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

Abstract

An apparatus for filtering water has a valve head and a filtration/purification canister removably mountable thereon. Connecting the canister to the valve head automatically opens a check valve in the valve head to permit water to flow from the valve head into and through the canister, and then back to and through the valve head to an outlet port. Disconnecting the canister from the valve head automatically closes the check valve, stopping the flow of water. A bypass valve is provided in the valve head to permit a sanitizing solution to flow through the valve head and along the lines of the water distribution system to sanitize the system, while bypassing the canister. The outlet port may be directly connected to an appliance that uses water, to eliminate possible contamination that may occur when water is brought indirectly from the outlet port to the appliance instead.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, and 
 the pressure vessel including a compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the 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 the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by providing space for fluid to expand into, 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 the fluid surrounding it, and
 the entire outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel, and 
 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 the first end portion of the tube to the second end portion of the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, 
 
 the tube having an interior surface portion, 
 the tube having a plurality of fins formed in 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 member from entering the tube and plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the compressible member 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 member breaks loose from where it is mounted in the pressure vessel and abuts against the first end of the tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The pressure vessel of  claim 1 ,
 the tube of the outlet port of the pressure vessel being stationarily fixed in place within the pressure vessel, 
 the tube having an exterior surface portion, and 
 the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, 
 the pressure vessel further including 
 a flapper valve for reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, 
 the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, 
 the flapper valve having means for mounting the flexible disc at its central opening to the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube to stationarily fix the disc at is central opening in place on the tube and prevent the disc at its central opening from changing its position in the pressure vessel, 
 the flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc throughout being at substantially an equal height of that of the annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, 
 the flexible disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure vessel, and 
 the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
       3. The pressure vessel of  claim 1 ,
 the compressible member being a polyfoam material. 
 
     
     
       4. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, 
 the housing comprising a cover and a bowl, 
 the cover having a top wall, a side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall of the cover having a lower end portion, and a cover rim formed on the lower end portion of the side wall of the cover, 
 the bowl having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall of the bowl having an upper end portion, and a bowl rim formed on the upper end portion of the side wall of the bowl, and 
 the cover rim and the bowl rim being joined together to form a sealed seam portion of the pressure vessel, and further including 
 a reinforcement member secured around the side wall of the cover and the side wall of the bowl at and near the seam portion of the pressure vessel for reinforcing the pressure vessel, 
 the reinforcement member comprising carbon fibers or fiberglass fibers or aramid fibers wrapped around the pressure vessel and held together with a binder. 
 
     
     
       5. The pressure vessel of  claim 4 ,
 the binder being epoxy or polyurethane. 
 
     
     
       6. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/orpurifying a fluid, comprising
 a cover having a top wall, a side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall of the cover having a lower end portion, and a cover rim formed on the lower end portion of the side wall of the cover, 
 a bowl having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall of the bowl having an upper end portion, and a bowl rim formed on the upper end portion of the side wall of the bowl, 
 the cover rim and the bowl rim being joined together to form a sealed seam portion of the pressure vessel, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 a compressible column mounted in the pressure vessel, 
 the compressible column protecting against damage to the pressure vessel and/or the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by providing space, for fluid to expand into, 
 the bottom wall of the bowl having a passageway extending therethrough for venting purposes, the passageway being defined by a wall, and 
 an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device positioned in the passageway for automatically venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum, 
 the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including a vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in the passageway, the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end portion, the vent sleeve having a cylindrical wall having an annular inwardly extending ledge formed at the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve, the vent sleeve having a plurality of cutouts in its cylindrical wall extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve, the ledge having an upstream side and a downstream side, 
 means positioned downstream of the ledge for creating a valve seat and means positioned downstream of the ledge for sealing between the valve seat and the wall of the passageway, and 
 a ball having a density slightly greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified, the ball being positioned in the vent sleeve, 
 the venting/vacuum breaking device remaining in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into engagement with the valve seat to close the passageway. 
 
