U.S. patent application number 10/202290 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-30 for hot disconnect replaceable water filter assembly.
Invention is credited to Fritze, Karl.
Application Number | 20030019819 10/202290 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26897536 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030019819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fritze, Karl |
January 30, 2003 |
Hot disconnect replaceable water filter assembly
Abstract
A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source,
the filter assembly includes a manifold assembly being fluidly
couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and
having a filtered water outlet and having a helical manifold
mounting means. A cartridge has a cartridge top member for mating
with the manifold assembly and has a fluid inlet, the inlet being
fluidly communicable with the manifold assembly inlet and further
having a sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow
of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from a non-wetted
manifold assembly portion and having a cartridge coupler fluid
outlet, the outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter
cartridge outlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold
coupler outlet and further having second sealing means, the sealing
means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter
cartridge from an outlet flow of filtered water from the filter
cartridge and having helical cartridge mounting means for
cooperatively engaging the helical manifold mounting means.
Inventors: |
Fritze, Karl; (Denmark
Township, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTERSON, THUENTE, SKAAR & CHRISTENSEN, P.A.
4800 IDS CENTER
80 SOUTH 8TH STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-2100
US
|
Family ID: |
26897536 |
Appl. No.: |
10/202290 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60308757 |
Jul 30, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/767 ;
210/435 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 2201/302 20130101;
B01D 2201/4076 20130101; B01D 35/147 20130101; B01D 35/153
20130101; C02F 2201/006 20130101; Y10T 29/49817 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/767 ;
210/435 |
International
Class: |
B01D 027/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source,
the filter assembly comprising: a manifold assembly being fluidly
couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and
having a filtered water outlet and having a helical manifold
mounting means; and a cartridge having a cartridge top member for
mating with the manifold assembly and having a fluid inlet, said
inlet being fluidly communicable with the manifold assembly inlet
and further having a sealing means, the sealing means isolating an
inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from a
non-wetted manifold assembly portion and having a cartridge coupler
fluid outlet, said outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter
cartridge outlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold
coupler outlet and further having second sealing means, the sealing
means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter
cartridge from an outlet flow of filtered water from the filter
cartridge and having helical cartridge mounting means for
cooperatively engaging the helical manifold mounting means.
2. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the mating of the
manifold assembly to the cartridge top member is via helical tabs
comprising the helical manifold mounting means and the helical
cartridge mounting means, respectively.
3. The filter assembly of claim 2, wherein the helical tabs impart
a longitudinal displacement to said cartridge top member relative
to the manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational
motion is applied to the filter cartridge.
4. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly
further includes at least one locking mechanism, whereby the
manifold assembly and cartridge top member are locked in place and
resist unlocking rotation due to normal operating conditions but
will release upon a specified pressure condition.
5. The filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism is
located on helical tabs.
6. The filter assembly of claim 1, including a locking mechanism
having protrusions on a first set of helical tabs that mate with
cooperative depressions defined on a second set of helical
tabs.
7. The filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism
disengages at a pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch
gauge.
8. The filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism
disengages at a pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and
500 lbs. per square inch gauge.
9. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly
further includes alignment markers indicating engagement of a
locking mechanism.
10. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the cartridge top
member further includes venting means, whereby the cartridge is
vented to ambient during disengagement of the cartridge assembly
from the manifold assembly.
11. The filter assembly of claim 10, wherein the venting means is
comprised of venting ports sealable by engagement of the cartridge
assembly with the manifold assembly.
12. In a filter assembly, a method of disengaging a cartridge
assembly from a manifold assembly, comprising: rotating the
cartridge assembly relative to the manifold assembly; and said
rotation acting in sequence for, closing a valve on a fluid inlet;
breaking at least one sealing engagement between the cartridge
assembly and the manifold assembly; venting residual pressure
existing in the cartridge assembly; and disengaging the manifold
assembly from the cartridge assembly.
13. The method of claim 12 including coupling the cartridge
assembly to the manifold assembly by helical engagement means.
14. The method of claim 12 including imparting longitudinal
displacement of the cartridge assembly relative to the manifold
assembly by rotating the cartridge assembly relative to the
manifold assembly.
