US2665251A

US2665251A - Water softener

Info

Publication number: US2665251A
Application number: US115324A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mendenhall Alfred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-09-13
Filing date: 1949-09-13
Publication date: 1954-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-05

Description

Jan. 5, 1954 A. MENDENHALL 2,665,251

WATER SOFTENER Filed Sept. 13, 1949 di -171w! Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 665,251 WATElt s ofiriiir'iiit Alfred Mendenhall; Dayton; Ohio Application semester 13, i549, seiii so. near 5 Claims;

invention relates totvate'r softeners and more particularly tocontrol apparatus for the regeneration thereof.

As is wen known, water softening devices comprise essentially a bed of minerals having the property of a special kind of filter that it is capable of removing from water passed therethfoiigh the substances and characteristics which filake ror fh ard" water. After sperms or use theniinerab'd Will lose its ability tore-1 more such substances and must be regenerated or reactivated. This is done by' passing a brine solution through the bed. Ordinarily the brine new is preceded By a backwashing of the mineral bedto remove foreign matter therefrom and is followed by a rinse of the mineral bed to wash out the brine. Inasmuch as water softeners are very Widely used in the so-called hard water areas, both in homesand places of business, consid'rable design more has been direted toward simplifying the regenerating apparatus and process to make the operation substantially automatic. It ishighly desirable" to relieve" the operator of the necessity of timing the severalphases of the operation and of the necessity of makinga plurality of control adjustments. Automatic softeners a e heretofore been known requiring but a; single manual operation in regenerating as,- for example, the pushing of a button or turning of a lever. To' achieve such automatic control, however, the prior art softeners have had to rely upon complicated and extensive control devices which have so raised the price of the automatic softeners as to place them beyond the reach of most home" owners. Moreover, some of the known control devices" are" unreliable. Those employing clock mecha-" nisms' are likely to get out of order. Those utilizing principles of balanced water pressureare subject to misope'rationshould the a'vailal'ole water pressure vary, as it frequently does. I

The instant invention proposes softener which is as fully automatic in its regeneration as those considered above but which is more simple in structure; less expensive of manufacture and more reliable in operation. To produoe a softener so characterized is a principal object of the invention.

Thus-, the object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode or operation of a device as disclosed herein, whereby such units may not only be economical;

1y manufactured; but was be more eflicient, de}

pendable and a'curate in use; having relatively parts and be unlikely to get out or repair;

. nb owe fifth n n i n i to pr n a valve control device for water softener sys t'ems' in which the number of moving parts is reduced to a minimum; the valves employed bein'g' simply andcheaply constructed and control of the waterflowbeing accomplished with relatively few adjustments of the valves.

A further object of the invention is td lllitOlZ- porate' time delay apparatus the valve control device which" avoids the difficulties' and exp'en sive' construction of the clock and water pressure balanced mechanisms heretofore known and used. Stil1 another object of the invention is to utilize a principle o'f stilt-contained hydraulic pressure to interpose time delays in' the operation of the valves. A till further object is" to enable the hydraulic fiuidto be regulated with respect to individual valves for predetermined timed movement of the valves. v

A still further object of the invention, as applied to water softeners of the single tank type, is to provide for automatic exhaustion of water from the salt p0 A further object of the invention is to provide a' device possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned. V Wi'th' the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be pro tected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as herein after described or illustrated in the accompanyingdra'wings; or their equivalents.

