Patent Description:
In developing countries, about <NUM>% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions. <NUM> out of every <NUM> deaths under the age of <NUM> worldwide is due to a water-related disease.

Clean and safe water is essential to healthy living, but clean drinking water remains inaccessible to many people in less industrialized countries that have lower per capita income levels than more developed countries.

Water pollution may include physical, chemical and biological pollutants such as turbidity, metals, organic matter and bacteria. Various technologies are used to remove contaminants including physical processes to remove pollutants by filtration, coagulation and flocculation, and disinfectant processes such as chlorination.

Referring to <FIG>, traditional sediment filters are constructed with punched holes pore sizes of the same or similar sizes in a flat structure. Dust distribution is as per pore size if layered. Flow through the filter is generally in a straight line from the filter surface facing the inlet and out through the filter surface facing the outlet. Once the holes become blocked with sediment the flow rate reduces.

<CIT> states, according to its abstract, a portable filter and filter system. The filter has a filter housing defining a liquid channel from an inlet to an outlet. The portable filter includes a liquid filter located in the filter housing, a mouthpiece mechanically associated with the dispensing end of the filter housing, and a liquid receiving means connected to the receiving end of the filter housing. The device can include a pre-filter assembly of which the liquid receiving means is a part. The liquid receiving means can include multiple connection members to receive liquid from a variety of liquid sources. The filter can be combined with a liquid container to form a portable filter system. The container can be a flexible bladder having a strap to connect the filtration device to the bladder.

<CIT> states, according to its abstract, a fluid purification system comprising: a first fluid purification media comprising a rigid porous purification block, comprising: a longitudinal first surface; a longitudinal second surface disposed inside the longitudinal first surface; and a porous high density polymer disposed between the longitudinal first surface and the longitudinal second surface; a second fluid purification media, comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric disposed adjacent to the first surface of the first fluid purification media, the second surface of the first purification media, or both.

<CIT> states, according to its abstract, a filter including a first flow path having a plurality of interconnected channels and a second flow path having a plurality of interconnected channels. The channels of the first and second flow paths are alternatingly configured in a substantially concentric pattern. A filter media is interposed between the channels of the first and second flow paths. A filter including a filter media arranged in a plurality of substantially concentric layers; a fluid outflow system contacting the entirety of one side of the filter media, and a fluid inflow system contacting the entirety of an opposite side of the filter media. A method of filtering a fluid including the steps of flowing the fluid along an inflow path having a fluid permeable core member in fluid communication with a plurality of inflow channels via an inflow conduit extending radially outward from the core member, passing the fluid through a filtration media, and collecting the fluid within an outflow path having a plurality of outflow channels in fluid communication with an outflow conduit extending radially inward toward the core member. The inflow and outflow channels are alternatingly configured in a substantially concentric pattern and have the filtration media disposed therebetween.

Various types of portable filter systems are available for clean drinking water. However, some small systems can have limited capacity or filtration lifespan and can also be fragile and/or expensive. Thus, a need exists for an improved portable water filtration system.

This object is solved by a water filter system as defined in claim <NUM>.

In one general aspect, a filter assembly includes an inlet end, a sediment filter having a sediment filter surface facing the inlet end and generally cylindrical filters. The sediment filter surface is orthogonal to each generally cylindrical filter surface.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the sediment filter may include a generally circular disk and the sediment filter surface may include a plane bounded by a circle. As another feature, the cylindrical filters may be positioned in in a concentric ring.

A first channel and a second channel may fluidly connect the sediment filter to the more cylindrical filters. The first channel can have a central axis that is orthogonal to a central axis to the more than one cylindrical filter. A central axis of the second channel may be in a direction along the length of the more than one cylindrical filter.

At least one of the cylindrical filters may include an annular ring of activated carbon. The cylindrical filters may also include a plurality of pleated media filters configured in a concentric ring.

An outlet tube in the center of the concentric ring may include a wall that causes a water flow to change direction from a direction that is orthogonal to a central axis of the pleated media filters to a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the pleated media filters. The wall of the outlet tube may cause the water flow to change to the opposite direction of the direction that is parallel to the central axis of the pleated media filters to exit the filter assembly through an outlet.

