CN110354559B

CN110354559B - Filter element assembly replacement structure and water purifier thereof

Info

Publication number: CN110354559B
Application number: CN201810315636.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵辉; 陈小波; 程兆山
Original assignee: AO Smith China Water Heater Co Ltd; AO Smith China Environmental Products Co Ltd
Current assignee: AO Smith China Water Heater Co Ltd; AO Smith China Environmental Products Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-10
Filing date: 2018-04-10
Publication date: 2024-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-10
Also published as: CN118788032A; CN118788033A; CN110354559A; CN118788031A

Abstract

The invention discloses a filter element assembly replacing structure and a water purifier, wherein the filter element assembly replacing structure comprises: a filter element assembly; the filter element assembly is provided with an operation part which can be externally forced; a stationary base for mounting the cartridge assembly; a locking mechanism; the locking mechanism has a locked position that fits the cartridge assembly on the base, and a released position that allows the cartridge assembly to be disengaged from the base; the operation portion is externally biased to actuate the lock mechanism to the release position. This filter element assembly changes structure and water purifier can make things convenient for the user to change the filter element assembly of water purifier.

Description

Filter element assembly replacement structure and water purifier thereof

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of water purifiers, in particular to a filter element assembly replacement structure and a water purifier thereof.

Background

With the increasing health awareness of people and the increasing income level of people, more and more people pay attention to the health problem of life drinking water. Because water is an essential substance for life and metabolism, the quality of drinking water is directly related to the health of human body. According to the investigation of the world health organization, 80% of human diseases are related to water, and poor water quality can cause various diseases. Tap water has long been considered safe and hygienic.

However, because of the increasing water pollution, tap water is often affected, so that people have a question about the safety of tap water. Along with the hidden trouble of water resource pollution, a batch of novel equipment-water purifier for purifying water quality is induced, and rapid development is achieved in a short time. Without any suspense, in the future, the water purifier must become an indispensable drinking device for every household. Most water purifiers in the current market adopt physical filtration, and main filtration grades are divided into PP cotton, active carbon, RO membranes and the like; wherein, the pure water is filtered by the RO membrane through the PP cotton filtering mud, the sand rust and the like, the residual chlorine is absorbed by the active carbon, the taste is improved and the like.

Because the water purifier product mainly uses physical filtration, this just has decided the filter core after using a period, because the adhesion accumulation of impurity leads to the filter core to be invalid because the jam, consequently need to the periodic dismouting change of water purifier filter core.

However, the existing water purifier has complex filter element replacement operation, is laborious, generally requires professional personnel to operate, brings much inconvenience to users, and increases the cost of replacing the filter element.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a filter element assembly replacing structure and a water purifier thereof, so as to facilitate a user to replace the filter element assembly of the water purifier.

The scheme of the invention is as follows:

a cartridge assembly replacement structure comprising:

a filter element assembly; the filter element assembly is provided with an operation part which can be externally forced;

a stationary base for mounting the cartridge assembly;

a locking mechanism; the locking mechanism has a locked position that fits the cartridge assembly on the base, and a released position that allows the cartridge assembly to be disengaged from the base; the operation portion is externally biased to actuate the lock mechanism to the release position.

Preferably, the device further comprises an unlocking mechanism; the unlocking mechanism is capable of unlocking the locking mechanism when the cartridge base is inserted into the base.

Preferably, an opening mechanism matched with the operation part is further arranged; when the operation part is externally applied with force, the opening mechanism is driven to act,

The locking mechanism is actuated from the locking position to the release position.

Preferably, the cartridge assembly has an insertion end for insertion into the base, and an operative end opposite the insertion end; the operating part is positioned on the operating end.

Preferably, the locking mechanism comprises a clamping assembly which is arranged on the base and can clamp the insertion end; the clamping assembly comprises at least one clamping piece distributed along the circumferential direction;

Wherein at least one of the clip members moves radially outwardly as the clip assembly moves from the locked position to the released position; at least one of the clip members moves radially inward as the clip assembly moves from the release position to the locked position.

Preferably, the insertion end is provided with a blocking part matched with the clamping assembly; the blocking portion is blocked by the clamping assembly when the clamping assembly is located at the locking position, so that the filter element assembly cannot be separated from the base.

Preferably, the opening mechanism is rotated when the operation portion is externally biased, and the opening mechanism drives the locking mechanism to move from the locking position to the release position by rotation.

Preferably, the opening mechanism includes a radially projecting support on the cartridge assembly; the operation part can enable the filter element assembly to drive the supporting part to rotate around an axis parallel to the length direction of the filter element assembly; the supporting part radially expands the clamping assembly from the locking position to the releasing position through rotation.

Preferably, the insertion end is uniformly distributed with two or more support parts along the circumferential direction; the support portion and the clamping assembly are located at the same axial position when the filter element assembly is locked by the locking mechanism.

Preferably, the clamping assembly is provided with a clamping opening; the edge of the clamping opening is provided with a first part and a second part which are different from the axis; the first location is a greater distance from the axis than the second location; the support part does not prop up the clamping assembly to the release position when being aligned with the first part along the radial direction; the supporting part is rotated to be aligned with the second part along the radial direction to prop the clamping assembly open to the release position.

Preferably, the distance from the first part to the axis is L1, the distance from the second part to the axis is L2, and the distance from the outer edge of the supporting part to the axis is L3; wherein L1 is more than or equal to L3 and more than L2.

Preferably, the abutting positions of two adjacent clamping pieces form the first part; the intermediate position of the clamping member forms the second portion.

Preferably, the base is further provided with a push-out structure; when the filter element assembly drives the supporting part to rotate from the first position to the second position, the pushing-out structure pushes out the filter element assembly along the direction that the filter element assembly is separated from the base.

Preferably, the base has an insertion opening into which the cartridge assembly is inserted; the pushing structure comprises an arc-shaped bulge arranged on one side of the base with the insertion opening.

Preferably, the operation part includes a knob fixed to the operation end; and the filter element assembly is driven to rotate by the knob.

Preferably, the base is further provided with a guide structure; the guide structure is configured to guide the support portion to the first position when the cartridge assembly is inserted into the base.

Preferably, the guide structure comprises a first guide rail; the filter element assembly is provided with a guide protrusion moving along the first guide rail; when the filter element assembly is inserted into the base, the guide protrusion moves along the first guide rail and the support portion is guided to the first position.

Preferably, the guide structure further includes a second guide rail for movement of the guide projection, and a communication guide rail; the communication guide rail communicates the first guide rail with the second guide rail;

When the guide protrusion moves along the communication guide rail, the supporting part props up the clamping assembly from the locking position to the releasing position; when the filter element component is separated from the base to move, the guide protrusion moves along the communication guide rail.

Preferably, the second guide rail extends linearly along the length direction of the filter element assembly; the first guide rail is bent and extended along the length direction of the filter element assembly; the communication guide rail extends in a circumferential direction.

