Patent Publication Number: US-2018036660-A1

Title: Pre-filtering device and method thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims the priority of Chinese Application No. 201610627772.7, filed on Aug. 3, 2016 and the entirety thereof is herein incorporated with reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is related to a field of water filtering device and, more particularly, to a pre-filtering device having therein multiple filtering cores. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Physical filtering is largely adopted by a conventional filtering device. That is, a filtering core made of steel is normally used to filter out large particles or objects, such as sand, debris or even algae to protect waterways in household appliances from blocking. The number of mesh used in the filter device has an important influence on the filtering effect. That is, the greater the number is, the greater filtering effect. By contrast, the fewer the number is, the filtering effect becomes worse. However, the pursuit of fine mesh may lead to the blockage of the mesh by particles and/or contaminant in the water and cleaning of the mesh is not only inevitable, but the frequency is largely increased. 
     In order to solve the problem, the commercial solution is to provide a filtering device adaptable for meshes so that the operator is able to change the mesh according to the local water quality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a filtering device having therein multiple filtering cores of different meshes. 
     In order to accomplish the abovementioned objective, the filtering device constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an annular hollow body, a filtering core assembly securely received inside the hollow body, a first switch device mounted and operatably connected to a bottom end of the filtering core assembly and a second switch device mounted and operatably connected to a top end of the filtering core assembly. The filtering core assembly is composed of an outer filtering core and an inner filtering core securely received inside the outer filtering core. A first chamber is defined between an inner face of the annular hollow body and an outer periphery of the outer filtering core. A second chamber is defined between an inner periphery of the outer filtering core and an outer periphery of the inner filtering core. An internal space of the inner filtering core is defined as a third chamber. The first switch device is responsible for the communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     In another objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second switch device has an inlet, an outlet, a second switch valve located adjacent to the inlet and the outlet, a first passage defined close to the inlet and a second passage defined close to the outlet. When the second switch valve is operated and at its first position, the first passage communicates with the first chamber and the second passage communicates with the third chamber. When the second switch valve is at its second position, the first chamber communicates with the third chamber, while the third chamber is not communicating with the second passage and the outlet. 
     Still another objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the inner filtering core is annular in shape and open to the top and close at the bottom. The outer filtering core is also constructed in annular shape and open at both ends. The outer filtering core has a mesh number of 50-200 mesh, which is fewer than that of the inner filtering core, i.e., 300-600. 
     In addition to the above, still another objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that a fourth chamber is defined between an outer periphery of the first switch device and the inner periphery of the annular body and communicates with the first chamber. A recess is defined in a top portion of the first switch device to communicate with the second chamber. It is to be noted that the first switch device is responsible for the communication between the recess as well as the second chamber and the first chamber as well as the fourth chamber. 
     In addition to the above, still another objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that a drainage is mounted at the bottom of the first switch device and provided with a manual switch. 
     In addition to the above, still another objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the second switch device is a three-way valve device with a sleeve rotatably extended therein and controlled by a knob rotatably mounted on top of the three-way valve device. The sleeve is open at its bottom and has an aperture defined in a side face thereof and a boss formed on the side face below the aperture to be responsible for the communication between the inlet and the first chamber. 
     The first switch device includes a base with the recess defined therein, a shaft and a cover. The shaft is composed of a disk and a rotary sleeve integrally extended downward from the disk. The disk has a cutout defined in a peripheral sidewall thereof and the base has a waterway in communication with the cutout via the recess. The rotary sleeve has a water passage defined through a side face thereof. The cover receives therein the base and the disk while the rotary sleeve extends out of the cover to engage with a knob. A bottom end of the rotary sleeve is connected to the inlet of the drainage. Therefore, when the first switch is functioning and in a closed status, water cannot flow from the recess to the fourth chamber. However, when the first switch device is in an open status, water flows from the recess to the fourth chamber via the waterway and the cutout of the disk. The water passage is used to allow the water in the fourth chamber to flow to the drainage via the rotary sleeve. 
