Abstract: A pressure vessel having a relief area onto which a flange of a side port can be attached. The relief area includes a planar mating surface raised from the cylindrical sidewall of the vessel. A method for forming the pressure vessel includes providing a cylindrical mandrel provided with a side port spacer. Fiberglass is wrapped onto the mandrel and space. The fiberglass is impregnated with resin and the resin is cured. A metallic insert ring is embedded in a full bore open end of the pressure vessel. The ring has a cross-section having a height to width ratio of less than 0.7.

Abstract: A quick-release fitting assembly has a male fitting and a female fitting. The male and female fittings are secured together by a retaining ring that is at least partially received in aligned first and second retaining grooves that are provided in the male fitting and the throat of the female fitting respectively. A water tight seal is provided by an O-ring that is retained in a sealing groove of the male fitting and radially compressed against the throat wall when the male fitting is inserted in the female fitting. The water tight seal remains substantially intact when the male fitting is rotated relative to the female fitting. In a preferred embodiment, the male fitting is removable from the female fitting by first compressing the retaining ring so that it no longer extends into the second retaining groove.

Abstract: A quick-release fitting assembly has a male fitting and a female fitting. The male and female fittings are secured together by a retaining ring that is at least partially received in aligned first and second retaining grooves that are provided in the male fitting and the throat of the female fitting respectively. A water tight seal is provided by an O-ring that is retained in a sealing groove of the male fitting and radially compressed against the throat wall when the male fitting is inserted in the female fitting. The water tight seal remains substantially intact when the male fitting is rotated relative to the female fitting. In a preferred embodiment, the male fitting is removable from the female fitting by first compressing the retaining ring so that it no longer extends into the second retaining groove.

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 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: 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.