Abstract:
A cartridge based water purification and filtration system which permits cartridge changes without drainage at the input and output ports. Interlocking flanges at the manifold and cartridge lock the cartridge to the manifold and raised surfaces at the cartridge operate the inlet valve with a rotational seating of the cartridge. A spring biased inlet valve depends from a supply manifold input port and cooperates with the filter cartridge to prevent forward flow until the cartridge is seated to the manifold. The check valve includes a split stem which prevents chatter with valve operation. A check valve at the output port cooperates with a sealed bayonet fitting that mates to a concentric outlet port at the cartridge to prevent back flow with cartridge removal.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/983,959, filed on Nov. 8, 2004; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/999,537, filed Nov. 15, 2001, now abandoned; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 29/101,631, filed Mar. 8, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. D-455,814; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/984,893, filed Dec. 4, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,644, issued Feb. 22, 2000; which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/695,134, filed Aug. 8, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,107, issued May 19, 1998, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to water purification and filtration systems and, in particular, to a disposable cartridge system having a manifold which cooperates with the cartridge to interrupt the supply and return lines during cartridge changes to prevent drainage from the supply system.  
         [0003]     A particular problem experienced with the changing of single appliance water purification/filtration cartridges is the necessity of dealing with drainage released from the supply and return lines with the release of the cartridge from a system manifold. Unless shutoff valves are provided in the system supply lines that mate to the manifold, water typically drains from one or both of the conduits with the removal of the cartridge from the manifold. The sporadic frequency of the cartridge changes and attendant operator forgetfulness to the problem typically results in drainage. That is, the maintenance personnel forget to mount a catch pan or other spill prevention appliance beneath the manifold and it becomes necessary to clean up the spill.  
         [0004]     A number of cartridge systems which are subject to the foregoing problem are disclosed at U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,746,171; 4,515,692; 4,915,831; 4,877,521; and 5,354,464. The cartridges of the disclosed systems variously provide projecting bayonet return ports which mate with recessed outflow cavities at the manifold. Twist lock mountings to the manifold are also provided at some of the cartridges. Cartridge interlock retainers are also disclosed. However, flow control valving is not provided at either the manifold or cartridge for any of the foregoing systems. Nor do any of the cartridges include surfaces which cooperate with associated valving.  
         [0005]     In appreciation of the foregoing problem and inconvenience, the present manifold and cartridge system was developed. In contrast to conventional cartridges, the manifold of the invention provides a bayonet fitting at a center out flow port which couples to a recess at the cartridge. Seals displaced along the fitting and internal to the cartridge contain viral contaminants to the cartridge. A spring biased stem valve at the manifold inlet port cooperates with a raised, tapered surface at the cartridge to permit flow only upon the rotational seating and locking of the cartridge to the manifold. A one-way check valve at the outlet port to prevents back flow. In an alternative construction, a slotted or split stem, check valve provides noise free operation. The system finds particular advantage with cartridge based appliance systems, such as ice makers and chilled water dispensers at a refrigerator or water cooler, and for under cabinet cartridge mountings, such as at sinks.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a cartridge based water purification and filtration system that prevents drainage from the supply and return lines upon removing a treatment cartridge.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a supply manifold containing shut off valves at one or both of provided supply and return ports.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold having a stem valve at a supply port which cooperates with a surface at the treatment cartridge, such that with cartridge mounting and rotation or removal the valve retracts and extends to control supply flow.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold having a projecting surface or bayonet fitting which contains a number of O-ring seals and which fitting mounts to a mating outlet recess at the cartridge which is backed by additional seals at the cartridge to prevent bypass migration of contaminants.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold having channel ways which interlock to flanged shoulders at the cartridge, upon rotation of the flanges into the channelways.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a cartridge container having an infeed flow cavity defined between a sealed external housing and internal liner whereby flow is directed to the bottom of the cartridge and thence through filtration and purification treatment media supported in the liner and to the outlet port.  
         [0012]     Various of the foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are obtained in a presently preferred system which provides a manifold having integral flow control valves at inlet and outlet ports. The valves cooperate with a treatment cartridge to prevent drainage of liquid from the manifold supply lines during the changing of a treatment cartridge. Extraneous shut-offs are thereby avoided at the primary supply system.  
         [0013]     The manifold is molded to provide a central tubular out flow or “bayonet” fitting. O-ring seals are fitted to the fitting to mate with a recessed port at the treatment cartridge to seal out flow from the cartridge. Radially displaced from the bayonet fitting are a number of channelways which interlock with shoulders of a mounted cartridge.  