     
     
       7. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/orpurifying a fluid, comprising
 a cover having a top wall, a side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall of the cover having a lower end portion, and a cover rim formed on the lower end portion of the side wall of the cover, 
 a bowl having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall of the bowl having an upper end portion, and a bowl rim formed on the upper end portion of the side wall of the bowl, 
 the cover rim and the bowl rim being joined together to form a sealed seam portion of the pressure vessel, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, and 
 the bottom wall of the bowl having a passageway extending therethrough for venting purposes, the passageway being defined by a wall, 
 an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device positioned in the passageway for automatically venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum, 
 the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including a vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in the passageway, the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end portion, the vent sleeve having a cylindrical wall having an annular inwardly extending ledge formed at the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve, the vent sleeve having a plurality of cutouts in its cylindrical wall extending from the upstream end portion of the vent sleeve toward the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve, the ledge having an upstream side and a downstream side, 
 means positioned downstream of the ledge for creating a valve seat and means positioned downstream of the ledge for sealing between the valve seat and the wall of the passageway, and 
 a ball having a density slightly greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified, the ball being positioned in the vent sleeve, 
 the venting device/vacuum breaking device remaining in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into engagement with the valve seat to close the passageway. 
 
     
     
       8. The pressure vessel of  claim 7 , further including
 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. 
 
     
     
       9. The pressure vessel of  claim 8 ,
 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 which direct air to move along past the ball, and 
 an annular inwardly extending ledge formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward the ball. 
 
     
     
       10. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, and 
 the pressure vessel including a compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the 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 the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by providing space for fluid to expand into, the fluid expanding into and compressing the compressible member as the fluid freezes, 
 the compressible member having an outer surface facing outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid surrounding it, and 
 a majority of the outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel,
 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 in 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 member from entering the tube and plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the compressible member inadvertently breaks loose from where it is positioned 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 member breaks loose from where it is positioned in the pressure vessel and abuts against the first end of the tube. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The pressure vessel of  claim 10 ,
 the compressible member being a polyform material. 
 
     
     
       12. The pressure vessel of  claim 10 ,
 all of the outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
       13. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, and 
 the pressure vessel including a compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the 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 the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by providing space for fluid to expand into, 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 the fluid surrounding it, and 
 a majority of the outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel,
 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 the first end portion of the tube to the second end portion of the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, 
 the tube having an exterior surface portion, and 
 the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, 
 the pressure vessel further including 
 a flapper valve for reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, 
 the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, 
 the flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc throughout being at substantially an equal height of that of the annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, 
 the flexible disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure vessel, and 
 the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel, 
 the compressible member being a polyform material, 
 
 the tube having an interior surface portion, 
 the tube having a plurality of fins formed in 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 member from entering the tube and plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the compressible member inadvertently breaks loose from where it is positioned 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 member breaks loose from where it is positioned in the pressure vessel and abuts against the first end of the tube. 
 
     
     
       14. The pressure vessel of  claim 13 ,
 all of the outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid. 
 
     
     
       15. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a first passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 the pressure vessel including an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel including a second passageway of the pressure vessel extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, and 
 the pressure vessel including a compressible member mounted in the pressure vessel and positioned within a bore located within and substantially surrounded by the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the 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 the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid caused by freezing if the fluid freezes and expands in the pressure vessel and for mitigating possible millisecond and/or microsecond pressure spikes by providing space for fluid to expand into, 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 the fluid surrounding it, and 
 a majority of the outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid when the compressible member is mounted in the pressure vessel, 
 the pressure vessel having a third passageway extending through the housing for venting purposes, the third passageway being defined by a wall, and further including 
 an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device positioned in the third passageway for automatically venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum, 
 the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including 
 a ball, 
 a vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in the third passageway, the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end portion, 
 a valve seat positioned at the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve that receives a portion of the ball to close the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device, and 
 means positioned in the third passageway for sealing between the valve seat and the wall of the third passageway, 
 the ball having a density slightly greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified, the ball being positioned in the vent sleeve, and 
 the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device remaining in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into engagement with the valve seat to close the third passageway. 
 
     
     
       16. The pressure vessel of  claim 15 , further including
 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. 
 
     
     
       17. The pressure vessel of  claim 16 , 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 which direct air to move along past the ball, and 
 an annular inwardly extending ledge formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward the ball. 
 
     
     
       18. The pressure vessel of  claim 15 ,
 the outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube having a passageway extending through the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, 
 the tube having an exterior surface portion, and 
 the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, 
 the pressure vessel further including 
 a flapper valve for reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, 
 the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, 
 the flexible disc extending radially outward from the tube across the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc throughout being at substantially the same height of that of the annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, 
 the flexible disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure vessel, and 
 the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
       19. The pressure vessel of  claim 18 , the compressible member being a polyform material,
 the tube having a first end portion into 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, 
 the tube having a plurality of fins formed in 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 member from entering the tube and plugging the passageway extending therethrough if the compressible member inadvertently breaks loose from where it is positioned in the pressure vessel, 
 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 member breaks loose from where it is positioned in the pressure vessel and abuts against the first end of the tube, 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. 
 
