USRE18098E - Wateb softener valve - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1931. c. P. EISENHAUER 18,098

WATER SOFTENER VALVE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR CHI/P155 PE/SEWMUER.

A TTORNEY June 1931- c. P. EISENHAUER WATER SOFTENER VALVE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ////l'/II IN VENT OR C/HRLES P E/SEI/Hll/EF.

B Y (f/V A TTORNEY mama June 1 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT- oar-ice exams r. meanness, or DAYTON, omo, ASSIGNOB r rm: mrno comment, or

DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' OHIO WATER SOI'TEHEB VALVE Original 80. 1,685,541, dated December 18, 1928, Serial No. 8,851, illed January 88, 1885. Application mreielue filed February 26,

My invention relates to water softening devices and more particularly to chemical softeners, wherein the active materials are periodically revived or restored by washin in 5 reverse direction to remove im urities. fi uch washing or cleansing being or inarily efiected by use of salt brine.

The ordinary installation requires a rather complicated plumbing system of conduits and independently operated valves in order to direct the flow of water from the source of the valve is in one direction the test cock will supply in one direction thru the filter bed and then into the service or distribution line, and in reverse direction thru the bed and into a is waste outlet, with necessary pet cocks for testing the condition of the water during different stages of o ration. Inasmuch as such water softening evices are installed in residences the care and responsibility of opera- :0 tion involvin the opening and closing of a number of in ependent valves is too great for the ordina householder who may not understand the t eory and principle of operation. The present invention is intended to overcome 26 these difliculties by providing a circulation system under control of a single valve operable to diiferentv positions, which may be. plainly marked so that the unskilled person may operate the softener to change the cirao cuitory system from operating condition to regenerating or recharging condition and vice versa, with no chance of mistake. To this end the present invention embodies a tank or main chamber containing a filter bed of water softening material, thru which the water ordinarily enters the bottom and passes out at the top. During regeneration, however, water is admitted at the top of such tank and above the filter bed, and is withdrawn from the bottom. Therefore, the tank or compartment is provid d with conduits leading to the to and bottom of such com artment or tank, w lichare alternately emp oyed as inlets'or outlet conduits, to be alternately connected with a sup ly conduit from a source of water sup ply unrier pressure. The other of the tank conduits is connected with the service or .distribution conduit during normal operation and .bein connected with the outlet or waste conduit uring the regeneration period. This 1980. Serial No. 431,612.

alternation of connection is efl'ected by asingle rota control "alve, having multiple ports and c a rs effecting the interconnection of the seve l conduits in different relations by difieren adjustments of such valves. Thls control valve is further provided with a test cock which is in constant communication with the flow of water, whichever-may be its direction, so that the test cock will discharge water after it has passed the bed of filter material, whichever its direction of flow may be. When supply water from the top of the compartment or tank, during the normal softening period of operation, while in reverse POSI- tion of the valve, during the regeneration period, the test cock will supply water from the bottom of the tank. Thus only a single e valve and sin Ie test cock are necessary, connection 0 thetest cock being reversed with the reversal of the conduit. connection by the adjustment of the valve, The construction and operation being thus simplified, the control and operation of the softeni and filter system is within the ability an skill of the ordinary householder, who'need not know the theory of operation, but who is required merely to turn the valve from one position to the other, at regular intervals The object of the invention is to simplify the structureas well as the means and mode of operation of water softeners and filters, whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction but will be more efiicient in use, positive in operation, uniform in action, easily controlled and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further and primary object of the invention is to providev a universal control of the various circuits and conduits comprisin the softener and filter system, whereby suc systems may be controlled by a person uns illed and without knowledge of the theory of operation, with no da er of becoming confused, and wherein it'will be impossible for such person vto make wrong or improper adjustments. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system of interconnection between the 'watersupply conduit and distribution conduit in awater softener or filter .parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation, or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referri to the accom i anying drawings, Fig. 1 is a nt view and i 2 1s a vertical sectional view of an assemble water softener or filter, embodying the present features of invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation ofthe universal control valve and Fig.4 is a longitudinal sectional viewon line 44 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail sectional views on lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the valve in difierent positions of adjustment, that shown in Fig. 5 being the normal or softening position, Fig. 6 showing the intermediate or ofi position, in which pressure is received from the tank pre aratory to regeneration. Fig. 7 shows the va ve POSI- tioned for regeneratlon or for cleansin and revival of the filtering and softening ody. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the ap aratus from which the salt t has been omltted.