In another general aspect, a filter assembly includes an inlet end, a sediment filter having a sediment filtering surface facing the inlet end. The sediment filter includes a generally circular disk, cylindrical filters in a concentric ring, a channel to fluidly connect the sediment filter to the cylindrical filters, an outlet tube in the center of the concentric ring. The outlet tube includes a wall that causes a water flow to change direction from a direction that is orthogonal to a central axis of the cylindrical filters to a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the cylindrical filters in the direction of the sediment filter and to reverse direction away from the sediment filter to reach an outlet at the end of the outlet tube.

Embodiments may include one or more of the above or following features. For example, the sediment filter surface may be orthogonal to each cylindrical filtering surface of the cylindrical filters.

The cylindrical filters include an annular ring of activated carbon and/or ion exchange resin and a plurality of corrugated media filters configured in a concentric ring inside the annular ring of activated carbon.

In still another general aspect, the filter assembly includes a circular intake cover to receive a flow of water from a container, a cylindrical wall attached to the circular intake cover, an inner ported circular wall within the cylindrical wall that divides the volume within the cylindrical wall into a sediment filter chamber and a cylindrical filter chamber, a sediment filter in the sediment filter chamber, cylindrical filters in a concentric ring in the cylindrical filter chamber, a cover wall in the cylindrical filter chamber that causes a flow of water from the sediment filter to change to a lateral direction toward the outside of the concentric ring, and a circular outlet tube inside the concentric ring of cylindrical filters that forces a water flow to change direction upward toward the sediment filter and then down again through an outlet port into an outlet chamber. Embodiments may include one or more of the above features.

In a further general aspect, a filter system includes a first filter, second and third filter with overlapping ranges of pore sizes. The first, second and third filter each include a fibrous layer having a first and second filter surface and a pair of surface layers sandwiching the first and second filter surface of the fibrous layer. The surface layers comprise a higher density than the fibrous layer. The surface layers of the first, second and third layers each include a first, second and third range of pore sizes, respectively. The second range of pore sizes is smaller than but overlaps with the first range of pore sizes and the third range of pore sizes is smaller than but overlaps with the second range of pore sizes.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the fibrous layer and the surface layers of the first, second and third filter may include edges that are bonded together. In another embodiment, surfaces of the fibrous layer and the surface layers are bonded together.

The fibrous layer of the first, second and third filter may include a web of entangled fibers configured as a three-dimensional layer and it may also have a substantially greater depth than the depth of the pair of surface layers.

The fibrous layer of the first, second and third filter may include polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and/or polyethylene terephthalate. The fibrous layers may also include a highly entangled fiber structure and/or a crystalline structure, such as, for example, pseudoboehmite.

The range of pore sizes of the second filter may be smaller than the range of pores sizes of the first filter by adding additional surface layers to the second filter and the range of pore sizes of the third filter may be smaller than the range of pores sizes of the second filter by adding additional surface layers to the third filter.

In another general aspect, a sediment filter system includes a series of segment layers each having a fibrous layer sandwiched between outer layers, wherein each of the series of segment layers includes different ratios of the material comprising the fibrous layer as compared to the material comprising the outer layers. The fibrous layer has a low density relative to the outer layers and the segment layers with higher compositions of outer layers include additional sheets of outer layers thereby decreasing the range of pore sizes.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the series of segment layers may include a first segment layer with a composition of between <NUM> - <NUM> % fibrous layer and <NUM> - <NUM>% outer layers, a second segment layer with a composition of between <NUM> - <NUM> % fibrous layer and <NUM> - <NUM>% outer layers, and a third segment layer with a composition of between <NUM> - <NUM> % fibrous layer and <NUM> - <NUM>% outer layers.

The series of segment layers may also include a first segment layer with a composition of <NUM>% PET and <NUM>% PP, a second segment layer with a composition of <NUM>% PET and <NUM>% PP, a third segment layer with a composition of <NUM>% PET and <NUM>% PP, and a fourth segment layer with a composition of <NUM>% PP.

