Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
Filter cartridge and apparatus for the filtration of
liquids
Description
The invention relates to an apparatus for the
filtration of liquids in accordance with the preamble
of patent Claim 1. The invention also relates to a
filter cartridge for an apparatus of this type.
Filter cartridges are to be understood as meaning on
the one hand cartridges which have a screen-like
formation for mechanical filtration. On the other hand,
filter cartridges are also to be understood as meaning
cartridges which, in addition to a screen-like
formation, contain at lest one filter medium, e.g. in
granule form, which is used for the chemical and/or
mechanical removal of organic and/or inorganic
contaminants and/or to lower the levels of such
contaminants. Filter cartridges equipped in this way
therefore allow non-mechanical filtration, which may be
combined with mechanical filtration. These filter
cartridges are used to optimize water, the term
optimization being understood as meaning mechanical
and/or non-mechanical filtration. This includes, for
example, softening and decalcification of drinking
water.
A very wide range of embodiments of apparatuses for the
filtration of liquids are known.
By way of example, there are filter apparatuses with
spherical filter cartridges, which are screwed onto the
inlet funnel from below by means of a bayonet catch, as
described in WO 2004/014519 A2.
DE 199 05 601 A1 has disclosed an apparatus for the
treatment of liquids, having an inlet funnel which has
a receiving opening with a sealing rim. The filter
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cartridge is likewise fitted into~the receiving opening
from below and is pressed into the receiving opening by
means of a separate securing ring. For this purpose,
the filter cartridge is provided with a groove on the
cartridge upper part below the sealing rim; the lower
portion of the securing ring engages in this groove.
The upper portion of the securing ring is guided in a
groove of a connection piece formed integrally on the
funnel base. The filter cartridge is complex to install
and remove, requiring particular skill on the part of
the operator.
Other embodiments provide for the inlet funnel to have,
in its base wall, a receiving opening, into which the
filter cartridge is fitted from above. The filter
cartridge generally has a-conical sealing rim, which
bears against the edge of the receiving opening. The
filter cartridge may~become tilted during insertion, so
that the intended sealing position is not adopted.
DE 199 158 29 A1 has disclosed a filter cartridge and
an apparatus for treating liquids, in which the sealing
rim has additional latching means, which interact with
corresponding latching means in the region of the
opening in the base of the inlet funnel. The latching
means are brought into engagement with one another by a
rotational movement.
In this embodiment, the filter cartridge is held only
at the edge and is located in the filtrate space. If
the apparatus is a kettle; therefore, the filter
cartridge is also in the boiling space, which means
that the filter cartridge could be damaged during the
heating of the filtered liquid. Therefore, it is
desirable for the filter cartridge to be arranged such
that it is shielded from the filtrate space or boiling
space.
Inlet funnels with a receiving chamber for the filter
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cartridge are used to remedy this problem. In this
design too, the conical sealing rim of the filter
cartridge bears against the rim of the receiving
opening in the base wall of the inlet funnel.
The peripheral and base wall of the filter cartridge is
arranged at a distance from the peripheral and base
wall of the receiving chamber, so that during
filtration, although filtered liquid can collect in
this intermediate space, this liquid does not limit the
quantitative flow through the apparatus. An outflow
opening provided with a closure element is located in
the base wall of the receiving chamber.
DE 198 46 583 A1 has disclosed a water filter device of
this type, with a collection can and a heating element.
The inlet funnel has a receiving chamber, into which
the filter cartridge is fitted from above. The
receiving chamber is formed by a filter insert, which
may be fixedly connected to the inlet funnel or can be
fitted into the receiving opening. The filter insert is
matched to the conical shape of the filter cartridge
and forms a guide element for the filter cartridge.
Since the peripheral wall of the filter cartridge bears
against the filter insert over its full surface, the
two components can only be separated from one another
with difficulty, in particular if the user pushes the
filter cartridge too deep into the filter insert. On
account of the fact that two conical surfaces are
sliding along one another, it is not clear to the user
when he has reached the limit position which is
required for optimum seating of the filter cartridge
and defines the sealing position of the filter
cartridge.
In all the known fi-lter apparatuses, it is necessary
for the filter cartridge to be matched to the desired
quantitative flow.
