Hot disconnect replaceable water filter assembly

Abstract

A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter assembly includes a manifold assembly being fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and having a filtered water outlet and having a helical manifold mounting means. A cartridge has a cartridge top member for mating with the manifold assembly and has a fluid inlet, the inlet being fluidly communicable with the manifold assembly inlet and further having a sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from a non-wetted manifold assembly portion and having a cartridge coupler fluid outlet, the outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter cartridge outlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold coupler outlet and further having second sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from an outlet flow of filtered water from the filter cartridge and having helical cartridge mounting means for cooperatively engaging the helical manifold mounting means.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter assembly comprising: 
 a manifold assembly being fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and having a filtered water outlet and having a helical manifold mounting means; and    a cartridge having a cartridge top member for mating with the manifold assembly and having a fluid inlet, said inlet being fluidly communicable with the manifold assembly inlet and further having a sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from a non-wetted manifold assembly portion and having a cartridge coupler fluid outlet, said outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter cartridge outlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold coupler outlet and further having second sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from an outlet flow of filtered water from the filter cartridge and having helical cartridge mounting means for cooperatively engaging the helical manifold mounting means.    
     
     
         2 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mating of the manifold assembly to the cartridge top member is via helical tabs comprising the helical manifold mounting means and the helical cartridge mounting means, respectively.  
     
     
         3 . The filter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the helical tabs impart a longitudinal displacement to said cartridge top member relative to the manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational motion is applied to the filter cartridge.  
     
     
         4 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly further includes at least one locking mechanism, whereby the manifold assembly and cartridge top member are locked in place and resist unlocking rotation due to normal operating conditions but will release upon a specified pressure condition.  
     
     
         5 . The filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism is located on helical tabs.  
     
     
         6 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , including a locking mechanism having protrusions on a first set of helical tabs that mate with cooperative depressions defined on a second set of helical tabs.  
     
     
         7 . The filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism disengages at a pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         8 . The filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism disengages at a pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         9 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly further includes alignment markers indicating engagement of a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge top member further includes venting means, whereby the cartridge is vented to ambient during disengagement of the cartridge assembly from the manifold assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the venting means is comprised of venting ports sealable by engagement of the cartridge assembly with the manifold assembly.  
     
     
         12 . In a filter assembly, a method of disengaging a cartridge assembly from a manifold assembly, comprising: 
 rotating the cartridge assembly relative to the manifold assembly; and    said rotation acting in sequence for,    closing a valve on a fluid inlet;    breaking at least one sealing engagement between the cartridge assembly and the manifold assembly;    venting residual pressure existing in the cartridge assembly; and    disengaging the manifold assembly from the cartridge assembly.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  including coupling the cartridge assembly to the manifold assembly by helical engagement means.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  including imparting longitudinal displacement of the cartridge assembly relative to the manifold assembly by rotating the cartridge assembly relative to the manifold assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  including locking the manifold assembly and cartridge assembly in place by one or more locking mechanisms.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , including commencing disengagement at a pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , including commencing disengagement at a pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , including indicating engagement of a locking mechanism by alignment markers.  
     
     
         19 . A filter cartridge for use with a filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter cartridge comprising: 
 a cartridge housing having a cartridge top member for mating with a manifold assembly and having a fluid inlet, said inlet being fluidly communicable with a manifold assembly inlet and further having a sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water from a non-wetted manifold assembly portion and having a cartridge coupler fluid outlet, said outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter cartridge outlet and being in fluid communication with a manifold coupler outlet and further having second sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water from an outlet flow of filtered water from the cartridge housing and having helical cartridge mounting means being cooperatively engagable with helical manifold mounting means.    
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the mating of the manifold assembly to the cartridge top member is via helical tabs comprising the helical cartridge mounting means.  
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 20 , wherein the helical tabs impart a longitudinal displacement to said cartridge relative to the manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational motion is applied to the cartridge top member.  
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the cartridge top member further includes at least one locking mechanism, whereby the filter cartridge top member is lockable in place with respect to the manifold assembly, the locking mechanism resisting unlocking rotation due to normal operating conditions and is releasable upon a specified pressure condition in the cartridge housing.  
     
