Apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water

An apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising

• a valve head having a first passageway extending through it and being adapted to be connected to a fluid transmission line,
• a first check valve positioned in the first passageway of the valve head for blocking flow of fluid through the first passageway when the valve is closed,
• the first check valve including a movable valve disc that closes the first check valve when the valve disc rests against a valve seat and that permits flow of fluid through the first check valve when the valve disc is not resting against the valve seat,
• an outlet port formed at an outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head,
• a pressure vessel,
• means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having an inlet port that is in fluid communication with the outlet port formed at the outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the pressure vessel having a first passageway extending from the inlet port of the pressure vessel to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having a second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid to an outlet port of the pressure vessel,
• the valve head having a second passageway extending through it and adapted to be connected to a fluid receiving line at an outlet port of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the valve head having an inlet port formed at an inlet end portion of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the inlet port formed at the inlet end portion of the second passageway in the valve head being in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• connecting/disconnecting means formed on the valve head and the pressure vessel for connecting the pressure vessel to the valve head, when desired, to permit flow of fluid from the first passageway in the valve head to the inlet port of the pressure vessel, and for disconnecting the pressure vessel from the valve head, when desired, to stop flow of fluid from the outlet port of the first passageway of the valve head,
• actuating means for automatically opening the first check valve in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the actuating means including a pin positioned in the first passageway of the valve head between the valve disc and the outlet port at the outlet end portion of the first passageway of the valve head, the pin having a first end portion that engages the valve disc, and the pin having a second end portion,
• the actuating means further including an end portion of the pressure vessel that engages the second end portion of the pin when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head causing the pin to push against and lift the valve disc of the first check valve off the valve seat to open the first check valve, and
• a second check valve positioned in the second passageway of the valve head for blocking backflow of fluid from the second passageway of the valve head when the pressure vessel is not connected to the valve head,
• the valve head having a third passageway extending therethrough for venting purposes, the third passageway being defined by a wall, and the apparatus further including
• an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device positioned in the third passageway for automatically venting air contained in the apparatus and for breaking any unwanted vacuum formed in the apparatus,
• the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including
• a vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed along the third passageway, the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end portion, the vent sleeve being defined by a solid cylindrical wall,
• a ball having a density slightly greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified by the apparatus, the ball being positioned in the vent sleeve,
• an o-ring positioned downstream of the vent sleeve in the third passageway for forming a valve seat that receives a portion of the ball to close the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device, and
• air directing means formed in the vent sleeve for directing air being vented past the ball and then back toward the ball to prevent the ball from prematurely abutting against the valve seat until most, if not all, of the air has been vented,
• the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device remaining in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into engagement with a portion of the o-ring creating a seal between the ball and the o-ring and the o-ring and the portion of the wall defining the third passageway, thereby closing the third passageway, and
• the air directing means including
• a plurality of cutouts formed in the vent sleeve and extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve forming passageways along which air may move along past the ball via the passageways directly into the vent sleeve from the passageways downstream of the ball, and
• an annular inwardly extending flange formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which directs air that has moved past the ball into the vent sleeve downstream of the ball to rebound off the annular inwardly extending flange back toward the ball.

An apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising

• a valve head having a first passageway extending through it and being adapted to be connected to a fluid transmission line,
• a first check valve positioned in the first passageway of the valve head for blocking flow of fluid through the first passageway when the valve is closed,
• the first check valve including a movable valve disc that closes the first check valve when the valve disc rests against a valve seat and that permits flow of fluid through the first check valve when the valve disc is not resting against the valve seat,
• an outlet port formed at an outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head,
• a pressure vessel,
• means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having an inlet port that is in fluid communication with the outlet port formed at the outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the pressure vessel having a first passageway extending from the inlet port of the pressure vessel to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having a second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid to an outlet port of the pressure vessel,
• the valve head having a second passageway extending through it and adapted to be connected to a fluid receiving line at an outlet port of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the valve head having an inlet port formed at an inlet end portion of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the inlet port formed at the inlet end portion of the second passageway in the valve head being in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• connecting/disconnecting means formed on the valve head and the pressure vessel for connecting the pressure vessel to the valve head, when desired, to permit flow of fluid from the first passageway in the valve head to the inlet port of the pressure vessel, and for disconnecting the pressure vessel from the valve head, when desired, to stop flow of fluid from the outlet port of the first passageway of the valve head,
• actuating means for automatically opening the first check valve in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the actuating means including a pin positioned in the first passageway of the valve head between the valve disc and the outlet port at the outlet end portion of the first passageway of the valve head, the pin having a first end portion that engages the valve disc, and the pin having a second end portion,
• the actuating means further including an end portion of the pressure vessel that engages the second end portion of the pin when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head causing the pin to push against and lift the valve disc of the first check valve off the valve seat to open the first check valve, and
• a second check valve positioned in the second passageway of the valve head for blocking backflow of fluid from the second passageway of the valve head when the pressure vessel is not connected to the valve head,
• the pressure vessel having a neck,
• the connecting/disconnecting means comprising a bayonet-style mount including a plurality of pins mounted on the valve head, and a plurality of grooves formed on the neck, each groove having a first end portion where a corresponding pin from the plurality of pins mounted on the valve head may be inserted and moved along the groove by turning the pressure vessel until a second end portion of the groove is reached, thereby securing the pressure vessel to the valve head, and the apparatus further including
• a plurality of indents formed in the end portion of the pressure vessel, and a plurality of spring-loaded plungers mounted on the valve head which click into the corresponding indents and push against the end portion of the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head.

An apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising

• a valve head having a first passageway extending through it and being adapted to be connected to a fluid transmission line,
• a first check valve positioned in the first passageway of the valve head for blocking flow of fluid through the first passageway when the valve is closed,
• the first check valve including a movable valve disc that closes the first check valve when the valve disc rests against a valve seat and that permits flow of fluid through the first check valve when the valve disc is not resting against the valve seat,
• an outlet port formed at an outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head,
• a pressure vessel,
• means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having an inlet port that is in fluid communication with the outlet port formed at the outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the pressure vessel having a first passageway extending from the inlet port of the pressure vessel to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having a second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid to an outlet port of the pressure vessel,
• the valve head having a second passageway extending through it and adapted to be connected to a fluid receiving line at an outlet port of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the valve head having an inlet port formed at an inlet end portion of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the inlet port formed at the inlet end portion of the second passageway in the valve head being in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• connecting/disconnecting means formed on the valve head and the pressure vessel for connecting the pressure vessel to the valve head, when desired, to permit flow of fluid from the first passageway in the valve head to the inlet port of the pressure vessel, and for disconnecting the pressure vessel from the valve head, when desired, to stop flow of fluid from the outlet port of the first passageway of the valve head,
• actuating means for automatically opening the first check valve in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the actuating means including a pin positioned in the first passageway of the valve head between the valve disc and the outlet port at the outlet end portion of the first passageway of the valve head, the pin having a first end portion that engages the valve disc, and the pin having a second end portion,
• the actuating means further including an end portion of the pressure vessel that engages the second end portion of the pin when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head causing the pin to push against and lift the valve disc of the first check valve off the valve seat to open the first check valve, and
• a second check valve positioned in the second passageway of the valve head for blocking backflow of fluid from the second passageway of the valve head when the pressure vessel is not connected to the valve head, and
• a compressible member positioned within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid for accommodating possible expansion of the fluid,
• the bore having a center axis,
• the compressible member protecting against damage to the pressure vessel and/or means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel by providing space for fluid to expand, the fluid expanding into and compressing the compressible member as the fluid freezes,
• the compressible member having an outer surface facing radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid surrounding it, and
• a majority of the outer surface of the compressible member being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid.

An apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising

• a valve head having a first passageway extending through it and being adapted to be connected to a fluid transmission line,
• a first check valve positioned in the first passageway of the valve head for blocking flow of fluid through the first passageway when the valve is closed,
• the first check valve including a movable valve disc that closes the first check valve when the valve disc rests against a valve seat and that permits flow of fluid through the first check valve when the valve disc is not resting against the valve seat,
• an outlet port formed at an outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head,
• a pressure vessel,
• means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having an inlet port that is in fluid communication with the outlet port formed at the outlet end portion of the first passageway in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the pressure vessel having a first passageway extending from the inlet port of the pressure vessel to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid,
• the pressure vessel having a second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid to an outlet port of the pressure vessel,
• the valve head having a second passageway extending through it and adapted to be connected to a fluid receiving line at an outlet port of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the valve head having an inlet port formed at an inlet end portion of the second passageway of the valve head,
• the inlet port formed at the inlet end portion of the second passageway in the valve head being in fluid communication with the outlet port of the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• connecting/disconnecting means formed on the valve head and the pressure vessel for connecting the pressure vessel to the valve head, when desired, to permit flow of fluid from the first passageway in the valve head to the inlet port of the pressure vessel, and for disconnecting the pressure vessel from the valve head, when desired, to stop flow of fluid from the outlet port of the first passageway of the valve head,
• actuating means for automatically opening the first check valve in the valve head when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head,
• the actuating means including a pin positioned in the first passageway of the valve head between the valve disc and the outlet port at the outlet end portion of the first passageway of the valve head, the pin having a first end portion that engages the valve disc, and the pin having a second end portion,
• the actuating means further including an end portion of the pressure vessel that engages the second end portion of the pin when the pressure vessel is connected to the valve head causing the pin to push against and lift the valve disc of the first check valve off the valve seat to open the first check valve, and
• a second check valve positioned in the second passageway of the valve head for blocking backflow of fluid from the second passageway of the valve head when the pressure vessel is not connected to the valve head,
• the pressure vessel including a compressible column mounted therein and substantially surrounded by the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid for accommodating possible expansion of the fluid,
• the compressible column protecting against damage to the pressure vessel and/or means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel by providing space for fluid to expand, the fluid expanding into and compressing the compressible column as the fluid freezes,
• the outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a passageway extending through the tube from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified in the pressure vessel moves to exit the pressure vessel,
• the tube having an interior surface portion and an exterior surface portion,
• the tube having a plurality of fins formed on the interior surface portion of the tube at the first end portion of the tube, the fins extending inwardly into the passageway of the tube and being oriented to extend parallel to a center axis of the tube for blocking the compressible column from entering the tube and plugging the passageway extending there through if the compressible column inadvertently breaks loose from where it is mounted in the pressure vessel, and
• the tube at its first end portion having a plurality of cutouts made therein to permit flow of fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified in the pressure vessel to continue to enter the tube if the compressible column breaks loose from where it is mounted in the pressure vessel and abuts against the first end of the tube.