Water filter assembly for use in an appliance
View Patent ↗An apparatus for filtering water dispensed from an appliance (e.g. a refrigerator) includes a low-profile filter cartridge (or a bank of filter cartridges) releasably connected to a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly is in communication with the water inlet of appliance and routs the filtered water to points of use. A water usage sensor in the manifold monitors the filter cartridge life and alerts the user when it is time to replace the filter. A latching mechanism includes a latching member 200 on the cartridge and a linearly moveable actuator 174 for releaseably securing the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly. A flow control valve ensures that the water circuit remains closed when the filter cartridge is removed from the manifold.
1. A modular water filter assembly in combination with an appliance, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
a manifold assembly having a flow control valve operatively disposed therein, the manifold assembly being operatively disposed within the appliance and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit;
a bank of filter cartridges having a plurality of serial, individually replaceable cartridges, the bank of filter cartridges adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith, the filter cartridges having inlet and outlet protrusions; and
a linearly actuated latching assembly to operably secure the filter cartridges to the manifold assembly, the latching including (i) a resilient latching member disposed at least one filter cartridge and separate from the inlet and outlet protrusions, and (ii) a linearly moveable actuator.
2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein each comprises a low-profile, generally rectangular shell and a generally rectangular filter element disposed within the shell.
3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the linearly actuated latching assembly further includes a corresponding latching recess disposed on the manifold assembly, and wherein the latching member is configured to releasably engage the latching recess.
4. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a refrigerator.
5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the manifold assembly includes a flow meter housing assembly for receiving an impeller.
6. The combination of claim 5 , wherein the appliance senses water volume flowing through the filter cartridges by sensing the rotations of the impeller.
7. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the appliance triggers an indicator light for a user that indicates a need to replace the filter cartridges based upon a predetermined maximum volume of water having flowed through the filter cartridge.
8. The modular filter assembly of claim 1 including a cartridge blank, the cartridge blank for replacing a cartridge and for conveying water therethrough between adjacent filter cartridges.
9. The modular filter assembly of claim 8 , the cartridge blank having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a flow path in communication with the inlet and the outlet.
10. The modular filter assembly of claim 1 wherein each cartridge of the plurality of cartridges is adapted to filter/purify a certain contaminant, the certain contaminant being different from the contaminants for which the remainder of the plurality of cartridges adapted to filter/purify.
11. A modular water filter assembly in combination with a water dispensing device, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
a manifold assembly operatively disposed within an appliance and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit, the manifold assembly including a flow meter housing portion in fluidic communication with the outlet conduit;
a bank of filter cartridges having a plurality of serial, individually replaceable cartridges, the bank of filter cartridges adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith, the filter cartridges having inlet and outlet protrusions; and
a linearly actuated latching assembly to operably secure the filter cartridges to the manifold assembly, the latching assembly including (i) a resilient latching member disposed on at least one filter cartridge and separate from the inlet and outlet protrusions, and (ii) a linearly moveable actuator.
12. The combination of claim 11 , wherein the manifold assembly further comprises a flow control valve in communication with the water inlet conduit.
13. The combination of claim 11 , wherein each comprises a low-profile, generally rectangular shell and a generally rectangular filter element disposed within the shell.
14. The combination of claim 11 , wherein the linearly actuated latching assembly further includes a corresponding latching recess disposed on the manifold assembly, and wherein the latching member is configured to releasably engage the latching recess.
15. The combination of claim 11 , wherein the appliance is a refrigerator.
16. The combination of claim 11 , wherein the flow meter housing portion is provided with an impeller.
17. The combination of claim 16 , wherein the appliance senses water volume flowing through the filter cartridges by sensing the rotations of the impeller.
18. The combination of claim 17 , wherein the appliance triggers an indicator light for a user that indicates a need to replace the filter cartridges based upon a predetermined maximum volume of water having flowed through the filter cartridge.
19. A modular water filter assembly in combination with an appliance, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
manifold assembly having a flow control valve operatively disposed therein, the manifold assembly being operatively disposed within the appliance and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit;
a filter cartridge adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith, the filter cartridge having inlet and outlet protrusions; and
a linearly actuated latching assembly to operably secure the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly, the latching assembly including (i) a resilient latching member disposed on the filter cartridge and separate from the inlet and outlet protrusions, and (ii) a linearly moveable actuator.
20. The combination of claim 19 , wherein, the appliance comprises a refrigerator.
21. The combination of claim 19 , wherein, the filter cartridge comprises a low-profile, generally rectangular shell and a generally rectangular filter element disposed within the shell.