WATER DISPENSER FILTRATION SYSTEM WITH PUMP VIBRATION

A reverse osmosis water filtration system includes an integrated agitation system imparting vibration from a system pump to at least one particulate media filter cartridge. The system may periodically or continually agitate the particulate media of the filter cartridge to disrupt, remove and/prevent channeling and clumping of the particulate media and filtered impurities. The disclosed systems and methods may significantly prolong the usage period of a filter cartridge and increase the efficiency of the filtration system.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to water filtration, and more particularly to techniques and apparatuses for water dispenser filtration systems.

BACKGROUND

Water dispensers are commonplace in offices, restaurants, and other settings. Often, the water dispensers use portable bottles, e.g., five gallon bottles, of water and do not provide water filtration. Instead, the water is filtered prior to storage in the bottle(s). Increasingly, consumers want filtered water and want to monitor water quality and usage. In addition, many consumers that have known bottled water dispensers want to control filtering of the water in their homes and want an alternative to maneuvering high capacity water bottles but want to keep the functionality of their dispenser.

Water filtration removes impurities by reducing water contaminants using a fine physical barrier, a chemical process, or a biological process. Filters may use sieving, adsorption, ion exchanges, among other mechanisms, to remove unwanted substances from water. Unlike a sieve or screen, a filter may potentially remove particles much smaller than the holes through which the water passes.

One disadvantage associated with water purification systems that include reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and/or other types of catalyst pre-filters is that the impurities can concentrate along the RO membranes or the particulate catalyst media can clump together and lead to undesirable channeling. In terms of the RO filter, concentration or accumulation of impurities on the RO membranes results in decreased performance and a shortened service life. Likewise, catalyst particulate media exposed to tap water or relatively unfiltered water for extended durations as a result of channeling will more quickly lose its filtering effectiveness. Traditional filtration systems relied on replacing filter cartridges periodically or when a sensor reading approaches or exceeds a measurable threshold. The clumping and channeling of particulates and impurities in a cartridge may lead to premature replacement of the cartridge.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a reverse osmosis water filtration system including at least one particulate filter and an integrated agitation system that may periodically or continually agitate the particulate media of a filter cartridge to disrupt, remove and/or prevent channeling and clumping of the particulate media and filtered impurities. The disclosed systems and methods may significantly prolong the usage period of a filter cartridge and increase the useful life of the filter(s) and efficiency of the filtration system.

According to one aspect, a system for dispensing filtered water is disclosed. The system may include at least one filter cartridge defining an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port may be in fluid communication with a water supply. The at least one filter cartridge may house a particulate filtration medium or catalyst. A pump may be in fluid communication with the water supply and the at least one filter cartridge, the pump delivering fluid under pressure to the filter cartridge. An agitator may be affixed to the pump and coupled to the at least one filter cartridge. The coupling of the agitator to the at least one filter cartridge may allow the transfer of vibration energy from the pump to the particulate catalyst of the at least one filter cartridge.

According to another aspect, a system for dispensing filtered water is disclosed. The system may include at least one filter cartridge defining an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port may be in fluid communication with a water supply. The at least one filter cartridge may house a particulate catalyst. A reverse osmosis membrane may be in fluid communication with the outlet port of the at least one filter cartridge. A pump may be in fluid communication with the water supply, at least one filter cartridge and the reverse osmosis membrane. An agitator may be affixed to the pump and coupled to the at least one filter cartridge. The coupling of the agitator to the at least one filter cartridge may allow the transfer of vibration energy from the pump to the particulate catalyst of the at least one filter cartridge. A storage tank may be in fluid communication with the reverse osmosis membrane. A system outlet may be in fluid communication with the reverse osmosis membrane and the storage tank.

The mechanical interface between the pump and the at least one filter cartridge, transferring vibration energy from the pump to the particulate of the at least one filter cartridge, may be a metallic plate bolted to the pump and being in direct abutment relationship to the at least one filter cartridge. When fluid is drawn from the water dispenser the pump is activated to pressurize water for delivery to the at least one filter cartridge. Activation of the pump creates vibration energy. The vibration energy from the pump is translated to a plate attached to the pump. The vibration energy from the plate attached to the pump is translated to the at least one filter cartridge. In this manner, vibration energy is transferred from the pump to the particulates in the at least one filter and channeling of the particulate matter is substantially avoided. The useful life of particulate matter and the at least one filter cartridge is extended and efficiency of the filtration system is enhanced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure include a water filtration system, such as a reverse osmosis filtration system, with an integrated agitator operatively coupled to at least one filtering cartridge. According to one aspect the agitator may be integrated or be part of a pump used to move water through the system. The agitator may cause the redistribution of particulate materials within the cartridge to reduce, remove, or avoid channeling and clumping of the particulate material. Relying on the vibrations or movement of a system pump as an agitator both extends the life of the filtering cartridge and eliminates the need for a separate system component used solely for agitating the cartridges.