The outer layers may include polypropylene (PP) and the fibrous layer may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The low-density fibrous layers may be configured as a three-dimensional structure that allow dust particles to move through the fibrous layers in a circuitous direction. The circuitous path of dust particles through the fibrous layers can increase the dust particle storage capacity of the fibrous layers. In one general aspect, a water filter system, comprising includes a storage vessel having a fill port and a sediment drain and defining an internal volume with a fluid path between the fill port and the sediment drain, a filter housing comprising a cylindrical filter wall with an inlet end and an outlet end, a sediment filter disposed within the inlet end and having a sediment filter surface facing the inlet end, wherein a surface of the sediment filter is substantially parallel to the fluid path between the fill port and the sediment drain, more than one cylindrical filter proximate to the outlet end, the more than one cylindrical filter each having a cylindrical filter surface, wherein the sediment filter surface is orthogonal to each cylindrical filter surface, and a threaded cap that encloses the outlet end of the cylindrical filter wall and configured to receive the threaded collar on the storage vessel, the threaded cap having an exit port fluidly connected to a volume inside an innermost cylindrical filter surface. At least a portion of the filter housing is positioned within the internal volume of the storage vessel.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the sediment filter may be a generally circular disk and the cylindrical filter may include more than one filter in a concentric ring.

A first channel and a second channel may fluidly connect the sediment filter to the more than one cylindrical filter and the first channel has a first central axis that is orthogonal to a cylindrical filter central axis of the more than one cylindrical filter. The second central axis of the second channel is parallel to the cylindrical filter central axis.

The cylindrical filter may include an annular ring or annular ring filter having a first circular wall and a second circular wall mounted between a first annulas wall and second annulas wall. The annular ring is filled with adsorption particles, such as activated carbon granules and the first and second circular walls are permeable to water but retain the carbon granules.

A pair of dividing walls can be mounted between the first and second circular wall to divide the space into a first, second and third channel. A bisecting wall can be attached between the first and second circular wall to the first and second dividing walls to change the direct of water flow from a first direction in the first channel, to second direction in the second channel and a third direction in the third channel.

Protrusion walls can be mounted in the second channel to partially obstruct and create fluid turbulence second channel. For example, the protrusions wall comprises can be pairs of wedge-shaped or curling walls configured to cause a z-shaped or s-shaped water flow within the second channel. Protrusion walls may be mounted to one or both of the first annulas wall and the second annulas wall. In another embodiment, protrusions may appear as wedge-shaped or icicles-shaped (stalactite and stalagmite) structures extending from the annular walls into the second channel.

The cylindrical filters may include a plurality of pleated media filters configured in a concentric ring inside the annular ring. As another feature, an outlet tube is located in the center of the concentric ring, wherein the outlet tube comprises a wall that causes a water flow to change direction from a direction that is orthogonal to a central axis of the pleated media filters to a direction that is parallel to the central axis of the pleated media filters.

The storage vessel may be rectangular and/or may have a substantially vertical wall with an opening, wherein the filter housing is received within the opening of the vertical wall. The vertical wall can cause the sediment filter surface to be substantially parallel to the vertical wall such that non-buoyant particles bypass the sediment filter.

In another general aspect, a filter assembly for a fluid container includes a filter housing having a cylindrical filter wall with an inlet end and an outlet end, a sediment filter disposed within the inlet end and having a sediment filtering surface facing the inlet end, wherein the sediment filter comprises a generally circular disk, at least one cylindrical filter comprising an annular ring filter defining an internal volume at least partially filled with adsorption particles and having a first annulas wall and a second annulas wall being impermeable to water, a first circular wall and a second circular wall mounted between the first annulas wall and second annulas wall that are permeable to water but retain the adsorption particles, a dividing wall mounted between the first and second circular wall to divide the internal volume into a first and second channel, a bisecting wall attached between the first and second circular wall to change the direct of water flow from a first direction in the first channel to a second direction in the second channel, and more than one protrusion wall mounted in the second channel that partially obstructs the second channel thereby increasing turbulent water flow in the second channel.

Embodiments may include one or more of the above or following features. For example, protrusion walls may include pairs of walls configured to cause a z-shaped or s-shaped water flow within the second channel. The pairs may include mated curved surfaces. Each protrusion wall can be mounted to one or both of the first annulas wall and the second annulas wall.

As another feature, a channel may fluidly connect the sediment filter to the at least one cylindrical filter and an outlet tube can be located in the center of the cylindrical filter. The outlet tube may include a wall that causes a water flow to change direction from a direction that is orthogonal to a central axis of the at least one cylindrical filter to a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the more than one cylindrical filter in the direction of the sediment filter and to reverse direction away from the sediment filter to reach an outlet at the end of the outlet tube.

A threaded cap can be configured to receive a threaded collar on the fluid container. The fluid container can have a fill port and a sediment drain, wherein the fluid container includes an internal volume that defines a first fluid path from the fill port to the sediment drain and a second fluid path from the inlet end through the sediment filter that is generally orthogonal to the first fluid path and wherein the fluid container receives at least a portion of the filter housing.

