Modular Drinking Water Filtration System with Adapter Rings for Replaceable Cartridges to Assure Proper Fit

• US 20090236276A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Filtration Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Filtration Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Zerger, Terry P., Kurth, Michael J., Eserkaln, Paul W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/165 Multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/302 having inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/304 Seals or gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4015 Bayonet connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4023 Means for connecting filter housings to supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4046 Means for avoiding false mounting of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4076 Anti-rotational means
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems

Abstract

A modular filter system using replaceable filter cartridges includes matching adaptor rings in the filter head and on the filter cartridge placed at selected circumferential positions to ensure proper cartridge fit and to provide a proprietary cartridge construction for selected users. The adaptor rings operate only to control cartridge to filter head fit and are not used to drive the rotary valve spindle.

Claims

1. In the combination of a replaceable water filter cartridge having a filter body with an axially extending neck on one end having an inlet and an outlet for water, and a filter head having a cylindrical interior wall adapted to demountably receive and surround the cartridge neck inserted axially into the head, an arrangement for assuring compatibility and operative connection of the cartridge to the filter head comprising:

a first adaptor ring having a first half of a locator device formed thereon, the first adaptor ring formed independently of the filter head and mounted in the head coaxially with the interior wall, said adaptor ring secured to the filter head to place the first half of the locator device at a circumferentially selected position; and

,

a second adaptor ring having a second half of the locator device formed thereon, the second adaptor ring formed independently of the filter cartridge and mounted on the filter cartridge surrounding the neck and coaxially therewith, said second adaptor ring secured to the filter cartridge to place the second half of the locator device at a circumferentially selected position to engage the first half and permit operative connection of the cartridge to the head.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the first half of the locator device comprises a first axially facing non-planar surface that defines a first axially extending abutment face; and

,

the second half of the locator device comprises a second axially facing non-planar surface that complements the first non-planar surface and defines an oppositely facing second axially extending abutment face, such that relative rotation and axial displacement of the cartridge on its axis and with respect to the filter head interior wall results in engagement of said abutment faces.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 comprising diametrically opposed pairs of first and second halves of the locator device.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the axially facing non-planar surfaces has an axial protrusion defining the abutment face, and the other axially facing non-planar surface has an axial recess defining the abutment face.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the filter head comprises an outer housing defining an inner cylindrical wall having an inlet opening for water to be treated and an outlet opening for treated water, a valve spindle rotatably disposed in the outer housing for rotary reciprocal movement between flow and no-flow positions connecting and disconnecting the outer housing inlet opening and outlet opening with the cartridge inlet and outlet, respectively;

and,

said valve spindle comprises the cylindrical interior wall for receipt of the cartridge neck.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first adaptor ring is attached to a first mounting surface on the cylindrical interior wall and the second adaptor ring attached to a second mounting surface on the neck of the filter body.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the first and second mounting surfaces comprise annular shoulders of generally the same diameter.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the adaptor rings are attached to their respective mounting surfaces with welds.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the welds comprise friction welds.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the friction wells comprise spin welds.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the adaptor rings are positioned circumferentially to assure engagement of the second abutment face of a selected filter cartridge with the first abutment face.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first half of the locator device comprises a notch in the first adaptor ring, and the second half of the locator device comprises an axially extending finger on the second adaptor ring, sized and positioned to engage the notch to establish operative connection.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including:

a housing for the filter body, the housing having a circular open end through which the neck of the filter body extends;

an annular end cap interconnecting the filter body and the neck, and providing a sealed connection to the open end of the housing in a fully assembled state; and

,

an orientation recess in the end cap and a complementary orientation tab on the inside of the housing open end, the tab received in the recess in the fully assembled state to fix the circumferentially selected position of the finger on the second adaptor ring.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the adaptor rings are attached with welds.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the welds are ultrasonic welds.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adaptor rings have generally planar opposed abutment faces;

the first adaptor ring having an axially extending finger on its abutment face;

the second adapter ring having a recess on its abutment face sized to receive the finger.