Latch reset filter unit

Abstract

A filter unit that includes a slide assembly and a head assembly. The slide assembly is moveably mounted to the head assembly. The head assembly is configured to receive an end portion of a filter cartridge in releasable engagement. The slide assembly is movable between a first position in which the slide assembly prevents disengagement of the filter cartridge from the head assembly, and a second position in which the filter cartridge is permitted to disengage from the head assembly. In the second position, the slide assembly maintains engagement with the head assembly until an external force is applied by engagement of the filter cartridge with the slide assembly when removing the filter cartridge from the head assembly.

1 . A filter unit, comprising:
 a slide assembly, the slide assembly including a first latching member; and   a head assembly, the head assembly including a latch recess and a second latching member, the head assembly configured to receive a filter cartridge in releasable engagement, the latch recess configured to receive at least a portion of the slide assembly, and the second latching member configured to releaseably engage the first latching member;   wherein the slide assembly is movable by translational and rotational movement between a latched position in which the first and second latching members are engaged and the filter cartridge is permitted to rotate relative to the head assembly, and a unlatched position wherein the first and second latching members are disengaged and the slide assembly engages the filter cartridge to limit rotational movement of the filter cartridge relative to the head assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The filter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the slide assembly further includes a reset member, the reset member arranged and configured to engage a reset protrusion during rotation of the filter cartridge when the slide assembly is in the latched position, wherein engagement of the reset member with the reset protrusion disengages the first and second latching members. 
     
     
         3 . The filter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the slide assembly further includes a spring, the spring being arranged to bias the slide assembly into the unlatched position. 
     
     
         4 . The filter unit of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is configured to bias the first and second latching members into engagement with each other when the slide assembly is in the latched position. 
     
     
         5 . The filter unit of  claim 3 , wherein the slide assembly is movable with translational movement along a first axis, and the spring is arranged at an angle relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The filter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first latching member is a recess and the second latching member is a protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The filter unit of  claim 2 , wherein reset member is a protrusion. 
     
     
         8 . The filter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the head assembly includes a collar assembly, and the slide assembly is operatively mounted to the collar assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The filter unit of  claim 2 , wherein the reset protrusion is positioned on the filter cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . A filter unit, comprising:
 a filter cartridge;   a head assembly including a first latching member;   a slide assembly including a second latching member, the filter cartridge being releaseably mounted to the head assembly, the slide assembly being configured to move between a first position in which the filter cartridge is held in a fixed axial and rotational position relative to the head assembly, and a second position in which the filter cartridge is moveable axially and rotationally relative to the head assembly, the slide assembly being configured to maintain the second position by engagement of the first and second latching members until the slide assembly engages the filter cartridge at a predetermined rotated position of the filter cartridge relative to the head assembly to disengage the first and second latching members prior to removing the filter cartridge from engagement with the head assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The filter unit of  claim 10 , wherein the slide assembly further includes a reset member, the third latching member being arranged and configured to engage the filter cartridge at the predetermined rotated position. 
     
     
         12 . The filter unit of  claim 10 , wherein the slide assembly further includes a spring, the spring being arranged to bias the slide assembly into the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The filter unit of  claim 10 , wherein the slide assembly further includes a spring, and the spring is configured to bias the first and second latching members into engagement with each other when the slide assembly is in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The filter unit of  claim 10 , wherein the first latching member is a recess and the second latching member is a protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The filter unit of  claim 11 , wherein reset member is a protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The filter unit of  claim 15 , wherein the filter cartridge includes a reset protrusion configured to engage the reset member at the predetermined rotated position. 
     
     
         17 . A method of detaching a filter cartridge from a filter cartridge head assembly, the head assembly including a slide assembly, the slide assembly being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the filter cartridge including a stop member and a reset protrusion, the method comprising:
 moving the slide assembly from the unlatched position wherein the slide assembly engages the stop member to restrict rotation of the filter cartridge relative to the head assembly, into the latched position in which the slide assembly is disengaged from the stop member to permit rotation of the filter cartridge relative to the head assembly;   engaging a first latching member of the slide assembly with a second latching member of the head assembly to retain the slide assembly in the latched position; and   rotating the filter cartridge in a release direction relative to the head assembly until the reset protrusion engages the slide assembly to disengage the first and second latching members to permit movement of the slide assembly from the latched position to the unlatched position; and   further rotating the filter cartridge in the release direction until the filter cartridge is removed from the head assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the slide assembly between the unlatched and latched positions requires translational and rotational movement. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the filter cartridge rotates about a first axis in the release direction, and the slide assembly moves along a second axis between the latched and unlatched positions, the first axis and the second axis being arranged non-parallel with each other. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first latching member is one of a recess and a protrusion, and the second latching member is the other of the recess and the protrusion, and engaging the first and second latching members includes inserting the protrusion into the recess. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein moving the protrusion out of the recess via rotational movement of the slide assembly relative to the head assembly permits translational movement of the slide assembly relative to the head assembly.