As another feature, the sediment filter surface may be orthogonal to each cylindrical filtering surface of the at least one cylindrical filter. The adsorption particles may include activated carbon granules.

The cylindrical filters may include a plurality of corrugated media filters configured in a concentric ring inside the annular ring filter.

In still another general aspect, an annular ring filter includes a first annulas wall and a second annulas wall being impermeable to water, a first circular wall and a second circular wall mounted between the first annulas wall and second annulas wall that are permeable to water, a dividing wall mounted between the first and second circular wall to divide an internal volume defined within the first and second annual wall and first and second circular wall into a first and second channel, a bisecting wall attached between the first and second circular wall to change a direct of water flow from a first direction in the first channel to a second direction in the second channel, and more than one protrusion wall mounted in the second channel, wherein the protrusion wall partially obstructs the second channel thereby increasing turbulent water flow in the second channel, wherein the internal volume is at least partially filled with adsorption particles.

Embodiments may include any one or more of the above or following features. For example, the adsorption particles comprise activated carbon granules.

Referring to <FIG>, a portable water filtration system <NUM> can be used in areas where potable water systems are not available. The system <NUM> includes a handle <NUM>, a filter assembly <NUM> and a container vessel <NUM> that holds a volume of water. A pump <NUM> can be used to pressurize the vessel <NUM> to facilitate water flow through the filter assembly <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the vessel <NUM> has a fill port that is covered by a cap <NUM>. A retainer ring <NUM> is used to retain the cap <NUM>. A sediment drain covered by a drain cap <NUM> is positioned at the bottom of the vessel <NUM>. An outlet hose <NUM> is installed in an outlet of the filter assembly <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the pump <NUM> includes a squeezable bulb <NUM>, a pressure hose <NUM> and a valve actuated by a butterfly handle <NUM>. The valve can seal the vessel <NUM> to maintain pressure.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, a protective cage <NUM> surrounds the filter assembly (not shown). The cage <NUM> includes a series of ribs that encircle the filter assembly. This protects the filter assembly against impact, such as, for example, if the container <NUM> is dropped.

Referring to <FIG>, the filter assembly <NUM> include a carbon ring <NUM> and a series of corrugated filters <NUM> in a concentric ring. As will be described in more detail below, water flows from the outside to the inside of the concentric ring of filters to an exit port.

Referring to <FIG>, the filter assembly <NUM> is positioned in a threaded collar <NUM> attached to the container <NUM>. A threaded cap <NUM> is screwed into the threaded collar <NUM> to secure the filter assembly <NUM> in the container <NUM>. A sealing ring <NUM> or gasket is positioned between the threaded cap and a lip <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM> so that the filter assembly is clamped between the threaded collar <NUM> and the threaded cap <NUM> for a watertight seal· Referring to <FIG>, the threaded cap is integrated into the filter assembly <NUM> so that the entire filter assembly <NUM> screws into the collar by rotating the integrated cap.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the filter assembly <NUM> includes a circular intake cover <NUM>, a sediment filter <NUM>, a generally cylindrical wall <NUM>, an inner circular wall <NUM> and a cover wall <NUM> over the concentric filters. The circular intake cover <NUM> has a series of ribs and openings that allow water to flow from the vessel <NUM> into the filter assembly <NUM>. The inner circular wall <NUM> separates the filter assembly into a sediment filter chamber <NUM> and a concentric ring filter chamber <NUM>. The inner circular wall <NUM> has a series of ports to allow water to flow from the sediment filter chamber <NUM> to the concentric ring filter chamber <NUM>.

The generally cylindrical wall <NUM> may have straight or parallel sides and a circular or oval cross-section in the shape or form of a cylinder. However, it may have other rectangular shafts or notches.

The sediment filter <NUM> is positioned in a vertical orientation with respect to the height of the vessel <NUM>. Thus, heavy sediment bypasses the sediment filter <NUM> and falls directly to the sediment drain thereby extending the life of the sediment filter <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, water flows through the intake cover <NUM> from the vessel <NUM> into the sediment filter chamber <NUM> in the direction shown by Arrow A. Water then flows from the sediment filter chamber to the concentric ring filter chamber <NUM>. The cover wall <NUM> over the concentric filters is a solid circular wall that diverts the flow of water from a downward to a lateral direction toward the outside of the concentric ring filter chamber <NUM> as shown by Arrow B. The water then flows downward between the cylindrical wall <NUM> and the outside surface of the carbon ring <NUM> in the direction of Arrow C. The carbon ring <NUM> includes activated carbon and may be a composition of materials, such as, for example, carbon with embedded silver. Other types of filter media may be used instead of or in addition to carbon, such as, for example, an ion-exchange resin or ion-exchange polymer.

