# US 11,029,302 B2 · Liquid treatment system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,302 B2 - Document ID: US11029302B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/598,541 - Filed: 2019-10-10 - Published: 2020-02-06 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-31 - Assignees: Harvey Water Softeners Limited - Applicants: Harvey Water Softeners Limited - Inventors: Harvey Bowden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029302B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/1853: {Hardness of water} - B01J 49/75: of water softeners - C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J) - C02F 5/08: Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents - C02F 2001/425: {using cation exchangers} - C02F 2209/055: Hardness - C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters - C02F 2307/10: as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices - G01N 5/02: by absorbing or adsorbing components of a material and determining change of weight of the adsorbent, e.g. determining moisture content {(absorption bulbs B01D53/00)} - G01N 30/96: using ion-exchange (G01N30/02, G01N30/90 take precedence) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - 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 The present invention relates to a liquid treatment system having a sensor comprising a body, the body having a sensing material disposed therein, the sensing material being subject to a change in size in response to a composition of a liquid flowing therethrough; an actuating means disposed within the body and associated with the sensing material; wherein the actuating means is movable between a first position and a second position in response to the change in size of the sensing material to thereby mechanically actuate a switch member, such that when the actuating means is in the first position, flow of an actuating stream of the liquid is allowed by the switch member to thereby hydraulically actuate operation of the liquid treatment system; and when the actuating means is in the second position, flow of the actuating stream of the liquid is prevented by the switch member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid treatment system, comprising: a liquid treatment tank including a resin bed, the resin bed treating liquid inside the liquid treatment tank; a sensing material disposed within the liquid treatment tank, the sensing material being subject to a change in size in response to a composition of the liquid flowing therethrough; an actuating member movable between a first position and a second position in response to the change in size of the sensing material to thereby mechanically control operation of an actuating stream outlet, such that, when the actuating member is in the first position, flow of an actuating stream of the liquid via the actuating stream outlet is allowed to thereby hydraulically actuate operation of the liquid treatment system; and, when the actuating member is in the second position, flow of the actuating stream of the liquid via the actuating stream outlet is prevented, the actuating member being movable between the first position and the second position along an axis axially aligned with the actuating stream outlet; and a switch member operable with the actuating member; wherein the switch member is adapted to open the actuating stream outlet when the actuating member is in the first position, and is adapted to close the actuating stream outlet when the actuating member is in the second position; wherein the actuating member comprises a first magnetic member adapted to magnetically interact with a second magnetic member provided at the switch member, such that, when the actuating member is moved from the second position to the first position, the first magnetic member is moved axially towards the second magnetic member along the axis axially aligned with the actuating stream outlet and the switch member is drawn axially away from the actuating stream outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the liquid treatment system is adapted to be actuated without a need of an electricity supply. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member is mechanically operated in response to the change in size of the sensing material to hydraulically actuate operation of the liquid treatment system, the arrangement being such that there is no need for any electrical or electronic actuation of the liquid treatment system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member is in the first position when the sensing material is in a contracted state, and is in the second position when the sensing material is in an expanded state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system according to claim 1, further comprising a resilient member adapted to bias the actuating member towards the first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing material and the actuating member are accommodated in a body and wherein said body comprises a liquid inlet adapted to receive the liquid when a sensing device is in a first operation, and is adapted to eject the liquid when the sensing device is in a second operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The liquid treatment system according to claim 6, wherein the body further comprises a liquid outlet adapted to eject the liquid when the sensing device is in the first operation, and is adapted to receive the liquid when the sensing device is in the second operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The liquid treatment system according to claim 7, wherein the liquid inlet is arranged at a lower position relative to the liquid outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The liquid treatment system according to claim 6, wherein the liquid inlet is arranged on or below an upper surface of the resin bed of the liquid treatment system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The liquid treatment system according to claim 9, wherein the sensing device is at least partially embedded in the resin bed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The liquid treatment system according to claim 6, wherein the body is positioned within the liquid treatment tank of the liquid treatment system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The liquid treatment system according to claim 11, wherein the sensing device is arranged at a top portion of the liquid treatment tank of the liquid treatment system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The liquid treatment system according to claim 9, wherein the body is adapted to actuate regeneration of the resin bed when the actuating member is in the first position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The liquid treatment system according to claim 1, wherein, when the first magnetic member is moved axially towards the second magnetic member along the axis axially aligned with the actuating stream outlet, the switch member is drawn axially away from the actuating stream outlet and towards the first magnetic member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The liquid treatment system according to claim 14, wherein the switch member is drawn axially away from the actuating stream outlet and towards the first magnetic member against the bias of a spring.