Filter interconnect using a magnetic shear force

Abstract

An interconnection scheme between a filter cartridge and its corresponding manifold whereby a magnetic shear force is introduced to remove a blocking mechanism that would otherwise prohibit attachment

Description

wherein said first magnetic structure includes a magnet having N multiple magnetic field emission sources, where N > 1, having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of said magnetic field emission sources. 2. The filter cartridge of clause 1 wherein said first magnetic structure is provided within a tab extending in an axial direction from said annular collar above said top rim. 3. The filter cartridge of clause 1 wherein said magnetic field emission sources of said first magnetic structure are formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to a complementary second magnetic structure. 4. The filter cartridge of clause 1 wherein said securing lugs or threads extend radially outwards from said annular collar outside wall. 5. A filtration system comprising: a filter manifold having ingress and egress fluid ports, and an aperture for receiving a filter cartridge, said filter manifold including a movable blocking mechanism having a first magnetic structure therein or secured thereto, said blocking mechanism movably responsive in a first direction to a magnetic field shear force generated when a complementary second magnetic structure is moved in a second direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction and positioned in close proximity to said first magnetic structure; said filter cartridge including: a housing or sump having a top surface, an axial or longitudinal length, and an internal cavity; an ingress port and an egress port in fluid communication with said internal cavity and said manifold ingress and egress fluid ports when said filter cartridge is connected to said manifold; an annular collar circumferentially located about said housing top surface, and having a top rim, an inside wall, and an outside wall, said annular collar including: securing lugs or threads extending from said annular collar; and said complementary second magnetic structure located on or within said annular collar and having a radially outwardly facing surface that extends no further than said annular collar wall or at least no further than a radial extension of said securing lugs or threads; wherein, upon attachment of said filter cartridge to said filter manifold, said first and second magnetic structures are brought together in said first direction within close proximity to one another such that said magnetic shear force is generated, which moves said blocking mechanism in said first direction, allow said securing lugs or threads to continue moving in said second direction to complete attachment of said filter cartridge to said filter manifold. 6. The filtration system of clause 5, wherein said first and second magnetic structures each includes a magnet having 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 said magnetic field emission sources. 7. The filtration system of clause 5 wherein said second magnetic structure is provided within a tab extending in an axial direction from said annular collar top rim. 8. The filtration system of clause 5 wherein said magnetic field emission sources of said first magnetic structure are formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to said second magnetic structure. 9. The filtration system of clause 5 wherein said filter cartridge is rotatably received by said filter manifold. 10. A filter manifold having ingress and egress fluid ports, and an aperture for receiving a filter cartridge, said filter manifold including a movable blocking mechanism having a first magnetic structure therein, said blocking mechanism movably responsive in a first direction to a magnetic field shear force, said magnetic shear force being generated when a complementary second magnetic structure is moved in a second direction different than said first direction and positioned in close proximity to said first magnetic structure, said first magnetic structure including a magnet having 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 said magnetic field emission sources. 11. A filter cartridge comprising: a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media therein, and a top surface; an axially centered stem extending from said top surface having an ingress and egress port in fluid communication with said internal cavity; attachment lugs extending from said housing; a magnetic structure located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said magnetic structure includes a correlated magnet. 12. The filter cartridge of clause 11 wherein said correlated magnet includes a set of predefined tracks of magnetic sources printed onto a magnetizable material. 13. The filter cartridge of clause 11 wherein said correlated magnet includes 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 said magnetic field emission sources. 14. The filter cartridge of clause 11 wherein said magnetic structure is located a predetermined distance from an axial center of said top surface. 15. The filter cartridge of clause 13 wherein said magnetic field emission sources of a first magnetic structure are formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to a complementary second magnetic structure. 16. The filter cartridge of clause 11 wherein said attachment lugs include an axially extended portion, extending upwards from said filter cartridge top surface, and a radially extended portion, extending perpendicular to said axially extending portion above said filter cartridge top surface. 17. A filter manifold configured to receive a filter cartridge, said filter manifold comprising: a manifold housing including a top surface, a receiving aperture for receiving a filter cartridge, and an axially centered protrusion extending axially from said top surface having a slot or aperture therein; a locking member retention structure or holder extending radially outwards from said axially center protrusion; a locking member having a bottom surface and an extended protrusion, said locking member insertable within, and in slidable communication with, said locking member retention structure or holder; and a correlated magnet located on or within said bottom surface of said locking member. 18. The filter manifold of clause 17 including a valve assembly having a base and received by said axially centered protrusion. 19.    The filter manifold of clause 18 wherein said valve assembly includes ingress and egress ports, and a notch in said base, wherein said notch is configured to be placed over said locking member retention when said valve assembly is situated on said axially centered protrusion. 20. The filter manifold of clause 17 wherein said locking member extended protrusion is slidably insertable within said slot. 21. The filter manifold of clause 17 where said locking member includes a resilient component to provide a resilient force against said locking member, pushing said locking member radially inwards towards said axially centered protrusion. 22. The filter manifold of clause 17 including opposing arcuate slots through said top surface, each arcuate slot having a larger opening at one end for receiving an attachment lug of a filter cartridge. 