U.S. patent number 11,286,191 [Application Number 15/845,931] was granted by the patent office on 2022-03-29 for apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Ecology, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Carl Beiswenger, Richard T. Williams. Invention is credited to Carl Beiswenger, Richard T. Williams.
United States Patent |
11,286,191 |
Williams , et al. |
March 29, 2022 |
Apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a
fluid such as water
Abstract
An apparatus for filtering water has a valve head and a
filtration/purification canister removably mountable thereon.
Connecting the canister to the valve head automatically opens a
check valve in the valve head to permit water to flow from the
valve head into and through the canister, and then back to and
through the valve head to an outlet port. Disconnecting the
canister from the valve head automatically closes the check valve,
stopping the flow of water. A bypass valve is provided in the valve
head to permit a sanitizing solution to flow through the valve head
and along the lines of the water distribution system to sanitize
the system, while bypassing the canister. The outlet port may be
directly connected to an appliance that uses water, to eliminate
possible contamination that may occur when water is brought
indirectly from the outlet port to the appliance instead.
Inventors: |
Williams; Richard T. (Uwchland,
PA), Beiswenger; Carl (Pottstown, PA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Williams; Richard T.
Beiswenger; Carl |
Uwchland
Pottstown |
PA
PA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
General Ecology, Inc. (Exton,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
42311029 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/845,931 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180334402 A1 |
Nov 22, 2018 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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12319219 |
Jan 3, 2009 |
9845259 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F
9/005 (20130101); B01D 35/30 (20130101); B01D
35/147 (20130101); B01D 35/147 (20130101); B01D
35/30 (20130101); B01D 2201/4015 (20130101); C02F
2301/043 (20130101); C02F 2303/04 (20130101); Y10T
137/794 (20150401); C02F 2201/006 (20130101); C02F
1/444 (20130101); B01D 2201/302 (20130101); C02F
2201/001 (20130101); Y10T 137/3084 (20150401); C02F
1/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
35/147 (20060101); C02F 9/00 (20060101); B01D
35/30 (20060101); C02F 1/44 (20060101); C02F
1/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cecil; Terry K
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Earley, III; John F. A. Harding,
Earley, Follmer & Frailey, P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage
of fluid into the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel including a
first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet
port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid, the pressure vessel including an outlet port
for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel
including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from
the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the
fluid to the outlet port, and the pressure vessel including a
compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned
within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the
means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
for accommodating possible expansion of the fluid, the bore having
a center axis, the compressible member protecting against damage to
the pressure vessel and/or the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the
fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating
possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by
providing space for fluid to expand into, the fluid expanding into
and compressing the compressible member as the fluid freezes, the
compressible member having an outer surface facing radially
outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means
for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
surrounding it, and the entire outer surface of the compressible
member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of
the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for
filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the
compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel, and the
outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube having a first
end portion, a second end portion, and a passageway extending
through the tube from the first end portion of the tube to the
second end portion of the tube through which fluid that has been
filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the
pressure vessel, the tube having an interior surface portion, the
tube having a plurality of fins formed in the interior surface
portion of the tube at the first end portion of the tube, the fins
extending inwardly into the passageway of the tube and being
oriented to extend parallel to a center axis of the tube for
blocking the compressible member from entering the tube and
plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the compressible
member inadvertently breaks loose from where it is mounted in the
pressure vessel, and the tube at its first end portion having a
plurality of cutouts made therein to permit flow of fluid that has
been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified in the pressure
vessel to continue to enter the tube if the compressible member
breaks loose from where it is mounted in the pressure vessel and
abuts against the first end of the tube.
2. The pressure vessel of claim 1, the tube of the outlet port of
the pressure vessel being stationarily fixed in place within the
pressure vessel, the tube having an exterior surface portion, and
the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed
therein, the pressure vessel further including a flapper valve for
reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the
pressure vessel, the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc
mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the
flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which
the tube extends, the flapper valve having means for mounting the
flexible disc at its central opening to the tube in the annular
groove formed on the tube to stationarily fix the disc at is
central opening in place on the tube and prevent the disc at its
central opening from changing its position in the pressure vessel,
the flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across
the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc
throughout being at substantially an equal height of that of the
annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, the flexible
disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of
the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the
pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as
inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure
vessel, and the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut
against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along
the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first
passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of
fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the
pressure vessel.
3. The pressure vessel of claim 1, the compressible member being a
polyfoam material.
4. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage
of fluid into the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel including a
first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet
port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid, the pressure vessel including an outlet port
for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel
including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from
the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the
fluid to the outlet port, the housing comprising a cover and a
bowl, the cover having a top wall, a side wall extending downwardly
from the top wall, the side wall of the cover having a lower end
portion, and a cover rim formed on the lower end portion of the
side wall of the cover, the bowl having a bottom wall, a side wall
extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall of the bowl
having an upper end portion, and a bowl rim formed on the upper end
portion of the side wall of the bowl, and the cover rim and the
bowl rim being joined together to form a sealed seam portion of the
pressure vessel, and further including a reinforcement member
secured around the side wall of the cover and the side wall of the
bowl at and near the seam portion of the pressure vessel for
reinforcing the pressure vessel, the reinforcement member
comprising carbon fibers or fiberglass fibers or aramid fibers
wrapped around the pressure vessel and held together with a
binder.
5. The pressure vessel of claim 4, the binder being epoxy or
polyurethane.
6. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning
and/orpurifying a fluid, comprising a cover having a top wall, a
side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall of
the cover having a lower end portion, and a cover rim formed on the
lower end portion of the side wall of the cover, a bowl having a
bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall,
the side wall of the bowl having an upper end portion, and a bowl
rim formed on the upper end portion of the side wall of the bowl,
the cover rim and the bowl rim being joined together to form a
sealed seam portion of the pressure vessel, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, a compressible column mounted in the pressure vessel,
the compressible column protecting against damage to the pressure
vessel and/or the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and
expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating possible
millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by providing space,
for fluid to expand into, the bottom wall of the bowl having a
passageway extending therethrough for venting purposes, the
passageway being defined by a wall, and an automatic venting/vacuum
breaking device positioned in the passageway for automatically
venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum, the automatic
venting/vacuum breaking device including a vent sleeve positioned
in a chamber formed in the passageway, the vent sleeve having a
downstream end portion and an upstream end portion, the vent sleeve
having a cylindrical wall having an annular inwardly extending
ledge formed at the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve, the
vent sleeve having a plurality of cutouts in its cylindrical wall
extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward
the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve, the ledge having an
upstream side and a downstream side, means positioned downstream of
the ledge for creating a valve seat and means positioned downstream
of the ledge for sealing between the valve seat and the wall of the
passageway, and a ball having a density slightly greater than the
density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or
purified, the ball being positioned in the vent sleeve, the
venting/vacuum breaking device remaining in an open position until
the ball is pushed by the fluid into engagement with the valve seat
to close the passageway.
7. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning
and/orpurifying a fluid, comprising a cover having a top wall, a
side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall of
the cover having a lower end portion, and a cover rim formed on the
lower end portion of the side wall of the cover, a bowl having a
bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall,
the side wall of the bowl having an upper end portion, and a bowl
rim formed on the upper end portion of the side wall of the bowl,
the cover rim and the bowl rim being joined together to form a
sealed seam portion of the pressure vessel, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, and the bottom wall of the bowl having a passageway
extending therethrough for venting purposes, the passageway being
defined by a wall, an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device
positioned in the passageway for automatically venting air and for
breaking any unwanted vacuum, the automatic venting/vacuum breaking
device including a vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in
the passageway, the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and
an upstream end portion, the vent sleeve having a cylindrical wall
having an annular inwardly extending ledge formed at the downstream
end portion of the vent sleeve, the vent sleeve having a plurality
of cutouts in its cylindrical wall extending from the upstream end
portion of the vent sleeve toward the downstream end portion of the
vent sleeve, the ledge having an upstream side and a downstream
side, means positioned downstream of the ledge for creating a valve
seat and means positioned downstream of the ledge for sealing
between the valve seat and the wall of the passageway, and a ball
having a density slightly greater than the density of the fluid
being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified, the ball being
positioned in the vent sleeve, the venting device/vacuum breaking
device remaining in an open position until the ball is pushed by
the fluid into engagement with the valve seat to close the
passageway.
8. The pressure vessel of claim 7, further including air directing
means formed in the vent sleeve for directing air being vented past
the ball and then back toward the ball to prevent the ball from
prematurely abutting against the valve seat until most, if not all,
of the air has been vented.
9. The pressure vessel of claim 8, the air directing means
including a plurality of cutouts formed in the vent sleeve and
extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward
the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which direct air to
move along past the ball, and an annular inwardly extending ledge
formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which
directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward
the ball.
10. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage
of fluid into the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel including a
first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet
port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid, the pressure vessel including an outlet port
for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel
including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from
the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the
fluid to the outlet port, and the pressure vessel including a
compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned
within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the
means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
for accommodating possible expansion of the fluid, the bore having
a center axis, the compressible member protecting against damage to
the pressure vessel and/or the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the
fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating
possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by
providing space for fluid to expand into, the fluid expanding into
and compressing the compressible member as the fluid freezes, the
compressible member having an outer surface facing outwardly away
from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering
and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid surrounding it, and
a majority of the outer surface of the compressible member that
faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore
toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering
and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the
compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel, the outlet
port of the pressure vessel including a tube having a first end
portion, a second end portion, and a passageway extending through
the tube from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube
through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned
and/or purified in the pressure vessel moves to exit the pressure
vessel, the tube having an interior surface portion and an exterior
surface portion, the tube having a plurality of fins formed in the
interior surface portion of the tube at the first end portion of
the tube, the fins extending inwardly into the passageway of the
tube and being oriented to extend parallel to a center axis of the
tube for blocking the compressible member from entering the tube
and plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the
compressible member inadvertently breaks loose from where it is
positioned in the pressure vessel, and the tube at its first end
portion having a plurality of cutouts made therein to permit flow
of fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified
in the pressure vessel to continue to enter the tube if the
compressible member breaks loose from where it is positioned in the
pressure vessel and abuts against the first end of the tube.
