Patent Publication Number: US-2019170560-A1

Title: Alert system for detecting contents within a container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under Title  35 , U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/594,702, entitled ALERT SYSTEM FOR DETECTING CONTENTS WITHIN A CONTAINER and filed on Dec. 5, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an alert system and, more particularly, to an alert system for detection of contents within a container suitable for water treatment equipment, such as ion exchange water softeners and media filters. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Fluid control valves are generally used for water treatment systems, such as water softeners that remove certain minerals from the water and then deliver the treated water to the end user. Such minerals (e.g., calcium, magnesium, manganese and iron) contribute to what is commonly referred to as water “hardness.” Water softener systems may employ an ion exchange process to bond the minerals to other materials. Such ion exchange may be effected by providing an ion exchange resin bed containing resin materials designed to promote the ion exchange process. The resin bed is housed in a resin tank which is filled with some of the water from the water source. As this water passes across the resin bed, ions of calcium and other positively charged ions are exchanged with ions held by the resin (typically sodium). Objectionable hardness minerals are thereby removed from the water and replaced with less objectionable ions from the resin. 
     Ion exchange resin capacity is gradually depleted as the ion exchange process is repeated over time. Water treatment controls may be provided as part of a water softener system to periodically regenerate the resin contained in the resin tank. This regeneration can be accomplished, for example, by the reversal of the above-described softening process. That is, the objectionable ions formerly bonded to the resin during the water softening process (such as calcium) are chemically replaced with less objectionable sodium or similar ions. In some systems, this reversal is accomplished by passing a regenerant solution of sodium or potassium chloride through the resin bed. 
     To effect distribution of the regenerant solution, a control valve may be attached to the top of the resin tank. The control valve includes a structure for directing the flow of fluid to complete the regeneration process, such as a reciprocating piston, rotating disc or poppets. The regeneration process controlled by the control valve may include a number of steps, such as: i) a backwash cycle to remove turbidity from the resin bed; ii) a brine draw cycle to introduce the regenerant to the resin bed; iii) a rinse to eliminate chlorides in the finished water; and iv) a brine refill cycle to prepare a brine solution for the next regeneration. During the time elapse during these various cycles, the control valve may also provide an internal bypass to provide untreated water to the end user, so that water supply remains uninterrupted. 
     In addition to the application of a water softener as described above, a fluid control valve can be used on various water filters. Control valves used on water filter systems may, for example, be used to effect a backwash cycle to remove collected precipitated iron, or sediment from filter elements, or to replenish an oxidizer reservoir within the filter system with material for oxidation (e.g., potassium permanganate, chlorine or air). 
     As the system operates, the resin or other media is consumed. Typically, such media is located in a media storage tank with a user-accessible interior cavity, such that the user can periodically refill the storage tank with new media as the level drops. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a media level alert useable in the context of a fluid additive system, such as a water softener. The alert system includes a sensor that does not directly interface with media within a container, such that the sensor can measure the media level without being exposed to contact with the media itself. Further, the alert system may utilize a “time of flight” sensor that emits a signal and, based on a measurement of the time it takes for the signal to be reflected off the media and returned to the sensor, facilitates a calculation of the distance from the sensor the media. When the distance reaches a predetermined threshold associated with a low-media condition within a media storage container, a controller may initiate a refilling protocol. 
     In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides an alert system comprising: a container sized and configured to receive a quantity of media; and a sensor coupled to the container and spaced away from the media, the sensor configured to detect the presence of an amount of media within the container, a controller programmed to compare the detected amount of media within the container to a threshold, and to take a corrective action when the amount of media is below the threshold. 
     In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a low-media alert system, comprising: a water softener comprising a media container and a valve system configured to mix brine contained in the media container with a stream of incoming water; a time-of-flight sensor coupled to the media container at a location spaced away from the media, the time-of-flight sensor configured to measure a distance from the sensor to a media level within the media container; and a controller programmed to compare the measured distance to a threshold distance associated with a low-media condition within the container, and to take a corrective action when the measured distance is larger than a preprogrammed threshold distance. 