15. The method of claim 12 including locking the manifold assembly
and cartridge assembly in place by one or more locking
mechanisms.
16. The method of claim 15, including commencing disengagement at a
pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch gauge.
17. The method of claim 15, including commencing disengagement at a
pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per
square inch gauge.
18. The method of claim 12, including indicating engagement of a
locking mechanism by alignment markers.
19. A filter cartridge for use with a filter assembly for filtering
water from an external source, the filter cartridge comprising: a
cartridge housing having a cartridge top member for mating with a
manifold assembly and having a fluid inlet, said inlet being
fluidly communicable with a manifold assembly inlet and further
having a sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow
of unfiltered water from a non-wetted manifold assembly portion and
having a cartridge coupler fluid outlet, said outlet being fluidly
communicable with a filter cartridge outlet and being in fluid
communication with a manifold coupler outlet and further having
second sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of
unfiltered water from an outlet flow of filtered water from the
cartridge housing and having helical cartridge mounting means being
cooperatively engagable with helical manifold mounting means.
20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the mating of the manifold
assembly to the cartridge top member is via helical tabs comprising
the helical cartridge mounting means.
21. The cartridge of claim 20, wherein the helical tabs impart a
longitudinal displacement to said cartridge relative to the
manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational motion is
applied to the cartridge top member.
22. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the cartridge top member
further includes at least one locking mechanism, whereby the filter
cartridge top member is lockable in place with respect to the
manifold assembly, the locking mechanism resisting unlocking
rotation due to normal operating conditions and is releasable upon
a specified pressure condition in the cartridge housing.
23. The cartridge of claim 22, wherein a first portion of the
locking mechanism is located on helical tabs.
24. The cartridge of claim 19, including a first portion of a
locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having protrusions that
are matable with cooperative depressions.
25. The cartridge of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism when
engaged, disengages at a pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square
inch gauge in the cartridge housing.
26. The cartridge of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism when
engaged, disengages at a pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch
gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge in the cartridge
housing.
27. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the cartridge top member
further includes an alignment marker indicating engagement of a
locking mechanism.
28. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the cartridge top member
further includes venting means, whereby pressure in the cartridge
is vented to ambient during disengagement from the manifold
assembly.
29. The cartridge of claim 28, wherein the venting means is
comprised of venting ports opened during rotational disengagement
of the cartridge from the manifold.
30. An adapter for use with a filter assembly for filtering water
from an external source, the adapter comprising: an adapter body
having mating means being matable to a manifold assembly and being
fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered
and having an unfiltered water outlet being fluidly couplable to a
filter cartridge, a filtered water inlet fluidly couplable to the
filter cartridge and a filtered water outlet fluidly couplable to
the manifold assembly and having a helical manifold mounting means;
and means for sealingly mating to a filter cartridge.
31. The adapter of claim 30, wherein the mating of the manifold
assembly to the adapter is via helical tabs disposed on the adapter
body comprising the helical manifold mounting means.
32. The adapter of claim 31, wherein the helical tabs impart a
longitudinal displacement to the adapter body relative to the
manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational motion is
applied to the adapter body.
33. The adapter of claim 30, wherein the adapter body further
includes at least one locking mechanism, whereby the manifold
assembly and the adapter body are lockable in place and resist
unlocking rotation due to normal operating conditions but are
releasable upon a specified pressure condition.
34. The adapter of claim 31, wherein a locking mechanism is located
on mating helical tabs.
35. The adapter of claim 30, including a portion of a locking
mechanism, the locking mechanism having protrusions on a first set
of helical tabs that are matable with cooperative depressions
defined on a second set of helical tabs.
36. The adapter of claim 33, wherein the locking mechanism
disengages at a cartridge pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square
inch gauge.
37. The adapter of claim 33, wherein the locking mechanism
disengages at a cartridge pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch
gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge.
38. The adapter of claim 30, wherein the adapter body further
includes alignment markers indicating engagement of a locking
mechanism.
39. The adapter of claim 30, wherein the adapter body further
includes venting means, whereby pressure in an engaged cartridge is
vented to ambient during disengagement of the adapter body from the
manifold assembly.
