Water filter manifold with integral valve

• US 20050092665A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Kirchner, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US10/929,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/134
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/16 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/46 Several filtrate discharge conduits each connected to one filter element or group of filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/1573 Flow control valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/1576 Calibrated passages
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• 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 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0606 fluid passing through the solenoid coil
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0624 Lift valves

Abstract

A water filtration system including a manifold assembly and a cartridge filter for reducing water system leaks and reducing installation time. The manifold assembly including at least a first inline valve eliminates the need for valve connections downstream of a water filtration system. The manifold assembly can includes an inlet flow circuit, a distribution flow circuit and at least a first in-line valve. The first in-line valve can include a valve stop located within the distribution circuit. The distribution circuit can include an integral valve seat such that positioning the valve stop with respect to the integral valve seat selectively controls water flow. The first in-line valve can have a control element allowing for external control. The manifold assembly can further include a second in-line valve having a second valve stop located within the distribution circuit. Both the first and second in-line valves can be solenoid valves.

Claims

1. A water filtration system comprising:

a cartridge filter having a filter flow circuit;

a manifold support structure having an inlet flow circuit and a distribution flow circuit; and

at least a first inline valve comprising a valve stop and control elements operably connected to the valve stop to selectively move the valve stop between and open flow position and a closed flow position,

wherein the cartridge filter is operably connected to the manifold such that a system flow circuit is defined by the inlet flow circuit, the filter flow circuit and the distribution flow circuit; and

wherein the valve stop of the first inline valve is integrally mounted in the system flow circuit within the manifold support structure.

2. The water filtration system of claim 1, wherein the distribution flow circuit comprises at least a first distribution flow circuit and a second distribution flow circuit and wherein the first inline valve interfaces with the first distribution flow circuit.

3. The water filtration system of claim 2, further comprising a second inline valve, the second inline valve comprising:

a second valve stop, wherein the second valve stop interfaces with the second distribution circuit.

4. The water filtration system of claim 1, wherein open flow position and the closed valve position of the valve stop differ by a translation along the flow path of the distribution flow circuit.

5. The water filtration system of claim 1, wherein the first inline distribution valve comprises:

a solenoid valve.

6. The water filtration system of claim 5, wherein the control elements comprise an electrical connector for interfacing the first inline valve with an external control input.

7. The water filtration system of claim 6, wherein the external control input is supplied from a controller comprising a manual input or an automated input.

8. The water filtration system of claim 7, wherein the manual input comprises a manual tap or a pushbutton.

9. The water filtration system of claim 7, wherein the automated input comprises an automated signal from a PLC, a microprocessor, an ice maker controller or a float switch of a storage tank.

10. The water filtration system of claim 1, wherein the system flow circuit comprises an integral valve seat wherein the valve seal selectively seals against the integral valve seat.

11. A water manifold comprising:

a manifold body having an inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being fluidly connected to an inlet flow circuit and the at least one outlet being fluidly connected to a distribution flow circuit, the manifold body further including at least a first in-line valve comprising a valve stop and control elements, the valve stop being integrally mounted within the distribution flow circuit or the inlet flow circuit, and the valve stop having an open flow position and a closed flow position that differ from each other according to a translation of the valve stop along the flow direction.

12. The water manifold of claim 11, wherein the distribution flow circuit comprises a first distribution flow circuit and a second distribution flow circuit and wherein the first inline valve interfaces with the first distribution flow circuit.

13. The water manifold of claim 12, further comprising a second in-line valve comprising a second valve stop and wherein the second valve stop interfaces with the second distribution flow circuit.

14. The water manifold of claim 11, further comprising a filter mount.

15. The water manifold of claim 11, wherein the first in-line valve comprises a solenoid valve.

16. The water manifold of claim 11, wherein the control elements comprise an electrical connector for interfacing the first in-line valve with an external control input.

17. The water manifold of claim 16, wherein the external control input is supplied from a controller having a manually initiated input or an automatically initiated input.

18. The water manifold of claim 17, wherein the manually initiated input comprises a water tap or a push button.

19. The water manifold of claim 17, wherein the automatically initiated input comprises a signal from a programmable logic controller, a microprocessor, an ice maker controller, a pressure switch or a level switch.

20. The water manifold of claim 11, wherein the distribution flow circuit comprises an integral valve seat wherein the valve stop selectively seals against the integral valve seat.

21. A method for installing a water filtration system comprising:

connecting a filter manifold to an inlet water supply and at least one distribution line, the filter manifold having an inlet flow circuit and a distribution flow circuit within the filter manifold and wherein a first inline valve is integrally located within the inlet flow circuit or the distribution flow circuit and wherein the attachment of a filter cartridge to the filter manifold forms a filtering circuit wherein the interaction of the inlet circuit, the filtering circuit and the distribution circuit define a system flow circuit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the valve member can be selectively positioned between an open valve position and a closed valve position.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising positioning a second valve member of a second inline valve within the distribution circuit, the second valve member selectively opening and sealing against a second integral valve seat within the distribution circuit.

24. A connector for connecting tubing, comprising:

a male connector body comprising a first internal throughbore, the male connector body having an insertion portion with a tapered tip having a larger external diameter relative to the axis of the taper and a retention portion defined by a circumferential flange; and

a female connector body comprising a second internal throughbore, the female connector body comprising an internal circumferential recess and a plurality of retaining members,

wherein a length of tubing is slidingly inserted through the second internal throughbore,

wherein the length of tubing is slidingly engage the insertion portion with the tapered tip residing within the length of tubing, the tubing having an internal diameter less than the largest diameter of the tapered tip resulting in an expansion of the tubing diameter over the insertion portion; and

wherein the male connector body is operably connected with the female connector body by sliding the insertion portion into the female connector body such that the plurality of retaining members engage the circumferential flange securely, operatively engaging the tubing against the tapered tip.

25. The connector of claim 24 wherein the male connector body defines a fluid connection on a filtration manifold.

26. The connector of claim 24 wherein the male connector body further comprises an external thread such that the external thread is engageable with a nut on a rigid line, the nut engaging the external thread such that the male connector body is operably connected to the rigid line such that the rigid line can be fluidly joined to the length of tubing.

27. The connector of claim 24, wherein the male connector body and the female connector body are molded from a polymer selected from the group comprising:

polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and fluorinated polymers.