Water flows through the carbon ring <NUM> from the outside to the inside in the direction of Arrow D. Water then flows through a dividing wall <NUM> into the concentric ring of corrugated filters <NUM>.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> has a series of four corrugated filters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. The filters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are spaced apart by dividing walls <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the dividing walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> has ports or slots that allow the flow of water toward the center of the concentric rings. A circular outlet tube <NUM> is positioned at the center of the dividing walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In other embodiments, additional dividing walls may be added or dividing walls may not be used. One or more of the concentric filters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured to remove suspended matter, microbiological matter and/or chemicals.

Referring again to <FIG>, a circular outlet tube <NUM> forces the water to change direction upward toward the sediment filter <NUM> and then down again through an outlet port <NUM> into an outlet chamber as shown by Arrow E. Water then flows down toward an exit port <NUM> in a direction to exit the container <NUM> as shown by Arrow F.

Referring to <FIG>, a spiral flow agitator component <NUM> is positioned in the circular outlet tube <NUM>. The agitator component <NUM> causes turbulence so that water has increased contact with a disinfectant media in the outlet tube <NUM>. In another embodiment, the agitator component may also include disinfection media.

Referring to <FIG>, the filter material is designed with a larger range of pore sizes than that of a conventional filter. The range of pore sizes shown in <FIG> are generally larger than that shown in <FIG>, however, the range of pore sizes can overlap.

<FIG> shows various filter media segment layers that make up the sediment filter. Generally, the range of pore sizes of the surface material making up each filter segment layer AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E and F generally get smaller. In one embodiment, some of the segment layers AA, A, B, C, E and F are made up of varying amounts of a first surface material sandwiching a second filter material.

The range of pore sizes of the first surface material can be adjusted by adding or subtracting various layers of a filter media together, such as, for example, layers of a melt blown polypropylene (PP) web. The degree of fiber-entanglement, fiber diameter and density of the melt blown web can also be used to vary effective pore sizes of the PP. In another embodiment, spunbond fabric may be used in addition to or to replace the PP when, for example, additional strength is needed.

In the embodiment that is shown in <FIG>, segment layers AAA, AA, A, B, C and D include four individual layers that make up each of the segment layers. In different embodiments the four individual layers may have surfaces that are bonded to each other to make up the segment layer or they may be stacked on each other so that they contact adjacent individual layers without being bonded together. In another embodiment, the surfaces of the individual layers are tacked to adjacent individual layers in discrete locations such as in the center of each layer and at the edges.

Referring to <FIG>, the filter media segment layers AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E and F are stacked together. Each segment AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E and F is in contact with adjacent segment layers, but the surfaces of the segment layers are not bonded together.

Referring to <FIG>, the filter media segment layers are stacked and cut together in a desired shape. For example, the segment layers may be stacked, and an ultrasonic cutter may be used. A seal or bond at the edges of the segment layers may be formed during the cutting process. In other process, a form of heat welding may be used to bond the segment edges together.

Referring to <FIG>, the edges of the segment layers can be clamped or bonded together with a plastic ring or silicone over molding to form the sediment filter. As shown, the sediment filter can be much denser at the edges while the center bulges outward at the top, bottom or both the top and bottom.

Referring to <FIG> the media filter segment layer AAA is shown in more detail with a multiple layer surface view, single layer surface view and a profile view. Each profile view is from the side with the filter media sandwiched between glass slides for illustration purposes only. Segment layer AAA is formed from multiple layers of PP that are bonded together. In one embodiment, four individual layers make up one segment layer AAA which is <NUM>% PP with a density of <NUM> - <NUM> grams per square meter (GSM).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the segment layers AA, A, B and C are illustrated by surface, cut-away, full stack profile and single layer profile views. The term full stack profile refers to the combinational of individual layers that make up the segment layer and single layer profile refers to an individual layer of the segment layer. The outer layers of each individual layer are formed from PP bonded to an inner layer formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers. The outer PP layers dictate the range of pore sizes while the PET fibers provide a three-dimensional matrix of filter media with much less resistance to particle flow than the PP surface or outer layers. The PET fiber matrix allows sediment particles to travel in varying directions through the filter media as well as laterally. This provides a higher volume of particle loading in comparison to a filter with a more single directional flow through the filter media. The PET and PP fibers are bonded together to form each layer.

