# US 2017/0282102 A1 · Liquid filtration systems, components, and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282102 A1 - Document ID: US20170282102A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/628,263 - Filed: 2017-06-20 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-21 - Assignees: Aquasana, Inc. - Applicants: Aquasana, Inc. - Inventors: Wes Russell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282102A1 ## CPC - B01D 35/1573: {Flow control valves} - B01D 35/153: Anti-leakage or anti-return valves - B01D 35/306: {Filter mounting adapter} - C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - B01D 2201/291: End caps - B01D 2201/293: Making of end caps - B01D 2201/302: having inlet or outlet ports - B01D 2201/4015: Bayonet connecting means - C02F 2201/004: Seals, connections - C02F 2201/006: Cartridges - C02F 2201/007: Modular design - 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) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract Filter assemblies, filter modules, and filtration systems and methods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filtration system comprising: a filter having a passageway; a filter housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion couplable to the first housing portion, the second housing portion including a connection portion having a filter inlet, a filter outlet, and a filter valve coupled to at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet; and a cap having an inner side engagble with the filter, an outer side engagble with the filter valve, a generally cylindrical outer projection including a peripheral groove configured to receive a seal, an inner projection, and a passageway extending through the outer projection and the inner projection to permit water to flow between the inner side and the outer side, the passageway having an outer passageway portion formed in the outer projection and an inner passageway portion formed in the inner projection, the outer passageway portion including a first transverse dimension and a second transverse dimension that is smaller than and inward of the first transverse dimension. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filtration system of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a plurality of ribs positioned within the outer passageway portion, the plurality of ribs defining the second transverse dimension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The filtration system of claim 1, wherein the passageway of the cap is in fluid communication with the passageway of the filter so that all of a liquid entering the passageway of the filter exits through the passageway of the cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filtration system of claim 1, wherein the filter and the cap are positioned within a filter chamber formed by the first housing portion and the second housing portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The filtration system of claim 4, wherein the filter valve includes a valve body and a plunger, wherein the valve body is fixed relative to the housing, and the plunger is movable between a closed position in which liquid is prevented from flowing through the filter valve, and an open position in which liquid is permitted to flow through the filter valve, and wherein the filter valve is biased to the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The filtration system of claim 5, wherein the outer projection of the cap is configured to engage the plunger to open the filter valve when the filter and the cap are positioned within the housing chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The filtration system of claim 5, wherein the valve body includes a guide slot and the plunger includes a lateral projection positionable in the guide slot, the guide slot and the lateral projection configured to permit the plunger to slide linearly along a longitudinal axis of the valve body, and wherein the guide slots are configured to allow a flow of liquid therethrough when the filter valve is in the open position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The filtration system of claim 1, further comprising a manifold assembly comprising: a manifold body having a manifold inlet, a manifold outlet, and a filter connection portion configured to engage the filter housing to couple the filter housing to the manifold assembly; and a valve member movably coupled to the manifold body, the valve member having a valve outlet configured to communicate with the filter inlet of the first housing, and a valve inlet configured to communicate with the filter outlet of the filter housing, the valve member configured to be movable between a closed position in which fluid communication is substantially prevented between the manifold inlet and the valve outlet of the valve member, and an open position in which fluid communication is permitted between the manifold inlet and the valve outlet of the valve member; where the filter connection portion is configured to resist removal of the filter housing when the valve member is in the open position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The filtration system of claim 8, wherein the valve member is rotatably coupled to the manifold body, and the valve member is configured to engage the filter housing such that rotation of the filter housing by ninety degrees or less relative to the manifold body simultaneously couples the filter housing to the manifold assembly and rotates the valve member to the open position. ### Claim 10 A method of assembling a filtration system, the method comprising: providing a filter having a passageway; providing a cap, the cap having an inner side, an outer side, a generally cylindrical outer projection including a peripheral groove configured to receive a seal, an inner projection, and a passageway extending through the outer projection and the inner projection to permit water to flow between the inner side and the outer side, the passageway having an outer passageway portion formed in the outer projection and an inner passageway portion formed in the inner projection, the outer passageway portion including a first transverse dimension and a second transverse dimension that is smaller than and inward of the first transverse dimension; engaging the inner side of the cap to an end of the filter; and positioning the filter and the cap within a filter chamber defined by a filter housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the second housing portion including a connection portion having a filter inlet, a filter outlet, and a filter valve coupled to at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet; and engaging the first housing portion with the second housing portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the cap includes a plurality of ribs positioned within the outer passageway portion, the plurality of ribs defining the second transverse dimension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the passageway of the cap is in fluid communication with the passageway of the filter so that all of a liquid entering the passageway of the filter exits through the passageway of the cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of engaging the outer projection of the cap with the filter valve, urging a plunger of the filter valve from a closed position, in which a flow of liquid through the valve is prevented, to an open position, in which a flow of liquid is permitted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising engaging the filter housing with a manifold valve member of a filter connection portion of a manifold body having a manifold inlet, a manifold outlet, and the filter connection portion, wherein engaging the filter housing with the filter connection portion includes engaging the filter inlet with an outlet of the manifold valve member, engaging the filter outlet with an inlet of the manifold valve member, and moving the manifold valve member from a closed position to an open position to allow fluid communication between the filter housing and the manifold. ### Claim 15 A filter assembly for use with a filter housing having a filter chamber, the filter housing comprising: a first housing member; a second housing member configured to be coupled to the first housing member and having a connection portion with an inner side and an outer side, the outer side configured to face away from the filter chamber, the outer side having a filter inlet and a filter outlet; and a filter valve coupled to at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet, the filter valve biased toward a closed configuration in which fluid communication is substantially prevented through the filter valve, where the filter valve comprises a valve body having a bore and a plunger, the valve body being fixed relative to the housing, the filter assembly including: a filter configured to be disposed in the filter chamber; and a filter cap engagable with the filter and configured to be positioned between the plunger of the filter valve and the filter to maintain the filter valve in an open position such that fluid communication is permitted through the filter valve between the filter chamber and at least one of the filter inlet and the filter outlet, the filter cap comprising: an outer side including an outer projection including an engagement portion configured to engage the connection portion to move the filter valve into the open position, an inner side configured to receive the filter and including an inner projection, and a passageway extending through the outer projection and the inner projection to permit water to flow between the inner side and the outer side, the passageway having an outer passageway portion formed in the outer projection and an inner passageway portion formed in the inner projection, the outer passageway portion including a first transverse dimension and at least one second transverse dimension that is smaller than and inward of the first transverse dimension. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein the cap includes a plurality of ribs positioned within the outer passageway portion, the plurality of ribs defining the inner transverse dimension. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein the outer projection of the cap is configured to engage the valve body to open the filter valve when the filter and the cap are positioned within the housing chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The filtration system of claim 15, wherein the passageway of the cap is in fluid communication with a passageway of the filter so that all of a liquid entering the passageway of the filter exits through the passageway of the cap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The filtration system of claim 15, wherein the outer projection includes a peripheral groove configured to receive a seal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The filtration system of claim 15, wherein the valve body includes a valve opening for receiving at least a portion of the plunger.