     
         23 . The cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein a first portion of the locking mechanism is located on helical tabs.  
     
     
         24 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , including a first portion of a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having protrusions that are matable with cooperative depressions.  
     
     
         25 . The cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein the locking mechanism when engaged, disengages at a pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch gauge in the cartridge housing.  
     
     
         26 . The cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein the locking mechanism when engaged, disengages at a pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge in the cartridge housing.  
     
     
         27 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the cartridge top member further includes an alignment marker indicating engagement of a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         28 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the cartridge top member further includes venting means, whereby pressure in the cartridge is vented to ambient during disengagement from the manifold assembly.  
     
     
         29 . The cartridge of  claim 28 , wherein the venting means is comprised of venting ports opened during rotational disengagement of the cartridge from the manifold.  
     
     
         30 . An adapter for use with a filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the adapter comprising: 
 an adapter body having mating means being matable to a manifold assembly and being fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and having an unfiltered water outlet being fluidly couplable to a filter cartridge, a filtered water inlet fluidly couplable to the filter cartridge and a filtered water outlet fluidly couplable to the manifold assembly and having a helical manifold mounting means; and    means for sealingly mating to a filter cartridge.    
     
     
         31 . The adapter of  claim 30 , wherein the mating of the manifold assembly to the adapter is via helical tabs disposed on the adapter body comprising the helical manifold mounting means.  
     
     
         32 . The adapter of  claim 31 , wherein the helical tabs impart a longitudinal displacement to the adapter body relative to the manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational motion is applied to the adapter body.  
     
     
         33 . The adapter of  claim 30 , wherein the adapter body further includes at least one locking mechanism, whereby the manifold assembly and the adapter body are lockable in place and resist unlocking rotation due to normal operating conditions but are releasable upon a specified pressure condition.  
     
     
         34 . The adapter of  claim 31 , wherein a locking mechanism is located on mating helical tabs.  
     
     
         35 . The adapter of  claim 30 , including a portion of a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having protrusions on a first set of helical tabs that are matable with cooperative depressions defined on a second set of helical tabs.  
     
     
         36 . The adapter of  claim 33 , wherein the locking mechanism disengages at a cartridge pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         37 . The adapter of  claim 33 , wherein the locking mechanism disengages at a cartridge pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         38 . The adapter of  claim 30 , wherein the adapter body further includes alignment markers indicating engagement of a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         39 . The adapter of  claim 30 , wherein the adapter body further includes venting means, whereby pressure in an engaged cartridge is vented to ambient during disengagement of the adapter body from the manifold assembly.  
     
     
         40 . The adapter of  claim 39 , wherein the venting means is comprised of venting ports.  
     
     
         41 . A manifold assembly for use in a filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the manifold assembly having a manifold body being fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and having a filtered water outlet and having a helical manifold mounting means.  
     
     
         42 . The manifold assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the mating of the manifold assembly to a filter cartridge is via helical tabs comprising the helical manifold mounting means.  
     
     
         43 . The manifold assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the helical tabs impart a longitudinal displacement to the filter cartridge relative to the manifold assembly when engaging/disengaging rotational motion is applied to the cartridge.  
     
     
         44 . The manifold assembly of  claim 41 , further including at least one locking mechanism, whereby the manifold body and a filter cartridge are lockable in place and resist unlocking rotation due to normal operating conditions but are releasable upon a specified pressure condition.  
     
     
         45 . The manifold assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the locking mechanism is located on helical tabs.  
     
     
         46 . The manifold assembly of  claim 41 , including a first portion of a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having protrusions that mate with cooperative depressions.  
     
     
         47 . The manifold assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the locking mechanism disengages at a cartridge pressure greater than 200 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         48 . The manifold assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the locking mechanism disengages at a cartridge pressure between 200 lbs. per square inch gauge and 500 lbs. per square inch gauge.  
     
     
         49 . The manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold body further includes alignment markers indicating engagement of a locking mechanism.