Abstract: A bypass/diverter valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a source to a fluid treatment device such as a water softener. The valve includes a valve housing defining a circular chamber having a cylindrical wall into which three spaced ports open into. Two of the ports form inlet/outlet ports communicating with connecting conduits. The third port forms an intermediate port that communicates with the input to the water softener. The valve housing also defines a second intermediate port communicating with the output of the water softener and which communicates with the valve chamber through a passage arrangement.

Abstract: A brining system including a brine reservoir containing a supply of salt and a brine valve assembly disposed in the reservoir below the level of the salt and including a vessel for accumulating a predetermined quantity of fluid to be discharged into the reservoir to form a regeneration solution. A control valve forming part of the brine valve assembly includes a spool member shiftable between two positions. In one position a fluid supply line is communicated with the accumulating vessel and in a second position the vessel is communicated with the brine reservoir. The spool includes effective pressure areas for monitoring pressures in the supply line and the vessel. When a predetermined level in the accumulating vessel is reached, a flow of fluid into the vessel is terminated and the resulting change in pressure sensed by the spool causes it to shift to a position at which fluid in the vessel is discharged into the brine reservoir while fluid flow from the supply line is concurrently terminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively recovering ions from an aqueous solution and producing deionized water for reuse. When used in a nickel plating process, a rinse water stream is passed through a first cation removing assembly that contains an ion exchange media having a greater affinity for nickel ions than for most or all other ions present in the system. Rinse water processed by the first cation removing assembly is conveyed to a second cation removing assembly and then to an anion removing assembly so that deionized water is produced and is then returned to a rinse bath. Rinse water is passed through the first ion exchange media until substantially all of the ion exchange sites hold a nickel ion. The other cations in the rinse water are captured by the second cation assembly. The first cation assembly is regenerated using a regeneration solution compatible with the plating bath.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of tank assemblies 110, 112 interconnected by a valve module 114 for controlling the communication of water to be treated to an on-line tank and the regeneration of an exhausted tank. Each tank assembly includes a compartment containing a water softening resin 125 and a compartment centering an iron filter media. The valve module is connected to a regeneration solution reservoir 150 by brine conduits 164, 220. A pumping assembly 192 automatically transfers a predetermined amount of a supplemental regenerant fluid from a well 168 into the regeneration solution reservoir at the conclusion of a regeneration cycle. The pumping assembly includes upper and lower chambers 194a, 196a communicating with the supplemental regenerant fluid reservoir 168 and brine supply conduits 164, 220 respectively.

Abstract: A water softening apparatus and method for reducing odor in, and improving the taste of, problem water, including a pair of treatment tanks and a control valve assembly for determining which tank is on-line, and which tank is off-line, and for controlling the regeneration of the off-line tank. An exhausted tank is taken off-line and partially regenerated by communicating a regeneration solution from a reservoir to the tank and passing the solution through a resin compartment after which the solution is discharged to drain. After a predetermined quantity of regeneration solution is passed through the tank, the resin compartment is slowly rinsed using treated water from the on-line tank. Prior to fully rinsing the off-line tank, the fluid flow is terminated leaving a diluted regeneration solution in the off-line tank thereby keeping the off-line tank in a "high solids" condition.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus including a fluid monitoring head and a replaceable filter cartridge removably fastened to said head. The cartridge includes a shut off mechanism for interrupting fluid flow through the cartridge when a predetermined quantity of fluid has been treated by the filter. The fluid monitoring head is releasably coupled to the shutoff mechanism when the filter is installed. The shutoff mechanism includes a valve element threadedly carried by a shaft that forms part of a driven member, operatively connected to a drive member forming part of the monitoring head. As the driven member rotates, the valve element is gradually unthreaded until it separates and is driven to a flow interrupting position by a biasing spring. The coupling between the drive and driven members includes apertures on one of the members which are engaged by resilient tongues formed on the other member.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of tank assemblies 110, 112 interconnected by a valve module 114 for controlling the communication of water to be treated to an on-line tank and the regeneration of an exhausted tank. Each tank assembly includes a compartment containing a water softening resing 125 and a compartment centering an iron filter media. The valve module is connected to a regeneration solution reservoir 150 by brine conduits 164, 220. A pumping assembly 192 automatically transfers a predetermined amount of a supplemental regenerant fluid from a well 168 into the regeneration solution reservoir at the conclusion of a regeneration cycle. The pumping assembly includes upper and lower chambers 194a, 196a communicating with the supplemental regenerant fluid reservoir 168 and brine supply conduits 164, 220 respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for purifying a solvent such as water, using a reverse osmosis process. The apparatus includes a reverse osmosis (R.O.) unit, a storage tank for storing permeate produced by the reverse osmosis unit, and a flushing arrangement for cleansing the concentrate side of a reverse osmosis membrane at the conclusion of a purifying cycle. A flow regulating arrangement 34, 40, 42 maintains one of two pressures at the concentrate output. A system controller controls the communication of feed water to the R.O. unit and the concentrate pressure. A flushing accumulator receives permeate during a purifying cycle. When the cycle is terminated, the permeate stored in the accumulator is transferred to the input side of the R.O. unit and flushes the membrane. The permeate is driven from the accumulator by a feed water generated force exerted on the permeate by an isolated pressurization chamber forming part of the accumulator. According to a feature of this embodiment, the R.O.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for purifying a solvent such as water, using a reverse osmosis process. The apparatus includes a reverse osmosis (R.O.) unit 10, a storage tank 24 for storing permeate produced by the reverse osmosis unit, and a flushing arrangement for cleansing the concentrate side of a reverse osmosis membrane at the conclusion of a purifying cycle. In one embodiment, the storage tank 24 communicates with the input to the R.O. unit through a check valve 26 which allows permeate flow from the tank into the R.O. unit but prevents reverse flow. A flow regulating arrangement 34, 40, 42 maintains one of two pressures at the concentrate output. A system controller 50 controls the communication of feed water to the R.O. unit and the concentrate pressure. At the conclusion of a purifying cycle, the system controller terminates the flow of feed water and reduces the concentrate output pressure resulting in the flow of a quantity of permeate from the storage tank into the R.O.