Referringto the accompanying drav'ving, wherein is found" the preferredbut obviously not necessarily the only form" of embodiment of the invention, v v I Fig. 1 a SmaIlscal'e; partly diagramm'atir': view, of a water softener system in accordance with the instant in ention;

Fig. 2 is a view Qn'gitudinal section or the water fio'w valve control device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on use 3:3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a' section taken an une 4 4" or Fig. 2'.- Like parts are indieatedby similar charactfs or reference throughout the seier'ai viewe Referring to 1re dr awines; the invention is disclosed in connect i1 with a water softener" of the; single tank type; that is, one these a t q iet he tenet ihqn e 'e a which filled prior to each regeneration of the system.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, a tank It! is provided containing a bed of minerals and open at its top to receive a salt pot A lid l2, held in place by a clamp l3, normally closes the top of tank It) and the top of the salt pot. The bottom of the salt pot is open into the tank and defines a seat |4 facing the tank for a check valve 5 spring urged upon the seat. Accordingly flow may take place from the salt pot into the tank but reverse flow is denied. Plumbing connections to the tank I0 and salt pot include a pipe l6 communicating with the bottom of the tank, a pipe line I! communicating with the top of the tank, and a pipe line l8 communicating with the top of the salt pot.

The opposite ends of the pipe lines l6, l1 and H3 terminate in a fluid flow valve control device l9 to which is further connected pipe lines 2|, 22 and 23 communicating respectively with a. source of water supply, a plate of drain and a line of water utilization, as, for example, the household distributing system. The device I9 is mounted adjacent to the tank I0 either upon the tank or independently thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, the device I0 is made up of a plurality of

cast frame members

24, 25 and 26 stacked one upon another and bolted or otherwise secured together to form a unitary body The lower body member 26 presents a horizontal wall 21 and a vertical wall 28, the latter making a sealing contact with a horizontal wall 29 at the base of intermediate body member 25. Vertical wall 28, together with

horizontal walls

21 and 29, defines a chamber 3| on one side thereof and another chamber 32 on the opposite side thereof. Chamber 3| has an opening receiving pipe 2| and so serves as the inlet of the valve device. Beneath the horizontal wall 27, the body member 26 is formed with

separated chambers

33, 34 and 35 respectively receiving pipes 23, I6 and I8. Thus, chamber 33 represents the outlet to the household system, chamber 34 communicates with the bottom of tank l0 and chamber 35 communicates with the top of the salt pot Intermediate body member 25 is formed, in addition to horizontal wall 29, with spaced apart

vertical walls

36 and 31 defining with the end walls of the body member

cylindrical chambers

38, 39 and 4|. Chamber 38 overlies chamber 32 in member 26 and registers with chamber 33 therein. Chamber 39 overlies chamber 32 and registers with chamber 34. Chamber 4| overlies and registers with chambers 3| and 35. Chamber 38 receives pipe 22 and so is in communication with a place of drain. Chamber 39 receives pipe I! and so is in communication with the top of tank l0. Chamber 4| is connected to chamber 34 by way of a passage 42 and so is in communication with the bottom of tank Ill.

The

horizontal walls

21 and 29 are ported at places of alignment with

chambers

33 and 38,

chambers

34 and 39 and

chambers

35 and 4|. Surrounding such ported areas in the wall 21 and facing upward in the chambers 3| and 32 are rings seals 43 defining individual valve seats upon the wall 21'. Surrounding such ported areas in the wall 29 and facing downwardly in the chambers 3| and 32 are ring seals 44 defining individual valve seats upon the wall 29. The

seats

43 and 44 are thus aligned and oppositely disposed with respect to one another. Reciprocable between the pairs of oppositely facing valveseats are

respective valves

45, 46 and 41, provided with oppositely extending stem portions having respective bearings in the

walls

21 and 29. The valves thus are duofunctional, valve 45, for example, acting in a first or upper position of adjustment to close communication between

chambers

32 and 38 and to open communication between

chambers

32 and 33 and acting in a sec- 0nd and lower position of adjustment to close communication between

chambers

32 and 33 and to open communication between

chambers

32 and 38. Valve 4'! performs similar functions in alternately connecting chamber 3| to chamber 35 or chamber 4|. Coil springs 48 are arranged to bear against the downwardly extending stems of the valves to urge them upward upon the seats 43.

