Customizable multi-stage water treatment assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9314716-B2
Application number	US-201213674300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2012
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

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 customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly for an appliance comprising:
a base cartridge having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends enclosing an interior volume, wherein a treatment medium is spaced within the interior volume between the first and second ends, such that the first and second ends of the base cartridge 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 base cartridge;
a connector coupled with the first end of the base cartridge and having an inlet and an outlet for receiving and dispensing the fluid to and from the appliance and configured to receive and dispense the fluid to and from the base cartridge, wherein the connector is configured to receive untreated water through the inlet and dispense treated water through the outlet after it has been treated by at least the treatment medium;
a first variable cartridge having a first coupler end configured to be removably engaged by hand with the second end of the base cartridge, a first receiver end, and a first wall extending between the first coupler end and the first receiver end enclosing a first inside volume, wherein a first filter medium is spaced within the first inside volume between the first coupler end and first receiver end, such that the first coupler end and first receiver end of the first variable cartridge are configured to receive the fluid, bring the fluid into operative contact with the first filter medium, and dispense the fluid from the first coupler end of the first variable cartridge;
a cap coupled with the first receiver end of the first variable cartridge and enclosing the first receiver end such that a sealed housing is formed with the sidewall of the base cartridge and the first wall of the first variable cartridge, wherein the sealed housing is configured to be removably engaged with a filter head assembly of the appliance; and
a channel formed within the sealing housing between a select one of the inlet or outlet of the connector and the cap, wherein the cap is configured to direct the fluid to flow between the first variable cartridge and the channel, and wherein the channel is configured to allow the fluid to travel in a closed circuit to and from the connector through the channel, the first filter medium, and the treatment medium.

2. The customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second variable cartridge configured to be removably engaged by hand between the first variable cartridge and the cap, wherein the second variable cartridge includes a second coupler end removably engaged with the first receiver end of the first variable cartridge, a second receiver end removably engaged with the cap, and a second wall extending between the second coupler end and the second receiver end enclosing a second inside volume, and wherein a second filter medium is spaced within the second inside volume between the second coupler and second receiver ends, such that the second coupler and second receiver ends of the second variable cartridge are configured to receive the fluid, bring the fluid into operative contact with the second filter medium, and dispense the fluid from the opposing end of the second variable cartridge, and wherein the sealed housing is further defined by the sidewall of the base cartridge, the first wall of the first variable cartridge, and the second wall of the second variable cartridge.

3. The customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a pre-filter disposed within the cap for filtering the fluid.

4. The customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly of claim 3 , wherein the pre-filter includes a pre-filter treatment medium that is water permeable and configured to receive a water flow from the channel and direct the water flow from the pre-filter after it has passed through the pre-filter treatment medium to the first variable cartridge.

5. The customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base cartridge and the first variable cartridge engage coaxially to form a cylindrical shape, such that the sidewall and first wall are substantially aligned.

6. The customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sealed housing has a cylindrical shaped exterior surface, and wherein the channel is spaced between the exterior surface and the interior volume of the base cartridge and the inside volume of the first variable cartridge.

7. A customizable multi-stage water treatment assembly comprising:
an exterior housing including:
a water end having an inlet and an outlet wherein the water end is capable of receiving untreated water through the inlet and dispensing fully treated water through the outlet after it has been treated by at least one treatment medium;
an opposite end; and
at least one sidewall extending from the water end to the opposite end thereby defining an housing interior volume and wherein water can only enter and exit the interior volume from the water end;

a base cartridge having a rigid base cartridge housing wherein the base cartridge is configured to be removably positioned within the housing interior volume by hand without the use of tools and has a first end, a second end, and a first treatment medium spaced within the base cartridge between the first and second ends of the rigid base cartridge;
a first variable cartridge configured to be removably positioned within the housing interior volume by hand without the use of tools and comprising a rigid first variable cartridge housing; an adapter end attached and configured to be removably engaged and disengaged with the second end of the base cartridge by hand without the use of tools by grasping the first variable cartridge and the base cartridge and applying a force, a receiver end, and a second treatment medium spaced within the first variable cartridge between the adapter and receiver ends; and
a water flow channel formed from a space between the housing of the base cartridge and the variable cartridge or cartridges spaced within the interior volume of the housing and extending between the inlet and the opposite end of the exterior housing, wherein the water flow channel is configured to allow water to travel in a closed circuit to and from the inlet through the water flow channel, subsequently through the first treatment medium, subsequently through the second treatment medium, and as fully treated water, out the outlet, and wherein the base cartridge and the first variable cartridge are configured to allow water to flow from the water flow channel into the first variable cartridge and, after contacting the second treatment medium, into the base cartridge and into contact with the first treatment medium.

8. The customizable multi-stage water treatment assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second variable cartridge configured to be removably positioned within the housing interior volume by hand and comprising a rigid second variable cartridge housing, wherein the second variable cartridge includes an adapter end attached and configured to be removably engaged and disengaged with the second end of the first variable cartridge by hand by grasping the first variable cartridge and second variable cartridge and applying a force, a receiver end, and a third treatment medium spaced within the second variable cartridge between the adapter and receiver ends, and wherein the first variable cartridge and the second variable cartridge are configured to allow water to flow from the water flow channel, into the second variable cartridge and into contact with the third treatment medium,

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• C02F2201/004

  Seals, connections · CPC title

• C02F9/00 Primary

  Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage · CPC title

• B01D2201/4015

  Bayonet connecting means · CPC title

• C02F2209/40

  Liquid flow rate · CPC title

• B01D2201/302

  having inlet or outlet ports · CPC title