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US 4,539,106 AGranted
System and apparatus for water conditioning
AssigneeCharles E. Cates
InventorArthur G. Schwartz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water softening system and apparatus utilizes two tanks, one for service and one for regeneration, and a control system operated by soft water flow controls the operation of all valves and the sequences of regeneration. The control system utilizes parallel plate valves for switching from one tank to the next, parallel plate valves energizing the piston moving the switching valves, and a parallel plate valve structure for distributing the regeneration water, as to amount of flow, direction and timing. A two-way to one-way cam structure initiates the operation of a control cylinder which supplies soft water to the metering valve and the regeneration valve as and where needed.
Claims22
In a water softening system wherein the regenerating system includes the steps of providing flows for:
- backwashing the tank being regenerated at one and controlled rate,
- introducing a predetermined amount of brine into said tank and further backwashing at a second and slower rate,
- a second backwashing of said tank at said one rate,
- refilling a brine supply at said one rate and soaking the tank at no flow, and
- purging said tank at a third rate greater than said first rate,
- a flow operated rotating distributing valve comprising one set of stationary cemented together parallel plate members and a second set of rotatable cemented together parallel plate members, said one set of parallel plates comprising:
- a first plate for directing water flows for predetermined times and amounts and having
- a first elongated arcuate orifice at a first radius for providing initial valve operating flow,
- a second elongated orifice arcuately disposed relative to said first orifice at a second radius and of a cross-section and length, respectively, for backwash flow at said one rate and for a predetermined duration,
- a third arcuate elongated orifice arcuately disposed relative to said second orifice at said first radius and of a cross-section and length, respectively, for brine introduction and backwash flow at said second rate and for a predetermined duration,
- a fourth arcuate elongated orifice arcuately disposed relative to said third orifice at said second
- radius and of a cross-section and length, respectively, for a further backwash flow at said one rate and for a predetermined duration,
- a fifth arcuate elongated orifice radially disposed at a third radius less than said first and second radii and of a cross-section and length, respectively, to accommodate the flows through said second, third and fourth arcuate orifices,
- a sixth arcuate elongated orifice arcuately disposed relative to said fourth orifice at said first radius and of a cross-section and length, respectively, for said refilling of brine supply,
- a seventh arcuate elongated orifice arcuately disposed relative to said sixth orifice at said first and second radii and of a cross-section and length, respectively, for purging flow at said third rate and for a predetermined duration,
- an eighth arcuate elongated orifice radially disposed at a fourth radius less than said first and second radii and of a cross-section and length, respectively, to accommodate the flow through said seventh orifice, and
- a central passageway for accommodating the flow through any of said orifices,
- a second plate for connection to exterior components and having:
- a first orifice for flow registration with said first orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for said initial flow,
- a second orifice for flow registration with said second orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said one rate,
- a third orifice for flow registration with said third orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said second rate,
- a fourth orifice for flow registration with said sixth orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said second rate, and
- a fifth orifice for flow registration with said seventh orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said third rate, and
- a central passageway for accommodating said flow through any of said orifices,
- a third plate disposed adjacent to said first plate for definition of passageways and having:
- a first orifice for flow registration with said first orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for said initial flow,
- a second orifice for flow registration with said second orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said one rate,
- a third orifice for flow registration with said third orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said second rate,
- a fourth orifice for flow registration with said fourth orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said one rate,
- a fifth orifice for flow registration with said sixth orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at a refilling of said brine supply rate,
- a sixth orifice for flow registration with said seventh orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said third rate,
- a seventh orifice for flow registration with said eighth orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said third rate, and
- an eighth orifice for flow registration with said fifth orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for flow at said second rate, and
- a central passageway for accommodating said flow through any of said orifices, and
- a fourth plate disposed between said second and third plates for further definition of passageways and having,
- a first orifice for flow registration with said first orifice of said first plate and of a cross-section for said initial flow,
- a second orifice for flow registration with said third orifice of said second and third plates and of a cross-section for flow at said second rate,
- a third orifice for flow registration with said fourth and fifth orifices, respectively, of said second and third plates and of a cross-section for flow at a refilling of said brine supply rate,
- a fourth orifice for flow registration with said fifth and sixth orifices, respectively, of said second and third plates and of a cross-section for flow at said third rate,
- a fifth orifice for flow registration with said eighth orifice of said third plate and of a cross-section for flow at said second rate,
- a passageway connecting the fourth and fifth orifices of said fourth plate and of a cross-section for predetermined flow at said second rate,
- a sixth orifice, arcuate in nature for flow registration with the second, fourth, and seventh orifices of said third plate and of a cross-section for flow at said third rate, and
- a central passageway for accommodating said flow through any of said orifices,
- said second set of parallel plates comprising:
- a first plate for directing water flows in predetermined amounts from one side thereof being disposed with its other side against the exposed side of the first plate of said first set and having:
- a first orifice at a radius equal to said first radius of said first plate of said first set for flow registration with said first, third, sixth and seventh orifices of said first plate of said first set and of a cross-section for flows at said initial, third, and brine refill rates,
- orifice means at a second radius equal to said second radius of said first plate of said first set for flow registration with said second, fourth
- and seventh orifices of said first plate of said first set and of a cross-section for flows at said second rate,
- a central passageway communicating with the central passageways of the first, second, third and fourth plates of said first set, and
- a radially extending groove connecting with said central passageway and having a radial extent less than the first radius of said first plate of said second set but sufficient to reach the fifth and eighth grooves of the first plate of said first set and having a cross-section for flows at said third rate,
- a second plate disposed against said one side of said first plate and having:
- a radius to cover said radial extension of said first plate but leaving exposed said orifice and orifice means of said first plate,
- means for supplying fluid to said one side of said first plate, and
- means for rotating said second set of plates.
51 more elements
In a water softening system adapted to be connected between a hard water supply line and a user service line including a pair of tanks one of which is adapted for regeneration while the other is adapted for service, and vice-versa, and a salt storage and brine formation tank, water operated automatic control apparatus comprising:
- a first parallel plate valve means rotatably having a first position and a second position, respectively, for connecting the first of said tanks from the hard water supply line to the user service line, connecting the second of said tanks for regeneration, and vice-versa,
- a soft water use metering device connected in said user service line,
- a first cylinder and two-way operating piston therein for shifting said first parallel plate valve means from said first to said second position and vice-versa,
- a first mechanical link from said operating piston to said first parallel plate valve means,
- a second parallel plate valve means which is rotatable for supplying operating pressure in succession for each way of said operating piston,
- a driving connection from said metering device to said second parallel plate disk valve means for rotation thereof in response to soft water use,
- a third parallel plate valve means for controlling the sequence of regeneration steps in the tank being regenerated following each shift of said first parallel plate valve means, one of the plates of said third parallel plate valve means being rotatable under the influence of soft water pressure from said user service line for causing soft water flow including in succession initiation, rapid backwash, brine injection and backwash, further rapid backwash, brine forming, and purging,
- control valve means including a second cylinder, first, second, third, and fourth pistons therein, and means for actuating said pistons,
- a first line forming a drain from said third parallel plate valve means,
- said first piston being in said first line for controlling said drain, said first piston having an initial position closing said first line and a second position opening said first line,
- a second line for supplying soft water pressure from said user service line to said third parallel plate valve means,
- said second piston being in said second line for controlling flow of soft water therein, said second piston having an initial position closing said
- second line and a second position opening said second line,
- a second mechanical link from said operating piston to said first piston and said second piston to actuate same, respectively, in one direction to their said second positions after each operation of said operating piston, thereby initiating rotation of said one plate of said third parallel plate valve means, said rotation continuing as soft water flow continues through said third parallel plate valve means producing said sequence of regeneration steps,
- a third line for supplying soft water pressure from said user service line to said second parallel plate valve means,
- said third piston being in said third line for controlling the flow of soft water therein, said third piston having an initial position opening said third line and a second position closing said third line,
- means including a fourth line from said third parallel plate valve means to said second cylinder for actuating said third piston to its said second position after said initiation, thereby blocking said third line and preventing further rotation of said second parallel plate valve means and consequent further action of said operating piston during a particular regeneration cycle,
- brine line means running from said third parallel plate valve means to said first parallel plate valve means,
- a connection from said brine line means to said brine forming tank for supplying brine and backwash water to the one of said first and second tanks under regeneration,
- means in said second cylinder including said third piston in its said second position for opening said connection to said brine forming tank at the time of actuating thereof to its said second position,
- a brine water refill line running from said third parallel plate valve means to said salt storage and brine forming tank,
- said fourth piston being in said brine water refill line for controlling the supply of soft water therein,
- said fourth piston having an initial position closing said refill line and a second position opening said refill line,
- said fourth piston being actuated to its said second position by the actuating means of said third piston at the time of actuating of said third piston to its said second position,
- purge lines means running from said third parallel plate valve means to said first parallel plate valve means and therefrom back to said third parallel plate valve means and to a drain therein for conducting purge water flow to and from the tank being regenerated,
- a reset line comprising said first line running from said third parallel plate valve means to said first piston,
- said first piston in its said initial position closing said reset line and in its said second position opening said reset line,
- said first piston being further actuated to its said first position in response to movement of said third piston to its second position whereby continuation of pressure from said third parallel plate valve means through said reset line actuates said third and fourth pistons and said second piston to respective initial positions, and
- rotation of said one of said plates of said third parallel plate valve means determining the respective times of backwashing, brine injecting and backwashing, brine forming and purging.
26 more elements
In a water softening system adapted to be connected between a hard water supply line and a user service line including a pair of tanks one of which is adapted for regeneration while the other is adapted for service, and vice-versa, and a salt storage and brine formation tank, a parallel plate valve system for controlling the service and regeneration cycles of said pair of tanks comprising
- a first parallel plate valve means having a stationary plate and a movable plate having a first position and a second position,
- a second parallel plate valve means having a stationary plate and a movable plate having a first position and a second position,
- the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means having an input orifice for receiving hard water for softening,
- the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means having an output orifice for dispensing soft water to user service,
- the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means having two service orifices, one for connection to said service tank at the upper end thereof and the other for connection to said regeneration tank at the upper end thereof,
- the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means having two service orifices, one for connection to a conduit extending to the bottom of said service tank and the other for connection to a conduit extending to the bottom of said regeneration tank,
- the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means having a brine, backwash, and purge water orifice for connection to either of its service orifices,
- the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means having a brine, backwash, and purge water orifice for connection to either of its service orifices,
- the movable plate of said first parallel plate valve means and the movable plate of said second parallel plate valve means being operable together for connecting, in said first positions thereof, said input orifice to said one service orifice of the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means, and from said brine, backwash, and
- purge water orifice of the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means to said other service orifice of the stationary plate of said first valve means, and said output orifice to said one service orifice of said stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means, and from said brine, backwash, and purge water orifice of the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means to said other service orifice of the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means, and for connecting in said second positions thereof said input orifice to said other service orifice of the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means, and from said brine, backwash, and purge water orifice of the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means to said one service orifice of the stationary plate of said first parallel plate valve means, and said output orifice to said other service orifice of the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means, and from said brine, backwash, and purge water orifice of the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means to said one service orifice of the stationary plate of said second parallel plate valve means.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.