Hot disconnect replaceable water filter assembly

Abstract

A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter assembly having a manifold assembly and a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge includes a cartridge engagement means while the manifold includes a manifold engagement means. The cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means cooperatively interfacing for removable attachment of the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly. The cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means oriented in a retaining relation during removal of the cartridge filter from the manifold assembly such that any entrained pressure within the cartridge filter is vented while the cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means are in the retaining relation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

an installed position the fully engaged configuration, one of the arcuate kick-off ramps 330a, 330b engages the feed valve assembly 349 such that spring 349b is compressed and feed fluid circuit 357a is opened to incoming water. As the rotation of cartridge filter 300 is completed, cartridge filter 300 and distribution manifold 332, presently preferably, cannot disengage without rotating the cartridge filter 300 in a direction opposed to that indicated in FIGS. 40-44.

In operation, feed water flows through the feed flow circuit 357a into the filter cartridge 300. The feed water is directed through the filter media 303 such that selected contaminants such as, for example, ionic, organic or particulate, are removed from the water such that filtered water is present in the center of the filter media 303. Purified water flows out of the filter cartridge 300 by way of the return throughbore 328 and filtered fluid circuit 357b.

During operation of the filtration system 366, pressure such as, for example, water or gas pressure, can become entrained with the filter cartridge 300. If gases are entrained within the filter cartridge 300 during operation, the gases will become compressed by pressure within the system. Depending upon the mounting orientation of the filter cartridge 300, compressed gases can provide for violent disengagement of the filter cartridge 300 from the distribution manifold 332. For example if a filter cartridge 300 is, presently preferably, mounted such that the filter cartridge 300 is above the distribution manifold 332, any compressed gases will be found at the top end of the filter cartridge 300. When the filter cartridge 300 is removed from the distribution manifold 332, compressed gases may drive a pressurized fluid out the bottom of the cartridge filter 300 whereby the cartridge filter 300 is essentially launched from the distribution manifold 332 as gases expand upon release of pressure upon disengagement.

In a filtration assembly with a single stage disengagement mechanism, stored energy within a cartridge filter can cause the violent disengagement of the cartridge filter from a distribution manifold. As described in the present disclosure, any stored energy, stored in the form of a compressed gas or pressurized fluid, is vented prior to the filter cartridge 300 and distribution manifold 332 becoming disengaged. For example, to remove the filter cartridge 300, a user would, presently preferably, direct the handling end 308 in a direction opposed to the installation direction. As the first angle portion 312a slides down unseats from the third angle portion 365a, projecting member 350, presently preferably, begins to withdraw from the return throughbore 328 and one of the arcuate kick-off ramps 330a, 330b disengages from the feed valve assembly 349 such that spring 349b is released and feed fluid circuit 357a is closed to incoming water. This, presently preferably, prevents any pressure energy from being imparted to the filter cartridge 300. Further rotation of the cartridge filter causes first angle portion 312a to slide down second angle portion 362a causing projecting member 350 to withdraw further from the return throughbore 328. This, presently preferably, causes the seal created by projection seals 353a, 353b to be broken when any entrained energy in the filter cartridge 300 is dispelled. The energy, present as fluid or gas pressure, is then vented out venting notches 322. While the pressure is vented, first horizontal portion 314a and first horizontal portion 360a are engaged such that filter cartridge 300 cannot detach from the distribution manifold 332. Venting notches 332 quickly vent any entrained gases allowing the user to continue with the rotatable removal of the filter cartridge 300 such that the first angle portion 312a slides down first angled portion 358a until the filter attachment member 310a and manifold attachment members 356a are no longer engaged and filter cartridge 300 can be completely removed from the distribution manifold 332.