Preferably, one of the first guide rail, one of the second guide rail, and one of the communicating guide rail forms a guide rail group; the guide structure comprises two guide rail groups, a first inlet and a second outlet; the first inlet and outlet and the second inlet and outlet are used for the guide protrusion to enter and exit the guide rail group;

Wherein a first guide rail in one guide rail group and a second guide rail in the other guide rail group are communicated with the first inlet and outlet; and the second guide rail in the guide rail group and the first guide rail in the other guide rail group are communicated with the second inlet and outlet.

Preferably, the operation portion is externally biased to move the opening mechanism in the cartridge assembly longitudinal direction, and the opening mechanism moves the locking mechanism from the locking position to the release position by moving the opening mechanism in the cartridge assembly longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the operation part is provided with a rotatable stress piece;

The opening mechanism comprises a propping piece matched with the stress piece; the stretching piece can move along the direction that the filter element component is inserted into the base when the force-bearing piece is forced to rotate, and the clamping component is stretched from a locking position to a releasing position.

Preferably, the force-receiving member is further configured to move the cartridge assembly away from the base when the force-receiving member is rotated.

Preferably, one end of the expanding piece, which is close to the base, is provided with an expanding part; the clamping assembly is provided with an action part which can be matched with the opening part;

the opening part and/or the acting part is/are provided with a second inclined plane; the second inclined surface enables the propping piece to prop open the clamping assembly from the locking position to the releasing position along the radial direction when moving along the direction of inserting the filter element assembly into the base.

Preferably, the force-bearing member rotates about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the length of the cartridge assembly; the stress piece is provided with a first rotating position and a second rotating position along the rotating direction;

the force-bearing piece pushes the opening piece to move along the direction of inserting the filter element assembly into the base when rotating from the first rotating position to the second rotating position.

Preferably, the force-receiving member includes a handle; the handle is tapered at an end of the cartridge assembly remote from the insertion end as it rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

Preferably, the force-receiving member has a pushing surface which rotates together about the rotation axis; when the stress piece rotates from the first rotating position to the second rotating position, the distance between the contact part of the pushing surface and the supporting piece and the rotating axis is gradually increased.

Preferably, the opening mechanism further comprises a pushing member disposed at the operation end; the thrust piece moves outwards along the radial direction when the stress piece rotates from the first rotating position to the second rotating position; the pushing member, when moved radially outwardly, moves the spreader member in the direction of insertion of the cartridge assembly into the base.

Preferably, a third inclined plane is arranged at the outer end of the pushing piece along the radial direction; the pushing member, when moved radially outwardly, pushes the spreader member through the third ramp to move in the direction of insertion of the cartridge assembly into the base.

Preferably, the propping-up piece comprises a cylinder structure which is arranged on the base and can be sleeved outside the filter element assembly; the opening part is arranged at one end of the cylinder structure, which is close to the base.

Preferably, the base is also provided with a supporting cylinder; the support cylinder is sleeved outside the filter element assembly when the filter element assembly is mounted on the base.

A water purifier, comprising: the cartridge assembly replacement structure of any of the preceding claims.

The beneficial effects are that:

According to the filter element assembly replacing structure, a user only needs to operate the filter element assembly, meanwhile, the base is kept fixed, the base is not required to be operated, and therefore the filter element assembly replacing structure is beneficial to the operation of the user on the filter element assembly by one hand and is quite convenient. Meanwhile, when the filter element assembly is detached from the base by the aid of the operation portion of the filter element assembly, under the condition that the base is fixed, space required by moving the base due to the fact that the filter element assembly is detached can be reduced, and better installation flexibility is achieved.

In addition, the base of the filter element assembly replacing structure is fixed, and only the filter element assembly is required to be operated, so that the water purifier can be transversely placed, namely, the length direction of the filter element assembly is parallel to the horizontal direction, and the water purifier has higher installation flexibility and is convenient for a user to operate.

Specific embodiments of the invention are disclosed in detail below with reference to the following description and drawings, indicating the manner in which the principles of the invention may be employed. It should be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in scope thereby. The embodiments of the invention include many variations, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used herein is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention or the technical solutions of the prior art, the drawings which are used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described, it being obvious that the drawings in the description below are only some embodiments of the invention, and that other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without inventive faculty for a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a cartridge assembly replacement configuration provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a force-bearing member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another force-bearing member and pushing member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of FIG. 3 with a shielding cover;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view in partial cross-section of the cartridge assembly insert base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view in partial cross-section of the cartridge assembly insert seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of another cartridge assembly replacement configuration provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly insert base of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly insert base of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the base of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the knob of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the support cylinder structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the support cylinder structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 8;

fig. 16 is a partially enlarged view of fig. 15.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical solution of the present invention better understood by those skilled in the art, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without making any inventive effort, shall fall within the scope of the invention.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and the like are used herein for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be the only embodiment.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and/or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

See fig. 1-16. The filter element component replacing structure provided in the embodiment of the application comprises: a cartridge assembly 200; the filter element assembly 200 is provided with an operation part which can be externally forced; a stationary base 100 for mounting the cartridge assembly 200; a locking mechanism; the locking mechanism has a locked position that allows the cartridge assembly 200 to be assembled on the base 100, and a released position that allows the cartridge assembly 200 to be disengaged from the base 100; the operation portion is externally biased to actuate the lock mechanism to the release position.

In this embodiment, base 100 is provided for mounting and securing cartridge assembly 200. The base 100 may remain stationary during cartridge installation and the user may complete cartridge removal by cartridge action alone. In one embodiment, the cartridge assembly replacement structure may form (part of) a water purifier housing. Wherein the base 100 is stationary relative to the water purifying housing.

The locking mechanism may be located on the base 100 or on the cartridge assembly 200. In a possible embodiment, the locking mechanism is located on the cartridge assembly 200. The filter cartridge assembly 200 is biased by the operating portion, so that the lock mechanism is moved from the lock position to the release position, and the filter cartridge assembly 200 can be disengaged from the base 100. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 16, the locking mechanism is located on the base 100, and the cartridge assembly 200 is biased by the operating portion, so that the locking mechanism moves from the locking position to the release position, and the cartridge assembly 200 can be disengaged from the base 100.

In this embodiment, the locking mechanism may have a return element (not shown) that applies a biasing force to the locking mechanism that returns to the locked position. By means of the reset element, the locking mechanism can be switched between a locking position and a release position. After cartridge assembly 200 is disengaged from base 100, the locking mechanism may be reset to the locked position by the reset element. In particular, the return element may comprise a resilient element, such as a spring.

To facilitate user installation of the cartridge assembly 200, in a preferred embodiment, the cartridge assembly replacement structure may further include an unlocking mechanism. The unlocking mechanism can unlock the locking mechanism when the cartridge assembly 200 is inserted into the base 100.