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WO 01/09040 A1 has disclosed a drinking bottle with
built-in filter cartridge. A cylindrical insert with a
seat for the filter cartridge formed in its base wall
is located in the upper section of the bottle. The base
wall has a circular opening with a conical sealing rim
which opens downwards, and the corresponding sealing
rim of the cartridge has to be inserted into this
opening from below. In addition, the filter cartridge
is held by a cup-shaped element which is secured to the
base of the bottle and in which the base of the filter
cartridge engages. As a result, although the filter
cartridge is held securely in any position of the
bottle, replacement of the filter cartridge entails
removing the insert.
US 4,020,350 describes a filter system which is
connected to a water pipe via two connections. The
filter system comprises a housing upper part and a
housing lower part, which are screwed together after
the filter cartridge has been fitted. The cover and
base wall of the filter cartridge have cup-shaped
indentations, in which correspondingly shaped
connection pieces of the housing parts for supplying
the unfiltered liquid and removing the filtered liquid,
engage. To change the filter cartridge, the two housing
parts have to be unscrewed.
It is an object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for the filtration of liquids and an
associated filter cartridge which is simple to fit yet
has a defined sealing position in the inlet funnel.
This object is achieved by an apparatus in which the
sealing rim is a snap-action rim which is connected to
one of the two cartridge parts via an integral hinge,
it being possible for the snap-action rim to be flipped
from a first, lower snap-action position into an upper,
second snap-action position and vice versa, and the
funnel base wall having a sealing seat, which surrounds
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the receiving opening and into which the snap-action
rim snaps in its second position.
With the snap-action rim in its lower snap-action
position, the filter cartridge is fitted into the
receiving opening from above and pressed downwards
until the snap-action rim flips upwards and in the
process snaps into the sealing seat. The sealing seat
is matched to the snap-action rim in such a manner that
when the snap-action rim has snapped into place, the
filter cartridge bears in a sealing manner against the
edge of the receiving opening and is fixed in place.
The snap-action indicates to the user that the filter
cartridge has adopted its predetermined sealing
position.
This prevents both incorrect positioning by the user
and slipping of the filter cartridge during transport.
To remove the filter cartridge, it is simply pulled out
upwards, during which operation the snap-action rim
flips into its lower snap-action position.
The snap-action rim is preferably formed by a flat edge
strip which extends outwards in the radial direction.
In the case of a filter cartridge in which the
cartridge upper part has an outwardly facing first
securing flange and the cartridge lower part has an
outwardly facing second securing flange, via which the
two cartridge parts are connected to one another, the
snap-action rim is preferably connected to one of the
two securing flanges by way of the integral hinge.
The sealing seat at the inlet funnel is matched to this
snap-action rim. It is preferable for the sealing seat
to merge into a conically protruding rim section with
an inwardly open abutment section, on which the outer
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edge of the snap-action rim engages.
The abutment section may be a groove or a step with at
least one inclined surface.
It is preferable for the inlet funnel to have at least
one first fixing means below the receiving opening, and
for the filter cartridge to have at least one second
fixing means below and at a distance from the sealing
rim; when the filter cartridge is being fitted into the
receiving opening, the at least one second fixing means
interacts with the first fixing means.
The filter cartridge can preferably be fitted into the
receiving opening in its axial direction.
The fixing means are arranged in such a manner that
during interaction they make an additional contribution
to defining the sealing position of the filter
cartridge, i.e. when the fixing means interact, the
sealing rim of the filter cartridge is guided into its
intended position and ultimately bears against the edge
of the receiving opening.
The interaction of the fixing means is associated with
a resistance, which is likewise perceptible to the user
when he is fitting the filter cartridge and indicates
to the user that the intended position of the filter
cartridge has been reached.
Since the fixing means also contribute to defining the
sealing position of the filter cartridge, it is
advantageous if the distance between sealing rim and
fixing means is selected to be as great as possible.
This prevents the filter cartridge from tilting or
being incorrectly positioned.
Therefore, the second fixing means are preferably
arranged on the lower half, preferably in the bottom
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
third, of the filter cartridge, in particular in the
region of the base wall of the filter cartridge.
The first and/or second fixing means may be spacer
elements and/or guide elements and/or latching
elements. This means that a fixing means can perform
one or more functions, and that it is also possible for
a plurality of fixing means of different configurations
to be realized in an apparatus.
The fixing means are preferably projections or
recesses. The projections or recesses may be
cylindrical, conical or frustoconical in form. These
forms also include, for example, indentations and
protuberances or beads.
