Patent Description:
A water purifier can filter out harmful substances and purify water in a swimming pool. This filtering work is completed by the filter element of the water purifier. The filter element has a service life and needs to be replaced.

A conventional water purifier filter is disclosed in Chinese patent publication number <CIT> and includes an indicator for a state of a water purifier filter element. The disclosed water purification water supply system, including: a fixed structure, a status indicator light, and a signal line. In other current traditional water purification filtration devices, the prompts for replacing the filter media are mostly the following two kind of methods. The user regularly disassembles and checks a contaminated condition of the filter medium which is troublesome to operate and the precision is not high. The user is reminded to replace the filter medium by a pressure gauge or a pressure sensor which has high precision, but increased cost.

If the filter has not been replaced for a long time, it may cause the filter to be blocked due to excessive impurities on the filter, which will eventually cause the filter to be damaged. Therefore, the user needs to be reminded when the filter is clogged or the filter device is functioning abnormally.

<CIT> describes a differential pressure indicating device for use in a fluid filtering system. The device comprises a filter and a housing. The housing comprises an upper bore and a lower bore. The device comprises a piston movable in the lower bore in response to a change in the differential pressure between the high pressure inlet of the filter and the low pressure outlet of the filter. The device further comprises a first bias element for urging the piston in a particular direction, and an indicating element movable in the upper bore from a first position indicating that a clean filter is installed in a filter casing to a second position indicating the filter is at least partially clogged.

The present invention provides a contamination prompt structure as defined in claim <NUM>, and a filter device having a replaceable filter element, as defined in claim <NUM>. Some preferred and/or alternative features are set out in the dependent claims.

An example of the present disclosure provides a contamination prompt structure for a filter medium, which is low in cost and convenient to use.

In another example of the present disclosure, a contamination prompt structure for a filter medium is provided. The contamination prompt structure comprises a filter element, and a prompt assembly. The prompt assembly has a movable part. One end of the movable part is in communication with a water inlet of the filter element or a water outlet of the filter element. The other end of the movable part is in communication with the other one of the water inlet of the filter element and the water outlet of the filter element, or outside air. When the filter element is in a contaminated state, a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet drives the movable part to move to send a prompt for a user to replace the filter element.

In an example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a housing, an elastic body, a valve core, and an elastic bladder. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic bladder to form the movable part. One side of the elastic bladder facing away from the movable end of the elastic bladder is in communication with the water inlet of the filter element. The elastic bladder and the valve are disposed in the housing. One end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the housing. The other end of the elastic body abuts the movable end of the elastic bladder. The housing further comprises an exhaust hole in communication with the outside air.

In another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a housing, a valve core, and an elastic body. The valve core is movably disposed in the housing to form the movable part. One side of the valve core is in communication with the water inlet of the filter element. The other side of the valve core is in contact with one end of the elastic body. The other end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the housing.

In a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a housing, a valve core, and an elastic bladder. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic bladder to form the movable part. One side of the elastic bladder facing away from the movable end of the elastic bladder is in communication with the water inlet of the filter element. The elastic bladder and the valve core are disposed in the housing. One end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the housing. The other end of the elastic body abuts the movable end of the elastic bladder. One side of the valve core facing away from the elastic bladder is in communication with the water outlet of the filter element through a water inlet hole on the housing.

In yet another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a housing, a valve core, and an elastic body. The valve core is movably disposed in the housing to form the movable part. One side of the valve core is in communication with the water inlet and abuts one end of the elastic body. The other end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the housing. One side of the valve core is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the housing.

In still another example thereof, the housing is disposed with an observation window for observing a position of the valve core.

In yet still another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a housing, a valve core and an elastic body. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic body to form the movable part. One side of the elastic body facing away from the movable end is in communication with the water inlet. The elastic body and the valve core are disposed in the housing. One side of the valve core facing away from the elastic body is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the housing. The housing is disposed with an indication sticker. The valve core covers the indication sticker with different areas when the valve core is located in different positions.

In a further yet example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a housing, a valve core, and an elastic body. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic body to form the movable part. One side of the elastic body facing away from the movable end is in communication with the water inlet. The elastic body and the valve core are disposed in the housing. One side of the valve core facing away from the elastic body is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the housing. The valve core is disposed with a magnet. The housing is disposed with a circuit board. The circuit board is configured to judge a position of the valve core to send a prompt signal based on a relative position between the magnet and the circuit board. In a variation thereof, the prompt signal is a light signal, a sound signal or an APP prompt signal of a smart terminal.