The process of opening the locking mechanism by the unlocking mechanism may refer to the process of moving the locking mechanism from the locking position to the release position, and the maximum opening position (which may also be referred to as the second release position) may be the same as the release position or may be different from the release position (for example, the opening diameter is greater than or less than the release position, so long as the cartridge assembly 200 is allowed to complete the insertion locking).

Of course, the opening of the locking mechanism may also be different from the movement of the locking mechanism from the locking position to the release position, e.g. the opening of the locking mechanism by the unlocking mechanism may be a push-away reset in the insertion direction (similar to a hinge swing), whereas the movement of the locking position to the release position may be a radial translational movement.

The unlocking mechanism may be provided on the cartridge mechanism or on the base 100. By providing an unlocking feature, the locking mechanism can be actuated to open when cartridge assembly 200 is inserted into base 100. The filter element assembly 200 can be mounted on the base 100 by operating the filter element assembly 200 and utilizing the unlocking mechanism, so that the filter element assembly 200 is mounted conveniently.

The filter element assembly 200 in this embodiment has an operation portion for the user to apply force, and the user can unlock and release the locking mechanism by using the operation portion of the filter element assembly 200, so that the filter element assembly 200 can be separated from the base 100, and at this time, the user only needs to pull the filter element assembly 200 out of the base 100. The operation part may be a certain part of the filter element assembly 200 for the user to apply force, or may be provided on a force receiving member of the filter element assembly 200 for the user to apply force. The operating portion moves with the cartridge assembly 200 during replacement of the cartridge assembly 200.

The filter element assembly replacing structure in the embodiment enables a user to operate the filter element assembly 200 only, meanwhile, the base 100 is kept fixed, the base 100 is not required to be operated, and further the filter element assembly 200 is operated by one hand of the user, so that the filter element assembly replacing structure is very convenient and fast. Meanwhile, when the cartridge assembly 200 is detached from the base 100 by using the operation part of the cartridge assembly 200, the space required for moving the base 100 due to the detachment of the cartridge assembly 200 can be reduced, and the mounting flexibility is improved.

In addition, in this embodiment, the base 100 of the filter element assembly replacement structure is fixed, and only the filter element assembly 200 needs to be operated, so that the water purifier can be placed transversely, that is, the length direction of the filter element assembly 200 is parallel to the horizontal direction, so that the water purifier has higher installation flexibility and is convenient for a user to operate.

The cartridge assembly 200 has an insertion end 1 for insertion into the base 100 and an operative end 2 opposite the insertion end 1. For the convenience of user operation, the operation part is located on the operation end 2. The operating portion may be provided with a structure for facilitating the application of force by the user.

In an embodiment, the cartridge assembly 200 is generally cylindrical in configuration. The insertion end 1 of the cartridge assembly 200 may be inserted into the base 100. Accordingly, the base 100 may be provided with an insertion hole 15 into which the insertion end 1 is inserted. At the same time, sealing measures can be provided in the insertion end 1 and the insertion hole 15 to prevent fluid leakage and to avoid poor water production. The insertion end 1 has a flow passage opening into the interior of the cartridge assembly 200 and is in cooperative communication with a flow passage 7 in the base 100 for filtering incoming water.

In one embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a snap assembly 6 provided on the base 100 that is capable of gripping the insertion end 1. The snap assembly 6 comprises at least one gripping member distributed in the circumferential direction. Wherein at least one of said clamping members moves radially outwardly when said snap assembly 6 is moved from said locked position to said released position. The catch assembly 6 moves radially inwardly from the release position to the locking position.

The locking mechanism is mounted inside the base 100 and the clip comprises a clip plate disposed inside the base 100. The plurality of chucking plates are enclosed to form a chucking opening and constitute a part of the insertion hole 15. Wherein, a plurality of chucking plates can move along radial direction. A spring is provided in the base 100 to apply a biasing force to the plurality of chucking plates to move toward the locking position so that the chucking plates are maintained in the locking position in the absence of an external force.

Of course, the locking mechanism may also be other mechanisms, such as an insertion structure, a flip structure, and the like. The locking mechanism can be switched between the locking position and the releasing position only by acting, and the action of the locking mechanism is not limited to radial movement and can be in the modes of rotation, insertion, deformation and the like.

In the present embodiment, the insertion end 1 is provided with a blocking portion 12 that cooperates with the engagement assembly 6. The blocking portion 12 is blocked by the engaging member 6 when the engaging member 6 is located at the locking position, so that the cartridge assembly 200 cannot be separated from the base 100. As shown in fig. 15 and 16, the side wall of the insertion end 1 is provided with a convex ring structure 14, and the blocking portion 12 may be an end surface of the convex ring structure 14 near the operation end 2.

Specifically, the engaging member 6 is formed with an engaging opening through which the insertion end 1 passes. When the locking assembly 6 is located at the locking position, the blocking portion 12 is located at a side of the locking opening away from the operating end 2 and cannot pass through the locking opening. When the engaging member 6 is in the release position, the blocking portion 12 may pass through the engaging opening.

As shown in fig. 9, when the filter element assembly 200 is mounted on the base 100, a side of the engaging member 6 away from the operating end 2 has an engaging surface (not shown) that can engage with the blocking portion 12, and by the engaging surface engaging with the blocking portion 12, the insertion end 1 of the filter element assembly 200 is restricted from being pulled out from the insertion hole 15 of the base 100, thereby locking the filter element assembly 200.

With the above description in mind, the cartridge assembly replacement structure may also be provided with an unlocking mechanism for the convenience of a user installing cartridge assembly 200 on base 100. Wherein the unlocking mechanism is capable of moving at least one clip radially outward upon insertion of the cartridge assembly 200 into the base 100, thereby allowing the blocking portion 12 of the cartridge assembly 200 to pass through the engagement opening. After the blocking portion 12 passes through the engagement opening, the engagement assembly 6 is reset to the locking position, and the filter element assembly 200 is locked.

Wherein, the unlocking mechanism comprises a first inclined surface 31 arranged on one side of the blocking part 12 away from the operation end 2 and/or one side of the clamping assembly 6 close to the operation end 2 of the insertion end 1. When the filter element assembly 200 is inserted into the base 100, the blocking portion 12 of the filter element assembly 200 supports the engaging assembly 6 by means of the first inclined surface 31 to pass through the engaging opening.

At the position of

In this embodiment, the size of the opening of the locking opening that is opened by the unlocking structure may be the same as or different from the size of the locking opening at the release position. Wherein the first inclined surface 31 is disposed on the engaging component 6; the first inclined surface 31 gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of the engagement opening along the direction of inserting the cartridge assembly 200 into the base 100.

As shown in the embodiment of fig. 9, the insertion end 1 and the engaging member 6 are provided with a first inclined surface 31. The first inclined surface 31 of the insertion end 1 is disposed on the convex ring structure 14 and is located on a side of the blocking portion 12 away from the operation end 2.

