Translating treatment cartridge, fluid dispensing system, and method of using

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125028-B2
Application number	US-201615209449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2016
Priority date	Jul 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A dispensing system having a treatment cartridge utilizing linear translation of the treatment cartridge within the manifold to actuate a valve to dispense a fluid. To dispense the fluid, a person pushes their glass or other container against a dispensing lever that translates the treatment cartridge within the manifold causing a cam surface on the filter's circumferential exterior to actuate a valve sending the fluid from the valve though the treatment cartridge and out a dispensing orifice in the treatment cartridge into the glass.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A translating treatment cartridge comprising:
a housing having a first end, a second end, a central axis extending from the first end to the second end, a first body portion surrounding the central axis, a second body portion surrounding the central axis, and a cam surface located on the housing;
the first body portion having a larger cross sectional area than the second body portion;
a cartridge inlet orifice located in the first body portion or the second body portion;
a first sealing member on the first body portion, a second sealing member on the second body portion, and the cam surface and the cartridge inlet orifice are both positioned between the first and the second sealing members;
the first and the second sealing members comprise O-rings and the first sealing member is disposed in an O-ring groove circumscribing the first body portion and the second sealing member is disposed in an O-ring groove circumscribing the second body portion;
the cam surface comprises a chamfer between the first body portion and the second body portion;
a treatment media contained within the housing; and
a dispensing orifice located in the housing.

2. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cam surface comprises a first cam surface located between the first body portion and a valley, and a second cam surface located between the second body portion and the valley.

3. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge inlet orifice and the cam surface are both located within the middle half of an overall length of the translating treatment cartridge.

4. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein the dispensing orifice dispenses in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.

5. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 4 comprising a nozzle attached to the second end and the dispensing orifice is located in the nozzle.

6. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 4 comprising a first dispensing orifice in the first body portion and a second dispensing orifice in the second body portion.

7. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein the first and the second body portions both comprise a non-circular cross section.

8. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 7 wherein the first and the second body portions both comprise an elliptical cross section, the elliptical cross section having two axes of symmetry, opposing larger radius sides, and opposing smaller radius sides.

9. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 7 wherein the first and the second body portions both comprise an oval cross section, the oval cross section having one axis of symmetry and a larger radius side opposing a smaller radius side.

10. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cross sectional shape of the first body portion is different from the cross sectional shape of the second body portion.

11. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first or the second body portions comprises a linear bearing surface for supporting the translating treatment cartridge along the central axis when positioned in a cartridge bore during linear motion within the cartridge bore of a corresponding manifold.

12. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 comprising a first inlet orifice in the first body portion and a second inlet orifice in the second body portion.

13. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 wherein the inlet orifice comprises a poppet valve bridge spanning from one side of the inlet orifice to the opposite side of the inlet orifice bisecting the inlet orifice in two.

14. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 1 comprising a dispensing lever engagement feature extending from the second end.

15. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 14 wherein the dispensing lever engagement feature comprises, a first projection extending from the second end and a second projection extending concentrically along the central axis from the first projection having a smaller cross sectional area, a first pin extending radially from the distal end of the first projection and a second pin extending radially from the distal end of the second projection.

16. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 14 wherein the dispensing lever engagement feature comprises a first projection extending from the second end along the central axis and a pin extending radially from the distal end of the first projection.

17. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 14 wherein the dispensing lever engagement feature comprises a transverse retaining pin slot on the second body portion and a dispensing lever comprising a paddle end and a cartridge bore end that partially or fully encircles the second body portion and the cartridge bore is pinned on the second body portion by a retaining pin.

18. The translating treatment cartridge of claim 14 comprising a dispensing lever connected to the dispensing lever engagement feature extending from the second end.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Lachermeier David W

Classifications

• B67D2001/0093

  Valves · CPC title

• C02F2201/006

  Cartridges · CPC title

• B67D1/0082

  entirely mechanical · CPC title

• C02F2307/10

  as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices · CPC title

• B67D2210/0001

  for liquid · CPC title