Disposed in each chamber38, 39 and 4| is means for effecting and controlling motion of the

valves

45, 46 and 41 between their

seats

43 and 44. Inasmuch as such means are in each case identical, a description of one will suffice for all. Vertically arranged in the

chamber

38, 39 or 4| is a cylindrical hanger bracket 49 h av-; ing at its upper'end an outturned flange clamped between the upper end of body member 25 and the lower end of body member 24 and having at its lower end an inturned flange surrounding the upwardly projecting stem of the valve. Slidably mounted in the bracket 49 is a tubular sleeve 5| closed at its upper end. Within sleeve 5| is a Sylphon bellows 52 connected at its upper end to the closed end of sleeve 5| and at its lower end to the inturned flange on hanger 49. Surrounded by the bellows 52 is a smaller sleeve 53 secured at its upper end to the closed end of sleeve 5| and formed with an inturned flange on its lower end in closely surrounding relation to a piston rod 54. Within sleeve 53 is the piston rod 54 having a head portion abutting the lower end of the sleeve and a stem portion extending axially downward toward the valve stem and in alignment therewith. A compression spring 55 is interposed between the sleeve 53 and a cup or head 56 on the opposite end of the piston rod 54 tending to maintain the rod and cup in the positions indicated.

The bellows 52, in conjunction with hanger 49 and sleeve 5| seals the upper end of the

chamber

38, 39 or 4|. According to the operation of each bellows assembly, the depression or axial downward movement of the sleeve 5| serves to con-. tract the bellows 52 and tends to carry sleeve 53, rod 54, spring 55 and cup 56 also downward as a unit. As the cup 56 engages the end of the valve stem, the force of spring 55 is sufliciently D greater than the opposing force of spring 48 as to cause the valve to move downward with the bellows assembly from its seat on seal 43 to .a' seat on seal 44. Continued motion of the bel-I lows assembly is accomplished relatively to the valve and to the piston rod 54, compressing the spring 55 which thus exerts a strong thrust in a direction to seat the valve on seal 44 and in a direction to raise the bellows assembly. When the bellows assembly is permitted to rise, the early part of such travel takes place relatively to the valve and piston rod 54. As the sleeve 53' engages and lifts piston rod 54, however, theJensuing motion is followed by the valve which rises under the influence of its spring 48' and-returns to a seat on seal 43. i r 11' Operation of the several bellows assemblies isaccomplished by individual overlying cams 58" secured to a rotatable shaft 59 passed transverse-i ly through the upper body element. 24. The: shaft 59 has bearings in the end wallsi'oftbo'dyli member 24 and intermediate beaiihss'in'a rib 69' and vertical wall 61.- One end of the shaft extends outside the body of the valve device and has fastened thereto" a lever 62 for manual turning of the shaft. The cams 58, as seen in Fig. 4, bear directly upon the sleeves of the bellows assemblies and have; each; a high point which, when presented to the sleevesby rotation of the shaft 59 depresses the bellows assembly.

" A vertical Wall 6| divides the interior of body member 24 into a first chamber 63 overlying chamber 38 in member 25 anda second chamber 64 overlying

chambers

39 and 4|. Communication between the chambers 63 and 63 and the underlying chambers in body member 25 is pre- .J

vented by the sealingaction of the intermediate bellows assemblies. The tops of the chambers 63 and- 64 are defined by a horizontal wall 65' around the periphery of which is an upstanding rim E6. A closure cap 6'! is seated on the rib 66 and defines in conjunction therewith, and with the wall 65, a Well or reservoir 68. The reservoir 68 is filled or substantially filled with a hydraulic liquid, such as oil. Similarly, the chambers 83 and 64' are completely filled with oil, which may flow thereto from the reservoir by way of respec-' tive check valves s9 and H mounted in wall 55. Other means of communication between the reservoi-r 68 and the chambers 63 and 54 are represented by respective relatively large openings 12 and 13- in wall 55 and relatively small openings or orifices M and 15 therein. Flow through the openings 12 and i3 is controlled by poppet type valves 18 and Ti located in the reservoir and having stems passed. downward into contact with the sleeve 5| of an associated bellows assembly. In the case of valve 16, this contact is made with the bellows assembly in chamber 38 while valve "H is arranged to contact the bellows assembly in chamber 39. Springs 'l8 and- 19 are arranged to urge the valves l6 and l! downward in a direction to close openings l2 and 1 3, which action is resisted by the underlying bellows assemblies when these devices are in the elevated position illustrated. The orifices M and 15 may themselves represent the only control of fiow therethrough. or such control may be supplementedor varied by respective metering pins BI and 82 as shown. These pins may be set in the inner surface of cap 61 and extend downward into or substantially into the respective orifices.

