Filter interconnect utilizing correlated magnetic actuation for downstream system function

Abstract

A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold including a sump and a coded polymagnet located on or connected to a portion of the manifold, and a filter cartridge including a filter media, first and second end caps sealed to the filter media, and a paired coded polymagnet magnet located on or connected to the filter cartridge. The polarity profiles of the paired coded polymagnets are aligned such that a magnetic attraction force, magnetic repulsion force, or combination thereof, is generated therebetween when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump housing and moved to the alignment position, thereby causing the coded polymagnet located on or connected to the manifold to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump to allowing for direct or indirect actuation of downstream system functionality.

Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filter cartridge, comprising:
 a filter media having first and second ends and comprising a body extending between the first and second ends in an axial direction;   first and second end caps sealed to ends of the filter media and extending circumferentially outwards in a radial direction;   an axial stem extending from a top surface of the first end cap and comprising fluid ingress and egress ports in fluid communication with the filter media; and   a coded polymagnet disposed within or connected to the axial stem and having a face oriented parallel to a top surface thereof, the coded polymagnet comprising a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of the plurality of magnetic field emission sources.   
     
     
         2 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the filter cartridge further comprises a sheath or sleeve surrounding the filter media. 
     
     
         3 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the sheath or sleeve is non-pressure bearing. 
     
     
         4 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the sheath or sleeve comprises a polyethylene dry change sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the coded polymagnet comprises an array of coded polymagnets each comprising a plurality of magnetic field emission sources, the array of coded polymagnets arranged in accordance with the predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the plurality of magnetic field emission sources. 
     
     
         6 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  further including a filter boss or lug extending radially from the second end cap, the filter boss or lug adapted for mechanically coupling with an alignment thread or channel of a removable locking cover or an alignment thread or channel of a sump of a mating filter manifold. 
     
     
         7 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the predefined spatial force function is a magnetic repulsion force. 
     
     
         8 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the predefined spatial force function is a magnetic shear force. 
     
     
         9 . A filtration system comprising:
 a filter manifold including:
 a sump; 
 an electronic switch assembly comprising a switch actuable between open and closed positions, the switch assembly axially disposed with respect to the sump; and 
 a coded polymagnet operably coupled to the switch assembly, the coded polymagnet comprising a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of the plurality of magnetic field emission sources; and 
   a filter cartridge including:
 a filter media having first and second ends and comprising a body extending between the first and second ends in an axial direction; 
 first and second end caps sealed to ends of the filter media and extending circumferentially outwards in a radial direction; 
 an axial stem extending from a top surface of the first end cap and comprising fluid ingress and egress ports in fluid communication with the filter media; and 
 a paired coded polymagnet disposed within or connected to the axial stem and having a face oriented parallel to a top surface thereof; 
   wherein the filter cartridge coded polymagnet plurality of magnetic field emission sources are aligned with a plurality of magnetic field emission sources of the filter manifold paired coded polymagnet such that a magnetic field force is generated therebetween when the filter cartridge is inserted within the sump and moved to an alignment position, and   wherein upon axial movement of the filter cartridge into the alignment position, the filter manifold paired coded polymagnet translates with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump as a result of the magnetic field force to contact an actuator to activate the switch.   
     
     
         10 . The filtration system of  claim 9  wherein the filter cartridge second end cap includes a filter boss or lug extending radially therefrom, and the filtration system further comprises a removable locking cover having an alignment thread or channel for receiving the filter boss or lug. 
     
     
         11 . The filtration system of  claim 10  wherein, when the filter boss or lug is received in the alignment thread or channel of the removable locking cover and the filter cartridge is inserted into the sump, the removable locking cover is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge to translate the filter cartridge axially into the alignment position as the filter boss or lug travels within the alignment thread or channel to an end thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The filtration system of  claim 9  wherein the manifold further includes a valve, and wherein activation of the switch actuates the valve to turn on and turn off fluid flow to the filter cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The filtration system of  claim 9  wherein a portion of the sump is disposed between the coded polymagnet of the filter cartridge and the coded polymagnet of the manifold when the filter cartridge is inserted within the sump and moved to the alignment position. 
     
     
         14 . The filtration system of  claim 9  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic repulsion force. 
     
     
         15 . The filtration system of  claim 9  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic shear force. 
     