In a further still example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a pulling rod, a convex shell, and a housing. The convex shell is swingingly connected to the pulling rod at an eccentric position. The housing has an observation window for observing a position of the convex shell. When the filter element is in the contaminated state, two ends of the pulling rod move along an axial direction of the pulling rod due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to pull the convex shell to swing. In a variation thereof, the convex shell comprises a first protruding column located at the eccentric position. The pulling rod comprises a buckle slot configured to mate with the first protruding column. The buckle slot extends along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pulling rod. The convex shell further comprises a second protruding column located at an axis of the convex shell. The pulling rod comprises a position-providing groove along the axial direction of the pulling rod. When the convex shell swings the second protruding column moves in the position-providing groove and the first protruding column moves in the buckle slot. In another variation thereof, the pulling rod is connected with a reset elastic member. When the two ends of the pulling rod move along the axial direction of the pulling rod due to the rise of the pressure at the water inlet or the drop of the pressure at the water outlet, the reset elastic member is squeezed to generate elastic reset force.

In yet a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a pulling rod, a dial, and a housing. The housing has an observation window for observing a relative position between the dial and the housing. The pulling rod and the dial are connected by a direction-changing member. The direction-changing member enables a translation of the pulling rod along an axial direction of the pulling rod to be changed to a rotation of the dial around an axis of the dial. When the filter element is in the contaminated state, two ends of the pulling rod move along the axial direction of the pulling rod due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to drive the dial to rotate. In a variation thereof, the dial has a cylinder that is operatively coupled to pulling rod. The direction-changing member comprises a spiral guide rail disposed on the cylinder and a slider disposed on the pulling rod. The slider is operatively coupled to the spiral guide rail. In another variation thereof, the pulling rod is connected with a reset elastic member. When the two ends of the pulling rod move along the axial direction of the pulling rod due to the rise of the pressure at the water inlet or the drop of the pressure at the water outlet, the reset elastic member is squeezed to generate elastic reset force.

In yet a further still example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a diaphragm, a flow switch, a circuit board, and a valve stem. One end of the valve stem is operatively coupled to a convex surface of the diaphragm. The flow switch is fixedly connected to the valve stem. The circuit board comprises a Hall element. When the filter element is in the contaminated state, the convex surface of the diaphragm is flattened due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to drive the valve stem and the flow switch to move relative to the circuit board, so as to make the flow switch cooperate with the Hall element.

In still a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a micro switch, a valve stem, and a reset elastic member. One end of the valve stem is operatively coupled to the reset elastic member. The other end of the valve stem is configured to cooperate with the micro switch. When the filter element is in the contaminated state, the reset elastic member is squeezed to drive the valve stem to move to a second position due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet, so as to make the other end of the valve stem trigger the micro switch.

In still another example of the present disclosure, a filter device is disposed with a contamination prompt structure for a filter medium. In a variation thereof, the prompt assembly is located outside of the filter device. One end of the prompt assembly is in communication with a water inlet port of the filter device. The other end of the prompt assembly is connected to a water outlet of the filter device, optionally through a flexible hose. In another variation thereof, the prompt assembly is disposed in the filter device and is located below the filter element.

In still a further example of the present disclosure, a filter device having a replaceable filter element is provided. The filter device comprising a housing having an interior adapted to receive the replaceable filter element, a water inlet in fluid communication with the interior, and a water outlet in fluid communication with the interior. The replaceable filter element being positionable in the interior so that water received through the water inlet of the housing passes through the replaceable filter element to reach the water outlet of the housing. The filter device further comprising a prompt assembly having a movable part. One end of the movable part is in fluid communication with one of the water inlet and the water outlet and the other end of the movable part is in fluid communication with the other one of the water inlet and the water outlet or outside air. The movable part provides an indication of a condition of the replaceable filter element.

In an example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a prompt housing, an elastic body, a valve core, and an elastic bladder. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic bladder to form the movable part. One side of the elastic bladder facing away from the movable end of the elastic bladder is in communication with the water inlet. The elastic bladder and the valve are disposed in the prompt housing. One end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the prompt housing. The other end of the elastic body abuts the movable end of the elastic bladder. The prompt housing further comprises an exhaust hole in communication with the outside air.

In another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a prompt housing, a valve core, and an elastic body. The valve core is movably disposed in the prompt housing to form the movable part. One side of the valve core is in communication with the water inlet. The other side of the valve core is in contact with one end of the elastic body. The other end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the prompt housing.

In yet another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a prompt housing, a valve core, and an elastic bladder. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic bladder to form the movable part. One side of the elastic bladder facing away from the movable end of the elastic bladder is in communication with the water inlet. The elastic bladder and the valve core are disposed in the prompt housing. One end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the prompt housing. The other end of the elastic body abuts the movable end of the elastic bladder. One side of the valve core facing away from the elastic bladder is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the prompt housing.

