Method of installing a filter unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8950052-B2
Application number	US-201113233328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2011
Priority date	Sep 15, 2011
Publication date	Feb 10, 2015
Grant date	Feb 10, 2015

Abstract

A method of installing a filter unit includes aligning a filter unit into a filter head assembly. The filter unit includes a laterally extending key member and an engagement protrusion. The engagement protrusion includes a first portion that has a first radius of curvature and a second portion opposing the first portion that has a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature. The laterally extending key member is aligned into a key slot in the filter head assembly. An engagement surface is aligned on the filter unit into a complementary engagement surface on the filter head assembly. The filter unit is rotatingly inserted into the filter head assembly. The laterally extending key member shifts an interference member on the filter head assembly from an interference position, wherein the filter unit cannot sealingly engage the filter head assembly, to a non-interference position, wherein the filter unit can sealingly engage the filter head assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of installing a filter unit comprising:
aligning a filter unit into a filter head assembly, wherein the filter unit includes a laterally extending key member and an engagement protrusion, the engagement protrusion having a peripheral edge with a first portion that includes a first radius of curvature and a second portion directly opposing the first portion that includes a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature;
aligning the laterally extending key member into a key slot in the filter head assembly;
aligning an engagement surface on the filter unit into a complementary engagement surface on the filter head assembly; and
rotatingly inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly, wherein the laterally extending key member shifts an interference member on the filter head assembly from an interference position, wherein the filter unit cannot sealingly engage the filter head assembly, to a non-interference position, wherein the filter unit can sealingly engage the filter head assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
abutting an electrical contact on the filter unit with an electrical contact on the filter head assembly.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of aligning an engagement surface further comprises:
aligning a first recessed engagement surface on the filter unit with a first raised engagement surface on the filter head assembly.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of aligning an engagement surface further comprises:
aligning a second recessed engagement surface on the filter unit with a second raised engagement surface on the filter head assembly.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly further comprises:
forcing the interference member outwardly away from the filter unit when the interference member is moved from the interference position to the non-interference position.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning the engagement protrusion into a complementary filter receiver in the filter head assembly.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of rotatingly inserting the filter unit further comprises:
disengaging a bypass channel disposed in the filter head assembly.

8. A method of installing a filter unit comprising:
providing a filter unit with an engagement protrusion having a peripheral edge with a first portion that includes a first radius of curvature and a second portion opposing the first portion that includes a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature, wherein a first center of the first radius of curvature is laterally distal from a second center of the second radius of curvature relative to a plane extending perpendicular to the first and second portions;
aligning a keyed portion on the filter unit with a complementary keyed portion on a filter head assembly;
aligning an engagement surface on the filter unit into a complementary engagement surface on the filter head assembly; and
inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly, wherein the keyed portion on the filter unit shifts an interference member in the filter head assembly from an interference position to a non-interference position.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of aligning an engagement surface on the filter unit further comprises:
aligning a recessed channel on the filter unit with a raised member on an interior portion of the filter head assembly.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly further comprises:
pushing the filter unit linearly into the filter head assembly.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly further comprises:
pushing the filter unit linearly into the filter head assembly and subsequently rotating the filter unit one quarter turn.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly further comprises:
rotating the filter unit downward into the filter head assembly at about a 62-degree angle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly further comprises:
rotating the filter unit substantially horizontally after rotating the filter unit downward into the filter head assembly at about a 62-degree angle.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
positioning a concave end wall of the engagement protrusion inside a complementary filter receiver of the filter head assembly.

15. A method of installing a filter unit comprising:
aligning a filter unit into a filter head assembly, wherein the filter unit includes a body portion with a laterally extending key member and an engagement protrusion with a substantially egg-shaped cross-section and a concave end wall, wherein the engagement protrusion includes at least one egg-shaped sealing member engaging an outer surface of the engagement protrusion;
aligning the laterally extending key member into a key slot in the filter head assembly;
aligning an engagement surface on the filter unit into a complementary engagement surface on the filter head assembly; and
inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly such that the laterally extending key member shifts an interference member in the filter head assembly from an interference position to a non-interference position and simultaneously disengaging a bypass channel in the filter head assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
abutting an electrical contact on the filter unit with an electrical contact on the filter head assembly.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of inserting the filter unit into the filter head assembly further comprises:
forcing the interference member outwardly away from the filter unit when the interference member is moved from the interference position to the non-interference position.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
rotating a complementary filter receiver into the filter head assembly from a bypass position to a filtering position.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
sealing the engagement protrusion against an inside wall of the complementary filter receiver both above and below an inlet port positioned on a sidewall of the engagement protrusion, wherein the at least one egg-shaped sealing member includes a first egg-shaped sealing member positioned above the inlet port and a second egg-shaped sealing member positioned below the inlet port.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of rotatingly inserting the filter unit further comprises:
disengaging a bypass channel disposed in the filter head assembly.

Assignees

• Kruckenberg Christopher A
• Morrison John W
• Richmond Peter J
• Spindler Jeffrey A
• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kruckenberg Christopher A
• Morrison John W
• Richmond Peter J
• Spindler Jeffrey A

Classifications

• B01D2201/4076

  Anti-rotational means · CPC title

• B01D35/30 Primary

  Filter housing constructions · CPC title

• C02F2307/12

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

• C02F2201/006

  Cartridges · CPC title

• C02F2201/004

  Seals, connections · CPC title