, 45 in the top and bottom covers 3,
4 so as to connect the top and bottom covers 3, 4 removably with
the support units 1. Each of the lock bolt and nut units includes
a plurality of bolts 7 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) disposed around
the outer supporting members 12, and a plurality of nuts 71 (only
one is shown in FIG. 2) engaging the bolts 7, respectively. Each
adjacent pair of the top cover 3, the support units 1, and the bottom
cover 4 define a filter-receiving space 6 (see FIG. 4) that is formed
therebetween and that is in fluid communication with the central
holes 111 in the inner supporting members 11 and the side holes
33, 34, 43, 44 in the top and bottom covers 3, 4. The filter-receiving
spaces 6 are communicated with the central holes 111 in the inner
supporting members 11 through the notches 114 in the inner supporting
members 11. As such, dirty water can flow from the side holes 33,
34, 43, 44 in the top and bottom covers 3, 4 into the central holes
111 in the inner supporting members 11 through the filter-receiving
spaces 6.
[0047] The filter units 5 are received respectively and fittingly
within the filter-receiving spaces 6 in a known manner so as to
filter the dirty water when the dirty water flows through the filter-receiving
spaces 6, thereby permitting filtered water to exit from the laminated
modular water filter through the central holes 32, 42 in the top
and bottom covers 3, 4, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each of the filter
units 5 includes two soft filtering films 51 (see FIG. 5), and a
hard net 52 (see FIG. 5) sandwiched between the filtering films
51 so as to define a water passage that is disposed between the
filtering films 51 and that is in fluid communication with the central
holes 111 in the inner supporting members 11 through the notches
114 in the inner supporting members 11.
[0048] During use, dirty water can be forced into a selected one
or selected ones of the side holes 33, 34, 43, 44 in the top and
bottom covers 3, 4, non-selected ones of the side holes 33, 34,
43, 44 being closed in advance. The dirty water flows into the filter-receiving
spaces 6 and the filter units 5 so as to form filtered water that
flows into the central holes 111 in the inner supporting members
11 and that exits from the laminated modular water filter through
the central hole 32 in the top cover 3 and/or the central hole 42
in the bottom cover 4. For example, referring to FIG. 4, dirty water
is forced into the side holes 33, 34 in the top cover 3 so as to
flow into the central holes 111 in the inner supporting members
11 through the filter units 5.
[0049] The laminated modular water filter of this invention has
the following advantages:
[0050] (1) Since each of the support units 1 is comprised of one
of the inner supporting members 11 and one of the outer supporting
members 12, and since the top and bottom covers 3, 4 are not solid
bodies, total weight of the laminated modular water filter of this
invention is reduced significantly.
[0051] (2) Contact areas between the stirring members 2 and the
projecting grains 117, 125 of the inner and outer supporting members
11, 12 are relatively small so as to permit smooth rotation of the
stirring members 2. As such, the stirring members 2 can remove solid
particles effectively from the filtering films 51.
[0052] (3) As each adjacent pair of the support units 1 are made
respectively from soft and hard materials, a liquid-tight seal can
be established therebetween. As such, there is no need to employ
seal rings in the laminated modular water filter of this invention
so as to increase anti-leakage effect thereof.
[0053] (4) The thin and thick annular ribs (R1, R2) and the radial
rib 36 can reinforce the top and bottom covers 3, 4 so as to prevent
deformation of the same.
[0054] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended
that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended
claims. |