Abstract: A modular pump is provided for a water treatment system, and includes a housing having a water inlet and a separate water outlet, a pump located in the housing and being in fluid communication with the water inlet, a check valve located within the housing downstream of and in fluid communication with the pump, a flow meter located within the housing and in fluid communication with, the check valve, a pressure sensor located within the housing, in communication with, and downstream of the check valve, and in fluid communication with the water outlet. Also, a control system is electrically connected to the pump, the pressure sensor and the flow meter.

Abstract: A control valve assembly is provided for a fluid treatment system, including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion secured to the top portion, the housing including an inlet and an outlet. At least two modular chambers are secured in the housing. A first chamber is configured to receive fluid from the inlet and a second chamber is configured to provide fluid to the outlet. A piston is also provided which includes a shaft with a plurality of sealing rings. The piston extends through the housing and through the first chamber and the second chamber. The piston is configured to reciprocate in an axial direction to control the flow of fluid in the control valve assembly.

Abstract: A valve for a water system including a water supply conduit, the valve having a valve housing that defines a valve inlet and valve outlet. The valve inlet is connected to the water conduit and at least one piston is disposed within the valve housing and is configured to direct flow within the valve. A motor associated with the valve housing is operably attached to the piston and is further configured for driving the piston between a service position, a bypass position, and a shutoff position. The valve further includes at least one sensor associated with the valve inlet or valve outlet for monitoring a water condition. A control system receives data from the at least one sensor and is configured for actuating the motor between the service position, the bypass position, and the shutoff position in response to the data.

Abstract: A control valve for a fluid treatment apparatus is provided, including a valve body having a control portion and a treatment portion, the portions being separated from each other so that fluid in the control portion is isolated from fluid in the treatment portion. The treatment portion includes a plurality of piston valves reciprocating in corresponding openings defined in a corresponding number of cylinders for controlling water to be treated in the apparatus. Each of the cylinders has a plurality of peripherally spaced, vertically-extending guide ribs configured for facilitating engagement of the piston valves with the openings and for reducing unwanted cavitation.

Abstract: A water softener salt monitoring system includes a brine tank configured for retaining a quantity of salt, a quantity of water and having a bottom, a sensor secured to the brine tank and constructed and arranged for sending a signal to the bottom, the sensor including a receiver configured for receiving a reflected signal off of at least one of the quantity of salt, the quantity of water and the bottom, and a controller connected to the sensor and programmed to compare the reflected signals with preset values, and for generating an alarm signal upon receipt of deviations from the preset values.

Abstract: A control valve for a fluid treatment apparatus is provided, including a valve body having a control portion and a treatment portion, the portions being separated from each other so that fluid in the control portion is isolated from fluid in the treatment portion. The treatment portion includes a plurality of piston valves reciprocating in corresponding openings defined in a corresponding number of cylinders for controlling water to be treated in the apparatus. Each of the cylinders has a plurality of peripherally spaced, vertically-extending guide ribs configured for facilitating engagement of the piston valves with the openings and for reducing unwanted cavitation.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for a fluid treatment apparatus, including a housing with at least one cylinder defining a fluid flow path in the apparatus, each cylinder having an associated reciprocating piston valve. The valve includes a first piston valve half; a second piston valve half complementary to the first piston valve half; and a resilient seal constructed and arranged for being sandwiched between the first and second piston valve halves. The first piston valve half is constructed and arranged for engaging the cylinder before the second piston valve half, and having an exterior peripheral edge defined by a plurality of peripherally spaced teeth creating flow spaces between the teeth.

Abstract: A control valve assembly is provided for a fluid treatment system, including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion secured to the top portion, the housing including an inlet and an outlet. At least two modular chambers are secured in the housing. A first chamber is configured to receive fluid from the inlet and a second chamber is configured to provide fluid to the outlet. A piston is also provided which includes a shaft with a plurality of sealing rings. The piston extends through the housing and through the first chamber and the second chamber. The piston is configured to reciprocate in an axial direction to control the flow of fluid in the control valve assembly.

Abstract: A control valve assembly is provided for a fluid treatment system, including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion secured to the top portion, the housing including an inlet and an outlet. At least two modular chambers are secured in the housing. A first chamber is configured to receive fluid from the inlet and a second chamber is configured to provide fluid to the outlet. A piston is also provided which includes a shaft with a plurality of sealing rings. The piston extends through the housing and through the first chamber and the second chamber. The piston is configured to reciprocate in an axial direction to control the flow of fluid in the control valve assembly.

