US1632610A - Control mechanism for water softeners - Google Patents

Description

. 1,632,610 June 14, 9 LINDSAY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WATER SOFTENERS Filed July 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SOFT WATER I'M/P0 WATER In 1 676 of A y/v/v GL/NDJA softeners employing a pluralit Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF icE.

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common nc'namsu r03 warns sor'rnmins.

I Application ale d July 6,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in control mechanisms particularly designed for use in conjunction with water softeners such as are used in homes and other buildings to soften the hard water delivered thereto from the '1 1sual water mains of public or rivate water systems, and more particular y relates to such a mechanism adapted for remote control to automatically control the flow of water and brine solution through the apparatus-during the process of reconditioning or revivifying the mineral bed in the pressure tan thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism which may be constructed and assembled as a unit, and is adapted for use in connection with ordinary water 0 manually operable control valves, w ereby such an apparatus'may readily, and conveniently be converted. into an automatically operable device'adapted for remote control, in a minimum', amount of time. p

The particular object therefore of the invention is to provide an improved control mechanism for water softeners, and which mechanism is an improvement over the form shown in my rior co-pending application,

Serial No. 35,3 4, filed June 6, 1925.-

Other objects of the invention willap car from the following description and wi be pointedout in the annexed claims.

In the drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the inventionbut. it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made withinthe scope of the claims which follow.

' In the drawings,

Figurel is a view in perspective showing the improved control mechanism mounted upon a water softener of the form commonly known as an upward flow and upward reconditioning type, I Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the fittings of the control mechanism; a

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a form of an injector valve used in drawing the brine solution from thebrine tank and dischargingit intothe pressure tank; I

Figure 4-is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the restricted passage prefer trolled device.

1925.. Serial 10. 41,667.

ably provided through the discharge end of the hard water supply pipe to tank;

Figure 5 is a plan of one form of moto for operating the valves; Figure v6 is a detail vertical section showmg the normal position of the control mechanism of the motor;

Figure 7 is a view similar to .Fi showing the mechanism in. in or opening the valves.

7 n the selected embodiment of the invention here shown there is illustrated a water softener comprising the usual pressure tank 7 mounted upon suitable legs 8 and having a mineral bed 9 therein, as is customary in structures of this type. A hard water inthe brine re 6 process 0 clostake pipe 11 is connected with the lower por- I tion of the tank and has a distributor 12 connected thereto which is positioned within the tank and through which the hard, water is delivered to the tank. A union or pipe 14 is shown connected to the upper ortion of the pressure tank 7. This plpe eads to and is connected with the water distributing pipe within the building. A check valve 15 is interposed in the pipe 14 topre- 'vent the Water-in the houseli-ne from returning to the tank when the water pressure therein is released by draining the watertherefrom during the process of-" ii'Te-"eondh tioning the mineral bed. A pipe section 16 leads from the soft water outlet pipe 14 and is provided with a union or coupling 17 tov provide means for connecting it to the control mechanism.

A feature of'this invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of the control mechanism adapted to automatically control the flow of water and brine solution through the apparatus during the process of re-conditioning the mineral bed. 9 in thepressure tank. This control mechanism is.

so constructed that it may be assembled as a .unitand connected to a water softener of ordinary construction, and of the manually water softener into an automatically con- Apipe section 18is adapted to-have one end connected to theunion 13 of the hard water intake pipe 11 while its other end is operated type, thereby converting such a shown in the drawings;

in connection with the hard water supply pipe 19 through a pipe-fitting 21, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A pi e section 22, having one end connected to t e union 17 of the pipe connection 16, is also preferably connected to the i e-fitting 21 by means of a plug 23 and fitting 24 as shown particularl in Figure 2. nipple 25 15 mounted in the T-fitting 24 and has a valve '26, of ordinary construction, and preferably of the type commonly known as a whistle valve, connected thereto, the other end of which is connected to a drain pipe 27 as shown. When the valve 26 is opened, communrcation is established between the drain pipe 27 and the interior of the upper portion of the tank 7 so that the water contained therein under pressure may be drained therefrom.

