US2988107A

US2988107A - Rotatable spool distributor valve

Info

Publication number: US2988107A
Application number: US20930A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudelick John
Original assignee: Bruner Corp
Current assignee: Bruner Corp
Priority date: 1960-04-08
Filing date: 1960-04-08
Publication date: 1961-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1978-06-13

Description

June 13,

Filed April 8, 1960 1961 J. RUDELICK ROTATABLE SPOOL DISTRIBUTOR VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VI'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAI l {SM/@HW June 13, 1961 J. RUDELICK ROTATABLE SPOOL DISTRIBUTOR VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1960 United States Patent O ROTATABLE SPOOL` DISTRIBUTOR VALVE John Rudelick, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Bruner Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 20,930 12 Claims. (Cl. 137-625.46)

This invention relates to valves, and has more particular reference to improvements in distributor valves by which the operation of water conditioning, treating, and/or softening systems is governed.

As is well known, water softening systems are provided with a control or `distributor valve, which normally functions to direct hard water through the softener tank of the system and thus make softened water available `for service. The same distributor valve, however, is also operable to govern regeneration of the ion exchange material contained in the water softener tank.

Most control or distributor valves heretofore incorporated in water softening systems were designed to effect service operation of the apparatus in one position of the valve, but such valves had to be actuated to several other positions in order to effect the various steps of a complete regenerating cycle of the system. For example, it has been customary to begin regeneration with a backwashing operation, and to follow successively thereafter with brining, and rinsing steps before again restoring the system to service operation. Moreover, in some water softening systems it was customary to rinse brine from the ion exchange material in the softener tank in two stages, the first comprising a slow rinse operation and the other a fast rinse operation. The control or distributor valve, of course, had to be actuated to effect each one of these operations or steps of the regenerating cycle, and to finally return the system to its normal operating condition at the completion of regeneration.

This invention concerns a distributor valve of the character described which is constructed to effect normal service operation of a Water softening system in one position of the valve, and to effect complete regeneration of the system in only one other position of the valve.

Hence, it is an object of the invention to provide a control or distributor valve which is especially suited for use with a Water softening system or the like, and which features a spool type valve element that is rotatable between two angularly spaced positions to effect service operation of the system in one position of rotation of the spool, and to effect regeneration of the system in the other position of rotation of the spool.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a distributor valve of the character described wherein a plurality of lands on the spool cooperate with a number of control ports in one position of rotation of the spool to effect normal service operation of a water softening system having the valve incorporated therein, and which lands cooperate with the control ports in another position of rotation of the spool to effect regeneration of the system during which such steps as brining and rinsing may be successively and automatically carried out without disturbing the setting of the spool.

Water softening systems for which the distributor valve of this invention are ideally suited are disclosed in my' copending applications Serial No. 770,794 filed October 30, 1958, and Serial No. 859,871 filed December 16, 1959. These copending applications, though primarily concerned with water softening systems, more or less diagrammatically disclose the manner in which a distributor valve like that of this invention effects service and regenerating operation of the system in only two positions of rotation of the valve spool.

In addition, this application is also related to my copending application Serial No. 7,832 filed February l0, 1960, and entitled Rotatable Spindle Valve. Application Serial No. 7,832, however, is particularly directed to the construction of the valve of this invention, and to the method of making it.

In distinction, the invention herein presented is specilically directed to the porting of the valve, the manner in which the ports are arranged with respect to a plurality of lands on the rotatable valve spool, and the manner in which the ports and lands cooperate to achieve normal service operation of a water softening system in one position of rotation of the spool and to successively achieve such regenerating steps as brining and rinsing in another position of rotation of the spool.

In a more specific sense, it is a purpose of this invention to provide a distributor valve of the character described featuring a rotatable spool having a number of axially spaced circumferentially enlarged oblique lands thereon which completely encircle the spool and have their peripheries in sealing engagement with the wall of the bore in which the spool is received, and wherein the ports, which are selectively communicable with one another as a consequence of rotation of the valve spool between normal operating and regenerating positions, are arranged in two groups, with those of one group opening radially through one side of the valve body and those of the other group opening radially through the opposite side of the valve body.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly dened by the appended claims, it being understood that such `changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIGURE l is a more or less diagrammatic view of a water softening system governed by a distributor valve of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail view of the distributor valve, showing the control spool thereof in its normal operating position of rotation; and

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the control spool of the valve in its regenerating position of rotation.

