Bypass valve with flapper valve elements for a water treatment apparatus

A bypass valve has a body with an inlet for receiving untreated water, an untreated water outlet for connection to a water treatment apparatus, a treated water inlet and an outlet through which treated water flows. The body includes a first valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a second valve seat between the treated water inlet and the outlet, and a third valve seat in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A set of first, second and third flapper valve elements selectively engage and disengage the first, second and third valve seats respectively. The three flapper valve elements are preferably connected to a common manually operable actuator which can be latched to hold the valve elements in different functional positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to water treatment systems, and more particularly to bypass valves for disconnecting the treatment apparatus of such a system from building plumbing connections.

2. Description of the Related Art

A water treatment system, such as a water softener or reverse osmosis filter, often is incorporated into the plumbing of a building. For example, potable water received from a well usually is considered to be “hard” as containing minerals that adversely affect the cleansing ability of soaps and detergents. Furthermore, the minerals leave objectionable deposits on plumbing fixtures, glassware and the like. As a consequence, a water softener or filter is employed to remove the minerals and “soften” the water.

Occasionally, it is necessary to perform maintenance on the water treatment system, such as replacing the filter medium or a failed component. In order to perform such maintenance, the water treatment apparatus must be functionally and sometimes physically disconnected from the building's plumbing system. However, while the maintenance is being performed, it is desirable to provide untreated water for use in the building for drinking, flushing toilets and other purposes. Therefore, a bypass valve is provided at the connection of the water treatment apparatus to the building plumbing system. The bypass valve disconnects both the inlet and the outlet of the treatment apparatus from the plumbing pipes and interconnects those pipes so that water is provided throughout the building while the maintenance is being performed.

Because a bypass valve is operated infrequently, the seals become stuck to the movable components making it difficult to operate the valve. In fact considerable force may be required to “break” the stuck seal. The exertion of the force necessary to operate the valve can damage the seal to the point that when the valve was later restored to the operating position, water leaked past the seal.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a bypass valve which does not exhibit such seal sticking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bypass valve for a water treatment system comprises a body that has an inlet for receiving untreated water, an untreated water outlet, a treated water inlet, and an outlet through which treated water flows. The body includes a first valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a second valve seat between the treated water inlet and the outlet, and a third valve seat in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A first flapper valve element is movable with respect to the body to selectively engage and disengage the first valve seat. A second flapper valve element is movable with respect to the body to selectively engage and disengage the second valve seat. A third flapper valve element is movable with respect to the body to selectively engage and disengage the third valve seat.

Preferably the body has aligned first, second, and third valve openings for receiving the first, second and third flapper valve elements in a manner that allows the valve elements to pivot in the openings. In this preferred embodiment, the three flapper valve elements are connected to a common manually operable actuator which can be latched to hold the valve elements in different functional positions.

In another aspect of the present bypass valve, each of the first, second and third flapper valve elements comprises a plate, a resilient valve seal attached to a section of the plate and adapted to engage a valve seat, and a flange of resilient material projecting outwardly from the plate to provide a water tight seal with the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With initial reference toFIG. 1, a bypass valve10has a body12with an inlet14, which is adapted to be connected to a pipe of a building plumbing system that supplies water to a water treatment apparatus, and an outlet16through which treated water returns to the plumbing system. A drain outlet18is provided to connect the bypass valve to a waste pipe or drain opening in the building. The body12also has a valve actuator, in the form of a bar20, by which a user operates the bypass valve10.

Referring toFIG. 2, the front side of the bypass valve10has an untreated water outlet22through which water flows out the bypass valve to a water treatment apparatus. A treated water inlet24is provided for connection to the water treatment apparatus to receive water therefrom.

FIG. 3is an exploded view illustrating the components of the bypass valve10. The body12comprises a manifold26that contains the inlet14, the outlet16, the untreated water outlet22, and the treated water inlet24. The manifold26has an open bottom that- is closed by a base28which is secured to the manifold by a suitable means. For example, the manifold26and base28are molded plastic pieces which are welded or cemented together. As shown inFIG. 3, the base28includes a drain inlet25on an opposite side from the drain outlet18with the drain inlet being adapted to couple to a drain port on the water treatment apparatus. A tubular portion27of the base28directly connects the drain inlet25to the drain outlet18thereby providing a through path for drain water to flow through the bypass valve10. The body12also has a plug30that closes an opening in the manifold26(seeFIG. 1) that is required by the molding process. The upper surface32of the manifold26has three valve apertures34,35and36extending into chambers within the manifold, as will be described.