In an embodiment, the cartridge assembly replacement structure may further be provided with an opening mechanism that cooperates with the operating portion. The operation portion is operated by driving the opening mechanism when externally biased, so that the locking mechanism is operated from the locking position to the releasing position. Wherein the opening mechanism transmits the acting force received by the operation part, so as to open the locking mechanism. The opening mechanism may be part of the cartridge assembly 200, such as the embodiment shown in fig. 8-16; the opening mechanism may also be a component other than the cartridge assembly 200, such as the embodiment shown in fig. 1-7.

In the present embodiment, the opening mechanism operates by operating the drive lock mechanism, and the base 100 is fixed during the driving. By the opening mechanism, the locking mechanism is driven to the release position by applying force to the operation portion of the cartridge assembly 200 without operating the base 100. In this embodiment, the opening mechanism can transmit the biasing force received by the operation portion, and the position of the lock mechanism can be switched to the release position.

The opening mechanism is operated by the self-operated drive locking mechanism, and there are various modes of the opening mechanism, for example, the opening mechanism can be operated by moving the drive locking mechanism along the length direction of the filter element assembly 200, and the opening mechanism can be operated by rotating the drive locking mechanism. Of course, in a possible embodiment, the opening mechanism may also be implemented by other movements to actuate the locking mechanism, such as: the opening mechanism has two elements that cooperate, switching of the position of the locking mechanism is achieved by separation or engagement of the two elements, etc.

In the specific embodiment shown in fig. 8 to 16. The operation portion rotates the opening mechanism when externally applied with force, and the opening mechanism drives the locking mechanism to move from the locking position to the releasing position by rotation. In this embodiment, the opening mechanism may be provided on the cartridge assembly 200 to follow the movement of the cartridge assembly 200. With such a structure, the user can open the locking mechanism to the release position by only applying a force to the operation portion to rotate the filter element assembly 200, and the disassembly of the filter element assembly 200 is completed, and the operation is simple.

In this embodiment, the opening mechanism may rotate with the cartridge assembly 200. Specifically, the opening mechanism includes a radially projecting support 30 on the cartridge assembly 200. The operation part can enable the filter element assembly 200 to drive the supporting part 30 to rotate around an axis parallel to the length direction of the filter element assembly 200; the support portion 30 radially expands the engaging member 6 from the locking position to the releasing position by rotating.

The insertion end 1 is uniformly distributed with two or more support parts 30 in the circumferential direction. To facilitate the support portion 30 to radially support the snap assembly 6 to the release position when rotated, the support portion 30 is positioned in the same axial position as the snap assembly 6 when the cartridge assembly 200 is locked by the locking mechanism.

The outer diameter of the supporting portion 30 may be larger than the outer diameter of the blocking portion 12 or smaller than the outer diameter of the blocking portion 12. Of course, in the embodiment shown in fig. 16, an annular groove structure 28 may be disposed on a side of the blocking portion 12 near the operation end 2, and the supporting portion 30 is disposed in the annular groove structure 28, where the supporting portion 30 includes supporting protrusions protruding radially outwards, and the two supporting protrusions are uniformly arranged along the circumferential direction, and the outer diameter of the supporting portion 30 (the supporting protrusions) is equal to the outer diameter of the blocking portion 12 (of course, the outer diameter of the supporting portion 30 (the supporting protrusions) may also be unequal to the outer diameter of the blocking portion 12 in some embodiments).

Further, the engaging member 6 is formed with an engaging opening (not shown). The edge of the clamping opening is provided with a first part and a second part which are different from the axis. The first location is a greater distance from the axis than the second location. The support 30 does not prop open the snap assembly 6 to the release position when radially aligned with the first portion; the support 30 is rotated to radially align with the second portion to prop the engagement assembly 6 open to the release position. The engagement opening is contacted by the support portion 30 through a first portion and a second portion having different distances from the axis, so that the supported portion 30 is spread in the radial direction at the second portion.

The distance from the first part to the axis is L1, the distance from the second part to the axis is L2, and the distance from the outer edge of the supporting part 30 to the axis is L3; wherein L1 is more than or equal to L3 and more than L2. Further, the distance between the first part and the axis is the maximum distance between the edge of the clamping opening and the axis; the distance between the edge of the clamping opening and the axis of the second part is the minimum distance between the edge of the clamping opening and the axis, the distance between the clamping opening and the axis from the first part to the second part is gradually reduced, and the distance between the clamping opening and the axis from the second part to the first part is gradually increased.

In a specific embodiment, the abutting positions of two adjacent clamping pieces form the first part; the intermediate position of the clamping member forms the second portion. In a specific embodiment, when the two clamping members are in butt joint at the locking position, the clamping opening formed by the two clamping members is in an elliptical shape.

To facilitate removal of the cartridge assembly 200 from the base 100 by a user, the impact of drag caused by the sealing engagement between the insertion end 1 and the base 100 is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the base 100 is further provided with a push-out structure. When the filter element assembly 200 drives the supporting portion 30 to rotate from the first position to the second position, the pushing structure pushes the filter element assembly 200 out along the direction that the filter element assembly 200 is separated from the base 100.

Specifically, the base 100 has an insertion opening into which the cartridge assembly 200 is inserted; the push-out structure includes an arc-shaped protrusion 19 provided on a side of the base 100 having the insertion port. Specifically, the arc-shaped protrusion 19 is located on the surface of the base 100 where the insertion opening is provided. The height of the arcuate projection 19 protruding from the surface of the base 100 increases gradually in the direction in which the support 30 rotates from the first portion to the second portion. Specifically, the arcuate projection 19 may be located at a position that is less than the outer diameter of the cartridge assembly 200. The annular surface of the cartridge assembly 200 facing away from the operative end may be provided with a projection 29 (fig. 16, a rib-like structure) which mates with the arcuate projection 19. The cartridge assembly 200 is formed with an annular surface around the insertion end 1.

When cartridge assembly 200 is mounted to base 100, the annular surface of cartridge assembly 200 conforms to the surface of base 100. At this time, the protrusion 29 of the filter element assembly 200 is located at the lowest position of the arc protrusion 19 (the position that does not protrude from the surface of the base 100), and the rotation of the filter element assembly 200 drives the protrusion 29 to rotate around the axis, and the protrusion 29 contacts with the elongated upper end surface of the arc protrusion 19 facing away from the base 100 and is supported by the arc protrusion 19. As the cartridge assembly 200 continues to rotate along the axis, the arcuate projections 19 progressively push the projections 29 in a direction that the cartridge assembly 200 is disengaged from the base 100, such that the cartridge assembly 200 progressively disengages from the base 100.

Of course, the pushing structure is not limited to the form of the arc-shaped protrusion 19, but may be a guide rail gradually moving away from the base 100 along the rotation direction from the first position to the second position, etc., and may be disposed on the filter element assembly 200, where the pushing structure converts the rotation of the filter element assembly 200 into a force that moves the filter element assembly 200 away from the base 100 in the axial direction, and pushes the filter element assembly 200 out of the base 100.