In the case of latching elements, latching bosses,
latching recesses or annular beads are preferred.
In the simplest case, the fixing means may be spacer
elements. By way of example, at least one outwardly
facing projection may preferably be formed integrally
on the base wall of the filter cartridge as second
fixing means, which projection, during fitting of the
filter cartridge, is seated on a holding element which
is arranged on the inlet funnel and forms the first
fixing means.
The first fixing means may, for example, also be the
base wall of a receiving chamber arranged at the inlet
funnel.
Conversely, by way of example', it is also possible for
the holding element, which may form the base wall of
the receiving chamber, to have at least one inwardly
facing projection, which interacts with the base wall
of the filter cartridge, which in this case forms the
second fixing means.
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
The fixing means may also be guide elements, which
means that the filter cartridge is guided into its
intended position when it is being fitted. By way of
example, projections and recesses, in particular
indentations on the filter cartridge and on the holding
element which, by way of example, may be cylindrical,
conical or frustoconical in form, are suitable for this
purpose.
According to a further embodiment, the fixing means may
also be latching elements which engage in one another
as they interact. The latching or snapping into place
is generally associated with a noise which indicates to
the user that the filter cartridge has reached its
intended position.
The fixing means are preferably matched to one another
in such a manner that fitting the filter cartridge in
the axial direction is sufficient to bring the fixing
means together. Therefore, there is no need either for
rotary, tilting or other movements of the filter
cartridge or for additional components, such as
securing rings or ' the' like, which overall makes
insertion of the filter cartridge user-friendly.
Furthermore, the fixing means are matched to one
another in such a manner that they can be detached from
one another without particular effort when the filter
cartridge is being exchanged.
This is achieved, inter alia, by the contacting
surfaces of the fixing means being kept small in the
case of guide elements, in order to prevent the filter
cartridge from jamming or sticking in place.
If the fixing means are designed as latching elements,
the latching or clamping forces are kept low, in such a
manner that the fiTter~ cartridge can be removed by
simply being pulled out of the receiving opening in the
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axial direction. The latching elements are therefore
preferably designed in such a manner that an axial
movement of the filter cartridge is sufficient to fit
or remove it.
It is preferable for the first fixing means to be
arranged on a holding element arranged at the underside
of the funnel base wall. A holding element of this type
may be designed in various- ways. A holding element in
the form of a holding bracket which spans the receiving
opening below the latter is preferred.
According to a further embodiment, the holding element
may be a receiving chamber which is arranged in the
funnel base wall, has at least one outflow opening and
has a base wall and a peripheral wall.
Preferably, the base wall of the receiving chamber has
at least one first indentation, and the base wall of
the filter cartridge has at least one second
indentation, which engages over the first indentation.
These two indentations may interact in a sliding manner
and thereby form guide elements. Moreover, these
indentations may also be 'provided with latching
elements which engage in one another when the filter
cartridge is being fitted.
Preferably, the first indentation is a cylindrical or
frustoconical hollow body, which is formed integrally
on the base wall of the receiving chamber, faces
inwards and has at least one inwardly facing first
bead, which is in the shape of an arc of a circle and
leaves clear at least one outflow opening, arranged on
its free edge, wherein an outwardly facing mandrel,
which engages in the cylindrical or frustoconical
hollow body when fitting the filter cartridge, is
arranged in the second indentation.
In this embodiment, the first guide element is formed
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by the at least one bead, which is in the form of an
arc of a circle and slides along the outer side of the
mandrel when the filter cartridge is being inserted.
The bead does not extend over the entire inner
periphery of the hollow body, and consequently a free
space remains which, after fitting of the mandrel,
which represents the second guide element, forms the
outflow opening. A plurality of arcuate beads or bead
segments may be arranged at a distance from one another
in the peripheral direction, so that a plurality of
outflow openings are created.
According to a further embodiment, the mandrel has at
least one second bead in the shape of an arc of a
circle on its outer side, which second bead engages
behind the first bead during fitting of the filter
cartridge. In this case, the first and second beads
form latching elements.
It is preferable for the hollow body and the mandrel
each to be arranged centrally. This arrangement has the
advantage that in each case only one fixing means is
required, and as a result the space required for the
fixing means can be kept small, and consequently more
volume is available for the filter medium.
It is preferable for the receiving chamber to have the
first indentation in the region of base and peripheral
wall and for the filter cartridge to have the second
indentation likewise in the base and peripheral wall.