40. The adapter of claim 39, wherein the venting means is comprised
of venting ports.
41. A manifold assembly for use in a filter assembly for filtering
water from an external source, the manifold assembly having a
manifold body being fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of
water to be filtered and having a filtered water outlet and having
a helical manifold mounting means.
42. The manifold assembly of claim 41, wherein the mating of the
manifold assembly to a filter cartridge is via helical tabs
comprising the helical manifold mounting means.
43. The manifold assembly of claim 42, wherein the helical tabs
impart a longitudinal displacement to the filter cartridge relative
to the manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational
motion is applied to the cartridge.
44. The manifold assembly of claim 41, further including at least
one locking mechanism, whereby the manifold body and a filter
cartridge are lockable in place and resist unlocking rotation due
to normal operating conditions but are releasable upon a specified
pressure condition.
45. The manifold assembly of claim 44, wherein the locking
mechanism is located on helical tabs.
46. The manifold assembly of claim 41, including a first portion of
a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having protrusions that
mate with cooperative depressions.
47. The manifold assembly of claim 44, wherein the locking
mechanism disengages at a cartridge pressure greater than 200 lbs.
per square inch gauge.
48. The manifold assembly of claim 44, wherein the locking
mechanism disengages at a cartridge pressure between 200 lbs. per
square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge.
49. The manifold assembly of claim 1, wherein the manifold body
further includes alignment markers indicating engagement of a
locking mechanism.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/308,757 filed Jul. 30, 2001, which
is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
residential and commercial water filtration products. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a water filtration
assembly providing a method of safely installing or replacing
filters while allowing the water circuit to remain pressurized.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Point-of-use water filtration systems have become
increasingly common in the residential and commercial environment.
There are many advantages to these types of systems in addition to
the obvious improvements to taste and appearance. In situations
where the source water has been municipally treated, point-of-use
systems allow the water to retain the disinfecting properties
imparted by the municipality until the moment of use. These
filtration systems can also be individually tailored to treat
specific properties of the source water.
[0004] One disadvantage of point-of-use filtration systems in the
residential and commercial environment is that they must be
designed to fit in the limited spaces available in these markets.
As the design must be compact and unobtrusive, these systems must
be designed to allow for frequent and easy replacement of used and
exhausted filter elements. Because many of the users in the
commercial and residential market may be unfamiliar with the
potential dangers of working with a pressurized system, the
filtration systems must also be designed with the safety of the
user in mind.
[0005] To that end, during normal operation of the filter, the
potential for self uncoupling of the filter cartridge from the
filter manifold should be eliminated to prevent unwanted leakage
and subsequent disengagement of the filter assembly while also
permitting the assembly to decouple safely should an increased
pressure condition occur beyond the structural failure point of the
filter assembly. Further, the act of uncoupling the filter
cartridge from the filter manifold should also permit the relief of
any excess pressure in a controlled manner to reduce the risk of
damage or personal injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The water filter assembly of the present invention meets the
aforementioned requirements of the commercial and residential
markets. The water filter assembly includes a cartridge assembly
and manifold assembly incorporating an interconnection design
preventing rapid, violent, and unintentional separation of the
components as potential pressure in the water filter comes to
equilibrium with the environment.
[0007] A cartridge assembly having a cartridge top member and
cartridge filter housing of the present invention is readily
matable to a manifold assembly having the manifold assembly
component of the present invention. The cartridge top member is
permanently attached to the cartridge filter housing through
appropriate means such as spin or sonic welding. In effecting such
mating between cartridge assembly and manifold assembly, at least
one seal provides a watertight seal between the cartridge assembly
and the manifold. Additionally, at least two seals in a series
relationship provide for effecting a seal between the unfiltered
inlet water and the filtered outlet water to prevent contamination
therebetween.
[0008] A critical aspect of the manifold assembly and associated
mating cartridge top assembly is that, during replacement of
cartridge assemblies on the manifold assembly, the water under
pressure being supplied to the manifold assembly be automatically
and positively shutoff and the residual pressure within the filter
assembly be vented to allow benign disengagement during uncoupling.