Abstract: A faucet filter system is connected to a water supply line, and includes a manifold connectable to the supply line and providing selective fluid communication with the supply line and a filter apparatus in fluid communication with the manifold, at least one remote actuated valve is associated with the manifold and configured for controlling water flow in the manifold to the filter apparatus when filtered water is desired. A wireless controller is disposed remotely from the filter apparatus and the manifold and is configured for actuating the valve between a first position, in which water flows from the water supply conduit through a faucet inlet, and a second position, in which water flows from the water supply conduit, to the filter apparatus, through the filter outlet and through the faucet inlet. Depending on the actuation of the valve, the either filtered or unfiltered water is emitted through a faucet spout.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for a fluid treatment apparatus, including a housing with at least one cylinder defining a fluid flow path in the apparatus, each cylinder having an associated reciprocating piston valve. The valve includes a first piston valve half; a second piston valve half complementary to the first piston valve half; and a resilient seal constructed and arranged for being sandwiched between the first and second piston valve halves. The first piston valve half is constructed and arranged for engaging the cylinder before the second piston valve half, and having an exterior peripheral edge defined by a plurality of peripherally spaced teeth creating flow spaces between the teeth.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for a fluid treatment apparatus, including a housing with at least one cylinder defining a fluid flow path in the apparatus, each cylinder having an associated reciprocating piston valve. The valve includes a first piston valve half; a second piston valve half complementary to the first piston valve half; and a resilient seal constructed and arranged for being sandwiched between the first and second piston valve halves. The first piston valve half is constructed and arranged for engaging the cylinder before the second piston valve half, and having an exterior peripheral edge defined by a plurality of peripherally spaced teeth creating flow spaces between the teeth.

Abstract: A control valve assembly is provided for a fluid treatment system, including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion secured to the top portion, the housing including an inlet and an outlet. At least two modular chambers are secured in the housing. A first chamber is configured to receive fluid from the inlet and a second chamber is configured to provide fluid to the outlet. A piston is also provided which includes a shaft with a plurality of sealing rings. The piston extends through the housing and through the first chamber and the second chamber. The piston is configured to reciprocate in an axial direction to control the flow of fluid in the control valve assembly.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for a fluid treatment apparatus, including a housing with at least one cylinder defining a fluid flow path in the apparatus, each cylinder having an associated reciprocating piston valve. The valve includes a first piston valve half; a second piston valve half complementary to the first piston valve half; and a resilient seal constructed and arranged for being sandwiched between the first and second piston valve halves. The first piston valve half is constructed and arranged for engaging the cylinder before the second piston valve half, and having an exterior peripheral edge defined by a plurality of peripherally spaced teeth creating flow spaces between the teeth.

Abstract: A water filtering system including an inlet, an outlet and a filter positioned between the inlet and the outlet, where feed water enters the inlet and passes through the filter, and filtered water exits the through the outlet. A measurement device is connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet measures a concentration of Total Dissolved Solids in at least one of the inlet and the outlet. A bypass valve is connected between the inlet and the outlet, and moves between a closed position and an open position, where the filtered water moves from the outlet to the inlet. A controller communicates with the measurement device and the bypass valve and automatically moves the bypass valve to a position between the closed position and the open position based on the concentration of the Total Dissolved Solids in the filtered water measured by the measurement device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for supporting multivariable functions of an application includes receiving user input pertaining to two or more variables associated with a multivariable function of the application, and then causing code for the function to be automatically generated to update the variables based on the user input.

Abstract: A faucet filter system is connected to a water supply line, and includes a manifold connectable to the supply line and providing selective fluid communication with the supply line and a filter apparatus in fluid communication with the manifold, at least one remote actuated valve is associated with the manifold and configured for controlling water flow in the manifold to the filter apparatus when filtered water is desired. A wireless controller is disposed remotely from the filter apparatus and the manifold and is configured for actuating the valve between a first position, in which water flows from the water supply conduit through a faucet inlet, and a second position, in which water flows from the water supply conduit, to the filter apparatus, through the filter outlet and through the faucet inlet. Depending on the actuation of the valve, the either filtered or unfiltered water is emitted through a faucet spout.

Abstract: In one generic aspect, a bus system for bus arbitration is disclosed. The bus system may include a first master device, a second master device, a bus connected to the first master device and the second master device, and a plurality of arbitration lines including a first master claim line associated with the first master device, and a second master claim line associated with the second master device. Each of the first master claim line and the second master claim line may be connected to the first master device and the second master device.

Abstract: A water filtering system including an inlet, an outlet and a filter positioned between the inlet and the outlet, where feed water enters the inlet and passes through the filter, and filtered water exits the through the outlet. A measurement device is connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet measures a concentration of Total Dissolved Solids in at least one of the inlet and the outlet. A bypass valve is connected between the inlet and the outlet, and moves between a closed position and an open position, where the filtered water moves from the outlet to the inlet. A controller communicates with the measurement device and the bypass valve and automatically moves the bypass valve to a position between the closed position and the open position based on the concentration of the Total Dissolved Solids in the filtered water measured by the measurement device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a microcontroller. An XML description of the microcontroller's hardware resources may be accessed. A user may select from available hardware resources and pre-defined user modules to select a configuration. Configuration information, which may include register bit patterns and microprocessor instructions, may be automatically generated. Additionally, application programming interface calls and structure, as well as interrupt vector tables may be automatically generated.