Abstract: A sprayer system for spraying water, onto and for absorption by, a surrounding area, such as used in wastewater treatment. The sprayer system includes a substantially vertical tubular housing extending from a well base to a distal end from which water communicated to the sprayer system is discharged. The tubular housing includes an inner tubular casing slidably supporting a piston assembly which is movable from the well base to the distal end in response to water communicated from a source to the well base. The piston assembly includes a primary check valve that is biased into engagement with an associated seat and includes a spray nozzle located downstream of the main check valve. When water from the source is applied to an effective pressure area on the piston assembly, an upwardly directed force is applied to the piston assembly when water is delivered to the well base.

Abstract: A sprayer system for spraying water, onto and for absorption by, a surrounding area, such as used in wastewater treatment. The sprayer system includes a substantially vertical tubular housing extending from a well base to a distal end from which water communicated to the sprayer system is discharged. The tubular housing includes an inner tubular casing slidably supporting a piston assembly which is movable from the well base to the distal end in response to water communicated from a source to the well base. The piston assembly includes a primary check valve that is biased into engagement with an associated seat and includes a spray nozzle located downstream of the main check valve. When water from the source is applied to an effective pressure area on the piston assembly, an upwardly directed force is applied to the piston assembly when water is delivered to the well base.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of water treatment tanks, each tank defining a flow path extending from a tank inlet to a tank outlet and containing a water treatment material disposed along the flow path for treating water as it travels from the inlet to the outlet. A system controller controls which of the tanks is on-line and which of the tanks is off-line and controls the regeneration of an exhausted tank. A multi-stage, spring-loaded control valve assembly controls the communication of fluid to a regeneration control turbine and includes a piston head and a relatively movable seat-carrying stem. A spring urges the stem away from the piston head such that initial movement of the head compresses the spring but does not produce movement in the seat. Sufficient movement of the piston head produces movement in the seat, thereby causing the seat to open pressure.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus that includes a cation exchange chamber containing a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange chamber containing an anion exchange resin. A bipolar interface is located between the resin chambers and defines a zone of water disassociation. A cathode communicates with the cation exchange chamber through a cation exchange membrane. An anode communicates with the anion exchange chamber through an anion exchange membrane. Dilution or flushing water flows through cathode and anode chambers and conveys captured ions to a drain or other waste connection. A baffle may be used in some configurations to divide a resin chamber into an exhausted resin region and a regenerated resin region and causes incoming water to flow through the exhausted resin region first. The exhausted resin region is located near its associated electrode, thus improving the electrical efficiency of the cell.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of water treatment tanks, each tank defining a flow path extending from a tank inlet to a tank outlet and containing a water treatment material disposed along the flow path for treating water as it travels from the inlet to the outlet. A system controller controls which of the tanks is on-line and which of the tanks is off-line and controls the regeneration of an exhausted tank. A multi-stage, spring-loaded control valve assembly controls the communication of fluid to a regeneration control turbine. The control valve assembly includes a piston head and a seat-carrying stem. An upper end of the stem is coupled to the piston head in an arrangement that allows relative movement between the stem and the piston head. A spring urges the stem away from the piston head. An opposite end of the stem carries a seat.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus that includes a cation exchange chamber containing a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange chamber containing an anion exchange resin. A bipolar interface is located between the resin chambers and defines a zone of water disassociation. A cathode communicates with the cation exchange chamber through a cation exchange membrane. An anode communicates with the anion exchange chamber through an anion exchange membrane. Dilution or flushing water flows through cathode and anode chambers and conveys captured ions to a drain or other waste connection. A baffle may be used in some configurations to divide a resin chamber into an exhausted resin region and a regenerated resin region and causes incoming water to flow through the exhausted resin region first. The exhausted resin region is located near its associated electrode, thus improving the electrical efficiency of the cell.

Abstract: A platform for performance of personal combat martial arts is made with a concave upper surface having a central generally flat region for main performance surrounded by a border region that slopes upwardly to the platform periphery, so that instead of the traditional impasse and fight interruption experienced when a combatant is forced into the border region, ropes or corners of conventional flat fight rings, the action tends to continue and automatically gravitate back into the main central region without interruption. A full-height constraint net that slopes upwardly and inwardly further urges combatants away from the periphery and safely prevents bodily ejection, thus protecting ringside spectators while providing all spectators with a good view of the sports action.

Abstract: A ground-based ball launcher for inflated-ball sports practice provides an impulse that propels the ball upwardly in a trajectory of pre-adjustable angle and velocity so as to obtain a desired maximum height and landing distance offset from the launcher. An optional adjustable time delay gives a player time to move into place and get set for each launching. Launching energy may be provided by a compressed coil spring which can be reloaded by the user with foot-pump action.

Abstract: Filtration media having germicidal properties for use in filtering particles and deactivating, removing and/or destroying microorganisms from a feed liquid passing therethrough. The filtration media includes an effective amount of a germicidal chemically grafted and covalently bonded to a surface of the media. The germicidal grafted filter media is prepared by contacting the media with a grafting solution comprising an anionic monomer, a catalyst, a graft initiator and a germicide and subsequently curing tile media at an elevated temperature to chemically graft a polymerized salt of the polymerizable anionic monomer and the cationic germicide onto a surface of the media. Filter media suitable for use in the present invention include ceramic spheroids, hollow glass spheres, polymeric type media and thermoset coated glass spheres.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of water treatment tanks, each tank defining a flow path extending from a tank inlet to a tank outlet and containing a water treatment material disposed along the flow path for treating water as it travels from the inlet to the outlet. A system controller controls which of the tanks is on-line and which of the tanks is off-line and controls the regeneration of an exhausted tank. The system controller is operative to provide a final rinse in the service direction. This is accomplished by a purge valve which communicates the outlet of a tank being regenerated to a drain under predetermined operating conditions. The operation of the purge valve is responsive to fluid signals applied to an inlet valve and an outlet valve associated with the tank being regenerated. More specifically, the fluid signals that close the outlet valve and open the inlet valve, are utilized to cause the opening of the purge valve in order to communicate the tank outlet with the drain.

Abstract: A control valve for a water treatment system which includes a turbine rotatably mounted within a water receiving chamber. A pair of nozzles communicate water from a water receiving chamber to the turbine in a driving relationship. The nozzles each define a passage, preferably converging slightly in cross-section and defining centerlines that converge and intersect at a region swept by the turbine. Preferably, the intersection of the centerlines occurs intermediate a circle defined by central regions of the turbine blades and a circle defined by peripheral edges of the turbine blades. At least one of the nozzles is slidably held in a slot formed in a dividing wall forming part of the control valve and is replaceable by a plug. A confronting surface defines a uniform gap between an outlet side of the nozzles and a peripheral portion of the turbine.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus and method for softening "problem water". The apparatus includes a pair of treatment tank assemblies, each tank including serially connected filter and ion exchange beds. When a tank assembly requires regeneration, the tank assembly is taken off line and is regenerated using a regenerating apparatus that communicates a mixture of citric acid and brine solution to the ion exchange bed, followed by brine solution alone to form a barrier. A mixture of sodium carbonate and brine solution is then communicated to the ion exchange bed followed by a backwashing step which conveys treated water through both the ion exchange bed and the filter media in a counter flow direction. The regeneration apparatus includes a brine venturi and a chemical draw venturi connected in a parallel flow relationship and solenoid control valves for selectively communicating either a citric acid reservoir or a sodium carbonate reservoir to the chemical draw venturi.