For purposes of illustration, the distributor valve 5 of this invention has been shown incorporated in a Water softening system of the type forming the subject of my copending application Serial No. 859,871 filed December 16, 1959. A complete disclosure of the system may be had by reference to said copending application, but for the purposes of this invention, it will suice to point out that the system comprises a water softening tank 6 containing granular ion exchange material, and regeneration apparatus including a brine making device 7, a brine storage tank 8, and a brine valve 9.

The distributing valve 5 is identical to that which forms the subject of my copending application Serial No. 7,832 filed Feb. l0, 1960, to which reference may be had for a more complete disclosure of the structure thereof. It comprises an elongated body 10` having a bore 11 extending lengthwise between the front and rear ends of the body, and a spool 12 rotatably received in the bore. The body is so connected by ducts with the softening tank 6 and the regeneration apparatus that in one position of rotation of its control spool 12, it directs fresh hard water into the lower end of the softener tank and routes softened water issuing from the top of the tank to a service line.

In another position of rotation of the control spool 12, namely its regenerating position, the distributor Valve of this invention disconnects the softener tank from the hard water source and the service line, directs brine into the top of the softener tank for regeneration of the ion exchange material therein, and routes the brine effluent issuing from the bottom of the tank to a drain line leading to a sewer or the like.

When used with certain types of regeneration apparatus which is designed to dispense a predetermined quantity of brine for regeneration, the control valve of this invention will also function to direct fresh rinse water through the softener tank 6, following brining, while the control spool 12 remains in its regenerating position.

As shown, the bore 11 may open to the rear of the valve body, but it terminates a short distance from the front of the body to open thereto through a reduced bearing hole 14 coaxial with the bore. The control spool 12 comprises an elongated spindle 15 of a diameter considerably less than that of the bore 11, having its forward end journaled in and projecting through the bearing hole 14 in the front of the body to the exterior thereof where it may have an actuating knob 16 aixed thereto.

The spindle 15 is constrained to rotate on the axis of the bore 11 partly by reason of the reception of its front end in the bearing hole 14 and partly because of the provision of front and rear seals 17 and 18, respectively, on the spindle, which snugly but rotatably engage the wall of the bore. Each ofthe seals comprises a pair of axially spaced flanges 19 and 20 fixed on the spindle, and a resilient annular gasket or sealing ring 21 confined therebetween with its periphery in sealing engagement with the wall of the bore. The peripheries of the flanges 19 and 2t), of course, need not have actual engagement with the wall of the bore.

The forward seal 17 may abut the rearwardly facing shoulder 22 formed at the junction between the forward end of the bore 11 and the bearing hole 14, so as to cooperate with a hub 23 on the rear of vthe actuating knob to preclude axial motion of the control spool relative to the valve body.

To effect the control of a water softening system such as that illustrated, the control spool is provided with three axially spaced circumferentially enlarged lands 24, 25 and 26, each of which completely encircles the spindle. The foremost land 24 is spaced a distance rearwardly from the yfront seal 17, and the rearmost land 26 may be closely adjacent to the rear seal 18. The intermediate land 25 is located substantially midway between the front and rear lands 24 and 26, respectively.

It is a feature of the distributor valve of this invention that the lands 24, 25 and 26 are formed at an oblique angle to the axis of the control spool. The two rear lands 25 and 26 are disposed at the same angle with respect to the spindle axis, but the foremost land 24 is disposed at an angle opposite to that of the lands 25 and 26.

