US1775412A

US1775412A - Fluid-treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1775412A
Application number: US272761A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vernon L Tannehill
Original assignee: Fort Wayne Engineering & Manufacturing C
Current assignee: Fort Wayne Engineering & Manufacturing C; Fort Wayne Engineering & Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1928-04-25
Filing date: 1928-04-25
Publication date: 1930-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1947-09-09

Description

- Sgpt. 9, 1930.

y. L. TANNEHILL 7 1,775,412

FLUID I TREATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1928 Patented Sept. 19, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENNON L. TANNEHILL, 01 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO FORT WAYNE ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING 00., OF FORT WAYNE, TNIDIANA FLUID-TREATING APPARATUS Application 'filed April 25,

1 This invention relates to a fluid-treating apparatus.v

In fluid-treating devices, such for instance as water softeners, water heaters, or other fluid-treating devices, it is usually the case that the device will operate satisfactorily where a relatively small flow of fluid from the device is required, but when peak loads 1 occur, it has been found that the devices do not come up to the requirements of the peak loads, and consequently only imperfectl 7 treated fluid is delivered. On the other han from, the incomin 25 cl .the fluid-treating member, so that the uid within the apparatus is subjected several treating apparatus, which is so constructed that when any 10a s are placed upon the device, that is when fluid is'withdrawn therefluid causes a rapid circulation of the flui within the apparatus ast times to the uid-treating member. Consequently the maximum efliciency of the fluidtreating member, and the maximum capacity of the apparatus is utilized without any loweringin the effectiveness of the treatment,

and-without requiring a large size apparatus. 1 Further objects are to rovide a fluidtreating apparatus,"in whic a fluid-treating member is carried within a casing, and inwhich the incoming fluid operates means for "withdrawing fluid from one portion-of the casing and discharging it together with the incomin fluid adjacent the fluid-treating apparatus rom another point of the casing, so that there is no possible chance of a stagnant condition occurring adjacent the fluid-treating member.-

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which The figure in the drawing is a view partly I in section showing the apparatus as it appears when embodled in a water softener.

Referring to the figure, it will be seen that tion of the casing 1, thus. causing a very 100 'in any other suitable manner. portion of the tank communicates by way of 1928. Serial No. 272,701.

the device comprises a casin 1 which is a storage casing, and'which a so carries the softening material 2 and a bed of coarse gravel 3 adjacent its lower end. This coarse gravel surrounds a distributor 4 which may consist, as\shown in the figure, of an 'up-' right pipe-like member havin apertures and having distributing fins 5. T e storagetank 1 has a storage space 6 in its upper portion for the softened water. It may be provided with a removable cap 7 held in place in any suitable manner, as by means of the clamp shown. 1

Adjacent this tank a smaller tank 8 is positioned and is similarly equipped with a.

removable cap 9 held in place by a clamp, or

the pipe 10 with a pipe l1leading. to the distributor 4, and also communicates with .a pipe 12 leading to the waste or sewer. Valves 13 and 14 are interposed in the pipes 11 and 12. i

Preferabl above the tank 8 an ejector 15 is positione and isconnected at its discharge end with a pipe 16 leading to the upper portion of the tank 8. It is provided w1th an inlet portion 17 communicating with'the upper ortion of the main casing 1. The injector 1s further provided with a nozzle 18 connected to the hard water supply pipe 19, such pipe being valve 20. I

The upper portion of the casing 1 is connected by means of a pipe21 within a downwardly extendin waste pipe 22 controlled by the valve 23 an with an outlet pipe 24 for the softened water controlled by valve 25.

The o erationv of the apparatus is as follows ssuming that the water softeneris in normal operation andthatwater is with-' drawn therefrom through the discharge or outlet pipe 24 This water is replaced by the incoming freshwater from the pipe 19 which squirts downwardly through the nozzle 18 of The lower I preferably provided with a a the ejector and consequently sucks water from the upper portion of the casing 1 and passes itdownwardly together withth incoming water into the distributor at the lower pormuch increased volume of ,water to flow through the softening material.

It has been found from actual tests conducted with this device that a very much smaller quantity of softening material may be employed than has heretofore been possible, and that as the demand is increased the total quantity of water passed through the softening material increases very much more than the amount of water withdrawn from the softener. In other words, the softener has a very much increased capacity over the softeners as usually constructed, as it provides for the passage of the water several times through the softening bed.

In rejuvenating this softener, salt is placed in the tank 8 and the valve 25, is closed. The valve 23 is opened and consequently the in coming water dissolves the salt in the tank 8 and causes a circulation of brine upwardly through the softening material. It is to be noted that this brine passes through the softening material several times before it is discharged into the waste pipe 22. If desired, a period of soaking may be allowed, although it is not necessary with this type of device, as the brine is passed so many times through the softening material before it is finally discharged that complete rejuvenation takes place. In addition to this, the softening material is very much more thoroughly washed after the brine has been used up as the flow of water through the softening material is very much greater for the same size of apparatus than has heretofore been possible.

When it is desired to clean the salt tank 8 for any reason whatsoever, the valve 14 may be opened and the incoming water will then sweep downwardly through the auxiliary tank 8 and discharged to the waste pipe 12.

In addition to this, it may be desirable to drain the apparatus at certain times. For instance, when it is desired to drain only the salt tank 8, the

valves

13, 20 and 25 may be closed and the valve 14 opened. The cover can be removed from the salt tank and a comp ete draining can take place. On the other hand, if it is desired to drain the entire apparatus, the valve 13 may be opened, together with the valve 14. The valve 20 is'closed, and either the valve 25 and a faucet in the house is opened, or else the cover 7 is removed. This allows air to enter and a complete draining of the entire water softener may then be had.

It is to be noted particularly that with actual tests with water softeners, a certain rating may be obtained for the softening material. This rating, if given for a small flow of water, is very high and is never obtained in actual practice with the usual types of water softeners where a greater flow occurs. However, with this invention the high rating may be easily obtained as the flow through the softening material is many times greater than the actual quantity of water withdrawn from the apparatus. It is thus possible to have a smaller apparatus requiring'a less amount of material and a lesser-expense for the same quantity of discharged water than has heretofore been possible.

It is apparent that a by-pass pipe may be provided between the pipe 16 and the pipe 11, with suitable valves so that the circulating water may be by-passed around the tank 8 if required.

It will be seen that this invention can be applied to numerous other devices in which it is desired to cause the circulation of fluid past a fluid-treating member a number of times in proportion to the amount drawn from the apparatus.

It is therefore to be understood that although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim A fluid treating apparatus comprising a closed storage casing and an auxiliary tank, a fluid treating element in the storage casing, a valve controlled fluid outlet for said casing and a fluid inlet at one end of the casing for supplying fluid under pressure when the outlet is opened, the fluid inlet including a conduit in communication with one end of the auxiliary tank, a supply conduit leading to the tank, an injector connected to the supply conduit, a second unrestricted conduit forming communication between the storage casing adjacent the outlet end and the injector, whereby fluid under pressure in traveling through the inlet conduit will cause a positive re-circulation of a portion of said fluid through this conduit when the fluid outlet is opened.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana.

VERNON L. TANNEHILL.