A separate flapper valve element38,40and42is received in each valve aperture34,35and36, respectively. The three flapper valve elements38,40and42are identical with the details of the first one38being shown inFIG. 4. The first flapper valve element38has a rigid metal plate44with a lower section, over which a rubber valve seal46is molded, and with an exposed upper section forming a stem52. The valve seal46comprises a sealing section48which engages valve seats in the manifold26to close communication between different chambers of that manifold, as will be described. The valve seal46also has a flange50projecting outwardly from all sides of the metal plate44.

Referring again toFIG. 3, each of the valve apertures34,35and36is countersunk to provide a recess there around for receiving the flange50of the respective flapper valve element38,40or42. The stem52of those valve elements38,40and42project through openings54,55and56in a valve retainer57that extends over and is secured to the upper surface of the manifold26. The valve retainer57holds the valve element flanges in the respective manifold opening in a manner that provides a fluid type seal while allowing the flapper valve element to pivot.

The actuator bar20has a generally planar design with openings on its lower edge within which the stems52of the valve elements38,40and42are received (FIGS. 1 and 2). Thus, pivoting the actuator bar20with respect to the valve retainer57produces a similar simultaneous motion of all three the valve elements. A first locking groove58extends along the lower or proximate, edge of the actuator bar20and is adapted to receive a latch61when the valve actuator is perpendicular to the valve retainer57, as illustrated. The latch61is a C-shaped rod with ends received in notches on opposite sides of the valve retainer57. The latch61is able to pivot with respect to the valve retainer57into another position in which it engages a second locking groove59extending along the upper edge of the actuator bar20.

FIG. 5is a horizontal cross-section view through the manifold looking downward and illustrates the chambers of the manifold26. The inlet14opens into an inlet chamber60that is separated from the untreated water outlet22by first wall62. That first wall62has a first aperture64there through with a first valve seat66within the inlet chamber60extending around the first aperture and providing a fluid path between the inlet and the untreated water outlet22. The outlet16opens into an outlet chamber68that is separated by first wall62from the treated water inlet24. A second aperture70provides a fluid path through the first wall between the outlet chamber68and the treated water inlet24. A second valve seat72, within the outlet chamber68, extends around the second aperture70. An second wall74separates the inlet chamber60from the outlet chamber68and has a third aperture76around which a third valve seat78extends within the inlet chamber60to provide a fluid path between the inlet and the untreated water outlet.

With reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, the bypass valve10is illustrated in the bypass state in which fluid communication is established directly between the inlet14and the outlet16via the third aperture76in the second wall74. In this state, the sealing sections48of the first and second flapper valve elements38and40are respectively held against the first and second valve seats66and72, closing the associated aperture64and70and flow paths through in the first wall62. Thus communication is blocked between the inlet14and the untreated water outlet22, and between the treated water inlet24and the outlet16. However, the third flapper valve element42is positioned away from the third valve seat78thereby opening the third aperture76which provides a path between the inlet chamber60and the outlet chamber68. Thus in the bypass state, water is permitted to flow directly between the inlet and outlet14and16of the bypass valve10while flow to and from the water treatment apparatus is blocked.

With further reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the latch61in the bypass state is located against the upper surface of the valve retainer57. In this position, the latch61is received within a first locking groove58along the bottom, or proximate, edge of the valve actuator bar20. That engagement prevents movement of the actuator, thereby holding the flapper valve elements38,40, and42in the bypass state.

Referring toFIG. 7, the bypass valve10has a service state in which the water treatment apparatus is connected to treat the water flowing into the inlet14. In the service state, the valve actuator bar20is pivoted toward the front of the valve body12and locked in place by engagement of a raised latch61into the second locking groove59. Now, the positions of the three flapper valve elements38,40and42are reversed from that shown inFIG. 5. Specifically, the first and second flapper valve elements38and40are away from the first and second valve seats66and72, thereby opening communication between the inlet14and the untreated water outlet22and between the treated water inlet24and the outlet16. In addition, the sealing section48of the third valve element42is abuts the third valve seat78as shown inFIG. 7, thereby closing the third aperture76and fluid communication between the inlet and outlet chamber60and68.

The foregoing description was primarily directed to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Although some attention was given to various alternatives within the scope of the invention, it is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims and not limited by the above disclosure.