As illustrated in FIG. 39, an adapter 400 can be used to impart features such as, for example, multi-stage engagement mechanisms and controlled energy venting as previously described in this disclosure, to water filtration systems lacking such features. Adapter 400 can, presently preferably, comprise a manifold end 402 and a filter end 404. As shown in FIG. 39, adapter 400 is, presently preferably, adapted such that the previously described manifold assembly 12 can operatively accept filter cartridge 300. As shown in FIG. 39, manifold end 402 can substantially resemble cartridge top member 16 while filter end 404 can substantially resemble filter end 334. Manifold end 402 can comprise, for example, a pair of manifold attachment members 406a, 406b, shown in FIG. 39 as helical engagement members, such that manifold end 402 is operatively connectable to the manifold assembly 12. Filter end 404 can comprise a pair of multi-stage engagement mechanism 408, such that filter end 404 is operatively connectable to the filter cartridge 300. Manifold end 402 can be adapted such that the adapter 400 remains either permanently operatively connected to the manifold assembly 12 or removal of adapter 400 from manifold assembly 12 required significantly excess torque as compared to removal of the filter cartridge 300 from the filter end 404 such that adapter 400 need only be attached to manifold assembly 12 one time.

In addition to rotational engagement of a filter cartridge to a manifold, a filter cartridge 500 and a distribution manifold 502 can be linearly engaged in a multi-stage manner so as allow venting of any entrained energy within filter cartridge 500, for example, as shown in FIG. 40. Filter cartridge 500 can comprise a filter body 504, a pair of engagement arms 506a, 506b, a filter inlet 508 and a filter outlet 510. Engagement arms 506a, 506b can comprise an engagement tab 512. Filter inlet 508 and filter outlet 510 can each comprise at least one sealing member 5141. Distribution manifold 502 can comprise a manifold body 516, a feed supply tube 518, a distribution tube 520, a supply bore 522 and a return bore 524. Supply bore 522 and return bore 524 can each comprise at least one vent channel 526. Manifold body 516 can comprise a first engagement recess 528 and a second engagement recess 530 on each side of the manifold body 516.

Filter cartridge 500 is slidably attached to distribution manifold 502 by directing filter inlet 508 into the supply bore 522 and filter outlet 510 into the return bore 524. At substantially the same time, engagement arms 506a, 506b are, presently preferably, slidably advancing over the outside of manifold body 516 until engagement tab 512 is retainably positioned within the corresponding first engagement recess 528. At this point, sealing members 514 sealingly engage the inside perimeters of the supply bore 522 and return bore 524 such that water to be filtered can flow from feed supply tube 518, through supply bore 522, into filter cartridge 500 through the filter inlet 508, out the filter cartridge 500 through the filter outlet 510 and to points of use through distribution tube 520.

To remove or replace the filter cartridge 500, one slidably directs the filter cartridge 500 away from the distribution manifold 502. As the engagement tab 512 approaches the second engagement recess 530, the seal created by sealing members 514 and the inner perimeter of supply bore 522 and return bore 524 are, presently preferably, broken allowing any retained energy in the filter cartridge 500 to be released or vented through the vent channel 526. As the filter cartridge 500 is vented, filter cartridge 500 is retainably attached to the distribution manifold 502 through the interaction of engagement tabs 512 and the second engagement recesses 530. In alternative embodiments, the fluid connections and engagement structures or portions thereof can be reversed relative to the filter cartridge and the manifold assembly to form other slidably engaging filter assemblies. Similarly, other designs of flow connectors can be effectively used for slidably engaging structures.

While the applicant has disclosed and discussed a variety of representative embodiments, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative embodiments are contemplated within the scope and breadth of the present application. Accordingly, the applicant intends to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A filter cartridge comprising

a filter inlet:

a filter media;

a filter outlet;

a two-stage cartridge engagement mechanism comprising:

a fully engaged configuration corresponding to full engagement of the filter cartridge with a compatible manifold assembly; and

a partially engaged configuration corresponding to partial engagement of the filter cartridge with the compatible manifold assembly;

wherein at least one of the fully engaged and partially engaged configurations comprises a horizontal portion;

a sealing surface configured to facilitate a first seal isolating a fluid flow from a non-wetted portion of the compatible manifold assembly when the filter cartridge is in the fully engaged configuration; and

at least one vent port positioned on the filter cartridge and providing a fluid flow passage past the first seal when the filter cartridge is in the partially engaged configuration.

2. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one vent port comprises a notch in the sealing surface.

3. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one vent port comprises a row of ports along an edge of the sealing surface.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein each vent port comprises a notch in the sealing surface.

5. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the fully engaged configuration of the two-stage cartridge engagement mechanism comprises a first horizontal portion and the partially engaged configuration of the two-stage cartridge engagement mechanism comprises a second horizontal portion.