11. The pressure vessel of claim 10, the compressible member being
a polyform material.
12. The pressure vessel of claim 10, all of the outer surface of
the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the
center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact
with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure
vessel.
13. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage
of fluid into the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel including a
first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet
port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid, the pressure vessel including an outlet port
for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel
including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from
the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the
fluid to the outlet port, and the pressure vessel including a
compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned
within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the
means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
for accommodating possible expansion of the fluid, the bore having
a center axis, the compressible member protecting against damage to
the pressure vessel and/or the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the
fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating
possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by
providing space for fluid to expand into, the fluid expanding into
and compressing the compressible member as the fluid freezes, the
compressible member having an outer surface facing radially
outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means
for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
surrounding it, and a majority of the outer surface of the
compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the
center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact
with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure
vessel, the outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube
having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a passageway
extending through the tube from the first end portion of the tube
to the second end portion of the tube through which fluid that has
been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the
pressure vessel, the tube having an exterior surface portion, and
the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed
therein, the pressure vessel further including a flapper valve for
reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the
pressure vessel, the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc
mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the
flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which
the tube extends, the flexible disc extending radially outwardly
from the tube across the first passageway of the pressure vessel,
the flexible disc throughout being at substantially an equal height
of that of the annular groove in which the flexible disc is
mounted, the flexible disc flexing in a first direction to open the
first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound
fluid entering the pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid
to pass it as inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of
the pressure vessel, and the flexible disc flexing in a second
direction to abut against a portion of an interior wall of the
pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel
to close the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by
a back flow of fluid from the pressure vessel along the first
passageway of the pressure vessel, the compressible member being a
polyform material, the tube having an interior surface portion, the
tube having a plurality of fins formed in the interior surface
portion of the tube at the first end portion of the tube, the fins
extending inwardly into the passageway of the tube and being
oriented to extend parallel to a center axis of the tube for
blocking the compressible member from entering the tube and
plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the compressible
member inadvertently breaks loose from where it is positioned in
the pressure vessel, and the tube at its first end portion having a
plurality of cutouts made therein to permit flow of fluid that has
been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified in the pressure
vessel to continue to enter the tube if the compressible member
breaks loose from where it is positioned in the pressure vessel and
abuts against the first end of the tube.
14. The pressure vessel of claim 13, all of the outer surface of
the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the
center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact
with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid.
15. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage
of fluid into the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel including a
first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet
port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying the fluid, the pressure vessel including an outlet port
for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel
including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from
the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the
fluid to the outlet port, and the pressure vessel including a
compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned
within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the
means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
for accommodating possible expansion of the fluid, the bore having
a center axis, the compressible member protecting against damage to
the pressure vessel and/or the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the
fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating
possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by
providing space for fluid to expand into, the fluid expanding into
and compressing the compressible member as the fluid freezes, the
compressible member having an outer surface facing radially
outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means
for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid
surrounding it, and a majority of the outer surface of the
compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the
center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact
with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure
vessel, the pressure vessel having a third passageway extending
through the housing for venting purposes, the third passageway
being defined by a wall, and further including an automatic
venting/vacuum breaking device positioned in the third passageway
for automatically venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum,
the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including a ball, a
vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in the third passageway,
the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end
portion, a valve seat positioned at the downstream end portion of
the vent sleeve that receives a portion of the ball to close the
automatic venting/vacuum breaking device, and means positioned in
the third passageway for sealing between the valve seat and the
wall of the third passageway, the ball having a density slightly
greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or
conditioned and/or purified, the ball being positioned in the vent
sleeve, and the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device remaining
in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into
engagement with the valve seat to close the third passageway.
16. The pressure vessel of claim 15, further including air
directing means formed in the vent sleeve for directing air being
vented past the ball and then back toward the ball to prevent the
ball from prematurely abutting against the valve seat until most,
if not all, of the air has been vented.
17. The pressure vessel of claim 16, the air directing means
including a plurality of cutouts formed in the vent sleeve and
extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward
the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which direct air to
move along past the ball, and an annular inwardly extending ledge
formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which
directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward
the ball.
18. The pressure vessel of claim 15, the outlet port of the
pressure vessel including a tube having a passageway extending
through the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or
conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, the
tube having an exterior surface portion, and the exterior surface
portion having an annular groove formed therein, the pressure
vessel further including a flapper valve for reducing possible
backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, the
flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the
annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a
central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, the
flexible disc extending radially outward from the tube across the
first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc
throughout being at substantially the same height of that of the
annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, the flexible
disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of
the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the
pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as
inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure
vessel, and the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut
against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along
the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first
passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of
fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the
pressure vessel.
19. The pressure vessel of claim 18, the compressible member being
a polyform material, the tube having a first end portion into which
fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified in
the pressure vessel moves to exit the pressure vessel, the tube
having an interior surface portion, the tube having a plurality of
fins formed in the interior surface portion of the tube at the
first end portion of the tube, the fins extending inwardly into the
passageway of the tube and being oriented to extend parallel to a
center axis of the tube for blocking the compressible member from
entering the tube and plugging the passageway extending
therethrough if the compressible member inadvertently breaks loose
from where it is positioned in the pressure vessel, the tube at its
first end portion having a plurality of cutouts made therein to
permit flow of fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned
and/or purified in the pressure vessel to continue to enter the
tube if the compressible member breaks loose from where it is
positioned in the pressure vessel and abuts against the first end
of the tube, and air directing means formed in the vent sleeve for
directing air being vented past the ball and then back toward the
ball to prevent the ball from prematurely abutting against the
valve seat until most, if not all, of the air has been vented.
20. The pressure vessel of claim 19, the air direction means
including a plurality of cutouts formed in the vent sleeve and
extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward
the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which direct air to
move along past the ball, and an annular inwardly extending ledge
formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which
directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward
the ball.
21. The pressure vessel of claim 20, the housing comprising a cover
having a top wall, a side wall extending downwardly from the top
wall, the side wall of the cover having a lower end portion, and a
cover rim formed on the lower end portion of the side wall of the
cover, and a bowl having a bottom wall, a side wall extending
upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall of the bowl having an
upper end portion, and a bowl rim formed on the upper end portion
of the side wall of the bowl, the cover rim and the bowl rim being
joined together to form a sealed seam portion of the pressure
vessel.
22. The pressure vessel of claim 15, all of the outer surface of
the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the
center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact
with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid.
23. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure
vessel, a first passageway extending from the inlet port to the
means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid,
an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, a
second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, a third
passageway extending through the housing for venting purposes, the
passageway being defined by a wall, and an automatic venting/vacuum
breaking device positioned in the third passageway for
automatically venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum, the
automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including a ball, a vent
sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in the third passageway, the
vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end
portion, a valve seat positioned at the downstream end portion of
the vent sleeve that receives a portion of the ball to close the
automatic venting/vacuum breaking device, and means positioned in
the third passageway for sealing between the valve seat and the
wall of the third passageway, the ball having a density slightly
greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or
conditioned and/or purified, the ball being positioned in the vent
sleeve, and the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device remaining
in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into
engagement with the valve seat to close the third passageway.
24. The pressure vessel of claim 23, further including air
directing means formed in the vent sleeve for directing air being
vented past the ball and then back toward the ball to prevent the
ball from prematurely abutting against the valve seat until most,
if not all, of the air has been vented.
25. The pressure vessel of claim 24, the air directing means
including a plurality of cutouts formed in the vent sleeve and
extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward
the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which direct air to
move along past the ball, and an annular inwardly extending ledge
formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which
directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward
the ball.
26. The pressure vessel of claim 23, the outlet port of the
pressure vessel including a tube having a passageway extending
through the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or
conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, the
tube having an exterior surface portion, and the exterior surface
portion having an annular groove formed therein, the pressure
vessel further including a flapper valve for reducing possible
backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, the
flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the
annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a
central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, the
flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across the
first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc
throughout being at substantially an equal height of that of the
annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, the flexible
disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of
the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the
pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as
inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure
vessel, and the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut
against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along
the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first
passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of
fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the
pressure vessel.
27. The pressure vessel of claim 26, further including air
directing means formed in the vent sleeve for directing air being
vented past the ball and then back toward the ball to prevent the
ball from prematurely abutting against the valve seat until most,
if not all, of the air has been vented.
28. The pressure vessel of claim 27, the air directing means
including a plurality of cutouts formed in the vent sleeve and
extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward
the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which direct air to
move along past the ball, and an annular inwardly extending ledge
formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which
directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward
the ball.
29. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or
purifying a fluid, comprising a housing, means positioned in the
pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying
the fluid, an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure
vessel, a first passageway extending from the inlet port to the
means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid,
an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, a
second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, the
outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube stationarily
fixed in place within the pressure vessel, the tube having a
passageway extending through the tube through which fluid that has
been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the
pressure vessel, the tube having an exterior surface portion, and
the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed
therein, the pressure vessel further including a flapper valve for
reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the
pressure vessel, the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc
mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the
flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which
the tube extends, the flapper valve having means for mounting the
flexible disc at its central opening to the tube in the annular
groove formed on the tube to stationarily fix the disc at its
central opening in place on the tube and prevent the disc at its
central opening from changing its position in the pressure vessel,
the flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across
the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc
throughout being at substantially the same height of that of the
annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, the flexible
disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of
the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the
pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as
inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure
vessel, and the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut
against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along
the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first
passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of
fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the
pressure vessel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatuses for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water, and more
particularly concerns such apparatuses that use pressure vessels
holding a cartridge, loose media, or the like for filtering and/or
conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water. This invention
also relates to various fluid distribution systems, such as potable
water distribution systems for aircraft, for example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Aircraft Potable Water Use--Adequate hydration is particularly
important for comfortable air travel. Aircraft typically are
crowded with thousands of passengers including babies, small
children, handicapped and others passing through a commercial
passenger aircraft during a single week. Both passengers and crews
contribute to microorganism populations aboard aircraft and special
precautions must be taken to minimize and avoid the possibility of
bacteria and other microorganisms being transferred to others
through the water distribution system. A primary sanitation defense
mechanism is to maintain an adequate residual of chlorine,
preferably free chlorine, within the water storage and distribution
system. However, water is supplied to aircraft from many locations
and varies widely in taste and sanitary quality. Furthermore,
leading causes of water borne disease, worldwide, are relatively
large but still invisibly small, parasitic cysts such as Giradia
and Crypto which are not controlled by chlorination. These
pathogens can reliably be removed by effective microfiltration.
Aircraft Water Distribution and Management--Typically, a water
distribution system on aircraft comprises a water storage tank and
a centralized distribution line with various branches or legs
extending from the central distribution line to locations
throughout the aircraft. Water is distributed from the storage tank
throughout the aircraft to galleys, lavatories and other locations
as needed for food and beverage preparation, and for personal
hygiene during flights. Galleys include coffee makers, water
boilers and other drinking water service points. Similarly,
lavatories often include drinking water outlets and may be used for
face and hand rinsing, cleaning teeth and short term
medication.
Water filter/purifier units, each comprising a housing pressure
vessel (usually stainless steel) and a filtration/purification
cartridge, are installed in or near galleys and lavatories as part
of the aircraft water distribution system to improve water quality
for consumption and for food and beverage preparation. Space in
galley and lavatory compartments is expensive and severely limited.
Accordingly, water filter/purifier units usually are installed in
"out of the way" locations often behind other more readily
accessible equipment and bulkheads.
Sanitation Practices--To overcome the challenges of virus,
bacteria, and larger organism transmission via water systems and
colonization within the aircraft potable water distribution
systems, airlines, in addition to trying to assure an adequate
chlorine residual within the aircraft water supply, periodically
sanitize their aircraft water distribution systems with a 2+ hours
soak of high concentration (100 ppm) chlorine solutions. The
sanitation process is time and labor intensive and, because such
high concentrations of chlorine is detrimental to the
filtration/purification cartridges, requires removing the
filtration/purification cartridges from the water filter/purifier
units installed in galleys, fountains and lavatories throughout the
aircraft prior to the sanitation process. After removal of
cartridges, the housings (pressure vessels) must be reassembled to
seal against leakage during sanitation. After chlorine flushing and
soaking, the housings (pressure vessels) once again must be
accessed, opened and the same or new cartridges must be installed.
The housings (pressure vessels) frequently are installed in hard to
reach locations, resulting in expensive labor costs alone sometimes
ranging upwards to hundreds of dollars per unit.
System Draining and Refilling--Water must be drained from aircraft
during periods of non-use (such as overnight) in cold climates.
Proposed EPA regulations require much more frequent draining and
filling of water storage tanks in an effort to improve aircraft
drinking water quality and safety. Draining and filling water
systems requires "vacuum breaks" at equipment locations to allow
water to be properly released and "vents" to allow air to escape in
order to assure proper functioning of filters, purifiers, and other
equipment. Although the very latest filter/purifier units include
automatic vacuum breaks and venting, most aircraft units require
manual actuation often resulting in inadequate water draining and
filling.
Also, under the proposed EPA regulations, it is likely that
accessing and actuating manual vents and vacuum breaks, sometimes
previously ignored, may become a significantly higher maintenance
cost item due to difficult access to the water filter/purifier
units and aircraft "out of service" revenue costs.
Microorganism Growth--Even with periodic sanitization, bacteria may
colonize various branches (legs) of water distribution systems.
Bacteria multiply rapidly, sometimes doubling in number in
approximately 16 minutes. Therefore, a small number of bacteria may
quickly reach infectious concentrations in water intended to be
consumed, especially downstream of improperly installed/serviced
filters/purifiers employed to remove chlorine, foul tastes, and
odors. Further, water filter/purifier units installed in
semi-remote locations along the water distribution system often
require longer than desired distribution lines to specific service
points (e.g., locations where the water is discharged from the
water distribution system). These distribution lines provide
unnecessary opportunities for previously purified water to be
recontaminated from inadvertent inoculation, short term bacteria
multiplication or biofilm formation/shedding that may have taken
place in such distribution lines downstream of the water
filter/purifier units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for
filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as
water.
It is another object of the invention to enable and introduce a new
concept to provide more efficient, more cost effective, improved
water quality management aboard passenger aircraft, and for other
applications. For example, and more specifically with respect to
passenger aircraft applications, the concept is to provide water
filter and water purifier systems installed at various aircraft
cabin crew readily accessible service locations (service points)
within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, preferably at or
near where the water that is filtered and/or conditioned and/or
purified for immediate use. This invention provides for various
types of filtering and purifying processes being available in
interchangeable self-contained canisters (e.g., pressure vessels
15, each containing filtration and/or purification media 16)
attached to interfacing "valve heads" integrated into the water
distribution system at appropriate cabin crew readily accessible
locations. Stored water can then be filtered and/or purified
immediately at the time and place of use as it is discharged from
the potable water distribution system.
Another object of the invention is to provide an aircraft potable
water distribution system having valve heads installed locally at
various cabin crew readily accessible service locations or service
points within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, to connect an
outlet port of at least one of the valve heads directly to an
appliance such as a coffee maker or other water-using equipment
located in the galley of the aircraft to reduce possible exposure
of the water that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or
purified to contaminants that may be encountered if water were to
be indirectly brought from the outlet port of the valve head to the
appliance instead.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
and aircraft potable water distribution system that allows
non-technical flight attendants servicing, that is, removal of
filtration/purification cartridges, and replacement thereof, on a
frequent basis as an extension of normal routines, without
requiring professional maintenance crew attendance and support.
These and other objects are provided by our invention, a
description of which is set out below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the first end portion of the valve
head 13, constructed in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the second end portion of the valve
head 13, constructed in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus 11 of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a view in cross section taken along the lines and arrows
4-4 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a view in partial cross section taken along the lines and
arrows 5-5 shown in FIG. 3, except that the canister or pressure
vessel 15 is shown as a partial view in perspective and exploded
away from the valve head 13.
FIG. 6 is a partial view in cross section taken along the lines and
arrows 6-6 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the valve head member 13a of valve
head 13.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the valve head member 13b of valve
head 13.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a canister (the pressure vessel 15
containing a cartridge 16) of the invention.
FIG. 10 is a partial view in cross section showing an automatic
venting device 239 formed in the bowl of an alternative embodiment
of the pressure vessel, constructed in accordance with the
invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the automatic venting device 239
shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus 11 shown
in FIG. 4.
FIG. 13 is a view in bottom plan of the end cap 183 which has a
hollow tube 187 that functions as the outlet port from the canister
(the pressure vessel 15 having the cartridge 16 mounted
therein).
FIG. 14 is a view in cross section taken along the lines and arrows
14-14 shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a view in partial cross section showing an alternative
bypass valve 261, in which the bypass valve 261 is in a closed
position blocking flow through the third passageway 99 formed in
the valve head 13. For purposes of clarity, various details
relating to the valve head 13 are not shown in this figure so as to
highlight the details relating to the bypass 261.
FIG. 16 is a view in partial cross section showing an alternative
bypass valve 261, in which the bypass valve 261 is in a opened
position to permit flow of fluid through the third passageway 99
formed in the valve head 13. For purposes of clarity, various
details relating to the valve head 13 are not shown in this figure
so as to highlight the details relating to the bypass 261.
FIG. 17 is a view in cross section of an end cap used to cover the
second end portion of the valve head 13 when a canister is not
connected to the valve head 13 to block dirt and other debris from
having easy access to the second end portion 71 of the valve head
13.
FIG. 18 is a view in front elevation of a pressure vessel 15 that
is provided with a reinforcement member 219 secured around the
sealed seam portion 217 of the pressure vessel 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning now to the drawings, there is shown the inventive apparatus
11 for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, such
as water. (Purification, per EPA regulations, requires performance
meeting the EPA Guide Standard Protocol for Microbiological
Purifiers; filtration and conditioning may be almost anything else
that is useful, such as taste and odor removal, scale control,
etc.)
Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 12, apparatus 11
includes an automatic valving unit 13 for a pressure vessel 15 that
holds a cartridge 16, or loose media, or the like for filtering
and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, such as water. The
automatic valving unit 13 (also referred to herein as "valve head
13"), when desired, automatically provides for fluid flow into the
pressure vessel 15 when the pressure vessel 15 is in use and, when
desired, automatically discontinues fluid flow from the valve head
13 when the pressure vessel 15 is disconnected from the valve head
13.
