The present invention refers, in general, to a cartridge for a dosing system. More particularly, it refers to a cartridge for a dosing system for thermal and hydraulic systems.

As is well known, calcareous deposits can form in thermal and/or plumbing systems when water is heated. It is therefore compulsory to carry out chemical conditioning in systems for the production of domestic hot water, as required by Ministerial Decree No. 26 of 2015.

To this end, anti-scale and anti-corrosion products are released into the water using a proportional dosing system. In fact, these products are introduced in proportion to the passage of water, exploiting the so-called "Venturi effect", thanks to which the quantity of anti-scale and anti-corrosion products released into the system is proportional to the quantity of water supplied.

Dosing systems are therefore made up of an upper part connected to the system, called the "dosing body", and a lower part, called the "dosing vessel", where the scale inhibitor and anticorrosive product is stored.

In the dosing vessel, the scale inhibitor and anticorrosion product is dissolved in the water, creating a solution that is then brought into the system, diluted in the water passing through the dosing body.

The scale inhibitor and corrosion inhibitor is contained in a cartridge, so that once the product has been used up, the dosing system can be restarted by simply replacing the used cartridge with a refill.

According to the known technique, in order to facilitate the dissolution of the scale inhibitor and anti-corrosion product, a cannula is placed inside the cartridge with a perforated cap on top.

This tube carries the water from the bottom of the dosing vessel that houses the cartridge, inside the cartridge itself, to its upper part, above the product to be dissolved.

The assembly of such a cannula, perforated at the top, is carried out manually, which is time consuming and may cause problems due to incorrect or non-compliant assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for dosing systems which solves the problems of the known technique.

A further scope of the invention is to provide a cartridge that is convenient to mount in the relevant dosing system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cartridge that is not affected by problems due to mounting operations in the respective dosing system.

These and other purposes are achieved, according to the invention, by a cartridge for dosing systems for thermal and hydraulic systems, comprising a container with a bottom. Such a cartridge is suitable to contain a product of the type, for example, scale inhibitor and corrosion inhibitor.

In particular, the cartridge according to the invention is characterized by the fact that in the container there is a conduit which is one with the container and which develops vertically from the bottom of the container up to a height above the level of the product contained in the container. At the upper end of this duct there is a hole for the entry of water into the container above the product.

Thanks to the presence of this duct, the water can easily flow back into the cartridge from the bottom of the dosing system's dosing vessel, dissolving the product contained inside the cartridge. Advantageously, the conduit may be a groove obtained laterally in the container, which is easily realised when moulding the cartridge container itself.

Furthermore, a filtering net may be included in the cartridge according to the invention to filter the water exiting the container.

In order to improve its performance, the filter net may be metallic or silver- plated.

Advantageously, the passage hole obtained at the end of the conduit can be of variable and adjustable dimensions, so that it is possible to choose the quantity of water entering the cartridge and thus determine the quantity of product to be dissolved and put into circulation in the system.

Furthermore, the cartridge may comprise a septum at the top for the exit of water from the container.

The septum may comprise a first lower lamella and a second upper lamella between which bridges are arranged, so as to create a labyrinth-like path.

In the first lower lamella, at least one passage for the exit of water from the container through the septum may be provided.

In addition, in the second upper lamella, at least one exit hole may be provided for the exit of water from the container through the septum.

Advantageously, the exit hole may be formed in a duct.

Due to the previously defined features, powdered product not pre-mixed with water can be placed in the cartridge. Consequently, unlike the known technique involving cartridges with product pre-mixed with water, the cartridge according to the invention has a much longer service life, also because the powder product is in a substantially anhydrous form.

Furthermore, the septum with two blades and jumpers creates a labyrinth dosing system, thus obtaining a premixing chamber and a diaphragm arranged between the premixed product and the connection portion with the system.

Thanks to this configuration, the product contained in the cartridge is dosed and fed into the system more precisely and consistently.

As a result, with accurate and consistent dosing and more non-pre-mixed product in the cartridge, the number of cartridge changes is reduced, benefiting both the end user and the professional.

In addition, there is also less use of plastic in the cartridge, which improves environmental impact.

Further features and details can be better understood from the following description, which is given as a non-limiting example, as well as from the accompanying drawing tables where: figure 1 is a front side view of a cartridge for dosing systems, according to the invention; figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the cartridge of figure 1 , according to a transverse plane.

With reference to the appended figures, 10 is indicated as a whole a cartridge for dosing systems for thermal and hydraulic systems.

The cartridge 10 comprises a container 12 having a bottom and side walls of substantially cylindrical shape, with a truncated conical lower end. A powdered anti fouling and anti-corrosive product 14 is housed in the container.

The cartridge 10 is closed at the top by a septum 16 comprising a lower first reed 18 and an upper second reed 20 between which bridges 22 are arranged, so as to create a labyrinth-like path.

The first reed 18 is not perimetrically joined to the side walls of the container 12 so as to create passages 24.

A conduit 26 with an outlet hole 28 protrudes superiorly from the second reed

20.

The septum 16 is coupled to the container 12 by means of an interlocking connection, in contrast to an ultrasonic welding provided instead in the cartridges according to the known technique. The cartridge 10 according to the invention thus makes it possible to eliminate a laborious and costly operation.

The cartridge 10 further comprises a silver metal filtering mesh 30 arranged above the septum 16.

In the container 12, a groove 32 is cut, which extends in height over a large part of the cartridge 10, from the bottom to a height above the level of the product 14 contained in the cartridge 10 before its use.

At the upper end of the groove 32 is a through-hole 34.

Once the cartridge 10 is mounted in the dosing system, specifically in the dosing vessel, when the dosing system itself is operational, water enters the dosing vessel, around the container 12 of the cartridge 10, to flow up through the groove 32.

The water then enters the interior of the container 12 through the passage hole 34 so as to come into contact with the product powder 14 and create an anti scale and anti-corrosion aqueous solution 36.

This aqueous solution 36 crosses the septum 16; in particular, it first passes through the passages 24, crossing the labyrinth path between the first reed 18 and the second reed 20, and exiting through the outlet hole 28 obtained in the duct 26.

Finally, the aqueous solution passes through the filter network 30 and is fed into the system by the "Venturi effect". The cartridge 10 according to the invention therefore does not require cannulae to be mounted therein, as envisaged by the known technique, since the cartridge 10 itself provides the groove 32 already obtained in the container 12.

The assembly of the cartridge 10 in the dosing vessel of the dosing system is therefore very simple and does not require any particular care, which is instead necessary in the case of cartridges according to the known technique, where any undesired displacement of the cannula arranged inside must be avoided.

Furthermore, the passage hole 34 can be calibrated as required, depending on the amount of flow to be obtained inside the cartridge. In fact, the through-hole 34 can be enlarged manually or, alternatively, it can be suitably sized by means of annular bodies of various sizes to be placed inside the same through-hole 34 initially present.

There may also be variants which are considered to be within the scope of the invention. For example, the septum 16 and/or the filtering mesh 30 may be replaced by different membranes or filtering systems with additional functions.

Furthermore, the groove may alternatively be configured as a conduit made in one body with the container and arranged vertically, developing from the bottom of the container to a height above the level of the product contained in the container.

The cartridge as previously described is designed to contain products such as polyphosphates, for example, or others, as the cartridge according to the invention can also be used for dispensing a wide range of products, such as chemical conditioners, disinfectants, salt supplements and others.