In still another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a prompt housing, a valve core, and an elastic body. The valve core is movably disposed in the prompt housing to form the movable part. One side of the valve core is in communication with the water inlet and abuts one end of the elastic body. The other end of the elastic body is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the prompt housing. One side of the valve core is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the housing.

In another example thereof, the prompt housing is disposed with an observation window for observing a position of the valve core.

In yet another example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a prompt housing, a valve core and an elastic body. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic body to form the movable part. One side of the elastic body facing away from the movable end is in communication with the water inlet. The elastic body and the valve core are disposed in the prompt housing. One side of the valve core facing away from the elastic body is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the prompt housing. The prompt housing is disposed with an indication sticker. The valve core covers the indication sticker with different areas when the valve core is located in different positions.

In still a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a prompt housing, a valve core, and an elastic body. The valve core is disposed at a movable end of the elastic body to form the movable part. One side of the elastic body facing away from the movable end is in communication with the water inlet. The elastic body and the valve core are disposed in the prompt housing. One side of the valve core facing away from the elastic body is in communication with the water outlet through a water inlet hole on the prompt housing. The valve core is disposed with a magnet. The prompt housing is disposed with a circuit board. The circuit board is configured to judge a position of the valve core to send a prompt signal based on a relative position between the magnet and the circuit board.

In yet a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a pulling rod, a convex shell, and a prompt housing. The convex shell is swingingly connected to the pulling rod at an eccentric position. The prompt housing has an observation window for observing a position of the convex shell. The pulling rod moves along an axial direction of the pulling rod causing the convex shell to rotate. In a variation thereof, the convex shell comprises a first protruding column located at the eccentric position. The pulling rod comprises a buckle slot configured to mate with the first protruding column. The buckle slot extends along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pulling rod. The convex shell further comprises a second protruding column located at an axis of the convex shell. The pulling rod comprises a position-providing groove along the axial direction of the pulling rod. When the convex shell rotates the second protruding column moves in the position-providing groove and the first protruding column moves in the buckle slot. In another variation thereof, the pulling rod is connected with a reset elastic member. When the pulling rod move along the axial direction of the pulling rod due to the rise of the pressure at the water inlet or the drop of the pressure at the water outlet, the reset elastic member is squeezed to generate elastic reset force.

In still yet a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a pulling rod, a dial, and a prompt housing. The prompt housing has an observation window for observing a relative position between the dial and the prompt housing. The pulling rod and the dial are connected by a direction-changing member. The direction-changing member enables a translation of the pulling rod along an axial direction of the pulling rod to be changed to a rotation of the dial around an axis of the dial. The pulling rod moves along the axial direction of the pulling rod due to drive the dial to rotate. In a variation thereof, the dial has a cylinder that is operatively coupled to pulling rod. The direction-changing member comprises a spiral guide rail disposed on the cylinder and a slider disposed on the pulling rod. The slider is operatively coupled to the spiral guide rail. In another variation thereof, the pulling rod is connected with a reset elastic member. When the pulling rod moves along the axial direction of the pulling rod due to the rise of the pressure at the water inlet or the drop of the pressure at the water outlet, the reset elastic member is squeezed to generate elastic reset force.

In yet still a further example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a diaphragm, a flow switch, a circuit board, and a valve stem. One end of the valve stem is operatively coupled to a convex surface of the diaphragm. The flow switch is fixedly connected to the valve stem. The circuit board comprises a Hall element. The convex surface of the diaphragm is flattened due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to drive the valve stem and the flow switch to move relative to the circuit board, so as to make the flow switch cooperate with the Hall element.

In another still example thereof, the prompt assembly comprises a micro switch, a valve stem, and a reset elastic member. One end of the valve stem is operatively coupled to the reset elastic member. The other end of the valve stem is configured to cooperate with the micro switch. The reset elastic member is squeezed to drive the valve stem to move to a second position due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet, so as to make the other end of the valve stem trigger the micro switch.

In an additional example thereof, the prompt assembly is located outside of the filter device.

In still yet an additional example thereof, the prompt assembly is disposed in the filter device and is located below the filter element.

Examples of the present disclosure may provide the following advantages among others.

Examples of the present disclosure may provide the contamination prompt structure for the filter medium. By setting up a movable assembly, the movable assembly may be placed in different positions before the filter element is in a contaminated state and after the filter element is in the contaminated state by utilizing the characteristic that the rise of the pressure at the water inlet. The user may judge whether the filter element is in the contaminated state and needs to be replaced by observing the position of the movable assembly, which is very intuitive and the cost is very low.

