Patent Application
20070158258
The invention relates to filtration manifold systems.
Typically, the food service industry uses a single filtration system to reduce particulates, chemicals, and organisms from water used in carbonated and non-carbonated beverages and to reduce scale build-up in ice and/or coffee. For example, a restaurant may use 5,000 gallons (18,925 L) of water to make carbonated beverages and another 20,000 gallons (75,700 L) to make ice and/or coffee annually. Therefore, use of a single water filtration system commonly requires a 25,000-30,000 gallon (94,625-99,625 L) capacity at a flow rate of 4 to 5 gallons per minute (15.1 to 18.9 L per minute).
However, the use of such standard filtration systems can cause bio-film to grow inside an ice machine for example. This is because standard filtration systems commonly remove chlorine/chloramine in addition to cysts and particulates from chlorinated municipal drinking water. Moreover, the use of a chlorine reduction filter for ice machines can be considered a waste, because chlorine does not need to be removed from water used in ice machines. One solution is to install a separate and specific filtration system before each point of use. Although effective, such installations increase the cost of filtering and require inventories of multiple types of filtration cartridges which may be accidentally used improperly on the wrong filtration system.
In one aspect, the invention provides a manifold system capable of providing multiple effluent streams, with each having a different water quality due to different impurities being removed in each effluent stream.
In one embodiment, the invention provides an integral manifold assembly comprising:
The manifold systems of the invention are capable of providing multiple qualities of effluent. Multiple qualities of effluent are obtained by passing an inlet fluid into a manifold assembly including an integral manifold having multiple fluid channels and fluid outlets and at least one filter for each channel and outlet. For example, the integral manifold may have one source fluid inlet and two fluid outlets. Fluid from the inlet is directed through a first channel that directs the fluid through a first filter cartridge to a first fluid outlet and through a second channel through a second filter cartridge to a second filter outlet. For example, the first filter may be adapted to reduce cysts, particulates, turbity, and scale. And the second filter may be adapted to reduce cysts, chlorine, chloramines, and particulates. In this way, one effluent stream containing chloride/choramine may be used in applications where such contaminants can be tolerated and/or are useful for reducing the growth of biological matter. In other embodiments of the invention, other combinations of reduction capabilities can be used, for example, first filter cartridge (1) particulate reduction, second filter cartridge, (2) particulate reduction and cyst reduction; (1) particulate reduction, (2) particulate reduction, turbidity reduction, and cyst reduction; (1) particulate reduction, (2) particulate reduction, turbidity reduction, chlorine reduction, and cyst reduction; (1) particulate reduction and bacteria reduction, (2) particulate reduction, bacteria reduction, and chloramines reduction; and any combination thereof.
In other embodiments, multiple filters can be used to filter each fluid stream. For example, multiple filters could be used to filter each fluid stream in series, that is, through the first filter then the second, or in parallel, that is, both filters at the same time. In this way, the manifold systems of the invention may be configured to provide multiple effluents having different quality characteristics. The most common fluid to be filtered is water.
The replaceable filter cartridges typically comprise a filter housing, filtration media inside the housing, and a connector for operably and fluidly attaching the cartridge to the filter attachment mechanism on the manifold. The connector has both a filter fluid inlet and a filter fluid outlet to allow fluid to enter and exit the filter. Examples of useful filtration media include synthetic membranes, non-woven polymers, carbon block, polymer block, granular carbon, and ion exchange resins. Examples of such connectors on the filter cartridge include bayonet and threaded connectors. The attachment mechanisms on the manifold are adapted to accept the connectors on the filter cartridge.
The replaceable filter cartridges can comprise a removably replaceable filter such as, for example, a replaceable cartridge filter as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,458,269; 6,949,189; and 6,513,666, all of which are herein incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure. Suitable replaceable filter cartridges are also commercially available from Cuno Incorporated, Meriden, Conn.
In operation, the filtration manifold 10 would be connected via the inlet connection 13 to a fluid source, for example, a water line. The water flows into the fluid source inlet 22, through the source inlet channel 31 to the filter inlet ports 30, 32, 34. As shown in
The integral manifolds described herein can be machined from polymeric and/or metal sheet and bar stock. It is contemplated that the manifolds may also be injection molded from polymeric material or cast from metals. Useful materials include materials that comprise polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, steel, stainless steel, and combinations thereof.
Foreseeable modifications and alterations of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. This invention should not be restricted to the embodiments that are set forth in this application for illustrative purposes.
