Customizable multi-stage water treatment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10155669-B2
Application number	US-201615144501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2016
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly typically includes a connector, a plurality of cartridges, and a cap. The plurality of cartridges have a treatment medium spaced within an interior volume of the individual cartridges, between the ends thereof. The ends of the plurality of cartridges are configured to receive a fluid, bring the fluid into operative contact with the treatment medium, and dispense the fluid from the opposing end of the cartridge. The connector is coupled with one end of the plurality of cartridges and has an inlet and an outlet for receiving and dispensing the fluid to and from an appliance. The cap is coupled with the other end of the plurality of cartridges, enclosing the fluid treatment assembly, which is configured to be received in a cavity of an appliance. The cartridges of the plurality of cartridges may be individually replaced with cartridges to meet customized needs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water treatment cartridge for a customizable multi-stage water treatment system for an appliance, which is a segment of an overall filter comprised of a plurality of segments, comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing an interior volume defined by a treatment medium facing interior wall; and comprising a water channel flow path segment formed within the sidewall that extends through the sidewall and extends between the first end and the second end;

a water treatment medium spaced within the interior volume;
a treated water delivery aperture that transmits treated water out of the water treatment cartridge;
a first locking configuration disposed on an exterior facing surface of the first end and a second locking configuration disposed on an exterior facing surface of the second end such that the first end is configured to directly engage a corresponding first locking configuration and the second end is configured to directly engage a corresponding second locking configuration that is different than the first locking configuration.

2. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the water treatment cartridge is configured to permit a water flow to return to the first end and pass through the water treatment medium, creating a closed circuit to return the water flow to the appliance, and wherein the water channel flow path segment is a cylindrical shape and has a diameter configured to reduce the rate at which the water flow travels through the water channel flow path segment and the closed circuit.

3. The water treatment cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the second locking configuration comprises an extension that extends from the second end and a flow passage that permits water to travel between the treatment medium spaced within the water treatment cartridge in an opposite direction than the water flow through the channel segment.

4. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 further comprising an extension that extends from the second end and a flow passage that permits water to travel between the water treatment medium spaced within the water treatment cartridge in an opposite direction than a water flow through the water channel flow path segment.

5. The water treatment cartridge of claim 3 , wherein the second end comprises a threaded extension receiving aperture that receives water flow into the water treatment cartridge.

6. The water treatment cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the extension is threaded and engaged with an O-ring.

7. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the water treatment medium is sized and spaced within the interior volume to form a gap between an interior volume facing surface of the sidewall and the water treatment medium and a first end facing surface is engaged with a top cover that directs water radially outward toward the sidewall of the water treatment cartridge; thereafter the water is directed radially inward and through the water treatment medium and into a hollow central conduit that delivers a treated water flow to an outlet.

8. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking configurations arrange the water treatment cartridge at a specific stage of a customizable multi-stage water treatment system.

9. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the water treatment cartridge is cylindrically shaped and the water channel flow path segment has an arch-shaped cross-section.

10. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the water treatment medium is chosen from the group consisting of: activated carbon particles, a carbon powder, a vitamin treatment material, aluminosilicate material, an organic acid, inorganic acid, particles sintered with a plastic binder, carbon particles coated with a silver material, a block of porous carbon, an ion exchange material, resin beads, flat filtration membranes, fibrous filtration structures, zeolite particles, zeolite coatings, alumina, diatomaceous earth, polyethylene, charged-modified webs, melt-blown webs, and microfiber glass.

11. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first locking configuration disposed on an exterior facing surface of the first end comprises at least one keyed mating arrangement and a second locking configuration disposed on an exterior facing surface of the second end comprises at least one keyed mating arrangement such that the first end is configured to directly engage a corresponding first locking configuration and the second end is configured to directly engage a corresponding second locking configuration that is different than the first locking configuration.

12. The water treatment cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the at least one keyed mating arrangement on the exterior facing surface of the first end is at least one protrusion having a neck portion that extends from the water treatment cartridge and a head portion on the neck portion, wherein the head portion is larger in diameter than the neck portion and wherein the second locking configuration is at least one recess on the exterior facing surface of the second end.

13. The water treatment cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the water channel flow path segment is proximate the exterior facing surface of the water treatment cartridge.

14. The water treatment cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the water channel flow path segment is proximate the exterior facing surface of the water treatment cartridge.

15. A water treatment cartridge, which is a segment of an overall filter comprised of a plurality of segments, wherein the water treatment cartridge comprises:
an untreated water receiving end that receives untreated water into an interior volume of the water treatment cartridge wherein the untreated water receiving end is opposite a treated water delivering end that delivers water treated by a water treatment medium within the interior volume;
a sidewall extending between the untreated water receiving end and the treated water delivery end, enclosing the interior volume defined by a treatment medium facing interior wall; a water channel flow path segment formed within the sidewall that extends within the sidewall and between the untreated water receiving end and the treated water delivery end; and
a treated water outlet extension protruding from the untreated water receiving end or the treated water delivery end of the water treatment cartridge wherein the extension permits a flow of water to travel between the treatment medium spaced within the water treatment cartridge in an opposite direction than untreated water flows through the water channel flow path segment.

16. The water treatment cartridge of claim 15 further comprising:
a first locking configuration disposed on an exterior facing surface of the untreated water receiving end and a second locking configuration disposed on an exterior facing surface of the treated water delivery end such that the untreated water receiving end is configured to directly engage a corresponding first locking configuration and the treated water delivery end is configured to directly engage a corresponding second locking configuration that is different than the first locking configuration.

17. The water treatment cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the water channel flow path segment is formed by an outer surface of the treatment medium facing interior and an interior surface of the sidewall of a housing of the water treatment cartridge and wherein the water treatment cartridge must be engaged with a cap and a connector to complete a wa

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Patera Ginger Elayne
• Kuehl Steven John
• Senninger Mark M

Classifications

• C02F5/14

  containing phosphorus · CPC title

• C02F2307/12

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

• C02F5/105

  combined with inorganic substances · CPC title

• B01D24/007

  with multiple filtering elements in series connection · CPC title

• C02F2307/06

  Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead · CPC title