Under extreme temperature conditions it may be necessary to employ some means or compensating for excessive temperatures. In such cases the metering pins Bi and 82' may be made of brass, which expands proportionately to the increase in temperature and consequent thinning of the' oil. Thus, as the oil viscosity decreases the pins expand in length to thereby reduce to flow area through the orifices i4 and 15,

By adjustment of the metering pins the rate of fiow through the orifices may be increased and reduced, or the rate of flow through one orifice may be increased or reduced relatively to the other. The orifices I l and 15 provide for con tinuous communication of the reservoir 68 with the chambers 53 and ti and permit a restricted flow of fluid from the chambers to the reservoir in response to the presence of an appropriate pressure differential, as caused, for example, by the" spring 55 attempting to elevate the bellows assemblies.

In the operation of the system, the parts nor mally assume the positions illustrated, with the hand opera-ted lever 62 ina vertical hanging r is 3. sitl'on and the dams 58 on shaft 59"presenting1ow points to the sleeves 5! of the bellows assemblies. Thus, the bellows assemblies are in elevated posi tion, the

valves

45, 46 and 61 are in their upper positions on seats 43 and the poppet valves 16 and T! are held in open position with respect to the ports 12' and 13 which they control. At this time, therefore, water entering inlet chamber 3i passes to chamber whence it is conducted by pipe I8 to the topor salt not I l, which is normally empty of salt. Flowing through the salt pot and past check valve I5 therein. the water filters through the mineral bed in tank 10 andleaves the bottom of the tank by way of pipe l6.- Conductedby pipe IS, the water returns to the valve control device,- entering chamber 34 and flowing by way of chamber 32 and chamber 33 to the outlet pipe 23:

When it is desired to regenerate or reactivate the mineral bed the lever 62 is swung through 180 of motion and then returned toits normal position. The lid l2 on top of the tank It is then removed and a quantity of salt is poured into the salt pot H, after which the lid is replaced. The cams 58 011 the shaft are thereby turned through one-half revolution during which they act on the bellows assemblies, depressing them, and return to a position presenting low points to the bellows assemblies. Depression of the bellows assemblies effects, as previously described, a shifting of the

valves

45, 46 and 47 from positions seating on seals 43 to positions seating on seals M. As a result of such motion, inlet 3! now is d-isconnectedfrom chamber 35 and is connected to chamber 4!, communicating through passage 42, chamber 35 and pipe It with the bottom of the tank It. Also, chamber 32 is closed from communication with

chambers

33 and 34 and is opened to communication with

chambers

38 and 39,- the former being drained through pipe 22- and the latter being connected to the top of tank 16 by way of pipe ll. Accordingly water from the inlet 3| is, in this position of the ports, directed through pipe 16 to thebottom of the tank H1 whereinit rises upward, backwashing the mineral bed. Flow out of the tank occurs through pipe connection l1, the water reentering the valve device by way of chamber 39 whence it passes through

chambers

32 and 38 to drain pipe 2 2;.

