초록 ▼

A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. The filter housing has a sump for enclosing the filter media, a filter head, and at least one standoff protruding outwards for use in securing the filter head to a filter manifold. The filter manifold supports

A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. The filter housing has a sump for enclosing the filter media, a filter head, and at least one standoff protruding outwards for use in securing the filter head to a filter manifold. The filter manifold supports the filter housing with a filter locator. A filter guide having a rotator actuating mechanism secures and holds the filter head in place when the filter head is axially inserted. The rotator actuating mechanism has tabs and slots that rotate upon a transverse axial force from the standoff and from tabs on an internal shutoff. The internal shutoff has an inlet extension and an outlet extension with apertures for fluid ingress and egress. The internal shutoff tabs slidably contact and align the rotator actuating mechanism to secure and remove the filter head.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A filter assembly comprising: a filter housing including: a sump for enclosing a filter having a filter media; a filter head having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with said filter media, and at least one standoff located on said filter head housing, said at lea

What is claimed is: 1. A filter assembly comprising: a filter housing including: a sump for enclosing a filter having a filter media; a filter head having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with said filter media, and at least one standoff located on said filter head housing, said at least one standoff protruding outwards from said filter head housing for use in securing said filter head to a filter manifold; said filter manifold comprising: a filter locator having a tray for mounting said filter head and supporting said sump; a filter guide having a rotator actuating mechanism to secure and hold said filter head in place when said filter head is axially inserted within said filter guide, said rotator actuating mechanism having tabs and slots that rotate upon a transverse axial force from said at least one standoff and from tabs on an internal shutoff; said internal shutoff having tabs and an inlet extension and an outlet extension with apertures for fluid ingress and egress, said internal shutoff in fluid communication with said filter head inlet and outlet during filtering operation, said internal shutoff tabs slidably contacting and aligning said rotator actuating mechanism to secure and remove said filter head; and a rear cover having inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication on an internal side with said filter head inlet and outlet, and in fluid communication on an external side with a fluid source. 2. The filter assembly of claim 1 where said internal shutoff includes a plurality of fluid-tight seals about said inlet extension and said outlet extension such that fluid flow from said fluid source is blocked by said plurality of fluid-tight seals on said extensions when said internal shutoff is at least partially removed from said rear cover inlet and outlet ports, and wherein said internal shutoff inlet and outlet extensions are in fluid communication with said filter media when said filter head inlet and outlet are inserted within said internal shutoff inlet and outlet extensions. 3. The filter assembly of claim 1 including a first spring having a first spring constant and in contact with said internal shutoff on a side closest to said fluid source, and a second spring having a second spring constant and in contact with said internal shutoff on a side opposite said first spring, wherein said second spring constant is greater than said first spring constant, such that said first spring compresses and collapses before said second spring when axial force is applied simultaneously to both of said springs. 4. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter comprises an open end cap and a closed end cap, said caps fixably attached to said filter media, said open end cap having an inlet port for unfiltered fluid to enter said filter media and an outlet port for filtered fluid to exit said filter media. 5. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said rotator actuating mechanism comprises a first internal rotator and a second internal rotator. 6. The filter assembly of claim 5 wherein said first internal rotator includes tabs for directing and securing said at least one standoff when said filter head is inserted in said filter guide. 7. The filter assembly of claim 6 wherein said second internal rotator includes tabs and shaped slots therebetween that receive said standoff at least one and rotate said rotator actuating mechanism when transverse axial force is applied by said standoffs to said shaped slots. 8. The filter assembly of claim 3 wherein said internal shutoff compresses said first spring when said filter head is pushed into said filter guide with an axial force against said second spring, said second spring collapsing when said first spring is collapsed and said internal shutoff is in contact with said rear cover, such that said internal shutoff is positioned to permit fluid communication with said filter media when said first spring is collapsed, and is positioned to prevent fluid communication with said fluid source when said first spring is fully extended. 9. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter head further includes track pins shaped to slidably secure to said tray. 10. The filter assembly of claim 4 including a peripheral seal circumferentially seated about said open end cap for sealing with said filter head. 11. The filter assembly of claim 5 wherein said first internal rotator is fixably attached to said second internal rotator, or said first internal rotator and said second internal rotator are formed in a single piece construction. 12. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter media includes material for removing impurities selected from the group comprising microbiological contaminants, dirt, organic acids, and mixtures thereof. 13. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter head comprises: a first hollow cylindrically shaped portion of a first diameter, having an internal end and an external end, said first diameter large enough to mate with, and seal to, said sump; a second hollow cylindrically shaped portion of a second diameter, said second diameter smaller than said first diameter, said second cylindrically shaped portion located off axial center from said first cylindrically shaped portion and having a first end attached to said external end of said first cylindrically shaped portion, and an opposite second end wherein said filter head inlet and outlet extend from said second cylindrically shaped portion; said at least one standoff located on said second cylindrically shaped portion; at least one molded key located on said second cylindrically shaped portion to facilitate guiding said filter head into said filter guide; and track pins located on said first cylindrically shaped portion and shaped to slidably secure said filter head to said tray. 14. A filter housing comprising: a sump for enclosing a filter having filter media; and a filter head having an inlet and an outlet for fluid ingress and egress, attached to said sump with a fluid-tight seal, including: a first hollow cylindrically shaped portion of a first diameter, having an internal end and an external end, said first diameter large enough to mate with, and seal to, said sump; a second hollow cylindrically shaped portion of a second diameter, said second diameter smaller than said first diameter, said second cylindrically shaped portion located off axial center from said first cylindrically shaped portion and having a first end attached to said external end of said first cylindrically shaped portion, and an opposite second end wherein said filter head inlet and outlet extend from said second cylindrically shaped portion; at least one standoff located on said second cylindrically shaped portion; and a plurality of molded keys located on said second cylindrically shaped portion to facilitate guiding said filter head into a compatibly configured filter guide. 15. The filter housing of claim 14 further comprising track pins located on said first cylindrical component and shaped to slidably secure said filter head to a compatibly configured mounting manifold tray. 16. The filter housing of claim 14 further including said filter comprising an end cap and an open cap, said caps fixably secured thereto, said open cap having a peripheral seal for securing a liquid-tight connection to said filter head when said filter is placed within said sump, and said sump is fixably attached to said filter head. 17. The filter housing of claim 14 wherein said opposite end of said second hollow cylindrically shaped portion includes a flat surface to support contact and compression of one or more springs. 18. The filter housing of claim 14 further including circumferential grooves on said filter head inlet and outlet for securing fluid-tight seals when said filter housing is inserted in a compatible filter manifold. 19. The filter housing of claim 18 wherein said seals include o-rings or gaskets. 20. The filter housing of claim 14 wherein said inlet and outlet include apertures at located at each end for fluid ingress and egress. 21. The filter housing of claim 14 wherein said inlet and outlet include apertures located on each side for fluid ingress and egress. 22. The filter housing of claim 14 wherein said inlet and outlet comprise cylindrically shaped structures. 23. A filter assembly comprising: a filter housing including: a sump for enclosing a filter having a filter media, said filter having an end cap and an open cap; a filter head having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the filter media, said filter head being fixably attached to said sump, said inlet and outlet including grooved tracks above and below a slotted aperture, said filter head including: a first hollow cylindrically shaped portion of a first diameter, having an open end and a closed end, said first diameter large enough to mate with, and seal to, said sump; a second hollow cylindrically shaped portion of a second diameter, said second diameter smaller than said first diameter, said second cylindrically shaped portion located off axial center from said first cylindrically shaped portion and having a first end attached to said closed end of said first cylindrically shaped portion, and an opposite second end wherein said filter head inlet and outlet extend from said second cylindrically shaped portion; at least one standoff located on said second cylindrically shaped portion; and a plurality of molded keys located on said second cylindrical component to facilitate guiding said filter head into a compatibly configured filter guide; and a filter manifold including: a filter locator having a tray for mounting said filter head and supporting said sump; a filter guide having a rotator actuating mechanism to secure and hold said filter head in place when said filter head is inserted within said filter guide, said rotator actuating mechanism having tabs and slots that rotate upon a transverse axial force from at least one standoff, said rotator actuating mechanism including: a first internal rotator and a second internal rotator, said first internal rotator includes tabs for directing and securing said at least one standoff when said filter head is inserted in said filter guide, said second internal rotator includes tabs and shaped slots therebetween that receive said at least one standoff and rotate said rotator actuating mechanism when transverse axial force is applied to said shaped slots; a rear cover having inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication on one side with said filter head inlet and outlet, and in fluid communication on an opposite side with a fluid source; and an internal shutoff having an inlet extension and an outlet extension, and associated with the sump and filter head which activates when said filter head is removed from said filter guide, said internal shutoff including: a plurality of fluid-tight seals about said inlet extension and said outlet extension such that fluid flow from a fluid source is blocked by said plurality of fluid-tight seals on said extensions when said internal shutoff is at least partially removed from said rear cover inlet and outlet ports, and wherein said internal shutoff inlet and outlet extensions are in fluid communication with said filter media when said filter head inlet and outlet are inserted within said internal shutoff inlet and outlet extensions; and a first spring having a first spring constant and in contact with said internal shutoff on a side closest to a water source, and a second spring having a second spring constant and in contact with said internal shutoff on a side opposite said first spring, wherein said second spring constant is greater than said first spring constant, such that said first spring compresses and collapses before said second spring when axial force is applied simultaneously to both of said springs. 