Water softener abstract
A dispenser for metering a predetermined volume of acid into a
water softener brine tank utilizes a generally hat-shaped diaphragm
that flops from one surface of a metering chamber to the opposite
surface when acted upon by either pressure or suction. The diaphragm
essentially lines one-half of the chamber at a time, and its movement
either draws acid into the chamber or expels the acid from the chamber.
Water softener claims
What is claimed is:
1. A water softening system wherein water being treated flows through
a bed of ion exchange particles in a tank during a service cycle
and such particles are regenerated by flowing an acid solution and
a brine solution through such tank during a regeneration cycle,
the acid solution being supplied to such tank from an unpressurized
acid storage reservoir of an acid dispensing unit through a regenerant
supply line from a brine reservoir, said acid dispensing unit comprising
a hollow housing having an acid metering chamber therein, said housing
comprising a first member and a second member each having an identical
conical cavity therein and an annular surface surrounding its cavity,
a flexible diaphragm in said chamber shaped substantially identically
like the surface of one of said cavities, and lying in contact with
and lining one or the other of said cavities, an annular rim extending
from said diaphragm, said rim being compressed between said annular
surfaces which are held in abutment by means securing said members
together, a first hole through said first member connecting its
cavity to a source of pressure and suction, a second hole through
said second member connecting its cavity to an acid flow channel,
one end of said channel being connected to an intake line from said
acid storage reservoir and the other end of said channel being connected
to an acid dispensing line leading to a reservoir for said brine
solution, a first check valve seat in said channel on one side of
said second hole and a loose spherical ball check valve on said
first seat, a second check valve seat in said channel on the other
side of said second hole and a spring holding a spherical ball check
valve against said second seat, said metering chamber being empty
when said diaphragm lines the cavity in said second member, suction
applied to said first hole causing said diaphragm to flop to a mirror
image position lining said first cavity, movement of said diaphragm
from said second cavity to said first cavity creating suction in
said chamber which draws sufficient acid through said one end of
said channel past said first check valve to fill said chamber, and
pressure applied to said first hole causing said diaphragm to flop
to a position lining said second cavity, thereby expelling all of
the acid in said chamber through said second hole and past said
second check valve into said brine reservoir from which such metered
quantity of acid passes with said brine solution through said regenerant
supply line to said bed during said regeneration cycle.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the force of said
spring holding said check valve against said second seat is sufficient
to prevent lifting of such check valve when a relatively small back
pressure is exerted on said diaphragm through said first hole.
3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said conical cavities
each taper away from the center of said metering chamber.
4. The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising said acid
flow channel having a tapped hole at each end, a first hose nipple
connected to said intake line and a second hose nipple connected
to said dispensing line respectively being threaded into such tapped
holes, and the ends of said nipples securely holding said first
and second valve seats in place.
5. The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising a removable
cylinder in said acid flow channel enclosing said spring and ball
check valve, and a rod integral with said cylinder being surrounded
by said spring and limiting movement of said ball check valve.
6. The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising each cavity
having a circular end wall and a side wall which slants away from
said end wall until it joins said annular surface, and said diaphragm
being generally hat-shaped and having a circular end portion shaped
like a cavity end wall and a slanted side portion shaped like a
cavity side wall.
7. A water softening system wherein water being treated flows through
a bed of ion exchange particles in a tank during a service cycle
and such particles are regenerated by flowing an acid solution and
a brine solution through such tank during a regeneration cycle,
the acid solution being supplied to such tank from an unpressurized
acid storage reservoir of an acid dispensing unit through a regenerant
supply line from a brine reservoir, said acid dispensing unit comprising
a hollow housing having an acid metering chamber therein, said housing
comprising a first and a second member each having an identical
truncated conical cavity therein and a flat annular surface surrounding
its cavity, said cavities each tapering away from the center of
said chamber and having a flat circular end wall, a flexible unitary
disphragm in said chamber shaped substantially identically like
the surface of one of said cavities and lying in contact with and
lining one or the other of said cavities, said diaphragm being generally
hat-shaped and having a flat circular end portion shaped like a
cavity end wall and a side portion which slants toward an annular
rim that extends around said diaphragm, said rim being compressed
between said flat annular surfaces which are held in abutment by
removable fasteners separably securing said members together and
sealing the joint between the surfaces defining said metering chamber,
a first hole through said first member connecting its cavity to
a source of pressure and suction, a second hole through said second
member connecting its cavity to a vertical acid flow channel, the
bottom end of said channel being connected to an intake line from
said acid storage reservoir and the top end of said channel being
connected to an acid dispensing line leading to a reservoir for
said brine solution, a first horizontal check valve seat in said
channel below said second hole and a loose spherical ball check
valve resting on said first seat, a second horizontal check valve
seat in said channel above said second hole and a spring holding
a spherical ball check valve against said second seat, said vertical
acid flow channel having a tapped hole at each end, a first hose
nipple connected to said intake line and a second hose nipple connected
to said dispensing line respectively being threaded into such tapped
holes, the ends of said nipples securely holding said first and
second valve seats in place, a removable cylinder in said vertical
acid flow channel enclosing said spring and ball check valve, a
rod integral with said cylinder being surrounded by said spring
and limiting upward movement of said ball check valve, said metering
chamber being empty when said diaphragm lines the cavity in said
second member, suction applied to said first hole causing said diaphragm
to flop to a mirror image position lining said first cavity, movement
of said diaphragm from said second cavity to said first cavity creating
suction in said chamber which draws sufficient acid through the
bottom of said channel past said first check valve to fill said
chamber, and pressure applied to said first hole causing said diaphragm
to flop to a position lining said second cavity, thereby expelling
all of the acid in said chamber through said second hole and past
said second check valve into said brine reservoir from which such
metered quantity of acid passes with said brine solution through
said regenerant supply line to said bed during said regeneration
cycle.