Examples of the present disclosure may provide the contamination prompt structure for the filter medium. By utilizing the characteristic that the movable assembly may be in different positions before and after the filter element is in the contaminated state, an indicator sticker or an induction circuit may be set, so as to further facilitate the user to perceive that the filter element is dirty and needs to be replaced.

The foregoing aspects and many of the intended advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent examples of various features and components according to the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate examples of the disclosure, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principals of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the examples illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The examples disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the examples are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. It will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. The disclosure includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrative devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the disclosure which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top/bottom", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation shown in the drawings. The positional relationship is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the referenced device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed, and be operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the positional relationship should not be understood as a limitation of the present disclosure. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the terms "installed", "provided with", "sleeved/connected", "connected", etc., should be understood broadly. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and it can be a connection between two members. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood under specific conditions. The terms "couples", "coupled", "coupler", and variations thereof are used to include both arrangements wherein two or more components are in direct physical contact and arrangements wherein the two or more components are not in direct contact with each other (e.g., the components are "coupled" via at least a third component, but yet still cooperates or interact with each other).

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, an exemplary filter device <NUM> is shown having an exemplary contamination prompt structure <NUM>. Filter device <NUM> includes a base housing <NUM> having a fluid inlet <NUM> and a fluid outlet <NUM>. Each of fluid inlet <NUM> and fluid outlet <NUM> are in fluid communication with an interior <NUM> of base housing <NUM>. Further, each of fluid inlet <NUM> and fluid outlet <NUM> may be coupled to a swimming pool, spa, or other suitable fluid reservoir having fluid to be cleaned. Exemplary fluids include water.

A filter element <NUM> is received in interior <NUM> of base housing <NUM>. Filter element <NUM> is illustratively shown to include a filter media <NUM> which surrounds a central core <NUM> having openings <NUM> therein. Fluid received in interior <NUM> from fluid inlet <NUM> flows around the outside perimeter of filter element <NUM>, through filter media <NUM>, and through openings <NUM> into an interior of central core <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, filter element <NUM> is supported on a support <NUM> of base housing <NUM> and an inlet of fluid outlet <NUM> is received in the interior of central core <NUM> of filter element <NUM>. Fluid entering the interior of central core <NUM> passing into the passageway <NUM> of fluid outlet <NUM> and exits filter device <NUM>. Other arrangements of filter element <NUM> and filter device <NUM> are possible as long as fluid entering filter device <NUM> through fluid inlet <NUM> passes through filter element <NUM> prior to exiting fluid outlet <NUM>. A cover <NUM> is coupled to base housing <NUM> to bound interior <NUM> of filter device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a contamination prompt structure <NUM> is supported by base housing <NUM> and coupled to cover <NUM>. In other examples, contamination prompt structure <NUM> is coupled to base housing <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, contamination prompt structure <NUM> has a movable part, illustratively a valve core <NUM>. One end of the movable part is fluidly connected to a water inlet of the filter element <NUM> (the portion of interior <NUM> of filter device <NUM> surrounding filter element <NUM>), and the other end of the movable part is fluidly connected to outside air outside of filter device <NUM>.

When the filter element <NUM> is in a contaminated state, a filtering capacity of the filter element <NUM> decreases, pressure at the water inlet of the filter element <NUM> rises, and the pressure at the water inlet of the filter element <NUM> is greater than air pressure to drive the movable part, the valve core <NUM>, to move, thereby changing a position of the valve core <NUM>. A user only needs to observe the position of the movable part, the valve core <NUM>, to know whether the filter element <NUM> needs to be replaced due to contamination. The whole process is very intuitive and the cost of the solution is very low.

In the illustrated example, contamination prompt structure <NUM> comprises valve core <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, an elastic body <NUM>, and an elastic bladder <NUM>. A lower flange <NUM> of elastic bladder <NUM> is captured between housing <NUM> and cover <NUM> when housing <NUM> is screwed onto cover <NUM> (see <FIG>). A seal <NUM> seals housing <NUM> to cover <NUM>. Valve core <NUM> is disposed at a movable end of the elastic bladder <NUM> to form the movable part. Referring to <FIG>, valve core <NUM> includes a recess <NUM> which receives a protrusion <NUM> of elastic bladder <NUM>. A bottom side of the elastic bladder <NUM> proximate lower flange <NUM> and facing away from the movable end of the elastic bladder <NUM> is in communication with interior <NUM> of filter device <NUM> through opening <NUM>, the water inlet of the filter element <NUM>. The elastic bladder <NUM> and the valve core <NUM> are disposed in the housing <NUM>. One end of the elastic body <NUM> is fixedly connected to an inner wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and the other end of the elastic body <NUM> is received in a recess <NUM> of valve core <NUM> and abuts valve core <NUM>. Housing <NUM> further comprises an exhaust hole <NUM> in communication with the outside air.