I Whenthe bellows assemblies are depressed to initiate the operations above described, the chambers 6'3 and 64 above them are enlarged with the result that additional oil is drawn therein through the check valves 69 and ll. Inasmuch as downward motion of the bellows assemblies permits poppet valves 16 and T5 to close, the oil supplied chambers 63 and 64' is trapped therein, the only escape therefor being through the restricted orifies T4 and I5. Entrapment of the oil serves to hold the bellows assemblies in depressed position from which they may rise, only gradually, at a rate pred-eterrninedby the rate or flow through the orifices M and i5; Orifice "M and its metering pin 81 are constructed and arranged to permit a; relatively slow rise of the bellows assembly as sociated with valve since this valve must keep the system open to' drain throughall of the suc cessivesteps of backwash, brine flow, regeneration and rinse; Orifice 15' and its metering pin 32 are constructed and arranged to permit a rela tively fast rise of the bellows assemblies associ': ated with

valves

38 and 4? since it is necessary that these valves be held in shifted position only during th backwash phase of the operation.

The initial rising motion of the bellows assemblies is, as before seen, accomplished relatively to the valves 45, 4B and 41. When, in the course of such movement, however, the bellows in chamber 39, for example, engages and lifts its poppet valve 11 to open substantially free flow into the reservoir 58, the bellows assembly, and the valve controlled thereby, rise quickly to their normal position.

Accordingly, and returning to a description of the operation of the system, while the backwashing step of the regenerating process is taking place, the bellows assemblies are slowly rising, those in chambers 39 and M considerably more rapidly than that in chamber 38. As the bellows in chamber 39 engages and lifts poppet valve 11, the hydraulic holding pressure in chamber 64 is released, whereupon the valves 46 and 41 move upward under the influence of springs 48, returning to their respective seats on seals 43. Valve 45 remains in shifted position, closing the outlet and opening flow to the drain. The flow of water entering inlet 3| now is diverted through chamber 35 and pipe I3 to the top of the salt pot II. Entering the salt pot, the water dissolves the salt therein, forming a brine which flows past the check valve l5 into the tank It] and descends therein through the mineral bed. Flow out of the tank is by way of pipe l6 which directs the water back to chamber 34, whence it follows a path through

chambers

32 and 38 to drain pipe 22. This route of flow remains open while the bellows in chamber 38 continues to rise, and, in the course of such flow, all the salt in pot II is dissolved and the continued supply of water to the pot effects a rinsing of the mineral bed to remove the brine therefrom. The rise of the bellows in chamber 38 being at a rate predetermined to allow time for completion of the brine fiow and rinsing phases of the operation, the contact of poppet valve 18 thereby occurs after the rinsing operation has been in progress for a determined time interval. When such contact and lifting of valve 16 takes place, the hydraulic pressure in chamber 63 is released and valve 45 rises to close the drain opening and open the outlet opening. The ports now are all restored to the normal positions illustrated and flow through the system is as first described.

In the regenerating process, it will be observed that when valve 4! descends to close chamber 35, the flow passage extending from this chamber to check valve and including pipe l8 and salt pot H is filled with water with no pressure available for the removal thereof. Since the presence of water in the salt pot I I may interfere with the filling of the pot with salt, automatic means in contemplated for emptying the water from the salt pot. Referring to Fig. 1, this means is represented by a pipe line 83 having one end extending into the salt pot adjacent the bottom thereof and its other end connected to pipe I! ahead of a Venturi jet 84 located therein. Accordingly, during the backwashing phase of the regenerating operation, at which time the water is flowing from tank In through pipe 11 back to the control valve device, the venturi 84 induces flow through the pipe 83 from the salt pot II. In utilizing this feature of the invention, salt is not added to the pot ll until after the lever 62 has been turned to start the regenerating operation. The backwashing step is the first phase of the operation so that the salt pot is quickly emptied of water, and, as this first phase continues, salt may be added to the pot ll and the lid l2 replaced, conditioning the system for the brine fiow and rinsing steps to follow. The lid [2 must, of course, be removed after backwashing starts so that evacuation of the water therefrom will not be opposed by creation of a vacuum.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A water softening system including a tank containing a mineral bed, a salt pot in the top of said tank, a check valve in the bottom of said salt pot closing in a direction opposed to the direction of flow out of said salt pot into the tank, water connections at the top and at the bottom of said tank and at the top of said salt pot, a water flow valve control device operable to initiate the successive regenerating steps of backwashing, brine flow and rinsing, the direction of backwashing flow being in the water connection at the bottom of the tank, upward in the tank and out the connection at the top of the tank, a flow passage leading from within said salt pot to the water connection at the top of the tank, and a jet device in said water connection at the top of the tank so arranged with respect to the adjacent end of said flow passage to induce an evacuation of water from said salt pot during the backwashing step.