Accordingly, pressure relief ports are spaced equidistant around
the sidewall of the receiver well of the cartridge top assembly to
assure this venting after the supply water is shut off but before
the cartridge filter assembly is disengaged from the manifold
assembly, resulting in increased safety to the user.
[0009] An additional feature of the filter assembly is the ability
to eliminate the potential for the cartridge filter assembly to
uncouple from the manifold assembly during normal operation and
under typical operating conditions. Therefore, the present
invention incorporates locking tabs on the cartridge top assembly
engaging mechanism that mate with cooperative depressions on the
manifold assembly engaging mechanism, providing a resistive force
to this inherent decoupling effect.
[0010] Furthermore, the design of these locking tabs also permits
the filter assembly to decouple should an increase in internal
pressure occur that could damage the assembly or nearby objects.
The design of these locking tabs can be modified to respond at
various levels of aggression to these pressure conditions.
[0011] During installation or removal of a water filter, the user
provides rotational force to the filter housing. The
interconnection ramps located on the filter end cap interface with
the internal ramp assembly of the water manifold and allow the
filter and manifold to slidably engage or disengage. As the filter
and manifold slidably engage or disengage, the molded engagement
ramps on the filter end cap either come into contact or lose
contact with the spring valve located in the unfiltered water flow
channel of the manifold depending upon whether a filter is being
installed or removed. The molded tabs of the manifold prevent
separation of the filter and manifold until the entire length of
the filter end cap interconnection ramp has been traveled. By
appropriately sizing the length of the interconnection ramp in
comparison to the engagement ramp, the water filter assembly is
allowed to come to pressure equilibrium with the environment before
the filter and manifold have been separated. The engagement ramp
being shorter than the interconnection ramp causes a break in the
fluid circuit resulting in the release of any pressure energy
stored in the filter. Because pressure equilibrium is reached while
the locking tabs are still engaged, there is no longer energy
available that could lead to the rapid and violent separation of
the components, thereby leading to an increase in safety for the
user.
[0012] The present invention is a filter assembly for filtering
water from an external source, the filter assembly including a
manifold assembly mountable to an appliance and being in fluid
communication with the external source and a cartridge assembly,
the cartridge assembly being replaceably fluidly couplable to the
manifold assembly by means of a hot disconnect that prevents rapid,
unintentional and violent disengagement of the assembly.
[0013] The manifold assembly is fluidly couplable at an inlet to a
source of water to be filtered and has a filtered water outlet and
mating members for removably mating to the cartridge top member and
has a mounting means attached to said manifold providing rotational
travel to the cartridge top member for installation, removal and
replacement of the cartridge filter.
[0014] A cartridge top member mates with the filter cartridge and
has a fluid inlet, said inlet being fluidly communicable with the
filter cartridge and being in fluid communication with an adapter
assembly valve and further having a sealing means, the sealing
means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter
cartridge from the non-wetted portion of the manifold assembly and
having a cartridge coupler fluid outlet, said outlet being fluidly
communicable with a filter cartridge outlet and being in fluid
communication with the manifold coupler outlet and further having
sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of
unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from an outlet flow of
filtered water from the filter cartridge.
[0015] The present invention is further a cartridge assembly and
additionally a method of disengaging the cartridge assembly from a
manifold assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the manifold assembly member
of the present invention taken through the inlet and outlet
ports;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the manifold assembly member
of the present invention taken perpendicular to FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the manifold
assembly;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an underside perspective view of the manifold
assembly;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cartridge top member;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cartridge top member,
topside;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cartridge top member,
underside;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the cartridge top member
taken through its center;
[0024] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge
assembly;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a side elevational sectional view of the
cartridge assembly;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cartridge filter glue
dam; and
[0027] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the cartridge filter glue dam.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The filter assembly of the present invention is shown
generally at 10 in the figures. The filter assembly 10 has two
major components: a manifold assembly 12 and a cartridge assembly
14. The cartridge assembly 14 further has three subcomponents:
cartridge top member 16, cartridge housing 18, and filter element
19.
