Filter assembly and a refrigerator appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10126043-B2
Application number	US-201615067248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2016
Priority date	Mar 11, 2016
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A filter assembly includes a manifold having a male inlet port and the male outlet port and a filter cartridge having a female inlet port and a female outlet port. The male inlet port and the male outlet port are mounted to a spool body such that the male inlet port and the male outlet port extend away from the spool body. The female inlet port and the female outlet port are mounted to a casing at an end portion of the casing. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the filter assembly comprising:
a manifold having a spool valve, the spool valve comprising a housing, a spool body, a male inlet port and a male outlet port, the spool body received in the housing such that the spool body is rotatable relative to the housing, the male inlet port and the male outlet port mounted to the spool body such that the male inlet port and the male outlet port extend away from the spool body along the axial direction, the male inlet port and the male outlet port spaced apart from each other along the radial direction; and
a filter cartridge mountable to the manifold, the filter cartridge comprising a casing, a filter medium, a female inlet port and a female outlet port, the filter medium disposed within the casing, the female inlet port and the female outlet port mounted to the casing at an end portion of the casing, the female inlet port sized and positioned to receive the male inlet port of the manifold when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the female outlet port sized and positioned to receive the male outlet port of the manifold when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold,
wherein the spool body has an axis of rotation about which the spool body is rotatable within the housing, the axis of rotation of the spool body being parallel to the axial direction, the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold offset from the axis of rotation of the spool body along the radial direction on the spool body.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manifold further comprises a plurality of O-rings, respective O-rings of the plurality of O-rings disposed on each of the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the filter cartridge does not include O-rings mounted to the female inlet port or the female outlet port of the filter cartridge.

4. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold are equidistant from the axis of rotation of the spool body along the radial direction on the spool body.

5. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold have different cross-sectional areas in a plane that is perpendicular to the axial direction.

6. The filter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the female inlet port of the filter cartridge is not complementary to the male outlet port of the manifold and the female outlet port of the filter cartridge is not complementary to the male inlet port of the manifold.

7. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the spool valve has an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the spool valve actuatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the male inlet port of the manifold being in fluid communication with the inlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the open configuration, the male outlet port of the manifold being in fluid communication with the outlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the open configuration, the male inlet port of the manifold being sealed from the inlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the closed configuration, the male outlet port of the manifold being sealed from the outlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the closed configuration.

8. The filter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the spool body is rotatable with the filter cartridge in order to actuate the spool valve between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

9. The filter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the filter cartridge further comprises a handle mounted to the casing opposite the female inlet port and the female outlet port of the filter cartridge.

10. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;
a filter assembly mounted to the cabinet, the filter assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the filter assembly comprising
a manifold having a spool valve, the spool valve comprising a housing, a spool body, a male inlet port and a male outlet port, the spool body received in the housing such that the spool body is rotatable relative to the housing, the male inlet port and the male outlet port mounted to the spool body such that the male inlet port and the male outlet port extend away from the spool body along the axial direction, the male inlet port and the male outlet port spaced apart from each other along the radial direction; and
a filter cartridge mountable to the manifold, the filter cartridge comprising a casing, a filter medium, a female inlet port and a female outlet port, the filter medium disposed within the casing, the female inlet port and the female outlet port mounted to the casing at an end portion of the casing, the female inlet port sized and positioned to receive the male inlet port of the manifold when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the female outlet port sized and positioned to receive the male outlet port of the manifold when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold,
wherein the spool body has an axis of rotation about which the spool body is rotatable within the housing, the axis of rotation of the spool body being parallel to the axial direction, the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold offset from the axis of rotation of the spool body along the radial direction on the spool body.

11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the manifold further comprises a plurality of O-rings, respective O-rings of the plurality of O-rings disposed on each of the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the filter cartridge does not include O-rings mounted to the female inlet port or the female outlet port of the filter cartridge.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold are equidistant from the axis of rotation of the spool body along the radial direction on the spool body.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the male inlet port and the male outlet port of the manifold have different cross-sectional areas in a plane that is perpendicular to the axial direction.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14 , wherein the female inlet port of the filter cartridge is not complementary to the male outlet port of the manifold and the female outlet port of the filter cartridge is not complementary to the male inlet port of the manifold.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the housing of the spool valve has an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the spool valve actuatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the male inlet port of the manifold being in fluid communication with the inlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the open configuration, the male outlet port of the manifold being in fluid communication with the outlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the open configuration, the male inlet port of the manifold being sealed from the inlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the closed configuration, the male outlet port of the manifold being sealed from the outlet conduit of the housing when the spool valve is in the closed configuration.

17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 16 , wherein the spool body is rotatable with the filter cartridge in order to actuate the spool valve between the open configuration and the close

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Mitchell Alan Joseph

Classifications

• C02F1/003

  using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices (C02F9/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C02F2307/12

  as part of household appliances such as dishwashers, laundry washing machines or vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• B01D35/02

  Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) · CPC title

• F25D2323/121

  the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser · CPC title

• C02F2201/005

  Valves · CPC title