# US 11,992,791 B2 · Combination fluid and gas filter

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- Number: US 11,992,791 B2
- Document ID: US11992791B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/921,164
- Filed: 2018-03-14
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-17
- Assignees: KX Technologies LLC
- Applicants: KX Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Robert Roth; Blake Savoy; Jerome Barrillon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992791B2

## CPC

- B01D 36/001: {Filters in combination with devices for the removal of gas, air purge systems}
- B01D 29/13: Supported filter elements
- B01D 39/08: Filter cloth, i.e. woven, knitted or interlaced material (metallic B01D39/10)
- B01D 39/14: Other self-supporting filtering material {; Other filtering material (non-woven fabrics in general D04H3/00)}
- B01D 39/18: the material being cellulose or derivatives thereof ({cork or peat B01D39/1646} ; making filter paper D21F11/14)
- B01D 46/0002: {Casings; Housings; Frame constructions}
- B01D 46/0008: {Two or more filter elements not fluidly connected positioned in the same housing}
- B01D 46/0038: {with means for influencing the odor, e.g. deodorizing substances}
- B01D 46/2411: {Filter cartridges}
- B01D 46/521: {using folded, pleated material}
- F25D 17/042: {Air treating means within refrigerated spaces (air conditioning in general F24F)}
- B01D 2279/65: for the sterilisation of air
- F25D 2317/0415: by deodorizing
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)

## Abstract

A combination gas and fluid filter housing for supporting said gas and fluid filter media, having a first subassembly for supporting the gas filter media, and a second subassembly for supporting the fluid filter media, the second subassembly having ingress and egress ports at an end opposite of the first subassembly attachable to a manifold, the first and second subassemblies removably attached to one another such that the first subassembly is removable from said second subassembly to facilitate gas filter media replacement without disconnecting the second subassembly ingress and egress ports from the manifold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A combination gas and fluid filter cartridge for an enclosed structure comprising:
a housing containing a central longitudinal axis, a gas filter media and a liquid filter media said housing including:
a first subassembly enclosing said gas filter media and including apertures spanning a periphery of a radially disposed sidewall of the first subassembly, wherein said apertures are disposed parallel to the central longitudinal axis and wherein said apertures allow gas flow to said gas filter media; and
a second subassembly attached to said first subassembly at a first subassembly end enclosing said liquid filter media;
said second subassembly including a second subassembly end comprising an ingress port, and egress port, and a second subassembly connector, said second subassembly end attachable to a filter manifold to establish fluid communication between the filter manifold and the filter housing, said first and second subassemblies removably attached to one another such that said first subassembly is removable from said second subassembly to facilitate replacement of said gas filter media without disconnecting said ingress and egress port of said second subassembly from said filter manifold, and wherein said housing is removably attachable to said filter manifold, such that said first subassembly and said second subassembly is secured to a refrigerator by said second subassembly connector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said gas filter media is an air filter media, and said liquid filter media is a water filter media.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 2 wherein said first and second subassemblies are injection molded, forming two distinct, attachable subassemblies.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said radially disposed sidewall is molded with said apertures, forming continuously connected sidewall segments.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said apertures are different sizes and/or shapes, designed to accommodate predetermined air flow direction within said enclosed structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 2, wherein said gas filter media comprises said air filter media having pleated cylindrical fabric or paper with pleats exposed to outside elements by being proximate said apertures.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said first subassembly is secured in and/or forms a part of an air flow passageway of said enclosed structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said gas filter media is held in place by an endcap removably secured to a top portion of said first subassembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the first subassembly includes an inner cylindrical shell for receiving said gas filter media.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 8 wherein said endcap includes an aperture located at or approximate an axial center of said housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 8 wherein said endcap includes an annular space on a bottom side for enclosing and/or securing a top portion of said gas filter media.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 8 wherein said endcap is attached to said top portion of said first subassembly in a slip-fit, friction fit, screw fit, or molded compression fit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The combination gas and fluid filter cartridge of claim 8 wherein said endcap forms a non-removable seal with the radially disposed sidewall of said first subassembly.

### Claim 14

A combination air and water filter cartridge for a refrigerator comprising:
an air filter media;
a water filter media; and
a housing enclosing said air and water filter media, said housing including:
a central longitudinal axis;
a first subassembly enclosing said air filter media, said first subassembly forming a cavity having an open end for receiving said air filter media, said open end of said first subassembly attachable to an endcap for securing said air filter media within said first subassembly or attachable to a second subassembly such that upon attachment said air filter media is secured within said first subassembly, said first subassembly including apertures spanning a periphery of a radially disposed sidewall of the first subassembly, wherein said apertures are disposed parallel to the central longitudinal axis and wherein said apertures allow gas flow to said air filter media; and
said second subassembly enclosing said water filter media and having a second subassembly connector for connecting to a filter manifold on said refrigerator to establish fluid communication between the filter manifold and the housing, said second subassembly including an end opposite said first subassembly comprising ingress and egress ports insertable within said filter manifold, such that said housing is removably attachable to said filter manifold and said first subassembly and said second subassembly is secured to said refrigerator by said second subassembly connector.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The combination air and water filter cartridge of claim 14 wherein said endcap includes an annular groove for receiving said air filter media.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The combination air and water filter cartridge of claim 14 wherein said first subassembly includes a cylindrical support axially centered about said first subassembly to receive said air filter media.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The combination air and water filter cartridge of claim 14 wherein said housing is a single, compartmentalized structure, and said open end of said first subassembly faces away from said second subassembly, said open end sealed by said endcap.

### Claim 18

A method of creating a combination air and water filter for a refrigerator system, comprising:
providing the refrigerator system having a filter manifold for receiving a filter housing;
providing said filter housing for supporting an air filter media and a water filter media, said filter housing including a central longitudinal axis, a first subassembly for supporting said air filter media, and a second subassembly for supporting said water filter media, said first subassembly including apertures spanning a periphery of a radially disposed sidewall of the first subassembly, wherein said apertures are disposed parallel to the central longitudinal axis and wherein said apertures allow gas flow to said air filter media, said second subassembly including ingress and egress ports and a connector for attachment to said filter manifold for permitting water to flow into and out of the filter housing through the ingress and egress ports;
providing a removable endcap to be received by the first subassembly, the removable cap which holds said air filter media within said first subassembly;
attaching the first subassembly to the second subassembly;
inserting the air filter media into the first subassembly;
attaching the removable endcap to the first subassembly to hold the air filter media within the first subassembly;
inserting the water filter media into the second subassembly;
installing the filter housing into the refrigerator system by inserting the second subassembly ingress port, egress port, and said connector into the filter manifold; and
securing said first subassembly and said second subassembly to said filter manifold of the refrigerator system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the first subassembly is integral with the second subassembly.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the first subassembly is attached to the second subassembly by friction fit, screw fit, molded compression fit, snap clipping, ultrasonic welding, or spin welding.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein providing an injection mold further comprises a first compartment for forming the first subassembly, and a second compartment for forming the second subassembly.