US4772386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filter with liquid meter
Assignee: Autotrol Corp
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Filing: 1986-05-30
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Granted: 1988-09-20
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Expires: 2006-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A replaceable filter cartridge is mounted in a housing body having an inlet and an outlet permanently attached to a line carrying the liquid to be filtered. The filter cartridge contains activated charcoal. An outlet in the filter cartridge can be closed by a buoyant poppet valve which is normally held out of engagement with its valve seat by a trigger wire. An impeller is rotated by the flow of the liquid through the cartridge and the impeller drives a toothed disc which abrades the trigger wire. The abrading eventually cuts through the wire and releases the poppet which then seats against the valve seat of the outlet and renders the cartridge inoperative. The amount of abrading of the trigger wire is proportional to the flow of liquid through the cartridge and the trigger wire is sized to fail after a quantity of liquid has passed through the filter sufficient to exhaust the filtering capabilities of the cartridge. The spent cartridge must be replaced with a new filter cartridge. The presence of a filter cartridge is sensed by one proximity switch and the closing of the outlet valve provides an electrical signal to indicate that the cartridge has been rendered inoperative.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward C. Grout
- 👤 Nolan K. Rhoades
- 👤 James W. Schwerdt
- 👤 Robert H. Ahrens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:58
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/001; C02F1/003; B; B01; B01D; B01D35/00; B01D35/14; B01D35/143; B01D35/153; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/002; C02F2201/006; C02F2209/00; C02F2209/44; C02F2209/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A replaceable filter cartridge for insertion in a water line, comprising: a cartridge case; a filter media in said case; an outlet valve in the cartridge; abradable means normally holding the outlet valve open; and means responsive to the flow of water through the filter media for abrading said abradable means in proportion to the flow of water through the filter media until the abradable means fails and the outlet valve closes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A replaceable filter cartridge for insertion in a water line, comprising: a cartridge case; a filter media in said case; an outlet valve in the cartridge; abradable means normally holding the outlet valve open; and means responsive to the flow of water through the filter media for abrading said abradable means in proportion to the flow of water through the filter media until the abradable means fails and the outlet valve closes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein said filter media is charcoal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outlet valve includes an outlet port with a valve seat and a buoyant valve poppet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 3 wherein said abradable means is a trigger wire that normally anchors the poppet away from the valve seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 4 wherein said flow responsive means comprises an impeller rotated by the flow of water through the filter media and a toothed disc abrading the trigger wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 3 together with signal generating means including a reed switch and a permanent magnet attached to the poppet to actuate the switch when the poppet closes the outlet valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 1 together with means for generating an electric signal when the outlet valve closes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A filter for a liquid, comprising: a separable housing having an inlet and an outlet; and a replaceable cartridge in said housing, said cartridge including a cartridge case having a liquid inlet in communication with the inlet in the housing, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet in the housing, a filter media in the case, a valve adapted to close the outlet port, abradable means normally holding the valve away from the outlet port, and means response to the flow of liquid through the filter media for abrading said abradable means in proportion to the flow of liquid until said abradable means fails and the valve closes the outlet port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A filter for a liquid, comprising: a separable housing having an inlet and an outlet; and a replaceable cartridge in said housing, said cartridge including a cartridge case having a liquid inlet in communication with the inlet in the housing, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet in the housing, a filter media in the case, a valve adapted to close the outlet port, abradable means normally holding the valve away from the outlet port, and means response to the flow of liquid through the filter media for abrading said abradable means in proportion to the flow of liquid until said abradable means fails and the valve closes the outlet port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A filter in accordance with claim 8 wherein said filter media is charcoal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter cartridge in accordance with claim 8 wherein said filter media is charcoal and a porous foamed plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filter in accordance with claim 8 wherein said outlet valve includes an outlet port with a valve seat and a buoyant valve poppet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A filter in accordance with claim 11 wherein said abradable means is a trigger wire that normally anchors the poppet away from the valve seat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filter in accordance with claim 12 wherein said flow responsive means comprises an impeller rotated by the flow of water through the filter media and an abrading disc abrading the trigger wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A filter in accordance with claim 11 together with signal generating means including a reed switch mounted in said housing and a permanent magnet attached to the poppet to actuate the switch when the poppet closes the outlet valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A filter in accordance with claim 8 together with means for generating an electric signal when said outlet valve closes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filter in accordance with claim 8 together with means for generating an electric signal when the cartridge is in place in said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A filter in accordance with claim 8 together with a proximity reed switch in said housing and a permanent magnet on said cartridge that will actuate the proximity switch when the cartridge is in place in the housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A filter in accordance with claim 8 wherein said housing includes a body defining the inlet and outlet and a removable canister for supporting the cartridge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A filter in accordance with claim 18 wherein said cartridge is held between the canister and the body, and the body has means that seal with the cartridge about the outlet port of the cartridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A filter in accordance with claim 19 wherein said cartridge case has an imperforate bottom wall opposite the outlet port.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-20 | 1992-03-21 | 1992-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-20 | 1996-03-21 | 1996-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-20 | 2000-03-21 | 2000-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |