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US 5,171,431 AGranted
Electronic lime controller with controls responsive to flow rates and water hardness
OwnerHartmut Schulteinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic lime controller for controlling lime adjusts for water hardness and the water flow rate in a water system. The controller includes a control for adjusting the frequency of a controller output signal which creates a magnetic field via first and second coils wrapped around a pipe to adjust the controller for changing water flow rates. The controller also includes a control for adjusting the amplitude of the controller output signal based on water hardness rates which generates the magnetic field via the first and second coils.
Claims19
An electronic lime controller for a water system comprising:
- a first controller having an output and including a potentiometer, said first controller outputting a control signal at said first controller output, the level of said first controller control signal controlled by said potentiometer;
- a second controller having an output, said second controller outputting a control signal at said second controller output;
- a variable frequency signal source having an output, said variable frequency signal source outputting an output signal having a variable frequency at said output, said variable frequency signal source including an input coupled to said first controller output, said variable frequency signal source responsive to said first controller control signal for generating said output signal whereby the frequency of said output signal generated by said signal source is adjustable for different water flow rates;
- an output driver having an input coupled to said output of said variable frequency signal source to receive said output signal of said variable frequency signal source and coupled to said output of said second controller, wherein said output driver generates a driver output signal as a function of said output signal of said variable frequency signal source and said second controller control signal;
- and
- at least one output conductor coupled to said output driver and located proximate to said water system whereby said controller output signal is applied to said at least one conductor and generates an electromagnetic field through which water in said water system flows for controlling lime in said water.
3 more elements
An electronic lime controller for a water system comprising:
- a first controller having an output, said first controller outputting a control signal at said first controller output;
- a second controller having an output, said second controller outputting a control signal at said second controller output;
- a variable frequency signal source for producing an output signal having a variable frequency, the signal source including an input coupled to said first controller output whereby said variable frequency signal source is responsive to said first controller control signal to adjust the frequency of said output signal generated by said signal source for different water flow rates;
- an output driver coupled to said signal source to receive said output signal of said signal source and coupled to said output of said second controller to receive said second controller output signal, wherein said output driver generates a driver output signal as a function of said second controller control signal whereby a signal level of said driver output signal is adjustable for different water hardness levels;
- at least one output conductor coupled to said output driver and located proximate to said water system whereby said controller output signal is applied to said at least one conductor and generates an electromagnetic field through which water in said water system flows for controlling lime in said water;
- and
- a constant frequency signal source coupled to said variable frequency signal source, said constant frequency signal source generating a constant frequency output signal which is applied to said variable frequency signal source.
4 more elements
An electronic lime controller for a water system comprising:
- a first controller having an output, said first controller outputting a control signal at said output;
- a second controller having an output, said second controller outputting a control signal at said second controller output, wherein said second controller includes a potentiometer for adjusting the level of said second controller control signal;
- a variable frequency signal source for producing an output signal having a variable frequency, the signal source being coupled to the first controller output to receive said first controller output signal, said variable frequency signal source responsive to said first controller control signal whereby the frequency of said output signal generated by said signal source is adjustable for different water flow rates;
- an output driver coupled to said variable frequency signal source, said output driver receiving said output signal of said variable frequency signal source and coupled to said output of said second controller to generate a driver output signal as a function of said second controller control signal whereby said driver output signal is adjustable for different water hardness levels;
- and
- at least one output conductor coupled to said output driver and located proximate to said water system whereby said controller output signal is applied to said at least one conductor and generates an electromagnetic field for controlling lime in water in said water system.
3 more elements
An electronic lime controller for a water system comprising:
- a first controller having an output, said first controller outputting a control signal at said output;
- a second controller having an output, said second controller outputting a control signal at said second controller output;
- a variable frequency signal source having an output, said variable frequency signal source outputting a variable frequency signal at said signal source output, the signal source including an input coupled to said first controller output whereby said variable frequency signal source is responsive to said first controller control signal to adjust the frequency of said variable frequency signal generated by said variable frequency signal source for different water flow rates;
- an output driver having an input coupled to said output of said signal source to receive said variable frequency signal and coupled to said output of said second controller to receive said second controller output signal, said output driver having an output, wherein said output driver generates a driver output signal as a function of said output signal of said signal source and said second controller control signal;
- at least one output conductor coupled to said output driver and located proximate to said water system whereby said driver output signal is applied to said at least one conductor and generates an electromagnetic field for controlling lime in water in said water system;
- and
- a voltage-to-current converter having an input coupled to said output of said second controller and an output, said voltage-to-current converter responsive to said second controller control signal for outputting a current signal proportional to said second controller control signal, said voltage-to-current converter output coupled to said driver whereby said current signal is applied to said output driver.
4 more elements
An electronic lime controller for a water system, comprising:
- a first controller having an output and including a potentiometer, said first controller generating a first controller output signal, the level of said second controller output signal controlled by said first controller potentiometer;
- a second controller having an output and including a potentiometer, said second controller generating a second controller output signal, the level of said second controller output signal controlled by said second controller potentiometer;
- a variable frequency signal generator having an output, said variable frequency signal generator generating an output signal having a variable frequency at said signal generator output, said signal generator having an input coupled to said output of said first controller to receive said first controller output signal, whereby the frequency of said output signal of said variable frequency signal generator is a function of the magnitude of said first controller output signal;
- a driver having an input coupled to said variable frequency signal generator and coupled to said output of said second controller, said driver having an output, said driver generating a driver output signal as a function of said output signal of said variable frequency signal generator and said second controller output signal, whereby a signal level of said driver output signal is adjustable as a function of said second controller output signal for different water hardness levels of water in said water system;
- and
- at least one conductor coupled to said output of said driver and located proximate to said water system whereby said driver output signal is applied to said at least one conductor and generates an electromagnetic field for controlling lime in water in said water system.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.