Abstract:
A control valve assembly including a water meter usage assembly including discs which are relatively positionable to adjust the frequency at which regeneration in a water treatment system starts. A regeneration control disc mounted coaxially with the meter disc assembly includes structure for releasing a drive mechanism associated with the meter disc assembly to rotate it back to a start position under a predetermined operating condition. The discs are releasably held in their relative positions by at least one pawl and at least one of the discs is rotatable relative to the other disc. The regeneration frequency is determined by an initiation slot in one of the discs and its operative position is determined by disc positions. The regeneration control disc is rotated by a pawl mechanism that is activated when an associated cam follower is received by the regeneration initiation slot formed in the water meter usage assembly.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/419,339, filed Dec. 3, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a water treatment apparatus and methods and, in particular, to an improved control system and control device which includes an externally adjustable member for changing the frequency at which the water treatment system is regenerated. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,025, which is owned by the present assignee, discloses a control valve for use in water softeners having two resin tanks. One of the resin tanks is normally on-line while the other tank is regenerated and placed in a standby condition until the first tank requires regeneration. The disclosed control valve controls which of the tanks is on-line and controls the regeneration sequence of an exhausted tank. The quantity of water treated by a given tank, is monitored by a mechanism that includes a water usage turbine driven by water as it leaves the on-line resin tank. When a predetermined quantity of water is treated, which produces a predetermined number of revolutions in the turbine, a regeneration sequence is initiated which places the standby tank on-line and isolates the exhausted tank. A second turbine, operatively connected to a regeneration sequence control element (in the form of a disk) is rotated by a stream of water that is activated at the beginning of the regeneration cycle. The stream of water physically drives the regeneration control disk (via the turbine and associated drive train) through its sequence. As described above, the frequency of regeneration of the water softener system is determined by the usage turbine which directly measures the quantity of fluid treated by a given tank and transmits that motion up to the use meter disc. The present design is limited to choosing a regeneration start from 1 to 8 times per revolution of the use meter disc located in the top cap region of the control valve. 
         [0004]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,549 which is also owned by the present assignee, a deionization method and apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a control valve similar to the control valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,025 in that it includes a usage turbine for monitoring the amount of source water treated by a given tank and a regeneration control turbine for driving a control element through a regeneration sequence. 
         [0005]    The control valves disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,298,025 and 4,427,549 are examples of Non-Electric, Meter Driven, Demand Initiated Regenerating (DIR) fluid treating control valves. These valves by virtue of the design features built into them have enabled them to possess operational benefits unlike similar products currently in the Market. These benefits include: an uninterrupted supply of treated water, counter-current regeneration, high efficiency by metered usage of the water, and regeneration with treated water to name a few. 
         [0006]    In the control valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,025 it should be noted that the motion of the usage turbine is transmitted through a gear train to a rotating eccentric shaft that drives a ratchet pawl, which in turn advances or rotates a circular meter disc. In the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,025, the regeneration initiation starts from this circular meter disc. In the existing design, the regeneration start sequence begins when a regeneration start pawl is allowed to contact the lower regeneration control disc by having the cam follower on that regeneration start pawl drop into a cut out under the meter disc. The design allows there to be anywhere from 1 to 8 cutouts equally spaced around the meter disc. Therefore with each revolution of the meter disc a regeneration may be initiated from 1 time per revolution up to 8 times per revolution depending on which meter disc is installed in the device. The choice of this meter disc is made at installation and is based on the water hardness feeding the unit, or other inlet water chemistry measurements, that relate to the volume of that particular water the unit will be able to process effectively. While this allows for some adjustment to properly match the device to a particular inlet water chemistry, it can be seen that some efficiency can be lost when a particular chemistry falls just outside of the gallons offered by, for example a disc having only one slot (one regeneration per rotation) vs. a disc having two slots (two regenerations per rotation). Also the changing of the meter disc requires the unit to be depressurized and the top cap and several pawls to be removed, requiring some level of skill, some time and a potential for possible improper reassembly. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a new and improved control mechanism for controlling a valve applied to a fluid treatment system. The treatment system may function as a water softener, filter or other treatment device. The disclosed mechanism is adaptable to the control valves described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,298,025 and 4,427,549, which are hereby incorporated by reference. These valves control communication of water to be treated with a tank or tanks inlet(s) and controls the communication of treated water from a tank or tanks outlet(s) and a conduit or system outlet. A regeneration determining apparatus that includes a water driven turbine determines when the treatment media requires regeneration. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides a control valve for controlling the regeneration of a water treatment system. According to the invention, the control valve includes a control valve housing that houses a water usage meter assembly that includes overlying first and second meter discs. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second meter discs, and the regeneration control disc, have a common rotational axis. A regeneration control disc for controlling the sequence of regeneration steps is also provided. The first and second meter discs are relatively positionable with respect to each other in order to provide an incremental adjustment to a regeneration initiation cam slot. 