2. A valve device for use in connection with water softening apparatus, including a body presenting ports and passages for the flow of water therethrough, valves in said body controlling flow through said ports and passages and movable from and to a normal position, yielding means urging said valves toward normal position, means for moving said valves simultaneously from normal position, means responsive to the operation of said last named means for establishing hydraulic locks holding said valves away from normal position, escape means for the fluid of said hydraulic locks whereby said valves may return to normal position, and individual means for regulating the rate of flow through said escape means whereby the return of said valves may occur at predetermined intervals and in predetermined timed succession.

3. A valve device for use in connection with water softening apparatus, including a body presenting a hydraulic reservoir, a plurality of chambers in said body, check valve controlled passages between said reservoir and said chambers, means including an expansible bellows partitioning each of said chambers into an upper compartment to receive fluid from said reservoir and a lower comcooperative relation with the end of said bellows, said body having passages controlled by said central valves, a spring urging each of said control valves into cooperative relation with its associated bellows, a rotatable shaft extending transversely through said chambers, cams on said shaft overlying the ends of said bellows and constructed and arranged to depress said bellows and to move out of cooperative relation therewith in response to rotation of said shaft in opposite directions, depression of said bellows serving to shift said control valves and further serving to draw hydraulic fluid through said check valves into said upper compartments from said reservoir, such fluid being trapped in said upper compartment for holding said bellows in depressed position when said cams are withdrawn, escape ports for the fluid from said chambers back to said reservoir, and individual means for regulating the rate of flow through said escape ports to predetermine the time delay in the return of said bellows and said control valves from depressed or shifted position.

4. A valve device for use in connection with water softening apparatus, including a body presenting a hydraulic reservoir, a plurality of chambers in said body, check valve controlled passages between said reservoir and said chambers, an expansible bellows in each of said chambers having one end anchored to the walls of said chamber and an expansion end extensible and retractable within said chamber, said bellows defining upper and lower compartments in the chamber, the lower of which is sealed by said bellows from communication with the reservoir, a sleeve in said bellows and having its up er end secured to the expansion end of said bellows, a piston rod supported within the lower end of said sleeve, a water flow control valve arranged beneath each of said bellows and having a stem extending through the lower compartment of said chamber into cooperative relation with said piston rod, said body having passages controlled by said control valves, a spring urging each of said control valves into cooperative relation with said piston rod, a compression spring in each of said bellows interposed between the expansion end of said bellows and said piston rod, a rotatable shaft passed transversely through the upper compartments of said chambers in overlying relation to the expansion ends of said bellows, cams on said shaft to depress said bellows in response to rotation of said shaft, the depression of said bellows acting through said compression springs and said piston rods to shift said control valves and acting further to draw fluid through said check valves into said chambers, said fluid being trapped in said chambers to hold said bellows depressed when said cams are withdrawn, restricted fluid escape ports from said chambers to said reservoir whereby said bellows may gradually return from depressed position under the influence of said compression springs while said control valves remain in shifted position, and release valves operated by said bellows at a predetermined point in the return motion thereof to release the pressure in said chambers and permit return movement of said control valves.

5. A valve device according to claim 4, characterized by means for varying the rate of flow through said restricted escape ports to eifeot return movements of said valves at predetermined intervals and in predetermined order.