The first and second indentations may preferably be
cuboidal in form, so that the two indentations each
have two side walls, one end wall and one covering
wall. The two indentations may be in the form of guide
elements which engage in one another or slide into one
another.
It is advantageous if the first indentation has first
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latching means on two side walls and the second
indentation has second latching means on two side
walls. This embodiment has the advantage that it is
possible to realize greater latching forces, for
example in devices in which water is heated. The two
indentations may have different dimensions, which
brings the advantage that there is only one possible
position for the filter cartridge.
Fixing means in the form of guide elements in
combination with the snap-action rim are inherently
sufficient. Fixing means in the form of latching
elements could be regarded as disadvantageous, in so
far as with so-called double latching at the sealing
rim and, for example, in the base region, the
production costs are high on account of the need to
maintain tolerances. However, this does not
fundamentally rule out the combination of snap-action
rim and latching elements.
The snap-action rim allows accurate positioning of the
filter cartridge, so that not only is the optimum
position of the sealing rim at the receiving opening
ensured, but also a defined distance can be set between
the filter cartridge and the wall of the receiving
chamber. The cross section of the flow passage between
outlet opening of the filter cartridge and outflow
opening of the receiving chamber can thus likewise be
set in a targeted way.
This also enables a throttling device to be arranged
between the outlet opening in the filter cartridge and
the outflow opening in the receiving chamber.
The quantitative flow through the filter cartridge
substantially depends on the type of filter medium and
the size of the outlet openings) in the filter
cartridge. Depending on the particular application, for
example in filter systems of which a high performance
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is demanded of the filter medium, it may be necessary
to reduce the quantitative flow which is predetermined
by the filter cartridge. To achieve this, hitherto the
cartridge has been modified, i.e. suitable filter
cartridges had to be produced and kept in stock for
every desired quantitative flow. The advantage of the
throttling device is firstly that only one type of
filter cartridge is required, and the quantitative flow
can be set by selecting a suitable receiving chamber or
a suitable inlet funnel.
Secondly, it is advantageous with this configuration
that if the cartridge is not present the appliance can
be operated without any flow restrictions.
It is preferable for the throttling device to be
designed in such a manner that the quantitative flow
delivered by the filter cartridge can be reduced by
more than 0 up to 95~, in particular by 10 to 80~,
particularly preferably by 20 to 70~.
It is preferable for the filter cartridge to be
arranged in the region between outlet opening and
outflow opening, at a distance from the peripheral wall
and/or base wall of the receiving chamber, thereby
forming a flow passage. The minimum cross section of
the flow passage then forms the throttling device.
The cross section of the flow passage can be accurately
set by the fixing means.
A preferred embodiment provides for at least one fixing
means to form the throttling device. By way of example,
if a spacer element formed integrally on the filter
cartridge or the receiving chamber is arranged in the
flow passage, the cross section is reduced at this
location. The action of the throttling device can
easily be set by means of the dimensions of one or more
spacer elements of this type.
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It is preferable for the indentations of filter
cartridge and receiving chamber to be arranged at a
distance from one another at least in subregions, so
that a reduced cross section of flow, which forms the
throttling device, is set between the indentations.
Alternatively, the outflow opening or outflow openings
may form the throttling device, in which case the cross
section of the outflow opening/openings is smaller than
the cross section of the outlet opening/outlet openings
in the filter cartridge.
A preferred embodiment provides for the cross section
of the outflow opening/outflow openings defined by the
bead or beads on the cylindrical or frustoconical
hollow body to be selected in such a way that
this/these outflow openings) has/have a throttling
action.
For a predetermined filter cartridge, the throttling
device may be adjustable by selecting a receiving
chamber of suitable dimensions or with a suitable cross
section of the outflow opening.
The desired quantitative. flow can therefore be set by
means of the inlet funnel, which is advantageous in
that the inflow funnel, unlike the filter cartridge,
does not represent a consumable item. The consumable
item formed by the filter cartridge only has to be
produced and kept in stock in one design, and the
quantitative flow can be defined by the selection of
inlet funnel. This makes it possible to significantly
reduce the manufacturing costs of the apparatus and the
costs of spares.
