Patent Application
20240091685
The present invention generally involves a system and method for filtering a fluid. In particular embodiments, the system and method may be incorporated into or upstream from private or commercial appliances and other fluid consumption points.
Many fluid (e.g., water) filter systems exist and generally include a manifold associated with a changeable filter. The filter generally includes a filter medium enclosed in a filter housing that is removably associated with the manifold. The manifold directs water to and through the filter so that filtered water exits the filter system. The filter medium naturally degrades over time and requires replacement. In addition, the filter may be subjected to environmental conditions that may damage the filter medium and cause premature failure. Accordingly, a system and method for filtering a liquid while monitoring the filter's status are needed.
Current fluid filtering systems may associate sensors with the filter but have a limited ability to monitor the filter's status while in use, determine the filter's remaining life, and document the environmental history of the filter in a way that aids in determining the cause of a premature filter failure. Therefore, a need exists for a cost-effective way to monitor a filter's status while in use while documenting the environmental history of the filer in a way that aids in determining the cause of a premature filter failure.
Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
One embodiment of the present invention is a system for filtering a fluid that includes a manifold and a filter releasably connected to the manifold that includes a memory storage device. A filter valve in fluid communication with the manifold has an open position that allows the fluid to flow through the filter and a shut position that prevents the fluid from flowing through the filter valve. A sensor in fluid communication with the manifold generates a fluid parameter signal reflective of a characteristic of the fluid flowing through the manifold. A controller receives the fluid parameter signal and positions the filter valve to the shut position when the fluid parameter signal meets a predetermined fluid condition.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a system for filtering a fluid that includes a manifold and a filter releasably connected to the manifold. The filter includes a memory storage device, and identification data is stored in the memory storage device. A filter valve in fluid communication with the filter has an open position that allows the fluid to flow through the filter and a shut position that prevents the fluid from flowing through the filter valve. A controller in communication with the memory storage device positions the filter valve to the shut position when the identification data meets a predetermined identification condition.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for filtering a fluid includes flowing the fluid through a manifold, a filter releasably connected to the manifold, and a filter valve in fluid communication with the filter that has a shut position that prevents fluid flow through the filter valve. The method further includes storing parameter data in a memory storage device associated with the filter, sensing a parameter of the fluid, and generating a fluid parameter signal reflective of the sensed parameter of the fluid. In addition, the method includes positioning the filter valve to the shut position when the fluid parameter signal meets a predetermined fluid condition.
Upon review of the specification, those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments and others.
A complete and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used in the claims, the definite article “said” identifies required elements that define the scope of embodiments of the claimed invention. In contrast, the definite article “the” merely identifies environmental elements that provide context for embodiments of the claimed invention that are not intended to be a limitation of any claim.
As used herein, the term “fluid communication” refers to a fluid pathway, and components are in fluid communication with each other if a fluid pathway exists between the components. As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the location of items with reference to the direction of fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, item A is “upstream” from item B, and item B is downstream from item A if fluid normally flows from item A to item B. As used herein, “in parallel” means that two components are in fluid communication with a third component such that the fluid may flow in the same direction through separate streams through either component.
Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for a fluid filter system configured to supply a filtered fluid to a dispense point. The system and method may be operated as a standalone device or integrated into or incorporated upstream or downstream from an appliance or a plurality of appliances in either a commercial or non-commercial environment. In particular embodiments, the system and method uniquely identify a filter, monitor the filter's environmental parameters, and associate parameter data with the filter.
The manifold 12 may have a manifold input 22 in fluid communication with a manifold output 24. The manifold 12 may be a monolithic component and/or a combination of piping, tubing, or similar structures for conveying fluid and may be constructed from any suitable materials such as metal (e.g., aluminum, brass, bronze, cast iron, ductile iron, copper, steel, stainless steel), non-metal (e.g., acetal polymers, polyvinyl chloride PVC, chlorinated PVC, Polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE, polyethylene PE, polypropylene PP, Polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF), and composite materials (e.g., fiber-reinforced plastics, glass reinforced plastics, high-density polyethylene).
The filter 14 is releasably connected to the manifold 12, and the manifold 12 provides fluid communication from the manifold input 22 to the filter 14 and from the filter 14 to the manifold output 24, thereby defining a normal flow direction 26 through the filter 14. The filter 14 may be any suitable filter for filtering the fluid and generally includes a filter housing 28 with a filter medium 30 positioned inside the filter housing 28. The filter medium 30 may be a physical barrier that removes suspended solids from the fluid flowing through the filter 14. Alternatively, the filter medium 30 may include ultraviolet light or similar technologies for purifying the fluid flowing through the filter 14. The filter 14 may alter the fluid in some way that may affect smell, hue, turbidity, chemical contaminant levels, microbial contaminant levels, and/or taste. The filter 14 may adjust the chemistry of the fluid, such as pH, salinity, chloride, fluoride, mercury, lead, nitrates, and bromate levels in the fluid, to name a few. The filtering technologies may include sediment, pleated sediment, carbon block, and granular activated carbon technologies. Ultraviolet light technologies may also be used for the filtering of microorganisms. Exemplary filter types include mechanical, absorption, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and sequestration filters.
As depicted in
The filter valve 16 is in fluid communication with the manifold 12 and has an open position that allows the fluid to flow through the filter 14 and a shut position that prevents the fluid from flowing through the filter valve 16. The filter valve 16 may be biased to the open position as a default position for some embodiments. The filter valve 16 may be located upstream from the filter 14 as shown in
In particular embodiments, the system 10 may further include a discharge valve 38 in fluid communication with the manifold 12 downstream from the filter 14 and upstream from the manifold output 24. The discharge valve 38 may have a shut position that prevents fluid from flowing out of the manifold 12 and an open position that allows fluid to flow out of the manifold 12. The discharge valve 38 may be biased to the open position as a default position.