When the filter element <NUM> is in the contaminated state, the filtering capacity of the filter element <NUM> decreases, the pressure at the water inlet of the filter element <NUM> rises, and a pressure difference is defined between two ends of elastic bladder <NUM> which pushes the valve core <NUM> to move upward to pressure air in the housing <NUM>, and part of the air is discharged through the exhaust hole <NUM>. In this way, the valve core <NUM> can move correspondingly, and the user can intuitively find that a position of the valve core <NUM> has changed either due to housing <NUM> having an opening or window therein or being made of an optically translucent material. When the valve core <NUM> moves, the elastic body <NUM> is squeezed to generate elastic restoring force. When the filter element <NUM> has been replaced by the user, the pressure at the inlet end of the filter element <NUM> decreases, and the valve core <NUM> will return to an initial position due to the elastic restoring force.

In this example, in order to facilitate the user to observe the position of the valve core <NUM>, the housing <NUM> is disposed with a transparent observation window, and the user can easily observe the position of the valve core <NUM> through the observation window.

In the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, the valve core <NUM> is driven to move by a rise of the pressure at the water inlet of the filter element <NUM>. The prompt structure or assembly <NUM> may also be installed at a water outlet of the filter element, and the valve core <NUM> may be driven to move by utilizing a characteristic that a flow rate of the water outlet end of the filter element <NUM> decreases after the valve core <NUM> is contaminated to cause the pressure at the water outlet of the filter element <NUM> to decrease.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, another exemplary prompt structure <NUM> is shown. Prompt assembly <NUM> includes housing <NUM>, a valve core <NUM>, and an elastic body <NUM>. Valve core <NUM> is movably disposed in the housing <NUM> to form the movable part. One side of the valve core <NUM> is in communication with the water inlet of the filter element <NUM> through opening <NUM> in cover <NUM>, and the other side of the valve core <NUM> is in contact with one end of the elastic body <NUM>. The other end of the elastic body <NUM> is fixedly connected to inner wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. A seal <NUM> is carried by valve core <NUM> to separate the water inlet of filter device <NUM> and the outside air through exhaust hole <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, another exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, a valve core <NUM>, an elastic body <NUM>, and an elastic bladder <NUM>. Housing <NUM> includes a first housing portion <NUM> and a second housing portion <NUM>. Housing portion <NUM> is received in an open end of housing portion <NUM> and a flange <NUM> of elastic bladder <NUM> is captured between second housing portion <NUM> and first housing portion <NUM>. A tab <NUM> on second housing portion <NUM> is received in an opening <NUM> of first housing portion <NUM> to secure second housing portion <NUM> to first housing portion <NUM>. Housing portion <NUM> further includes a window 218through which second housing portion <NUM> is visible. In examples, second housing portion <NUM> is optically translucent so an operator may visually see a position of valve core <NUM> from an exterior of filter device <NUM>.

Valve core <NUM> is disposed at a movable end of the elastic bladder <NUM> to form the movable part. A side of valve core <NUM> facing away from the movable end of elastic bladder <NUM> is in communication with the water inlet of the filter element <NUM> through an opening <NUM> of second housing portion <NUM>. The elastic bladder <NUM> and the valve core <NUM> are disposed in the housing <NUM>.

One end of the elastic body <NUM> is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the housing portion <NUM> and the other end of the elastic body <NUM> abuts the movable end of the elastic bladder <NUM>. A side of the elastic bladder <NUM> facing away from the valve core <NUM> is in communication with the water outlet of the filter element <NUM> through an opening <NUM> on first housing portion <NUM>.

In this example, the prompt assembly <NUM> is disposed between the water inlet and the water outlet, and a pressure difference is formed by utilizing a characteristic that pressure at the water inlet rises and pressure at the water outlet decreases when filter device <NUM> is contaminated moving valve core <NUM> to the left in <FIG> towards the water outlet against the bias of elastic body <NUM>. Advantages of prompt assembly <NUM>, among others, are the pressure difference is more obvious and the sensitivity is also higher.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> having a first housing portion <NUM> and a second housing portion <NUM>, a valve core <NUM>, a seal <NUM> to be carried by valve core <NUM>, a seal <NUM> to be carried by second housing portion <NUM>, and an elastic body <NUM>. Valve core <NUM> is movably disposed in the housing <NUM> to form the movable part. A right side of the valve core <NUM> (in <FIG>) is in communication with the water inlet and a left side of valve core <NUM> (in <FIG>) is in communication with the water outlet and abuts one end of the elastic body <NUM>. The other end of the elastic body <NUM> is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the housing <NUM>.

