| 摘要 |
Embodiments of a method and filter apparatus (10) for filtering and/or treating water are shown and described, each embodiment being for multiple-stage processing of water or other liquid, with storage intermediate between the stages. Preferably, water is passed through a first zone (28) of a filter housing cavity and conducted through an intermediate port (16) to storage (24). When water is demanded by a usage device (22), water flows in reverse from storage back into the filter (10), to flow through the second zone (42) for a second stage of filtering/treatment, and then preferably out an outlet port (18) to the usage device. Water may also flow from the water source directly through the first and second zones (28, 42) and to the usage device (22), without intermediate storage. Preferably, both first and second zones are contained and axially arranged within a single filter housing (12). Preferably, water flows bi-directionally through a central return tube (26, 26''), or other axial passage (26') through the first zone media that connects to a combined outlet-inlet intermediate port (16) in or near the housing top wall, so that this tube or axial passage may be used as the collector for the first-zone effluent and also the distributor for the second zone feed. Alternatively, a side-wall combined outlet-inlet intermediate port (16') may be used to conduct the inter-zone liquid to and from storage.
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