         [0009]    The water usage meter assembly is advanced by a water flow responsive pawl mechanism until the regeneration initiation cam slot is aligned with a regeneration initiation cam follower, whereupon a regeneration pawl mechanism is activated in order to produce rotation in the regeneration control disc. According to the invention, the regeneration control disc includes at least one cam that operates to release the water usage meter assembly and allows the meter assembly to reverse rotate to a reset position, under predetermined operating conditions. 
         [0010]    The predetermined operating conditions at which the meter assembly is allowed to reverse rotate may be the initiation of a regeneration cycle, the conclusion of the regeneration cycle or an intermediate step in the regeneration cycle. 
         [0011]    In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the control valve includes a first anti-rotation pawl for inhibiting reverse rotation of the water usage meter assembly when the first anti-rotation pawl is in a first position. The cam forming part of the regeneration control disc is operative to move the first anti-rotation pawl to a second position at which it disengages the water usage meter assembly. 
         [0012]    According to the feature of the invention, a spring, preferably a torsion spring, is tensioned as the water usage meter assembly is advanced by its associated pawl mechanism. When the meter assembly is released, the tension spring applies a force to the meter assembly to reverse rotate it. 
         [0013]    In the exemplary embodiment, the relative rotation between the first and second meter discs is resisted by another anti-rotation pawl that engages at least one of the meter discs. At least one of the meter discs also includes disc structure engageable by an external adjustment member which can be manipulated to overcome a force applied by the other anti-rotation pawl in order to rotate one meter disc relative to the other meter disc. Upon disengagement by the external adjustment member, the other anti-rotation pawl operates to maintain the relative positions of the meter discs. Preferably, the disc structure comprises gear teeth and the external adjustment member includes a stem having a portion extending outside of the control valve housing and a portion that includes a pinion engageable with the gear teeth. 
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment, the water responsive pawl mechanism is operatively connected to a turbine that is driven by water flowing in the control valve housing. 
         [0015]    An important feature of the invention is a means of allowing for a much finer adjustment of the meter disc regeneration start sequence, without having to disassemble or depressurize the unit. 
         [0016]    In the prior art design, there were eight different use meter discs available, which had from one to eight cam slot openings. In the present invention this is now replaced with a single adjustable assembly, made up of an upper meter disc and a lower meter disc. These two parts of the assembly are rotatably adjustable relative to each other. The lower disc includes the cam slot opening as in the previous meter disc, however the cam slot opening is now made adjustable in its location around the circumference of the meter disc assembly by the relative adjustment between the top disc and the bottom disc. 
         [0017]    In the present invention, the position of the cam slot opening can be adjusted and can start a regeneration in as few as 15 degrees to as many as 330 degrees of rotation, with the incremental adjustment of 4 degrees. This allows for a much finer adjustment capability than was previously available. In the meter disc mechanism disclosed in the above-identified patents, the meter disc was rotatable in one direction. The meter disc was incrementally rotated whenever treated water was being discharged by the water treatment system, by a pawl/ratchet mechanism fully described in the above-identified patents. The meter disc disclosed in this application, comprises an assembly of two relatively positionable discs having only one slot for receiving the regeneration initiation cam. More importantly, the meter disc assembly of the present invention advances in a first direction until a pawl enters the single slot whereupon regeneration is initiated. At either the beginning of regeneration or at the end of regeneration, a meter disc release mechanism, preferably forming part of the regeneration control disc, causes the release of the meter disc assembly from its pawl/ratchet mechanism and allows the meter disc assembly to reverse rotate under the influence of the torsion spring until it returns to its starting position. With the present invention, the meter disc assembly includes only one regeneration initiation slot and this slot is positionable along a wide range of positions on the periphery of the meter disc assembly. The position of the slot is determined by the relative rotated position of the upper meter disc with respect to the lower meter disc. 
         [0018]    According to the invention, the adjustment between the top and bottom discs is performed externally by the downward motion of an actuator through the cap and by rotating the adjustment moving knob thereby rotating the lower disc in relationship to the upper disc, in either direction to achieve the desired adjustment. This movement changes the angular relationship between the cam slot opening and a stop incorporated into the top disc. It is this angular relationship that determines the frequency of regeneration per clockwise rotation of the use meter disc assembly. The setting of the adjustment is recorded and measured by the relationship of letters included on the lower disc and their relationship to an arrow included on the upper disc. The adjustment or relative positions of the meter discs are visible through a viewing window in the cap. 
         [0019]    In the present invention, the use meter disc assembly is spring loaded to return to its reset or return position. The reset function is performed during a regeneration sequence by a set of cams that are located on the control disc. The function of these cams is to disengage the meter drive and anti-rotation pawls so that the use meter disc assembly is free to rotate under return spring force back to its reset or return position. 
         [0020]    The manual, externally initiated regeneration start function included in the design disclosed in the above-identified patents is maintained in this present invention. 
         [0021]    In accordance with the invention, a method for controlling the regeneration of a water treatment system is disclosed and includes the steps of providing a rotatable water usage meter assembly that rotates in response to water being processed by the water treatment system. A regeneration initiation slot is provided on the periphery of the water usage meter assembly. Its position is adjustable. A spring is provided that is tensioned by rotation of the water meter usage disc, the rotation being in response to water flow in the water treatment system. A regeneration control disc with an associated cam follower is provided. The method further includes a step of allowing the water usage meter disc assembly to rotate in response to water flowing in the water treatment system until the cam follower is received by the regeneration initiation slot. Upon receipt of the cam follower by the regeneration initiation slot, the regeneration control disc is incrementally rotated in order to move structure forming part of the regeneration control disc to a position at which the water usage meter assembly is placed in a released state. When in the released state, the spring is allowed to reverse rotate the water usage meter assembly to a start position. According to a feature of this method, the water usage meter assembly comprises two overlying discs and the position of the regeneration initiation slot is adjusted by rotating one disc relative to the other disc. The relative positions of the meter discs are changed by an externally manipulated adjustment member. 