23. A filtration system comprising: a filter cartridge comprising: a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media, and a housing top surface; an axially centered stem extending from said top surface having an ingress and egress port in fluid communication with said internal cavity filter media; attachment lugs extending from said housing top surface; a magnetic structure located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said magnetic structure includes a first correlated magnet; a filter manifold configured to receive said filter cartridge, said filter manifold comprising: a manifold housing having a manifold housing top surface, a receiving aperture for receiving said filter cartridge, and including an axially centered protrusion having a slot or aperture extending from said manifold housing top surface; opposing arcuate slots through said manifold housing top surface, each arcuate slot having a larger opening at one end for receiving said attachment lugs of said filter cartridge; a valve assembly having a base and received by said axially centered protrusion; a locking member retention structure or holder extending radially outwards from said axially center protrusion; a locking member having a bottom surface and an extended protrusion at one end, said locking member insertable within, and in slidable communication with, said locking member retention structure or holder, said locking member including a resilient component on an end opposite said extended protrusion to provide a resilient force against said locking member, pushing said locking member radially inwards towards said slot of said axially centered protrusion; and a second correlated magnet located on said bottom surface of said locking member. 24. The filtration system of clause 23 wherein said valve assembly includes ingress and egress ports, and a notch in said base, wherein said notch is configured to be placed over said locking member retention when said valve assembly is situated on said axially centered protrusion. 25. The filtration system of clause 23 wherein said locking member extended protrusion is slidably removed from said slot by a magnetic shear force, and against a resilient axially inwards force of said resilient component, when said filter cartridge is inserted with said filter manifold, allowing said filter cartridge to rotate with respect to said manifold housing. 26. The filtration system of clause 23 wherein said first correlated magnet includes magnetic field emission sources formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to said second correlated magnet. 27. A method of interconnecting a filter cartridge to a receiving manifold comprising: introducing said filter cartridge having a first magnetic structure, wherein the magnetic structure includes a first set of predefined tracks of magnetic sources magnetically printed into a first magnetizable material; introducing said receiving manifold, configured to receive said filter cartridge, the manifold having a complementary second magnetic structure comprising a second set of predefined tracks of magnetic sources magnetically printed into a second magnetizable material; inserting said filter cartridge into a receiving portion of said manifold; moving said filter cartridge and said manifold in close proximity to one another by moving them closer together in a first direction, such that the first and second magnetic structures are placed in close proximity generating a magnetic shear force in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; utilizing said magnetic shear force to displace a blocking component and / or activate a valve or switch; and if displacing a blocking component, continue moving said filter cartridge in said first direction until said filter cartridge is completely installed in said manifold. 28. The method of clause 27 including reversing said filter cartridge in a direction opposite the first direction to remove the magnetic shear force upon removal and separation of the first magnetic structure from the second magnetic structure, thus reintroducing the blocking mechanism and / or deactivating the valve or switch. 29. A filtration system comprising: a filter cartridge comprising: a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media and a housing top surface; a filter cartridge ingress and egress port, each in fluid communication with said internal cavity filter media; a magnetic structure located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said magnetic structure includes a first correlated magnet; a filter manifold configured to receive said filter cartridge, said filter manifold comprising: a manifold housing having a manifold housing top surface, and manifold ingress and egress ports having an interconnecting fluid channel; a bypass valve assembly including: a movable shear magnet holder having a base portion with a second correlated magnet, and an extended projection or lever arm extending from said base portion, said lever arm having an arcuate surface at one end; a valve segment or rod having a hollow passage traversing therethrough and an angled surface that interfaces with said arcuate surface of said lever arm to form a camming function upon movement of said shear magnet holder, such that prior to said filter cartridge being brought into close proximity of said manifold, said hollow passage aligns with said interconnecting fluid channel and allows water to flow from said manifold ingress port to said manifold egress port; a resilient member acting on said valve segment or rod applying a force to said valve segment in a direction opposite said manifold housing top surface; wherein said first and second correlated magnets generate a magnetic shearing force when said filter cartridge first correlated magnet is moved in a first direction in close proximity of said manifold second correlated magnet, such that said movable shear magnet holder moves in a direction perpendicular to said first direction, thereby initiating said camming function between said valve segment angled surface and said lever arm arcuate surface to move said valve segment against said resilient member force, and thus moving said hollow passage away from said interconnecting fluid channel, and redirecting fluid flow through said filter cartridge. 30. The filtration system of clause 29 wherein said first correlated magnet includes magnetic field emission sources formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to said second correlated magnet. a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media and a housing top surface; a filter cartridge ingress and egress port, each in fluid communication with said internal cavity filter media; and a magnetic structure located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said 5           magnetic structure includes a correlated magnet, said magnetic structure having a first correlated magnet with magnetic field emission sources formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to a second correlated magnet on a filter manifold, said magnetic structure extending in an axial direction above said housing top surface. 10