24. A refrigerator in combination with a filter assembly comprising: an outer cabinet; a refrigeration compartment disposed within said outer cabinet and having a rear wall, a pair of opposing side walls, at least one door disposed opposite said rear wall, a top and a bottom; a freezer compartment disposed in said outer cabinet and adjacent to said refrigeration compartment; a water dispenser disposed in said door and in fluid communication with said filter assembly with automated assembly for changing a sump and filter media from said refrigerator; said filter assembly comprising: a filter housing including: a sump for enclosing a filter having a filter media; a filter head having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with said filter media, and at least one standoff located on said filter head, said at least one standoff protruding outwards from said filter head for use in securing said filter head to a filter manifold; said filter manifold comprising: a filter locator having a tray for mounting said filter head and supporting said sump; a filter guide having a rotator actuating mechanism to secure and hold said filter head in place when said filter head is axially inserted within said filter guide, said rotator actuating mechanism having tabs and slots that rotate upon a transverse axial force from said at least one standoff and from tabs on an internal shutoff; said internal shutoff having tabs and an inlet extension and an outlet extension with apertures for fluid ingress and egress, said internal shutoff in fluid communication with said filter head inlet and outlet during filtering operation, said internal shutoff tabs slidably contacting and aligning said rotator actuating mechanism to secure and remove said filter head; and a rear cover having inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication on an internal side with said filter head inlet and outlet, and in fluid communication on an external side with said water source. 25. The combination according to claim 24 having an ice dispenser disposed in said door and in fluid communication with said filter assembly. 26. The combination according to claim 24 wherein said internal shutoff includes a plurality of fluid-tight seals about said inlet extension and said outlet extension such that fluid flow from said water source is blocked by said plurality of fluid-tight seals on said extensions when said internal shutoff is at least partially removed from said rear cover inlet and outlet ports, and wherein said internal shutoff inlet and outlet extensions are in fluid communication with said filter media when said filter head inlet and outlet are inserted within said internal shutoff inlet and outlet extensions. 27. The combination according to claim 24 including a first spring having a first spring constant and in contact with said internal shutoff on a side closest to said water source, and a second spring having a second spring constant and in contact with said internal shutoff on a side opposite said first spring, wherein said second spring constant is greater than said first spring constant, such that said first spring compresses and collapses before said second spring when axial force is applied simultaneously to both of said springs. 28. The combination according to claim 24 wherein said filter media comprises an open end cap and a closed end cap, said caps fixably attached to said filter media, said open end cap having an inlet port for unfiltered water to enter said filter media and an outlet port for filtered water to exit said filter media. 29. The combination according to claim 24 wherein said rotator actuating mechanism comprises a first internal rotator and a second internal rotator. 30. The combination according to claim 29 wherein said first internal rotator includes tabs for directing and securing said at least one standoff when said filter head is inserted in said filter guide. 31. The combination according to claim 30 wherein said second internal rotator includes tabs and shaped slots therebetween that receive said at least one standoff and rotate said rotator actuating mechanism when transverse axial force is applied by said at least one standoff to said shaped slots. 32. The combination according to claim 27 wherein said internal shutoff compresses said first spring when said filter head is pushed into said filter guide with an axial force against said second spring, said second spring collapsing when said first spring is collapsed and said internal shutoff is in contact with said rear cover, such that said internal shutoff is positioned to permit fluid communication with said filter media when said first spring is collapsed, and is positioned to prevent fluid communication with said water source when said first spring is fully extended. 33. The combination according to claim 24 wherein said filter head further includes track pins shaped to slidably secure to said tray. 34. The combination according to claim 28 including a peripheral seal circumferentially seated about said open end cap for sealing with said filter head. 35. The combination according to claim 29 wherein said first internal rotator is fixably attached to said second internal rotator, or said first internal rotator and said second internal rotator are formed in a single piece construction. 36. The combination according to claim 24 wherein said filter housing is mounted in a compartment in said sidewalls, said rear wall, or said door.