Abstract: A motor vehicle window regulator includes a helically wound wire coil on a flexible lubricating core to form a flexible cable, and the cable is confined within an elongated guide tube having a longitudinally extending slot. The coil is moved longitudinally within the tube by a helical drive gear, and a lower end portion of the cable carries a window lifting bracket or T-bracket having laterally projecting wings. A clamp unit is mounted on each wing and includes a U-shaped clamp body defining a recess which receives a pressure block and a U-shaped gasket for receiving an edge portion of a glass window panel. Set screws thread through the clamp bodies and extend through holes in the wings for engaging the pressure blocks to clamp the edge portion of the window panel to the clamp bodies. Each clamp body comprises a short section of an aluminum extrusion and defines slots or grooves receiving edge portions of the gasket and the T-bracket wing.

Abstract: A motor vehicle window regulator includes a helically wound wire coil on a flexible lubricating core to form a flexible cable, and the cable is confined within an elongated guide tube having a longitudinally extending slot. The coil is moved longitudinally within the tube by a helical drive gear, and a lower end portion of the cable carries a window lifting bracket or T-bracket having laterally projecting wings. A clamp unit is mounted on each wing and includes a C-shaped clamp body defining a recess which receives a pressure block and a U-shaped gasket for receiving an edge portion of a glass window panel. A set screw threads through the clamp body and extends through a hole in the corresponding T-bracket wing for engaging the pressure block to clamp the edge portion of the window panel to the clamp body. Each clamp body comprises a short section of an aluminum extrusion and defines slots or grooves receiving edge portions of the gasket and the T-bracket wing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a check valve which, when placed at the end of a pump suction pipe, allows the pump to draw fluid therethrough from a continuously replenished, below-ground fluid source. When the fluid in the fluid source has been depleted to a level below that which allows fluid to be drawn therefrom by the pump, the present check valve maintains the suction pipe full of fluid. The check valve also maintains the suction pipe full of fluid when the pump has been shut off. In this manner, the pump can resume drawing fluid from the fluid source without the need for priming.

Abstract: A water treatment system includes a water treatment tank containing a resin bed through which water is passed for treatment thereof during normal operation of the treatment system. A brine tank contains a brine solution which, when passed through the resin bed, results in regeneration of the treatment effectiveness of the bed. A plurality of electrically actuatable valve means direct water through the treatment tank during normal operation of the treatment system and direct brine solution through the treatment tank in a regeneration operation. A control for the water treatment system includes means for manually entering control data, display means for displaying data, and sensor means for sensing the volume of water treated by the water treatment system. A controller circuit means is responsive to means for manually entering control data and to the sensor means and is connected to display data on the display means.

Abstract: A system for the combined softening of water and reduction of dissolved solids from the water, which can be retrofitted to a conventional water softening apparatus, includes a pressure tank, an inlet line for conveying raw or hard water to the pressure tank, and an outlet line for conveying softened water from the tank. Treatment material is located within the pressure tank for softening the water within the tank. At least one semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane element is embedded within the treatment material for filtering the softened water within the pressure tank. A collection conduit and holding tank communicates with the membrane element and conveys filtered water from the pressure tank and stores the water.

Abstract: A valve mechanism is used in combination with a fluid treatment device of the type having a tank defining a treatment bed, particulate treatment material contained within the treatment bed, and a central distribution tube mounted in the bed and terminating in a plurality of distributors which provide fluid communication between the bed and the distribution tube. The valve mechanism consists of a plurality of ball valves, each connected to a different one of the distributors and having unidirectional flow restriction assemblies such that fluid flow in a first direction from the bed to the distributor tube is relatively unrestricted, and fluid flow in a second direction from the distribution tube to the treatment bed is relatively restricted.

Abstract: A system for handling exhausted vermiculite cation exchange particles after they have been used for the removal of heavy metal ions from waste effluents. The exhausted particles are stabilized and removed from the ion exchange column. Stabilization may be by acid solution recirculation through the column prior to particle removal. This is accomplished by preferably using a portable stabilization unit. The stabilized particles are removed from the column by a flushing, backwashing arrangement. After drying, the particles, which are non-hazardous, may be used in a land fill or they may be expanded to produce a lightweight aggregate, insulation, or agricultural material.

Abstract: A water treatment system includes a water treatment tank containing a resin bed through which water is passed for treatment thereof during normal operation of the treatment system. A brine tank contains a brine solution which, when passed through the resin bed, results in regeneration of the treatment effectiveness of the bed. A plurality of electrically actuatable valve means direct water through the treatment tank during normal operation of the treatment system and direct brine solution through the treatment tank in a regeneration operation. A control for the water treatment system includes means for manually entering control data, display means for displaying data, and sensor means for sensing the volume of water treated by the water treatment system. A controller circuit means is responsive to means for manually entering control data and to the sensor means and is connected to display data on the display means.