Housing portion <NUM> is received in an open end of housing portion <NUM> and seal <NUM> seals between second housing portion <NUM> and first housing portion <NUM>. A tab <NUM> on second housing portion <NUM> is received in an opening <NUM> of first housing portion <NUM> to secure second housing portion <NUM> to first housing portion <NUM>. Housing portion <NUM> further includes a window <NUM> through which second housing portion <NUM> is visible. In examples, second housing portion <NUM> is optically translucent so an operator may visually see a position of valve core <NUM> from an exterior of filter device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, a valve core <NUM>, and an elastic body <NUM>. The valve core <NUM> is disposed at a movable end of the elastic body <NUM> and is the movable part. One side <NUM> of the elastic body <NUM> facing away from the movable end abuts an internal wall <NUM> of a receiver <NUM> and is in fluid communication with the water outlet of filter element <NUM> through opening <NUM> in wall <NUM>. Thus, the side of valve core <NUM> contacting elastic body <NUM> is also in fluid communication with the water outlet of filter element <NUM>. The elastic body <NUM> and the valve core <NUM> are disposed in the housing <NUM> which itself is received in an open end of receiver <NUM>. A seal <NUM> is carried by housing <NUM> and seals the connection between housing <NUM> and receiver <NUM>. Housing <NUM> may be coupled to receiver <NUM> through fasteners, retainers, clips, adhesive, and other suitable couplers.

The other side <NUM> of the valve core <NUM> is in communication with the water inlet of filter element <NUM> through a water inlet hole <NUM> in receiver <NUM> and a water inlet hole <NUM> on the housing <NUM>. According to a pressure difference in the water impinging on one side <NUM> of valve core <NUM> and other side <NUM> of valve core <NUM>, the valve core <NUM> may be located in different positions.

The housing <NUM> is disposed with an indication sticker <NUM>. Valve core <NUM> covers the indication sticker <NUM> with different areas when the valve core <NUM> is located in different positions. In examples, housing <NUM> is made of an optically translucent material so that indication sticker <NUM> is visible through a window <NUM> in receiver <NUM>.

By setting the indication sticker <NUM>, the user can judge a use condition of the filter element <NUM> more intuitively. For example, different areas of the indication sticker <NUM> may be set to different colors. If a green color area is exposed, it is judged that the filter element <NUM> is still in a healthy state. If a yellow color area is exposed, it means that the filter element <NUM> is a little dirty. If a red color area is exposed, it means that the filter element <NUM> needs to be replaced. An advantage thereof, is a simple and clear approach to assessing the condition of the filter element.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> is shown. Prompt assembly <NUM> is the same as prompt assembly <NUM> except that indication sticker <NUM> is removed and replaced with a magnet <NUM> carried by valve core <NUM> which interfaces with a sensor carried by a circuit board <NUM> supported by housing <NUM>. The sensor of circuit board <NUM> may judge a position of the valve core <NUM> to send a prompt signal through based on the relative position between the magnet <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>. Exemplary sensors include Hall effect sensors.

The prompt signal is a light signal, a sound signal or an APP prompt signal of a smart terminal. In this way, the user can know whether the filter element <NUM> needs to be replaced without observing the valve core <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> comprises a pulling rod <NUM>, a convex shell <NUM>, and a housing <NUM>. The convex shell <NUM> is swingingly connected to the pulling rod <NUM> at an eccentric position. The housing <NUM> has an observation window for observing a position of the convex shell <NUM>. The observation window may be an opening or an optically translucent portion of <NUM>.

When the filter element <NUM> is in a contaminated state, two ends of the pulling rod <NUM> move along an axial direction <NUM> of the pulling rod <NUM> due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to pull the convex shell <NUM> to swing. In this way, the user only needs to observe the position of the convex shell <NUM> to know whether the filter element needs to be replaced due to contamination or not. A bottom side of pulling rod <NUM> is in fluid communication with either of the water inlet or the water outlet of filter element <NUM> through opening <NUM> and the top side of pulling rod <NUM> is in fluid communication with the other of the water inlet or the water outlet of filter element <NUM> through openings <NUM>. Pulling rod <NUM> is biased by a biasing member <NUM> to a nominal position.

