US3253891A

US3253891A - Solid regenerating mineral container with external indicator

Info

Publication number: US3253891A
Application number: US199764A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Hiers
Original assignee: Union Tank Car Co
Current assignee: Union Tank Car Co
Priority date: 1962-06-04
Filing date: 1962-06-04
Publication date: 1966-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-31
Also published as: GB1035825A

Description

J. E HlERS 3,253,891 SOLID REGENERATING MINERAL CONTAINER WITH EXTERNAL INDICATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 31, 1966 Filed June 4, 1962 INVENTOR. James E. Hiers ArrY N QM

J. E. HIERS 3,253,891 SOLID REGENERATING- MINERAL CONTAINER WITH EXTERNAL INDICATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 31, 1966 Filed June 4, 1962 INVENTOR. James E. Hiers May 31, 1966 J. E. HIERS 3, 5

' SOLID REGENERATING MINERAL CONTAINER WITH EXTERNAL INDICATOR Filed June 4, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Jmnes E. Hiers United States Patent 3,253,891 SOLID REGENERATING MINERAL CONTAINER WITH EXTERNAL HJDICATUR James E. Hiers, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Union Tank Car Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 4, 1962, Ser. No. 199,764 Claims. (Cl. 23-272) This invention relates to water conditioning, and more particularly to regenerating mineral and liquid containers of the type usable in the systems disclosed by Benjamin H. Kryzer in United States patent application Serial No. 199,765, titled, Water Conditioning System, filed concurrently herewith on June 4, 1962, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention.

The regenerating mineral and liquid container in water softening systems of the type described in the abovementioned Kryzer patent application may be located in an area of normal activity in a dwelling. This enables the occupants of the dwelling to observe the container frequently as they go about their ordinary daily routine, and thus reminds the occupants to check the supply of undissolved regenerating mineral to ensure an adequate amount for proper operation of the system. Since it is desirable for the occupants to be able to ascertain when the solid mineral supply has been used up without opening of the container, my invention concerns improved means for indicating this condition externally of the container by employing movable means for supporting the solid mineral, and external indicating means operatively connected to the movable supporting means.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide improved regenerating mineral and liquid container for water conditioning systems.

Another object is to provide means for indicating externally of a regenerating mineral container the amount of solid mineral in the container.

Another object is to provide solid regenerating mineral containers for water conditioning systems with means for externally indicating when the solid mineral supply has been exhausted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification, drawing, and claims, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic, partially cross sectional, elevational view of a dwelling having a water conditioning system of the type in which my invention may be used.

FIGURE 2 is a perspetcive, partially broken-away view of a regenerating mineral container installation in accord FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, partially broken-away elevational view showing flow control means in accord with my teachings.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan cross sectional view taken along the line 88 in FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view on a reduced scale of a hollow tube employed in the flow control means of FIG. 7.

FIGURE 10 is a partially broken-away elevational I 3,253,891 Patented May 31, 1966 view of another embodiment of flow control means in accord with my teachings.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a housetype dwelling 10 having a water softening system of the type described in the aforementioned Kryze-r patent application. Briefly, the operation of such a system is as follows:

Hard water entering through the pipe 13 is conditioned by water softening means 15 to remove hardness causing minerals therefrom. The softening means 15 may include a bed 16 of conventional water softening minerals, such as zeolite. The operating cycles of the softening means 15 may be controlled by a master valve 17, which, for example, may be the type disclosed in US. Patent 3,215,273, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention. During the softening cycle, the valve 17 causes hard water from pipe 13 to flow through the bed 16 and then through a soft water supply pipe 18 to various places in the dwelling 10 where the softened water will be used. After the hard water has substantially exhausted the softening ability of the bed 16, a suitable timing mechanism associated with the valve 17 causes hard water to bypass the bed 16 for use in the dwelling, while regeneration of the bed takes place. During the regeneration cycle, hard water is diverted through a raw water inlet pipe 20 in a mixing compartment 21 in liquid-tight regenerating mineral and liquid container means 22. This may be accomplished through the use of fluid-drawing andflow-controlling means 23, such as a float type aspirator valve of the type disclosed in United States Patent 3,185,302, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention.