It is also a feature of the invention that each of the lands has a groove in its periphery in which an O-ring 28 is confined. These O-rings snugly but rotatably engage the wall of the bore to have sealing relationship therewith, Iwithout interfering with rotation of the spool in the bore. Preferably the valve body is provided with a plastic liner 80 for its bore, against the inner surface of which the O-rings 28 are engaged for smooth sliding as the Spood 12 is rotated. This liner and the method of making the same are disclosed in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 7,832, to which reference may be made for further details.

In the normal operating position of the control spool 12, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the uppermost portion of the forward land 24 lies a substantial distance ahead of the lowermost portion of the land, while the uppermost portion of each of the two rear lands 25 and 26 lies a substantial distance rearwardly of the lowermost portion thereof.

An upper group of four ports open radially into the bore 11 at axially spaced locations. The foremost of the group of four comprises a 4first tank port 30 which opens to the bore at a location just ahead of the foremost land 24, and connects with a passage 31 in the body that may be communicated by a duct 32 with the top of the softener tank 6.

rfhe rearmost of the group of four comprises a second tank port 33 which opens radially into the bore just behind the intermediate land 25 and connects with the inner end of a passage 34 in the body that may be communicated by a duct 35 with the lower end of the softener tank 6.

The two intermediate ports 36 and 37 of the group of four constitute brine inlet and regenerating ports, respectively, which open to the bore 11 at locations intermediate the two foremost lands 24 and 25 when the spool is in its normal position seen in FIGURES` l and 2. The brine inlet port 36 is adjacent to the rst tank port 30 and it opens to the bore 11 at a zone intermediate the front and rear portions of the foremost land 2,4. The port 36 also connects with a passage 38 in the valve body which may be communicated by a duct 39 with a source of brine, namely the brine tank 8.

The regenerating port 37 is adjacent to the second tank port 33` and opens to the bore 11 at a zone which may be said to be bounded by the closest portions of the two foremost lands 2-4 and 25. The regenerating port 37 connects with a passage 40 in the valve body that may be communicated by a duct 41 with the bottom of the brine valve 9.

A group of three axially spaced ports 44, `45 and 46, each opening radially into the bore 11 at the underside of the valve body, respectively provide service, inlet, and drain ports. The service port 44 is foremost and opens into the bore at a zone intermediate the `front and rear portions of the foremost land 24. Also, the port S4 connects with a passage =47 in the valve body that may be communicated by a duct 48 ywith the service lines to be supplied with soft water.

The intermediate or hard water inlet port 45 of the group of three opens into the bore 11 at a zone intermediate the front and rear portions of the center land 25 of the control spool. The inlet port 45 connects with a passage 50 in the valve body which may be communicated by a duct 51 with a source of fresh hard water under pressure.

The rearmost port y46 of the group of three constitutes a drain port which opens into the rear of the bore 11 at a location intermediate the front and rear portions of the rearmost land 26. As shown, this port may be restricted, and it connects with a larger passage 52 in the body which may be communicated by a duct 53 with a suitable drain.

The regeneration apparatus 7-8-9 forms no part of the present invention, and for a complete disclosure thereof reference may be had to my copending applications Serial Nos. 770,794 and 859,871, the latter of which discloses brine making and dispensing apparatus which is identical to that shown diagrammatically in FIGURE l.

It will here suffice to note that concentrated brine is formed in the brine making unit 7 and is transferred to and stored in the tank `8 to lbe dispensed for regeneration of the ion exchange material in the water softener tank 6 under the control of the distributor valve 5 of this invention. Ihe brine making unit 7 includes a reservoir 55 having a port 56 communicating its interior with that of the brine valve 9. The brine valve houses an axially movable fluid pressure responsive piston 57 which is biased downwardly toward a normal position in the bottom portion of the valve. The piston 57 serves as a valve element to selectively communicate a side valve port 58 with either the reservoir port 56 or a bottom valve port 60 with which the duct 41 connects. The port 60 is thus communicated with the regenerating port 37 of the distributor valve.

