Fluid filtration system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fluid filter system having structure for enabling a filter cartridge to be installed and removed from a manifold with a straight line push/pull motion, a latching mechanism and an innovative water manifold. The latching mechanism provides a compact and simple mechanism between the manifold and the filter cartridge that significantly reduces the installation and removal force previously found with fluid filtration cartridges.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A filter cartridge latching system assembly for use with a filter filtration system, the filter cartridge latching system assembly comprising:
 a mounting bracket assembly;   alignment structure;   a main bracket having at one end connecting structure for interfacing with a manifold assembly and at the other end structure for interfacing with the alignment structure;   a latch assembly;   at least one resilience structure for operating a latch return; and   structure, operatively associated with the alignment structure and mam bracket extension members for aligning a filter cartridge with an inlet assembly operatively positioned in the manifold assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The filter cartridge latching system assembly of  claim 6  wherein the mounting bracket assembly further comprises:
 a mounting bracket having a base portion and an attachment portion operatively connected to a base portion, the base portion including structure for securing the liquid filtration system to other structure, the attachment portion including connecting structure for receiving and operatively connecting a filter cartridge latching system assembly and a manifold assembly to form a fluid filtration system. 
 
     
     
         8 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the main bracket further comprises:
 a main bracket rim having at least two protrusions formed thereon and projecting away from the surface of the main bracket rim and four main bracket extension members projecting in the opposite direction from the other side of the main bracket rim, the main bracket extension members also include structure for assisting the alignment of the filter cartridge with the alignment structure during the insertion of a filter cartridge into the filter cartridge latching system assembly, and a bore formed therein for facilitating the interface of a filter cartridge stem with the inlet assembly along with structure, operatively positioned therein, for interfacing with the connection structure to operatively secure the main bracket to the mounting bracket; 
 a bore for allowing the interface of the filter cartridge stem with the inlet assembly along with structure, operatively positioned therein, for interfacing with the connection structure to operatively secure the main bracket to the mounting bracket; and 
 receiving structure, for operatively connecting the manifold assembly to the mounting bracket assembly, operatively positioned at the top of the main bracket and proximate to the bore. 
 
     
     
         9 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the inside surface of the alignment structure and the bottom surfaces of the main bracket extension members are adapted to operatively interface such that cartridge latching structure must be aligned before the filter cartridge can be properly inserted into the inlet assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the main bracket is permanently attached to the alignment structure. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the main bracket and the alignment structure comprise a unitary component. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the latch assembly further comprises:
 a rim; and 
 at least one set of opposed extension members projecting substantially perpendicular to the rim and being operatively positioned over the main bracket such that the top surface of the main bracket rim and lower surface of a latch assembly rim are in sliding/bearing like contact, two protrusions project from the upper surface of the latch assembly rim for securing the latch assembly biasing structure to corresponding protrusions extending vertically from the top surface of the main bracket rim. 
 
     
     
         13 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the extension members further comprise:
 projection members extending substantially perpendicularly from the inner surface thereof toward the center of a bore formed in the latch assembly rim. 
 
     
     
         14 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the latch assembly rim further comprises:
 at least one set of corresponding structure for interfacing with corresponding structure of the main bracket rim, the interface between the upper surface of the main bracket rim and the lower surface of the latch assembly rim providing a bearing like surface for the limited rotation of the latch assembly relative to the main bracket, thereby facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the filter cartridge from the inlet assembly. 
 
     
     
         15 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein projection members of the at least one set of opposed extension members of the latch assembly are adapted to interface with corresponding cartridge latching structure in order to secure the filter cartridge in proper, nonreleasable, position in the manifold assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting bracket assembly of  claim 7  wherein the thickness of the innermost surface of the ends of at least two of the latch member projection members is greater than the thickness of the latch member projection members at the interface between the two latch member projection members with corresponding structure on the cartridge latching structure on the filter cartridge outer surface prevents the inadvertent disengagement of the filter cartridge stem from the inlet assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The filter cartridge latching system assembly of  claim 6  further comprising:
 means for substantially eliminating the high breakout torque the result of the high compression rates applied to the sealing O-rings and the rotation of these highly compressed O-rings needed to disengage the filter cartridge from the manifold assembly such that no rotation of the highly compressed O-rings is required. 
 
     
     
         18 . The filter cartridge latching system assembly of  claim 6  further comprising:
 means for substantially preventing rotational movement of the highly compressed O-rings and allowing only translation movement of the highly compressed O-rings thereby dramatically reduces the seal breaking force needed to unlatch and remove the filter cartridge from an operative connection with the manifold assembly. 
 
     
     
         19 . The filter cartridge latching system assembly of  claim 6  further comprising:
 means for essentially preventing rotational movement of highly compressed O-rings and allowing substantially only translation movement of the highly compressed O-rings thereby dramatically reducing the seal breaking force needed to unlatch and remove the filter cartridge from an operative connection with the manifold assembly. 
 
     
     
         20 - 27 . (canceled)