     In yet another form thereof, the present disclosure a method of providing a low-media alert for a water softener, the method comprising: activating a sensor attached to a media container, the sensor sized and configured to provide water softening media to the water softener; activating a controller to detect a level of the media in the container via the sensor; and initiating a refilling protocol when a level of media in the container falls below a predetermined threshold. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of alert system coupled to a media container of a water softener made in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  2 - 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the alert system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of an alert of the alert system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom exploded, perspective view of the alert of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a sensor used in the alert system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating the interaction of the sensor of  FIG. 6  within the alert system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The following embodiments of the present invention are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. The present disclosure is directed to an alert system  40  and other associated structures for a fluid treatment system, such as a water softener system  50  shown in  FIG. 1 . However, it will be understood that the system may have applications to other scenarios and in other contexts, such as other types of storage containers. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , water softener  50  includes mineral tank  74 , media storage vessel  10  (commonly referred to as a brine tank) and a valve head  76  interconnecting tanks  74 , receiving incoming flow, and discharging outgoing flow. Storage vessel  10  has a container  11 , a lid  12  coupled to container  11 , and an alert system  40  coupled to lid  12 . In particular, alert system  40  includes sensor assembly  14  coupled to lid  12  and electrically coupled to an electrical outlet  46  as further described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , sensor assembly  14  is positioned and configured to detect the amount of media  20  present in container  11  and, when the amount of media  20  is below a threshold level, issue a signal or an alert. Sensor assembly  14  may, for example, provide the signal or alert to a user via a visual and/or audible alert as discussed below. Moreover, sensor assembly  14  performs these detection and signaling functions without the need for direct exposure (e.g., contact) to media  20 . In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 2 , for example, sensor assembly  14  is coupled to lid  12  and thereby spaced apart from media  20  in container  11 , which is always below lid  12 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, sensor assembly  14  utilizes waves  22  ( FIG. 2 ) to detect the amount of media  20  present in container  11 . Sensor assembly  14  includes a combination sensor and emitter  30 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , disposed on the lower surface of circuit panel  34  an facing downwardly into the interior of container  11  from its mounting point upon lid  12  ( FIG. 2 ) Sensor/emitter  30  emits a wave  22  from a ( FIG. 6 ) downwardly toward the bottom of container  11 , where media  20  is located. In one embodiment, wave  22  is a sound wave. However it is contemplated that in alternate embodiments, alternate waves may be utilized, such as light waves, electromagnetic waves, microwaves, or laser waves for example. In one embodiment, sensor/emitter  30  of sensor assembly  14  is capable of both emitting waves  22  having, e.g., a wavelength of 940 nanometers, and sensing the return of the emitted waves  22  after such waves are reflected by nearby surfaces. 
     Upon emitting wave  22 , a timer (which may be part of controller  70  shown in  FIG. 2 ) measures the amount of time for the emitted wave  22  to return to sensor/emitter  30 . Based on this “time of flight” of the wave and a known speed of the wave (e.g., the speed of sound where wave  22  is a sound wave), controller  70  calculates the distance from sensor/emitter  30  to media  20  and compared this distance to a known distance to the bottom of container  11 . Controller  70  then calculates the difference between the known distance and the measured distance to produce the vertical extent, and therefore the amount, of media  20  present at the bottom of container  11 . 
     If the measured amount of media  20  is less than the predetermined threshold, controller  70  may initiate a refilling protocol by, e.g., activating indicator light  32  and/or sound emitter  31  ( FIG. 4 ), and thereby alerting a user of the amount of media within container  11 . The refilling protocol may include other corrective actions, such as other types of notifications including email or SMS text message notifications, or initiation of an automatic refill procedure, for example. Conversely, if the measured amount of media  20  is greater than the predetermined threshold stored in sensor assembly  14 , indicator light  32  and sound emitter  31  remains in their default off states. In one embodiment, indicator light  32  is an LED light and sound emitter  31  is a speaker. As an alternative to an on/off indicator light  32 , controller  70  ( FIG. 2 ) may communicate with light  32  to provide an indication of the level of media  20  and light  32  may have multiple illumination modes to indicated different levels. For example, a green light may be illuminated by controller  70  when the level of media  20  is considered adequate, a yellow light may be illuminated by controller  70  when the level of media  20  is considered “low but not depleted,” and a red light may be illuminated by controller  70  when the level of media  20  is considered “depleted.” 
     This calculated amount of media  20  may then be compared by controller  70  to a predetermined media threshold programmed in controller  70 . The predetermined threshold may be user-modifiable and/or may be set upon initial controller programming. In the context of water softener system  50 , the predetermined threshold may be set to correspond with a remaining water treatment capacity of at least 100 gallons, 200 gallons, or 300 gallons, for example, or to any water treatment capacity deemed sufficient to allow continuous and uninterrupted treatment of water while also providing adequate time for a user of the system to notice a low-media alert and take corrective action (i.e., filling or causing the filling of container  11 ). 
     In an exemplary embodiment, sensor assembly  14  emits waves  22  periodically based on a predetermined schedule such that sensor assembly  14  operates automatically without any need for active user input and interaction. This provides substantially “real-time” feedback to a user regarding the levels of media present in container  11 . Sensor assembly  14  may also emit waves  22  upon a user command or input. Alternatively or in addition to this alerting function, controller may provide a display (not shown) of the calculated media level, such as a gauge that a user can monitor to assess the media level between a “full” and “empty” level. 