In the lower or normal position of the piston seen in FIGURE l, the port 56 in the brine reservoir is communicated by the brine valve with the brine storage tank 8, through a duct 61 leading from the side port 58 into the top of the brine storage tank. Brine formed in the brine making unit 7 thus may gravitate from the reservoir 55 down into the brine storage tank 8, to displace water upwardly from the tank and into the reservoir 55, where it may combine with `salt in the brine making unit to generate more brine.

In the normal or soft water position of rotation of the control spool 12 (FIGURES 1 and 2), the two rear lands 25 and 26 on the spool cooperate to establish mutually exclusive communication between the source water inlet port `45 and the second tank port 33. Consequently hard water to be softened may flow from the source thereof into and upwardly through the softener tank. The rearmost land 26 also precludes direct communication between the drain port 46 and the remaining ports of the valve. The foremost land 24 of the distributor valve establishes mutually exclusive communication between the service port 44 and the first tank port 30, to enable soft water issuing from the top of the softener tank to ow through the valve to the service lines.

Also in the normal position of rotation of the control spool shown in FIGURES l and 2, the brine inlet and regenerating ports 36 and 37, respectively, have direct communication with the space in the bore 11 between the two foremost lands 24 and 25 on the spool. Hence, the ports 36 and 37 may be said to communicate with one another at this time. In the water softening system illustrated, however, it is important to vent the space beneath the piston 57 of the brine valve 9 to allow the piston to descend whenever regeneration is terminated by rotation of the control spool to its normal position seen in FIGURES l and 2.

Such venting of the space beneath the piston of the brine valve is yaccomplished by means of an axial passage 62 in the rear portion of the spool spindle. A reduced forward portion 63 of the venting passage opens radially, as at 64, into the space in the bore 11 between the two foremost lands 24 `and 25 on the spool, and thus communicates with the regenerating port 37 in the valve body. The larger diameter rear portion 65 of the Venting passage opens radially, as at 66, into the space in the bore 11 rearwardly of the rearmost land 26 on the spool.

Hence, in the normal position of rotation of the control spool, the rear end of the venting passage 62 of the spool is in communication with the drain port 46, while the forward end of the venting passage is in communication with the regenerating port 37 to vent the space in the bottom of the brine valve 9 to the drain line.

Communication between the regenerating port 37 and the drain port 46, however, is controlled by a ball check valve 68 which normally engages a rearwardly facing seat 69 at the junction between the small and large diameter portions of the venting passage. A light spring 70, confined between the ball check Valve 68 and a plug 71 closing the rear portion of the venting passage, yieldingly maintains the check valve seated.

The check valve 68 is adapted to move olf of its seat 69 whenever the piston 57 of the brine valve 9 descends in the body of the brine valve and forces liquid through the duct 41 back into the distributor valve, so that the liquid thus expelled from the bottom of the brine valve may flow to drain through the venting passage 62. soon as the piston 57 reaches its lowermost position in the body of the brine Valve, the spring 7i) recloses the ball check 68.

Rotation of the control spool 12 one-half a revolution to its regenerating position seen in Figure 3 initiates regenerating cycle of the water softening system, during which concentrated brine and then fresh rinse water is caused to ilow through the bed of ion exchange material in the softener tank. In the regenerating position of the control spool, the foremost land 24 on the spool provides mutually exclusive communication between the first tank port 30 and the brine inlet port 36. Also, the two foremost lands 24 and 25 on the spool cooperate to communicate the hard water inlet port 45 with both the regenerating port 37 and the service port 44, so that fresh hard water is available to the service lines throughout the entire regenerating cycle. The two rear lands 25 and 26 now cooperate to provide mutually exclusive communication between the second tank port 33 and the drain port 46. The rear land 26, however, blocks off communication between the rear of the venting passage 62 and the drain port 46, so that the venting passage is now ineective.

Hard water entering the valve thus issues from the regenerating port 37 and is led through the `duct 41 into the bottom of the brine valve 9, to force the piston 57 thereof upwardly to a position blocking the reservoir port 56 and connecting the side port 58 of the brine valve with the duct 41. Hence, fresh hard water is directed into the top of the brine storage tank t5 to expel concentrated brine therefrom through its outlet 39.

