Water treatment apparatus with easy filter replacement construction

A water treatment apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of connecting accessories, manifolds and filter cartridges. Each of the connecting accessories includes a seat ring fixed on the frame and a communicating pipe coaxially received in the seat ring. The seat rings together with the communicating pipes are spaced at a distance from one another. Each of the manifolds is suspended between adjacent two of the connecting accessories and has inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends. The inlet and outlet ports of each of the manifolds are rotatably and coaxially received in adjacent the seat rings respectively with their exterior walls in contact with inner walls of adjacent the seat rings and their interior walls in contact with outer walls of adjacent the communicating pipes. Additionally, the filter cartridges are detachably joined to the manifolds respectively.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to water purification and filtration system, such as a reverse osmosis purification system, and more particularly to water treatment apparatus which is constructed to permit easy filter replacement.

2. Related Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,811 is exemplary of patent directed to water purification apparatus of the type to which this invention is directed. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 presented in that patent, the water purification apparatus includes a main body 92 having an accommodation chamber 922 inside, a plate 94 on a top side thereof, a lid 96 pivotally mounted on the main body 92 and closable on the main body 92, at least one holder 20 fixed on the plate 94 and defining with the plate 94 a distance, a top cover 30 pivotally mounted on the holder 20, and a housing 40 detachably engaged with the top cover 30. More specifically, each of the holders 20 has a connecting portion 23, two dangling portions 21 on a top side of the connecting portion 23 and a pair of water-guiding portions 22 extending from two sides of the connecting portion 23. The dangling portions 21 are fixed on the plate 94 of the main body 92. On the other hand, the top cover 30 has an inlet 34 on a top section thereof and an outlet 36 on the opposite side of the inlet 34. The water-guiding portion 22 of the holder 20 has two distal ends each being inserted into the inlet 34 and the outlet 36 of the top cover 30 such that the top cover 30 is pivotable about the axis of the water-guiding portions 22 of the holder 20. Further, O-rings 221 of the holder 20 fixed on the water-guiding portion 22 are in contact with an inner periphery of the inlet 34 or the outlet 36 of the top cover 30 such that water is stopped by the O-rings 221 of the holder 20. The water purification apparatus has the advantages of being convenient to exchange a filter or filter cartridge.

However, the O-rings 221 of the holder 20 easily become deformed time after time since the water-guiding portions 22 are burdened with the filter assembly 50, and the filter assembly 50 pivots on the water-guiding portions 22. In the course of time, the rotation of the filter assembly 50 will wear the O-rings 221 away and make breaches between the top cover 30 and the water-guiding portions 22, which cause leakage of water.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a water treatment apparatus for easy filter exchange work. The water treatment apparatus comprises a frame and a plurality of connecting accessories, manifolds and filter cartridges. Each of the connecting accessories includes a seat ring fixed on the frame and a communicating pipe coaxially received in the seat ring. The seat rings together with the communicating pipes are spaced at a distance from one another. Each of the filter cartridges is detachably joined to the respective manifold. Each of the manifolds is suspended between adjacent two of the connecting accessories and has inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends. The inlet and outlet ports of each of the manifolds are rotatably and coaxially received in adjacent the seat rings and mounted around adjacent the communicating pipes as well. In this way, exterior walls of the inlet and outlet ports are in contact with inner walls of the adjacent seat rings while interior walls of the inlet and outlet ports are in contact with outer walls of the adjacent communicating pipes so as to strength the rotary connection between the manifold and the adjacent connecting accessories. Since relatively less weight from the filter cartridges stresses the communicating pipe with compared with the prior art, the O-rings sandwiched between the communicating pipe and the inlet or outlet ports won't be wear out easily and thereby the water treatment apparatus can have longer lifespan without leakage of water.

The advantages of the present invention will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With attention toFIG. 1, an exploded assembly drawing is shown to a water treatment apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The water treatment apparatus includes a casing1, a frame2, a plurality of connecting accessories3, a plurality of manifolds4, a plurality of filter cartridges5and a handle6.

The casing1is composed of a base10and a cover11. The cover11is detachably mounted on top of the base10and defines an opening12in a top thereof. The frame2is made of metal, such as stainless, and is fixed on top of the base10as well. The connecting accessories3are secured on a bottom of a top plate20of the frame2and spaced at a distance from one another. Each of the manifolds4is suspended between adjacent two of the connecting accessories3. The filter cartridges5are detachably joined to the manifolds4. The handle6, for easy carry, is mounted on a top plate20of the frame2, extends through the opening12of the cover11and is exposed outside of the cover11, as shown inFIG. 2.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, each of the connecting accessories3includes a seat ring30, a communicating pipe31coaxially received in the seat ring30and a plurality of O-rings35mounted around an outer wall of the communicating pipe31. The seat rings30of the connecting accessories3are fixed on the top plate20of the frame2and spaced at a distance from one another. Further, as shown inFIG. 4, each of the seat rings30is formed with an inward protrusion33on an inner wall thereof. Each of the communicating pipes31is formed with a confining portion34on the outer wall thereof.