It is preferable for the outflow opening in the
receiving chamber to be arranged above the outlet
opening in the filter cartridge, so as to create a
siphon-like arrangement. A siphon-like arrangement of
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this type has the advantage, in particular in
conjunction with the throttling device, that the filter
medium is kept moist even in the event of breaks in
filtration, and therefore its full operational
readiness is ensured even without renewed conditioning.
The filter cartridge, which can be fitted into the
inlet funnel and has a cartridge upper part with at
least one inlet opening, a cartridge lower part with at
20 least one outlet opening and a sealing rim, is
characterized in that the sealing rim is a snap-action
rim which is connected to one of the two cartridge
parts via an integral hinge, it being possible for the
snap-action rim to be flipped from a first, lower snap-
action position into an upper, second snap-action
position and vice versa.
If the filter cartridge has a sealing flange on its
upper and lower parts, the snap-action rim is
preferably connected to one of the two securing flanges
by way of the integral hinge.
The snap-action rim is preferably formed by a flat edge
strip which is directed radially outwards.
It is preferable for the filter'cartridge to have at
least one fixing means arranged below and at a distance
from the sealing rim.
The fixing means dt the filter cartridge is preferably
a spacer element and/or guide element and/or latching
element. The fixing means may be recesses and
projections, the projections or recesses preferably
being cylindrical, conical or frustoconical in form.
The latching element may be a latching boss, a latching
recess or an annular bead.
The fixing means is preferably arranged in the region
of the lower half of the filter cartridge, preferably
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in the region of the bottom third and in particular in
the region of the base wall of the filter cartridge.
The cartridge lower part has at least one indentation,
with an outwardly facing mandrel preferably being
arranged in the indentation.
According to a further embodiment, the indentation may
also be cuboidal in form.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in
more detail below with reference to the drawings, in
which:
Figures 1a, b show vertical sections through an inlet
funnel with fitted filter cartridge in
accordance with two embodiments,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view, partially in
section, of an inlet funnel in
accordance with a further embodiment,
Figure 3 shows a vertical section through an
inlet funnel with fitted filter
cartridge in accordance with a further
embodiment, before the filter cartridge
has reached its limit position,
Figure 4 shows a section on line F-F through the
apparatus shown in Figure 3,
Figure 5 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of the region of the two indentations in
accordance with Figure 3,
Figure 6 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of the region of the two indentations
after the filter cartridge has been
fitted and positioned,
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Figure 7a shows a plan view of the frustoconical
hollow body in accordance with Figure 3,
Figure 7b shows a plan view of a frustoconical
hollow body in accordance with the a
further embodiment,
Figure 8 shows a vertical section through the
frustoconical hollow body on line H-H in
Figure 7b,
Figure 9 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of the lower region of the two
indentations in accordance with a
further embodiment, on line G-G through
the frustoconical hollow body in
Fig. 7a,
Figure 10 shows: a vertical section through a
filter cartridge,
Figure 11 shows a plan view of the filter
cartridge shown in Figure 10,
Figure 12 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of an edge region of the filter
cartridge illustrated in Figures 10 and
11,
Figure 13 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of a region of the receiving opening in
the inlet funnel,
Figure 14 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of the region of the receiving opening
in the inlet funnel with initially
positioned snap-action rim of a filter
cartridge,
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Figure 15 shows an enlarged illustration of the
region of the receiving opening of an
inlet funnel with the snap-action rim of
the filter cartridge snapped into
position,
Figure 16 shows a vertical section through the
region of. the receiving opening in the
inlet funnel in accordance with a
further embodiment,
Figure 17 shows a vertical section through an
inlet funnel with a fitted filter
cartridge in accordance with a further
embodiment,
Figure 18 shows a section on line B-B through the
apparatus shown in Figure 17,
Figure 19 shows an enlarged sectional illustration
of the region of the outflow opening of
the apparatus shown in Figure 17.
Figure 1a illustrates a vertical section through an
inlet funnel 10 with fitted filter cartridge 100. The
inlet funnel 10 has a peripheral wall 11, which merges
into a funnel base wall 12 which has a receiving
opening 13. A receiving chamber 14, which once again
has a peripheral wall 15 and a base wall 16, extends
downwards from the receiving opening 13 as holding
element 20.
The filter cartridge 100 is fitted into this receiving
chamber 14 axially from above; the filter cartridge 100
comprises a cartridge upper part 101 and a cartridge
lower part 110. The cartridge upper part 101 is
configured in the .shape of a roof and has inlet
openings 102. A sealing rim 160, which bears against
the sealing seat 60 of the inlet funnel 10 in the
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region of the receiving opening 13, is provided in the
connection region of cartridge upper part 101 and
cartridge lower part 110.
