BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present filter cartridge and head assembly;
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembled head housing showing the valve in an open position;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and in the direction generally indicated;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the assembled head housing showing the valve in a closed position; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and in the direction generally indicated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a filter cartridge and head assembly is generally designated 10 and is intended for use in filtering water from a supply line 12 (FIG. 3), such as a tap water line, or the like. As is known in the art, the filter assembly 10 is installed for enhancing taste characteristics, removing odors, bacteria, other organisms or other contaminants as are well known in the art. Also, as is known, such assemblies may be used singly or in groups in fluid communication with each other. The present filter assembly 10 is configured for mounting to a wall, under a sink or other similar location where water supply lines are found in residences or commercial installations such as restaurants, coffee shops, taverns or the like.
Included in the assembly 10 is a head housing 14 configured for mounting to a wall by having a flat rear wall 16 with at least one fastener eyelet 18. Contiguous with the rear wall 16 is a preferably generally curved outer wall 20 which defines an inner cavity 22. The inner cavity 22 is defined at an upper end by a generally horizontally oriented divider or manifold 24 which includes an inlet 26, connected to the supply line 12, and an outlet 28 connected to an outlet line 30 in fluid communication with the end user's access to treated water, such as a faucet, a spigot or the like. As is known in the art, both the inlet 26 and the outlet 28 are provided with quick-connect sealed fittings 32 for facilitating connection to the supply and treated water lines 12, 30.
Also in communication with the inner cavity 22 is an axial bore 34 having an opening 36 in communication with the treated water outlet 28. Axially displaced from the bore 32 are found a pair of spaced, preferably diametrically opposed locking platforms 38. The platforms 38 are preferably placed radially inwardly from the curved outer wall 20, however other configurations are contemplated.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the head housing 14, and specifically the manifold 24 defines a valve cavity 40 into which a valve 42 is rotatably disposed. Included on the valve 42 is an inlet passageway 44, an outlet passageway 46 and a first key formation 48. In the preferred embodiment, both of the passageways 44, 46 are cylindrical and depend generally vertically from a generally disk-shaped divider 50. The first key formation 48 also generally vertically depends from a lower surface 51 of the divider 50. It is also preferred that the outlet passageway 46 is axially located on the divider 50 and defines an axis of rotation of the valve 42 in the head housing 14. As will be described below, both the passageways 44, 46 are in fluid communication with sides of the divider 50 opposite from which they depend.
An important feature of the present assembly 10 is that the inlet and outlet passageways 44, 46 and the first key formation 48 are generally linearly aligned, with the inlet passageway and the first key formation on opposite sides of the outlet passageway; however in some applications the inlet passageway may serve as the central component and define the axis of rotation. In the preferred embodiment, the passageways 44, 46 and the first key formation 48 define a straight line which bisects the divider 50, however other configurations are contemplated depending on the application.
Projecting vertically from an upper surface 52 of the divider 50 is a generally cylindrical outlet portion 54 in fluid communication with the outlet passageway 46, includes annular seals 56 such as O-rings, which sandwich an outlet aperture 58 therebetween (FIGS. 1 and 3). As will be described below, upon insertion of the valve 42 into the valve cavity 40, the outlet aperture 58 is in periodic fluid communication with the outlet 28 depending on the position of the valve. The seals 56 are provided for separating source water entering the inlet passageway 44 from treated water passing through at least one of the outlet aperture 58 and the valve cavity 40.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a valve cap 60 is provided for retaining the valve 42 in the valve cavity 40. Further, the valve cap 60 is configured for accommodating rotation of the valve 42 in the head housing 14, and specifically in the valve cavity 40, between an open position in which feed water passes through the inlet passageway 44 and into a cartridge 62, and treated water flows to said outlet passageway 46, and a closed position in which water is prevented from flowing from the cartridge, and is also prevented from flowing into the inlet passageway 44 and backwards from the housing outlet 28. Rotation of the valve 42 is about the axis defined by the outlet passageway 46.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, more specifically, the valve cap 60 is generally planar and is provided with a plurality of mounting eyelets 64 preferably peripherally located for securing the cap to corresponding bores 66 in the head housing 14. While threaded fasteners 67 are preferably used for securing the valve cap 60 in place, other suitable fasteners are contemplated. Also included on the valve cap 60 is an annular, vertically projecting locator ring 68 for properly positioning the cap in the housing 14.
