Customizable multi-stage water treatment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327216-B2
Application number	US-201213674276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2012
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 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 water treatment system comprising:
a base cartridge having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends and surrounding a base interior volume, wherein a base treatment medium is spaced within the base interior volume;
a first variable cartridge configured to be removably engaged by hand with the base cartridge without the use of tools, wherein the first variable cartridge includes a first coupler end engaged with the second end of the base cartridge, a first receiver end, and a first wall extending between the first coupler and first receiver ends and surrounding a first interior volume, and wherein a first treatment medium is spaced within the first interior volume;
an second variable cartridge configured to be removably engaged by hand with the first variable cartridge without the use of tools, wherein the second variable cartridge includes a second coupler end engaged with the first receiver end of the first variable cartridge, a second receiver end, and a second wall extending between the second coupler and second receiver ends and surrounding a second interior volume, wherein a second treatment medium is spaced within the second interior volume;
a connector coupled with the first end of the base cartridge and having an inlet for receiving an intake water from a water source and an outlet for dispensing a treated water to a user, wherein the connector is devoid of treatment medium, and wherein the base, first variable, and second variable cartridges together are configured to receive the intake water, to bring the intake water into operative contact with the base, first, and second treatment mediums, and to change the intake water to the treated water;
a keyed mating arrangement that is disposed on the connector, the base cartridge, first variable cartridge, and second variable cartridge and is configured to prohibit the base cartridge from matingly engaging in a fluid tight manner with the second variable cartridge and prohibit the connector from matingly engaging in a fluid tight manner with the first and second variable cartridges; and
a channel positioned within and extending between the connector and the second variable cartridge and also within the sidewall of the base cartridge, the first wall of the first variable cartridge, and the second wall of the second variable cartridge, wherein the channel is configured to transport water between the inlet of the connector and the second treatment medium of the second variable cartridge, and wherein a closed circuit for fluid travel is defined consecutively by the connector, the channel, the second treatment medium, the first treatment medium, the base treatment medium, and the connector.

2. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the keyed mating arrangement includes at least one recess and at least one protrusion configured to matingly correspondingly engage the at least one recess, and wherein the keyed mating arrangement is configured to permit the connector to matingly engage in a fluid tight manner with the first end of the base cartridge, to permit the second end of the base cartridge to matingly engage in a fluid tight manner with the first connector end of the first variable cartridge, and to permit the first receiver end of the first variable cartridge to matingly engage in a fluid tight manner with the second connector end of the second variable cartridge.

3. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the keyed mating arrangement includes a first keyed mating arrangement between the connector and the base cartridge and a second keyed mating arrangement between the base cartridge and the first variable cartridge, and wherein the first and second keyed mating arrangements are configured to prevent the connector from directly engaging the first variable cartridge and to prevent the first end of the base cartridge from engaging the first coupler end of the first variable cartridge and to prevent the second end of the base cartridge from engaging the connector.

4. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 3 , wherein the keyed mating arrangement further includes a third keyed mating arrangement between the first variable cartridge and the second variable cartridge, and wherein the second and third keyed mating arrangements are configured to prevent the base cartridge from directly engaging the second variable cartridge and to prevent the first coupler end of the first variable cartridge from engaging the second connector end of the second variable cartridge and the first receiver end of the first variable cartridge from engaging the second receiver end of the second receiver cartridge.

5. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the connector is integral with the base cartridge.

6. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to be removably and fluidly engaged and disengaged with the first end of the base cartridge bottom by hand, and wherein the second variable cartridge is included in the water treatment system.

7. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises:
a base segment extending within the sidewall of the base cartridge between the first end and the second end;
a first segment extending within the first wall of the first variable cartridge between the first coupler end and the first receiver end; and
a second segment extending within the second wall of the second variable cartridge between the second coupler end and the second receiver end, wherein the base segment, the first segment, the second segment of the channel are substantially aligned to permit fluid to travel there between when the base, the first, and second variable cartridges are engaged with one another.

8. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 7 , wherein the second segment is configured to regulate the rate at which fluid travels through the channel extending through the second variable cartridge, thereby regulating the rate at which fluid travels through the closed circuit and the second treatment medium, and wherein the second segment is configured to correlate with a desired water flow rate for the second treatment medium.

9. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 7 , wherein the base segment and the first segment of the channel are configured to regulate the rate at which fluid travels through the channel extending through the respective base cartridge and first variable cartridge and configured to regulate a residence time the water is in contact with the base, first and second treatment medium, thereby also regulate the rate at which fluid travels through the closed circuit.

10. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a cylindrical shape with a diameter, and wherein the diameter is configured to reduce the rate at which the intake water flows through the channel, thereby reducing the rate at which fluid travels through the closed circuit.

11. The customizable multi-stage water treatment system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cap removably engaged with the second receiver end of the second variable cartridge and enclosing a sealed housing defined by at least the cap, a second wall of second variable cartridge, the first wall of the first variable cartridge, the sidewall of the base cartridge, and the connector, wherein the sealed filter housing is configured to removably engage a filter head assembly of an appliance.

12. The customizable mult

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• C02F2201/006

  Cartridges · CPC title

• C02F2103/026

  Treating water for medical or cosmetic purposes · CPC title

• B01D27/14

  having more than one filtering element · CPC title

• C02F5/105

  combined with inorganic substances · CPC title

• B01D35/30

  Filter housing constructions · CPC title