Water softener description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water softener units utilizing ion exchange resin particles must
be regenerated periodically with a brine solution to restore the
water hardness removing ability of such particles. When iron is
present in the water being treated it is advantageous to include
weak acids, such as citric acid, in the regeneration solution. A
supply of such acid is stored in a separate container and a metered
dose is dispensed into the brine tank during each regeneration cycle
of the water softener. A variety of types of acid dispensers have
been used in the past, and each had disadvantages. For example,
the amount of acid dispensed might vary over a long period of time
as the parts of the dispenser became worn or lost their elasticity,
or all of the acid in the storage container might be dispensed in
a single cycle if the dispenser failed to shut off properly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a water
softening system with an improved acid dispenser.
Another object is to provide an acid dispenser in which a positive
force expels all of the acid from the metering chamber.
Another object is to provide a dispenser having an improved diaphragm
that responds to pressure and suction to meter a predetermined dose
of acid into a brine reservoir.
Another object is to provide a regeneration acid dispenser with
a diaphragm that is enclosed in and protected by a metering chamber.
Another object is to provide a water softener with a regeneration
fluid dispenser that will discharge only one metered dose of acid
if the system malfunctions.
Another object is to provide an acid dispenser for conditioning
water that is durable, relatively inexpensive and easily maintained,
and which does not possess defects found in similar prior art devices.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be found in
the specification and claims, and the scope of the invention will
be set forth in the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a partially broken away, partially schematic representation
of a water softener system in accord with this invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the acid dispenser shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG.
2.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIG.
2.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The drawing shows a dispenser unit 10 for metering a dose of an
acid, such as citric acid, to a brine tank 11 of a conventional
ion exchange water softener system 12. Hard water from a line 13
is fed to a conventional main control valve 14 and passes through
a line 15 into a bed of ion exchange resin particles in a resin
tank 17 during the service cycle. The softened water flows through
a line 18 back to valve 14 which directs it to service through a
line 19.
After softening a predetermined amount of hard water, the resin
in tank 17 loses most of its ion exchange capacity and must be regenerated.
This is accomplished in conventional manner by passing a brine and
acid solution through the resin particles in tank 17. The regeneration
cycle begins when valve 14 directs a portion of the incoming hard
water from line 13 through a line 20 to a conventional aspirator
valve 21. This creates a partial vacuum or suction in lines 23 and
24. Line 23 communicates with the inside of brine tank 11 in which
valve 21 may be mounted. The suction in line 23 draws the regenerant
solution, which comprises brine and acid in tank 11 into valve
21 from which such solution passes through a regenerant supply
line 25 into line 18 and then through the resin particles in tank
17. After regnerating the ion exchange particles in tank 17 the
acid and brine regenerant solution passes through line 15 into valve
14 which directs the spent regenerant to drain through line 26.
During the regeneration cycle, the resin also may be backwashed
and fast rinsed.
When sufficient regenerant has passed through tank 17 to restore
the water softening capacity of the resin, the regeneration cycle
is terminated by valve 14 and the service cycle is started again.
During the regeneration cycle, some of the hard water from line
13 may pass through valve 14 to line 19 to maintain a continuity
of service. During the service cycle some of the soft water passes
through line 25 and valve 21 to line 23 to supply makeup water to
brine tank 11 in the conventional manner. The water from line 25
also enters line 24 where it provides approximately the full pressure
from line 13 for operation of dispenser 10 as explained hereafter.
Acid dispenser 10 is located inside of an acid storage reservoir
or container 27 that is hung on the side of brine tank 11. Nuts
28 threaded on a nipple 29 which passes through holes in container
27 and tank 11 secure container 27 and dispenser 10 in place. Dispenser
10 includes a hollow plastic housing 30 that defines therein an
acid metering chamber 32. Housing 30 is made from first and second
members 33 and 34 respectively, which are separably connected by
self-tapping screws 35 which pass through holes in first member
33 and are turned into smooth holes in second member 34. Members
33 and 34 have identical truncated conical cavities 36 and 37 therein.