In the present embodiment, the operation portion includes a knob 20 fixed to the operation end 2. The filter element assembly 200 is driven to rotate by the knob 20. Wherein the knob 20 has a flat structure and is perpendicular to the end face of the operating end 2. In other embodiments, the operation portion may be in the form of a handle, and the application is not limited thereto, as long as the operation portion can be driven to rotate, considering that the operation portion is implemented in various manners.

The above embodiment is received by providing the supporting portion 30 and the engaging component 6. When cartridge assembly 200 is inserted and mounted to base 100, cartridge assembly 200 may be inserted into base 100 along a direction in which support 30 is aligned with the first portion of the snap-fit opening. The cartridge assembly 200 is locked by radially expanding the snap-in assembly 6 under the influence of the first ramp 31 (unlocking mechanism) to allow the blocking portion 12 to pass through the snap-in opening, and then resetting the snap-in assembly 6 to the locked position. At this time, the support portion 30 does not affect the blocking portion 12 by the engaging member 6, nor does the engaging member 6 be opened, and the engaging member 6 and the support portion 30 are located at the same axial position. The outer edge of the support 30 may meet the edge (also referred to as the inner surface, inner edge) of the engagement opening.

When the insertion end 1 is in contact with the clamping assembly 6, due to the existence of the reset element, a user can apply an acting force for pushing the filter element assembly 200 along the length direction of the filter element assembly 200 to the filter element assembly 200 through the operation part, and the clamping assembly 6 is pushed in the radial direction by virtue of the action of the first inclined surface 31, so that the clamping opening is expanded in the radial direction, and the blocking part 12 passes through the clamping assembly 6.

To facilitate the user in installing the cartridge assembly 200, the locking mechanism locks the cartridge assembly 200, and thus the support 30 needs to be positioned in the first position of the snap assembly 6. In this regard, the base 100 may also be provided with a guide structure. The guide structure is capable of guiding the support 30 to the first position when the cartridge assembly 200 is inserted into the base 100.

With this guide structure, the support portion 30 can be guided to align the support portion 30 with the first portion in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge assembly 200 (the axial direction can also be considered as the above), and when the operation portion is biased to pass the blocking portion 12 through the engagement opening, the cartridge assembly 200 is locked by the engagement assembly 6 (i.e., the cartridge assembly 200 is in a state of being mounted on the base 100), and the support portion 30 is aligned with the first portion in the radial direction. So, filter element assembly 200 can be located the preset position when the installation, rotates filter element assembly 200 through the operating portion and can realize that block subassembly 6 unblock to release position, and the operation is very convenient, also need not the manual location filter element assembly 200 position of user, and the installation is dismantled all very swiftly.

In particular, the guiding structure comprises a first guide rail 21. The filter element assembly 200 is provided with a guide projection 26 moving along the first guide rail 21. When the cartridge assembly 200 is inserted into the base 100, the guide projection 26 moves along the first guide rail 21 and the support 30 is guided to the first position.

In addition, in order to facilitate the user to know that the support portion 30 is aligned with the second portion when removing the filter element assembly 200, the engaging assembly 6 is pulled out to the release position, so as to avoid the situation that the user cannot pull out the filter element assembly 200 due to the lack of rotation or excessive rotation. The guide structure further includes a second guide rail 22 for movement of the guide projection 26, and a communication guide rail 23.

Wherein the communication rail 23 communicates the first rail 21 with the second rail 22. When the guide protrusion 26 moves along the communication guide rail 23, the supporting portion 30 struts the locking assembly 6 from the locking position to the releasing position. When the cartridge assembly 200 moves away from the base 100, the guide projection 26 moves along the communication rail 23. Further, the second guide rail 22 extends linearly along the length of the filter element assembly 200; the first guide rail 21 is bent and extended along the length direction of the filter element assembly 200; the communication guide 23 extends in the circumferential direction.

As shown in fig. 13 and 14, one of the first guide rail 21, one of the second guide rail 22, and a communicating guide rail 23 that communicates the first guide rail 21 and the second guide rail 22 form a guide rail group. The guide structure comprises two guide rail groups, a first inlet and outlet 24 and a second inlet and outlet. The first and second ports 24, 26 are used for the guide projection 26 to enter and exit the guide rail set. The guide projection 26 is removable from the guide structure through the first and second access openings 24, 26 to allow the cartridge assembly 200 to be completely removed for replacement.

Wherein a first rail 21 of one rail set and a second rail 22 of the other rail set are in communication with said first access opening 24. The second guide rail 22 of the guide rail group and the first guide rail 21 of the other guide rail group are communicated with the second inlet and outlet. The two guide rail groups may be symmetrically distributed, and two guide protrusions 26 may be correspondingly disposed in the circumferential direction of the filter element assembly 200, and the guide protrusions may respectively correspond to the first inlet and outlet 24 and the second inlet and outlet. In other embodiments, the first rail 21 and the second rail 22 may not share the same access opening.

The first rail 21, the second rail 22, and the communication rail 23 may have a long-strip-shaped through-hole structure or a groove structure 28 providing a movement path. In the embodiment shown in fig. 13 to 14, the base 100 is further provided with a supporting cylinder 300; the support cylinder 300 is sleeved outside the filter element assembly 200 when the filter element assembly 200 is mounted on the base 100. The guide structure is disposed on the support cylinder 300. The first guide rail 21, the second guide rail 22, and the communication guide rail 23 each penetrate the support cylinder 300 in the radial direction. Of course, the first guide rail 21, the second guide rail 22, and the communication guide rail 23 may be in the form of grooves.

The embodiments of the present application shown in fig. 8 to 16 are described in detail below in order to better understand the present application.

As shown in fig. 15. The cartridge assembly 200 has a cylindrical body 27, and an insertion end 1. The end surface of the cartridge assembly 200 facing away from the insertion end 1 is provided with a knob 20 having a flat structure forming an operation portion. The cartridge assembly 200 can be rotated about an axis parallel to the length of the cartridge assembly 200 by the knob 20.

The base 100 is provided with an insertion hole 15 into which the insertion end 1 enters, and an insertion opening is formed on the outer surface of the base 100. The base 100 is also fixedly connected with a supporting cylinder 300. When the cartridge assembly 200 is mounted on the insertion base 100, the support cylinder 300 surrounds the cartridge assembly 200. The support cylinder 300 can support the cartridge assembly 200 to avoid all of the weight of the cartridge assembly 200 being borne by the junction of the insertion end 1 and the insertion bore 15, while avoiding dust from being covered by the cartridge assembly 200 over long periods of exposure.

The support cylinder 300 is further provided with a guide structure for guiding the insertion or extraction of the cartridge assembly 200. Wherein, the guide structure comprises two guide rail groups, a first inlet and outlet 24 and a second inlet and outlet. Each guide rail group comprises one of said first guide rail 21, one of said second guide rail 22, and one of a communicating guide rail 23 connecting the first guide rail 21 and the second guide rail 22. The first guide rail 21 extends circumferentially along the length direction of the support cylinder 300, and the second guide rail 22 extends linearly along the length direction of the support cylinder 300.