[0029] The manifold assembly is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
The manifold assembly 12 includes a general manifold body 20. Inlet
cartridge fitting 23 is press-fit into inlet bore 21 of manifold
assembly body 20, forming inlet port 22. A gap 27, depicted in FIG.
1, is formed between inlet bore 21 and inlet cartridge fitting 23.
Inlet port 22 is sealed from gap 27 by means of O-ring 30. Inlet
port 22 narrows into tubular inlet flow passage 29. Inlet flow
passage 29 leads to valve well 42. Valve well 42 is positioned to
accept both high-flow valve 28 and biasing spring 26. Valve well 42
is fluidly coupled to inlet bore 52 of cartridge insert 50 (see
FIG. 3). High-flow valve 28 is seated in and also longitudinally
translates within valve well 42. Inlet bore 52 has an annular
surface 37 upon which ridge 33 of high-flow valve 28 sits to create
a water-tight seal when biasing spring 26 is decompressed.
[0030] From FIG. 3, cartridge insert 50 has two main sections, an
expanded upper body portion 54 and a second reduced body portion
56. Body portion 56 has a significantly reduced diameter when
compared to the diameter of upper body portion 54. Cartridge insert
50 is fixedly coupled to base assembly 43 of manifold assembly 12
at sealing surface 47, shown in FIG. 4. Cartridge insert 50 and
base assembly 43 are sealed therein by gasket 48, which separates
pressurized inlet and outlet water from the cavity of manifold
assembly body 20. The mating of base assembly 43 with cartridge
insert 50 fluidly couples outlet 44 of manifold assembly 20 with
inlet bore 52 of cartridge insert 50, as well as inlet 46 of
manifold assembly 20 with outlet bore 40 of cartridge insert
50.
[0031] Expanded upper body portion 54 includes groove 38. Groove 38
contains a seal 34, preferably an O-ring, for sealing pressurized
water from within receiver well 106 of cartridge top member 16
(shown in FIG. 6 and described below) from the cavity of general
manifold body 20. Reduced body portion 56 further includes a pair
of grooves 36. These grooves 36 are situated in series and hold
seals 32, preferably being O-rings, to separate unfiltered inlet
water within receiver well 106 from filtered outlet water. Reduced
body portion 56 also has bored through its longitudinal center
outlet bore 40 for conveying filtered outlet water from cartridge
assembly 14.
[0032] Looking at FIG. 3, outlet bore 40 continues through expanded
upper body portion 54 by means of a conical projection 59 within
which filtered outlet water flows. Conical projection 59 has a
wider diameter at its base than its peak, the base therefore
narrowing to its point of fluid coupling with outlet flow passage
31. Outlet bore 40 retains a constant inside diameter flow path.
From FIG. 1, flow passage 31 has an approximate 90.degree. turn
leading to outlet flow passage 35. As before, outlet port 24 is
formed from the press-fitting of outlet cartridge fitting 25 into
outlet bore 39 of manifold assembly body 20. A similar sealing
means of an O-ring 30 is employed to seal the subsequent gap 27
formed between outlet cartridge fitting 25 and outlet bore 39.
[0033] Manifold assembly 12 further has a top manifold hood 62
attached to manifold assembly body 20 using manifold hood
connectors 60 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0034] Focusing on FIG. 4, the underside of manifold assembly body
20 has protruding from it cartridge receiver 72 for mating with
cartridge top member 16. The mating mechanism between cartridge
receiver 72 and cartridge top member 16 is through interior helical
tabs 70 located on the inside margin 73 of cartridge receiver 72.
Tabs 70 are diametrically opposed on inside margin 73. These tabs
70 extend flush from the bottom surface of receiver 72 and spiral
upward at an approximate 8.degree. angle along margin 73 to a
position less than half the circumference away from their point of
origin. The top surface 74 of these tabs 70 provides the supporting
structure for and mates with external helical tabs 104 of cartridge
top member 16, shown in FIG. 6 and described below.