A similar valve 28 is also interposed in,

the hard water supply pipe 19 adjacent the ipe fitting 21. This valve controls the how of raw water under pressure, and also the flow of brine into the pressure tank during the period in which the mineral bed is being ire-conditioned. The operating levers 29 of the valves 26 and 28 are operatively connected, by means of rods 31, to the man arms 32 of a control motor or device 33, preferably of the electrically operated type such as are commonly used in connection with heating apparatuses to automatically control the operation thereof. The control motor or device 33 is preferably mounted upon a supporting rod or standard 34 having its lower end suitably secured to the pipe fitting 21. Other electrically operated devices such, for instance, as a solenoid or relay, may also be employed to automatically operate the control control, instead of the particular type or, if desired a spring or weight actuated device or a watermotor may be employed without departing from the invention.

e means provided for drawing a predetermined quantity of brine from the brine tank 35 and delivering it into the pressure tank7 preferably consists in the provision of an injector valve 36, of ordinary construction, and which is sometimes called an ejector valve. (See Figure 3.) This injector valve is provided with the usual nozzle 37 connected to the hard water supply pipe 19 by means of the pipe sections 38 and 39 and the T-fitting 41 as shown in Figure l. The opposite end of the injector valve 36 is connected with the pipe fitting 21 by means of the pipe section 42, thereby establishin communication between the injector Va ve and the pipe fitting 21, and therefore the hard water intake pipe 11, through the pipe 'section 18. A ball valve 43, of ordinary construction, and having the usual float 44 adapted to float in the brine tank,

valves by remote is interposed between the T-fitting 41 and a similar fitting 45 having a pipe section 46 connected thereto through which hard water is delivered to the brine tank from the hard water supply pipe 19 during and following the re-conditioning operation of the apparatus. A cap 47, having a restricted assage 48 therein, is preferably mounte in the discharge end of the pipe section 46 to restrict the flow of water therefrom into the brine tank. (See Figure 4.) It will also be noted by reference to Figure 1 that the discharge end of the pipe 46 extends downwardly into the brine tank a distance sutiicient to insure that the minimum level in the brine tank will always be above the discharge end of the pipe, thereby preventing air from being drawn into the pipe during the re-conditioning period while the injector is in operation, which would ultimately be discharged into the pressure tank, thereby causing bubbles to rise therein with a resultant agitating of the mineral bed, and therefore a loss of mineral as a result of a portion thereof being discharged through the waste water pipe 6 and into the sewer.

A suction pipe 49 is mounted in the brine tank 35 and has its lower end preferabl' secured to a convex plate or disc 51 whic is spaced from the bottom of the brine tank and functions to draw brine evenly through the entire salt bed as well as to prevent particlcs of salt from being drawn into the pipe 49 when brine is being delivered to the pressure tank. The upper end of the suction pipe 49 is connected to one side of a check valve 52, of ordinary construction, having its other end in communication with the injector valve 36 by means of nipples 53 and 54, and the T-fitting 55. A similar check valve 57 is mounted between the hard water pipe 46, leading from the supply pipe 19 to the brine tank, and the T-fitting 55 which is in communication with the suction pipe 49, thereby establishing one-way circulation between the hard water pipe 46 and the T- fitting 55 during the operation of re-conditioning the mineral bed in the pressure tank. Unions or couplings 58 are preferably provided between the nipple 38 and the injector valve 36 and also between the nipple 54 and the valve, whereby the injector valve may readily and conveniently be removed from the control mechanism for such cleaning or repairing.

