US1022560A - System for softening water. - Google Patents

Description

J. T. LEMON.

SYSTEM FOR SOFTENING WATER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY20,1910.

1,022,560, Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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COLUMBIA FLANOORAPH co.,wAsHlNOTON. D.'c.

, J. T. LEMON. SYSTEM FOR SOFTENING WATER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULYZO, 1910.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASNINGTON, u. c.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. LEMON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SYSTEM FOR SOFTENING WATER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. LEMON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Softening WVater, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved system for softening water.

As is well known, in certain localities, the water contains a considerable percentage of alkali and other substances which tend to render the water hard, so that it is unsatisfactory for use for certain purposes. It has been the custom in recent years, to soften the water through the addition of certain chemicals, whereby the water is rendered fit for use under conditions where it would be unsatisfactory if too hard; for instance, if used for washing and for steam boilers and the like.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to construct a simple, compact system which is especially adapted for use in large buildings, such as hotels, office buildings and the like, where room of installation is an object, yet a relatively great water supply is necessary. In this connection, I further aim to maintain the water and the chemicals under pressure preferably from a common power source, so that the system will embrace thedesired features of compactness, durability of construction and economy of operation.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the improved system set forth in and falling within scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figurel is a view illustrating diagrammatically the assemblage of the elements forming the system, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the chemical mixing tank, said View showing the pumping mechanism through which the chemicals are conveyed after mixing, Fig. 3 is a similar view showing more specifically the construction of the measuring devices for removing the chemicals from the tank, and, Fig. 4: is a detail view showing the means employed for regulating the quantity of chemicals delivered by the measuring devices.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the letter A designates Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1910.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 572,804.

a pump, which may be of any suitable character, and is adapted to draw the water from a well or wells, or other suitable source of supply. The outlet pressure pipe from the pump is shown at 1 and leads to the double coil B, the pipe 1 extending therethrough, the outside pipes 2 incasing the same.

The numeral 3 indicates a pipe which may lead from any suitable source, such as the heating system of the building, or the refrigerating plant, for the purpose of conveying hot water to the coil to slightly heat the water flowing through the pipe 1, or to convey the ammonia gas from a refrigerating plant to condense the gas and at the same time heat the water. After leaving the coil B, this pipe 1 leads to a suitable settling tank 0, preferably having a bafile 4. While this tank A may be of any suitable size and form of construction, still I prefer to employ the form of tank shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, that is, a relatively long horizontally disposed tank of boiler-like construction. This form of tank possesses manifest advantages over the vertically disposed tanks, inasmuch as the current of water being purified and flowing therethrough, may be drawn oil at the discharge end entirely free of sediment, whereas in the vertically disposed tanks, owing to the opposing currents set up by the inflow and outflow of the water, it is practically impossible to draw the water from the settling tank comparatively free from sediment unless such settling tank be of great size comparatively speaking.

The tank in which the chemicals are mixed is shown at D, said tank having arranged adjacent thereto in any suitable osition, the smaller tanks E and E in whlch the chemicals to be mixed, such as soda ash, lime, or the like, may be placed, the pipes 55 preferably controlled by valves 6-6, leading the chemicals into the tank D. It will of course be understood, that I may employ any suitable number of tanks for holding the chemicals. Within the tank extends the vertical shaft 7 carried by the frame 8 secured to the tank, said shaft being rotatable and carrying the mixing dasher 9 at the lower end thereof.

The numeral 10 designates a shaft extending transversely of the tank D and carrying the two part pulley 11, one portion of which is in driving connection with a belt 12 leading from the pulley 13 of the pump, while the opposite member, which is also carried by the shaft 10, is in driving engagement with the belt 14:, through the medium of which the vertical shaft 7 is rotated. Instead of the belt 12, I may employ any other suitable form of power transmission means.

Mounted upon the shaft 10 is a sprocket wheel 1-5 in driving engagement with the endless chain 16 carrying a series of small measuring and conveying cups or buckets 17 adapted in the movement of the chain to take the chemicals which are being mixed in the tank, and deposit the same into the relatively large bucket 18 communicating through the medium of the pipe 19 with the cylinder 20 of the pump F, the plunger 21 of the piston being connected to the eccentric 22 at the end of the shaft 10.

Leading from the chemical pump F is a branch pipe 28 preferably connected with the pipe 1 at a point adjacent to where such pipecommunicates wit-h the tank C, such as shown at 24, but I wish it to be understood that chemicals may be led into the-settling tank C separately instead of first being injected into the water pipe at a point outside of the tank.

The tank O is provided with a series of blow-off pipes 25 leading into the main 26, so that any chemicals collecting at the bottom of the tank after the settling, may be led off through the outlet 27 of the pipe 26. The water in the tank which is under pres sure, is forced out through the pipe line 28 and into one or more filters G, there preferably being a series of such filters, although I wish it to be understood that any suitable filtering device may be employed. From the filter or filters G, the water now purified and softened, is led out throughthe discharge end 29 of the pipe 30, whence it is conducted to any suitable source of storage, such as the tank on th top of the building, or to a place of distribution.

In order to regulate or control the quantity of softening chemicals delivered by the small cups, to the large bucket, I may provide any suitable means. In Fig. 4, I have shown a small trough or spout 31, movably connected to the frame 8, as at 32, and having the lever 33 connected therewith, whereby the small spout may be moved into and out of the path of discharge of the chemicals, to divert a portion of the same back to the tank D when it is desired to decrease the quantity of softening agent delivered to the water.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my system will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Preferably employing a. common pump, or common power mechanism,

the water is pumped through the pipe 1, and when desired through the warming or heating coil, into the settling tank, said pump also driving the shaft carrying the mixing and measuring devices located in the tank D. In softening water, it is preferable to have the proportion of chemicals to water, regulated and measured, and this is accomplished by the devices within the tank D. After the chemicals have been measured and passed to the pump F, the latter, which is also driven from the main pump or engine A, forces the chemicals into the tank along with the water, where the pressure from the pump A, forces the water from the tank to and through the filters to the storage tank or other suitable point of discharge, the chemicals settling to the bottom of the tank where they may be removed as heretofore described.

It will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly simple and compact system, which may be operated at an economy of cost and at a maximum capacity, such systerms being adapted especially for use in connection with large buildings as heretofore stated. Furthermore, while I have herein shown and described a particular arrangement of my system by way of illus-' from the spirit of the invention or exceeding 7 the scope of the claims.

What I claim, is

1. A system for softening water comprising pumping mechanism, a chemical mixer, an elongated settling tank constructed to permit an even and uninterrupted flow of the water therethrough, means for delivering the mixed chemicals to the water preceding its admission to the settling tank, and adjustable means for intercepting and returning any quantity of the mixed chemicals to the mixer.

2. A system for softening water comprising pumping mechanism, a chemical mixer, an elongated settling tank constructed to permit an even and uninterrupted flow of the water therethrough, means for delivering the mixed chemicals to the water preceding its admission to the settling tank,

and an adjustable trough for intercepting chemicals and returning any portion to said mixer.

4. A system for softening Water, comprising pumping mechanism, a chemical mixer, a receiving and delivery hopper for said chemicals, an endless bucket chain for elevating and pouring said chemicals into said hopper, an elongated settling tank for the uninterrupted passage of the chemicalimpregnated water therethrough, a trough for spreading the volume of mixed chemicals in delivery from said bucket chain to said hopper and returning a portion of the volume to saidmixer, and a handle for adjusting said trough to regulate the amount returned.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN T. LEMON. Witnesses:

J. P. EAGLESON, A. L. PHELPS.

Copies of this patent ma be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

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