         [0014]     Depending from the manifold is a stem valve which controls flow from the inlet port. Raised surfaces at the cartridge contact the valve with the seating and rotation of the cartridge to the channelways. Supply flow is thereby enabled and disabled with a corresponding extension and retraction of the valve.  
         [0015]     The treatment cartridge provides an open ended housing which supports a concentrically mounted internal liner. Radial flanges at the liner displace the liner from the housing and form an infeed channel. Flow is re-directed from a cartridge end cap. Successive stages of filtration and purification media treat the water prior to directing the water through a central recess which mates to the bayonet fitting.  
         [0016]     A one-way check valve at the manifold outlet port permits liquid out flow but prevents back flow. A tapered valve stem is normally biased to a closed condition at the manifold to mate with a seat surface and opens upon liquid outflow being directed against the valve stem. In another construction, the valve includes a split, cylindrical stem and is constructed to provide surfaces that promote non-symmetrical flow to prevent valve oscillation and nuisance audible sounds.  
         [0017]     Also disclosed is a dual cartridge manifold. Interconnected, manifolds support a filter cartridge and a purification cartridge.  
         [0018]     Still other objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are discussed below in relation to the appended drawings. To the extent various modifications and improvements have been considered, they are described as appropriate. The description should not be literally construed in limitation of the scope of the invention, which rather should be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within the scope of the further appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing to the manifold and treatment cartridge of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-section view through the manifold taken along section lines  2 - 2  at the longitudinal center of the manifold and cartridge;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-section view through the center of a treatment cartridge;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view through the center of an alternative treatment cartridge;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a plan view to a slotted stem check valve;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the valve stem of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross-section view through a dual cartridge manifold assembly. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     With attention to  FIG. 1 , an exploded assembly drawing is shown to the improved purification and filtration treatment system of the invention. The system  2  includes a supply manifold  4  having a sealed bayonet fitting  6  which mounts to a two stage recess  8  at a treatment cartridge  10 . Radially displaced from the recess  8  are a pair of shoulder flanges  12 ,  14 , which have tapered leading edges  16 , that mate with a pair of interlocking flanges  18  and  20  at the manifold  4 . With the mounting of the bayonet  6  into the recess B and the sealing of a number of O-rings  22 ,  24  and  26  mounted along the fitting  6  within the stages of the recess  8 , the flanges  12 ,  14  are aligned to channelways  27  and  28  at the flanges  18  and  20 . The cartridge  10  can then be rotated to interlock with the manifold  4 , which concurrently permits flow between the manifold  4  and the cartridge  10 .  
         [0027]     Depending from one side of the bayonet fitting  6  is a stem valve assembly  30 . The valve assembly  30  is configured to prevent flow through an adjoining aperture  32  that communicates with a supply conduit  34 , except when the cartridge  10  is fully seated to the manifold  4 . With the depression of the valve assembly  30 , liquid flow is directed from the supply conduit  34  through the aperture  32  and a number of inlet ports  35  arrayed about the first stage  36  of the recess  8 . Liquid flow is directed from the ports  35  through a cavity  37  formed between a cartridge housing  38  and an internal liner  40 .  
         [0028]     The flow cavity  37  is particularly formed upon seating a number of radial spacers  42  at the liner  40  to the inner walls of the cartridge housing  38 , reference  FIG. 2 . Flow is interrupted and re-directed at the base of the cartridge  10  by an end cap  44  that is spun welded to the housing  38 . The flow is directed to the core of the liner  40  through a number of ports  46  arrayed about the lower periphery of the liner  40 .  
         [0029]     With the entry of liquid to the liner core, the liquid passes through a number of filtration and purification stages. Two alternative arrangements of which stages are shown at  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The filtered and purified water is directed from the liner  40  to a bore or flow aperture  48  of the bayonet fitting  6 , which is exposed at the second stage  49  of the cartridge recess  8 . Flow is directed through the bayonet fitting  6  to an outlet conduit  50  via an intermediate check valve assembly  52  shown at  FIG. 2 .  FIGS. 5 through 7  depict another and presently preferred check valve assembly  53  which assembly  53  is discussed below.  
         [0030]     The check valves  52  and  53  are constructed to provide noise free operation under flow pressures in the range of 10 to 125 psi. It has been found that various conventional check valves can produce nuisance sounds. Such noises are preferably avoided in confined spaces, such as a refrigerator.  