The valve head 13, which preferably is machined from a metal such
as stainless steel or aluminum preferably coated and sealed with a
hard aluminum oxide coating for scratch resistance and long life,
preferably includes a first end member 13a and a second end member
13b, which are held together by threaded bolts 12 that extend
through bores 14 fainted in and extending through the first end
member 13a and into aligned threaded bores 18 formed in the second
end member 13b.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, the valve head 13 has a first
passageway 17 extending through it and adapted to be connected to a
fluid transmission line, such as a water supply line of an aircraft
potable water distribution system. Preferably, the valve head 13
has a threaded inlet port 19 at the entrance of the first
passageway 17 that receives a threaded female fitting of the fluid
transmission line.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 12 and 2, a first check valve 21 is
positioned on an annular ledge 22 formed in the first passageway 17
of the valve head 13 for blocking flow of fluid through the first
passageway 17 when the valve 21 is closed. Preferably, the first
check valve 21 includes a valve housing 23 (preferably made of a
suitable polymeric material) having an annular ring-shaped base
portion 25 that has an annular inner wall surface 27. An annular
ledge 29 is formed on the inner wall surface 27 creating a valve
seat 31.
A movable valve disc 33 (preferably made of a suitable polymeric
material) is contained within the valve housing 23 that closes the
valve 21 when the valve disc 33 rests against the valve seat 31 and
that permits flow of fluid through the valve 21 when the valve disc
33 is not resting against the valve seat 31. The valve housing 23
also includes a plurality of arms 35 that extend away from the base
portion 25 of the valve housing 23 and over the opening in the
valve housing 23 formed by the annular ring-shaped base portion 25
to form a cage-like structure that contains the valve disc 33 in
the valve housing 23. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 12, the valve
disc 33 has a guide pin 37 formed on and extending upstream from
its upstream face that is engaged by and slides in a guide pin
holder 39 (a small hollow cylinder) formed on the ends of the arms
35 where the arms 35 meet over the opening in the annular
ring-shaped base portion 25 to keep motion of the valve disc 33 on
a line that permits proper seating of the valve disc 33 on the
valve seat 31.
An outlet port 41 is formed at the outlet end portion of the first
passageway 17 of the valve head 13.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 12, the pressure vessel 15 has an inlet
port 43 that is in fluid communication with the outlet port 41
formed at the outlet end portion of the first passageway 17 in the
valve head 13 when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve
head 13. The pressure vessel 15 has a first passageway 45 extending
from the inlet port 43 of the pressure vessel 15 to the cartridge
16, or loose media, or the like, through which the fluid passes to
filter and/or condition and/or purify the fluid, and a second
passageway 47 extending from the cartridge 16, or loose media, or
the like to an outlet port 49 of the pressure vessel 15.
The valve head 13 also is provided with a second passageway 51
extending through it and adapted to be connected to a fluid
receiving line (such as a water faucet of an aircraft potable water
distribution system or an apparatus such as a coffee maker used on
an airplane) at an outlet port 53 of the second passageway 51.
Preferably, the outlet port 53 has a threaded fitting that is
received in a threaded female fitting of the fluid receiving
line.
The valve head 13 has an inlet port 55 formed at an inlet portion
of the second passageway 51 in the valve head 13 that is in fluid
communication with the outlet port 49 of the pressure vessel 15
when the pressure vessel 15 is connected to the valve head 13.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 12, and 2, connecting/disconnecting means is
provided for connecting the pressure vessel 15 to the valve head
13, when desired, to permit flow of fluid from the first passageway
17 in the valve head 13 to the inlet port 43 of the pressure vessel
15, and for disconnecting the pressure vessel 15 from the valve
head 13, when desired, to stop flow of fluid from the first
passageway 17 in the valve head 13. Preferably, the
connecting/disconnecting means comprises a bayonet-style mount,
including a plurality of grooves 57 (three such grooves 57 being
used in the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings)
formed on the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15, and a
corresponding number of pins 61 (three such pins 61 being used in
the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings) mounted on
the valve head 13. Each groove 57 has a first end portion 63 where
a corresponding pin 61 may be inserted and moved along the groove
57 by turning the pressure vessel 15 around its central axis until
the pin 61 reaches a second end portion 65 of the groove 57,
thereby securing the pressure vessel 15 to the valve head 13. A
plurality of spring-loaded plungers or detents 67 (two such
plungers 67 being used in the embodiments of the invention shown in
the drawings) are screwed into threaded bores 69 formed in the
second end member 13b of the valve head 13 which push against the
first end portion 73 of the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15 when
the pressure vessel 15 is connected to the valve head 13.
Alternatively, instead of grooves 57 and pins 61, the
connecting/disconnecting means may comprise threads formed on the
outer surface of the neck 59 and matching threads formed on the
valve head 13, such as that disclosed in Williams U.S. Pat. No.
5,695,168, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
Referring again to FIGS. 2, 4, and 12, actuating means is provided
for automatically opening the valve 21 when the pressure vessel 15
is connected to the valve head 13. Preferably, the actuating means
includes a pin 79 that is positioned in the first passageway 17 of
the valve head 13 between the valve disc 33 and the outlet port 41
at the outlet end portion of the first passageway 17 of the valve
head 13. The pin 79 has a first end portion 81 and a second end
portion 83, the first end portion 81 engaging the valve disc 33 by
being received in a bore 85 formed in the downstream face of the
valve disc 33, and the second end portion 83 being held by a pin
holder 87 (positioned between valve 21 and an annular ledge 89 in
the first passageway 17) in which the pin 79 is free to slide back
and forth along the center axis of the pin 79. A radially extending
ridge 91 is provided on the pin 79 to abut against a portion of the
pin holder 87 to prevent the pin 79 from falling completely out of
the first passageway 17 through the outlet port 41. The
cross-section of the pin 79, even at the ridge 91, is smaller than
the cross-section of the first passageway 17 so that fluid may flow
through the first passageway 17 where the pin 79 is positioned when
the valve 21 is open. Also, when the valve 21 is open, fluid may
pass through the first passageway 17 where the pin holder 87 is
located by passing between the spacing flanges 92 (three such
spacing flanges 92 being used in the embodiments of the invention
shown in the drawings), which surround and position a tubular
section 93 (which holds the second end portion of the pin 79 in a
sliding relationship) in the first passageway 17 in alignment with
the valve disc 33.
The length of the pin 79 is such that when the pressure vessel 15
is connected to the valve head 13, the first end portion 73 of the
neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15 pushes against the pin 79 causing
the first end portion 81 of the pin 79 to push the valve disc 33
off and sufficiently away from the valve seat 31 to open the valve
21 to permit flow of fluid through the valve 21 and passageway
17.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 4, and 12, preferably, the actuating means
also includes a cam or bump 75 formed on the first end portion 73
of the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15, such cam 75 being located
on the first end portion 73 of the neck 59 such that when the
pressure vessel 15 has been connected to the valve head 13 (that
is, when the pressure vessel 15 has been rotated into engagement
with the valve head 13 such that the pins 61 have reached the
second end portion 65 of the grooves 57), such cam 75 is aligned
and in contact with the second end portion 83 of the pin 79 to push
against the pin 79 causing the first end portion 81 of the pin 79
to push the valve disc 33 off and sufficiently away from the valve
seat 31 to open the valve 21 to permit flow of the fluid through
the valve 21 and the first passageway 17. In the embodiment of the
invention shown in the drawings and especially in FIG. 5, the first
end portion 73 of the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15 has three
such cams or bumps 75 spaced 120.degree. apart from each other in a
circle formed by the first end portion 73 of the neck 59 so that
the pressure vessel 15 may be rotated onto the valve head 13 with
either the first pin 61 engaging the first groove 57, the second
pin 61 engaging the second groove 57, and the third pin 61 engaging
the third groove 57, or the first pin 61 engaging the second groove
57, the second pin 61 engaging the third groove 57, and the third
pin 61 engaging the first groove 57, or the first pin 61 engaging
the third groove 57, the second pin 61 engaging the first groove
57, and the third pin 61 engaging the second groove 57, resulting
in one of the three cams or bumps 75 being aligned with and pushing
against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79 to cause the first
end portion 81 of the pin 79 to push the valve disc 33 off and
significantly away from the valve seat 31 to open the valve 21 to
permit flow of fluid through the valve 21 and the first passageway
17 when the pressure vessel 15 has been connected to the valve head
13.
In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings,
six indents 94 are formed in the first end portion 73 of the neck
59 spaced 60.degree. apart from each other in a circle formed by
the first end portion 73 of the neck 59, with three of the indents
94 being located adjacent to a corresponding bump or cam 75. When
the pressure vessel is fully twisted onto the valve head 13 such
that one of the bumps or cams 75 is aligned with and pushing
against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79, one of the
plungers 67 clicks into the indent 94 located adjacent to that bump
or cam 75 that is aligned with and pushing against the second end
portion 83 of the pin 79, and the other plunger 67 clicks into the
indent 94 that is positioned directly across the neck 59 from the
indent 94 that is adjacent to the bump or cam 75 that is aligned
with and pushing against the second end portion 83 of the pin 79,
to provide a tactile sensation or feel to the person twisting the
pressure vessel 15 onto the valve head 13 indicating that the
pressure vessel 15 has been properly connected to the valve head
13.