FIG.1depicts a reverse osmosis filtration system100according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The system100may include a water supply102from which water may be drawn on demand. The water supply102may include a water tank, public utility supply, or the like, that supplies contaminated water or water with other undesirable materials such as bacteria, progenies, viruses, pesticides, hydrocarbons, radioactive contaminants, turbidity, colloidal matter, chlorine, detergents, industrial wastes, asbestos, and/or other dissolved solids such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfates and cadmium.

A first filter mechanism104may include an inlet port and an outlet port and be in fluid communication with the water supply102. The first filter104may be a filter cartridge housing a particulate catalyst or other filtering material. The first filter mechanism104may serve as a sediment filter adapted to reduce particles, such as dirt, dust, rust or other solid sediments from the water supply102. A second filter106may include an inlet port and an outlet port and be in fluid communication with the first filter104. The second filter106may be or include a first-stage carbon filter adapted to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorine and other contaminates. The carbon filter may act to adsorb contaminants as well as act as a catalyst to remove or reduce undesirable materials from the water supply102. The first and second filters may serve to remove materials that may clog or otherwise disrupt subsequent filtering mechanisms, including a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane110.

After passing through the first-stage carbon filter, the second filter106, the water may pass through a pump108. The pump108may pull the water from the supply through the first filter104and second filter106and push or pressurize the water to a RO membrane110. The RO membrane may include a polyamide film or other membrane with small perforations, holes, pores, or the like, through which the water may pass but other organic compounds may not pass. The pump110may create a high pressure flow of water sufficient to push the water through the RO membrane110. The RO membrane110may be in fluid communication with a drain112for dumping contaminants or otherwise removing water from the system.

The RO membrane110may also be in fluid communication with a third filter114, such as a second-stage carbon filter that again acts to adsorb or catalytically remove lingering contaminants. After passing through the second-stage carbon filter, the third filter114, the water may pass through a fourth filter116. The fourth filter, like the first filter102, may serve to remove any lingering contaminants before passing on to a storage tank118or a faucet122for consumption.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the pump108may include or form an agitator120coupled to the first filter106and third filter114. The agitator, as described herein, may server to disrupt or agitate the particulate catalysts of the first and second stage filters, the second filter106and third filter114. As described herein, as water passes through a filter cartridge, such as those in the second filter106and third filter114, channeling or clumping the particulate material may occur. Applying agitation to the cartridges and the particulate material therein may reduce, remove and avoid such channeling or clumping.

According to one aspect, the pump108may include an oscillating motor that drives the pump to push and pull water through the system. The system100may leverage the vibrations and movement of the motor and pump to act as the agitation source for the second filter106and third filter114. Advantageously, configuring the pump108to provide agitation to the filters makes use of an existing component without the need for a separate agitator or other component, thereby simplifying design and deployment of the system. According to one aspect, the pump108may include a plate or other surface forming the agitator120. The second filter106and the third filter114may rest on or otherwise abut against the pump plate through which the vibrations of the pump108pass into the cartridges of the filters to disrupt and displace the particulate materials. Alternatively, the agitator120of the pump108may be mechanically coupled, or otherwise affixed to the filter cartridges to allow the transfer of vibrations.

The mechanical interface between the pump and at least one or both of the filter cartridges, transferring vibration energy from the pump to the particulate of the at least one filter cartridge, may be a metallic plate (shown as agitator120) bolted to the pump. The metallic plate is positioned in direct abutment relationship to the at least one filter cartridge. When fluid is drawn from the water dispenser the pump is activated to pressurize water for delivery to the at least one filter cartridge. Activation of the pump creates vibration energy. The vibration energy from the pump is translated to the plate attached to the pump. The vibration energy from the plate attached to the pump is translated to the at least one filter cartridge. In this manner, vibration energy is transferred from the pump to the particulates in the at least one filter and channeling of the particulate matter is substantially avoided. The useful life of particulate matter and the at least one filter cartridge is extended and efficiency of the filtration system is enhanced.

It should be appreciated that although in the simplest configuration the metallic plate is bolted to the pump and the metallic plate is positioned to directly abut the filter cartridges, other mechanical fasteners may be implemented (e.g., other than bolts), such as straps, rivets, screws, posts, or other mechanical fasteners. Similarly, although the metallic plate as shown is in direct abutment with the filter cartridges, intervening components may be implemented, such as rubber abutments, plastic dampers, or the like (however, the preferred implementation does not require any intervening components). While a metallic plate is preferably implemented, it should be appreciated that other plate materials may be implemented to transfer vibrations from the pump to the filter cartridges.