     Still another objective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the first switch device includes a base having therein a recess, a static disk, a dynamic disk, a shaft and a cover. The shaft includes a disk and a rotary sleeve integrally extended downward from a bottom side face of the disk. The disk is disengagably connected to the dynamic disk. The dynamic disk has a cutout defined in a side wall thereof. The static disk defined therein a waterway through which water flows from the recess to the cutout of the dynamic disk. The rotary sleeve has a water passage defined in a side face thereof and the cover covers the base as well as the outer periphery of the disk. The rotary sleeve extends out of the cover to engage with a knob. A bottom end of the rotary sleeve is connected to the inlet of the drainage. Therefore, when the first switch is functioning and in a closed status, water cannot flow from the recess to the fourth chamber. However, when the first switch device is in an open status, water flows from the recess to the fourth chamber via the waterway and the cutout of the disk. The water passage is used to allow the water in the fourth chamber to flow to the drainage via the rotary sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the filtering device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded plan view of the filtering device shown in  FIG. 1  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a filtering core assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing water flow in a normal filtering status; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing waterflow cleaning the outer filtering core; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing waterflow cleaning the inner filtering core; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing waterflow cleaning the outer filtering core in a different manner from that of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view showing the first switch device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is still an exploded perspective view showing the first switch device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention in combination with the attached drawings shall be provided in detail in the following description. However, the given description is for example purpose only and should not be deemed as a limiting to the scope of the present invention in any way. 
     In order to make it easy to carry out the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description of the parts of the invention, supported with figures is provided here. As each part of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has many features, it is made easy to read, by referring to each feature with a number included in the parts description text. The number of the parts feature(s) is indicated here by starting it sequentially from the number  1 , wherever a part feature appears in a text, an associated serial number is directly assigned. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the water filtering device constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an annular hollow body  1 , a filtering core assembly  2  securely received inside the hollow body  1 , a first switch device  3  mounted and operatably connected to a bottom end of the filtering core assembly  2  and a second switch device  4  mounted and operatably connected to a top end of the filtering core assembly  2 . The filtering core assembly is composed of an outer filtering core  203  and an inner filtering core  204  securely received inside the outer filtering core  203 . A first chamber  5  is defined between an inner face of the annular hollow body  1  and an outer periphery of the outer filtering core  203 . A second chamber  6  is defined between an inner periphery of the outer filtering core  203  and an outer periphery of the inner filtering core  204 . An internal space of the inner filtering core  204  is defined as a third chamber  9 . The first switch device  3  is responsible for the communication between the first chamber  5  and the second chamber  6 . 
     The second switch device  4  has an inlet  401 , an outlet  402 , a second switch valve  403  located adjacent to the inlet  401  and the outlet  402 , a first passage  7  defined close to the inlet  401  and a second passage  8  defined close to the outlet  402 . When the second switch valve  403  is operated and at its first position, the first passage  7  communicates with the first chamber  5  and the second passage  8  communicates with the third chamber  9 . When the second switch valve  403  is at its second position, the first chamber  5  communicates with the third chamber  9 , while the third chamber  9  is not communicating with the second passage  6  and the outlet  402 . 
     The inner filtering core  204  is annular in shape and open to the top and close at the bottom. The outer filtering core  203  is also constructed in annular shape and open at both ends. The outer filtering core  203  has a mesh number of 50-200 mesh, which is fewer than that of the inner filtering core  204 , i.e., 300-600. 
     In addition to the above, a fourth chamber  10  is defined between an outer periphery of the first switch device  3  and the inner periphery of the annular body  1  and communicates with the first chamber  5 . A recess  301  is defined in a top portion of the first switch device  3  to communicate with the second chamber  6 . It is to be noted that the first switch device  3  is responsible for the communication between the recess  301  as well as the second chamber  6  and the first chamber  5  as well as the fourth chamber  10 . 
     A drainage  11  is mounted at the bottom of the first switch device  3  and provided with a manual switch  12 . 