Like parts are in cated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred, but obviouscharging into the lower portion of the tank or compartment 1 preferably into the substratum of gravel is a conduit 4, having perforated, distributing arms 5. In the normal softening and filter operations, the water discharged through the conduit 4 and distribut ing head 5 passes upward through the superposed bodyof filtering and softening material and is withdrawn from the top of the tank or compartment through a conduit 6. The conduit 6 extends exteriorly of the tank, but for improvement of the appearance of the softener it is wholl enclosed, extending downwardly through tli e body 3 of the softening and filtering material, and thence laterally thru the wall of the tank at a mid-height point. While the conduit 4 is normally employed as the inlet conduit, and the conduit -6 as the outlet for the filtered and softened water, during the regeneration or rejuvenation period, salt water brine is introduced into the tank or compartment 1, thru the conduit 6 and is allowed to percolate downwardly thru the body 3 offiltering and softening material and the bottom of the tanker compartment thru the conduit 4. Thus the flow direction is re versed.

To provide convenient means for introducing the salt brine for rejuvenation purposes and to afford a settling chamber in which may be collected any sand or particles carriedthru the. outlet conduit 6 from the tank or compartment, and to prevent their conduct into the distribution system, there is provided on the side of the tank or compartment 1, an auxiliary chamber or salt pot 7, with which the conduit 6 communicates. The salt pot 7 has a removable closure lid 8, which'may be hermetically sealed by means of the pressure screw 9. Leading to the apparatus is a water supply conduit 10, leading from any source 0 supply under pressure, such as a city distribution system.

Leading from the apparatus is a service conduit or .distribution line 11, conducting the softened water to various parts of the house. In addition to the supply and service conduits, there is also provlded a waste conduit 12, preferably connected with the sewer or other disposal outlet. From the bottom of the salt pot 7 there extends an auxiliary waste conduit 13, which communicates wlth the waste disposal conduit 12.. The auxiliary conduit 13 is for the purpose of draining the salt pot permitting the pot to be charged with salt for regeneration. In lieu of providing such control valve for the several conduits to 0 en and close in certain combinations to e act the active softenin operation and the rejuvenation operation, t ere is pro- 'vided in the present instance a single. universal valve common to all ,of the conduits. The use of asingle valve having multiple connections enables a person unacquainted with the circuitory system and the theory of operation to change the a paratus from softening to regeneration an vice versa without danger of mistake and with minimum efl'ort by the oscillation of a single control lever. The universal valve comprises a valve housing 15, located preferably on the front wall of the salt pot 7. This housing 15 has an oppositely dis sed lateral connection for the su ply con uit 10 and the service or distributlon conduit 11, and'also connections at its bottom for a tank conduit 4 and the waste disposal conduit 12. Intermediate the last named conduits at the bottom of the housing, there is provided a test cook 16, which in all positions of the valve is in constant communication with the interior of the tank or compartment 1, and by the reversal of the common control valve such test cock is alternately connected with the bottom and top of the tank to test the water after it has passed in either direction thru the body of filtering and softening material. Located in the housing 15 is a rotary barrel 17, divided into noncommunicating chambers '18 and 19 and pro vided with a plurality ofradially dis sed ports brought mto re lstry with the. di erent conduit or fices in the valve housing with which the respective conduits communicate. The rotary barrel 17 is provided with a concentric orifice 20, in its inner end, which is in constant communication with the tankorcompartment 1, thru the salt pot 7. Within the salt pot 7 is a dependent 'conduit 21, directly connected to the port 20 of the valveand extending downwardly within the salt pot terminating in a screen or filter head 22.