         [0031]     A particular advantage obtained from the system  2  is the ability to automatically interrupt flow from the supply and return conduits  34 ,  50  upon disconnecting a cartridge  10  from the manifold  4 . Nuisance drainage is thereby prevented upon removing the cartridge  10  from the manifold  4 . Standing water within the cartridge  10 , downstream of the check valve  52 , is retained in the cartridge  10  due to the recessed mounting of the bayonet fitting  6  into the cartridge  10 .  
         [0032]     The supporting of the bayonet fitting  6  and the appurtenant O-rings  22 ,  24  and  26  to the two stage recess  8  simplifies the construction of the cartridge  10  versus the conventional cartridges mentioned above. The latter cartridges provide a sealed bayonet fitting at each cartridge which mate to a recess at the manifold. A large number of relatively costly O-ring seals are thus required to accommodate the disposable cartridges. The system  2  avoids the cost by mounting the seals to the manifold  4 . Other seals  92 ,  93 , which are discussed below, are instead included to prevent viral contaminants from bypassing the treatment media. A more cost effective and efficient filtration and purification system is thereby obtained.  
         [0033]     Turning attention to  FIG. 2 , a longitudinal cross section view is shown through the manifold  4  and from which details to the fitting of the cartridge  10  to the bayonet fitting  6  and the reasons for the commensurate lack of drainage with the removal of the cartridge  10  are more apparent. Particularly apparent are the construction of the valve assemblies  30  and  52  and the cooperation of the cartridge housing  38  with a stem valve  60  of the valve assembly  30 .  
         [0034]     With attention to the valve assembly  30 , the stem valve  60  is fitted to the manifold  4  to protrude from the cutlet aperture  32 . A normally closed valve condition is obtained with a spring  62  which forces a valve seat  64  at the aft end of the stem valve  60  into engagement with an O-ring seal  66  at the manifold  4  to prevent flow through the aperture  32 . Internal surfaces of the manifold  4  adjacent the seat  64  might also be shaped to mate with the seat  64  in lieu of or in combination with the O-ring  66 .  
         [0035]     Projecting from the first of the 2 stages  36 ,  49  at the recess  8  is a raised, tapered projection  72  that engages the stem valve  60  with the fitting and the rotation of the cartridge  10  to the manifold  4 , reference also  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The mounting of the flanges  14 ,  16  and  18 ,  20  are such that the projection  72  does not engage the valve stem  60  until the shouldered flanges  12  and  14  are fully seated and rotated into the channelways  27 ,  28  to lock to the manifold  4 . A gradual depression of the stem valve  60  is thereby assured.  
         [0036]     Captured to the manifold  4  adjacent an outlet port  74  that contains the outlet conduit  50  is the outlet valve assembly  52 . The valve assembly  52  includes a valve body  76  which is resiliently supported between a spring  78  and a retainer  80 . The retainer  80  presently comprises a ring which is retained to a grooved surface  82 . The spring  78  biases an O-ring  84  fitted to the valve stem  76  to seal to a tapered surface or seat  86  of the manifold  4 . The elastomer material of the O-ring  86  enhances the seal and reduces noise due to valve operation.  
         [0037]     The valve assembly  52  particularly prevents audible clicking sounds at the manifold  4 . Such sounds can present a nuisance where the system  2  is used with home appliances, such as refrigerators, cooling fountains, faucets, or other applications where the system  2  is confined within a living space. A variety of commercially available check valve assemblies have been tested but found to be inadequate.  FIG. 5 , which is discussed below, discloses another and presently preferred check valve assembly  53 .  
         [0038]     Also shown at  FIG. 2  is the mounting of the liner  30  to the cartridge housing  38 . Particularly apparent is the manner of the mounting of a collar  41  at the liner  30  to a housing projection  90  and a pair of O-rings  92  and  93 , which are separated by a spacer ring  95 . The multiple sets of O-rings  22 ,  24  and  26  and  92 ,  93  and spacer ring  95  not only contain the flow from the cartridge  10  to the fitting  6  but also provide a seal against undesired back bypass migration of viral contaminants.  
         [0039]     With the fitting of the liner  40  to the housing  38 , the flow channel  37  is created at the outer periphery of the liner  40  and which is more apparent at the cartridges  96  and  98  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Liquid flow is contained between the channel  37  and the bore  49  and contaminants are restrained to the cartridge  10 .  
