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Patent 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.
Patent 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.
Patent 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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