ALFRED MENDENHALL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,276,629 Duggan Aug. 20, 1918 1,652,710 Dotterweich Dec. 13, 1927 1,661,676 Norquist Mar. 6, 1928 1,990,722 Bashioum Feb. 12, 1935 2,006,287 Wilbanks June 25, 1935 2,012,194 Hughes Aug. 20, 1935 2,347,201 Lindsay Apr. 25, 1944 2,460,011 Hungerford et a1. Jan. 25, 1949

Claims

1. A WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM INCLUDING A TANK CONTAINING A MINERAL BED, A SALT POT IN THE TOP OF SAID TANK A CHECK VALVE IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID SALT POT CLOSING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSED TO THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OUT OF SAID SALT POT INTO THE TANK, WATER CONNECTIONS AT THE TOP AND AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID TANK AND AT THE TOP OF SAID SALT POT, A WATER FLOW VALVE CONTROL DEVICE OPERABLE TO INITIATE THE SUCCESSIVE REGENERATING STEPS OF BACKWASHING, BRINE FLOW AND RINSING, THE DIRECTION OF BACKWASHING FLOW BEING IN THE WATER CONNECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK, UPWARD IN THE TANK AND OUT THE CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE TANK, A FLOW PASSAGE LEADING FROM WITHIN SAID SALT POT TO THE WATER CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE TANK, AND A JET DEVICE IN SAID WATER CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE TANK SO ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE ADJACENT END OF SAID FLOW PASSAGE TO INDUCE AN EVACUATION OF WATER FROM SAID SALT POT DURING THE BACKWASHING STEP.

3. A VALVE DEVICE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS, INCLUDING A BODY PRESENTING A HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR, A PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS IN SAID BODY, CHECK VALVE CONTROLLED PASSAGES BETWEEN SAID RESERVOIR AND SAID CHAMBERS, MEANS INCLUDING AN EXPANSIBLE BELLOWS PARTITIONING EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS INTO AN UPPER COMPARTMENTS TO RECEIVE FLUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR AND A LOWER COMPARTMENT SEALED BY SAID MEANS FROM SAID UPPER COMPARTMENT, A WATER FLOW CONTROL VALVE BENEATH EACH OF SAID EXPANSIBLE BELLOWS AND HAVING A STEM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LOWER COMPARTMENT INTO COOPERATIVE RELATION WITH THE END OF SAID BELLOWS, SAID BODY HAVING PASSAGES CONTROLLED BY SAID CENTRAL VALVES, A SPRING URGING EACH OF SAID CONTROL VALVES INTO COOPERATIVE RELATION WITH ITS ASSOCIATED BELLOWS, A ROTATABLE SHAFT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID CHAMBERS, CAMS ON SAID SHAFT OVERLYING THE ENDS OF SAID BELLOWS AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO DEPRESS SAID BELLOWA AND TO MOVE OUT OF COOPERATIVE RELATION THEREWITH IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, DEPRESSION OF SAID BELLOWS SERVING TO SHIFT SAID CONTROL VALVES AND FURTHER SERVING TO DRAW HYDRAULIC FLUID THROUGH SAID CHECK VALVES INTO SAID UPPER COMPARTMENTS FROM SAID RESERVOIR, SUCH FLUID BEING TRAPPED IN SAID UPPER COMPARTMENT FOR HOLDING SAID BELLOWS IN DEPRESSED POSITION WHEN SAID CAMS ARE WITHDRAWN, ESCAPE PORTS FOR THE FLUID FROM SAID CHAMBERS BACK TO SAID RESERVOIR, AND INDIVIDUAL MEANS FOR REGULATING THE RATE OF FLOW THROUGH SAID ESCAPE PORTS TO PREDETERMINE THE TIME DELAY IN THE RETURN OF SAID BELLOWS AND SAID CONTROL VESSEL FROM DEPRESSED OR SHIFTED POSITION.