Filter for purifying drinkable and non-drinkable water

Claim 2

A filter for purifying drinkable and non-drinkable water, which comprises a water inlet, a first body (1) adapted for association with said water inlet and defining an inlet end (2) in communication with a purifying filter having, sequentially arranged, a bacteria hold-back membrane (23), an active carbon zone (31), and a diverting means (40, 74) in proximity of said inlet end (2) and in proximity of said first body (1), said diverting means being positionable in a first position, where said inlet end (2) is in communication with a direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) and the water bypasses said purifying filter, and in a second position where communication between said inlet end (2) and said direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) is cut off, and dispensing through a purified water conduit (42, 71) is allowed wherein said filter comprises means for selectively arranging said diverting means in said first or second position, said purifying filter has one modular segment (12) which contains active carbon (31) and wherein said segment (12) containing active carbon (31) is closed, at least at its outlet end by a felt filtering disk (32), said filter comprises a grid (33) externally of said filtering disk (32), said disk (32) pressing against said grid, and an outlet chamber (35) is defined between said filter body and sail purifying filter, said outlet chamber being selectively in communication with said purified water conduit.

Claim 3

A filter for purifying drinkable and non-drinkable water, which comprises a water inlet, a first body (1) adapted for association with said water inlet and defining an inlet end (2) in communication with a purifying filter having, sequentially arranged, a bacteria hold-back membrane (23), an active carbon zone (31), and a diverting means (40, 74) in proximity of said inlet end (2) and in proximity of said first body (1), said diverting means being positionable in a first position, where said inlet end (2) is in communication with a direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) and the water bypasses said purifying filter, and in a second position where communication between said inlet end (2) and said direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) is cut off, and dispensing through a purified water conduit (42, 71) is allowed wherein said filter comprises means for selectively arranging said diverting means in said first or second position, said diverting means are formed by a second body (40) fitted sealingly and rotatable to the filter body, said second body having on its surface facing the first filter body, a port (43) for the direct water dispensing conduit (41) and a second port (45) for the purified water conduit (42), said port (43) for the direct water dispensing conduit (41) being positionable in communication with said inlet end (2), said purified water dispensing port (45) being positionable in communication with said purifying filter.

Claim 4

A filter for purifying drinkable and non-drinkable water, which comprises a water inlet, a first body (1) adapted for association with said water inlet and defining an inlet end (2) in communication with a purifying filter having, sequentially arranged, a bacteria hold-back membrane (23), an active carbon zone (31), and a diverting means (40, 74) in proximity of said inlet end (2) and in proximity of said first body (1), said diverting means being positionable in a first position, where said inlet end (2) is in communication with a direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) and the water bypasses said purifying filter, and in a second position where communication between said inlet end (2) and said direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) is cut off, and dispensing through a purified water conduit (42, 71) is allowed wherein said filter comprises means for selectively arranging said diverting means in said first or second position, said diverting means are formed by a second body (40) fitted sealingly and rotatable to the filter body, said second body having on its surface facing the first filter body, a port (43) for the direct water dispensing conduit (41) and a second port (45) for the purified water conduit (42), said port (43) for the direct water dispensing conduit (41) being positionable in communication with said inlet end (2), said purified water dispensing port (45) being positionable in communication with said purifying filter.

Claim 5

A filter according to claim 2, wherein said purifying filter comprises modular segments (11, 12) removably associable therebetween and having one said bacteria hold-back membrane (23), and at least one active carbon zone.

Claim 6

A filter according to claim 3 wherein said modular segments comprise an end segment (11), said axial conduit (15) opens at said end segment (11) carrying said bacteria hold-back membrane (23), said membrane being pleated, said end segment having a front flange (21) for connection with said axial conduit and a rear flange (22), said front flange and rear flange supporting said membrane (23) therebetween for holding back bacteria and arranged in a cylindrical configuration, and said filter comprises a net (24) arranged externally of said membrane.

Claim 7

A filter according to claim 4 which comprises axially within said pleated membrane (23) a fine mesh filter (25) surrounded by an outer cloth (26) wrapped in a containment net (27).

Claim 8

A filter according to claim 2 wherein said purifying filter has a plurality of modular segments (11, 12), a fitting (10) in communication with said inlet end, an axial conduit (15) is formed by sealing engaging together conduit portions defined in said modular segments, said conduit being in communication with said fitting (10).

Claim 9

A filter according to claim 6 wherein said axial conduit (15) has a perforated diaphragm (16) adapted to generate a localized pressure drop.

Claim 10

A filter according to claim 2 which comprises means for positioning said diverting body (40) into said first and second position, said means comprising small pegs (50) provided diametrically on the first body and adapted to engage by contact with detent (51) defined on said second body (40).

Claim 11

A filter for purifying drinkable and non-drinkable water, which comprises a water inlet, a first body (1) adapted for association with said water inlet and defining an inlet end (2) in communication with a purifying filter having, sequentially arranged, a bacteria hold-back membrane (23), an active carbon zone (31), and a diverting means (40, 74) in proximity of said inlet end (2) and in proximity of said first body (1), said diverting means being positionable in a first position, where said inlet end (2) is in communication with a direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) and the water bypasses said purifying filter, and in a second position where communication between said inlet end (2) and said direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) is cut off, and dispensing through a purified water conduit (42, 71) is allowed wherein said filter comprises means for selectively arranging said diverting means in said first or second position and wherein said diverting means comprise a water delivery chamber (71) separated from said inlet end by a diaphragm (72), the diaphragm having an orifice (73) and shutter means for closing and opening said orifice.

Claim 12

A filter for purifying drinkable and non-drinkable water, which comprises a water inlet, a first body (1) adapted for association with said water inlet and defining an inlet end (2) in communication with a purifying filter having, sequentially arranged, a bacteria hold-back membrane (23), an active carbon zone (31), and a diverting means (40, 74) in proximity of said inlet end (2) and in proximity of said first body (1), said diverting means being positionable in a first position, where said inlet end (2) is in communication with a direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) and the water bypasses said purifying filter, and in a second position where communication between said inlet end (2) and said direct water dispensing conduit (41, 71) is cut off, and dispensing through a purified water conduit (42, 71) is allowed wherein said filter comprises means for selectively arranging said diverting means in said first or second position and wherein said diverting means comprise a water delivery chamber (71) separated from said inlet end by a diaphragm (72), the diaphragm having an orifice (73) and shutter means for closing and opening said orifice.

Claim 13

The filter according to claim 9 wherein said shutter means comprise a stem (75) passing through said orifice (73) and providing with an enlarged head (76), and second means, controllable externally of said first body (1), to displace axially said stem (75) from a position where said enlarged head (76) closes said orifice (73) to a position where said enlarged head (76) disengages from said orifice (73).

Claim 14

The filter according to claim 10, wherein said second means comprise a shaft (77) mounted diametrically in said water delivery chamber (71), and a lever (78) mounted on said shaft, said shaft (77), said stem having an opening (80), said shaft having a central portion, a recess (79), and a screw engageable with said recess whereby rotation of the shaft provides for axial translation of said stem to cover or uncover said orifice (73).