As shown in fig. 13 and 14, a first rail 21 of one rail group and a second rail 22 of the other rail group are communicated with the first inlet/outlet 24; the second guide rail 22 of the guide rail group and the first guide rail 21 of the other guide rail group are communicated with the second inlet and outlet. A communication section 25 is also provided between the first and second rails 21, 22 and the first access opening 24, which communication section 25 likewise extends in a straight line, and which communication section 25 is arranged to guide the cartridge assembly 200 into the first rail 21 when the cartridge assembly 200 is moved along the communication section 25 away from the first access opening 24. The base 100 and the supporting cylinder 300 may be connected to each other or indirectly, and the present application is not limited thereto. The base 100 and the support cylinder 300 may participate in forming a housing of the water purifier.

The outer diameter of the insertion end 1 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 27 of the cartridge assembly 200. The insertion end 1 is provided with a collar structure 14, a blocking surface (blocking portion 12) is provided on a side of the collar structure 14 adjacent to the operation end 2, and a supporting protrusion (supporting portion 30) is provided. The outer diameter of the support protrusions is equal to the outer diameter of the collar structure 14. The two supporting protrusions are uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction, so that the clamping assembly 6 can be unfolded to the release position by rotating by 90 degrees. The side of the collar structure 14 facing away from the operating end 2 is provided with a first inclined surface 31.

The base 100 has a base housing, and the engagement opening is provided in the base housing, and the engagement assembly 6 is mounted in the base housing, and forms an engagement opening (the insertion opening and the engagement opening are both some part of the insertion hole 15) located inside the insertion opening. The clamping assembly 6 is provided with two clamping plates which are in butt joint, and each clamping plate is provided with an arc-shaped edge forming the edge of the clamping opening. The butt joint parts of the two clamping plates form two first parts and correspond to the two supporting bulges one by one. When the supporting protrusions are rotated by 90 degrees, the two supporting protrusions are aligned with the middle positions of the two clamping plates respectively, and the two clamping plates are pushed to the release positions in the radial direction. The base 100 is internally provided with elastic members for imparting movement to the two chucking plates toward the locking position. The edge of the engagement opening is also a first inclined surface 31 to cooperate with the first inclined surface 31 of the collar structure 14 to be pushed apart and passed by the collar structure 14.

When the user needs to detach the filter element assembly 200 from the base 100 (or the water purifier shell), the filter element assembly 200 is rotated by the knob 20, the guide protrusion 26 on the filter element assembly 200 rotates 90 degrees around the communication guide rail 23 to one end of the second guide rail 22, and the wall at the end of the communication guide rail 23 can prevent the guide protrusion 26 from continuing to move along the circumferential direction, so that the user is reminded that the filter element assembly 200 can be pulled out at the moment. During rotation of the filter element assembly 200, the support protrusions rotate from the first position to the second position to expand the snap assembly 6 from the locked position to the released position. Simultaneously, under the action of the arc-shaped protrusions 19, the filter element assembly 200 automatically moves out a certain distance outwards (in the pulling-out direction) along with rotation, so that the force application of a user is reduced. The user pulls the cartridge assembly 200 outwardly and the two guide tabs 26 move along the second guide rail 22 until they are removed from the first access opening 24 and the second access opening.

When a user desires to mount a (new) cartridge assembly 200 to the base 100 (or water purifier housing), two guide projections 26 are received into the guide structure from the first access opening 24, the second access opening, and the cartridge assembly 200 is pushed further and guided by the communication section 25 into the first guide rail 21 until the two support projections are axially aligned with the two first locations. Then, the filter element assembly 200 is continuously pushed towards the direction of the base 100 through the knob 20, the insertion end 1 of the filter element assembly 200 props up the clamping assembly 6 through the first inclined surface 31 and passes through, the blocking portion 12 returns to the locking position through the rear clamping assembly 6 to lock the insertion end 1, and the two supporting portions 30 are aligned with the two first portions along the radial direction, so that the installation work of the filter element assembly 200 is completed.

See the embodiments shown in fig. 1-7. The operating portion moves the opening mechanism in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge assembly 200 when externally applied. The opening mechanism moves the locking mechanism from the locked position to the released position by moving along the length of the cartridge assembly 200.

In this embodiment, the opening mechanism may be removably mounted to the base 100 or may be removably mounted with the cartridge assembly 200. Of course, the opening mechanism may also include a plurality of detachably mounted components, some of which are mounted to the base 100 and another of which are mounted to the cartridge assembly 200.

Specifically, the operating portion is provided with a rotatable force receiving member 3. The opening mechanism comprises a spreader 4 cooperating with the force-bearing member 3. The opening member 4 can move along the direction of inserting the filter element assembly 200 into the base 100 when the force-applying member 3 is applied to rotate, and can open the clamping assembly 6 from the locking position to the releasing position.

To reduce the drag effect of the sealing arrangement between the cartridge assembly 200 and the base 100, the force-bearing member 3 is also capable of moving the cartridge assembly 200 away from the base 100 when the force is applied to rotate. Specifically, after the spreader 4 moves along the length direction of the filter element assembly 200 to open the locking assembly 6 to the release position, the spreader 4 may be limited by the base 100 and cannot move continuously along the direction of the filter element assembly 200 toward the base 100. At this point, the force-receiving member 3 may continue to rotate, the distractor member 4 applying an opposing force to the force-receiving member 3 or the cartridge assembly 200, the cartridge assembly 200 being moved in a direction away from the base 100,

An opening part is arranged at one end of the opening part 4 close to the base 100; the clamping assembly 6 is provided with an action part which can be matched with the opening part. Wherein the spreading part and/or the acting part is provided with a second inclined surface 13. The second inclined surface 13 enables the opening member 4 to radially open the clamping assembly 6 from the locking position to the releasing position when moving along the direction of inserting the filter element assembly 200 into the base 100.

The force-bearing member 3 rotates about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the length of the cartridge assembly 200. The force-receiving element 3 has a first rotational position and a second rotational position in its rotational direction. The force-bearing member pushes the spreader member 4 to move in the direction of insertion of the filter element assembly 200 into the base 100 when rotated from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

Wherein the force-bearing member 3 comprises a handle. To facilitate the user's gripping operation, the handle is gradually raised at an end of the cartridge assembly 200 remote from the insertion end 1 as it is rotated from the first rotational position to the second rotational position. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2 to 4, the force-receiving member 3 has a semicircular shape, and both ends thereof are rotatably connected to the operation end 2. It should be noted that the force-bearing member 3 of the present application is not limited thereto, and the force-bearing member 3 may have other shapes, such as a straight bar shape, a polygonal line shape, a partial arc shape, and the like.