Referring to <FIG>, a base <NUM> receives pulling rod <NUM> through opening <NUM>. The second protruding column <NUM> of convex shell <NUM> includes a reduced diameter portion and a pin on the backside of convex shell <NUM> (not shown) which are received in openings <NUM> of upstanding protrusions <NUM> of base <NUM> to rotatably fix convex shell <NUM> to base <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, an elastic bladder <NUM> is coupled to pulling rod <NUM> and is captured between base <NUM> and a cap <NUM> secured to housing <NUM>. Elastic bladder <NUM> separates a lower side of pulling rod <NUM> which is in fluid communication with opening <NUM> in cap <NUM> from an upper side of pulling rod <NUM> which is in fluid communication with apertures <NUM> in housing <NUM>.

In order to realize the connection between the convex shell <NUM> and the pulling rod <NUM>, the convex shell <NUM> comprises a first protruding column <NUM> located at the eccentric position and the pulling rod <NUM> comprises a buckle slot <NUM> configured to matched with the first protruding column <NUM>. The buckle slot <NUM> extends along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pulling rod <NUM>. The convex shell <NUM> further comprises a second protruding column <NUM> located at an axis of the convex shell <NUM> and the pulling rod <NUM> comprises a position-providing groove <NUM> along the axial direction of the pulling rod <NUM>. When the convex shell <NUM> swings, the second protruding column <NUM> moves in the position-providing groove <NUM>, and the first protruding column <NUM> moves in the buckle slot <NUM>.

In addition, in order to realize that after the filter element <NUM> is replaced, the pulling rod <NUM> may drive the convex shell <NUM> to automatically be reset to an initial position due to pulling rod <NUM> being connected with a reset elastic member <NUM>. When the two ends of the pulling rod <NUM> move along the axial direction <NUM> of the pulling rod <NUM> due to the rise of the pressure at the water inlet of filter element <NUM> or the drop of the pressure at the water outlet of filter element <NUM>, the reset elastic member <NUM> is squeezed to generate elastic reset force. After the filter element is replaced in this way, a pressure difference between the two ends of the pulling rod <NUM> disappears, and the pulling rod <NUM> is automatically reset to an initial position due to the reset elastic member <NUM>, which also drives the convex shell <NUM> to automatically reset to the initial position.

In this example, the reset elastic member <NUM> may be an elastic member, or a retractable elastic bladder or a combination thereof.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> in this example comprises a pulling rod <NUM>, a dial <NUM>, and a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has an observation window for observing a relative position between the dial <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

The pulling rod <NUM> and the dial <NUM> are connected by a direction-changing member, illustratively a slider pin <NUM> carried by pulling rod <NUM> and corresponding grooves <NUM> on a support <NUM> coupled to housing <NUM>). The direction-changing member is used to enable a translation of the pulling rod <NUM> along an axial direction <NUM> of the pulling rod <NUM> to be changed to a rotation of the dial <NUM> around an axis <NUM> of the dial <NUM>.

Each of pulling rod <NUM> and dial <NUM> are received in a base <NUM> of housing <NUM>. Base <NUM> includes a support <NUM> for dial <NUM> which maintains dial <NUM> up towards the upper surface of housing <NUM>. An elastic bladder <NUM> is coupled to pulling rod <NUM> and captured between pulling rod <NUM> and a cap <NUM> of housing <NUM>. A bottom side of pulling rod <NUM> is in fluid communication with either of the water inlet or the water outlet of filter element <NUM> through opening <NUM> and the top side of pulling rod <NUM> is in fluid communication with the other of the water inlet or the water outlet of filter element <NUM> through openings <NUM>. Pulling rod <NUM> is biased by a biasing member <NUM> to a nominal position.

When the filter element <NUM> is in a contaminated state, slider pin <NUM> of the pulling rod <NUM> move along the axial direction <NUM> due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to drive the dial <NUM> to rotate. The user can judge whether the filter element <NUM> needs to be replaced due to dirt by observing a relative position between the dial <NUM> and the observation window.

In order to achieve effect of direction changing, the dial <NUM> has a cylinder <NUM> that is operatively coupled to pulling rod <NUM>. The direction-changing member comprises a spiral guide rail <NUM> disposed on the cylinder and a slider <NUM> disposed on the pulling rod <NUM>. The slider <NUM> is operatively coupled to the spiral guide rail <NUM>.