     The second switch device  4  is a three-way valve device with a sleeve  13  rotatably extended therein and controlled by a knob  14  rotatably mounted on top of the three-way valve device. The sleeve  13  is open at its bottom and has an aperture  16  defined in a side face thereof and a boss  15  formed on the side face below the aperture  16  to be responsible for the communication between the inlet  401  and the first chamber  5 . When the knob  14  is rotated to activate (open) the second switch device  4 , the aperture  16  communicates with the third chamber  9  and the outlet  402  so that after water from the water source flows through the inlet  401 , the first passage  7  and enters the first chamber  5 . When the knob  14  is rotated again to allow the filtering device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to enter still another cleaning status, the aperture  16  communicates with the inlet  401  and the third chamber  9  so that the water from the water source directly enters the third chamber  9 , while the water cannot enter the first passage, the first chamber  5  as well as the outlet  402 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , the first switch device  3  includes a base  302  with the recess  301  defined therein, a shaft  303  and a cover  304 . The shaft  303  is composed of a disk  3031  and a rotary sleeve  3032  integrally extended downward from the disk  3031 . The disk  3031  has a cutout  3033  defined in a peripheral sidewall thereof and the base  302  has a waterway  3021  in communication with the cutout  3033  via the recess  301 . The rotary sleeve  3032  has a water passage  3034  defined through a side face thereof. The cover  304  receives therein the base  302  and the disk  3031  while the rotary sleeve  3032  extends out of the cover  304  to engage with a knob  305 . A bottom end of the rotary sleeve  3032  is connected to the inlet of the drainage  11 . Therefore, when the first switch  3  is functioning and in a closed status, water cannot flow from the recess  301  to the fourth chamber  10 . However, when the first switch device  3  is in an open status, water flows from the recess  301  to the fourth chamber  10  via the waterway  3021  and the cutout  3033  of the disk  3031 . The water passage  3034  is used to allow the water in the fourth chamber  10  to flow to the drainage  11  via the rotary sleeve  3032 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , another embodiment of the first switch device is shown, wherein the first switch device  3  includes a base  302   a  having therein a recess  301   a , a static disk  303   a , a dynamic disk  304   a , a shaft  305  and a cover  306 . The shaft  305  includes a disk  3051  and a rotary sleeve  3052  integrally extended downward from a bottom side face of the disk  3051 . The disk  3051  is disengagably connected to the dynamic disk  304   a  and are rotated together. The dynamic disk  304   a  has a cutout  304   a   1  defined in a side wall thereof. The static disk  303   a  defines therein a waterway  302   a   1  through which water flows from the recess  301   a  to the cutout  304   a   1  of the dynamic disk  304   a . The rotary sleeve  3052  has a water passage  3053  defined in a side face thereof and the cover  306  covers the base  302   a  as well as the outer periphery of the disk  3051 . The rotary sleeve  3052  extends out of the cover  306  to engage with a knob  12 . A bottom end of the rotary sleeve  3052  is connected to the inlet of the drainage  11 . Therefore, when the first switch  3  is functioning and in a closed status, water cannot flow from the recess  301   a  to the fourth chamber  10 . However, when the first switch device  3  is in an open status, water flows from the recess  301   a  to the fourth chamber  10  via the waterway  302   a   1  and the cutout  304   a   1  of the dynamic disk  304   a . The water passage  3053  is used to allow the water in the fourth chamber  10  to flow to the drainage  11  via the rotary sleeve  3052 . 
     Waterflow in Different Filtering Status 
     A 
     When in filtering, the first switch device  3  as well as the drainage  11  is closed and the second switch device  4  is at its first position, the first passage  7  communicates with the first chamber  5  and the second passage  8  communicates with the third chamber  9 , while the first passage  7  is blocked from communication with the recess  301  such that water from the water source flows through the first passage  7 , the first chamber  5 , the outer filter core  203 , the inner filter core  204 , the third chamber  9 , the second passage  8  and exits the outlet  402 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     B with the Drainage  11  Open 
     While the second switch device  4  is still at its first position, the first passage  7  communicates with the first chamber  5  but the recess  301 . As the path from the first passage  7 , the first chamber  5 , the fourth chamber  10 , the internal space inside the rotary sleeve  3032  to the drainage  11  is free from any blockage, water from the water source flows through the inlet  402 , the first passage  7 , the fourth chamber  10 , the internal space of the rotary sleeve  3032  and exits the drainage  11 , which directly fulfills the objective of cleaning the outer periphery of the outer filter core  203 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     C with the First Switch Device as Well as the Drainage Open 
     The first passage  7  communicates with the third chamber  9  while the third chamber  9  is blocked from communication with the second passage  8  and the outlet  402 . The recess  301  communicates with the fourth chamber  10  so that water from the water source flows through the inlet  401 , the first passage  7  and enters the third chamber  9 . After water enters the internal space of the third chamber  9 , water may easily flow through the mesh of the inner filter core  204  and reaches the space of the second chamber  6 . After cleaning both the inner filter core  204  and the internal surface of the outer filter core  203 , water may easily flow through the second chamber  6 , the recess  301 , the fourth chamber  10 , the internal space of the rotary sleeve  3032  and exits from drainage  11 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     D with the First Switch Device Closed and the Drainage Open 
     In this status, the first passage  7  communicates with the third chamber  9 , while the third chamber  9  is blocked from communication with the second passage  8  and the outlet  402 . The recess  301  also is blocked from communication with the fourth chamber  10  such that water from the water source flows through the inlet  401 , the first passage  7  and directly enters the third chamber  9 . After which, water flows through the second chamber  6 , the first chamber  5 , the fourth chamber  10 , the internal space of the rotary sleeve  3032  and exists from the drainage  11 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     After a detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) has been provided, any skilled person in the art would easily understand the description so provided is for example purpose only. The scope for protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims. Any skilled person in the art would easily amend, modify or alter the elements/devices of the present invention without departing from the principle essence and spirit of the present invention. However, the amendment, modification or alteration shall fall within the protection scope sought of the present invention.