Within the ring 68 are defined two openings, the first being a generally triangular-shaped passageway opening 70 configured for accommodating the rotation of the inlet and outlet passageways 44, 46 during movement between the open position (FIG. 2) and the closed position (FIG. 4). The second opening is a key opening 72 having an arcuate shape for accommodating movement of the first key formation 48 between the open and closed positions.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, upon assembly of the valve 42 into the valve cavity, and the valve cap 60 to the head housing 14, the divider 50 is rotatably engaged against a surface 74 on the housing, and an inlet aperture 76 on the divider in fluid communication with the inlet passageway 44 is sealed against leakage from the inlet 26 by an annular washer-type seal 78. The seal 78 also prevents leakage from the inlet when the valve 42 is in the closed position and flow from the inlet to the cartridge 62 is prevented. Also, it will be seen that in the assembled condition, the valve cap 60 is vertically displaced from the locking platforms 38.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the cartridge 62 is shown fragmentarily, and includes a main body portion 80, which is enclosed and contains a suitable filter element (not shown), such as activated carbon and suitable septums, hollow fibers, carbon block, nanofiltration membranes, RO technology or other types of filter media used in such systems and being well known in the art. A cartridge closure 82 is located at an upper end 84 and includes a cartridge inlet port 86, a cartridge outlet port 88, each engageable in a corresponding one of the inlet and outlet passageways 44, 46. Also included on the closure 82 is a complementary key formation 90 for engaging the first key formation 48 for ensuring proper alignment and engagement of the ports 86, 88 in the passageways 44, 46. To prevent leakage, each of the ports 86, 88 is provided with at least one and preferably two radial seals 92 such as O-rings as are known in the art. An advantage of placing the seals 92 on the cartridge ports 86, 88 is that they are more frequently replaced during cartridge replacement than they would be if located in the head housing 14.
Also included on the cartridge closure 82 is at least one and preferably a pair of radially extending locking lugs 94, which engage the locking platforms 38 in a well-known bayonet-type push-and-twist operation to securely retain the cartridge physically in the head housing 14, and also to maintain the designated fluid communication between the cartridge ports 86, 88 and the respective passageways 44, 46. The locking lugs 94 are disposed in relation to the cartridge ports 86, 88 so that when the lugs are not in engagement with the platforms 38, allowing release of the cartridge, the valve 42 is moved to the closed position (FIG. 4). Thus, the cartridge 62 may be removed without fear of leakage.
It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the locking lugs 94 are located on a cylindrical extension 96 of the cartridge closure 82. The extension separates the locking lugs 94 from the cartridge inlet and outlet ports 86, 88 and the complementary key formation 90.
To maintain proper alignment between the cartridge ports 86, 88 and the valve inlet and outlet passageways 44, 46, the complementary key formation 90 matingly engages the first key formation 48. In the preferred embodiment, the first key formation 48 is a lug, and the complementary key formation 90 is a recess configured for accommodating at least a portion of the lug. The key formation 90 includes a wall 98 projecting vertically from the extension 96 to define the recess. As is the case with the passages 44, 46 and the first key formation 48, the ports 86, 88 and the complementary key formation 90 are preferably linearly aligned, with the outlet port 88 preferably axially located. However, also as is the case with the valve 42, the position of the inlet and outlet ports 86, 88 may be reversed, as may be the first key formation 48 and the complementary key formation 90, depending on the application.
In operation, beginning with the assembly 10 in the operational or open position (FIGS. 2 and 3), when it is desired to exchange the cartridge 62, the user axially rotates the cartridge body 80 approximately 90°, or a one-quarter turn. This rotation places the locking lugs 94 out of engagement with the locking platforms 38, and also moves the valve from the open position (FIGS. 2 and 3) to the closed position (FIGS. 4 and 5). In the closed position, the outlet aperture 58 of the outlet portion 54 is removed from fluid communication with the outlet 28, and flow from the cartridge 62 is prevented. Also, the seals 56 prevent any liquid leakage at this location.
Also, the inlet aperture 76 is removed from fluid communication with the inlet 26, cutting off fluid intake into the cartridge 62. Leakage is prevented by the seal 78. Thus, rotation of the cartridge 62 simultaneously affects a shutoff of feed water and also releases the cartridge from the head housing 14 in a single motion without the use of external valves requiring manual actuation. Since water flow to and from the valve 42 has been terminated, the cartridge 62 may be exchanged without extra water leaking onto a user's floor or cabinet. In the event maintenance operations are required, or adjustments to the mounting of the head housing 14 to the wall are required, a detachable upper access lid 100 is provided for the housing, and is fastenable to the housing using clips, a friction fit or fasteners as is well known in the art.
While specific embodiments of the filter cartridge and head assembly with internal shutoff valve of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20070284296