Furthermore, each of the manifolds4has inlet and outlet ports40at opposite ends. The inlet and outlet ports40of each of the manifolds4are rotatably and coaxially received in the adjacent seat rings30and are mounted around the adjacent communicating pipes31. As best seen inFIG. 4, exterior walls of the inlet and outlet ports40are in contact with inner walls of adjacent the seat rings30while interior walls of the inlet and outlet ports40are in contact with the outer walls of adjacent the communicating pipes31. Additionally, the inlet and outlet ports40of each of the manifolds4are confined between adjacent two of the confining portions34of the communicating pipes31so that the manifold4can stand in proper position. The O-rings35are also mounted around the communicating pipes31and are tightly received in the inlet and outlet ports of the adjacent manifolds4so that a leak of water is stopped. Different from the prior art, the seat rings30which enclose the inlet and outlet ports40of the adjacent manifolds share with the communicating pipes31the heavy burdens of the manifolds4, the filter cartridges5and water stored in the filter cartridges5, especially when the filter cartridges are swiveled. Hence the communicating pipes31carry relative less burden when compared with the prior art, and thereby the O-rings35are protected from being easily worn out or deformed with time.

Referring again toFIG. 4, the middle seat rings30, situated in the intermediate zone of the water treatment apparatus, have their inward protrusions33formed in the middle sections thereof. For those situated in the end zone, the two end seat rings30have their inward protrusions33formed in the end sections thereof. Additionally, each of the inward protrusions33of the seat rings30is flushed with the respective confining portion34of the communicating pipe31.

Referring toFIG. 5, each of the manifolds4further has a connecting port42in communication with the inlet and outlet ports40. Each of the connecting ports42defines a pair of opposed inward recesses44and a pair of lateral limiting slots43. The opposed inward recesses44are defined in an inner wall of the connecting port42and extend along the length of the connecting port42. The lateral limiting slots43are defined in a peripheral wall of the connecting port42and are in communication with the inward recesses44.

Each of the filter cartridges5, a cartridge with filter medium therein, has a protruding tube50in communication with the inside of the filter cartridge5. The protruding tube50is generally dimensioned in accordance with the respective connecting port42of the manifold4so as to be coaxially received in the connecting port42and therefore be in communication with the inlet and outlet ports40of the manifold4. Further, the protruding tube50is formed with a pair of shoulder flanges51at opposite sides corresponding to the inward recesses44of the connecting port42. In such a fashion, the protruding tube50can be guided into the inward recesses44of the connecting port42and then be rotated into the lateral limiting slots43by rotation of the filter cartridge5. Upon rotation, the protruding tube50will be lodged in the lateral limiting slots43of the connecting port42so as to lock the filter cartridge5on the manifold4.

FIG. 6illustrates that the filter cartridge5is swingable for filter replacement as a result of the manifold4being rotatably mounted between the adjacent two connecting accessories3. Thus, when the filter cartridge5is swung outward to the outside of the frame2, the filter cartridge5is allowed to be rotated in a reverse direction to be disengaged with the manifold4, as depicted inFIG. 5, for further filter replacement.

Moreover, the base10of the casing1is formed with a plurality of rotation-proof members7thereon to be engaged with bottoms of the filter cartridges5. Specifically, each of the rotation-proof members7has a straight depression71defined therein. Each of the filter cartridges5is formed with one or more straight protrusions52in a line thereon corresponding to the straight depression71of the rotation-proof member7. When the filter cartridge5is seated in the rotation-proof member7, the filter cartridge5is restrained from rotation due to the straight protrusions52of the filter cartridges5being lodged in the straight depression71of the rotation-proof member7of the base10. In this way, the filter cartridges5, suffered from the water pump shock while in use, are still firmly seated in the rotation-proof member7of the base2and protected from being inversely released from the manifold4. Preferably, each of the rotation-proof members7is formed with a bump72within the straight depression71. Each of the filter cartridges5is formed of two straight protrusions52in a line and is spaced at a distance from the other so that when the filter cartridge5is seated in the rotation-proof member7, the bump72of the rotation-proof member7is confined in between the two straight protrusions52of the filter cartridge5so as to prevent the filter cartridge5from linear movement.

FIG. 7provides a cross-sectional view of a water treatment apparatus in a second embodiment. Substantially all of the precepts discussed in the first embodiment apply to the second embodiment. The communicating pipe81of the connecting accessory8have both ends received in the adjacent inlet and outlet ports40with the O-rings85sandwiched therebetween. The inlet and outlet ports40of each of the manifolds4are rotatable with respect to the adjacent communicating pipes31. The major difference is that the seat ring80of each of the connecting accessories8is formed integrally with the communicating pipe81.

It will be appreciated that although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended in the claims to cover such modifications which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.