V,lhere this figure and the following figures show a
sealing rim 160, this may also be a snap-action rim 161
as illustrated in Figs. 10 to 16.
The cartridge lower part 110 of the filter cartridge
100 has a peripheral wall 111 and a base wall 112, in
which outflow openings 113 are arranged.
The receiving chamber 14 is configured in such a manner
that the peripheral wall 111 of the filter cartridge
100 is arranged at a distance from the peripheral wall
15 and from the base wall 16. Consequently, the
filtered liquid collects in the lower region of the
receiving chamber 14 and flows away via the outflow
openings 17 shown to the right and left in the figure.
The receiving chamber 14 with the peripheral wall 15
and the base wall 16 forms a holding element 20 for the
filter cartridge 100. A second fixing means 130, which
in the embodiment shown here forms a spacer element, is
formed integrally in the centre of the base wall 112 of
the filter cartridge 100. This second fixing element
130 bears against the inner side of the base wall 16,
which therefore performs the function of a first fixing
element 30.
The filter cartridge 100 is fitted into and removed
from the receiving chamber 14 of the inlet funnel 10 in
the axial direction, as indicated by the double arrow.
V~lhen the limit position provided during fitting is
reached, the second fixing means 130 bears against the
first fixing means 30, i.e. the base wall 16 of the
receiving chamber 14. The operator notices this as a
result of the resistance which then occurs, which
indicates to the operator that the limit position has
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been reached. In this limit position, the sealing rim
160 bears in a sealing manner against the sealing seat
60 of the receiving opening 13. As a result, the
optimum position of the filter cartridge 100 has been
reached.
Fig. 1b illustrates a further embodiment of the
apparatus, which differs from the apparatus shown in
Fig. 1a by virtue of the fact that two first fixing
means 30, in the form of indentations 31 designed as
spacer elements, are formed integrally on the inner
side of the base wall 16. The base wall 112 of the
filter cartridge 100 bears against these two spacer
elements 30.
In this embodiment, the base wall 112 performs the
function of the second fixing means 130.
The two first fixing means 30 are arranged in the flow
passage 201 between the outlet openings 113 and the
outflow openings 17 and at this location reduce the
cross section of flow. Depending on the particular
configuration and dimensions, the fixing elements 30 in
each case form a throttling device 200.
Figure 2 illustrates a further embodiment of an inlet
funnel 10, which does not have a receiving chamber 14,
but rather instead, as holding element 20, has a
holding bracket 21 which comprises the two
substantially vertical limbs 22a, b and a cross-bar 23.
This holding bracket 21 spans the receiving opening 13
below the receiving opening 13, so that a filter
cartridge (not shown) can be fitted. The dimensions of
the holding bracket 21 are matched to the dimensions of
the filter cartridge 100 to be fitted.
In the central region, the cross-bar 23 has a first
fixing element 30 in the form of a first indentation
31. This indentation 31 is conical in form and extends
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vertically upwards. The associated filter cartridge 100
(not shown), in the region of its base wall, has a
corresponding conical ,or frustoconical indentation
(second indentation 130), so that the two fixing
elements interact during fitting of the filter
cartridge 100 in the axial direction, in such a way as
to guide the filter cartridge. In this configuration,
the fixing elements 30, 130 serve as spacer elements
and guide elements.
Figure 3 illustrates a vertical section through a
further embodiment of the apparatus. The inlet funnel
10, of which the upper part has been omitted for the
sake of clarity, has a first indentation 31, which is
designed a frustoconical hollow body 32, arranged in
the centre of its base wall 16. A bead 34 in the form
of an arc of a circle is formed integrally on the inner
side of the free edge 33 of the hollow body 32, which
bead 34, as illustrated in Figure 7a, does not form a
continuous ring, but rather has a free space 18 which
forms the outflow opening 17 after the filter cartridge
has been fitted.
In its base wall 112, the filter cartridge 100 likewise
has an indentation 131 in which a mandrel 132, which
extends vertically downwards, is formed integrally.
