Filtration system for pet water fountain, and method for water filtration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017362092-A1
Application number	US-201715625742-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2017
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Dec 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A filtration system for a pet water fountain is provided. The filtration system utilizes a pump placed within or along a watering bowl. The water filtration system also utilizes a multi-stage filtering device. In one aspect, the multi-stage filtering device includes a first filtering stage representing copper zinc alloy particles, and a second filtering stage representing granulated activated carbon particles. Each stage may constitute filtering material that is separated into an array of cells residing along a vertical frame or is separated into stages placed in series within a tubular cartridge. A method for filtering water in a pet fountain is also provided herein.

First claim

1 . A pet water fountain comprising:
a basin configured to hold a volume of water accessible to a domesticated pet; a pump having a pump inlet and at least one pump outlet, the pump residing in a portion of the basin and being configured to circulate water within the basin when activated; and a multi-stage filtering device configured to filter water during circulation so as to (i) filter sediment and hair from the water, (ii) remove at least a portion of chlorine from the water, (iii) reduce bacteria in the basin, (iv) reduce soluble heavy metals in the water, and (v) control scale and algae in the basin.

2 . The pet water fountain of claim 1 , wherein:
the domesticated pet is a dog or a cat; the pump is a submersible pump; and the pump resides within the basin.

3 . The pet water fountain of claim 1 , wherein:
a first stage of the multi-stage filtration device comprises copper alloy particles; and a second stage of the multi-stage filtration device comprises granulated activated carbon particles.

4 . The pet water fountain of claim 3 , wherein:
(i) the first stage resides near the pump inlet and the second stage resides near the pump outlet; (ii) the second stage resides near the pump inlet and the first stage resides near the pump outlet; (iii) both the first stage and the second stage reside near the pump inlet; or (iv) both the first stage and the second stage reside near the pump outlet.

5 . The pet water fountain of claim 3 , wherein:
the first stage and the second stage together reside within a tubular body; a first porous screen resides along a first end of the tubular body; a second porous screen resides along a second, opposite end of the tubular body; and the first and second porous screens maintain the first and second stages in place within the tubular body during water circulation.

6 . The pet water fountain of claim 5 , wherein:
the copper alloy is a copper zinc alloy; the tubular body is in fluid communication with the pump inlet or the pump outlet; and a third porous screen separates the first stage and the second stage.

7 . The pet water fountain of claim 6 , wherein:
the tubular body holds at least two first stage compartments and at least two second stage compartments, with the first and second stage compartments alternating in series.

8 . The pet water fountain of claim 3 , wherein:
the copper alloy particles are divided into portions placed along discreet cells within a frame to form the first stage; the granulated activated carbon particles are also divided into portions and are placed along discreet cells within a frame to form the second stage; the frames of each of the first and second stages are placed side-by-side and provide vertical support for the discreet cells; and the particles in the cells of each of the first and second stages are at least partially covered by a porous substrate, wherein the porous substrate defines discreet covers for closely holding particles within the cells of each of the first and second stages.

9 . The pet water fountain of claim 8 , wherein:
the frames forming the first and second stages are positioned vertically within the water fountain between the pump outlet and a weir or a spout; a first screen is placed at an inlet side of the first stage; a second screen is placed at an outlet side of the second stage; a third screen is placed between the first and second stages; and the porous substrate comprises synthetic fibers, cellulosic fibers, or combinations thereof

10 . The pet water fountain of claim 8 , wherein the porous substrate is fabricated from woven fibers, non-woven fibers, or combinations thereof.

11 . The pet water fountain of claim 8 , wherein each of the cells of the first stage further comprises a salt.

12 . The pet water fountain of claim 8 , further comprising:
a reservoir configured to receive a portion of the water delivered from a pump outlet during water circulation, and release water to a spout above the basin; and wherein the first stage, the second stage, or both, reside in vertical orientation within or adjacent to the reservoir.

13 . A filtration system for a pet water fountain, wherein the pet water fountain comprises a basin configured to hold a volume of water accessible to a domesticated pet, and a submersible pump having a pump inlet and at least one pump outlet configured to circulate water within the basin, and the filtration system comprises:
a first stage comprising a copper alloy filtering medium; and a second stage comprising a granulated activated carbon medium; and wherein the first stage and the second stage form two stages of a multi-stage filtering device configured to filter water during circulation so as to (i) filter sediment and hair from the water, (ii) remove at least a portion of chlorine from the water, (iii) reduce bacteria in the basin, (iv) reduce soluble heavy metals in the water, and (v) control scale and algae in the basin.

14 . The filtration system of claim 13 , wherein:
the domesticated pet is a dog or a cat; the pump is a submersible pump that resides within the basin; and the multi-stage filtering device further (vi) adjusts the pH of the water (vii) reduces hydrogen sulfide, (viii) reduces organic and inorganic particles from the water, or (ix) combinations thereof

15 . The filtration system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first stage and the second stage together reside within a tubular body; a first porous screen resides along a first end of the tubular body; a second porous screen resides along a second, opposite end of the tubular body; and the first and second porous screens maintain the first and second stages in place within the tubular body during water circulation.

16 . The filtration system of claim 15 , wherein:
the tubular body is in fluid communication with the pump inlet or the pump outlet; a third porous screen separates the first stage and the second stage; and the copper alloy is a copper zinc alloy.

17 . The filtration system of claim 16 , wherein:
the tubular body holds at least two first stage compartments and at least two second stage compartments, with the first and second stage compartments alternating in series and a screen separating each of the compartments.

18 . The filtration system of claim 15 , wherein:
the copper alloy medium is comprised of copper alloy particles that are divided into portions and placed along discreet cells within a frame to form the first stage; the granulated activated carbon medium is comprised of activated carbon particles that are also divided into portions and placed along discreet cells within a frame to form the second stage; the frames of each of the first and second stages are placed side-by-side and provide vertical support for the discreet cells; the particles in the cells of each of the first and second stages are at least partially covered by a porous substrate, wherein the porous substrate defines discreet covers for closely holding particles of each of the first and second stages within the cells; and the porous substrate is fabricated from synthetic fibers, cellulosic fibers, or combinations thereof.

19 . The filtration system of claim 18 , wherein each of the cells of the first stage further comprises salt pellets.

20 . The filtration system of claim 18 , wherein the copper ally particles comprise between about 50% and 85% copper, and between about 15% and 50% zinc.

21 . The filtration system of claim 18

Assignees

• Radio Systems Corp

Inventors

• Mainini Christopher E
• Groh William S
• White Anita
• Kauerz Kristine
• Weybrecht Stephen

Classifications

• C02F2201/003

  Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another · CPC title

• C02F2303/24

  Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens · CPC title

• C02F1/283

  using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them · CPC title

• C02F2201/006

  Cartridges · CPC title

• C02F1/467 Primary

  by electrochemical disinfection; {by electrooxydation or by electroreduction} · CPC title