[0075] Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is:

Claims

1. A filter cartridge (40) comprising:a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media therein, and a top surface;an axially centered stem (42) extending from said top surface having an ingress and egress port in fluid communication with said internal cavity;attachment lugs (48) positioned on or extending from said housing top surface, said attachment lugs diametrically opposed on said housing top surface;a magnetic structure (44) located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said magnetic structure includes a correlated magnet.

2. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said correlated magnet includes 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 said magnetic field emission sources.

3. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said magnetic structure (44) is radially located a predetermined distance from an axial center (46) of said top surface.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 2 wherein said magnetic field emission sources of said first magnetic structure (44) are formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to a complementary second magnetic structure (62) of a mating filter manifold (50).

5. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said attachment lugs (48) include an axially extendedportion, extending upwards from said filter cartridge top surface, and a radially extended portion, extending perpendicular to said axially extending portion above said filter cartridge top surface.

6. A filter manifold (50) configured to receive a filter cartridge, said filter manifold comprising:02 09 24a manifold housing including a top surface, a receiving aperture for receiving a filter cartridge, and an axially centered protrusion (54) extending axially from said top surface and having a slot or aperture therein;opposing arcuate slots (53) through said housing top surface, each arcuate slot having a larger opening at one end for receiving an attachment lug (48) of said filter cartridge;a locking member retention structure or holder (52) extending radially outwards from said axially centered protrusion;a locking member (60) having a bottom surface and an extended protrusion (70), said locking member insertable within, and in slidable communication with, said locking member retention structure or holder (52), said locking member including a resilient component (64) on an end opposite said extended protrusion (70) to provide a resilient force against said locking member, pushing said locking member radially inwards towards said slot of said axially centered protrusion (54); anda correlated magnet (62) located on or within said bottom surface of said locking member.

7. The filter manifold of claim 6 including a valve assembly (72) having a base and received by said axially centered protrusion.

8. The filter manifold of claim 7 wherein said valve assembly (72) includes ingress and egress ports (74a, 74b), and a notch (76) in said base, wherein said notch is configured to be placed over said locking member retention (52) when said valve assembly is situated on said axially centered protrusion.

9. The filter manifold of claim 6 wherein said locking member extended protrusion (70) is slidably insertable within said slot.