In order to push the spreader 4 in the direction of the base 100 by means of a force-receiving member, which in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 has a pushing surface 8 that rotates together about the axis of rotation. When the force-bearing member rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, the distance between the contact part of the pushing surface 8 and the opening member 4 and the rotation axis gradually increases.

With continued reference to fig. 2, the pushing surface 8 is located at two ends of the force-bearing member, and the pushing surface 8 may be a cambered surface structure. The force-bearing member in this embodiment has a simple structure, and the pushing surface 8 which rotates around the rotation axis (perpendicular to the length direction of the filter element assembly 200, that is, perpendicular to the axis), and the pivot shaft 9 provides the rotation axis, can push the spreader 4 to move along the length direction of the filter element assembly 200.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the opening mechanism further comprises a pusher 10 arranged at the operating end 2. The force-receiving element 3, when rotated from the first rotational position into the second rotational position, causes the pushing element 10 to move radially outwards. The pushing member 10, when moved radially outwardly, moves the spreader member 4 in a direction in which the cartridge assembly 200 is inserted into the base 100. To avoid the exposure of the pusher 10, a shielding cover 18 may be provided on the operating end 2 to shield the pusher 10.

Wherein the force-receiving member is further provided with a push rod 16 connecting both ends thereof. The operating end 2 is provided with two pushing members 10, and when the force-receiving member is rotated from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, the pushing rod 16 directly pushes one pushing member 10 radially outwardly, and accordingly, the pushing member 10 pushes the other pushing member 10 in opposite directions at the same time (illustratively, two pushing members 10 are simultaneously engaged with a fixed gear by which the two pushing members 10 are moved in radially opposite directions). Specifically, the radially outer end of the pushing member 10 is provided with a third inclined surface 11. The pushing member 10 pushes the spreader member 4 to move in the direction of inserting the cartridge assembly 200 into the base 100 by the third inclined surface 11 when moving radially outwards.

The spreader 4 includes a cylinder structure mounted on the base 100 and sleeved outside the filter element assembly 200. The opening part is disposed at one end of the cylinder structure near the base 100. The cartridge structure is movable relative to the base 100 along the length of the cartridge assembly 200. That is, the spreader 4 is movably supported (indirectly or directly) on the base 100. One end of the cylinder structure near the base 100 is provided with two or more insertion protrusions 5 in the circumferential direction, and the second inclined surface 13 is provided on the insertion protrusions 5.

In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 7, a plurality of rectangular openings 17 are provided in the base housing, and the action portion of the chucking plate (also a projection structure, which is a part of the chucking plate, in the position indicated by reference numeral 6 in fig. 7) is located in the rectangular opening 17 and is also provided with a second inclined surface 13. When the upper end of the barrel structure of the spreading member 4 is pushed by the force-bearing member, the spreading member 4 drives the insertion protrusion 5 to move towards the base 100, and the spreading portion and the acting portion are matched to convert the axial movement of the spreading member 4 into the radial movement of the clamping plate, so that the clamping assembly 6 moves to the release position.

In this embodiment, the base 100 is further provided with a supporting cylinder 300. The support cylinder 300 is sleeved outside the filter element assembly 200 when the filter element assembly 200 is mounted on the base 100. The above-described cartridge structure is sleeved between the support cartridge 300 and the cartridge assembly 200. Wherein the spreader 4 is movably mounted on the support cylinder 300.

The embodiments of the present application shown in fig. 1 to 7 are described in detail below to better understand the present application.

The cartridge assembly 200 has a cylindrical body 27, and an insertion end 1. The end of the cartridge assembly 200 facing away from the operating end 2 of the insertion end 1 is provided with a rotatable semi-circular handle. The spreader tube (spreader 4) can be pushed along the length direction of the cartridge assembly 200 by raising the handle on the end surface of the operation end 2.

The spreader cylinder is movably supported in the support cylinder 300, an insertion hole 15 into which the insertion end 1 is inserted is provided in the base 100, and an insertion port is formed in the outer surface of the base 100. The base 100 is also fixedly connected with a supporting cylinder 300. When the cartridge assembly 200 is mounted on the insertion base 100, the support cylinder 300 surrounds the cartridge assembly 200. The support cylinder 300 can support the cartridge assembly 200 to avoid all of the weight of the cartridge assembly 200 being borne by the junction of the insertion end 1 and the insertion bore 15, while avoiding dust from being covered by the cartridge assembly 200 over long periods of exposure. Both the support cylinder 300 and the spreader cylinder can guide insertion or removal of the cartridge assembly 200 so that the insertion end 1 is aligned with the insertion opening of the base 100 when installed.

The outer diameter of the insertion end 1 of the cartridge assembly 200 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 27 of the cartridge assembly 200. The insertion end 1 is provided with a convex ring structure 14, and one side of the convex ring structure 14 close to the operation end 2 is provided with a blocking surface (blocking part 12). The side of the collar structure 14 facing away from the operating end 2 is provided with a first inclined surface 31.

The base 100 has a base housing, and the engagement opening is provided in the base housing, and the engagement assembly 6 is mounted in the base housing, and forms an engagement opening (the insertion opening and the engagement opening are both some part of the insertion hole 15) located inside the insertion opening. The clamping assembly 6 has two abutting clamping plates (one of the clamping members) each provided with an arcuate edge forming a clamping opening edge. The butt joint parts of the two clamping plates form two first parts and correspond to the two supporting bulges one by one.

An elastic member for applying movement toward the locking position to the two chucking plates is provided inside the base 100. The edge of the engagement opening is also a first inclined surface 31 to cooperate with the first inclined surface 31 of the collar structure 14 to be pushed apart and passed by the collar structure 14. The base shell is provided with a rectangular opening 17, and the action part of the clamping plate stretches into the rectangular opening 17 and is matched with the insertion protrusion 5 at the end part of the opening cylinder. Due to the presence of the elastic member, when the filter element assembly 200 is mounted on the base 100 or is not mounted on the base 100 (i.e. the clamping assembly 6 is located at the locking position), the clamping plate pushes the spreader 4 away from the base 100 through the first inclined surface 31, so that the spreader 4 is reset.

When the user needs to detach the cartridge assembly 200 from the base 100 (or the water purifier housing), he/she first lifts the handle at the operation end 2 by rotating the handle. With the handle raised, the push surface 8 of the handle pushes the spreader cylinder toward the base 100. The opening cylinder moves the clamping plate along the radial direction under the action of the second inclined surface 13 to open the clamping opening to the release position. The handle continues to rise, and the end of the insertion protrusion 5 is pushed against a limit (such as a limit portion on the clamping plate or on the base 100) and cannot move toward the base 100, at this time, the filter element assembly 200 moves out a certain distance automatically (in the pulling-out direction) along with the rotation of the handle under the reaction force of the spreader tube, so as to reduce the force applied by the user. Finally, the user pulls out the filter element assembly 200, and the filter element assembly 200 does not need to rotate during pulling out.