In the operation of this novel control mechanism in conjunction with a water softener, such as shown in the accompanying drawings, and when the valve :28 is open and the valve 26 is closed, as when functioning under normal operating conditions, hard water will flow from the pipe 19 through the open valve- 28, pipe fitting 21, pipe sections 18 and 11; through the distributor 12 and into the lower portion of purposes as 1 the brine tank, after which it will upwardly flow through the mineral bed 9 which will absorb the hardness of the water so that the resultant flow from the upper portion of the tank through the pipe 14 and check valve 15 will be soft water. During the normal operation of the water softenenthe circulation of water through the apparatus will be as above described.

After a predetermined amount of hard water has been passed through the mineral bed and softened, the mineral bed, as a result, loses its water softening characteristics after which it becomes necessary to re-condition the mineral bed before it agairi will be effective to soften the hard water passed therethrough. The process of re-conditioning the mineral bed to render it effective again as a water softener consists of passing a solution of salt water or brine therethrough, and thereafter rinse or cleanse the mineral substance with fresh water, after which the mineral again becomes active as a water softener.

The purpose of the novel control mechanism featured in this invention is to provide means for automatically controlling the flow of water and brine through the pressure tank during the operation of rc-conditiouing the mineral bed, which operation is performed periodically depending upon the amountof \\'atcr drawn from the apparatus.

In the operation of re-conditioning the mineral bed, as above mentioned, the control valve 28 is closed by the operation of the control motor 33 which operation will simultaneously open a similar valve 26 so that the water remaining in the pressure tank will be discharged therefrom through the waste water pipe 27 and into a sewer or other receiving means. As soon as the control valves 26 and 28 have been actuated by the motor, as above described, the hard water from the supply pipe 19 will be caused to' flow through the pipe section 39. T-fittihg 3i, nipple 38 and through the injector valve 36; thence through the pipe section 42 and back to the pipe fitting 21, after which it will downwardly flow through the pipe sections 18 and 11 and into the lower portion of the pressure tank. Such circulation of the water around the control valve 28 and through the injector valve 36 will cause a vacuum to be built up or generated in the intake 59 of the injector valve, which intake is connected with the suction pipe 49, through the nipples 53 and 5- T-tittiiig 55, and the check valve 52, thereby'causing a portion of the brine to be upwardly drawn into the suction pipe 49 and into the injector valve 36. The bri'ne thus delivered to the injector valve will be carried by the water flowing there through into the lower portion of the pressure tank and will upwardly circulate therethrough and into the pipe sections 16 and 44 lowers,

lowering of the 22 and through the open control valve 26; thence through the waste water pipe 27 and into the sewer. As soon as the brine begins to flow from the brine tank into the pressure tank, as above described, the brine level in the tank 35 will begin to lower, thereby causing the float valve 43 to open as the float caused by the flowing of the brine from the brine tank. Such discharging of the brine from the brine tank, however, will be interrupted after a predetermined quantity has been discharged therefrom and the ball valve 43 is opened sufficiently to cause the flow of hard water from the T'titting as through the check valve 57 and into the fitting 55, to cause a pressure to be built up in the nipples 53 and 54 which will cause the check valve 52 to automatically close and thereby interrupt the flow of brine from the brine tank. The above condition iscaused as a result of the restricted passage 48 in the discharge end of the pipe section 46, which is not of sufficient size to cause the full volume of water to be discharged therefrom when the valve 43 is open, thereby causing the aforementioned pressure to be built up in the nipples 53 and 54 and the pipe fitting 55, and thus causing the check valve 52 to close. water will thereafter continue to. flow through the injector valve 36 and also through the open ball valve 43 and into the pipe sections 42, 18 and 11 andinto the bottom of the pressure tank until the mineral bed has been sufiiciently cleansed after which the control motor 33 will be actuated to cause the valve 28 to be opened and the dis charge valve 27 to be closed after which the complete cycle of re-conditioning the mineral bed has been completed, and the apparatus is again ready for normal functions. Obviously, fresh water will continue to flow into the brine tank 35 until the maximum level of water or brine therein is attained after which the ball valve 33 will be closed and the flow of water therethrough interrupted. In the operation of the mechanism, it is to be understood that when the check valves 52 and 57 are so arranged that under normal operatingconditions the pressureof the portion of water flowing through the Hard ill)

