Method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle
A water filter adapter including a manifold defining an inlet port configured to couple with an output of a water filter module and an outlet port configured to couple with an input connection of a system, for example a water tank of an RV or boat. The water filter adapter further includes a shutoff valve assembly positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port for controlling the flow of water at the input connection of the system rather than an external water source, such as campsite hook-ups or marina connections. In a preferred embodiment the outlet port is offset about ninety degrees from the inlet port to minimize the flow path post-filtration as much as possible while still facilitating a secure connection between the water filter adapter and the input connection of the system and between the water filter adapter and the water filter module.
1 . A method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle, comprising the steps of:
providing:
a water filter module ( 100 ) including:
a casing ( 110 ) defining an input ( 120 ) at a lower end thereof and an outlet ( 130 ) at an upper end thereof;
a filtration medium ( 140 ) capable of purifying water, disposed within the casing ( 110 ); and
a water filter adapter ( 10 ) including:
a manifold ( 12 ) defining:
an inlet port ( 14 );
an outlet port ( 16 );
at least one upstream conduit ( 18 ) in fluid communication with inlet port ( 14 );
at least one downstream conduit ( 20 ) in fluid communication with outlet port ( 16 );
wherein said at least one upstream conduit ( 18 ) and said at least one downstream conduit ( 20 ) facilitate fluid communication between the inlet port ( 14 ) and the outlet port ( 16 );
an integrated shutoff valve assembly ( 52 ) moveable between a first position in which the inlet port ( 14 ) and outlet port ( 16 ) are in fluid communication and a second position in which the inlet port ( 14 ) and outlet port ( 16 ) are not in fluid communication;
coupling the outlet ( 130 ) of the casing ( 110 ) to the inlet port ( 14 ) of the manifold ( 12 );
coupling the input ( 120 ) of the casing ( 110 ) to a source of water; and
directly coupling the outlet port ( 16 ) to an input connection ( 180 ) of a water storage system ( 190 ) of the recreation vehicle, without any hosing between the outlet port ( 16 ) and the input connection ( 180 ).
2 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
flowing unfiltered water from the source of water through the filtration medium ( 140 ) of the water filter module ( 100 ), and filtered water through the water filter adapter ( 10 ) and input connection ( 180 ), into the water storage system ( 190 ).
3 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising:
moving the integrated shutoff valve assembly ( 52 ) from the first position to the second position, to stop the flowing of filtered water into the water storage system ( 190 ).
4 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the filtration medium is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, catalytic carbon, kinetic degradation fluxion, a reverse osmosis membrane, activated aluminum, manganese dioxide, ultraviolet light, and combinations thereof.
5 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the inlet port ( 14 ) further includes an internal thread ( 25 ) and the outlet port ( 16 ) further includes an external thread ( 28 ).
6 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the internal thread ( 25 ) defines a ¾″-11.5 NH thread.
7 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the external thread ( 28 ) defines a ¾″-11.5 NH thread.
8 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the integrated shutoff valve assembly ( 52 ) includes a ball ( 54 ) defining a bore ( 56 ), a first seat ( 58 ) positioned upstream of the ball ( 54 ), a second seat ( 60 ) positioned downstream of the ball ( 54 ), and a stem ( 62 ) connected to the ball ( 54 ) and the stem ( 62 ) having a portion extending outside the manifold ( 12 ), the portion extending outside the manifold ( 12 ) including a handle ( 64 ).
9 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first position is defined when the bore ( 56 ) of the ball ( 54 ) is parallel to a flow path (“P”).
10 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the second position is defined when the bore ( 56 ) of the ball ( 54 ) is perpendicular to a flow path (“P”).
11 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 , wherein inlet port ( 14 ) is generally oriented along a first axis ( 30 ) and the outlet port ( 16 ) is generally oriented along a second axis ( 32 ), and the first axis ( 30 ) and the second axis ( 32 ) are offset at an angle between seventy-five degrees and ninety degrees.
12 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 wherein, the inlet port ( 14 ) is generally oriented along a first axis ( 30 ), and the outlet port ( 16 ) is generally oriented about ninety degrees opposite the first axis ( 30 ).
13 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 wherein, the manifold ( 12 ) further includes an inner collar ( 22 ) defining the inlet port ( 14 ) and an outer collar ( 34 ) reinforcing the inner collar ( 22 ).
14 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a plurality of ribs ( 50 ) extend between the inner collar ( 22 ) and the outer collar ( 34 ).
15 . The method of supplying potable water to a recreation vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the manifold ( 12 ) is manufactured using plastic injection molding.