In the'normal or softening position of the valve, the chamber 19 forms an intercommunicating passage from the sup ly conduitlO to the tank inlet conduit 4. n this ad'ustment as shown in Fig. the port 23 o the rotary valved'barrel is in registry with the orifice of the inlet conduit whi e the port 24 registers with the orifice of the tank conduit 4'. At the same time the port communicating-with the tank 1 thru the salt pot and conduit 6 is in communication with the service or distribution conduit 11 throu h the radial port 25, which is in registry t erewith. The water to be softened is thus introduced into the inlet conduit 10 passing through the chamber 19 and the tank conduit 4, into the lower portion of the tank 1, where it passes from the distribution head 5 upwardly through the body 3 of material to the top of the tank from which it is drained through the conduit 6, into the auxiliary or salt pot 7 Where any entrained particles of sand or foreign material are deposited. The water passes thence throu h the strainer head 22 and conduit 21, to t e port 20, which at all times is in communication with the chamber 18 of the valve barrel, from which it passes from the port 25 to the distribution or service line. At such time the orifice to the waste disposal conduit 12 is closed, but the test cock 16 IS in communication'with the chamber 18,

' through an auxiliary port 26 in the valve barrel. Thus at any time by 0 ening the test cook 16 a sam le of water may e drawn from the top of tlie tank after such water has passed thru the filter body. When it is found that the zeolite or other chemical filter body is not afi'ording to the water the proper degree of softening or in other words is not removing from the water the desired portion of alkaline constituents, the filter body is cleansed and rejuvenated by the circulation of salt brine therethru in reverse direction. In assing from the active softening position to t e regenerating or rejuvenating position, the valve off position. In this position, both the sup 1y conduit 10, and service or distribution 'con uit 11 are disconnected while the port 20 communicating with the salt pot 7 and conduit 6 to the top of the tank is in direct communication with the waste disposal conduit passes a neutral or intermediate 12. This allows-the escape of the surplus water from the top of the tank and relieves the pressure, allow ng the salt pot tobeo ened for a charge of common salt to effect t e rejuvenation of the filter bed. Inthe event the auxiliary chamber or salt pot 7 is not employed as. ma be the case, the salt charge may be intro uced thru the hand hole 27 1n the top of the tank. During this off or.

charging position the test cock 16 is in communication with the bottom of the tank or let or su ply conduit orifice 10, while maintaining t e service or distribution conduit 11 closed. This allows the inflowing water I from the supply conduit 10 to pass into the chamber 18 to pass into the barrel and thence thru the port 20 into the salt pot 7, where the salt is dissolved and the solution or brine is carried thru the conduit 6 from the salt pot to the top of the tank' 1 overflowing the. extremity of the conduit onto the'bed 3' of filter material. I

This cleansing and rejuvenating salt solution percolates thru the filter bed 3 and is collected b the perforated head 5 at the bottom of the tank-and conducted thence thru the tank conduit 4 to the chamber 19 of the valve barrel, which in the regenerating position of the valve is in communication with such tank conduit 4 thru the port 23,- while at the same time the port 24 of such compartment is in registry with the waste disposal conduit 12. The saline solution drained rom the bottom of the tank is thus conducted thru the conduit 4 and the intercommunicating valve chamber 19 to the waste conduit 12 I thru which it is discharged into the sewer or other waste disposal. During this position of the valve the test cock 16 is in communication with the valve chamber 19 thru the intermediate port 28, registering therewith, so that the Water or solution being conducted from the tank may be tested from time to time to ascertain the stage of rejuvenation, and to determine whether or not thesaline solution is entirely eliminated. When the filter bed 3 has been properly and thoroughly cleansed and restored to its active softening characteristics, and the saline solution is eliminated, the control valve is returned to its normal or softening position as shown in Fig. 5 by reversal of the lever 29, thereby causing the water supply to enter the tank 1 at the bottom thereof thru the conduit 4 and passed ward thru the filter bed leavwill'be no leakage.

ing the tank t lru the conduit 6 and thence thru the port 20 of the control valve to. the service or distribution conduit 11.