Each member has a flat annular surface 38 or 39 surrounding its
cavity. Each cavity 36 or 37 has a flat circular end wall 41 and
a side wall 42 which slants away from its end wall 41 until it joined
the annular surface 38 or 39. Thus each cavity becomes smaller in
vertical cross section, or tapers, from its annular surface to its
end wall 41.
A unitary, flexible, generally hat-shaped diaphragm 43 made from
fabric-reinforced rubber is shaped like the truncated conical surface
of either of cavities 36 or 37. Diaphragm 43 has a flat circular
end portion 44 shaped like an end wall 41 and a side portion 45
which slants toward an annular rim 46 that extends around the diaphragm.
Rim 46 is compressed between abutting surfaces 38 and 39 and thus
seals the joint between members 33 and 34 while holding disphragm
43 in place.
A first hole 48 through first member 33 connects cavity 36 to line
24 which is the source of pressure and suction for dispenser 10.
A second hole 49 through second member 34 connects cavity 37 to
a vertical acid flow channel 50. The bottom tapped end 51 of channel
50 is connected to an acid intake hose or line 52 that extends into
the pool of acid 54 in container 27. The top tapped end 55 of channel
50 is connected to an acid dispensing hose or line 56 that extends
into brine tank 11. A first horizontal check valve seat 58 in channel
50 made from resilient rubber is located below second hole 49 and
a loose spherical ball check valve 59 rests on seat 58. A second
horizontal check valve seat 60 in channel 50 made from resilient
rubber is located above second hole 49 and a coil spring 62 holds
a spherical ball check valve 63 on seat 60. Spring 62 and ball 63
are housed in an open-ended cylinder 64 that may be removed from
channel 50. Spring 62 is coiled around a rod 65 that is integral
with cylinder 64. Holes 67 in the closed end of cylinder 64 permit
acid to flow through channel 50. A first hose nipple 68 connected
to line 52 is threaded into the tapped hole at the bottom end 51
of channel 50. The end of nipple 68 bears against first valve seat
58 thus securely holding seat 58 against a shoulder 69 in channel
50. A second hose nipple 70 connected to line 56 is threaded into
the tapped hole at the top end 55 of channel 50. The end of nipple
70 bears against the upper end of cylinder 64; this forces the lower
open end of cylinder 64 against second valve seat 60 thus securely
holding seat 60 against an annular shoulder 71 in channel 50. The
end of rod 65 acts as a stop preventing ball 63 from obstructing
hose nipple 70 above seat 60.
As shown in FIG. 2 diaphragm 43 lies against and lines the surface
of cavity 36 and metering chamber 32 should be full of acid. During
the backwash or fast rinse cycle, water under full line pressure
passes through line 24 and first hole 48 into chamber 32. This pushes
diaphragm 43 into cavity 37 and expels the acid from chamber 32
through second hole 49 past check valve 63 up channel 50 and out
through nipple 70; the metered dose of acid flows into brine tank
11 through line 56. As the last of the acid leaves chamber 32 diaphragm
43 flops over to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and
in solid lines in FIG. 3 where it lies against and lines the surface
of cavity 37 and chamber 32 is full of water. During the brining
cycle, the vacuum in line 24 sucks the water from chamber 32 through
first hole 48 and draws diaphragm 43 back into cavity 36. This creates
a suction in second hole 49 that draws acid up through line 52 past
check valve 59 into chamber 32. As the last of the water leaves
chamber 32 diaphragm 43 flops back over to the position shown in
full lines in FIG. 2 and dotted lines in FIG. 3 and chamber 32 is
once again full of acid. The force of spring 62 prevents air from
being drawn under valve 63 when suction is applied to line 24 and
this spring also prevents acid from being expelled from chamber
32 if pressure less than substantially full line pressure is applied
to line 24 as for example during the backwash or fast rinse cycles
of the water softening system. Thus a predetermined quantity of
acid is metered into brine tank 11 during each service cycle. Over
a period of time, the concentration of acid in the brine reaches
equilibrium. This ensures that the regenerant solution drawn into
the resin bed in tank 17 during each regeneration cycle will have
the proper strength to remove iron or other unwanted minerals.
It has thus been shown that by the practice of this invention a
generally hat-shaped diaphragm 43 moves to positions in which acid
metering chamber 32 is either full or empty. Diaphragm 43 is moved
to its position lining cavity 36 only during the brief period when
suction is exerted at first hole 48 and diaphragm 43 lines cavity
37 so as to seal off chamber 32 when essentially full line pressure
is exerted at hole 48. Thus it is not possible for dispenser 10
to malfunction in a manner that will draw all of the acid out of
container 27 and expel all such acid into brine tank 11. In addition,
all parts are easily accessible for cleaning, replacement or repair
when necessary.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
a particular embodiment, it is not intended to illustrate or describe
herein all of the equivalent forms or ramifications thereof. Also,
the words used are words of description rather than limitation,
and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that
the appended claims cover all such changes as fall within the true
spirit and scope of the invention. |