The container means 22 may include a substantially horizontal movable, preforated platform 25 for supporting solid regenerating mineral, such as salt tablets 26. Access to the interior of the container means may be achieved by a pivotable door 43, as more fully described hereafter. The platform 25 defines an upper solid regenerating mineral compartment 27 and a lower concentrated liquor compartment 28. A partition 35 isolates the mixing compartment from the rest of the container. Water from the pipe 20 flows through conduit means 24 into the

compartments

27 and 28 to dissolve the solid mineral 26 to produce a concentrated regenerating liquor.

During the regenerating cycle, the means 23 causes the concentrated liquor to flow from the compartment 28 through conduit 24 into mixing compartment 21, where it is diluted with water from the conduit 20 so as to produce the regenerating liquid, which flows through an outlet pipe 29 into the bed 16 and there regenerates the water softening minerals inthe known manner. The

. container means 22 may include means 93 for controlling the amount of concentrated liquor flowing into the compartment 21, as more fully described hereafter. After a predetermined amount of regenerating liquid has flowed through the bed 16, the bed is backwashed and water is caused to flow into the

compartments

27 and 28 to produce the concentrated liquor for the next regeneration cycle.

The container means 22 may include an overflow pipe 30 so that in case malfunctioning causes excessive liquid to flow, the liquid will be discharged into a waste line 31 which empties into the sewer 32 from the dwelling 10, rather than overflowing into the dwelling. The master control valve 17 also has a waste dischargeline 33 emptying into the sewer 32 for discharge of the used regenerating liquid and backwash flow. The container may be provided with means 34 for visibly indicating the amount of regenerating mineral therein, as more fully explained hereinafter.

FIGS. 2-4 show in greater detail the construction of the container means 22 that permits easy access to the mineral compartment 27 for replenishing the supply of solid mineral. The container 22 is mounted in an opening 4t) in a substantially vertical panel 41 of suitable supporting means in a dwelling 10, such as a kitchen sink cabinet 42. Access to the compartment 27 is attained by pivoting outwardly from the panel 41 a door 43 that forms a portion of the containers front panel 36.

The door 43 may include an outer facade portion 44 and an inner slide portion 45, which acts as a chute for diverting the salt tablets 26 into the chamber 27, where they come to rest on platform 25; The door 43 is pivoted on hinge pins 46 secured to side walls of the container. Slots 47 provided in side portions 48 of the door receive the pins 46 and act as the bearings for the door assembly. A tab 49 is provided on the side portion 48 for acting as a stop by engaging an inwardly directed portion 50 of the container in order to hold the door at a suitable angle such as about 45 for causing the salt tablets to slide onto the platform 25. Thus, on pivoting the door 43 outwardly from the panel 41 and engaging the stop 49 against portion 50, the portion 45 acts as a chute onto which salt tablets can be dropped, whereupon they will slide into the compartment 27 and come to rest on the platform 25.

Since only the door 43 need be moved to load the container with mineral, the pipes, 20, 29, and 39 can be made from conventional rigid materials, rather than having to be flexible as in situations where the entire container is movable. As shown in FIG. 5, the mixing compartment 21 may include a partition 37 having holes 38 which the

pipes

20, 29, and 30 pass through at a height above the uppermost level reached by liquid in the compartment 21. Thus, the holes 38 and the holes 39, through which the pipes leave the container, need not have liquid-tight seals.

