Water filter usage monitoring apparatus

A system for metering the flow of a fluid through a filter to determine the level of filter usage for enabling a determination regarding filter replacement, in which a source of the fluid is adapted to be connectable to the filter such that the fluid may flow through the filter and the system, comprising:

• a housing having a channel therein, adapted to be mounted in the path of fluid flow through the system, such that fluid is adapted to flow through the housing channel;
• and
• an element for determining the level of filter usage, comprising an element for determining the volume of the flow of fluid based solely upon the volume of fluid flow over time, adapted to compare the determined level of filter usage to a predetermined level of filter usage based upon the volume of fluid flow over time to determine the level of filter usage, an element for activating and deactivating the volume determining element upon the starting and the stopping of fluid flow, wherein the activating-deactivating element comprises a single magnet, freely movable within the housing channel responsive solely to fluid pressure upon the starting and the stopping of the flow of fluid through the housing channel in the path of fluid flow through the system so as to activate and deactivate the volume determining element, and an element for sensing the movement of the single magnet and for responding thereto to activate or deactivate the volume determining element.

A method of metering the flow of a fluid through a filter to determine the level of filter usage for enabling a determination regarding filter replacement, in which a source of the fluid is adapted to be connectable to the filter such that the fluid may flow through the filter and the system, in a system which comprises a housing having a channel therein, adapted to be mounted in the path of fluid flow through the system, such that fluid is adapted to flow through the housing channel, and means for determining the level of filter usage, comprising means for determining the volume of the flow of fluid based solely upon the volume of fluid flow over time, adapted to compare the determined level of filter usage to a predetermined level of filter usage based upon the volume of fluid flow over time to determine the level of filter usage, means for activating and deactivating the volume determining means upon the starting and the stopping of fluid flow, wherein the activating-deactivating means comprises a single magnet, freely movable within the housing channel responsive solely to fluid pressure upon the starting and the stopping of the flow of fluid through the housing channel in the path of fluid flow through the system so as to activate and deactivate the volume determining means, and means for sensing the movement of the single magnet and for responding thereto to activate or deactivate the volume determining means, wherein the method comprises:

• determining the level of filter usage, comprising:
• determining the volume of the flow of fluid based solely upon the volume of fluid flow over time, which comprises comparing the determined level of filter usage to a predetermined level of filter usage based upon the volume of fluid flow over time to determine the level of filter usage;
• activating and deactivating the volume determining means upon the starting and the stopping of fluid flow, wherein the single magnet freely moves within the housing channel responsive solely to fluid pressure upon the starting and the stopping of the flow of fluid through the housing channel in the path of fluid flow through the system so as to activate and deactivate the volume determining means;
• and
• sensing the movement of the single magnet and responding thereto to activate or deactivate the volume determining means.

A method of metering the flow of a fluid through a filter to determine the level of filter usage for enabling a determination regarding filter replacement, in which a source of the fluid is adapted to be connectable to the filter such that the fluid may flow through the filter and the system, in a system which comprises a housing having a channel therein, adapted to be mounted in the path of fluid flow through the system, such that fluid is adapted to flow through the housing channel, and an element for determining the level of filter usage, comprising an element for determining the volume of the flow of fluid based solely upon the volume of fluid flow over time, adapted to compare the determined level of filter usage to a predetermined level of filter usage based upon the volume of fluid flow over time to determine the level of filter usage, an element for activating and deactivating the volume determining element upon the starting and the stopping of fluid flow, wherein the activating-deactivating element comprises a single magnet, freely movable within the housing channel responsive solely to fluid pressure upon the starting and the stopping of the flow of fluid through the housing channel in the path of fluid flow through the system so as to activate and deactivate the volume determining element, and an element for sensing the movement of the single magnet and for responding thereto to activate or deactivate the volume determining element, wherein the method comprises:

• determining the level of filter usage, comprising:
• determining the volume of the flow of fluid based solely upon the volume of fluid flow over time, which comprises comparing the determined level of filter usage to a predetermined level of filter usage based upon the volume of fluid flow over time to determine the level of filter usage;
• activating and deactivating the volume determining element upon the starting and the stopping of fluid flow, wherein the single magnet freely moves within the housing channel responsive solely to fluid pressure upon the starting and the stopping of the flow of fluid through the housing channel in the path of fluid flow through the system so as to activate and de-activate the volume determining element;
• and
• sensing the movement of the single magnet and responding thereto to activate or deactivate the volume determining element.