Claims
- 1. A modular water filter assembly in combination with a refrigerator, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
a manifold assembly having a flow control valve disposed therein, the manifold assembly disposed within the refrigerator and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit; and a filter cartridge adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith.
- 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a shell and a generally rectangular filter element disposed within the shell.
- 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the filter cartridge includes a resilient latching member and the manifold assembly includes a corresponding latching recess, the latching member configured to releasably engage the latching recess.
- 4. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a latching assembly disposed within the refrigerator and in operable communication with the filter cartridge and the manifold assembly.
- 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 refrigerator senses water volume flowing through the filter cartridge by sensing the rotations of the impeller.
- 7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the refrigerator triggers an indicator light for a user that indicates a need to replace the filter cartridge based upon a predetermined maximum volume of water having flowed though the filter cartridge.
- 8. A modular filter assembly comprising
a filter cartridge comprising, a shell having an open end, a cap sealable on the open end of the shell and a generally rectangular filter element disposed within the shell, the cap having an inlet protrusion extending therefrom and an outlet protrusion extending therefrom; and a manifold assembly having an inlet port for receiving the inlet protrusion and an outlet port for receiving the outlet protrusion, one of the inlet protrusion and the outlet protrusion having a shape different than the corresponding inlet and outlet protrusion to provide for registration of the filter cartridge with respect to the manifold assembly.
- 9. The modular filter assembly of claim 8, wherein the manifold assembly includes a flow meter housing for receiving an impeller wheel, the flow meter housing in fluidic communication with the outlet protrusion of the filter cartridge.
- 10. The modular filter assembly of claim 9, wherein the flow meter housing further includes a sensor for sensing the rotations of the impeller, the sensor electrically connected to a microprocessor that monitors water volume filtered by the filter cartridge.
- 11. A modular water filter assembly in combination with a water dispensing device, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
a manifold assembly disposed within the refrigerator and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit, the manifold assembly including a flowmeter housing portion in fluidic communication with the outlet conduit; and a filter cartridge adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith.
- 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 the filter cartridge comprises a shell and a generally rectangular filter element disposed within the shell.
- 14. The combination of claim 11, wherein the filter cartridge includes a resilient latching member and the manifold assembly includes a corresponding latching recess, the latching member configured to releasably engage the latching recess.
- 15. The combination of claim 11, further comprising a latching assembly disposed within the refrigerator and in operable communication with the filter cartridge and the manifold assembly.
- 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 refrigerator senses water volume flowing through the filter cartridge by sensing the rotations of the impeller.
- 18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the refrigerator triggers an indicator light for a user that indicates a need to replace the filter cartridge based upon a predetermined maximum volume of water having flowed though the filter cartridge.
- 19. A method of filtering water dispensed by a water dispensing appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
aligning an inlet protrusion of a filter cartridge with an inlet port of a manifold assembly in the appliance and aligning an outlet protrusion of the filter cartridge with an outlet port of the manifold assembly; and urging the filter cartridge into the manifold assembly, thereby actuating a flow control valve disposed within the manifold assembly to permit water to flow through the filter cartridge and actuating a latching assembly to secure the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly.
- 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of monitoring the volume of water being filtered by the filter cartridge to determine the remaining service life of the filter cartridge.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/309,127 filed Jul. 31, 2001, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60309127 |
Jul 2001 |
US |