FIGS. and 6 illustrate means for indicating externally of the container the amount of solid regenerating min eral in the container, in order to alert the occupants of a dwelling when the solid mineral supply has been exhausted. The platform 25 may rest on suitable supports, such as channels 50 attached to the sides of the container. Suflicient clearance is provided around the periphery of the platform 25 so that it is vertically movable. The platform 25 is operatively connected to resilient biasing means, such as a compression spring 51, and to an externally visible pointer 52 by means of a motion transmitting member 53. The member 53 has an upwardly extending terminal end 54 passing through an opening 55 in the platform 25, and a portion 56 which passes beneath the platform 25 for supporting same. A portion 57 passes upwardly through a recess 58 and also passes through the spring 51; an abutment 59 is attached to the portion 57 so as to rest on the spring 51. 68 then passes sideways through an elongated slot 61 in the partition 35. A portion 62 passes along the partition 35 and then through an elongated slot 63 in the front panel or wall 36 of the container. A portion 64 passes downwardly along the front wall, and is connected to a portion 65 which terminates in an outwardly directed end 66 which is connected to the pointer 52 by being inserted into a slot 67-.

The lower end of spring 51 is supported by a bottom wall 70 in a receptacle 71, which is removably attached to the wall 35 by any suitable means such as screws 72. The dimensions of the various elements are such that when a spring 51 is not compressed by the weight of mineral tablets on the platform 25, the supporting portion 56 holds one end of the platform slightly above one supporting channel 50. It is thus apparent that as salt tablets are placed on the platform 25 their weight causes the platform to move downwardly; this draws the member 53 downwardly and causes the abutment 59 to compress the spring 51 against the bottom wall 70. Down- Ward movement of the member 53 causes the pointer end 67 to move downwardly, which causes its visible end A portion 52 to pivot upwardly about a pivot axis 71. As water flowing into the compartment 27 dissolves the mineral tablets and thereby decreases their weight, the spring 51 expands and pulls the platform 25 upwardly. Upward movement of the member 53 pivots the pointer 52 downwardly indicating that salt has been dissolved. By proper calibration of the spring and pointer assembly, the pointer 52 will point to the Add Salt indication on the outside of the container when all of the mineral tablets have been dissolved. Thus the indicating means'of my invention functions in the manner of a spring scale, since the weight of the mineral tablets serves to compress a spring which causes a pivoted pointer to move along a scale. The pointer 52 may be viewed through a window 75, such as glass plate covering an opening in a facade 76, which defines a protected space adjacent to the front wall 36 of the container.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the provision of means indicating externally of the container when the solid regenerating mineral within the container has been exhausted may be accomplished by expedients other than a moving pointer. For example, the end 66 of the member 53 may be employed to close a movable contact in an electric circuit and thus turn on a colored I light or sound an audible alarm such as a bell to indicate that the solid mineral supply has been exhausted.

FIGS. 5 and 7-9 illustrate a preferred embodiment of means which defines liquid flow conduit 24 and also provides the means for regulating the quantity of concentrated regenerating liquor flowing from the concentrated liquor compartment 28 into the mixing compartment 21, and thus controls the amount of the regenerating liquid flowing into the bed 16 during the regeneration cycle. A hole is provided at the bottom of the partition 35, and a hollow pipe 81 passes through the hole 80 and has one end secured to a hollow outer cylindrical tube 82. The tube 82 has a closed bottom end 79 and is provided with a substantially vertical slot 83 in its side wall. A hollow inner cylindrical tube 84 is telescopically received within the tube 82 so as to be rotatably supported thereby. The tube 84 has an opening 85 spiralling along a portion of its side wall. As shown in FIG. 7, the vertical slot 83 and spiral opening 85 coincide to define a passage 86 through which liquid flows from the interior of the tube 82 into the compartment 21, from where it can enter or leave the means 23 through one or more openings 87 in the lower end thereof.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of projections 88 on the interior surface of the tube 82 provides means for positioning the tube 84. A fluid-tight seal between the

tubes

82 and 84 is achieved by means of a channel shaped gasket 89 that lines the peripheral edge of the vertical slot 83 and is compressed against the inner wall of the tube 82 by the outer wall of the tube 84. Thus the passage 86 is the only opening in the flow-controlling means through which liquid can flow into or out of the compartment 21.

