Filter interconnect utilizing a magnetic repulsion force

A filter cartridge, comprising:

• a housing having a body, a top surface, an axial length, and an internal cavity;
• and
• an annular collar circumferentially located about the housing top surface and having an outer wall, the annular collar including:
• securing lugs or threads extending radially outwards from the annular collar outer wall;
• and
• a correlated magnetic structure located on or within the annular collar and having a radially outwardly-facing surface that extends at least no further than an outward most radial extension of the securing lugs or threads,
• wherein the correlated magnetic structure includes a magnet having a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of said magnetic field emission sources.

A filter manifold, comprising:

• ingress and egress fluid ports;
• a sump having an inner cavity for receiving a mating filter cartridge;
• an upwardly-extending alignment channel proximate the sump inner cavity;
• and
• a resilient blocking mechanism at least partially extending within the alignment channel when in a biased position and comprising a first correlated magnetic structure disposed therein, the first correlated magnetic structure including a magnet having a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of said magnetic field emission sources,
• wherein the blocking mechanism is movable to a retracted position in response to a magnetic repulsion force generated when a complementary or paired second correlated magnetic structure of the mating filter cartridge is positioned within close proximity of the first correlated magnetic structure.

A method of interconnecting a filter cartridge and a mating filter manifold, comprising:

• inserting the filter cartridge into a sump of the mating filter manifold, the filter cartridge comprising a housing having a body with a top surface, and an annular collar circumferentially located about the housing top surface and having an outer wall, the annular collar including securing lugs or threads extending radially outwards from the annular collar outer wall and a first correlated magnetic structure located on or within the annular collar and having a radially outwardly-facing surface that extends at least no further than an outward most radial extension of the securing lugs or threads, wherein the first correlated magnetic structure includes a magnet having a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of said magnetic field emission sources;
• aligning the securing lugs or threads with an alignment channel of the filter manifold;
• rotating the filter cartridge within the filter manifold sump in a first direction;
• aligning the first magnetic structure plurality of magnetic field emission sources with a plurality of magnetic field emission sources of a complementary or paired second magnetic structure disposed within a resiliently biased blocking mechanism at least partially extending within the alignment channel of the filter manifold, such that a magnetic repulsion force is generated;
• displacing the blocking mechanism to a retracted position in a second direction in response to the magnetic repulsion force, the second direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction;
• and
• continuing to rotate the filter cartridge in the first direction such that the securing lugs or threads pass in front of the displaced blocking mechanism to complete attachment of the filter cartridge to the filter manifold.

A filter interconnect comprising:

• a filter manifold for receiving a mating filter cartridge, the filter manifold having a top surface including ingress and egress stanchions for receiving ingress and egress fluid ports of the mating filter cartridge, a pivotable latch extending axially with respect to the top surface of the manifold and normally biased in an open position, and a first correlated magnetic structure disposed in or on the latch, the latch further including a protrusion or projection proximate the first correlated magnetic structure, the latch pivotally responsive to a magnetic repulsion force generated when a complementary or paired second correlated magnetic structure is positioned within close proximity to the first magnetic structure;
• and
• the mating filter cartridge, comprising:
• a body and a filter head forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the filter head including the ingress and egress fluid ports and the complementary or second correlated magnetic structure located on or connected to an axially-extending portion of the filter head, the axially-extending portion further including a notch or cutout proximate the second correlated magnetic structure,
• wherein upon insertion of the filter cartridge ingress and egress ports within the manifold ingress and egress stanchions, the first and second correlated magnetic structures are brought within close proximity to one another such that the magnetic repulsion force is generated, the magnetic repulsion force causing the latch to pivot about a pivot axis to a closed position to engage the latch projection with the filter head notch or cutout to secure the filter cartridge.

A filter manifold, comprising:

• a top surface including ingress and egress stanchions;
• a pivotable latch extending axially with respect to the top surface of the manifold and normally biased in an open position, the latch further including a protrusion or projection;
• and
• a correlated magnetic structure disposed in or on the latch proximate the protrusion or projection, the correlated magnetic structure including a magnet having a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of said magnetic field emission sources,
• wherein the latch is pivotable about a pivot axis to a closed position in response to a magnetic repulsion force generated when a complementary or paired second correlated magnetic structure is positioned within close proximity to the first magnetic structure.

A method of interconnecting a filter manifold and a mating filter cartridge, comprising:

• inserting ingress and egress fluid ports of the filter cartridge into ingress and egress stanchions of the filter manifold, the filter cartridge further comprising a body and a filter head forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the filter head including the ingress and egress fluid ports and a first correlated magnetic structure located on or connected to an axially-extending portion of the filter head, the axially-extending portion further including a notch or cutout proximate the first correlated magnetic structure, wherein the first correlated magnetic structure includes a magnet having a plurality of magnetic field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to a predetermined alignment of said magnetic field emission sources;
• aligning the first correlated magnetic structure plurality of magnetic field emission sources with a plurality of magnetic field emissions sources of a complementary or second correlated magnetic structure disposed in or on a pivotable latch extending from the top surface of the manifold, such that a magnetic repulsion force is generated;
• pivoting the latch from a biased open position to a closed position in response to the magnetic repulsion force;
• and
• engaging a protrusion or projection proximate the second correlated magnetic structure of the latch with a notch or cutout proximate the first magnetic structure of the filter head to complete attachment of the filter cartridge to the filter manifold.