The system100ofFIG.1depicts a number of filters and components of a reverse osmosis filtration system. For the sake of simplicity, certain components, including valves, sensors, transducers, gauges, meters, and the like have been omitted. It will be appreciated that such components are known in the art and the system100may include such components to provide proper and adequate operation of the filtration system. It will also be appreciated that aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific components depicted inFIG.1. For example, whileFIG.1depicts four filters and a RO membrane, aspects of the present disclosure may include systems with fewer or additional filters. Further, while the system100includes an agitator120coupled to the second filter106and the third filter114, aspects of the present disclosure may include supplying agitation to any of the particulate filters in the system, either by energy transfer from pump108, another pump, or another agitator.

Turning now toFIG.2, a timeline200of a number of filter cartridge states is shown according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The timeline reflects the conditions of the filtering material208, such as a particulate catalyst, within the filter cartridge206over a time period, t. As shown, the filter cartridge206is coupled to an agitator120. According to one aspect the agitator120is integral with a pump108that drives the water through the filtration system. As described herein, the agitator120, according to one aspect, may include a plate or other surface in mechanical engagement with the pump120on which the cartridge may rest against or otherwise be in contact. The plate may be a metallic plate bolted to the pump, and with no intervening components between the metallic plate and the filter cartridge(s). Alternatively, the filter cartridge206may be mechanically coupled to the agitator120.

According to one aspect, at the start of the time period, t, prior to supplying water to the filter cartridge206and denoted as state (A), the particulate filtering material208is evenly distributed throughout the body of the filter cartridge206. In this state (A), the particulate filtering material may be the most efficient ensuring substantially all of the water flow through the filter cartridge206interacts with the particulate filtering material208. As time, t, passes, and water flows through the filter cartridge206, the filtering material208may be displaced and begin to form channels210or clump, as reflected in state (B). The formation of channels210and/or clumps of the particulate filtering material208may decrease the amount of water that interacts with the filtering material and may reduce flow of water out of the filter cartridge206, decreasing efficiency and the lifespan of the filter cartridge206.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the filtering material208may be periodically disrupted to reduce, remove and avoid the channeling and clumping caused by the water flow. As shown in state (C), according to one aspect, the filter cartridge206may be agitated by the agitator120integrated with or affixed to the pump108. The pump108may be used to draw water into the system when necessary and push or pull the water through the system. The oscillation of the pump motor and resulting vibration in the motor produces vibration energy212that may be transferred through the coupling or contact between the agitator120and the filter cartridge206to the filtering material208.

The agitations supplied by the pump108through the agitator120redistribute the filtering material208to remove the channels210or clumps. The agitation of the filtering material may return the filter cartridge206and filtering material208to its initial state (A), and thereby maintained during pumping of the water into and through the filter cartridge, maintaining the efficiency of the filter cartridge206and filtering material208and extending the usable lifespan of the filter cartridge206. Sensors throughout the system, not shown, may be relied upon for determining when the pump108may be activated to move water through the system. Repeated use of the system may cause the pump to be activated regularly or with sufficient frequency to agitate the filter cartridge206such that channeling and clumping of the filtering material is minimized or eliminated. Alternatively, if the pump is not activated by the regular use of the system, a sensor or timer may be used to trigger the activation of the pump108and agitate the filter cartridge206. Water moved through the system that is not a result of demand (i.e., a user opening the faucet to obtain water) may be recycled through the system or passed to the drain.

As illustrated inFIG.3, according to the disclosure water is drawn302from the water dispenser. When water is drawn from the water dispenser302, the pump is activated304to pressurize water delivered to the filter cartridges. The activated pump creates vibration energy306that is transferred or translated308from the pump to the plate attached to the pump. The vibration energy transferred from the pump to the plate is transferred or translated310to the filter cartridges against which the plate is positioned in abutment engagement between the plate and the filter cartridges. The vibration energy transferred or translated from the plate to the cartridges is accordingly transferred or translated to the particulate material within the filter cartridges. The vibration of the particulate material reduces or substantially eliminates and clumping or formation of channeling within the particulate material.

In this manner, vibration energy is transferred from the pump to the particulates in the at least one filter and channeling of the particulate matter is substantially avoided. The useful life of particulate matter and the at least one filter cartridge is extended and efficiency of the filtration system is enhanced.

Various aspects of the disclosure are described above, however, such aspects may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method which is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the disclosure set forth. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.