Patent ID: 6464869
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
A filter assembly comprising:a filter body having an accommodating chamber defined therein, a water inlet formed at a lower end of said filter body, a water outlet formed between said chamber and said water inlet, a stop valve disposed rotatably in said filter body for controlling opening and closing of said water inlet, an annular neck portion formed above said chamber and having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall with a radial hole formed therethrough, an outward flange extending radially and outwardly from said filter body so as to define said neck portion thereabove, said outward flange of said filter body having an outer periphery that is formed with an external thread portion, and a ball confined within said radial hole in said neck portion and movable within said radial hole to project partially from either of said inner and outer surfaces of said neck portion; a filtering element disposed removably within said chamber in said filter body and in fluid communication with both said water inlet and said water outlet in said filter body so as to permit water flow from said water inlet to said water outlet via said filtering element; a sleeve disposed removably within said neck portion of said filter body in such a manner that a liquid-tight seal is established between said sleeve and said filter body, and having a curved pushing surface that reduces downwardly and gradually in diameter, and a stop shoulder that is formed above said pushing surface; means for supporting and positioning said sleeve relative to said filter body; and a lock ring having an internal thread portion that engages said external thread portion of said neck portion, and an inner surface that pushes said ball to project partially from said inner surface of said neck portion such that said ball presses downwardly against said stop shoulder of said sleeve, thereby preventing upward removal of said sleeve from said neck portion of said filter body so as to fix said filtering element within said chamber in said filter body; whereby, when said sleeve is mounted in said neck portion of said filter body, said curved pushing surface of said sleeve pushes said ball outwardly to project partially from said outer surface of said neck portion so that, when said lock ring is mounted on said outward flange of said neck portion, said ball is pushed inwardly by said lock ring to a position above said stop shoulder of said sleeve, thereby locking said sleeve on said neck portion.