A second check valve 95 is positioned on an annular ledge 97 formed
in the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 for blocking
backflow of fluid from the second passageway 51 of the valve head
13, especially when the pressure vessel 15 is not connected to the
valve head 13. Preferably, the second check valve 95 includes a
valve housing 23 which contains a movable valve disc 33, as
described above for the first check valve 21. The flow of fluid
from the pressure vessel 15 pushes the movable disc 33 of the
second check valve 95 off the valve seat 31 of the second check
valve 95 and moves it in the downstream direction away from the
valve seat 31 of the second valve 95 to permit fluid flowing from
the pressure vessel 15 to flow through the second valve 95 and
through the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 to the fluid
receiving line connected to the outlet port 53 of the second
passageway 51 of the valve head 13. However, backflow of fluid
through the second passageway 51 of the valve head 13 is blocked by
the second check valve 95 due to any backflow of fluid pushing the
moveable disc 33 of the second check valve 95 onto the valve seat
31 of the second check valve 95, thereby causing the second check
valve 95 to close.
Preferably, but optionally, the valve head 13 also has a third
passageway 99 formed in it that extends from the first passageway
17 at a position upstream of the first check valve 21 to the second
passageway 51 downstream of the second check valve 95, and a bypass
valve 101 positioned in the valve head 13 that has a portion 103
that when extended into the third passageway 99 blocks flow of
fluid through the third passageway 99 and that when withdrawn from
the third passageway 99 opens the third passageway 99 to permit
fluid to flow through the third passageway 99. Referring to FIGS.
2, 5, 7, and 8, preferably, the third passageway 99 extends from
the first passageway 17 at a position 17a located at the second end
portion of the first end member 13a of the valve head 13 into the
second end member 13b. The bypass valve 101 preferably includes a
shaft 105 having a first end portion 107, a second end portion that
fauns the portion 103 of the bypass valve 101, and threading 109 on
a portion of the shaft's length. A thread engaging member 111, such
as a pin, a nubbin disc, or the like (a nubbin disc being shown in
the drawings preferably secured to the valve head 13 in a recess
113 in the first end portion of the first end member 13a) is
provided to engage the threading 109 of the shaft 105, and a handle
115 is mounted on the first end portion 107 of the shaft 105 for
rotating the shaft 105 in a first direction to move the second end
portion 103 of the shaft 105 from the third passageway 99 to permit
flow of fluid through the third passageway 99 and for rotating the
shaft 105 in a direction opposite to the first direction to move
the second end portion 103 of the shaft 105 into the third
passageway 99 to block flow of fluid through the third passageway
99. The bypass valve 101 preferably is positioned in a bore 116
that extends through the first end member 13a of the valve head 13
and into engagement with the third passageway 99 formed in the
valve head 13. A first o-ring 117, positioned in an annular groove
119 that extends around the shaft 105, is provided to seal between
the shaft 105 and the wall that forms the bore 116 to prevent the
fluid from escaping from the valve head 13 through the bore 116. A
second o-ring 121, positioned in an annular grove 123 that extends
around the shaft 105 in its end portion 103, is provided to seal
between the shaft 105 and the wall that forms the third passageway
99 when the portion 103 is positioned in the third passageway 99 to
prevent fluid from flowing in the third passageway 99 past the
portion 103.
The third passageway 99 continues beyond the location of the bypass
valve 101 along a groove 125 (FIGS. 5 and 7) formed in the second
end portion of the first end member 13a of the valve head 13 that
leads to the second passageway 51 in the valve head 13 downstream
of the second check valve 95. A groove 127 (FIG. 7) also is formed
in the second end portion of the first end member 13a of the valve
head 13 that surrounds the groove 125, and an o-ring 129 is
received in the groove 127 to seal between the second end portion
of the first end member 13a and the first end portion of the second
end member 13b around the groove 125 and to seal between the second
end portion of the first end member 13a and the first end portion
of the second end member 13b around the second passageway 51 along
where the groove 125 intersects the passageway 51.
A groove 131 (FIG. 7) also is formed in the second end portion of
the first end member 13a of the valve head 13 that receives an
o-ring 133 that seals the first passageway 17 between the first end
member 13a and the second end member 13b.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 1, optionally, but preferably, the valve
head 13 also has a fourth passageway 139 extending through it, and
an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device 141 positioned therein
for venting air contained in the apparatus 11 and for breaking any
unwanted vacuum formed in the apparatus 11. The fourth passageway
139 has an inlet port 139a and an outlet port 139b. A groove 135 is
fanned in the second end portion of the first end member 13a of the
valve head 13 that receives an o-ring 137 that seals the fourth
passageway 139 between the first end member 13a and the second end
member 13b. The automatic venting/vacuum breaking device 141
includes a vent sleeve 143 positioned in a chamber 145 formed along
the fourth passageway 139. Vent sleeve 143 has a cylindrical wall
147 having an inwardly extending flange or ledge 149 formed at the
downstream end portion of the vent sleeve 143, and a plurality of
cutouts 151 (two being used in the embodiments of the invention
shown in the drawings) formed in the wall 147 extending from the
downstream end portion of the vent sleeve 143 toward the upstream
end portion of the vent sleeve 143. The ledge 149 of the vent
sleeve 143 has an upstream end portion 149a and a downstream end
portion 149b, and each such end portion 149a and 149b preferably is
chamfered. An o-ring 153 is positioned immediately downstream of
the downstream end portion 149b of the ledge 149 and is blocked by
the downstream end portions 149b of the ledge 149 from falling into
the chamber 143. A ball 155 preferably having a density slightly
greater than the density of the fluid (e.g., if water is the fluid,
a preferred specific gravity for the ball 155 is about 1.1) is
positioned in the vent sleeve 143 and permits venting of air
contained in the apparatus 11 and breaking of any unwanted vacuum
in the apparatus 11 until the fluid pushes the ball 155 into
engagement with a portion of the o-ring 153 creating a seal between
the ball 155 and the o-ring 153 and the o-ring 153 and the wall of
the fourth passageway 139, thereby closing the fourth passageway
139. The diameter of the passageway 139 at chamber 145, the
diameter of the cylindrical vent sleeve 143, and the diameter of
the ball 155 are greater than the diameter of the passageway 139
upstream of the chamber 145.
A screen 152, positioned in a recess 154 formed in the first end
portion of the first end member 13a and held therein by the cover
plate 235 positioned thereover, and a screen 156, positioned in the
chamber 145 upstream of the vent sleeve 143, are provided to reject
possible interfering debris or particulates.
Referring to FIG. 4, the pressure vessel 15 includes a cover 159
having a top wall 161 and a side wall 163, which has a lower end
portion on which a cover rim 165 is formed. The pressure vessel 15
also includes a bowl 167 having a bottom wall 169 and a side wall
171, which has an upper end portion on which a bowl rim 173 is
formed.
In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings,
the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a
fluid comprises a cartridge 16. As shown in FIG. 4, preferably, the
cartridge 16 comprises a cylindrical microfiltration matrix 177 for
filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid passing
through it. The matrix 177 has a cylindrical channel 179 along its
center axis that receives the fluid after it has passed through the
matrix 177, the channel 179 comprising part of the second
passageway 47 of the pressure vessel 15. An end cap 181 is secured
to the bottom end of the matrix 177, and an end cap 183 is secured
to the top end of the matrix 177. To secure the cartridge 16 inside
the pressure vessel 15, the bowl 167 is provided with a stabilizing
stub 175 formed in the bottom wall 169 of the bowl 167 that
receives a recess 185 formed in the end cap 181 to prevent the
cartridge 16 from swaying back and forth inside the pressure vessel
15 during use.
Referring to FIGS. 4, 12, 13, and 14, the end cap 183 comprises a
hollow tube 187 having a first end portion 189, a second end
portion 191, and a passageway 193 extending through the tube 187
from the first end portion 189 (where it receives fluid from the
channel 179) to the second end portion 191, the passageway 193 also
comprising part of the second passageway 47 of the pressure vessel
15. The tube 187 has an exterior surface portion 195 onto which is
integrally formed therewith a flange portion 197 that engages the
top end of the matrix 177. The tube 187 has an annular groove 199
formed at its second end portion 191 that receives an o-ring 201
for sealing between the tube 187 and the hollow cylindrical inlet
port 55 to the second passageway 51 in the valve head 13 (thereby
establishing a sealed connection between the outlet port 49 of the
pressure vessel 15 and the inlet port 55 to the second passageway
51 in the valve head 13) when the pressure vessel 15 is connected
to the valve head 13. Preferably, the second end portion 191 of the
tube 187 is provided with an antimicrobial surface, such as by
impregnating the second end portion 191 with antimicrobial
materials such as those sold by AgION Technologies, Inc., of
Wakefield, Mass.
The tube 187 also has another annular groove 203 formed in the
second end portion 191 that receives a plurality of fingers or
projections 205 (four fingers 205 being used in the embodiments of
the invention shown in the drawings) integrally formed with the
neck 59 and extending inwardly from the wall 59a of the neck 59 for
positioning the tube 187 so that it extends along the central axis
of the neck 59 and secures the cartridge 16 against both horizontal
and vertical movement in the pressure vessel 15. Also, projections
or lugs 207 are provided in the top wall 161 of the cover 159 which
abut against the flange portion 197 of the end cap 183 to secure
the cartridge 16 against vertical movement in the pressure vessel
15.