In order to automatically reset the dial <NUM> after the user replaces the filter element <NUM>, the pulling rod <NUM> is connected with a reset elastic member <NUM>. When slider pin <NUM> of the pulling rod <NUM> move along the axial direction <NUM> due to the rise of the pressure at the water inlet or the drop of the pressure at the water outlet, the reset elastic member <NUM> is squeezed to generate elastic reset force. After the filter element <NUM> is replaced in this way, a pressure difference between the two ends of the pulling rod <NUM> disappears, and the pulling rod <NUM> is automatically reset due to the reset elastic member <NUM>, which also drives the dial <NUM> to be automatically reset.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> comprises an eardrum or diaphragm <NUM>, a flow switch <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, and a valve stem <NUM>. One end of the valve stem <NUM> is operatively coupled to a convex surface of the diaphragm <NUM>. The flow switch <NUM> is fixedly connected to the valve stem <NUM>. The circuit board comprises a Hall element <NUM>.

When the filter element <NUM> is in a contaminated state, the convex surface of the diaphragm <NUM> is flattened due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet (which is in fluid communication with a top side of diaphragm <NUM>) or a drop of pressure at the water outlet (which is in fluid communication with a bottom side of diaphragm <NUM>) to drive the valve stem <NUM> and the flow switch <NUM> to move relative to the circuit board <NUM>, so as to make the flow switch <NUM> cooperate with the Hall element <NUM>.

In this technical solution, when the flow switch <NUM> and the Hall element <NUM> are aligned, the Hall element <NUM> will receive a characteristic of an electromagnetic signal, so as to identify different positions of the flow switch <NUM>. However, after the Hall element <NUM> receives the electromagnetic signal, it can be considered that the filter element <NUM> has to be replaced because it is in the contaminated state, and a prompt signal to replace the filter element <NUM> is issued. The prompt signal may be a visual signal, an audio signal, a tactile signal, a wireless signal, or combinations thereof. By arranging a plurality of Hall elements <NUM>, various prompt signals that the filter element is clean, dirty and must be replaced can be issued according to the different positions of the flow switch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary prompt assembly <NUM> comprises a micro switch <NUM>, a valve stem <NUM>, a diaphragm <NUM>, and a reset elastic member <NUM>. One end of the valve stem <NUM> is operatively coupled to the reset elastic member <NUM> and is positioned on an upper side of diaphragm <NUM> while reset elastic member <NUM> is positioned on a lower side of diaphragm <NUM>. The other end of the valve stem <NUM> is configured to cooperate with the micro switch <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. When the filter element <NUM> is in a contaminated state, the reset elastic member <NUM> is squeezed to drive the valve stem <NUM> to move to a second position shown in <FIG> due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet (top side of diaphragm <NUM>) or a drop of pressure at the water outlet (bottom side of diaphragm <NUM>), so as to make the other end of the valve stem <NUM> trigger the micro switch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary prompt structure <NUM> is shown which functions similar to prompt assembly <NUM>. The difference between prompt structure <NUM> and prompt assembly <NUM> is that the prompt assembly <NUM> is arranged outside the filter device, one end of prompt assembly <NUM> is connected to a water inlet port of the filter device <NUM>, and the other end of prompt assembly <NUM> is connected to water outlet of the filter device <NUM> such as through a flexible hose. In this example, prompt structure <NUM> is disposed in the filter device <NUM> and is located below the filter element <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary prompt structure <NUM> is shown which functions similar to prompt assembly <NUM>. The difference between prompt structure <NUM> and prompt assembly <NUM> is that prompt assembly <NUM> is arranged outside the filter device <NUM>, one end of prompt assembly <NUM> is connected to the water inlet of the filter device <NUM>, and the other end of prompt assembly <NUM> is connected to the water outlet of filter device <NUM>, such as through a flexible hose. Prompt assembly <NUM> is disposed in the filter device <NUM> and is located below the filter element <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A contamination prompt structure for a filter medium, comprising:
a filter element (<NUM>), and
a prompt assembly (<NUM>), wherein the prompt assembly comprises a movable part, one end of the movable part is in communication with a water inlet (<NUM>) of the filter element, or a water outlet (<NUM>) of the filter element, another end of the movable part is in communication with the other one of the water inlet of the filter element and the water outlet of the filter element, or outside air, when the filter element is in a contaminated state, a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet drives the movable part to move to send a prompt for a user to replace the filter element, wherein the prompt assembly further comprises: a pulling rod (<NUM>), a convex shell (<NUM>), and a housing (<NUM>), the convex shell is swingingly connected to the pulling rod at an eccentric position, the housing has an observation window for observing a position of the convex shell, and when the filter element is in the contaminated state, the two ends of the pulling rod move along an axial direction (<NUM>) of the pulling rod due to a rise of pressure at the water inlet or a drop of pressure at the water outlet to pull the convex shell to swing.