The brine thus expelled from the storage tank flows through the duct 39 back to the control valve, entering the same through the brine inlet port 36 which is now in communication with the rst tank port 30. Brine is thus directed out of the first tank port and into the top of the softener tank, through the duct 32,. for downward flow through the bed of ion exchange material in the softener. The brine effluent which issues from the lower end of the tank returns to the distributor valve through the duct 35 and the second tank port 33, for iiow to drain by reason of the communication between ports 33 and 46 in the regenerating position of the control spool.

It is important to note that both the brining and rinsing steps of the regenerating cycle are effected by the distributor valve as a consequence of the flow of fresh water from the inlet 45 of the valve, out through its regenerating port 37. Because of this characteristic, the distributor valve of this invention may be used equally well with water softening systems wherein a predetermined quantity of brine is educted from a conventional brine tank as a consequence of the fiow of fresh water through an injector, and fresh water continues to flow to the softener tank after eduction of the entire predetermined charge of brine, to eifect rinsing of the softener tank. In that type of system, the regenerating port 37 would, of course, be connected with the inlet of the injector, and the venting passage 62 in the spool could be eliminated.

The brining step of the regenerating cycle continues until the level of concentrated brine in the storage tank 8 drops to the level of the mouth of the brine outlet 39. When that occurs, only fresh water discharges from the brine storage tank to automatically begin the rinsing step in the regenerating cycle, without disturbing the position of the `control spool 12. During the rinsing step, the fresh hard water ilowing downwardly through the water softener tank 6 discharges from the bottom of the softener tank and is fed back through the distributor valve into the drain duct 53.

After all of the brine has been rinsed from the softener tank, the control spool of the distributor valve may be rotated in either direction back to its normal position seen in FIGURES l and 2, to again place the water softening apparatus in service condition.

While the distributor valve of this invention has been shown provided with a control spool which is rotated manually between normal operating and regenerating positions by means of the actuator knob 16, electrical spindle drive instrumentalities may be provided to automatically effect regeneration of the ion exchange material of the softener tank at periodic intervals. Such instrumentalities, however, are disclosed in and form part part of my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 859,871.

After the control spool has been rotated Iback to its normal operating position seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the bottom of the brine valve 9 is vented to drain through the venting passage 62 in the spool. In the regenerating position of the spool, however, the rearmost land 26 of the spool closes off communication between the radial outlet 66 for the rear of the venting passage and the drain port 416, to prevent hard water entering the inlet port 45 from being bypassed to the drain.

From the foregoing description taken ltogether with the accompanying drawings it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides an improved distributor valve which is especially suited for use' with water softening systems and the like, and which features such an arrangement of ports in the valve body and lands on a rotatable control spool in the body that normal operation of a water softening system as well as complete regeneration of the system are achieved by the valve as a consequence of actuation of the control spool between only two positions of rotation.

What is claimed as my invention is:

1. In a distributor valve for water softeners and the like: an elongated body having a bore therein extending lengthwise between the front and rear ends of the body, and a number of ports opening into the bore, and each leading to a passage in the body, a group of three of said ports being located at one side of the body and spaced different distances from the front end thereof, and a group of four ports being located at another side of the body and also spaced different distances from the front end of the body; the front and rear ports of said group of four respectively providing first and second tank ports, and the two intermediate ports of said group of four comprising a brine inlet port adjacent to said first tank port and a regenerating port adjacent to said second tank port; the front and rear ports of said group of three respectively providing service and drain outlet ports and the intermediate port of said group of three constituting an inlet port; a spool received in said bore for rotation between a normal operating position and a regenerating position, and having three axially spaced lands thereon encircling the spool and sealingly engaging the wall of the bore, said lands and the ports being so related to one another that in the normal operating position thereof, the spool communicates the inlet port with the second tank port and communicates the rst tank port with the service por-t, while in said regenerating position thereof, the spool communicates the inlet port with the regenerating port, communicates the iirst tank port with the brine inlet port, and communicates the second tank port with the drain port.