. If the rotary valve barrel 17 is closely and accurately fitted within the casing 15, there When thevalve is in operating or softening position, shown in Fig. 5, there is high pressure in all conduits and both valve chambers, except in the waste conduit 12, and there might be leakage in a badly fitted valve from the port 26 to the waste conduit 12. To obviate such leakage, a seal' plug 30 is provided which is seated in a recess in the valve barrel 17, and is urged against the port to conduit 12 by a spring 31. In addition to spring pressure, the sealing plug 30 is subjected to water pressure upon its inner side through the small opening 32. Thus the waste port is effectually closed against the high pressure developed within the valve barrel. Obviously, such seal plug may be entirel omitted if the valve is otherwise made lea -tight.

In order that water may be supplied to the distribution lines for emergency use during the regeneration period, an auxiliary bypass 33 is provided. This by-pass is not an essential feature, but will be found derirable and a convenience. The conduits 4 and 6 may extend exteriorly of the tank entering the tank adjacent the top and bottom thereof, but for improved appearance are extended interiorly as shown in the drawings. In Fig. 8 there is shown a modification wherein the salt pot 7 has been omitted and the control valve connected directly to the conduit 6 leading into the tank. In this construction the hand hole cover 27 is removed from the top of the tank and the salt charge is entered directly into the to of the tank, which is first drained and tie pressure relieved by turning the valveto off position. It will be noted that the test cock is connected alternately to the .top and bottom of the tank by the reversal of the valve.

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 details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form ofsevin any of its forms within the scope of the.

ternately employed as inlet and outlet conduits leadin to the top and bottom of the tank, a supp y conduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a rotary valve common to all of said conduits, by the adjustment of which the water flow from said service pipe may be directed thru the tank inlet and outlet conduits in one direction and thence thru the service pipe or thru such tank inlet and outlet conduits in the opposite direction and thence thru the waste conduit or to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

2. In a water softener, a tank, separate conduits communicating with the tank and alternately employed for inlet and outlet purposes, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a control valve which when in one position of adjustment connects the supply conduit thru the tank inlet and outlet conduits with the service conduit and when in reverse position connects the supply conduit thru the tank inlet and outlet conduits in reverse relation with the waste conduit or to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

3. In a. water softener, a tank, conduits extending into proximity with the top and bottom of the tank respectively and alternately employed for inlet and outlet purposes, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit and a valvefor connecting the supply conduit alternately with the respective tank communicating conduits and simultaneously connecting said tank conduits alternately with the service and'waste conduits or to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

4. In a water softener, a tank, a regenerating chamber, a conduit connecting the regenerating chamber with the top of the tank, a supply conduit discharging into the lower portion of the tank, and a service conduit communicating with the generating chamber, and a valve operating to cut ofi the service conduit and open the supply conduit to the regenerating chamber and open the bottom of the tank to waste or to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

5. In a water softener, a tank having spaced inlet and outlet connections, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste connection, and a common valve adapted to reverse the flow from one supply conduit thru the tank to the service conduit and waste connections respectively or to entirely disconnect said service conduit.

6. In a water softener, a tank, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste connection, and a common control valve which when inone position will direct the water flow from the supply conduit thru the tank to the lob lil!

service conduit and when in reverse position will direct the flow in reverse direction from the supply conduit to the waste connection or to entirely disconnect said service conduit. 7. In a water softener, a tank, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste connection, and a common control valve which when in one position will direct the water flow from the supply conduit thru the tank to the service conduit and when in reverse position will direct the flow in reverse direction from the supply conduit to the waste connection and dis'connectsaid service conduit, and further adapted to connect the tank direct with the waste while disconnecting both the supply and service conduits in a third position of said common valve.

