Water softening apparatus and associated method for sensing depletion of salt in a brine tank
OwnerPaul A. Teel, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water softening apparatus (10) comprises a regeneration tank (12) and a brine tank (14). An ion exchange resin (26) is located within the regeneration tank (12) and salt (38) is located within the brine tank (14). Water mixes with the salt (38) in the brine tank (14) to form a brine solution. A tube (56) is connected with the brine tank (14) and receives a flow of brine solution from the brine tank (14). A sensor (86) is mounted in the tube (56) for sensing the conductivity of the brine solution as the brine solution flows through the tube (56). The sensor (86) generates a signal indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution. The conductivity of the brine solution is indicative of an amount of salt in the brine solution.
Claims20
A water softening apparatus comprising:
- a regeneration tank for receiving hard water and for outputting softened water;
- an ion exchange resin located within the regeneration tank for exchanging hardness ions in hard water with sodium or potassium ions;
- a brine tank for holding salt to mix with water to form a brine solution, the brine solution periodically being input into the regeneration tank to regenerate the ion exchange resin;
- a sensor for generating an oscillating output signal having a frequency that is indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution;
- and
- a controller for receiving the output signal of the sensor and monitoring the frequency of the output signal over a period of time to determine whether a change in the frequency of the output signal exceeds a threshold amount, change in the frequency exceeding a threshold amount being indicative of depletion of salt in the brine tank.
A method performed within a water softening apparatus, the method comprising:
- exchanging hardness ions in hard water with sodium or potassium ions via an ion exchange resin located within a regeneration tank;
- mixing salt with water to form a brine solution within a brine tank;
- inputting brine solution into the regeneration tank to regenerate the ion exchange resin, the inputting occurring via flow through a tube connected with the brine tank and the regeneration tank;
- sensing the conductivity of the brine solution as the brine solution flows through the tube;
- and
- generating an oscillating output signal having a frequency that is indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution, the conductivity of the brine solution being indicative of an amount of salt in the brine solution.
A water softening apparatus comprising:
- a regeneration tank for receiving hard water and for outputting softened water;
- an ion exchange resin located within the regeneration tank for exchanging hardness ions in hard water with sodium or potassium ions;
- a brine tank for holding salt to mix with water to form a brine solution, the brine solution being input into the regeneration tank to regenerate the ion exchange resin;
- a tube connected with the brine tank for receiving a flow of brine solution from the brine tank during regeneration of the ion exchange resin;
- a sensor at the tube for sensing conductivity of the brine solution as the brine solution flows through the tube, the sensor generating a signal indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution, the conductivity of the brine solution being indicative of an amount of salt in the brine solution;
- and
- an inlet water line connected to the connecting tube for supplying water to the brine tank and for inputting water to the regeneration tank, the inlet water line is interposed between the regeneration tank and the sensor so that, upon supplying water to the brine tank, water flows over the electrodes of the probe of the sensor to rinse the electrodes.
A water softening apparatus comprising:
- a regeneration tank for receiving hard water and for outputting softened water;
- an ion exchange resin located within the regeneration tank for exchanging hardness ions in hard water with sodium or potassium ions;
- a brine tank for holding salt to mix with water to form a brine solution, the brine solution being input into the regeneration tank to regenerate the ion exchange resin;
- a tube connected with the brine tank for receiving a flow of brine solution from the brine tank during regeneration of the ion exchange resin;
- a sensor at the tube for sensing conductivity of the brine solution as the brine solution flows through the tub, the sensor generating a signal indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution, the conductivity of the brine solution being indicative of an amount of salt in the brine solution;
- wherein the sensor generates an oscillating output signal, the controller monitors for a change in a frequency of the output signal relative to time as a result of the change in impedance of the brine solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.