As stated previously, the tube 84 is rotatably supported by the tube 82. This is accomplished by securing a bevel gear 90 to the upper end of the tube 84. The peripheral edge of the gear 90 extends beyond the tube 82 and so that the underside of the gear rests on the upper end of the tube. The gear 90 mates with a gear 91 attached to a shaft 92 which protrudes through an opening in the front wall 36 and facade 76. A knob 93 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 92 and protrudes from the exterior of the container. Turning of the knob 93 rotates the gear 91 which, in turn, rotates the gear 90, and with it the attached tube 84. As the tube 84 rotates, a

different portion of the spiral opening 85 is brought into position mating with the vertical slot 83. Since the various portions of the spiral opening 85 occupy different vertical locations along the side of the tube 84, this rotation causes the passage 86 where the slot and groove coincide to move vertically. The vertical location of the slot 86 controls the volume of liquid flowing into the compartment 21 from the compartment 28 because flow will be stopped when the level of liquid in the compartment 28 is identical to the vertical location of the passage 86. The spiral opening 85 is continuous along the side of the tube 84, so continuous control at an unlimited number of positions is attainable between an upper and a lower limit determined by the terminal ends of the spiral opening 85.

To insure proper calibration of the slot 83 and opening 85, a pair of upstanding ears 95 are attached to the outside of the tube 82. A projection 96 is attached to the gear 90 so that rotation of the gear 90 will be prevented in either direction when the projection 96 engages either of the ears 95.

The tube assembly is securely held in place by providing threads 96 on one end of the pipe 81 and threading a nut 97 thereon. A projection 98 extends from on side of outer tube 82, and a screw 99 is passed through the partition 35 into the projection. A fluid-tight seal at the hole 80 is achieved by compressing an O-ring gasket 100 between the partition 35 and a shoulder 101 that extends from the pipe 81.

FIG. shows another embodiment of flow-regulating means 30 in accord with my teachings. The features identical to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 have been given the same number as used in the foregoing description. The inner and outer tubes mate to define the fluid flow passage in a different manner in the FIG. 10 embodiment. An outer tube 104 has a relatively large slot 105 that has one edge 106 which spirals around a portion of the tube. An inner tube 107 is provided with a substantially vertical slot 108. The inner tube 107 is attached to a bevel gear 90 that rotatably supports same on the outer tube 104 and otherwise functions as described with reference to FIGS. 7-9. Thus, rotation of the inner tube 107 will cause diflferent portions of the vertical slot 108 to be closed off by the edge 106 of the tube 104. This will regulate the flow of fluid into the chamber 21 in the same manner described previously with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9.

As shown in the broken-away portion of the FIG. 10, the inner and outer tubes may be machined to close tolerances so as to have a very tight fit, thereby eliminating the need for sealing means, such as the gasket 89 employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9.

An important feature of a container employing externally visible indicating means as described with reference to FIG. 6 and flow-controlling means as described with reference to FIGS. 710, is that openings such as 61 and 63 through which the connecting means 53 passes must be above the uppermost vertical location reached by the passage 86, defined by the coinciding slots in the flowcontrolling means. This will ensure that the only pas' sage for fluid from the chamber 28 into the chamber 21 is through the passage 86'where the tubes mate.

It has thus been shown that by the practice of my invention a container for solid regenerating mineral in a water softening system may be provided with a door that serves as an inclined chute for loading solid mineral therein and thus provides easy access for loading of the container. Since only the door is movable, liquid in the container will not be sloshed out of the container when it is opened for loading. Solid mineral placed on the chute will be slid. onto a movable platform that is connected through suitable means to an external indicator for alerting occupants of a dwelling when the supply of solid mineralhas been exhausted. Means for controlling the flow of concentrated regenerating liquor into a mixing compartment has been provided by a compact arrangement that allows continuous control between predetermined limits.

