Regeneration detector for water softeners
AssigneeSys-Tec, Inc.
InventorsMario A. Tucci, George K. Sutherland
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for initiating the regeneration cycle of an ion exchange resin type water softener based upon the movement of the "hardness front" through the resin bed as water being treated is passed therethrough. Electrical probes are provided at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations and the difference in potential between the probes is measured, as is the rate of change of this potential with respect to time. It is found that as the hardness front passes between the probes, a detectable change in potential occurs which may be applied to an electronic circuit for generating a control signal which may initiate the regeneration cycle of the water softener subsequent to the arrival of the hardness front in the zone between the probes.
Claims8
In water softening apparatus of the type including an elongated tank containing an ion exchange resin bed, a method for initiating regeneration of said bed when the hardness front reaches a predetermined location within said bed comprising the steps of:
- (a) continuously measuring the self-generated electrical potential difference between predetermined spaced apart non-dissimilar metal electrodes in said bed as water is made to flow through said bed;
- (b) sensing when a change of self-generated potential difference being measured exceeds a predetermined threshold and producing a first output signal indicative thereof;
- (c) sensing when the rate of change with respect to time of said potential difference being measured exceeds a predetermined value and producing a second output signal indicative thereof;
- and
- (d) logically combining said first and second output control signals and using said resultant signal to initiate a regeneration control apparatus.
Apparatus for initiating the regeneration cycle control means in water softening apparatus of the type in which the water to be treated is passed from a water inlet through an elongated tank containing a column of ion exchange resin material to a water outlet, comprising, in combination:
- (a) at least two electrode elements formed from nondissimilar metals mounted in said tank at first and second longitudinally spaced locations proximate the end of said tank remote from said water inlet, at least one of said electrode elements being disposed in said column of ion exchange resin material;
- (b) sensing means connected to said two electrode elements for sensing the change in self-generated electrical potential between said probes as water being treated is made to flow through said column and for producing a first control signal when said electrical potential exceeds a predetermined value indicative that the hardness front in said column is located between said two probes;
- (c) rate of change detecting means coupled to said sensing means for producing a second control signal when the rate of change with respect to time of said potential between said two electrode elements exceeds a predetermined value;
- and
- (d) controlled means responsive to said first and second control signals for subsequently operating said regeneration means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.