The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to a system for filtering a fluid such as water that uses one or more temperature sensors to protect against material failures.
Fluid filter systems, particularly as used for water filtration, typically include a filter constructed with a media that removes unwanted particulates and other substances from the fluid. Filtration can be based on size exclusion, adsorption, and other mechanisms. Such filter systems can be provided as stand-alone systems installed e.g., in cabinetry or provided as part of an appliance as a refrigerator.
Typical fluid filter systems can include a filter cartridge having a filter element installed within a filter housing. The filter element may be constructed from a variety of different materials. The filter housing contains the filter element and fluid that is being filtered. The filter element may be replaceable.
During use, the filter cartridge can be exposed to a wide range of temperatures and pressures. For example, depending upon the pressure of the water supplied, the filter cartridge may experience pressures in the range of e.g., 20 psi to 120 psi or higher. Depending upon where the filter cartridge is located, it may experience temperatures ranging from e.g., 30° F. to 150° F. Other pressure and temperature ranges may also be experienced. The application will generally dictate the ranges that will be encountered. For example, a filter cartridge located in a space that is not air-conditioned may experience freezing temperatures in the winter and relatively high temperatures in the summer
Exposure to such wide ranging temperatures and/or pressures can cause substantial stress on the filter cartridge. For example, freezing temperatures can cause the material of the filter cartridge to crack. Higher temperatures and pressures can cause the material of the filter cartridge to creep, which can also result in cracks. Such cracks can lead to undesirable water leaks. Depending upon the location of the filter and/or whether a user is present, the water leak may not be readily discovered until after a significant amount of water has leaked from the system.
Accordingly, a filtering system that can measure one or more temperatures in the filter cartridge would be useful. More particularly, a filtering system that can measure one or more temperatures and use such temperature measurements to determine if the filter cartridge is at increased risk of a material failure that could result in a leak would be particularly useful. Such a system that can also take one or more corrective steps would also be beneficial.
The present invention provides a filtering system that includes at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a filter cartridge. The temperature measurements can be used to determine or predict whether the filter cartridge is at an increased risk of suffering a leak due to a crack or other material failure caused by exposure to certain temperatures. More than one temperature sensor may be used. The temperature measurements can also be used to determine whether one or more corrective actions should be taken such as e.g., providing a notification to a user and/or closing the flow of fluid to the filter cartridge. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a fluid filtration system. The system includes a filter manifold and a filter cartridge removably attached to the filter manifold. The filter cartridge has a filter housing. A filter element is received into the filter housing. A first temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the filter cartridge.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a fluid filtering system. The system includes a filter manifold having a filter manifold body, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet adapted for coupling the filter manifold to a fluid supply system, a fluid return port in fluid connection with the fluid outlet. A fluid delivery port is positioned proximate to the fluid return port with the fluid delivery port in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A filter cartridge is removably attached to the filter manifold. The filter cartridge includes a filter housing and a filter element received into the filter housing. A filter outlet provides for a flow of fluid from the filter element out of the filter housing and into the fluid return port, and a filter inlet is positioned proximate to the filter outlet and in fluid connection with the fluid delivery port of the filter manifold. A first temperature sensor is configured for measuring the temperature of the filter cartridge.
In another exemplary aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a fluid filtering system. The fluid filtering system has a filter cartridge received into a filter manifold. The filter cartridge has a first temperature sensor configured for measuring the temperature of the filter cartridge. The method includes the steps of measuring the temperature of the filter cartridge using the first temperature sensor; using the temperature measurements to predict material failures of the filtration system based on the temperature measurements; and executing one or more corrective actions if a material failure is predicted.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Refrigerator appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 120 defining an upper fresh food chamber 122 and a lower freezer chamber 124 arranged below the fresh food chamber 122. As such, refrigerator appliance 100 is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. In this exemplary embodiment, housing 120 also defines a mechanical compartment (not shown) for receipt of a sealed cooling system. Using the teachings disclosed herein, one of skill in the art will understand that the present invention can be used with other types of refrigerators (e.g., side-by-sides).
Refrigerator doors 126, 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing 120 for accessing fresh food chamber 122. A freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 126, 128 for accessing freezer chamber 124. In the exemplary embodiment, freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) that is slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124.