injector valve will be sufficient to cause both check valves to remain closed, thereby pre venting the hard water from entering the brine tankwhen the ball valve 43 is in closed position. It will also be seen that during the process of re-conditioning the mineral bed, that as the ball valve -13 is opened by the brine level in the brine tank,

water will commence to flow through the check valve 57 whiclnafter a predetermined opening of the valve 43. will cause snfiicient pressure to be built up against the discharge side of the check valve 52 resulting in its being automatically closed to interrupt the flow of brine from the brine tank.

l'ii) venting any air from being drawn into the pressure tank and also insuring the eflicient operation of the apparatus as a whole.

The control mechanism may also readily and conveniently be detached from the pressure tank by simply uncoupling the pipe section 22 from the soft water pipe connection 16, and also the pipe section 18 from the hard water intake pipe 11 by means of the two unions or couplings 13 and 17 Any preferred form of motor may be used for simultaneously operating the hard, and waste water control valves, the construction of a commercial form of motor, which can be utilized for the present purpose, being illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7. No claim is made for 'the construction of this motor which is only illustrative of one form of the device adapted for use, as an element of the combination, for simultaneously operating the valves for the purpose described.

The device comprises a driven shaft 100 having the cranks 32 at opposite ends, arranged at an angle of 180, and in thisinstance vertical. The shaft is driven by a suitable power, in this instance a spring motor 101, said motor having gearing connecting it with the shaft 100. Means is provided for causing rotation of the shaft through successive arcs of 180, and latch v mechanism is provided for starting and stopping shaft rotation,

this effect being automatically produced by the following mechamsm:

A pair of coils 103 are suitably controlled by a circuit shown in diagram, in turn controlled by a suitable switch such as a push button. Upon theshaft 100 is secured a disc 104 having notches 105, as stops diametrically related. A lever 106 is suitably pivoted as at 107 and has an arm 108, as an armature for the coils, and further has an arm 109, the end of which is adapted to engage the disc stops as a pawl. Upon ener gizing the coils, the pawl is released, the shaft rotates, and the arm 109 rides against the periphery of the disc until it engages the succeeding notch, the weight.110 acting to maintain the en agement of the arm against the periphery o the disc. A governor shaft 112 carrying the wings 113, has an arm 115 engageable with the stop 115 of the armature, whereby, when the armature rises, as a result of the engagement of the pawl with the notch, the arm 114 engages the stop to prevent further rotation of the shaft 100, this being accomplished through a gear train suitably connecting the shaft 100 with the governor shaft. Thus. upon momentarily closing the switch 118, the pawl releases, the disc rotates through an arc of 180, then stops, and the valves can thus he made to close and open intermittently and alternately.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a bed tank having a hard water supply pipe, a valve for said pipe, a brine tank, pipe connections between the hard water pipe and brine tank, including an injector arranged for sucking brine from the brine tank when the hard water valve is closed, an auxiliary hard water pipe within the brine, a valve in the auxiliary line controllable by brine level, and pipe connections between brine and auxiliary hard water pipes, including automatically operable valves adapted to open toward the injector.

2. A device of the class described comprising a bed tank having a hard water supply pipe, a valve for said hard water pipe, a by-pass connecting the hard water ipe around the hard watagr valve and including an injector delivering in the direction of the with the suction side of the injector and said brine pipe having a check valve, an auxiliary hard water delivery pipe connecting the hard water supply with the brine tank, a valve in the auxiliary pipe adapted to be opened as the brine level is lowered, and a cross connection between said brine pipe and auxiliary pipe connecting at one end between the injector and check valve of the brine pipe, and at the opposite end between the valve and brine tank, and having a check valve therein.