[0035] Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7, cartridge top member 16 includes
member body 100. Member body 100 has a margin 101 from which
exterior helical tabs 104 mate with interior helical tabs 70 of
cartridge receiver 72. As with interior helical tabs 70, exterior
helical tabs 104 spiral upward at an approximate 8.degree. angle
along margin 101 to a position less than half the circumference
away from their point of origin. The underside surface 128 of these
tabs is supported by top surface 74 of interior helical tabs 70 of
manifold assembly 12, from FIG. 4. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7,
exterior helical tabs 104 also have at their end points ramps 120
for facilitating engagement with interior helical tabs 70.
[0036] Cartridge top member body 100 has defined therein interior
receiver well 106 with inside margin 112 for sealing with O-ring 34
of manifold assembly 12 as shown in FIG. 1. This effects a fluid
seal between unfiltered inlet water within receiver well 106 and
the cavity of manifold assembly body 20.
[0037] From FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, a plurality of inlet orifices 114
are formed within the bottom surface of receiver well 106. These
orifices 114 are spaced circumferentially and equidistant from each
other. A distinct feature of these orifices 114 is that the inside
diameter of any individual orifice is designed such that the
adhesive forces between the inside surface and any remaining water
within that orifice allow for capillary action to prevent dripping
when the cartridge assembly 14 is disengaged from manifold assembly
12. These orifices 114 direct inlet water to cartridge housing
18.
[0038] Outlet bore 122 is bored through the center of cartridge top
member 16. Within outlet bore 122 reduced body portion 56 of
cartridge insert 50 is engaged for conveyance of filtered water. A
lip 124 protrudes from the underside of outlet bore 122, providing
proper positioning of filter 19 within cartridge assembly 14. Dual
ramps 102 extend upward from the bottom of receiver well 106. One
or the other of the ramps 102 radially aligns with high-flow valve
28 contact surface 41 to compress and open the valve 28 when
cartridge top member 16 is rotatably moved into place to mate with
manifold assembly 12.
[0039] The underside surface 128 of each helical tab 104 has a
locking tab 108 for mating with a cooperative depression 109
located in interior helical tab 70 of manifold assembly 12. As will
be seen, these locking tabs 108 interface with depressions 109
during engagement of cartridge assembly 14 with manifold assembly
12 to lock the cartridge assembly 14 in place and to provide a
degree of burst protection to the components of filter assembly 10.
The locking tabs 108 will disengage from the respective depressions
109 permitting the cartridge assembly 14 to back off from manifold
assembly 12 at a predefined level of hydraulic pressure for benign
disengagement.
[0040] Without locking tabs 108, normal pressure levels of the
incoming water service and associated vibrations would slowly cause
cartridge assembly 14 to uncouple from manifold assembly 12,
resulting in leakage and eventual disengagement of cartridge
assembly 14 from manifold assembly 12. A unique feature of locking
tabs 108 is that they can be designed such that they do not allow
for this gradual decoupling of the filter assembly under normal
line pressure conditions, but will commence decoupling at a certain
pressure condition below the structural strength limits of the
filter assembly. The design of the locking tabs 108 determines this
pressure condition by being a more aggressive or less aggressive
design, a more aggressive design seating more firmly in the
depression 109 and requiring greater pressure to unseat the locking
tabs 108 from the depressions 109.
[0041] Looking at FIGS. 4 and 6, manifold assembly 12 and cartridge
top member 16 have alignment markers, 200 and 202 respectively, to
indicate alignment of both components and engagement of locking
tabs 108.
[0042] From FIG. 7, the cartridge top member 16 has a margin 116
extending circumferentially from body 100. The interior face 117 of
surface 116 progressively slopes centerward to inlet orifices 114.
This slope allows for a smoother transition and flow pattern from
the interior space within surface 116. Also on the interior face
117 are two weld facilitators 118. The weld facilitators 118 are
diametrically opposed from each other.
[0043] Looking at FIGS. 6 and 8, defined around the perimeter of
upper sealing surface 112 of receiver well 106 are a plurality of
vent ports 110. Vent ports 110 are preferably spaced equidistant
around the diameter of sealing surface 112. These vent ports 110
separate that surface 112 from the interior cavity of manifold
assembly body 20, located in FIG. 1. As will be seen, these vent
ports 110 allow for relief of pressure trapped in the cartridge
assembly 14 before complete disengagement during the disassembly of
cartridge assembly 14 from manifold assembly 12. The top edge 126
of receiver well 106 is chamfered to facilitate this relief of
pressure.
