A filtration system for an appliance includes a water source coupled with the appliance to provide an intake water flow. A filter unit is coupled with water source to receive the intake water flow and dispense a filtered water flow. An isolation valve is coupled between the water source and the filt
A filtration system for an appliance includes a water source coupled with the appliance to provide an intake water flow. A filter unit is coupled with water source to receive the intake water flow and dispense a filtered water flow. An isolation valve is coupled between the water source and the filter unit and movable between a first position and a second position. A distribution valve is coupled with an ice maker and a water dispenser of the appliance. The distribution valve receives the filtered water flow when the isolation valve is in the first position, and the distribution valve receives the intake water flow via a bypass line when the isolation valve is in the second position. The isolation valve is configured to move to the second position upon expiration of the service life of the filter unit.
대표청구항▼
1. A filter unit for an appliance, comprising: a body portion having an exterior surface and a hollow interior volume;a filter media portion disposed entirely within the interior volume and having a service life;an inlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volum
1. A filter unit for an appliance, comprising: a body portion having an exterior surface and a hollow interior volume;a filter media portion disposed entirely within the interior volume and having a service life;an inlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the inlet aperture fluidly couples with a first side of the filter media portion to deliver a flow of unfiltered water;an outlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the outlet aperture fluidly couples a second side of the filter media portion to dispense a flow of filtered water; anda flow regulator disposed within the body portion and configured to reduce the flow of filtered water from dispensing from the outlet aperture upon elapsing the service life;wherein the flow regulator includes a dual-port valve disposed proximate the outlet aperture and having a large port, a small port, and a plate blocking the small port and providing flow through the large port and out through the outlet aperture before elapsing the service life of the filter media portion, and wherein the plate is slidable from the small port to block the large port upon elapsing the service life while providing less flow through the small port and out through the outlet aperture; and wherein the large and small ports are in the same plane and perpendicular to the body portion. 2. The filter unit of claim 1, further comprising: an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the plate includes a magnetic material that allows the electromagnet to slidably move the plate from small port to the large port. 3. The filter unit of claim 2, further comprising: a hall sensor positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to determine the position of the plate relative to the small and large ports for determining whether the service life has elapsed. 4. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein the small and large ports separately extend between the outlet aperture and the filter media portion, and wherein the plate slides linearly within a channel extending between an intermediate portion of the small and large ports. 5. The filter unit of claim 4, wherein the large port includes a locking feature that engages the plate when the plate moves to the large port to prevent the plate from moving from the large port to the small port. 6. The filter unit of claim 5, wherein the locking feature includes a resilient element that frictionally engages a surface of the plate to retain the plate in a position blocking the large port. 7. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator includes a sliding valve fluidly coupled between an exterior passage and an interior passage, the sliding valve having a conduit fluidly connecting the inlet and outlet apertures and avoiding the filter media portion, a cavity disposed laterally adjacent to the conduit, and a magnetic plate blocking the unfiltered water from traversing the conduit and slidable into the cavity to allow the unfiltered water flow to bypass the filter media portion. 8. The filter unit of claim 7, further comprising: an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate of the sliding valve, wherein the plate includes a magnetic material that allows the electromagnet to slidably move the plate into the cavity when the service life has elapsed. 9. The filter unit of claim 8, further comprising: a hall sensor positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to sense the position of the plate of the dual-port valve relative to the small and large ports for determining whether the service life has elapsed. 10. A filter unit, comprising: a body portion having an exterior surface and a hollow interior volume;a filter media portion disposed entirely within the interior volume and having a service life;an inlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the inlet aperture fluidly couples with a first side of the filter media portion to deliver a flow of unfiltered water;an outlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the outlet aperture fluidly couples a second side of the filter media portion to dispense a flow of filtered water; anda flow regulator disposed within the interior volume; wherein the flow regulator has a large port, a small port, and a plate blocking the small port and providing flow through the large port and out through the outlet aperture before elapsing the service life of the filter media portion, and wherein the plate is slidable from the small port to block the large port upon elapsing the service life while providing less flow through the small port and out through the outlet aperture; and wherein the large and small ports are in the same plane and perpendicular to the body portion. 11. The filter unit of claim 10, wherein the filter media portion includes a tubular sidewall and an end cap coupled with an first end portion of the tubular sidewall proximate a distal end of the body portion within the interior volume of the body portion, wherein the end cap urges the flow of unfiltered water to traverse laterally through the tubular sidewall. 12. The filter unit of claim 11, wherein the flow regulator is coupled with a second end portion of the tubular sidewall proximate the inlet and outlet apertures on the body portion. 13. The filter unit of claim 10, further comprising: an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the plate includes a magnetic material that allows the electromagnet to slidably move the plate linearly within a channel from small port to the large port. 14. The filter unit of claim 13, further comprising: a hall sensor positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to sense the position of the plate relative to the small and large ports for determining whether the service life has elapsed. 15. The filter unit of claim 10, wherein the large port includes a locking feature that engages the plate when the plate moves to the large port to prevent the plate from moving from the large port to the small port. 16. The filter unit of claim 15, wherein the locking feature includes a resilient element that frictionally engages a surface of the plate to retain the plate in a position blocking the large port. 17. A filter unit, comprising: a cylindrical body portion having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior volume there between, and a central axis extending centrally through the longitudinal extent of the interior volume;a filter media portion disposed within the interior volume and having a service life, the filter media portion having a permeable media wall spaced away from the body portion to define an exterior passage and surrounding the central axis to define an interior passage;an inlet aperture disposed on the proximal end and extending into the interior volume, wherein the inlet aperture fluidly couples with the exterior passage to deliver unfiltered water to the permeable media wall;an outlet aperture disposed on the proximal end and extending into the interior volume, wherein the outlet aperture fluidly couples with the interior passage to dispense filtered water from the permeable media wall; anda flow regulator disposed in fluid connection between the interior passage and the outlet aperture; wherein the flow regulator has a large port, a small port, and a magnetic plate blocking the small port and providing flow through the large port and out through the outlet aperture before elapsing the service life of the filter media portion, and wherein the magnetic plate is linearly slidable from the small port to block the large port upon elapsing the service life while substantially preventing flow through the small port and out through the outlet aperture; and wherein the large and small ports are in the same plane and perpendicular to the body portion. 18. The filter unit of claim 17, further comprising: a filter head assembly of an appliance configured to engage the inlet and outlet apertures, wherein the filter head assembly has an electromagnet positioned to align with the magnetic plate and to slidably move the magnetic plate from the small port to the large port. 19. A filter unit of claim 18, further comprising: a hall sensor positioned on the filter head assembly to align with the magnetic plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to sense the position of the magnetic plate for determining whether the service life has elapsed.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (13)
Brane Earl P. (28200 Thorpe Mtn Dr. Steamboat Springs CO 80477) Brane Douglas K. (521 D St. Clearwater FL 34616), Apparatus for monitoring cumulative flow of fluid through a filter medium.
Koski Kraig J. ; Hunter Brian D. ; Aldred Jeffrey K., Flow totalization, reset, and restriction mechanism for use in indicating the end of a treatment cartridge useful life.
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