Patent GB-462339-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to water softening apparatus
IPC: C02F1/68
Filed: 1935-09-28
Abstract: 462,339. Softening water. ZIMMERMAN, A. C., and KNAACK, F. E. Sept. 28, 1935, No. 26892. [Class 46] The valves which govern the flow of water to be softened and of regenerating brine through a base-exchange water softener are hydraulically controlled, an operating valve being moved manually to start the regenerating treatment, the flow of brine through the softener being stopped and a flow of refill water to the brine tank being started by means operated by the fall of the liquid level in the brine tank, and the system being restored to its initial condition for softening by means operated by the rise of the liquid, as the brine tank is filled to its initial level. Valves 10, 34, Fig. 4, respectively control the passage of water from the hardwater main through a connection 5 to a valve chamber 6 connected to the bottom of the softening tank and the passage of softened water from a valve chamber 28 connected to the top of the softening tank to a connection 29 to the soft-water main. The valve 10 also controls a passage from the chamber 6 to a drain connection 7, and the valve 34 a connection from the chamber 28 to a chamber 32 fitted with an injector 58 which draws brine through a connection 59 for regenerating the softening medium. The valves 10, 34 are normally held by springs 21, 45 in position to allow passage of hard water through the softener to the soft water main. The passage 5 has an outlet 60 with a pipe connection to the inlet 62, Fig. 5, of another valve casing 64. The inlet 62 is normally kept closed by a valve 66 held against its seat by a spring 95. When the softening-medium requires regeneration, a lever 119 is moved to turn a lever 96 about a pivot 97 so that an arm 98 of the lever, which engages a slot in the spindle of the valve 66, moves the valve to close a seating 68. Water then passes from the outlet 60 to the inlet 62 and valve chamber 64a, and thence through an outlet 75 and a pipe connection to the injector 58. The last-mentioned connection has a branch to the inlet 55, Fig. 4, of a chamber 52 containing a diaphragm 47 and the water pressure causes the diaphragm to move the valves 10, 34, to stop the upward flow of water through the softening medium and to open the connection from the injector 58 to the top of the softening tank and the connection from the bottom of the softening tank to the drain 7. The medium is thus regenerated. The brine is supplied to the injector from a storage tank containing a float with a rod 114, Fig. 5. When a definite amount of brine has been withdrawn, a pin 115 on the rod 114 moves a lever 112 to release an escapement device 108 which has held the lever 96 in the position to which it was moved by the handle 119. The valve 66 now moves to uncover the seating 68 and while water continues to flow to the injector it also passes through an outlet 76 which is connected to the pipe which leads from the injector to the brine tank. The suction of brine therefore ceases and the water passing through the injector merely serves to rinse the softening- medium, while water passes from the outlet 76 to the brine tank to make up the brine therein. When the brine has attained its original volume, a pin 116 on the float rod 114 again moves the escapement lever to release the lever 96 and the valve 66 moves to close the inlet 62 and softening is re-started.