KX Technologies LLC

A filtration system and method of using the same. The method comprises the steps of guiding, by alignment rail and mating boss, a filter cartridge into a manifold housing; aligning a filter magnet with a corresponding manifold magnet; rotating, by attractive magnetic forces, the manifold magnet upon rotation of the filter cartridge into an installed position; and actuating, by attractive magnetic forces, a manifold valve.

A gravity-fed filtration system and method of permitting fluid flow from a filter cartridge to a holding reservoir for a gravity-fed filtration system. The method comprises providing a filter cartridge having a filter magnet, a holding reservoir for filtered fluid, and a first reservoir having a recess receiving cavity in a bottom surface thereof for receiving ingress fluid. Upon inserting the filter cartridge into the recess receiving cavity and moving the filter magnet to be in magnetic communication with the carrier magnet, a magnetic field force moves the carrier magnet from a first position which blocks fluid flow, to a second position which allows fluid flow to the holding reservoir.

A gravity-fed filtration system and method of initiating flow from a filter cartridge to a holding reservoir for a gravity-fed filtration system. The method comprises providing a filter cartridge having a filter magnet, a holding reservoir for filtered fluid, and a first reservoir having a recess receiving cavity in a bottom surface thereof for receiving ingress fluid. Upon inserting the filter cartridge into the recess receiving cavity and moving the filter magnet to be in in magnetic communication with the carrier magnet, a magnetic force moves the carrier magnet from a first position which blocks fluid flow, to said second position which allows fluid flow to the holding reservoir.

A filtration system and method of using the same. The method comprises the steps of guiding, by alignment rail and mating boss, a filter cartridge into a manifold housing; aligning a filter magnet with a corresponding manifold magnet; rotating, by attractive magnetic forces, the manifold magnet upon rotation of the filter cartridge into an installed position; and actuating, by attractive magnetic forces, a manifold valve.

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. The magnetic shear force may also be employed to activate or deactivate a switch or valve, or engage or disengage an engagement mechanism relative to other components upon interconnection. The magnetic shear force is generated by complementary correlated magnet structures moved into close proximity to one another. The interconnection scheme may be a linear or rotational attachment of the filter cartridge with respect to the manifold. A valve assembly utilizing magnetic shear force may be employed to activate a bypass action between a manifold ingress port and egress port, thereby allowing water to flow when a filter cartridge is removed from the manifold and directing water to the filter cartridge when the valve assembly is activated.

A filtration system interconnection structure includes a filter manifold and a filter cartridge in magnetic communication produced by two complementary correlated magnets capable of generating a magnetic force when in close proximity to one another. The filter magnet polarity transitions are aligned with the manifold magnet polarity transitions such that a repulsion force is generated between the magnets when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump. The magnetic repulsion force may be used to move a blocking mechanism or actuate a latch structure in the manifold to secure the filter cartridge within the manifold sump upon insertion, or to provide non-contacting actuation of a downstream valve so as to permit or prevent the flow of fluid. Utilizing correlated magnetism in a filter interconnect further provides enhanced authentication and/or anti-counterfeiting means to ensure that only authorized or OEM filter cartridges can be installed.

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. The magnetic shear force may also be employed to activate or deactivate a switch or valve, or engage or disengage an engagement mechanism relative to other components upon interconnection. The magnetic shear force is generated by complementary correlated magnet structures moved into close proximity to one another. The interconnection scheme may be a linear or rotational attachment of the filter cartridge with respect to the manifold. A valve assembly utilizing magnetic shear force may be employed to activate a bypass action between a manifold ingress port and egress port, thereby allowing water to flow when a filter cartridge is removed from the manifold and directing water to the filter cartridge when the valve assembly is activated.

A filtration system interconnection structure includes a filter manifold and a filter cartridge in magnetic communication produced by two complementary correlated magnets capable of generating a magnetic force when in close proximity to one another. The filter magnet polarity transitions are aligned with the manifold magnet polarity transitions such that a repulsion force is generated between the magnets when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump. The magnetic repulsion force may be used to move a blocking mechanism or actuate a latch structure in the manifold to secure the filter cartridge within the manifold sump upon insertion, or to provide non-contacting actuation of a downstream valve so as to permit or prevent the flow of fluid. Utilizing correlated magnetism in a filter interconnect further provides enhanced authentication and/or anti-counterfeiting means to ensure that only authorized or OEM filter cartridges can be installed.

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.

A filtration system and method of using the same. The method comprises the steps of guiding, by alignment rail and mating boss, a filter cartridge into a manifold housing; aligning a filter magnet with a corresponding manifold magnet; rotating, by attractive magnetic forces, the manifold magnet upon rotation of the filter cartridge into an installed position; and actuating, by attractive magnetic forces, a manifold valve.