Device for distributing and channeling liquid within a water treatment

A water softening device for use in a water treatment unit, the device comprising:

• a housing;
• an inlet formed at one end of the housing for admitting water to be softened;
• a softening material located in an upstream zone adjacent the inlet;
• a plate positioned in relative spaced relation to an opposite end of the housing;
• a downstream zone, free of softening material, located between the plate and the opposite end;
• openings formed in the plate to allow passage of softened water to flow between the upstream and downstream zones;
• a conduit longitudinally located in the housing and having a first open end communicating with the downstream zone;
• a second end of the conduit forming an outlet for the device;
• means for introducing a brine wash at the second end of the conduit for regenerating the softening material;
• check valve means located at the first open end of the conduit for allowing unidirectional flow of water undergoing softening from the downstream zone to the conduit, and restricting flow therebetween during brine regeneration of the softening material;
• and
• channels formed in the plate and having inlets communicating with the conduit and outlets communicating with the upstream zone for creating a separate flow path, in the absence of water undergoing softening, for distributing a regenerative brine wash directly between the conduit and the softening material, in a direction opposite that of water undergoing softening, the brine wash introduced at the second end of the conduit during brine regeneration.