Abstract: A water treatment and storage system includes a reverse osmosis treatment unit having an untreated water input line, a treated water output line and a bleed water output line. An expandable container, compressed by a spring arrangement, is provided for storing treated water. A container valve, connecting the reverse osmosis treatment unit and the expandable container, terminates the flow of treated water to the container when a predetermined quantity of water has been accumulated therein. The container valve further includes a bleed valve arrangement connecting the bleed water output line and a drain line. The bleed valve arrangement terminates the flow of bleed water to the drain line after the container has accumulated the predetermined quantity of treated water.

Abstract: A dual tank storage system is provided having a first generally cylindrical upstanding tank adapted to be positioned either adjacent to or within a second tank of larger diameter. The tanks are in fluid connection and are useful in systems requiring the segregated storage of two fluids until the fluids are mixed and used or in systems where a stored fluid is required periodically to regenerate the contents of another container. A cover is also provided which fits completely over the first tank, when the first tank is positioned within the second tank, and forms a seal with the upper rim of the second tank.

Abstract: A mixed bed deionizer unit which provides in situ regeneration through the use of two compact multi-valve assemblies and an intermediate manifold which are automatically controlled to supply backwash water, chemical draw for cleansing both cation and anion resins simultaneously and rinsing water in a sequentially controlled manner. An internal water and chemical distribution system in the mixed bed tank is provided which has both input distribution and output drainage capabilities.

Abstract: A system for the combined softening of water and reduction of dissolved solids from the water, which can be retrofitted to a conventional water softening apparatus, is disclosed. The system includes a pressure tank having a closure with an access opening, an inlet line for conveying hard water to the pressure tank, an outlet line for conveying softened water from the tank and having a mouth located proximate the bottom of the tank, pelletized treatment material located within the pressure tank for softening the raw water, a plurality of tubular membrane carriers embedded within the treatment material, a plurality of semi-permeable reverse osmosis membranes enclosing the tubular membrane carriers, and a conduit for collecting the purified water from the membrane carriers.

Abstract: A cabinet for enclosing a water softener system, which system includes a free standing resin tank, has a cylindrical brine tank side wall member, mounted on top of a horizontal cabinet base and forming a brine tank therewith. An integrally formed cabinet side wall member having a vertical front wall portion and a pair of vertical side wall portions extending rearwardly from the front wall portion is mounted on top of the base. The cabinet side wall member surrounds the brine tank on at least three sides of the brine tank and the side wall portion extends rearwardly beyond the brine tank by a distance sufficient to enclose substantially on at least three sides the free standing resin tank. A brine tank cover is mounted on top of the cabinet side wall member and defines an opening therein through which salt may be added to the brine tank.

Abstract: Cation exchange water softeners may be regenerated and, then, the regenerant wastes (brine) recovered, treated, and recycled. The result is a closed system which is ecologically beneficial. The regenerant brine is captured in as concentrated a form as possible and then treated with a precipitant such as sodium or potassium carbonate or mixtures of sodium or potassium carbonate with sodium or potassium hydroxide. Calcium and magnesium compounds are precipitated and the supernatant contains sodium or potassium chloride. These are separated within the brine treatment tank, the precipitate being disposed of as a sludge or sludge cake and the supernatant being recycled to the water softener at the time of further regeneration.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the regeneration cycle of a water softener includes a flow meter which provides a pulse output of a frequency proportional to the flow rate of the water treated by the softener. A predetermined counter, responsive to the flow meter pulse output, provides a first enabling output when a first count is reached indicating that the capacity for treating a normal 24 hour supply of water remains and provides a second enabling output when a second count is reached indicating that the capacity for treating water has been depleted. A 24 hour timer is responsive to the first enabling output to provide a regeneration timer with a regeneration initiation signal at a preselected time during the 24 hour period following the first enabling output. The regeneration timer is directly responsive to the predetermined counter for initiation of regeneration immediately upon receipt of the second enabling signal.

Abstract: A water refining system in which spent refining material is removed on a batch basis in small portable containers for regeneration of the material at a central processing plant. The spent material is then replaced with new or regenerated material using a plurality of the same type of portable containers. This provides an exchange type system in which the fixed refiner is of substantially greater size than is usually considered feasible for systems of this type and provides considerable flexibility in selecting the size of the refiner while permitting the use of the same portable containers for evacuating and filling the refiner.