         [0022]    Additional features of the invention will become apparent and a fuller understanding obtained by reading the following detailed description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art design for a water usage monitoring and regeneration control device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the prior art control valve that includes the water usage monitoring and regeneration control device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a metering disc assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a regeneration control disc constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are two perspective views of the metering disc assembly, showing two positions of a regeneration initiation slot; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a control valve assembly including the metering disc assembly and regeneration control disc of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the metering disc assembly; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7A  is a top plan view of a valve housing cap and associated components forming part of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of the cap and associated components as seen from the plane indicated by the line  7 B- 7 B in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7C  is another top plan view of the view of the valve cap and associated components; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7D  is a sectional view of the cap and associated components as seen from the plane indicated by the line  7 D- 7 D in  FIG. 7C ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a water usage metering and regeneration control mechanism constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8B  is an enlarged view of a mechanism portion indicated by the circle  8 B in  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8C  is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in  FIG. 8A ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 8D  is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanism indicated by the circle  8 D in  FIG. 8C . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the construction of a prior art control valve. In this prior art valve and, referring in particular to  FIG. 2 , rotation of a water usage turbine  1  is reduced through a gear train  1   a  which, in turn, causes the rotation of an eccentric shaft  2 . Potation of the eccentric shaft  2  reciprocally moves a meter drive pawl  3  to cause it to advance a water usage meter disc  4 . In this prior art construction, the water usage disc  4  is moved one tooth per revolution of the eccentric shaft  2 . This creates a clockwise rotation of the water usage disc  4  (as viewed from above). As a result, the water usage disc  4  is rotated in proportion to the volume of water metered. In the prior art construction, several configurations of the water usage disc  4  were available and the actual water meter disc used would determine the frequency of regeneration per revolution of the water usage meter disc  4 . In the prior control valve, the regeneration sequence is started when a regeneration start pawl  6  (shown best in  FIG. 1 ) is allowed to contact teeth  5   a  of a lower, regeneration control disc  5  when a cam follower  6   a  forming part of the start pawl  6  drops into a slot  7  formed in the water usage meter disc  4 . As indicated above, several configurations of the meter disc were available. A disc with only one slot would start regeneration at approximately every 360° of revolution, whereas a disc with two slots would start regeneration at every 180° of disc rotation and so on. It should be noted here that the regeneration control disc  5  is driven by an eccentric shaft/pawl mechanism  9  that is operatively coupled to an associated turbine  8  and turbine gear train  8   a . During regeneration a stream of water from a nozzle  8   c  (shown schematically) is directed at the regeneration control turbine  8  to produce the necessary rotation. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the present invention replaces the single meter usage disc of the prior art with an adjustable water usage meter assembly  16  that comprises an upper meter disc  18  and a lower meter disc  19 . The discs  18 ,  19  overlie each other and rotate on a common axis. As will be explained, these two discs  18 ,  19  are rotatably adjustable relative to each other. The lower discs  19  includes a cam slot opening  110  but, unlike the prior art, the position of the cam slot  110  is now adjustable relative to the upper disc  18  by virtue of the adjustable, relative rotative position between the top disc  18  and the bottom disc  19 . The relative position of the cam slot  110  in the lower disc  19 , with respect to the upper disc  18 , determines the frequency of regeneration.  FIG. 4A  illustrates the relative position of the top and bottom disc  18 ,  19  which will produce the shortest regeneration frequency, whereas  FIG. 4B  illustrates the relative positions of the top and bottom discs  18 ,  19  that will produce the longest regeneration frequency. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the relative position of the upper disc  18  with respect to the lower disc  19  is achieved using an adjustment knob  111  slidably and sealing carried by a valve cap  109   a  (shown best in  FIG. 5 ). The removable cap  109   a  forms part of an overall valve housing  109 . The adjustment knob  111  is pressed down (as viewed in  FIG. 5 ) in order to depress an actuating member  112  so that a pinion gear  112   a  formed at the end of the actuating member  112  enters an opening  113  (shown best in  FIG. 6 ) formed in the upper disc  18  and engages gear teeth  114   a  formed on an inner hub  114  of the lower meter disc  19 . To effect this engagement, the opening  113  must be positioned directly below the actuating member  112 . This is accomplished by placing the control valve into a regeneration cycle just prior to the adjustment, thereby causing the water usage meter assembly  16  to return to a “reset” or “start” position, as will be explained. When the water usage meter assembly  16  is in the reset position, the opening  113  is positioned below the actuating member  112 . The engagement of the actuator pinion gear  112   a  and the subsequent rotation of the actuating member  112  in either direction moves the lower disc  19  in relation to the upper disc  18 . The positioning between the upper and lower disc  18 ,  19  can be seen or is indicated by the indicia, preferably letters  114   b , formed on the inner hub  114  of the lower disc  19  and an arrow  115  formed on the upper disc  18 . The setting, as shown by the arrow  115  and its associated letter  114   a  can be seen through a viewing window  117 , shown best in  FIG. 7 . Once adjusted, the discs  18 ,  19  are releasably held in position by two keeper pawls  118 , shown best in  FIG. 6 . These pawls  118  provide enough resistance to keep the disc adjustment relatively locked in position, but are resilient enough to release the associated teeth  114   a  when sufficient force is applied by the actuating member  112 . Once the adjustment is completed, the actuating member  112  is returned to its upper, spaced position by pulling on the associated knob  111  or allowing the water pressure in the cap area to naturally push the adjustment member to its upper position. 
