Fluid purification device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148082-B2
Application number	US-201916287178-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2019
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A device, system, and method for purifying a fluid is provided. The fluid purification device includes a tank, a cover and a release assembly. The tank having a hollow interior. The cover is sealingly coupled to the tank. The release assembly is pivotally coupled to the cover, the release assembly having a relief valve fluidly coupled to the hollow interior, the release assembly being movable between a first position and a second position, the relief valve being movable between an operating position, a released position and a non-operational position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid purification device comprising:
a tank having a hollow interior;
a cover sealingly coupled to the tank; and
a release assembly pivotally coupled to the cover, the release assembly having a relief valve fluidly coupled to the hollow interior, the release assembly being movable between a first position and a second position, the relief valve being movable between a closed operating position, an open released position and an open non-operational position, wherein the relief valve is movable from the non-operational position to the operating position in response to a fluid within the hollow interior and movable from the operating position to the released position in response to the release assembly pivoting from the first position to the second position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the tank includes a lock feature;
the release assembly includes a lock member that is engaged with the lock feature in the operating position and non-operating position, the lock member being rotated away from and disengaged from the lock feature in the released position; and
the relief valve opens and the lock member disengages simultaneously when the release assembly rotates from the operating position to the released position.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a lever coupled between the lock member and the relief valve, the lever having a portion operably coupled to the relief valve; and
wherein the relief valve further includes a valve member having a cup portion disposed on a first end, and an opposing second end of the valve member being in selective engagement with the lever.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a first seal member operably disposed between the cup portion and one of the cover or tank, the first seal member being in sealing engagement with the cup portion and the one of the cover or tank when in the operating position.

5. The device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a cap member coupled to the second end; and
a second seal member operably disposed between the cap member and the one of the cover or tank, the second seal member being in sealing engagement with the one of the cover or tank when in the non-operational position and the released position.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the cup portion includes a recessed area on one end, the recessed area having an opening that faces the hollow interior of the tank.

7. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a biasing member coupled between the cup portion and the cover, the biasing member biasing the valve member into the non-operational position.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member applies a force of between 1-900 grams to the valve member.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the biasing member applies a force between 2-450 grams to the valve member.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the biasing member applies a force between 5-100 grams to the valve member.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the biasing member applies a force about 21 grams to the valve member.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of surface area of the cup portion to a spring force of the biasing member is between 0.1-64 mm 2 /gram.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the ratio of the surface area of the cup portion to the spring force is between 0.1-32 mm 2 /gram.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the surface area of the cup portion to the spring force is between 0.6-13 mm 2 /gram.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the ratio of the surface area of the cup portion to the spring force is about 3 mm 2 /gram.

16. A fluid purification device comprising:
a tank having a hollow interior;
a cover sealingly coupled to the tank, the cover having a hollow interior portion;
a lever movably coupled to an outer surface of one of the cover or the tank;
a relief valve operably coupled to the lever, the relief valve having a valve member with a cup portion disposed on an end and arranged within the hollow interior portion, the relief valve defining a fluid path between the hollow interior and an environment when in an open position; and
a biasing member operably coupled to the relief valve, the biasing member biasing the valve member to the open position when the hollow interior is not in a pressurized operating condition and wherein the valve member moves to a closed position and compresses the biasing member in response to the hollow interior being in a pressurized operating condition.

17. The fluid purification device of claim 16 , further comprising a first seal member operably disposed between the one of the cover or tank and the cup portion, the first seal member sealing the hollow interior from the environment when the hollow interior is in the pressurized operating condition.

18. The fluid purification device of claim 17 , wherein a release assembly comprises the lever and further includes a cap coupled to an end of the valve member opposite the cup portion.

19. The fluid purification device of claim 18 , further comprising a second seal operably disposed between the one of the cover or tank and the cap.

20. The fluid purification device of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member applies a force of between 1-900 grams to the valve member.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the biasing member applies a force between 2-450 grams to the valve member.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the biasing member applies a force between 5-100 grams to the valve member.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the biasing member applies a force about 21 grams to the valve member.

24. The device of claim 16 , wherein the ratio of surface area of the cup portion to a spring force of the biasing member is between 0.1-64 mm 2 /gram.

25. The device of claim 24 , wherein the ratio of the surface area of the cup portion to the spring force is between 0.1-32 mm 2 /gram.

26. The device of claim 25 , wherein the ratio of the surface area of the cup portion to the spring force is between 0.6-13 mm 2 /gram.

27. The device of claim 26 , wherein the ratio of the surface area of the cup portion to the spring force is about 3 mm 2 /gram.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

• Huda Stephen P
• Adams Paul H
• Smith Robert F
• Zhuo Qinxue
• Patterson Joseph K

Classifications

• C02F2201/006

  Cartridges · CPC title

• C02F1/001 Primary

  Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00) · CPC title

• B01D2201/301

  Details of removable closures, lids, caps, filter heads · CPC title

• B01D24/10

  the filtering material being held in a closed container · CPC title

• B01D35/1475 Primary

  Pressure relief valves or pressure control valves · CPC title