Filter cartridge assembly with brine seal and retaining ring

A filter assembly including a replaceable reverse osmosis filter cartridge of the type axially insertable into an open-ended housing having a generally cylindrical inner wall, said cartridge having a generally cylindrical body, a cylindrical neck on one axial end defining a liquid flow opening, the housing including a threaded interior on the open end for demountably and sealingly attaching the housing to a threaded exterior portion of an enclosing end cap, the end cap including an integral center sleeve which surrounds the neck of the cartridge in the attached position and provides therewith a liquid-tight seal, said assembly comprising:

• a brine ring attached to the inner wall of the housing adjacent the open end thereof, said brine ring having an outer wall defining with the housing inner wall a flow passage and a cylindrical inner wall;
• a retaining ring attached to the cartridge neck and carrying a first annular seal adapted to sealingly engage the cylindrical inner wall of the brine ring when the cartridge is inserted into the housing;
• and,
• interengaging connector means on the brine ring and the retaining ring for holding the filter cartridge in the housing against axial withdrawal therefrom.

A filter assembly including a replaceable reverse osmosis filter cartridge of the type axially insertable into an open-ended housing having a generally cylindrical inner wall, said cartridge having a generally cylindrical body having an impervious outer surface extending between an untreated water inlet at one end and a brine outlet at the other end, a cylindrical neck on one axial end of the body defining a permeate outlet, the housing including a threaded interior on the open end for demountably and sealingly attaching the housing to a threaded exterior portion of an enclosing end cap, the end cap including an integral center sleeve which surrounds the neck of the cartridge in the attached position and provides therewith a liquid-tight seal, said assembly comprising:

• a brine ring attached to the inner wall of the housing adjacent the open end thereof, said brine ring having an outer wall spaced from and defining with the housing inner wall a flow passage and a cylindrical inner wall surrounding the cartridge body;
• a retaining ring surrounding the cartridge neck and adapted to be received within the cylindrical inner wall of the brine ring after the cartridge is inserted into the housing;
• interengaging connector means on the brine ring and the retaining ring for holding the filter cartridge in the housing against axial withdrawal therefrom;
• and
• brine seal means between the inner wall of the brine ring and the outer surface of the cartridge body for preventing liquid flow between the brine outlet and the untreated water inlet.