         [0042]    Unlike the prior art, the meter disc assembly  16  reverse rotates to a reset or start position during or after a regeneration. In the prior art construction, the meter disc continuously rotates in single direction. According to this feature of the invention and referring, in particular, to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 , the upper meter disc  18  includes a stop arm/spring mount  119 . A stop pad  120 , shown in  FIG. 7B , extends downwardly from the top cap  109   a . A return spring  121  is carried by a spool-like regeneration actuator  140  (see  FIG. 5 ). The spring  121  which is preferably a torsion spring provides the energy or the force necessary to return rotate (reverse rotate) the disc assembly  16 , in order to move the associated cam slot opening  110  to its starting position (which is determined by the relative position of the discs  18 ,  19 ). As seen best in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  5 , the arm/spring mount  119  includes a stop  119   b  which cooperates with a stop pad  120  ( FIG. 7B ) that forms part of a control valve top cap  109   a  to establish the start position for the meter disc assembly  16 . The arm/spring mount  119  also includes a spring mount  119   a  which is adapted to receive a leg  121   a  (shown best in  FIG. 5 ) of the return spring  121 . As the meter disc assembly  16  is advanced, the torsion spring  121  is tensioned and applies a return force to the meter disc assembly  16 . As will be explained, a regeneration control disc  126  includes cams  122  (shown best in  FIG. 3A ) which operate to disengage pawls associated with the meter disc assembly  16  to allow the assembly to rotate freely to its return position. The torsion spring  121  provides the energy to return (rotate counterclockwise) the disc assembly  16  and, therefore, the cam slot opening  110  to its starting position. Referring to  FIGS. 8C and 8D , the pawl disengagement cams  122  located on the circumference of the control disc  126 , upon predetermined rotation of the control disc, concurrently disengage an anti-rotation pawl  124   a  and a meter disc advancing pawl  124   b  and thus allow the meter disc assembly  16  to rotate freely to its return position by virtue of the return spring  121 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the present invention operates as follows. A meter disc assembly drive pawl  123  including drive pawl  124   b  and associated eccentric shaft  124   c  reciprocally engages teeth  18   a  of the meter disc  18  and advances the water usage meter disc assembly  16  in the clockwise direction as water is being metered by a water usage turbine (similar to the turbine  1  shown in  FIG. 2 ). Each single tooth advancement would be locked in by the action of the anti-rotation pawl  124   a  (shown best in  FIG. 8C ), which engages the teeth  18   a  and inhibits the backward rotation of the meter disc assemble  16  due to the drag of the meter pawl  124   b  that is created by its engagement or biasing spring  124   d  ( FIG. 5 ). This clockwise advancement would continue until the cam slot opening  110  is rotated to position that allows the regeneration start pawl cam follower  125  to drop in (shown best if  FIG. 8 ). This, in turn, allows the regeneration start pawl  129  to contact the teeth  126   a  of the control disc  126  so that further rotary motion of the eccentric shaft  124   c  not only moves the use meter disc assembly  16  but would also advances the control disc  126 . 