10. A filtration system comprising:a filter cartridge (40) comprising:a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media, and a housing top surface;an axially centered stem (42) extending from said top surface having an ingress and egress port in fluid communication with said internal cavity filter media;02 09 24attachment lugs (48) positioned on or extending from said housing top surface, said attachment lugs diametrically opposed on said housing top surface;a magnetic structure (44) located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said magnetic structure includes a first correlated magnet;a filter manifold (50) configured to receive said filter cartridge, said filter manifold comprising:a manifold housing having a manifold housing top surface, a receiving aperture for receiving said filter cartridge, and including an axially centered protrusion (54) having a slot or aperture extending from said manifold housing top surface;opposing arcuate slots (53) through said manifold housing top surface, each arcuate slot having a larger opening at one end for receiving said attachment lugs (48) of said filter cartridge (40);a locking member retention structure or holder (52) extending radially outwards from said axially center protrusion;a locking member (60) having a bottom surface and an extended protrusion (70) at one end, said locking member insertable within, and in slidable communication with, said locking member retention structure or holder (52), said locking member including a resilient component (64) on an end opposite said extended protrusion (70) to provide a resilient force against said locking member, pushing said locking member radially inwards towards said slot of said axially centered protrusion; anda complementary or paired correlated magnet (62) located on said bottom surface of said locking member (60).

11. The filtration system of claim 10 further including a valve assembly (72) having a base andreceived by said axially centered protrusion (54)12. The filtration system of claim 11 wherein said valve assembly (72) includes ingress and egress ports (74a, 74b), and a notch (76) in said base, wherein said notch is configured to be placed over said locking member retention (52) when said valve assembly is situated on said axially centered protrusion (54).02 09 2413. The filtration system of claim 10 wherein said locking member extended protrusion (70) is slidably removed from said slot by a magnetic shear force, and against a resilient axially inwards force of said resilient component (64), when said filter cartridge (40) is inserted with said filter manifold (50), allowing said filter cartridge to rotate with respect to said manifold housing.

14. The filtration system of claim 10 wherein said correlated magnet of said filter cartridge includes magnetic field emission sources formed in a predetermined fashion to provide a magnetic shear force when brought in close proximity to said correlated magnet of said filter manifold.

15. A method of interconnecting a filter cartridge to a receiving manifold comprising:introducing said filter cartridge (40) comprising a housing or sump having an internal cavity with filter media therein, and a top surface, an axially centered stem (42) extending from said top surface having an ingress and egress port in fluid communication with said internal cavity, attachment lugs (48) positioned on or extending from said housing and diametrically opposed on said housing top surface, and a magnetic structure (44) located on or in close proximity to said top surface, wherein said magnetic structure includes a correlated magnet having 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 said magnetic field emission sources;introducing said receiving manifold (50), configured to receive said filter cartridge (40), said manifold comprising an axially centered protrusion (54) extending axially from said top surface having a slot or aperture therein, opposing arcuate slots (53) through a top surface of said manifold, each arcuate slot having a larger opening at one end for receiving said attachment lugs (48) of said filter cartridge (40), a locking member retention structure or holder (52) extending radially outwards from said axially centered protrusion, a locking member (60) having a bottom surface and an extended protrusion (70), said locking member including a resilient component (64) on an end opposite said extended protrusion (70) to provide a resilient force against said locking member, pushing said locking member radially inwards towards said slot of said axially centered protrusion (54), said locking member insertable within, and in slidable communication02 09 24with, said locking member retention structure or holder (52); and a complementary or paired correlated magnet (62) located on or within said bottom surface of said locking member;inserting said filter cartridge (40) into a receiving portion of said manifold (50) by receiving said opposing attachment lugs (48) of said filter cartridge in said arcuate slots (53);moving said filter cartridge (40) and said manifold (50) in close proximity to one another by moving them closer together in a first direction, such that the magnetic structures (44, 62) of the filter cartridge and manifold are placed in close proximity, generating a magnetic shear force therebetween in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;utilizing said magnetic shear force to displace said locking member (60) in said second direction; andcontinuing moving said filter cartridge (40) in said first direction until said filter cartridge is completely installed in said manifold (50).

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said first direction is a rotational direction about said manifold axially centered protrusion (54) and said second direction is radially outwards from said manifold axially centered protrusion (54).

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of utilizing said magnetic shear force to displace said locking member (60) in said second direction further comprises:slideably removing said locking member extended protrusion (70) from said axially centered protrusion slot as a result of said magnetic shear force overcoming said resilient biasing force of said resilient component (64).

18. The method of claim 15 further including reversing said filter cartridge (40) in a direction opposite the first direction to remove the magnetic shear force upon removal and separation of the magnetic structure (44) of the filter cartridge from the magnetic structure (62) of the manifold, thus reintroducing the locking member (60).

19. The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said attachment lugs (48) are radially opposite one another on said housing top surface about a circumferential direction.09 24CXI

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