When a user desires to mount a (new) cartridge assembly 200 to the base 100 (or water purifier housing), the cartridge assembly 200 is fed into the spreader cylinder and the support cylinder 300 using a handle or a cylindrical cylinder holding the cartridge assembly 200 directly. Then, the cartridge assembly 200 is pushed in the direction of the base 100, the insertion end 1 of the cartridge assembly 200 is pushed open and passed through the first inclined surface 31, and after the blocking portion 12 passes through, the blocking assembly 6 is reset to the locking position, the insertion end 1 is locked, and the installation work of the cartridge assembly 200 is completed.

Of course, when the handle is in the upright state (in the second rotation position) during the insertion process, the pushing surface 8 of the handle can also directly push the supporting cylinder to move towards the base 100, and the second inclined surface 13 drives the locking assembly 6 from the locking position to the releasing position, so that the blocking portion 12 of the insertion end 1 passes through the locking opening. Furthermore, the force receiving member 3 and the spreader 4 in this embodiment may also function as an unlocking mechanism, and the first inclined surface 31 in the above embodiment may not be necessarily provided.

See fig. 1-16. In an embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a water purifier including: a cartridge assembly replacement structure as in any of the above examples or embodiments. Specifically, the water purifier may have a plurality of cartridge assemblies 200 therein. The base 100 of the cartridge assembly replacement structure may form a water purifier housing, although the support cylinder 300 may be a part of the water purifier housing.

In other embodiments, the water purifier housing is provided with a plurality of bases 100, and the plurality of bases 100 may be integrally formed, and each base 100 is correspondingly provided with a filter element assembly 200. A plurality of accommodating grooves are arranged on the water purifier shell; each receiving slot corresponds to an insertion hole 15 leading to one of the bases 100. A plurality of cartridge assemblies 200 may be mounted in the receiving slots in a one-to-one correspondence and inserted on the respective bases 100.

Any numerical value recited herein includes all values of the lower and upper values that increment by one unit from the lower value to the upper value, as long as there is a spacing of at least two units between any lower value and any higher value. For example, if it is stated that the number of components or the value of a process variable (e.g., temperature, pressure, time, etc.) is from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, then the purpose is to explicitly list such values as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32, etc. in this specification as well. For values less than 1, one unit is suitably considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1. These are merely examples that are intended to be explicitly recited in this description, and all possible combinations of values recited between the lowest value and the highest value are believed to be explicitly stated in the description in a similar manner.

Unless otherwise indicated, all ranges include endpoints and all numbers between endpoints. "about" or "approximately" as used with a range is applicable to both endpoints of the range. Thus, "about 20 to 30" is intended to cover "about 20 to about 30," including at least the indicated endpoints.

All articles and references, including patent applications and publications, disclosed herein are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term "consisting essentially of …" describing a combination shall include the identified element, ingredient, component or step as well as other elements, ingredients, components or steps that do not substantially affect the essential novel features of the combination. The use of the terms "comprises" or "comprising" to describe combinations of elements, components, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments consisting essentially of such elements, components, or steps. By using the term "may" herein, it is intended that any attribute described as "may" be included is optional.

Multiple elements, components, parts or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, component, part or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, component, part or step may be divided into separate plural elements, components, parts or steps. The disclosure of "a" or "an" to describe an element, component, section or step is not intended to exclude other elements, components, sections or steps.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many embodiments and many applications other than the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the present teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of completeness. The omission of any aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein in the preceding claims is not intended to forego such subject matter, nor should the inventors regard such subject matter as not be considered to be part of the disclosed subject matter.

Claims

1. A cartridge assembly replacement structure comprising:

A stationary base for mounting the cartridge assembly; the cartridge assembly having an insertion end for insertion into the base and an operative end opposite the insertion end; the operation part is positioned on the operation end; the base is provided with an insertion hole into which the insertion end is inserted;

A locking mechanism; the locking mechanism has a locked position that fits the cartridge assembly on the base, and a released position that allows the cartridge assembly to be disengaged from the base; when the operation part is externally applied with force, the locking mechanism is enabled to move to the release position;

An unlocking mechanism; the unlocking mechanism is capable of unlocking the locking mechanism when the filter element assembly is inserted into the base;

an opening mechanism engaged with the operation portion; the locking mechanism is moved from the locking position to the releasing position by driving the opening mechanism to move when the operation portion is externally biased;

The operating portion is externally biased to move the opening mechanism in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge assembly, and the opening mechanism moves the locking mechanism from the locking position to the releasing position by moving the opening mechanism in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge assembly.

2. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 1, wherein: the locking mechanism comprises a clamping assembly which is arranged on the base and can clamp the insertion end; the clamping assembly comprises at least one clamping piece distributed along the circumferential direction;

3. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 2, wherein: the insertion end is provided with a blocking part matched with the clamping assembly; the blocking portion is blocked by the clamping assembly when the clamping assembly is located at the locking position, so that the filter element assembly cannot be separated from the base.

4. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 2, wherein: the operating part is provided with a rotationally stressed piece;

5. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 4, wherein: the force-receiving member is also capable of moving the cartridge assembly away from the base when the force-receiving member is rotated.

6. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 4, wherein: one end of the spreading piece, which is close to the base, is provided with a spreading part; the clamping assembly is provided with an action part which can be matched with the opening part;

7. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 4, wherein: the force-bearing member rotates about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the length of the cartridge assembly; the stress piece is provided with a first rotating position and a second rotating position along the rotating direction;

8. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 7, wherein: the stress piece comprises a handle; the handle is tapered at an end of the cartridge assembly remote from the insertion end as it rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

9. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 7, wherein: the stress piece is provided with a pushing surface which rotates together around the rotation axis; when the stress piece rotates from the first rotating position to the second rotating position, the distance between the contact part of the pushing surface and the supporting piece and the rotating axis is gradually increased.

10. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 7, wherein: the opening mechanism further comprises a pushing piece arranged at the operation end; the thrust piece moves outwards along the radial direction when the stress piece rotates from the first rotating position to the second rotating position; the pushing member, when moved radially outwardly, moves the spreader member in the direction of insertion of the cartridge assembly into the base.

11. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 10, wherein: a third inclined plane is arranged at the outer end of the pushing piece along the radial direction; the pushing member, when moved radially outwardly, pushes the spreader member through the third ramp to move in the direction of insertion of the cartridge assembly into the base.

12. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 6, wherein: the supporting piece comprises a cylinder structure which is arranged on the base and can be sleeved outside the filter element assembly; the opening part is arranged at one end of the cylinder structure, which is close to the base.

13. The cartridge assembly replacement architecture of claim 1, wherein: the base is also provided with a supporting cylinder; the support cylinder is sleeved outside the filter element assembly when the filter element assembly is mounted on the base.

14. A water purifier, comprising: the cartridge assembly replacement architecture of any one of claims 1-13.