Filter cartridge

• US 10,584,040 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2017
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Campbell, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fortuna, Ana M
• Application Number:
  US15/727,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20190106333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4023 Means for connecting filter housings to supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/33 arranged for inward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/147 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/306 Filter mounting adapter
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/004 Seals, connections
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/10 as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/121 the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser

Abstract

A filter cartridge for operatively coupling to an appliance interface for treating fluid to the appliance. The filter cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a filter media contained within the cartridge housing. An engagement fitting extends from the cartridge housing. The engagement fitting to be received by the interface. The engagement fitting includes a base portion and a sealing member. The base portion has an inlet aperture on a first side of the sealing member and an outlet aperture on a second side of the sealing member. An interference member actuator extends axially and distally from one of the first end of the cartridge housing and the first end cap. The interference member actuator is configured to actuate an interference member of the interface from an interference position in which the interface is prevented from being actuated from a bypass mode to a filtering mode to a non-interference position.

Claims

1. A filter cartridge for operatively coupling to a filter interface on an appliance for installing the filter cartridge in the appliance, the filter cartridge comprising:

a cartridge housing having a first end and a second end and extending along a housing longitudinal axis through the first end and the second end;

a filter media contained within the cartridge housing between the first end and the second end;

a first end cap covering the first end of the cartridge housing;

an engagement fitting extending from the first end cap, the engagement fitting configured to be received in an interface port of the filter interface, the engagement fitting including a base portion attached to and extending from the first end cap, the base portion having a top surface opposite the first end cap, the engagement fitting also including a rectangular sealing member extending from the top surface, the base portion having an inlet aperture on the top surface located on the top surface on a first side of the sealing member, the inlet aperture in fluid communication with a filter inlet of the filter media, and an outlet aperture on the top surface located on a second side of the sealing member opposite the first side, the outlet aperture in fluid communication with a filter outlet of the filter media, the sealing member having an outer edge on a top end and two opposing side edges extending from opposing ends of the top end, and a first seal disposed along the outer edge which is configured to seal against an inside surface of the interface port when the engagement fitting is installed in the interface port; and

an interference member actuator extending axially and distally from one of the first end of the cartridge housing and the first end cap, the interference member actuator configured to actuate an interference member of the filter interface from an interference position in which a bypass conduit of the filter interface is engaged and the filter cartridge is prevented from being fully inserted into the filter interface to a non-interference position in which the bypass conduit is disengaged and the filter cartridge is allowed to be fully inserted into the filter interface.

2. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the interference member actuator comprises an elongated shaft having a first end connected to the first end of the cartridge housing, a second end distal to the first end, and a slanted cam surface disposed on the second end, the slanted cam surface configured to exert a force on the interference member to actuate the interference member when the slanted cam surface is moved relative to the interference member.

3. The filter cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a first guide slot extending along an outer surface of the cartridge housing, the first guide slot configured to receive a first guide disposed on an interior wall of a chamber of the interface filter configured to receive the cartridge housing.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 3, wherein the first guide slot includes a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the housing longitudinal axis and a second portion that extends laterally to the housing longitudinal axis.

5. The filter cartridge of claim 4, wherein the second portion extends circumferentially about the cartridge housing.

6. The filter cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a second guide slot extending along an outer surface of the cartridge housing, the second guide slot configured to receive a second guide disposed on the interior wall of the chamber of the filter interface.

7. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the outer edge of the sealing member has a seal groove, and the first seal is disposed in the seal groove.

8. The filter cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a base seal disposed around the entire perimeter of the base portion, the base seal configured to seal against an inside surface of the interface port when the engagement fitting is installed in the interface port.

9. The filter cartridge of claim 8, wherein the first seal and the base seal are a single, contiguous seal.

10. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the base portion has a cross-section that is substantially egg-shaped.

11. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the base portion and the first end cap are integrally formed.

12. A filter cartridge for operatively coupling to a filter interface on an appliance for installing the filter cartridge in the appliance, the filter cartridge comprising:

a cartridge housing having a first end and a second end and extending along a housing longitudinal axis through the first end and the second end;

a filter media contained within the cartridge housing between the first end and the second end;

a first end cap covering the first end of the cartridge housing;

an engagement fitting extending from the first end cap, the engagement fitting configured to be received in an interface port of the filter interface which is rotatable relative to a main body of the filter interface, the engagement fitting including a base portion attached to and extending from the first end cap, the base portion having a bottom surface attached to the first end cap and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, the engagement fitting also including a rectangular sealing member extending from the top surface, the base portion having an inlet aperture located on a first side of the sealing member, and an outlet aperture located on a second side of the sealing member opposite the first side, the sealing member having an outer edge on a top end and two opposing side edges extending from opposing ends of the top end, and a first seal disposed along the outer edge which is configured to seal against an inside surface of the interface port when the engagement fitting is installed in the interface port; and

an interference member actuator extending axially and distally from one of the first end of the cartridge housing and the first end cap, the interference member actuator configured to actuate an interference member of the filter interface form an interference position in which the interface port is prevented from being rotated past a stop position wherein a bypass conduit of the interface port is engaged, to a non-interference position in which the interface port can be rotated past the stop position and the bypass conduit is disengaged.

13. The filter cartridge of claim 12, wherein the interference member actuator comprises an elongated shaft having a first end connected to the first end of the cartridge housing, a second end distal to the first end, and a slanted cam surface disposed on the second end, the slanted cam surface configured to exert a force on the interference member to actuate the interference member when the slanted cam surface is moved relative to the interference member.

14. The filter cartridge of claim 12, further comprising:

a first guide slot extending along an outer surface of the cartridge housing, the first guide slot configured to receive a first guide disposed on an interior wall of a chamber of the filter interface configured to receive the cartridge housing.

15. The filter cartridge of claim 14, wherein the first guide slot includes a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the housing longitudinal axis and a second portion that extends laterally to the housing longitudinal axis.

16. The filter cartridge of claim 15, wherein the second portion extends circumferentially about the cartridge housing.

17. The filter cartridge of claim 14, further comprising:

a second guide slot extending along an outer surface of the cartridge housing, the first guide slot configured to receive a second guide disposed on the interior wall of the chamber of the filter interface.

18. The filter cartridge of claim 12, wherein the outer edge of the sealing member has a seal groove, and the first seal is disposed in the seal groove.

19. The filter cartridge of claim 12, further comprising:

a base seal disposed around the entire perimeter of the base portion, the base seal configured to seal against an inside surface of the interface port when the engagement fitting is installed in the interface port.

20. The filter cartridge of claim 19, wherein the first seal and the base seal are a single, contiguous seal.