Fluid treatment system

Abstract

There is disclosed a water treatment appliance, particularly for on-the-counter treatment of potable water. The appliance comprises: a base unit comprising a pump, a housing and a cooling unit for chilling water in the housing; a removable water reservoir engageable with the housing; a control panel comprising a water dispensing switch; an outlet for dispensing treated water from the fluid treatment system; and a treatment cartridge removably disposed in the housing. The treatment cartridge comprises a first chamber and a second chamber in communication with one another. The first chamber is in communication with the housing and has disposed therein a filter element. The second chamber is in communication with the outlet and has disposed therein an ultraviolet radiation lamp.

1 . A treatment cartridge for use in a fluid treatment system, the treatment cartridge comprising a first chamber and a second chamber in fluid communication with one another, the first chamber comprising a fluid inlet for entry of fluid into the cartridge and the second chamber comprising a fluid outlet for exit of fluid from the cartridge, one of the first chamber and the second chamber having disposed therein a filter element and the other of the first chamber and the second chamber having disposed therein a radiation source. 
     
     
         2 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element comprises particulate carbon, preferably a carbon block filter. 
     
     
         3 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element comprises a membrane material, preferably a reverse osmosis membrane material. 
     
     
         4 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is elongate. 
     
     
         6 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is annular. 
     
     
         7 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is elongate and annular. 
     
     
         8 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid filter element is disposed in a first chamber and the radiation source is disposed in the second chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are releasably engageable. 
     
     
         10 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid filter element is elongate and annular, and is disposed in the first chamber to define an annular outer chamber and an axial inner chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 10 , wherein the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the annular outer chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is elongate. 
     
     
         13 . The treatment cartridge defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source comprises an ultraviolet radiation source.