The segment layers have different compositions with decreasing pore sizes and sediment particle storage capacity. For example, in one embodiment segment layer AA includes a composition of <NUM>% PET / <NUM>% PP, segment layer A includes a composition of <NUM>% PET / <NUM>% PP, segment layer B includes a composition of <NUM>% PET / <NUM>% PP, and segment layer C includes a composition of <NUM>% PET / <NUM>% PP. Each segment layer AA, A, B and C may have a density of about <NUM> GSM.

Each of the segment layers AA, A, B and C can be composed of three or more layers of individual sandwich structures of PP layers on each side of PET fibers. The outer PP layers exhibit randomly distributed pore size structure across the surface of a sheet which also is a micro three-dimensional structure. This helps maintain flow rate and prevent pressure drop. The inner PET layer is composed of fibers which create a further three-dimensional structure to allow better dust loading capacity whilst maintaining randomly distributed pore sizes which again helps prevent pressure drop and premature clogging. The PET layer generally has a lower density and has much more porosity than the PP layer.

Multiple layers of the sandwich are stacked one on top of another to create a segment with more depth and hence more voids and more of a three-dimensional structure. These randomly distributed voids help to capture a range of particle sizes to prevent subsequent segment layers from clogging prematurely. Stacking of these layers helps create a more three-dimensional structure with multidirectional flow.

Segment layer AA is made from PET fibers sandwiched between layers of PP. This "sandwich" is more open than subsequent segment layers and exhibits a larger pore size structure in general than subsequent segment layers but has a smaller pore size than previous segment layers.

In one embodiment, segment layer AA can be composed of three or more individual sandwich structures. The outer layers of each sandwich are composed of melt blown polypropylene which exhibits randomly distributed pore size structure across the surface of a sheet which is which also a micro three-dimensional structure. This helps maintain flow rate and prevent pressure drop. The inner layer is composed of polyethylene terephthalate fibers which create a further three-dimensional structure to allow better dust loading capacity whilst maintaining randomly distributed pore sizes which again helps prevent pressure drop and premature clogging.

Multiple layers of the sandwich are stacked one on top of another to create a segment with more depth and hence more voids and more of a three-dimensional structure. These randomly distributed voids help to capture particle sizes to prevent subsequent segment layers from clogging prematurely. Stacking of these layers helps create a more three-dimensional structure with multidirectional flow.

Referring to <FIG>, segment layer D is illustrated by in profile, stack profile and surface views. In one embodiment, segment layer D has all PP individual sheets with a density of about <NUM> GSM that are bonded together into segment layer D. The PP sheet may have a depth of <NUM> - <NUM>. Multiple individual sheets are stacked to create a segment with depth and voids. These randomly distributed voids help to capture larger particle sizes above <NUM> microns to prevent the subsequent layers from clogging prematurely and causing a drop in pressure. This stacking helps creates a more three-dimensional filter segment with greater dust holding capacity and with multidirectional flow.

Referring to <FIG>, segment layer E is shown in surface, cut away and profile views. Segment layer E includes PP on outer surfaces with pseudoboehmite sandwiched in-between. Pseudoboehmite is an aluminum compound with the chemical composition AIO. It consists of finely crystalline boehmite, but with a higher water content than in boehmite.

Segment layer E can be composed of one or more layers of individual sandwich structures with a <NUM> mean micron pore size. The pseudoboehmite creates a further three-dimensional structure to allow better dust loading capacity whilst maintaining randomly distributed micro pore sizes which again helps prevent pressure drop and premature clogging. This helps maintain flow rate and prevent pressure drop with multidirectional flow. Powder activated carbon may also be incorporated in the inside of the sandwich for taste, odor contaminant reduction.

Referring to <FIG>, segment layer F is shown in surface, cut away and profile views. Similar to segment layer E, segment layer F can be composed of includes PP on outer surfaces with pseudoboehmite sandwiched in-between, however, the individual sandwich structures have a much finer <NUM> micron mean pore size.

Other filter media may be used instead of pseudoboehmite, such as, for example, very fine (small diameter), highly entangled and/or dense layers of PET fibers.

