Patent ID: 6454941
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
A replaceable gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filter cartridge, comprising:a filter cartridge housing comprising a top rim, a side surface, a bottom surface, and a cap sealingly attached to said top rim, said cap having a plurality of untreated water inlet ports, said filter housing further comprising: a gooseneck conduit connected to a lower region of said filter housing, said gooseneck conduit having at one end a treated water outlet port that opens into said side surface of said filter housing; a high surface area cyst-reducing filter element providing at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 &mgr;m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Unitsâ€”Health Effects (September 1997), said cyst-reducing filter element being disposed within said filter housing; a bottom screen disposed within said filter housing, said bottom screen being attached at the periphery to said side surface of said housing; a packed bed of ion-exchange resin disposed within said filter housing, wherein a bottom surface of said packed bed of ion-exchange resin is in full contact with one side of said bottom screen; a first chamber separating said packed bed of ion-exchange resin and said cyst-reducing filter element; a second chamber proximate to said bottom surface of said filter housing, said second chamber being in fluid communication with the end opposite said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit and said treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit being positioned above the level of said first chamber; and an air vent conduit having an entry end and an exit end, said air vent conduit being connected to said upper region of said filter housing, said entry end of said air vent conduit opening into said first chamber, said exit end of said air vent conduit opening to the outside of said side surface of said filter housing, said exit end being positioned above the treated water outlet port of said gooseneck conduit.