Patent ID: 6355177
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: B01D,C02F,F25D

Abstract:
In a refrigerator including a water dispenser and an ice maker, a system for determining and indicating a need to replace a water filter comprising:a mounting head including a water inlet connected to a fresh water supply, a water outlet, and a connection port, fluidly interposed between the water inlet and the water outlet, adapted to receive a replaceable water filter, said water outlet being fluidly interconnected to each of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a water filter removably attached to the connection port of the mounting head; at least one valve, fluidly interposed between the water outlet of the mounting head and each of the water dispenser and the ice maker, which can be actuated to provide a controlled flow of filtered water to a select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a control unit for actuating the at least one valve in order to direct the controlled flow of filtered water to the select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker, said control unit including a timing device for measuring a duration of actuation of the at least one valve, a volume calculating device for determining a volume of filtered water associated with the duration of actuation, and a summing device for maintaining an accumulated, filtered water volume; and an indicator, linked to the control unit, for signaling when the accumulated, filtered water volume reaches a threshold value and the water filter needs to be replaced.