         [0044]    After a relatively small increment of rotation of the control disc  126 , a signal port SP (see  FIG. 2 ) is exposed to water pressure. As is conventional, this signal port SP feeds a pressure chamber of a control valve forming part of the control valve which causes the valve to open, thereby directing a stream of water at the regeneration drive turbine  8  by means of a nozzle  8   c  ( FIG. 2 ). As is also conventional, the regeneration drive turbine through an associated gear train drives the regeneration control disc  126  through a separate regeneration drive pawl  127  and associated eccentric shaft assembly  127   a . The regeneration drive pawl mechanism includes a drive pawl  127   b  and a biasing spring  128 . The operation described above regarding the advancement of the regeneration control disc  126  by means of a regeneration control turbine is conventional and is substantially similar to the operation describe in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,025, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0045]    When the regeneration cycle is initiated, i.e., when the regeneration nozzle  8   c  ( FIG. 2 ) emits a stream of water against the regeneration turbine, the regeneration control disc  126  is rotatably driven in the clockwise direction by the associated pawl mechanism  127  which is operatively connected to the regeneration control turbine  8 . In the preferred embodiment, within a short increment of rotation, i.e., within four teeth of rotation, the pawl disengagement cams  122  that are mounted on the control disc  126  move into contact with the cam follower  129   a  located on the water usage meter pawl  129  (see  FIGS. 8A-8D ) and the extended tooth on the anti-rotation pawl  124   a  (shown best in  FIGS. 5 and 8C ). As the follower  129   a  and the tooth are pushed out by the rotation of the control disc  126  and its cams  122 , the pawls  129 ,  124   a ,  124   b  are forced to disengage the water usage meter disc assembly  16 . Upon disengagement, the water usage meter disc assembly  16  is free to be driven counterclockwise by the return spring  121  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7B ) until the upper disc top spring mount  119  contacts the stop pad  120  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  7 B). At this point, the water usage disc assembly is now reset and ready to begin its next cycle. 
         [0046]    Depending on the specific application and the significance of the water volume used during the regeneration cycle, the pawl disengagement cams  122  (see  FIGS. 3A and 8D ) may be located circumferentially in various locations around the periphery of the control disc. Their location relative to the position on the regeneration control disc  126  that opens a conventional regeneration control valve (not shown) and begins the regeneration process will determine if the reset of the water usage e meter disc assembly  16  takes place at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a regeneration sequence. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , the return spring  121  that provides the energy required to perform the reset function is mounted in the cap assembly  109   a  and creates its torque by anchoring its one end on the cap spring mount post  130  and its free end which has a return spring tip  131  (shown best in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 B and  8 A) mounted to the outward bent arm  121   a  of the spring  121  and gets pre-tensioned and placed behind the stop pad  120  (see  FIG. 7B ). As the cap is assembled onto the valve housing head  109  the spring arm receiving tip  131  (see  FIGS. 5 and 8A ) is fed into the upper disc stop/spring mount  119  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  8 ) on the water usage meter disc assembly  16 . This couples the meter disc assembly  16  to the return spring  121 , thereby supplying a source of the return torque needed to reset the meter disc assembly  16  during or after each regeneration cycle (depending on the positions of the cams  122 ). 
         [0048]    Important to the present invention is allowing for the newly created externally adjustable finer regeneration frequency selection as described previously while still including the external regeneration start feature described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,025. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8A , the regeneration start feature incorporates an actuator member  140  including an externally accessible head  132  that sealingly penetrates the cap  109  and can be depressed using a standard Phillips screwdriver to thereby engage a dog or projection  134  (see  FIGS. 3A ,  5 ,  8 A and  8 C) that is part of a control disc center hub  126   b . The downward movement of the actuator  140  using a suitable implement such as a Phillips screwdriver, engaging the actuator head  132  and the dog  134 , and rotating the regeneration control disc  126  clockwise allows for the advancement of the control disc  126  which, in turn, can cause the system to enter various stages of a regeneration cycle depending on the degree of rotation of the control disc  126 . This function is included in the present invention by extending the length of the actuator member  140  to provide room for the mounting of the return spring  121  in the cap area, and to design the return spring and meter disc assembly interface in such a way that the return spring  121  operates and engages the usage meter disc assembly  16  above the actuator  140  and its downwardly extending lug  133  (shown best in  FIG. 7B ). 
         [0049]    Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes to it without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.