The groove 203 also receives the center portion of a flexible disc
209, that extends outwardly from the tube 187 and engages a portion
of the neck 59 formed in the cover 159 to form a flapper valve 211
across the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15. When
fluid is flowing from upstream to downstream in the first
passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15, the fluid pushes against
the flexible disc 209 causing it to flex in the downstream
direction away from the neck wall 59a to open the first passageway
45 to permit fluid to flow into the pressure vessel 15. The flapper
valve 211 prevents backflow of fluid from the first passageway 45
of the pressure vessel 15, because any flow of fluid back flowing
from downstream to upstream in the first passageway 45 of the
pressure vessel 15 pushes against the flexible disc 209 causing it
to flex into engagement with the neck wall 59a formed in the cover
159 to close the flapper valve 211, thereby blocking backflow of
fluid from the first passageway 45 of the pressure vessel 15.
Preferably, a compressible column 213, such as one made of a
polyfoam material and preferably one comprising a polyfoam sealed
compressible core column, is mounted in the pressure vessel 15,
preferably by bonding the end portion of the column 213 in a
receptacle 215 of the end cap 181, and the column 213 extends from
the receptacle 215 into the channel 179 such that there is still
space for fluid to flow through the channel 179 between the matrix
177 and the compressible column 213. The compressible column 213
provides protection against damage to the pressure vessel 15 and/or
the matrix 177 if the fluid to be filtered and/or conditioned
and/or purified freezes while in the pressure vessel 15, by
providing space for the fluid to expand into if the fluid (for
example, water) is the type of fluid that expands during freezing.
The compressible column 213 also provides protection for the
pressure vessel 15 against possible millisecond and microsecond
pressure spikes.
Referring again to FIGS. 4, 12, 13, and 14, the tube 187 also has a
plurality of fins or flanges 214 (four such fins 214 being used in
the embodiments shown in the drawings) formed on its interior
surface portion in the first end portion 189 of the tube 187 that
extend inwardly into the passageway 193 towards its central axis.
Fluid may flow along the passageway 193 past the fins 214. Further,
the tube 187 is provided with a plurality of cutouts 212 (four such
cutouts 212 being used in the embodiments shown in the drawings)
made thereon to permit fluid that has been filtered and/or
conditioned and/or purified in the pressure vessel 15 to flow into
the tube 187 from the channel 179 through the cutouts 212. If the
column 213 ever breaks loose from the receptacle 215 and abuts
against the first end portion 189 of the tube 187, the fins 214
block the column 213 from entering the tube 187, and the cutouts
212 permit fluid to continue to flow into the tube 187 even if the
column 213 abuts against the first end portion 189 of the tube
187.
The tube 187 also is provided with a plurality of ribs 216 (eight
such ribs 216 being used in the embodiments shown in the drawings)
formed in its first end portion 189 on the exterior surface portion
195 adjacent to the flange portion 197 for engaging the matrix 177
along a portion of the channel 179 extending therethrough and for
centering the tube 187 in the channel 179.
The cover 159 and the bowl 167 preferably are made from a polymeric
material, and after the cartridge 16 is positioned on the cover 159
and the bowl 167, the cover 159 and the bowl 167 are joined
together along their respective rims 165 and 173, preferably by
spin welding, to form a sealed seam portion 217.
Preferably, a reinforcement member 219 (FIG. 18) is secured around
the pressure vessel 15, preferably around the side walls 163 and
171 of the pressure vessel 15 at and near the seam portion 217 of
the pressure vessel 15 for reinforcing the pressure vessel 15, and
preferably the seam portion 217 and the side walls 163 and 171 of
the pressure vessel 15 at the seam portion 217. For example, the
reinforcement member 219 may comprise fibers, such as carbon fibers
or fiberglass or aramid fibers (e.g., Kevlar fibers) wrapped around
the pressure vessel 15 and held together with epoxy or polyurethane
or other binder. The reinforcement member 219 also may comprise
reinforcing metal or other clamping device.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 6, and 1, preferably, a mounting bracket 221
is provided for mounting the valve head 13 in place where it is
desired to be used. The mounting bracket 221 preferably has a plate
223 that connects to the valve head 13, and a flange portion 225
extending at a right angle from the end portion of the plate 223
having holes 227 extending therethrough that receive screws,
threaded bolts, or the like for mounting the bracket 221 to the
place where it is desired to use the valve head 13. In the
embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, the plate 223
has a ring-like portion 229 that sits on an annular ledge 231
formed in the outer periphery of the first end portion 233 of the
valve head 13, and a cover plate 235, which has openings through
the cover plate 235 to permit the shaft portions of the threaded
bolts 12, the inlet port 19, the outlet port 53, and the first end
portion 107 of the shaft 105 of the bypass valve 101 to pass
through, is positioned over the first end portion 233 of the valve
head 13 sandwiching the nubbin disc 111 and the ring-like portion
229 of the bracket 221 between the cover plate 235 and the first
end portion 233 of the valve head 13. The cover plate 235 is
secured by the threaded bolts 12 to the valve head 13. Because the
ring-like portion 229 of the bracket 221 sits on the annular ledge
231 formed in the outer periphery of the first end portion 233 of
the valve head 13, the valve head 13 may be rotated around its
central axis within the ring-like portion 229 of the bracket 221 to
facilitate connecting the inlet port 19 to the fluid transmission
line and the outlet port 53 to the fluid receiving line.
Preferably, in addition to a height difference, a color-coded,
snap-on ring 237 (FIGS. 1 and 12) is mounted around the outlet port
53 of the valve head 13 for distinguishing the outlet port 53 from
the inlet port 19 of the valve head 13, to facilitate correct
identification of the outlet port 53 so that the outlet port 53 is
the port that is connected to the fluid receiving line.
In use, the pressure vessel 15 may be connected to the valve head
13 by rotating the pressure vessel 15 into the valve head 13 such
that, in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention
shown in the drawings, the pins 61 mounted on the valve head 13
move along the sloped grooves 57 formed on the neck 59 of the
pressure vessel 15, until the pins 61 reach the second and portions
65 of the grooves 57 where the plungers 67 click into corresponding
indents 94 indicating that the pressure vessel 15 has been properly
connected to the valve head 13.
When the pressure vessel 15 has been connected to the valve head
13, the cam 75 aligned with the pin 79 pushes against the second
end portion 83 of the pin 79 moving the pin 79 upstream in the
first passageway 17 in the valve head 13, causing the first end
portion 81 of the pin 79 to push the valve disc 33 off and
substantially away from the valve seat 31 to open the valve 21 to
permit fluid to flow through the valve 21 and the first passageway
17.
After flowing through the first passageway 17, the fluid exits the
outlet port 41 of the first passageway 17 of the valve head 13 and
enters the first passageway 45 formed in the pressure vessel 15
though the inlet port 43, and then moves along the first passageway
45 to the outside of the matrix 177 and then through the matrix 177
to the channel 179 of the second passageway 47 formed in the
pressure vessel 15. Next, the fluid flows from the channel 179 into
and through the passageway 193 formed in the tube 187, and exits
the pressure vessel 15 from the outlet port 49 formed at the end of
the tube 187 and enters into the second passageway 51 formed in the
valve head 13 through the inlet port 55. Then, the fluid pushes the
movable disc 33 of the second check valve 95 off the valve seat 31
of the second check valve 95 and moves it in a downstream direction
away from the valve seat 31 of the second valve 95 to permit fluid
to flow through the second valve 95 and through the second
passageway 51 of the valve head 13 to a fluid receiving line
connected to the outlet port 53.
Twisting the pressure vessel 15 off the valve head 13 discontinues
flow of fluid through the first passageway 17 since the pin 79 is
no longer being pushed by the pressure vessel 15 to lift the valve
disc 33 of the valve 21 off the valve seat 31 of the valve 21 and
the fluid flowing into the first passageway 17 pushes the valve
disc 33 of the valve 21 back onto the valve seat 31 of the valve 21
to close valve 21.
Backflow of fluid from the second passageway 47 of the pressure
vessel 13 is blocked by the check valve 95 since such backflow
pushes the valve disc 33 of the valve 95 against the valve seat 31
of the valve 95 to close the valve 95.
Air contained in the apparatus 11 may escape through the automatic
venting device 141. Such air may move into the fourth passageway
139 from outlet port 41, which may contain air when the pressure
vessel 15 is being placed in service, and which may receive air
from the passageway 17 of the valve head 13 and from the inlet port
43 of the pressure vessel 15 including air moving into the inlet
port 43 from the pressure vessel 15. As fluid begins to flow
through apparatus 11, the fluid pushes the air through the fourth
passageway 139, around the ball 155 as the air is pushed through
the automatic venting device 141, and out the outlet port 139b. As
air is moved into the chamber 145, a portion of the air moves past
the ball 155 by traveling along the cutouts 151 When the air that
travels along the cutouts 151 reaches the end of the cutouts 151
and moves inwardly into the vent sleeve 143, the air hits the
inwardly extending ledge 149 of the vent sleeve 143, rebounding off
the ledge 149 back toward the ball 155 from downstream of the ball
155 to prevent the ball 155 from prematurely abutting against the
o-ring 153 to close the fourth passageway 139 until most, if not
all, of the air has been vented through the outlet port 139b.
Although the preferred density of the ball 155 is slightly greater
than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned
and/or purified, the force/pressure of the fluid pushing against
the ball 155 causes the ball 155 to be pressed into engagement with
the o-ring 153 to close the outlet port 139b after the air has been
vented through the outlet port 139b.