[0044] Turning now to cartridge housing assembly 18 in FIGS. 9 and
10, cartridge housing assembly 18 consists of cartridge housing
body 150 and its components as well as filter assembly 19.
Cartridge housing body 150 is a cylindrical housing tapered at one
end for insertion of filter assembly 19. Lateral supports 154
protrude inward from the narrow end and herein defined as bottom of
body 150 for longitudinally supporting filter assembly 19 in place.
Concentric and center to supports 154 is an upward directed
alignment projectile 156, also used to support and center filter
assembly 19 within cartridge housing body 150. Handle 158 is formed
from the bottom of housing body 150 and is utilized to assist in
applying rotational force to cartridge assembly 14.
[0045] Filter 19 consists of carbon filter 180 or other type
filter. The carbon filter 180 is preferably made of activated
carbon and is of about one micron size. The carbon block forming
the carbon filter 180 has an inner margin 191 that defines an axial
bore 190. The preferred embodiment of carbon filter 180 is a molded
design as shown in FIG. 10 in which axial bore 190 does not extend
all the way through filter 180, but instead to a point in which a
portion of filter medium exists between the end of axial bore 190
and alignment projectile 156. With this design, the full exterior
surface of filter 180 in fluid contact with the inlet water serves
as a filter medium.
[0046] However, an alternative embodiment is an extruded design in
which axial bore 190 does extend all the way through carbon filter
180. The extruded design necessitates an end dam on the bottom of
carbon filter 180 to prevent unfiltered water migration into axial
bore 190. The extruded embodiment is defined by dashed lines 199
extending through carbon filter 180, shown in FIG. 10.
[0047] The outlet of filter element 19 consists of adhesive 182 and
glue dam 184. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, glue dam 184 further
consists of disc 185, supports 186, and outlet tube 188. Disc 185
has a diameter that is less than that of the inside surface of
cartridge housing body 150, resulting in a flow path for unfiltered
water to filter 180, shown as annular space 152 in FIG. 10. To
facilitate the flow of water, the outer edge of disc 185 angles
downward via outer edge 187.
[0048] Disc 185 further includes spacers 189 placed equidistant
around outer edge 187, further defining the annular space available
as a path for unfiltered water. Angled supports 186 are spaced
equidistant around the top face of glue dam 184 to brace outlet
tube 188. The interior surface of outlet tube 188 is defined herein
as sealing surface 192. Sealing surface 192 is sized to accept
O-rings 32 as described above in FIG. 3 for the purpose of
separating unfiltered inlet water from filtered outlet water. The
bottom of sealing surface 192 is defined as outlet face 195. Within
outlet face 195 is a bore defining outlet orifice 194, fluidly
coupling filtered outlet water of filter bore 190 to outlet bore 40
of cartridge insert 50.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 9, cartridge top member 16 mates with
cartridge housing assembly 18 through the coupling of margin 116
with the inside surface 196 of cartridge housing 150.
[0050] In operation, from an external connection (not shown)
unfiltered water flows through inlet port 22 of FIG. 1 to inlet
flow passage 29 and into valve well 42. When manifold assembly 12
is not engaged with cartridge assembly 14, biasing spring 26
imparts a force upon high-flow valve 28, depressing it from valve
well 42 into inlet bore 52 of cartridge insert 50. This effects a
watertight seal at annular surface 37 between valve well 42 and
inlet bore 52 of cartridge insert 50.
[0051] In coupling operation, manifold assembly 12 is engaged with
cartridge assembly 14 and specifically, cartridge top member 16 as
follows: Manifold assembly 12 is engaged with cartridge assembly 14
by matching up external helical tabs 104 of cartridge top member 16
with internal helical tabs 70 of manifold assembly 12, using a ramp
120 as an initial guide. The mating helical tabs 70, 104 will begin
to engage the manifold assembly 12 with the cartridge assembly 14
when a rotational motion is imparted to the cartridge assembly 14
relative to manifold assembly 12. This rotational motion will
translate into a longitudinal displacement of cartridge assembly 14
into manifold assembly 12, sealing both interior sealing surface
192 of outlet tube 188 on FIG. 8, as well as sealing surface 112 of
cartridge top member 16.