8. In a water softener, a tank havin inlet and outlet connections, a supply con uit, a service conduit and a waste connection, a

common valve for connecting the supply conduit at will thru the tank with the service conduit or reversely thru the tank with the waste connection or to entirely disconnect said service conduit, and a drain cock common to both courses of flow.

9. In a water softener, a tank havin inlet and outlet connections, a supply con uit, a service conduit and a waste connection, a common valve for connecting the supplyconduit at will thru the tank with the service conduit or reversely thru the tank with the waste connection or the tank directly to the waste independent of connection to the service conduit or supply conduit, and a drain cock 0 erative in al positions of said valve.

10. n a water softener, a tank, conduits alternately employed as inlet and outlet conduits leadin to the top and bottom of the tank, asupp y conduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a rotary valve common .to all of said conduits, by the adjustment of which the water flow from said service pipe may be directed thru the tank inlet and outlet conduits in one direction and thence thru the service pipe, said rotary valve having a loose- I mounted pressure operated means to close the waste conduit.

11. In a water softener, a tank, se arate conduits communicating with the tan and alternately employed for inlet and outlet purposes, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit, and a control valve which when in one position of adjustment connects the supply conduit thru the tank inlet and outlet conduits with the service conduit, said control valve havin a loosely mounted water operated means to c ose the waste conduit.

12. In a water softener,'a tank, conduits extending into proximity with the top and bottom of the tank respectively and alter-v nately employed for inlet and outlet purposes, a supply conduit, a service conduit and a waste conduit and a valve for connecting the supply conduit alternately withthe respecin constant connection with one of the inlet and outlet connections adapted in one position to direct the flow from the sup ly conduit thru the tank to the service conduit and in another position to direct the flow part1 to' the service and partly through the tan to the waste connections respectively.

14. In a water softener, a tank, a supply I conduit, a service conduit and a waste connection, and a common two-chamber control valve having one chamber in constant connection with the tank which when in one position will direct the water flow from the supply conduit thru the tank to the service conduit and when in reverse position will direct the flow in reverse direction from the supply conduit to the waste connection.

15. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having an upper and a lower connection with said tank, a supply inlet, a' service outlet and a waste outlet, a valve member in said housing adapted in one position to direct the water from the supply inlet to the tank and from the tank to the service outlet, and aseal member on said valve member to seal the waste outlet.

16. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing havin an upper and a lower connection with sai tank, a supply inlet, a service outlet and a waste outlet, a valve member in said housing adapted in one position to direct the water from the supply inlet to the tank and from the tank to the service outlet,

and a water pressure operated seal member on said valve member to seal the waste outlet.

17. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having an upper and a lower connection with the tank, a supply inlet, atwoprong service outlet and a waste outlet, a valve member in said housing adapted in one osition to direct the water from the supp y inlet to the service outlet and to the tank and from the tank to the waste outlet, and a seal member on said valve member 'to seal one prong of said service outlet.

18. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having an upper and a. lower connection with the tank, a supply inlet, a twoprongv service outlet and a waste outlet, a valve member in said housin adapted'in one sition to direct the water rom the supply inlet to the service outlet and to the tank and from the tank to the waste outlet, and a water pressure operated seal member on said valve member to seal one prong of said outlet.

19. In a water softener, a tank, a valve housing having a pair of water connections with the tank, a supply inlet, a service outlet and a waste outlet, a test cock outlet and a valve member having a pair of chambers and a plurality of vents for the flow of water ada ted in one position in cooperation with the housing to open one tank connection to the test cock outlet and close the supply inlet and the service outlet, and form a connection between the other tank connection and the waste outlet.

CHARLES P. EISENHAUER.

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