Refrigerator appliance 100 includes a dispensing assembly 110 for dispensing water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly 110 includes a dispenser 114 positioned on an exterior portion of refrigerator appliance 100. Dispenser 114 includes a discharging outlet 134 for accessing ice and water. An activation member 132 is mounted below discharging outlet 134 for operating dispenser 114. In
Discharging outlet 134 and activation member 132 are an external part of dispenser 114, and are mounted in a recessed portion 138 defined in an outside surface of refrigerator door 126. Recessed portion 138 is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to access fresh food chamber 122. In the exemplary embodiment, recessed portion 138 is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user.
In particular, insulated housing 142 is constructed and arranged to operate at a temperature that facilitates producing and storing ice. Insulated housing 142 contains an ice maker (not shown) for creating ice and feeding the same to a receptacle 160 that is mounted on refrigerator door 126. As illustrated in
Operation of the refrigerator appliance 100 is regulated by a controller 166 that is in communication with (or operatively coupled with) user interface panel 136 and/or activation member 132 (shown in
Controller 166 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout refrigerator appliance 100 in addition to the location shown in
Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes an exemplary fluid filter assembly or fluid filtration system 200 that filters water coming into refrigerator appliance 100 from a water supply (not shown), such as a municipal water source or a well. Fluid filtration system 200 can remove contaminants, such as chlorine, chloroform, lead, arsenic, pharmaceuticals, microbes, and/or other undesirable substances, from water supplied to refrigerator appliance 100. In particular, fluid filter assembly 200 can supply filtered water to the ice maker within insulated housing 142 and/or discharging outlet 134. As will be understood by those skilled in the art and as used herein, the term “water” includes purified water and solutions or mixtures containing water and, e.g., elements (such as calcium, chlorine, and fluorine), salts, bacteria, nitrates, organics, and other chemical compounds or substances.
For this exemplary embodiment, fluid filtration system 200 is shown positioned within fresh food chamber 122. However, fluid filtration system 200 may also be located e.g., on the exterior of refrigerator 100, on a surface adjacent to refrigerator 100, connected into a water supply line (not shown) providing fluid to refrigerator 100, and other locations as well. Also, as stated above, filter assembly 200 could also be located under a sink, configured as part of a whole house filtration system, or otherwise configured for other applications as well.
Referring now to
In this exemplary embodiment, filter manifold 202 includes a boss 212 that projects from filter manifold body 204 along an axial direction A (
As shown in
Filter manifold 202 also includes a groove 222 that extends circumferentially around boss 212. Fluid delivery port 220 is positioned within groove 222 (
As shown in
Turning to
Continuing with
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
A variety of different types of temperature sensors may be used for sensors 248 and 254. For example, resistance temperature detectors, thermocouples, and other types may be used. It should also be understood that, in certain embodiments, the present invention can also include one or more temperature sensors (such as first temperature sensor 248) for measuring the temperature of filter cartridge 224 and may not include additional sensors for measuring the temperature of the filtered fluid.
During operation of fluid filtration system 200, first temperature sensor 248 measures the temperature of filter cartridge 224 while second temperature second 254 measures the temperature of fluid exiting through fluid outlet 230. Controller 166 is in communication with temperature sensors 248 and 254 and, therefore, receives temperature measurements from one or both of first temperature sensor 248 and second temperature sensor 254. By way of example, temperature sensors 248 and 254 can be connected electrically with a pair of contacts 256 and 258 (
For example, controller 166 could be programmed with one or more algorithms or models that use a history of temperature measurements (i.e. multiple temperature measurements over time from one or both of temperature sensors 248 and 254) to predict when material(s) used in the construction of filter cartridge 224 potentially might suffer a failure by cracking, rupturing, or otherwise so as to cause a fluid leak. Such predictive models can be developed e.g., empirically based on the material of construction used for filter cartridge 224 when exposed to a range of temperatures and pressures as may be encountered during operation of filtration system 200. Other types of models may be used as well.
Controller 166 can also be programmed to take one or more corrective actions in the event controller 166 determines a failure is likely or has occurred. For example, referring to
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
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