6. The filter cartridge of claim 5 wherein the two-stage cartridge engagement mechanism further comprises a second angled portion connecting the first horizontal portion to the second horizontal portion.

7. The filter cartridge of claim 6 wherein the two-stage cartridge engagement mechanism further comprises a first angled portion adjacent the first horizontal portion.

8. The filter cartridge of claim 7 wherein the two-stage cartridge engagement mechanism further comprises a third angled portion adjacent the second horizontal portion.

9. The filter cartridge of claim 6 wherein the cartridge engagement mechanism further comprises a transition between the fully engaged configuration and the partially engaged configuration, wherein the second angled portion serves to transition the filter cartridge from the fully engaged configuration to the partially engaged configuration.

10. A filter cartridge configured to engage a compatible manifold assembly in a fully engaged configuration and a partially engaged configuration, the filter cartridge comprising:

a projecting insertion wall comprising:

an attachment end;

a sealing surface depending from an interior perimeter of the attachment end and configured to facilitate a first seal isolating a fluid flow from a non-wetted portion of the compatible manifold assembly when the filter cartridge is fully engaged; and

a margin surface depending from an exterior perimeter of the attachment end;

a pair of opposed multi-stage filter attachment members disposed on the margin surface, each multi-stage attachment member comprising:

a first horizontal portion facing away from the attachment end;

a second horizontal portion facing away from the attachment end; and

a second angled portion connecting the first horizontal portion to the second horizontal portion;

wherein, in the fully engaged configuration, both first and second horizontal portions seat against the compatible manifold assembly and, in the partially engaged configuration, the second horizontal portion does not seat against the compatible manifold assembly; and

at least one vent port positioned on the sealing surface and providing a fluid flow passage past the first seal when the filter cartridge is in the partially engaged configuration.

11. The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein the at least one vent port comprises a notch in the sealing surface.

12. The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein the at least one vent port comprises a row of ports along an edge of the sealing surface.

13. The filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein each vent port comprises a notch in the sealing surface.

14. The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein each multi-stage filter attachment member further comprises a first angled portion adjacent the first horizontal portion.

15. The filter cartridge of claim 14 wherein each multi-stage filter attachment member further comprises a third angled portion adjacent the second horizontal portion.

16. The filter cartridge of claim 15 wherein the third angled portion seats against the compatible manifold assembly when the filter cartridge is fully engaged and does not seat against the compatible manifold assembly when the filter cartridge is partially engaged.

17. The filter cartridge of claim 14 wherein the first angled portion seats against the compatible manifold assembly both when the filter cartridge is fully engaged and when the filter cartridge is partially engaged.

18. The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein the second angled portion seats against the compatible manifold assembly both when the filter cartridge is fully engaged and when the filter cartridge is partially engaged.

19. The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein the filter cartridge engages the compatible manifold assembly in a transition between the fully engaged configuration and the partially engaged configuration.

20. The filter cartridge of claim 19 wherein, in the transition, the second angled portion seats against the compatible manifold assembly, and the first and second horizontal portions do not seat against the compatible manifold assembly.

21. A filter cartridge comprising:

a filter inlet;

a filter media;

a filter outlet;

a cartridge engagement mechanism including a horizontal portion;

a sealing surface configured to facilitate a first seal isolating a fluid flow from a non-wetted portion of a compatible manifold assembly when the filter cartridge is in a fully engaged configuration the compatible manifold assembly; and

at least one vent port positioned on the filter cartridge comprising a row of ports along an edge of the sealing surface.

22. The filter cartridge of claim 21, wherein each vent port comprises a notch in the sealing surface.

23. The filter cartridge of claim 21 further comprising a ramp on an interface surface adjacent the sealing surface wherein during the full engagement configuration of the filter cartridge, the ramp contacts a valve of the compatible manifold assembly to permit the fluid flow into the filter inlet.

24. The filter cartridge of claim 23 wherein when the filter cartridge is no longer in the full engagement configuration, the ramp disconnects from the valve to prevent the fluid flow into the filter inlet and to allow the filter cartridge to attain pressure equilibrium through the vent port.