Abstract: The improved tank construction includes two injection molded thermoplastic sections having overlapping male and female circumferential wall portions. The male wall portion includes a crowned bonding surface that diverges inwardly towards the central axis of the tank. The bonding surface extends from an external surface of the male tank section and terminates at a radial face that defines the innermost edge of the tank section. The female wall portion defined by the female tank section includes a uniform diameter segment which cooperates with the external surface of the male tank section to facilitate alignment during the spin welding process. A complementally shaped bonding surface forms part of the female wall portion which coacts with the crowned bonding surface of the male wall portion. Contact between the bonding surfaces at the commencement of the spin welding process occurs at a narrow intermediate region.

Abstract: A deionization method and apparatus comprising separate cation and anion removing sections 10a, 10b, the cation section having separate tanks 14, 16 and the anion section having separate tanks 24, 26. Respective cation and anion control valve assemblies 18, 28 control the fluid communication between various components of respective sections and control the regeneration cycle of exhausted cation and anion tanks, respectively. Each valve assembly includes independent water usage monitoring devices 118 which, upon sensing a predetermined quantity of water discharge by its respective valve assembly, effects regeneration of an associated tank. An exhausted cation tank is regenerated by feeding cation regeneration fluid by way of the cation control valve assembly into the exhausted cation tank in a counterflow direction for a predetermined time. Decationized water from the on-line cation tank is then passed through the exhausted cation tank in a counterflow direction to effect a counterflow rinse.

Abstract: An improved resin tank for a water softening apparatus including an expansible chamber 50 that enlarges during fluid flow through the tank to displace any free space in the tank, thereby maintaining the compactness of the water softening material. The expansible chamber 50 is formed by an elastomeric sleeve 52 that is secured to and surrounds a portion of a downwardly extending fluid conduit 46 and overlies at least one aperture 54 formed in the conduit wall through which fluid communication is established. The pressure drop normally occurring during fluid flow through the tank generates a pressure differential force on the sleeve wall 52a that causes it to enlarge if free space in the tank is present. In an alternate embodiment, the fluid communication between the conduit and the chamber 50 is provided by a pitot tube 62 that is disposed in the conduit fluid flow path and is operative to communicate the velocity pressure of the fluid flowing down the conduit 46 to the chamber 50.

Abstract: A float-actuated, level control valve especially suited for controlling liquid flow into and out of brine tanks of water softening systems. A magnet-operated ball check inside a flow chamber selectively closes ports of the chamber to interrupt liquid flow. Movement of the magnet and operation of the ball check is controlled by a pair of floats so that the valve is opened and closed in response to changes of liquid level. The relative position of the floats can be adjusted to vary the amount of liquid drawn out of the tank, while maintaining a constant maximum level when the tank is filled.

Abstract: An improved water softener control valve having a housing defining a servo-control chamber that encloses concentrically mounted water usage and regeneration control discs. Each disc is incrementally rotatable by ratchet drives that are driven by water usage and regeneration control turbines, respectively, through associated reduction gear trains. The ratchet drive for the water usage disc includes a pawl that is engageable with the regeneration control disc, which upon predetermined movement in the water usage disc effects movement in the regeneration control disc to initiate a regeneration cycle. A rotatable insert is provided in the housing for manually rotating the regeneration control disc.