When it is desired to sanitize the fluid distribution system (e.g.,
an aircraft potable water distribution system) that the valve head
13 is connected to, the bypass valve 101 may be opened to permit
any sanitizing fluid used to sanitize the fluid distribution system
to flow from the fluid distribution system via the fluid
transmission line to the valve head 13, through the valve head 13,
and then back to the fluid distribution system via the fluid
receiving line. The handle 115 of the bypass valve 101 may be
turned to cause the second end portion 103 of the shaft 105 to move
from the third passageway 99 to permit the sanitizing fluid
entering the first passageway 17 to flow from the first passageway
17 into and through the third passageway 99, and then into the
second passageway 51 downstream of the second check valve 95, and
then back to the fluid distribution system via the fluid receiving
line from outlet port 53. The check valve 95 prevents backflow of
the sanitizing fluid into the second passageway 51 upstream of the
check valve 95.
Preferably, when sanitizing fluid used to sanitize the fluid
distribution system is being directed through valve head 13 by
opening the bypass valve 101, the pressure vessel 15 is not
connected to the valve head 13. With the pressure vessel 15 not
connected to the valve head 13, the first check valve 21 is pushed
closed by the sanitizing fluid entering the first passageway 17,
and the sanitizing fluid flows through the valve head 13 as
described above when the second end portion 103 has been removed
from the third passageway 99, and then back into the fluid
distribution system. However, even if the pressure vessel 15 is
connected to the valve head 13 (thereby opening the first check
valve 21) when sanitizing fluid is being directed through the valve
head 13 by opening the bypass valve 101, a majority of the
sanitizing fluid moves through the valve head 13 via the third
passageway 99 as described above, rather than past the first check
valve 21 to and through pressure vessel 15, and then from the
pressure vessel 15 to and through the second passageway 51 of the
valve head 13, because there is a substantially greater resistance
to flow through the pressure vessel 15 due to the matrix 177 than
there is for flow through an opened third passageway 99.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention relating to providing
filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water, especially
purified water, from a potable water distribution system of, for
example, an aircraft, valve heads 13 are installed locally at
various cabin crew readily accessible service locations (service
points) within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, and the
potable water distribution system is connected to each of the valve
heads 13. Preferably, the valve heads 13 are positioned at or near
where the water that is filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified
in the pressure vessels 15 attached to the valve heads 13 is
discharged from the potable water distribution system. With this
arrangement, the valve head 13 may be easily accessed to install
filtration/purification canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each
containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a
cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) onto the valve heads 13,
and to remove filtration/purification canisters (e.g., pressure
vessels 15 each containing filtration/conditioning/purification
means such as a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) that have
been used and install fresh canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15
each containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as
a cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) in their place. Also, in
contrast to prior art aircraft potable water distribution systems
where water is passed through a cluster of more remote or
centralized filters/purifiers to remove chlorine, foul tastes, and
odors, and then sent along branches or legs of the potable water
distribution system to be discharged from the branches or legs for
use, possibly becoming contaminated from bacteria growing in the
branches or legs, under this preferred embodiment of our invention,
the water is filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified at or very
near the point where it is discharged from the valve head 13 and
actual used, thereby reducing the chances of contamination of the
water after it has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified
due to bacteria growing in the branches or legs or other possible
contamination between the remote or centralized filters/purifiers
and the point of discharge from the potable water distribution
system. Further, when the valve heads 13 dispense water directly
into an appliance, such as a coffee maker or hot water generating
device for heating water for tea, access that contaminants have to
the water after it has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or
purified is even further limited.
Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown an alternative
embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention,
the valve head 13 described above is mounted in an inverted
position to that shown in the first embodiment of the invention to
allow fluid to be directed downwardly such that the pressure vessel
15' connected to the valve head 13 extends above rather than below
the valve head 13. Pressure vessel 15' is substantially the same as
pressure vessel 15 described above, except pressure vessel 15' is
oriented neck-side down when connected to the valve head 13 and the
pressure vessel 15' is provided with an automatic venting device
239 for venting air and breaking any unwanted vacuum.
The pressure vessel 15' is provided with a third passageway 241
extending through the bottom wall 169 of its bowl 167, and the
automatic venting device 239 is positioned in the passageway 241.
The automatic venting device 239 has substantially the same
structure and operates the same way as the automatic venting device
141 described above. Like the automatic venting device 141, the
automatic venting device 239 includes a vent sleeve 143 positioned
in a chamber 243 formed along the third passageway 241. The vent
sleeve 143 of the automatic venting device 239 has a cylindrical
wall 147 having an inwardly extending ledge 149 formed at the
downstream end portion of the vent sleeve 143, and a plurality of
cutouts 151 (two being used in the vent sleeve 143 illustrated in
FIGS. 10 and 11) formed in the wall 147 extending from the
downstream end portion of the vent sleeve 143 toward the upstream
end portion of the vent sleeve 143. The ledge 149 of the vent
sleeve 143 has an upstream end portion 149a and a downstream end
portion 149b, and each such end portion 149a and 149b preferably is
chamfered. An o-ring 153 is positioned immediately downstream of
the downstream end portion 149b of the ledge 149 and is blocked by
the downstream end portion 149b of the ledge 149 from falling
upstream into the chamber 243. A vent seal 245 sits over and
against the o-ring 153, the vent seal 245 having a recess 247 that
receives the downstream portion of the o-ring 153 and a central
opening 245a extending through the vent seal 245 through which air
from the third passageway 241 vents. The vent seal 245 preferably
is provided with tabs 246 which are received by recesses 248 formed
in the annular ridge 257 formed in the bowl 167 of the pressure
vessel 15'. A ball 155 preferably having a density slightly greater
than the density of the fluid (e.g., if water is the fluid, a
preferred specific gravity for the ball 155 is about 1.1) is
positioned in the vent sleeve 143 and permits venting of air and
breaking of any unwanted vacuum until the fluid pushes the ball 155
into engagement with the o-ring 153 creating a seal between the
ball 155 and the o-ring 153 and the o-ring 153 and the vent seal
245, thereby closing the third passageway 241.
The diameter of the third passageway 241 at the chamber 243 and the
diameters of the cylindrical vent sleeve 143 and the ball 155 of
the automatic venting device 239 are greater than the diameter of
the third passageway 241 upstream of the chamber 243.
A screen 156, positioned in the chamber 243 upstream of the vent
sleeve 143 of the automatic venting device 239, and a screen 152,
positioned in a recess 249 formed in the downstream side end
portion of the vent seal 245 and held therein by a vent cap 251
positioned thereover, are provided to reject possible interfering
debris or particulates.
An o-ring 253 sits around an annular ridge 255 formed in the
downstream side of the vent seal 245 to seal between the vent seal
245 and the annular ridge 257 formed in the bowl 167 of the
pressure vessel 15' that defines the outlet port 259 of the third
passageway 241.
The vent cap 251, which has a central opening 251a extending there
through through which air from the third passageway 241 vents, is
secured over the annular ridge 257 securing the screen 152 in the
recess 249 of the vent seal 245, as well as securing the automatic
venting device 239 in place in the third passageway 241.
The second embodiment of the invention facilitates providing fluid
that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified directly
to a device in which the fluid is to be used, rather than providing
the fluid to an intermediate location before it is subsequently
transferred to the device in which the fluid is to be used. For
example, if the fluid that is being filtered and/or conditioned
and/or purified is water, rather than connecting the outlet port 53
of the valve head 13 to a water receiving line that leads to a
water faucet in the galley of an airplane, drawing water from the
faucet into a container, and pouring the water from the container
into an apparatus, such as a coffee maker, that uses the water, the
outlet port 53 may be connected directly down onto the coffee
maker. Accordingly, with this setup, there is less of a chance that
the water, which has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or
purified by moving through the matrix 177, becomes contaminated
from coming into contact with contaminants like bacteria after
leaving the outlet port 53.
Turning now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is shown an alternative
embodiment of the bypass valve of the invention. Rather than using
bypass valve 101 described above, a bypass valve 261 may be used.
Like the bypass valve 101, the bypass valve 261 is positioned in
the valve head 13 along the third passageway 99. The bypass valve
261 has a shaft 263 having a first end portion 265 and a second end
portion 267. A sealing member 269, preferably an o-ring, is mounted
on the first end portion 265 of the shaft 263 for sealing between
the shaft 263 and a portion of the wall 271 of the third passageway
99 to sealing close the third passageway 99 when the first end
portion 265 of the shaft 263 is positioned in the third passageway
99 such that the sealing member 269 is in sealing engagement with
the third passageway wall 271. The bypass valve 261 has a biasing
member 273, which preferably comprises a spring mounted around the
shaft 263, for pushing the shaft 263 into the position shown in
FIG. 15 that closes the third passageway 99. A handle 275 is
pivotally mounted on the second end portion 267 of the shaft 263
and has a cam 277 formed thereon. When the handle 275 is positioned
in a first position shown in FIG. 15, the biasing member 273 pushes
the shaft 263 into a position that closes the third passageway.
When the handle 275 is positioned in a second position, as shown in
FIG. 16, by pivoting the handle 275 on its cam 277, the first end
portion 265 of the shaft 263 is pulled into a position that opens
the third passageway 99 by withdrawing the first end portion 265 of
the shaft 263 from a blocking position in the third passageway 99,
thereby permitting fluid to flow through the passageway 99.
The bypass valve 261 preferably is positioned in a bore 279 that
extends through the first end member 13a of the valve head 13 and
into engagement with the third passageway 99 formed in the valve
head 13. An o-ring 283 is provided in an annular groove 285 that
extends around the shaft 263 to seal between the shaft 263 and the
wall 281 that forms the bore 279 to prevent fluid from escaping
from the valve head 13 through the bore 279. To retain the bypass
valve 261 within the bore 279, a plate 287, which has a first end
portion 287a, a second end portion 287b, and an opening extending
therethrough which the second end portion 267 of the shaft 263
extends, is positioned in the recess 113, and cover plate 235 is
secured over the peripheral edge portion of the second end portion
287b of the plate 287. The first end portion 287a of the plate 287
projects into the opening in the cover plate 235 to provide a
surface against which the handle 275 may be rotated on its cam
277.
