Abstract: A water softening system includes a resin tank which has an open drain during a regeneration cycle, and a pressurized brining system communicating with the resin tank. The brining system includes a closed brine reservoir with an outlet communicating with the resin tank and an inlet adapted to be coupled to a pressurized source of water, a salt reservoir at atmospheric pressure, and a semi-permeable membrane in communication with and forming a partition between the reservoirs and allowing free movement of salt ions therethrough while substantially inhibiting flow of water therethrough to form brine in the brine reservoir, which brine is then urged through the brine outlet and into the resin tank by the water pressure in the brine reservoir.

Abstract: A two-chamber fluid control valve for a water softener system is provided. The valve includes a primary chamber having a primary inlet for passage of a primary fluid into the primary chamber and a primary outlet for passage of fluid out of the primary chamber, and a primary valve member disposed for closing the primary outlet. The valve also includes a secondary chamber having a secondary inlet and a secondary outlet fluidly communicating with, and for passing the secondary fluid into, the primary chamber, and a secondary valve member disposed for closing the secondary outlet to prevent the passage of air out of the secondary chamber and into the primary chamber, whereby primary and secondary fluids can be combined in the primary chamber prior to flowing out of the primary outlet of the primary chamber. The valve allows a homogeneous brine/secondary chemical solution to be formed therein and fed to a water softener tank to regenerate and treat the tank and the ion exchange medium therein.

Abstract: A valve mechanism for supplying liquid to a container until the surface of the liquid reaches a predetermined level includes a valve body disposable in the container and defining a cavity, an inlet port for communication with a liquid source and an cutlet port communicating with the interior of the container. A valve seat is provided in the cavity adjacent to the outlet port, and a valve member in the shape of a ball is disposed within the cavity and moveable between a normal closed condition and an open condition relative to the valve seat for respectively closing and opening the outlet port. A guide tube depends from the valve body in communication with the outlet port and has a float coupled to it. A valve actuator includes a base seated in the container and a rod extending upwardly therefrom into the guide tube. The actuator rod is engageable with the valve member for holding the valve member in its open condition when the surface of the liquid in the container is below the predetermined level.

Abstract: A water purifier includes a canister containing a reverse osmosis filter unit and threadedly engaged with a control head which is adapted to be coupled to a source of tap water, to a purified water storage tank, to a faucet or other remote usage location and to a waste water drain. The head includes a normally-open inlet valve controlling the flow of tap water to the filter unit and a drain valve controlling flow of waste water to the drain. The inlet valve closes in response to back pressure in the storage tank when it is filled to shut off the apparatus. A normally-closed and normally-disabled bypass valve can be selectively enabled for opening in response to a predetermined lower back pressure in the storage tank when it is less than completely full for diverting purified water from the filter unit to the drain. The drain valve is continuously adjustable between fully open and fully closed conditions.

Abstract: A multiple purpose tank has an inlet-outlet port, an inlet port and an outlet port connected to a drain. A flexible liquid-proof liner in the tank is connected to the inlet-outlet port to form a variable volume container. Automatic valve means controls the flow of effluent-untreated liquid to the drain and the pressure of effluent-untreated liquid in the tank on the liner and the variable volume container formed thereby. A reverse osmosis module has an inlet port for connection to a pressurized source of untreated liquid and an outlet port connected to the inlet port of the tank. The module has an outlet port connected to the inletoutlet port of the tank to discharge treated liquid to the interior of the tank. A manually actuated control valve controls the flow of effluent-untreated liquid to the tank.