V,Then the filter cartridge 100 is being fitted into the
receiving chamber 14, the mandrel 132 engages in the
frustoconical hollow body 32, with the outer surface
133 of the mandrel 132 sliding along the bead 34. In
this embodiment, the mandrel 132~and the bead 34 form
first and second fixing means 30, 130 which serve as
guide elements. The outflow opening 17 is formed
between the outer surface 133 of the mandrel 132 and
the wall 35 of the hollow body 32.
Figure 3 illustrates the filter cartridge 100 at the
start of the fitting operation. The sealing rim 160,
which in the embodiment shown here is designed as a
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snap-action rim 161, is therefore not yet in its limit
position. The snap-action rim 161 will be described
separately below.
Figure 4 illustrates a section on line F-F through the
apparatus shown in Figure 3. It can be seen from this
figure that the mandrel 132 bears against the bead 34
in the form of an arc of a circle and at this location
also forms a seal apart from the outflow opening 17
(which is not visible in Fig. 4).
Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged view of the lower
region of filter cartridge 100 and receiving chamber
14, illustrating the fitting state in accordance with
Figure 3. The second indentation 131 has a base wall
134a and an annular wall 134b, which extends upwards
from the base wall 112. Spacer ribs 139 are formed
integrally on the underside of the base wall 134a.
In Figure 6, the filter cartridge 100 has reached its
limit position and therefore its sealing position. A
flow passage 201 is formed between the base wall 112 of
the filter cartridge 100 and the base wall 16 of the
receiving chamber 14 and merges, in the region of the
two indentations 31, 131, into a rising annular passage
202 which is formed between wall 35 of the hollow body
32 and the annular wall 134b. The cross section of the
annular passage 202 is smaller than that of the flow
passage 201, so that a throttling device 200' is
formed.
However, the annular passage 202 only forms the
throttling device 200' if the outflow opening 17 has a
significantly larger cross section. In the embodiment
3 5 shown here , there i s only a s ingl a out f low opening 17 ,
which has a smaller cross section of flow than the
cross section of the annular passage 202, and
consequently the outflow opening 17 can be equated to
the throttling device 200'. The two fixing elements 30,
r
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
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130 in the form of the annular bead 34 and in the form
of the mandrel 132 therefore form the throttling device
200 in the assembled state. The spacer ribs 139 bear
against the end face 39 of the hollow body 32 and
therefore, as spacer elements, form second fixing means
130.
Figure 7b illustrates a further embodiment of the
hollow body 32, which differs from the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 7a by virtue of the fact that a
total of four beads 34 in the form of arcs of a circle
are arranged spaced apart from one another, so that
free spaces 18 for the outflow openings 17 in each case
remain between the beads 34. V~hether the combination of
l5 these outflow openings form a throttling device 200
depends on the cross-sectional dimensions of the flow
passage, in particular of the annular passage 202 in
the region of the frustoconical hollow body 32.
Figure 8 illustrates the hollow body 32 in vertical
section on line H-H in Fig. 7b. The triangular shape of
the arcuate beads 34 has the advantage of minimizing
the surface area of the contact surface with the
mandrel that is to be introduced, so that the
frictional forces are correspondingly low and the
filter cartridge can be fitted and removed without
difficulty.
Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment, in which the
mandrel 132 is likewise provided with a bead (second
bead) 135 on its outer surface. In this case, the
section through the frustoconical hollow body 32 is
taken on line G-G from Fig. 7a. When the filter
cartridge l00 is being fitted, the mandrel 132 engages
in the hollow body 32, with the annular bead 135
engaging behind the bead 34 when the spacer ribs 139
are bearing against the end face 39. Free spaces (not
visible in this figure) are provided between the spacer
ribs 139, so that the liquid can flow to the outflow
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
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opening 17. In this embodiment, the beads 34 and 135
form latching elements, and the spacer ribs 139 form
spacer elements, with the end face 39 of the hollow
body 32, as first fixing means 30, forming a stop.
Figure 10 illustrates a vertical section through a
filter cartridge 100 in order to explain the function
of the sealing rim 160 in conjunction with the
following figures. The cartridge upper part 101 has a
securing flange 120, which is joined to the securing
flange 121 of the cartridge lower part 110, preferably
by welding. The securing flange 120 extends radially
outwards and has an integral hinge 162, via which the
snap-action rim 161 is attached in jointed fashion. The
snap-action rim 161 is formed by a flat edge strip
directed radially outwards.