Preferably, an end cap 291 is provided, to be secured onto the
valve head 13 when a pressure vessel 15 is not secured to the valve
head 13 to maintain a sanitary condition inside the valve head by
blocking dirt, debris, or other contaminants from having easy
access to the second end portion 71 of the valve head 13, including
the outlet port 41 from the first passageway 17 of the valve head
13 and the inlet port 55 to the second passageway 51 of the valve
head 13. As shown in FIG. 17, preferably, the end cap 291 has a
solid body 293 having a neck portion 295 formed on its first end
portion for connecting the cap 291 onto the valve head 13 and four
flanges 297 formed on its second end portion to facilitate gripping
of the end cap 291 when rotating the end cap 291 into position on
the valve head 13 and when rotating end cap 291 off of the valve
head 13. Like the neck 59 of the pressure vessel 15, the neck
portion 295 has three grooves 57 that receive the pins 61 of the
valve head 13 when the end cap 291 is screwed onto the valve head
13. Alternatively, these grooves 57 and pins 61 may be replaced
with threads formed on the outer surface of the neck portion 295
and matching threads formed on the valve head 13. The neck portion
295 also is provided with an annular recess 298 that defines a
cylindrical column 299 that is received in the inlet port 55 of the
second passageway 51 when the end cap 291 is secured onto the valve
head 13. The cylindrical column 299 is provided with an annular
groove 301 that extends around the column 299, and an o-ring 303 is
positioned in the groove 301 for sealing between the column 299 and
the inlet port 55 when the end cap 291 is secured onto the valve
head 13. Also, an annular groove 305 is provided around the neck
portion 295, and an o-ring 307 sits in the annular groove 305 for
sealing between the neck portion 295 and the second end portion of
the valve head 13. A further application of the end cap 291 is to
block the flow of fluid from the first passageway 17 in the valve
head 13 if it is desired to do so, such as in the event that the
first check valve 21 is damaged or otherwise malfunctioning and
does not close when the pressure vessel 15 is removed from the
valve head 13.
Under the invention, water may be filtered and/or conditioned
and/or purified at the point of use of the filtered and/or
conditioned and/or purified water and at the time of use of the
filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water, significantly
reducing chances of the filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified
water becoming contaminated before it is used.
In addition to its applicability to aircraft potable water
distribution systems, the invention may be applied in drinking
water systems of recreational boats and yachts, commercial boats,
recreational vehicles/caravans, residential homes, and water
vending, cooling, warming and dispensing machines (such as those
used in hospitals, schools, homes and factories). The invention
also maybe applied to water systems in dental offices and
laboratories.
The invention provides exceptional effectiveness (regarding water
treatment results and cost effectiveness) and flexibility, and
often weight reduction for aircraft and other uses with respect to
providing filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water. The
apparatus 11 of the invention is easy to operate, requires little
maintenance, and is dependable.
The apparatus 11 is very compact, light weight, long lasting,
easily refurbished for extra-long service and embodies a slim-line
design.
The filtration/purification canister (e.g., pressure vessel 15
containing filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a
cartridge 16, loose media, or the like) may be provided with a
light-weight composite construction. Due to its size/structure, the
filtration/purification canister holds approximately 50% less
unusable "transition water" (water retained in the canister
necessary for the canister to function optimally) than prior art
filters/purifiers, thereby making more of the water in the water
distribution system available for use.
The invention provides point of use and time of use advantages. For
instance, in an aircraft, the invention provides a potable water
distribution system having valve heads 13 installed locally at
various cabin crew readily accessible service locations or service
points within galleys and lavatories of the aircraft, preferably at
or near where water that is filtered and/or conditioned and/or
purified is discharged from the potable water distribution system.
Further, the invention provides for directly connecting the outlet
port 53 of the valve head 13 to an appliance such as a coffee maker
used in the aircraft galley, which reduces possible exposure of the
filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified water to contaminants
that may be encountered if such water were to be indirectly brought
from the outlet port 53 of the valve head 13 to the appliance
instead.
The invention provides for positioning the apparatus 11 of the
invention in convenient, easily accessible locations. For instance,
with respect to an aircraft water distribution system, in contrast
to the prior art, the apparatuses are provided at various cabin
crew readily accessible service locations in the galleys and
lavatories of the aircraft at or near where water that is to be
filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified is to be discharged
from the potable water distribution system.
The cartridge 16 may be obtained from General Ecology, Inc., of
Exton, Pa., and may be configured to provide what the user desires
for optimum service related to the application. For instance, the
cartridge 16 may be configured to provide microbiological
purification as independently certified to now current EPA Protocol
for Microbiological Purifiers, or to provide scale control and
taste and odor removal, or to provide taste and odor removal along
with larger pathogen removal, etc.
In accordance with the invention, antimicrobial surfaces may be
provided to various components of the apparatus 11, such as to the
tube 187, to assist in preventing backwards directed growth of
bacteria, mildew and fungus into the canister, especially during
short term periods of open non-use.
Backflow prevention provided in the valve head 13 prevents spillage
from the valve head 13 when the canister is removed from the valve
head 13. Further, this backflow prevention prevents reverse water
flow into the purified/filtered water side of the canister.
The valve 211, which preferably is made from a flexible elastomeric
material, helps prevent backflow from the canister, thereby
limiting spillage when the canister is removed from the valve head
13.
Due to the two-piece construction of the body (first end member 13a
and second end member 13b) of the valve head 13 and the simple
means of holding the valve head 13 together, the valve head 13 may
be easily disassembled and inexpensively refurbished for
exceptionally long life using readily available hand tools, if
necessary, with common replacement components to replace items such
as o-rings, check valves, etc. Accordingly, the valve head 13 of
the invention is long lasting.
The apparatus 11 of the invention is provided with an automatically
venting feature for venting air and breaking vacuum in the
apparatus 11.
In addition to being capable of being mounted such that the
canister is positioned on the valve head 13 below the valve head
13, the valve head 13 may be mounted in an inverted position such
that the outlet port 53 of the valve head 13 points downwardly to
facilitate direct feed into appliances, such as coffee makers.
The apparatus 11 of the invention provides for exceptionally quick
and easy one-handed canister changes by non-technical, untrained
personnel.
Canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing
filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16,
loose media, or the like) are disposable and can be completely
incinerated. The pressure vessel 15 of the canister provides a
barrier against contact with the internal, contaminated section of
a used canister when it is being removed from the valve head and
discarded.
The apparatus 11 is provided with an automatic valving features,
which discontinues flow from the outlet port 41 of the valve head
13 when the canister is disconnected from the valve head 13, and
that activates flow of fluid (e.g., water) through the valve head
13 into the canister when the canister is connected to the valve
head 13.
A simple quarter turn of the manual bypass valve of the invention
facilitates periodic overall sanitizing processes of the
distribution system without removing canisters. The invention
permits manual bypass with or without a canister in place on the
valve head 13. Also, an individual apparatus 11 of a series of
apparatuses 11 may be bypassed, if desired (such as when the
individual apparatus 11 leads to a fluid receiving line that is
leaking), by simply activating the bypass valve allowing continuing
operation of the remainder of the water distribution system.
The canisters are protected from breaking if freezing occurs by the
compressible column 213. Accordingly, draining of the canisters is
not necessary if freezing temperatures exist. Further, the
canisters function normally after thawing.
The canisters are heat resistant up to a survival temperature of
185.degree. F. for two hours.
The bayonet-style canister mount with its "capture" positions
provides tactile feedback via the spring plungers 67 that engage
indents 94 formed in the neck 59 of the canister when the canister
is properly seated on the valve head 13. The first check valves 21
is not activated (pushed into an open position) until the canister
in proper position on the valve head 13.
Canisters (e.g., pressure vessels 15 each containing
filtration/conditioning/purification means such as a cartridge 16,
loose media, or the like) of the invention are ready to use
immediately after being installed with normally minimal purge of
water to expel air and small amounts of residual manufacturing
materials.
The end cap 291, an optional feature, is available to protect the
water distribution system from contaminants and debris when a
canister is not installed on a valve head 13. The end cap 291 also
provides a means to shut down a particular valve head 13 that it is
connected to, while allowing uninterrupted use of the remainder of
the water distribution system. It is NOT necessary to use the end
cap 291 for disinfecting the system--the bypass valve is sufficient
to avoid damaging the canister.
The valve head 13 may be rotated throughout 360.degree. to
accommodate installation constraints, and the valve head 13 may be
installed with the valve head 13 being positioned above or below
the canister.
Because the invention provides for easy, quick, and cost effective
replacement of the filtration/purification canisters (pressure
vessels 15 each containing a cartridge 16) onto the valve heads 13,
preferably, the filtration/purification canisters (pressure vessels
15 each containing a cartridge 16) may be removed from the valve
heads 13 and replaced with new filtration/purification canisters
(pressure vessels 15 each containing a cartridge 16) before each
flight of the aircraft or before the first flight of the day for
the aircraft, to avoid using a contaminated or spent
filtration/purification canisters (pressure vessels 15 each
containing a cartridge 16). In contrast, due to the cost and
difficulty of changing filtration/purification canisters in prior
art systems, changes of filtration/purification canisters in prior
art systems are not typically done more often than every 90 days or
so by a maintenance crew.
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