In other particular embodiments, the system 10 may include a bypass valve 40 in fluid communication with the manifold 12 and in parallel with the filter 14. As shown in
For another alternative embodiment, the system 10 may include a backflush valve 46 in fluid communication with the manifold 12 and having an open position that allows the fluid to flow out of the manifold 12. The backflush valve 46 may have a backflush valve input 48 downstream from the filter valve 16 and upstream from the filter 14 during fluid flow in the normal flow direction 26, and a backflush valve output 50 that directs the fluid out of the manifold 12 when the fluid is flowing through the filter 14 in a reverse flow direction 52 relative to the normal flow direction 26.
The table below indicates exemplary open and shut states for the various system 10 valves.
Any suitable remotely actuated valves may be used, including electric motor operated valves, pneumatic operated valves, and hydraulic operated valves. Exemplary valves include bistable solenoid valves or normally closed solenoid valves.
Referring now to
The one or more sensors 18 may be any suitable sensor for measuring a characteristic of the fluid flowing through the manifold 12, such as instantaneous flow rate, cumulative flow, pressure, temperature, pH, and/or contaminant level of the fluid flowing through the manifold 12. For example, a flow sensor 56 may generate the fluid parameter signal 54 reflective of the instantaneous flow rate or cumulative flow of the fluid through the manifold 12. A chemical sensor 58 may generate the fluid parameter signal 54 reflective of the pH, salinity, Chloride, Fluoride, Mercury, Lead, or other chemical level in the fluid flowing through the manifold 12. A temperature sensor 60 may generate the fluid parameter signal 54 reflective of the temperature of the fluid flowing through the manifold 12. A biological sensor 62 may generate the fluid parameter signal 54 reflective of the biological contaminant level, such as bacteria, present in the fluid flowing through the manifold 12. A pressure sensor 64 may generate the fluid parameter signal 54 reflective of the pressure of the fluid flowing through the manifold 12. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate additional or alternative sensors that may be included to generate the fluid parameter signal 54, and the present invention is not limited to any particular sensor unless specifically recited in the claims.
The controller 20 may include, for example, a processing device 66 electrically associated with a controller memory 68. The processing device 66 may be an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), an ASSP (application-specific standard product), or a PIC (programmable Intelligent Computer). The controller memory 68 may be an on-chip memory associated with the processing device 66 or an off-chip memory. The controller memory 68 may include ROM, RAM, and/or EPROM type memories for storing a system logic 70, the parameter data 36 and/or the identification data 34. In this manner, the processing device 66 may execute or access the system logic 70 to provide the features and services described herein.
As best seen in
In particular embodiments, the controller 20 may position one or more of the valves 16, 38, 40, 46 to achieve the desired fluid flow through the manifold 12 when the fluid parameter signal 54 meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid condition. For example, the controller 20 may position the filter valve 16 and/or the discharge valve 38 (if present) to the shut position when the fluid parameter signal 54 meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid condition to prevent additional flow through the filter 14. Alternately or in addition, the controller 20 may position the filter valve 16 to the shut position, the discharge valve 38 to the open position, and the bypass valve 40 to the open position when the fluid parameter signal 54 meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid condition to allow the fluid to continue to flow through the manifold 12 while bypassing the filter 14. In yet another embodiment, the controller 20 may position the filter valve 16 to the shut position, the discharge valve 38 to the shut position, the bypass valve 40 to the open position, and the backflush valve 46 to the open position when the fluid parameter signal 54 meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid condition to allow the fluid to flow through the filter 14 in the reverse flow direction 52 relative to the normal flow direction 26 to backflush the filter medium 30.
In other particular embodiments, the controller 20 may be in communication with the memory storage device 32 to position one or more of the valves 16, 38, 40, 46 when the identification data 34 matches a predetermined identification condition. The predetermined identification condition is a serial number, model number, batch number, or other identifier that indicates a filter that has been used, identified as defective, recalled, or is otherwise not suitable for continued use. Accordingly, the controller 20 may position the filter valve 16 and/or the discharge valve 38 (if present) to the shut position when the identification data 34 matches the predetermined identification condition to prevent additional flow through the filter 14. Alternately or in addition, the controller 20 may position the filter valve 16 to the shut position, the discharge valve 38 to the open position, and the bypass valve 40 to the open position when the identification data 34 matches the predetermined identification condition to allow the fluid to continue to flow through the manifold 12 while bypassing the filter 14.
In alternate embodiments, the system 10 may further include a communication circuit 84 that transmits and/or receives a system signal 86 to and/or from a remote device 88 over a wired or wireless connection. Suitable technologies for the communication circuit 84 may be custom designs as well as WiFi and Bluetooth transceivers, GPRS, GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G and EDGE enabled networks and WAP networks. The communication circuit 84 may be compatible with the Internet Of Things (IoT) technologies, and such communications may take the form of SMS and e-mail messages. The remote device 88 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other computer or storage device a remote user uses. The system signal 86 may include the fluid parameter signal 54, the parameter data 36, the identification data 34, and/or time data 90. The system signal 86 from the remote device 88 may contain a command update message or a data update message. A command update message may be an instruction for the controller 20 to follow, such as disabling the system 10. A data update message may include a firmware update for the controller 20, sensors 18, and/or system logic 70.
As shown in
The system 10 described and illustrated in
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