     
     
       20. The pressure vessel of  claim 19 , the air direction 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 which direct air to move along past the ball, and 
 an annular inwardly extending ledge formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward the ball. 
 
     
     
       21. The pressure vessel of  claim 20 , the housing comprising
 a cover having a top wall, a side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall of the cover having a lower end portion, and a cover rim formed on the lower end portion of the side wall of the cover, and 
 a bowl having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall of the bowl having an upper end portion, and a bowl rim formed on the upper end portion of the side wall of the bowl, 
 the cover rim and the bowl rim being joined together to form a sealed seam portion of the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
       22. The pressure vessel of  claim 15 ,
 all of the outer surface of the compressible member that faces radially outwardly away from the center axis of the bore toward the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid being spaced out of contact with the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid. 
 
     
     
       23. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 a first passageway extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 a second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port,
 a third passageway extending through the housing for venting purposes, the passageway being defined by a wall, and 
 an automatic venting/vacuum breaking device positioned in the third passageway for automatically venting air and for breaking any unwanted vacuum, 
 
 the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device including 
 a ball, 
 a vent sleeve positioned in a chamber formed in the third passageway, the vent sleeve having a downstream end portion and an upstream end portion, 
 a valve seat positioned at the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve that receives a portion of the ball to close the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device, and 
 means positioned in the third passageway for sealing between the valve seat and the wall of the third passageway, 
 the ball having a density slightly greater than the density of the fluid being filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified, the ball being positioned in the vent sleeve, and 
 the automatic venting/vacuum breaking device remaining in an open position until the ball is pushed by the fluid into engagement with the valve seat to close the third passageway. 
 
     
     
       24. The pressure vessel of  claim 23 , further including
 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. 
 
     
     
       25. The pressure vessel of  claim 24 ,
 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 which direct air to move along past the ball, and 
 an annular inwardly extending ledge formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward the ball. 
 
     
     
       26. The pressure vessel of  claim 23 ,
 the outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube having a passageway extending through the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, 
 the tube having an exterior surface portion, and 
 the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, 
 the pressure vessel further including 
 a flapper valve for reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, 
 the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, 
 the flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc throughout being at substantially an equal height of that of the annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, 
 the flexible disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure vessel, and 
 the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
       27. The pressure vessel of  claim 26 , further including
 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. 
 
     
     
       28. The pressure vessel of  claim 27 , 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 which direct air to move along past the ball, and 
 an annular inwardly extending ledge formed on the downstream end portion of the vent sleeve which directs air that has moved past the ball to rebound off back toward the ball. 
 
     
     
       29. A pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid, comprising
 a housing, 
 means positioned in the pressure vessel for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 an inlet port for passage of fluid into the pressure vessel, 
 a first passageway extending from the inlet port to the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid, 
 an outlet port for passage of fluid from the pressure vessel, 
 a second passageway extending from the means for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying the fluid to the outlet port, 
 the outlet port of the pressure vessel including a tube stationarily fixed in place within the pressure vessel, the tube having a passageway extending through the tube through which fluid that has been filtered and/or conditioned and/or purified moves to exit the pressure vessel, 
 the tube having an exterior surface portion, and 
 the exterior surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, 
 the pressure vessel further including 
 a flapper valve for reducing possible backflow of fluid from the inlet port of the pressure vessel, 
 the flapper valve comprising a flexible disc mounted on the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube, the flexible disc having a central opening formed therein through which the tube extends, 
 the flapper valve having means for mounting the flexible disc at its central opening to the tube in the annular groove formed on the tube to stationarily fix the disc at its central opening in place on the tube and prevent the disc at its central opening from changing its position in the pressure vessel, 
 the flexible disc extending radially outwardly from the tube across the first passageway of the pressure vessel, the flexible disc throughout being at substantially the same height of that of the annular groove in which the flexible disc is mounted, 
 the flexible disc flexing in a first direction to open the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by inbound fluid entering the pressure vessel to permit inbound flow of fluid to pass it as inbound fluid flows through the first passageway of the pressure vessel, and 
 the flexible disc flexing in a second direction to abut against a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel to close the first passageway of the pressure vessel when pushed by a back flow of fluid from the pressure vessel along the first passageway of the pressure vessel.