<FIG> and <FIG> are photos of the full stack of segment layers AAA, AA, A, B, C, D and F shown in <FIG> mentioned above. All the segment layers are in contact with adjacent layers. The resulting sediment filter has can have a finer pore size and/or higher dust load capacity relative to conventional filters before the sediment filter gets clogged and loses its filtration capacity.

Referring to <FIG>, a cylindrical sediment filter <NUM> is illustrated with filter media segment layers AAA', AA', A', B, C, D, E' and F' are configured as a concentric ring. Each segment AAA', AA', A', B', C', D', E' and F' are in contact with adjacent segment layers but the surfaces of adjacent segment layers are not bonded together. The composition of the segment layer may be similar to that described above with respect to <FIG> and <FIG>. In other embodiments, there may be more or less segment layers of different compositions.

<FIG> illustrates the cylindrical sediment filter <NUM> in use. The cylindrical sediment filter <NUM> is installed in a filter casing <NUM>. The filter casing has a water input line with water flowing into the filter casing shown by Arrow A.

The bottom of the filter <NUM> is sealed or pressure fitted against the bottom of the casing such that water flows through the filter as shown by Arrow B. The water flows into an open channel at the center of the filter <NUM> and flows out of the casing case through output line <NUM> in the direction shown by Arrow C.

<FIG> illustrates another embodiment of a sediment filter configured as a bag filter <NUM>. The bag filter <NUM> includes multiple segment layers as that described above or may have another configuration of segment layers. The edges of the bag filter <NUM> may essentially be crimped or secured together by a round collar or may be heat bonded or glued together.

Referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment the carbon ring <NUM> is replaced by an annular ring filter <NUM> that includes adsorption particles, such as, activated carbon granules, in a casing or enclosure. The filter <NUM> includes a first circular wall <NUM> and a second circular wall <NUM> mounted between a first annulas wall <NUM> and a second annul as wall <NUM>. The internal volume of the annular ring filter <NUM> is filled with activated carbon granules. The first and second circular walls <NUM>, <NUM> are permeable to water but retain the carbon granules.

A first dividing wall <NUM> and a second dividing wall <NUM> is mounted between the first and second circular wall <NUM>, <NUM> to divide the internal volume into first, second and third channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. A bisecting or termination wall <NUM> is attached between the first and second circular walls to the dividing walls to change the direct of water flow from a first direction in the first channel to a second direction in the second channel and to a third direction in a third channel.

Protrusion walls <NUM> are mounted in the second channel with the protrusion walls partially obstructing the second channel thereby increasing turbulent water flow in the second channel. The protrusion walls include mating pairs of curling walls configured to cause a z-shaped or s-shaped water flow within the second channel. Each protrusion wall <NUM> is mounted to the dividing walls <NUM>, <NUM>. Alternatively, the protrusion walls <NUM> can be mounded to the annulas walls at a position in the second channel <NUM>.

Water flows from the outside to the inside of the annular ring filter <NUM>. The water enters the filter through the outer circular wall <NUM>. The water flows in a first channel <NUM> until it reaches the end of the dividing wall <NUM> where it enters the second channel <NUM>. The second channel <NUM> is filled with the protruding walls <NUM> that partially obstruct or change direction of water flow in the second channel <NUM>. The resulting circuitous path results in more contact with the activated carbon granules.

Claim 1:
A water filter system (<NUM>), comprising:
a storage vessel (<NUM>) having a fill port and a sediment drain and defining an internal volume with a fluid path between the fill port and the sediment drain;
a filter housing comprising a cylindrical filter wall (<NUM>) with an inlet end and an outlet end;
a sediment filter (<NUM>) disposed within the inlet end and having a sediment filter surface facing the inlet end, wherein a surface of the sediment filter (<NUM>) is substantially parallel to the fluid path between the fill port and the sediment drain;
more than one cylindrical filter (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) proximate to the outlet end, the more than one cylindrical filter (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) each having a cylindrical filter surface, wherein the sediment filter surface is orthogonal to each cylindrical filter surface; and
a threaded cap (<NUM>) that encloses the outlet end of the cylindrical filter wall (<NUM>) and configured to receive a threaded collar (<NUM>) on the storage vessel (<NUM>), the threaded cap (<NUM>) having an exit port (<NUM>) fluidly connected to a volume inside an innermost cylindrical filter surface; wherein at least a portion of the filter housing is positioned within the internal volume of the storage vessel (<NUM>).