3. A device of the class described comprising a bed tank havin hard water supply pipe, a soft water de ivery pipe, and a waste water discharge pipe, said hard water and waste water pipe each having a valve, a by-pass connecting the hard water ipe around the hard water valve and inclu ing an injector delivering in direction of the tank, a brine tank, a brine pipe connectin with the suction side of the injector, sait l brine pipe having a check valve, an auxiliary hard water delivery pipe connectin the hard water supply with the brine tan and having a reduced diameter within the brine, a valve in the auxiliary pipe adapted to be opened as the brine level islowered, and a cross-connection between said brine pipe and auxiliary pipe, connecting at one end between the injector and check valve of the brine pipe, and at the opposite end between the valve and brine tank, and having a check valve therein, and common means operable to substantiall simultaneously open the around the hard water valve, including an waste water va ve and close the hard water injector delivering in direction of the tank, valve and vice versa. 1 a brine tank, a brine pipe connecting with 4.- A device of the class described compris' the suction side of the injector and leading ing abed tank having a hard water supply to the bottom of the brine tank and having pipe. said hard water supply pipe having a check valve adapted to open toward the a valve, a brine tank, and an auxiliary hard injector, an auxiliary hard water delivery water supply pipe leading thereto, said pipe connecting the hard water supply wit auxiliary pipe having a valve controlled by the brine tank and having a reduced diamthe brine level, a" hard water by-pass con- 'eter within thebrine, a float controlled valve nection with the bed tank around said hard in the auxiliary pipe adapted to be opened water control valve,'said by-pass having an as the brine level is lowered, and a crossinjector therein operating toward the bed connection between-said brine pipe and tank, andhaving a suction pipe connect on auxiliary pipe, connecting at one endbei with the brine, a check valve in the brine tween the injector and check valve or the suction connection, opening toward the inbrine pipe, and at the other endbetween jector, and pipe connections between the the float valve and brine tank, and having brine suction pipe and auxiliary hard water a check valve therein adapted to open toward pipe, including a check valve arranged to the. injector. 7 weaken injection effects and build up back 7. .A device ofthe class described comprispressure between the brine pipe check valve, mg a bed tank having a hard water supply and the injector. tank, a soft water delivery pipe, and a waste 5. A device of the class described comwater dis barge p pe, said hard water supprising a bed tank having a hard waterply pipe and soft water deliverypipe each supply pipe, said hard water .pipe having a having a valve,'a brine tank and an auxiliary valve, a by-pass connecting the hard water hard water suppl pipe leadin thereto said pipe around the hard water valve, including pipe having a valve controlle byfthe brine an injector delivering) in direction of the level, a hard water'by-pass connection with tank, a brine tank, a rine pipe connecting the bed tank around said' hard water control with the suction side of the injector, and valve, said by-pass havin an injector therehaving a check valve adapted to open toward in operating toward the ed tank, and havthe injector, an auxiliary hard water deing a suction pipe connection with the brine, livery pipe connecting the hard water supa check valve 1n the brine suction connection ply with the brine tank, a float controlled opening toward the-brine tank, pipe convalve in the auxiliary pipe adapted to be nections between the brine suction and auxili opened as the brine level is lowered, and a iary hard water pipes including valves cross connection between said brine pipe" and arranged to weaken 1nj ector efiects and build auxiliary pipe, including a check valve, for up back pressure between the brine pipe building up a back pressure, to annul succheck valve and the injector, and common tion effects in the brine pipe when the brine means for substantially simultaneousl operreaches a predetermined level. ating the hard water and drain va ves to 6. A device of the class described comprisclose one and open the other, and vice versa.

. ing a bed tank having a, hard water sup ly In witness whereof, I have hereunto set pipp, said hard water pipe having a v ve, my hand this 30th day of June, 1925. a y-pass connecting t e hard water pipe LYNN G.-.LINDSAY.

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