         [0040]     With attention to  FIG. 3  and mounted within the core of the liner  40  are a number of seriatim stages of filtration and purification media which are arranged to provide the most advantageous dwell time and exposure of the water to the treatment media. With the entry of the water to the liner core at the apertures  46 , the water is initially exposed to a pair of circular discs of filter media  98  and  102 , which are mounted to contain a bed of granular activated carbon (GAC)  100 . The filter media  98 ,  100  and  102  filter large particulates and organisms from the water. Positioned between the disc filter  102  and another disc filter  104  is a bed of granular bactericide  105  such as a multi-valent iodine resin  106  that can be present in a concentration in the range of 40 to 400 cubic centimeters. Presently, a bed of 80 cc&#39;s of a PENTAPURE material is used at the bactericide  105 .  
         [0041]     Supported above the disc filter  104  are a pair of porous plastic spacers  106  and  108  and which capture a cast cylindrical carbon filter  110  to the liner  40 . The filter  110  is constructed of a cast GAC material and exhibits a nominal porosity in the range of 0.5 to 20 microns. Depending upon the application, a pleated cylinder paper filter media might be substituted at the filter  110 .  
         [0042]     O-ring seals  112  at the spacer  108  contain and direct water flow from a channel space  114  at the outer periphery of the filter  110  inward to a bore  116 . The water flows from the bore  116 , through the spacer  108  into a second bed of purification media  118  containing a mixture of halogen bactericides, GAC and/or halogen scavenger media. From the media  118 , the water passes through a further disc filter  120  to the cartridge outlet bore  49  and the outlet port  48  of the manifold  4 .  
         [0043]     Depending upon the application and the particular contaminants found in the available water supply, the arrangement of the treatment media and the types of media can be varied to provide either filtration or purification or both.  FIG. 4  discloses an alternative treatment cartridge  98  that is intended to principally serve as a filter. The cartridge  98  contains a bed of GAC media  122  between a pair of porous disc filters  124  and  126 . The space containing the media  122  might also be subdivided to contain another filter media, such as a paper filter or the like.  
         [0044]     Mounted above the media  122  is a solid cylindrical block of GAC media  128  which is supported to a porous plastic retainer  130 . The filter  128  is constructed of a cast GAC media and exhibits a nominal porosity in the range of 0.5 to 20 microns. Liquid flow is directed from a channel space  132  between the liner  40  and filter  128  inwardly to a bore  134 . supported within the bore  134  between the manifold  4  and the outlet bore  49  is a porous conical nozzle  136  which directs flow to the outlet bore  49  and seals to the fitting  6 .  
         [0045]     With attention to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , enlarged cross section and perspective views are shown to the above mentioned alternative check valve assembly  53 . The assembly  53  provides a cylindrical valve stem  140  that includes a longitudinal slot  142  that extends along a sidewall of the valve stem  140  to direct flow along the slot  142  to a surface  143  adjacent an O-ring seal  144 . Flow is directed in a non-symmetric fashion such that greater pressure is exerted against the surface  143  which provides a slight tipping of the valve stem  140 . This tipping has been found to reduce the tendency of audible clicking sounds at the manifold  4 .  
         [0046]     The seal  144  is fitted forward of a shoulder  146  to conform and seal the juncture between the shoulder  146  and the manifold  4 . A spring  148  and retainer  150  bias the shoulder  146  and seal  144  to prevent back flow at the valve  53 . The retainer  150  is press fit to the body of the manifold  4  and is also secured with the fitted conduit  50 .  
         [0047]     Appreciating the potential of encountering water supply systems containing many large contaminants, such as well systems,  FIG. 7  depicts a treatment system  160  that supports a pair of cartridges  96  and  162  from a pair of interconnected manifolds  164  and  166 . The manifolds  164  and  166  are interconnected by an O-ring sealed coupler  168 . The manifold  164  is fitted with a valve assembly  30  and the manifold  166  is fitted with a check valve assembly  53 . Nuisance drainage is thus prevented with the changing of either of the cartridges  162  and/or  96 .  
         [0048]     The arrangement of the cartridges  96 ,  162  are such that the cartridge  162  principally filters the water and the cartridge  96  purifies the water. The assemblies of the cartridges  162  and  96  are essentially the same as earlier described. The principal difference is that the liner of the cartridge  162  is fitted with a disc filter  170 , a bed of GAC pre-filter media  172 , and a cast cylindrical GAC filter  174 . The filter  174  is fitted between a disc end cap  176  and the conical nozzle seal  136 . Depending again upon the application, the filter treatments can be varied, such as by including paper filter media and/or varying the volume and porosity of the filtration medias.  
         [0049]     While the invention has been described with respect to a presently preferred construction of the manifold and alternative cartridge constructions, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. The following appended claims accordingly should be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within the spirit and scope thereof.