     
         16 . A method of interconnecting a filter cartridge and filter manifold, comprising:
 inserting the filter cartridge into a sump of the filter manifold, the filter cartridge comprising a filter media having first and second ends and comprising a body extending between the first and second ends in an axial direction, first and second end caps sealed to ends of the filter media and extending circumferentially outwards in a radial direction, an axial stem extending from a top surface of the first end cap and comprising fluid ingress and egress ports in fluid communication with the filter media, and a coded polymagnet disposed within or connected to the axial stem and having a face oriented parallel to a top surface thereof, the coded polymagnet comprising a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of the plurality of magnetic field emission sources;   axially moving the filter cartridge within the sump into an alignment position;   aligning the filter cartridge coded polymagnet plurality of magnetic field emission sources with a plurality of magnetic field emission sources of a paired coded polymagnet such that a magnetic field force is generated therebetween, the paired coded polymagnet operably coupled to a switch assembly proximate the sump; and   causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump as a result of the magnetic field force to contact an actuator to activate a switch of the switch assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a filter boss or lug extending radially from the second end cap of the filter cartridge within an alignment thread or channel of a removable locking cover; and 
 rotating said removable locking cover about a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge to translate the filter cartridge axially into the alignment position as the filter boss or lug travels within the alignment thread or channel to an end thereof. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the manifold further includes a valve, and further including the step of:
 actuating the valve to permit fluid flow to the filter cartridge as a result of activation of the switch. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic repulsion force, and wherein the step of causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump comprises:
 causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sump. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic shear force, and wherein the step of causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump comprises:
 causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the sump. 
 
     
     
         21 . A filter cartridge, comprising:
 a housing having a body and a top portion forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the top portion comprising ingress and egress fluid ports, and an axially-extending protrusion integral with or connected to the housing top portion;   a filter media disposed within the housing body; and   a coded polymagnet disposed within or connected to the housing top portion axially-extending protrusion and having a face presenting radially outwards with respect to the housing body, the coded polymagnet comprising a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of the plurality of magnetic field emission sources.   
     
     
         22 . The filter cartridge of  claim 21  wherein the axially-extending protrusion is radially offset from a center axis of the housing body. 
     
     
         23 . The filter cartridge of  claim 21  further comprising a filter boss or lug extending radially outwards from the housing, the filter boss or lug adapted for mechanically coupling with an alignment thread or channel of a removable locking cover or an alignment thread or channel of a sump of a mating filter manifold. 
     
     
         24 . The filter cartridge of  claim 21  wherein the predefined spatial force function is a magnetic repulsion force. 
     
     
         25 . The filter cartridge of  claim 21  wherein the predefined spatial force function is a magnetic shear force. 
     
     
         26 . A method of interconnecting a filter cartridge and filter manifold, comprising:
 inserting the filter cartridge into a sump of the filter manifold, the filter cartridge comprising a housing having a body and a top portion forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the housing top portion including ingress and egress fluid ports and an axially-extending protrusion integral with or connected to the housing top portion, a filter media disposed within the housing body, and a coded polymagnet disposed within or connected to the housing top portion axially-extending protrusion and having a face oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing body, the coded polymagnet comprising a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of the plurality of magnetic field emission sources;   axially inserting the filter cartridge within the sump into an alignment position;   aligning the coded polymagnet plurality of magnetic field emission sources with a plurality of magnetic field emission sources of a complementary or paired coded polymagnet such that a magnetic field force is generated therebetween, the paired coded polymagnet operably coupled to a switch assembly radially disposed with respect to the sump; and   causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump as a result of the magnetic field force to contact an actuator to activate the switch.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic repulsion force, and wherein the step of causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump comprises:
 causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the sump. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic shear force, and wherein the step of causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump comprises:
 causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the sump. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the magnetic field force is a magnetic shear force, and wherein the step of causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sump comprises:
 causing the paired coded polymagnet to translate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sump. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the filter cartridge ingress and egress fluid ports extend axially upward from the housing top portion and are radially offset from a center axis of the housing body, and the sump includes an alignment thread or channel for mechanically coupling with a rib or fin extending radially outwards from the housing body, and further comprising the steps of:
 aligning the filter cartridge rib or fin with the alignment thread or channel while inserting the filter cartridge within the sump; and 
 causing the filter cartridge rib or fin to travel to an end of the alignment thread or channel while axially inserting the filter cartridge to the alignment position. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the sump includes an alignment thread or channel for mechanically coupling with a filter boss or lug extending radially outwards from the filter cartridge housing, and further comprising the steps of:
 aligning the filter cartridge filter boss or lug with the alignment thread or channel while inserting the filter cartridge within the sump; and 
 rotating the filter cartridge about the longitudinal axis of the housing body to translate the filter cartridge axially into the alignment position as the filter boss or lug travels within the alignment thread or channel to an end thereof 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the manifold further includes a valve for turning on and turning off fluid flow to the filter cartridge, and further comprising the step of:
 actuating the valve to permit fluid flow to the filter cartridge as a result of activation of the switch.