Figure 10 illustrates the snap-action rim 161 in its
lower position. As illustrated in Figure 11, the snap-
action rim 161 is designed to run continuously all the
way around, as is the integral hinge 162. A dead centre
has to be overcome when the snap-action rim is being
flipped from a lower snap-action position into an upper
snap-action position.
Figure 12 illustrates the snap-action rim 161 on an
enlarged scale. The integral hinge 162 is formed as an
encircling groove 163 ori~ the underside of the securing
flange 120.
Figure 13 illustrates the corresponding receiving
opening 13 in section and on an enlarged scale. The
sealing seat 60 with which the snap-action rim 161
interacts during fitting of the filter cartridge has a
comically protruding edge section 61, which merges into
the abutment section 62, which in the embodiment shown
in Figure 13 is designed as a groove 63. The groove 63
is open on the radially inner side, so that the snap-
action rim 161 can engage therein, as can be seen in
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
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the following Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 14 illustrates the start of the snap-action
process . The snap-action rim 161 is still in its lower
position and is engaging against the conically
protruding edge section 61.
As the filter cartridge 100 continues to be lowered,
the snap-action rim 161 is moved into its upper
position, with the outer edge 164 of the snap-action
rim 161 engaging in the groove 63, as illustrated in
Figure 15. There is no need for the whole of the
surface of the snap-action rim 161 to bear against the
surface 61. Sealing is effected in the region of the
groove 63.
Figure 16 illustrates an alternative to the groove 63.
The abutment section 62 comprises a step 64 which has a
substantially horizontal surface 66 and an inwardly
inclined surface 65.
Figure 17 illustrates a vertical section through an
inlet funnel 10 with fitted cartridge 100 in accordance
with a further embodiment. The filter cartridge 100 has
a conventional sealing rim 160, which bears against the
sealing seat 60 in the region of the receiving opening
13. Two cuboidal indentations 36 and 37 are formed
integrally in the peripheral wall 15 and the base wall
16 of the receiving chamber 14. These indentations 36,
37 each have two side walls 40, 41 (not visible), an
end wall 42 and a covering wall 43. The outflow opening
17 is located in the end wall 42.
The cartridge 100 also has corresponding indentations
136 and 137, which are likewise cuboidal in design,
with side walls 140, 141 (not visible in Fig. 17) , end
wall 142 and covering wall 143, with the mutually
corresponding walls of cartridge and receiving chamber
being arranged at a distance from one another, so that
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
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flow passages 201 are formed between the walls.
Figure 18 illustrates a section on Line B-B. Fixing
means 30, 130 in the form of latching elements are
provided in the two side walls 40, 41, 140, 141 of the
cuboidal indentations 36, 136. The latching elements
are latching bosses 38 which engage in corresponding
latching recesses 138.
This configuration of the latching elements is to be
found on both cuboidal indentations 36, 37, 136, 137.
Figure 19 shows an enlarged illustration of the
cuboidal indentations 37, 137.
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List of designations
Inlet funnel
11 Peripheral wall
12 Funnel base wall
13 Receiving opening
14 Receiving chamber
Peripheral wall
16 Base wall
17 Outflow opening
18 Free space
Holding element
21 Holding bracket
22a, b Limb
23 Cross-bar
First fixing means
31 First indentation
32 Frustoconical hollow body
33 Free edge
34 Bead in the form of an arc of a circle
Wall of the hollow body
36 Cuboidal indentation
37 Cuboidal indentation
38 Latching boss
39 End face
Side wall
41 Side wall
42 End wall
43 Covering wall
60 Sealing seat
61 Conically protruding edge section
62 Abutment section
63 Groove
64 Step
65 Inclined surface
66 Horizontal surface
100 Filter cartridge
101 Cartridge upper part
102 Inlet opening
CA 02555163 2006-07-31
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110 Cartridge lower part
111 Peripheral wall
112 Base wall
113 Outlet opening
120 Securing flange on upper part
121 Securing flange on lower part
130 Second fixing means
131 Second indentation
132 Mandrel
133 Outer surface
134a Base wall
134b Annular wall
135 Second bead
136 Cuboidal indentation
137 Cuboidal indentation
138 Latching recess
139 Spacer rib
140 Side wall
141 Side wall
142 End wall
143 Covering wall
160 Sealing rim
161 Snap-action rim
162 Integral hinge
163 Encircling groove
164 Outer edge
200, 200' Throttling~device
201 Flow passage
202 Annular passage