Z. The distributor valve of claim l, wherein the lands and ports are so arranged that the spool also provides communication between the inlet and service ports in the regenerating position of the spool.

3. The distributor valve of claim 1, wherein the spool is formed to communicate the regenerating port with the drain port in the normal operating position of the spool.

4. The distributor valve of claim 1, wherein the spool has an axial passage therein the ends of which open into the bore at axially spaced locations so related to the lands and to the ports as to communicate the regenerating port with the drain port in the normal operating position of the spool.

5. The distributor valve of claim 4, further characterized yby the provision of a normally closed check valve in said spool passage arranged to open rearwardly in consequence of the flow of fluid into the bore from said regenerating port in the normal operating position of the spool.

6. The distributor valve of claim 1, wherein the spool is provided with three axially spaced oblique lands to control communication between the ports, each of said lands completely encircling the spool and the two rearmost lands being at the same angle with respect to the spool axis while the foremost land is at an angle opposite to that of said rearmost lands.

7. The distributor valve of claim 6, wherein the foremost land provides for selectively communicating the first tank port with either the service outlet or brine inlet ports, and the two rearmost lands cooperate to provide for selectively communicating the second tank port with either the inlet or drain ports.

8. The distributor valve of claim 7, further characterized by the fact that the two foremost lands cooperate to close olf the brine inlet and regenerating ports from both the inlet port and the service outlet port in the normal operating position of the spool, and provide communication between the inlet port and both the service outlet: and regenerating ports in the regenerating position of the spool.

9. The distributor valve of claim 8, wherein the spool has an axial passage Itherein opening at its front to the space in the bore between the two foremost lands and opening at its rear to the space in the bore behind the rearmost land, and wherein said passage cooperates with the rearmost land to afford communication between the regenerating and drain ports in only the normal operating position of the spool.

10. A distributor valve for water softeners and the like, of the type having an elongated body with a bore therein extending lengthwise between the front and rear ends of the body, and a spool rotatably received in said bore for rotary movement between normal operating and regenerating positions, said valve being characterized by: sealing means providing uid tight seals between the spool and opposite end portions of the bore; the provision of three axially spaced circumferentially enlarged oblique lands encircling the spool intermediate said sealing means, the two rearmost lands being at the same angle with respect to the spool axis and the foremost land being disposed at an angle opposite to that of said rearmost lands, and the peripheries of all of said lands having sealing engagement with the wall of the bore; the provision of seven passages in the body each leading to a port that opens radially into the bore, a group of three of said ports being located at one side of the body and in axially spaced relation t0 one another, and a group of four of said ports being located at the opposite side of the body and in axially spaced relation to one another; said ports and lands being so arranged with respect to one another that in the normal operating position of rotation of the spool, the space in the bore between the two foremost lands is in direct communication with only the two intermediate ones of said group of four ports, the space in the bore between the two rearmost lands is in direct communication with only the rearmost one of said group of four ports and the intermediate one of said group of three ports, the space in the bore ahead of the foremost land is in direct communication with only the foremost one of each group of ports, and the space in the bore rearwardly of the rearmost land is in direct communication with only the rearmost one of said group of three ports; while in the regenerating position of rotation of the spool, the space in the bore ahead of the foremost land is in direct communication with only the two foremost ones of the group of four ports, the space in the bore between the two foremost lands is in direct communication with only the rear one of said two intermediate ports and with the two foremost ports of said group of three, and the space in the bore between the two rearmost lands is in direct communication with only the rearmost port of each group of ports.

11. The distributor valve of claim 10, further charac- 9 10 terized by the provision of a passage in the spool affording References Cited in the le of this patent bypass communication between the space in the bore I ED T T E behind the rearmost land and the space in the bore UN T S A ES PAT NTS between the two foremost lands. Kronhelm --v- Nov- 231 12. The distributor valve of claim 11, further charac- 5 2908'898 Mueller Oct' 13 1959 terized by the provision of a normally closed check valve in said spool passage, arranged to open in the rearward FOREIGN PATENTS direction. 1,109,656 France Sept. 28, 1955