Patent ID: 9216368
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for filtering and/or purifying water flowing through a water distribution system, comprising a housing, the housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, and a cartridge positioned in the housing for filtering and/or purifying water, the cartridge including a medium for filtering and/or purifying water passing through the medium from an inlet side of the medium to an outlet side of the medium, an end cap, the end cap engaging the medium with means for engaging the medium, the end cap having a first passageway extending through the end cap, the first passageway having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first passageway having an outlet port formed at the second end portion of the first passageway adapted to be connected to and be in fluid communication with the outlet port of the housing containing the cartridge, a first valve positioned in the first passageway of the end cap for blocking water backflowing into the first passageway of the end cap from moving past the first valve to the outlet side of the medium, the end cap having a second passageway extending from the first passageway of the end cap downstream of the first valve to a port for the second passageway, the port for the second passageway opening the second passageway to outside of the end cap to a passageway inside the housing upstream of the inlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water, and second valve positioned in the second passageway of the end cap for blocking flow of water into the first passageway of the end cap from the second passageway of the end cap and for permitting water boiler expansion pressure to move from the first passageway of the end cap into the second passageway of the end cap, the inlet port of the housing being adapted to be connected to and placed in fluid communication with a water line of the water distribution system for transmitting water to be filtered and/or purified in the housing to the housing, the outlet port being adapted to be connected to and placed in fluid communication with a water line of the water distribution system for receiving water that has been filtered and/or purified by the media for filtering and/or purifying water, and the passageway inside the housing upstream of the inlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water extending from the inlet port of the housing to the medium for filtering and/or purifying water, wherein water boiler expansion pressure relief is provided by permitting water boiler expansion pressure to move through the apparatus from the outlet port of the housing to the first passageway of the end cap, then from the first passageway of the end cap to the second passageway of the end cap, then from the second passageway of the end cap to the passageway inside the housing upstream of the inlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water, and then from the passageway inside the housing upstream of the inlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water to and through the inlet port of the housing into the water line of the water distribution system upstream of the apparatus back towards a water supply source of the water distribution system, without causing water to backflow into the outlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water, thereby preventing any water contaminated from biofilm formed on water lines of the water distribution system downstream of the apparatus from backflowing into the outlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water and contaminating the outlet side of the medium for filtering and/or purifying water and thereby cause water exiting the outlet port of the housing to be contaminated.