The means for attaining easy access to the container, the means for providing an external indication of the amount of mineral in the container, and the means for controlling the flow of fluid have been arranged in an integral container assembly in which they cooperate rather than interfere with each other. This is accomplished by locating the elongated openings through which pass the connecting means of the indicator assembly above the highest point reached by the coinciding slots in the flow-regulating means, and by locating the chutedoor assembly of the container above the movable part of the indicating means.

It will be understood, of course, that while the forms of the invention herein shown and described constitute preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not intended herein to illustrate all of the equivalent forms or ramifications thereof. It will also be understood that the words used are words of description rather than of limitation, and that various changes may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention herein disclosed, and it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) means defining a liquid compartment including means for supporting said solid mineral that is movable by solid mineral thereon,

(II) signal means for indicating by movement externally of said contained when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, and

motion transmitting means extending through an opening in said liquid compartment and operatively connecting said' supporting means to said signal means, said opening being located above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said liquid compartment.

2. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(1) means defining a liquid reservoir including platform means for supporting said solid mineral that is movable by solid mineral thereon,

(a) said platform means dividing said reservoir into an upper and a lower compartment,

(b) said platform means being located below the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said container, and

(II) means passing through an opening in said reservoir and being operatively connected to said platform means so as to indicate by movement externally of said container when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, said opening being above said uppermost liquid level. v

3. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and v (c) there being an opening through said platform means permitting liquid to flow between said upper and lower compartments,

(II) partition means defining a mixing compartment in the interior of said container,

(a) there being an elongated opening through said partition means communicating with said upper compartment,

(III) an outer wall of said container having an elongated opening therethrough,

(IV) means for indicating externally of said outer wall when said regenerating mineral has been consumed,

(V) motion transmitting means passing through said elongated openings in said partition means and outer wall and connecting said platform means to said movable indicating means so that the operation of said movable indicating means is deter-mined by the posi- I tion of said platform means and said elongated openings being above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said container.

4. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) means defining a liquid reservoir including substantially horizontal platform means for supporting said solid mineral and being movable by solid mineral thereon,-

(II) movable pointer means visible externally of said container for indicating when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, and

(III) motion transmitting means passing through an opening in said reservoir and connecting saidplatform means to said pointer means so the position of said pointer means is determined by the location of said platform means, said opening being located above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said reservoir.

5. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) means defining a liquid reservoir including platform means for supporting said solid mineral and being movable by solid mineral thereon,

(a) said platform means dividing said reservoir into an upper and a lower compartment, there being an opening in said upper compartment above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said reservoir,

(b) said mineral being received in said upper compartment,

(0) there being an opening through said platform means permitting liquid to flow between said upper and lower compartments,

(II) an outer wall of said container having an opening therethrough,

(III) movable means for indicating externally of said outer wall when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, and

(IV) means passing through said opening in said outer wall and said opening in said upper compartment and operatively connecting said movable indicating means to said platform means so that the operation of said movable indicating means is determined by the position of said platform means.

6. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which Water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) generally horizontal movable platform means for supporting said solid mineral,

(a) said platform means dividing said container into an upper and lower compartment,

(b) said mineral being received in said upper compartment,

(c) there being an opening through said platform means permitting liquid to flow between said upper and lower compartments,

(II) generally vertical partition means defining a mixing compartment,

(a) there being an opening through said partition means communicating with said upper compartment and being above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said container,

(II-I) an outer wall of said container having an opening therethrough,

(IV) movable means for indicating externally of said outer wall when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, and

(V) motion transmitting means passing through said opening in said partition means and outer wall and connecting said platform means to said movable indicating means so that the operation of said movable indicating means is determined by the position of said platform means.

7. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) movable platform means for supporting said solid mineral,

(a) said platform means dividing said container into an upper solid mineral compartment and a lower concentrated regenerating liquor compartment,

(b) said mineral being received in said upper compartment,

(II) partition means defining a mixing compartment on the interior of said container,

(III) an outer wall of said container having an opening therethrough,

(IV) means for indicating externally of said outer wall when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, (V) motion transmitting means passing through said opening in said partition means and outer wall and connecting said platform means to said indicating means, and I (VI) resilient means biasing said motion transmitting means so that the operation of said indicating means is proportional to the weight of solid mineral supported by said platform means.

8. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) movable platform means for supporting said solid mineral,

(b) said mineral being received in said upper compartment,

(a) there being an elongated opening through said partition means communicating with said upper compartment and being above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said container,

(III) an outer wall of said container having an elongated opening therethrough,

(IV) pointer means pivotally mounted on said outer wall for indicating externally of said container when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, and

(V) spring biased motion transmitting means passing through said elongated openings in said partition means and outer wall and connecting said platform means to said indicating means so that the operation of said indicating means is proportional to the weight of solid mineral supported by said platform means.

9. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(I) means defining a liquid compartment including platform means for supporting said solid mineral and being movable by solid mineral thereon,

(III) resiliently biased motion transmitting means passing through an opening in said liquid compartment and connecting said platform means to said pointer means so the position of said pointer means is proportional to the Weight of solid mineral supported by said platform means, said opening being above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said compartment.

10. A solid regenerating mineral container for a water conditioner of the type in which water flows over said mineral and dissolves same to provide an expendable regenerating solution, thereby consuming said mineral and necessitating replenishment thereof, said container comprising:

(II) pivotable pointer means visible externally of said container for indicating when said regenerating mineral has been consumed, and

(III) spring biased motion transmitting means passing through an opening in said liquid compartment and connecting said platform means to said pointer means so the position of said pointer means is proportional to the weight of solid mineral supported by said platform means, said opening being above the uppermost level normally reached by liquid in said compartment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 69,425 10/ 1867 Fisher 177-225 359,510 3/ 1887 Kimball 137577 544,817 8/1895 Luigart 312328 555,549 3/ 1896 Wornstaif 312328 596,006 12/ 1897 Meyer 177-225 761,144 5/1904 Caille 177-225 1,321,513 11/1919 Eaton 137--577 1,807,313 12/1931 Hines 177-225 1,898,812 2/ 1933 Bressler 210- 1,940,965 12/ 1933 Nash 210190 2,032,524 3/ 1936 Bobrick 23-267 2,265,225 12/1941 Clark 210--24 2,633,018 3/ 1953 McIlvaine 177-234 3,073,674 1/1963 Rudelick 23-272.6 3,089,508 5/ 1963 Schulze 23267 FOREIGN PATENTS 66,582 4/ 1957 France. 439,382 12/1935 Great Britain.

514,031 2/1955 Italy.

NORMAN YUDKOF-F, Primary Examiner.

S. EMERY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SOLID REGENERATING MINERAL CONTAINER FOR A WATER CONDITIONER OF THE TYPE IN WHICH WATER FLOWS OVER SAID MINERAL AND DISSOLVES SAME TO PROVIDE AN EXPENDABLE REGENERATING SOLUTION, THREBY CONSUMING SAID MINERAL AND NECESSITATING REPLENISHMENT THEREOF, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING: (I) MEANS DEFINING A LIQUID COMPARTMENT INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SOLID MINERAL THAT IS MOV(II) SIGNAL MEANS FOR INDICATING BY MOVEMENT EXTERNALLY OF SAID CONTAINED WHEN SAID REGENERATING MINERAL HAS BEEN CONSUMED, AND MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID LIQUID COMPARTMENT AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS TO SAID SIGNAL MEANS, SAID OPENING BEING LOCATED ABOVE THE UPPERMOST LEVEL NORMALLY REACHED BY LIQUID IN SAID COMPARTMENT.