[0052] When alignment marker 200 of manifold assembly 12 (see FIG.
4) is lined up with alignment marker 202 of cartridge top member 16
(see FIG. 6), then ramp 102 of cartridge top member 16 will have
fully depressed high-flow valve 28 within valve well 42 of manifold
assembly 12 against the compressive force of biasing spring 26.
This allows inlet water to flow through as described above. The
alignment of markers 200 and 202 also indicates that locking tabs
108 have engaged the depressions 109.
[0053] During normal engagement, as described below, the axial
force imparted on high-flow valve 28 by ramps 102 of cartridge top
member 16 translates through the body of valve 28, compressing
biasing spring 26 and allowing inlet water to flow from inlet flow
passage 29 through to receiver well 106 of cartridge top member
16.
[0054] Within receiver well 106, pressurized water is forced
through inlet bores 114 (see FIG. 6) along interior surface 117 of
FIG. 7 and guided around to the outer circumference of disc 185 and
down outer edge 187 of FIG. 9. Flow proceeds into the annular space
152 defined between the exterior of filter 180 and the interior
surface of cartridge housing 150 as shown in FIG. 10. Differential
pressure between the exterior of filter 180 and axial bore 190
forces this inlet water from annular space 152 through the filter
to axial bore 190. From bore 190, filtered water now flows through
the flow restriction outlet orifice 194 through outlet bore 40 of
cartridge insert 50 to outlet flow passage 31 of manifold assembly
12. From there, filtered water exits manifold assembly 12 through
outlet flow passage 35 and out outlet port 24 to an external means
connected thereto (not shown).
[0055] In an alternative embodiment, an adapter could be used to
facilitate interconnection of the cartridge assembly 14 and the
manifold assembly 12. Such an adapter would allow for the use of
filter assembly components 10 not originally designed for use with
one another.
[0056] The disengagement of manifold assembly 12 from cartridge
assembly 14 proceeds as follows, under the definition that
alignment marker 200 of manifold assembly 12 is lined up with
alignment marker 202 of cartridge top member 16, at 0.degree.. It
should be noted that all relative rotational motion between
manifold assembly 12 and cartridge assembly 14 also provides
relative motion along the longitudinal axis. As rotational force is
applied to cartridge assembly 14 to disengage it from manifold
assembly 12, from 0.degree. to substantially 17.degree. from
alignment, locking tabs 108 are unseated from depressions 109.
Simultaneously, the compressive force of biasing spring 26 acts to
close the high-flow valve 28 as the valve 28 rides down the ramp
102 (see FIG. 6). As valve 28 descends (longitudinal relative
motion), ridge 33 approaches annular sealing surface 37. At
substantially 17.degree. of rotation, biasing spring 26 has fully
pressed ridge 33 of high-flow valve 28 into contact with annular
sealing surface 37, thereby stopping the flow of inlet water to the
cartridge assembly. As rotation proceeds, at substantially
34.degree. from alignment, sealing surface 112 will begin to
disengage longitudinally from O-ring 34, thus opening vent ports
110 to ambient and allowing vent ports 110 to relieve any excess
pressure within cartridge assembly 14. As separation of cartridge
assembly 14 from manifold assembly 20 advances, at approximately
120.degree. from alignment, cartridge assembly 14 will be free to
fully disengage from manifold assembly 12.
[0057] Under normal conditions of system pressure and vibration,
the existence of locking tabs 108 and depressions 109 will
necessitate the manual disengagement of manifold assembly 12 from
cartridge assembly 14 as described above. However, upon an
overpressure condition within the filter assembly, as defined by
the level of aggressive design utilized in tabs 108 and depressions
109, internal pressure will unseat locking tabs 108 from
depressions 109 without the aid of external means, thereupon
commencing the benign disengagement sequence as described
above.
[0058] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other
embodiments in addition to the ones described herein are indicated
to be within the scope and breadth of the present application.
Accordingly, the applicant intends to be limited only by the claims
appended hereto.
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