Patent GB-466634-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to water softeners
IPC: C02F1/42
Filed: 1936-06-22
Abstract: 466,634. Softening water. EISENHAUER, C. P. June 22, 1936, No. 17330. [Class 46] In a base-exchange water-softening apparatus a meter, through which the hard water passes, operates two hydraulic control valves, one of which causes the change-over of the valve system from softening to regeneration and vice versa, and the other of which controls a flow of flushing water subsequent to brine regenerative treatment of the softening-medium. Hard water passes from a main 12 through a meter 17, pipe 18, a multiway oscillating plug valve 19, and pipe 20 to the bottom of a container 10. The water flows upward through zeolite in the container and the softened water is passed through the valve 19 to a service main. After passage of a given amount of water the meter operates a valve 61 thus allowing water to pass from the pipe 18 through pipes 63, 64 to a casing 27 containing a flexible diaphragm. This diaphragm turns the valve 19 into a position where water from the pipe 18 passes through an ejector and draws brine from a reservoir 11, the diluted brine passing to the upper end of the container 10, downward through the zeolite, and up the pipe 20 and being directed to a drain by the valve 19. A valve 33 on the pipe 34 leading from the reservoir to the ejector is opened, simultaneously with the turning of the valve 19, by water passing from the pipe 63 through a pipe 65 to a flexible diaphragm in a casing 36. The brine treatment ceases when the meter opens a second valve 70 on the pipe 18 and allows water to pass through a pipe 71 to a flexible diaphragm in a casing 72, this diaphragm opening a valve 73 to admit flushing water from the pipe 18 to the upper end of the softener thus creating a back pressure through the ejector. The flushing water after passing through the zeolite is directed to the drain by the valve 19, and at the same time water is passed from the ejector through the pipe 34 to replenish the reservoir 11, On further operation of the valve 61 by the meter the pressure on the diaphragms in the casings 27 and 36 is released and the valves 19 and 33 are returned by springs to their initial positions. Almost immediately the valve 73 is similarly closed and the softening of the water re-started. Restricting diaphragms are provided in the pipe 34 and in the pipe connecting the valve 19 to the drain. The restrictions are such that the make-up water passing to the reservoir 11 is slightly less in volume than the brine withdrawn, so that, when the reservoir is recharged with the salt, the liquid level therein will be sufficiently low as not to cause overflow. Water to maintain a minimum liquid level in the reservoir is supplied through a valve 80 operated by a float 82. The device by which the meter operates the valve 61 is shown in Fig. 3. A shaft 40 is geared to the meter so that it revolves once during a complete treatment and regeneration period. Fixed to the shaft is a spider having an arm 42 with a slot 54 inclined to form a cam. The shaft also carries a disc 43 with a projecting cam 44 which can be adjusted relatively to the spider. The two cams successively engage a stud 56 on one arm of a bell-crank lever 46, carrying a roller 48 which engages a V-shaped projection on an arm 51 pivotally connected to a lever 50 which is connected to the stem 60 of the valve 61. By the arrangement described the valve 61 is moved at the right time from its lower seat, in which position it allows the pipe 63 to communicate with a drain, to its upper seat in which position the pipes 18 and 63 are in communication. A second mechanism like that shown in Fig. 3 is used for operating the valve 70. A single brine reservoir 11 may be arranged to serve a number of softeners 10.