     In some embodiments, controller  70  may initiate an automated replenishment protocol in response to the level of media  20  falling below the predetermined threshold. For example, controller  70  may open a valve to an auxiliary media storage container (not shown), thereby allowing media  20  to flow into container  11  until an upper limit is reached within container  11 , as measured by sensor/emitter  30 . When such upper limit is reached, container  11  may be deemed “full” and the valve may be closed. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, sensor/emitter  30  is a time-of-flight ranging device with controller  70  integrated therein as an embedded micro-controller. Sensor/emitter  30  may vary in size, and in one embodiment, sensor/emitter  30  has dimensions of 4.4 mm×2.4 mm×1.0 mm to facilitate integration into any size lid  12  which may be included as part of a previously-installed, existing water softener  50 . An exemplary sensor/emitter  30  suitable for use in sensor assembly  14  is further described in Appendix A attached hereto, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, controller  70  may be integrated into valve head  76 , which may also include other control functions for water softener  50 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , sensor/emitter  30  includes a plurality of pins  39  to couple sensor/emitter  30  to other parts of sensor assembly  14  such as a digital input/output, a power supply, etc. In general, pins  39  are respectively connected to a power supply (e.g., via electrical outlet  46 ) and a host  37 .  FIG. 7  shows a functional description of sensor/emitter  30  and its interaction with host  37 . Host  37  includes a customer application  35  and an Application Programming Interface (API)  33 . Customer application  35  of host  37  controls sensor/emitter  30  using the Application Programming Interface (API)  33 . API  33  allows the user to take full benefit of the capabilities of sensor/emitter  30 . API  33  exposes a set of high level functions to customer application  35  and allows control of the firmware of sensor/emitter  30  such as initialization/calibration, ranging start/stop, choice of accuracy, and choice of ranging mode. In some embodiments, host  37  and its functions may be integrated into controller  70  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Additionally, sensor/emitter  30  includes a plurality of modes in which it can operate. For example, sensor/emitter  30  may have a continuous, timed mode where sensor/emitter  30  is continuously active and emits waves  22  periodically with a standard time interval between each emission of wave  22  and measurement of time of flight until the reflected wave is detected. In a further exemplary embodiment, sensor/emitter  30  includes a continuous mode where sensor/emitter  30  continuously emits waves  22  to measures the level of media  20  within container  11  in real-time. In a further exemplary embodiment, sensor/emitter  30  includes a single mode where sensor/emitter  30  emits wave  22  when prompted by the user. After emitting wave  22  and measuring the contents of container  11 , sensor/emitter  30  returns to a stand-by mode awaiting instruction from the user to emit a subsequent wave  22 . It is contemplated that further suitable modes having various time intervals and wave emission patterns may be applied to sensor/emitter  30 . 
     An exemplary embodiment of sensor assembly  14  are shown in detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , together with additional components of alert system  40 . Sensor assembly  14  includes sensor assembly lid  28  received on sensor assembly base  36 , with a circuit panel  34  positioned between the lid  28  and the base  36 . Panel  34  includes a number of electrical components forming a part of sensor assembly  14 , as described further below. Lid  28 , circuit panel  34 , and base  36  are coupled together by fasteners such as screws  44 . Lid  28  includes apertures  48 ,  52  that are sized and positioned to receive indicator light  32  and sound emitter  31 , respectively. 
     Switch  26  operates to toggle sensor assembly  14  between sound-emitting and silenced configurations. In the sound-emitting configuration, both indicator light  32  and sound emitter  31  can be activated by controller  70  as described herein. In the silenced configuration, sound emitter  31  remains deactivated regardless of the state of controller  70 , while indicator light  32  can be activated by controller  70  as described herein. 
     Cord receiving connector  24  is positioned on panel  34  and configured to receive power and/or data cord  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cord  16  includes a male connector  54  configured to be received in the corresponding female cord receiving connector  24 . In one embodiment, connector  54  includes a mini-USB connection with cord receiving connector  24 . However, it is contemplated that in alternate embodiments, a USB, micro-USB, or other types of connections may be formed between connector  54  and cord receiving connector  24 . Similarly, at the other end of cord  16 , a second connector  56  is provided. Connector  56  is configured to electrically couple to a plug  18  ( FIG. 3 ) to complete the electrical circuit and activate sensor assembly  14  when plug  18  is inserted into electrical outlet  46  ( FIG. 1 ) and connector  54  is inserted into cord receiving connector  24 . Alternatively, connector  56  may be electrically coupled to the power source for valve head  76 , via a printed circuit board or other power converter contained within valve head  76 . In one embodiment, connector  56  is a USB connector and plug  18  has a corresponding receiving port  57  for connector  56 . The USB connector can also be plugged into a computer for programming, diagnostics, and other data transfer to and from controller  70  and the other components of sensor assembly  14 . 
     Circuit panel  34  provides an upper surface ( FIG. 4 ) upon which switch  26 , indicator light  32 , sound emitter  31 , and cord receiving connector  24 , switch  26  are mechanically supported and electrically coupled to one another. In addition, a lower surface ( FIG. 5 ) of circuit panel  34  mechanically supports sensor/emitter  30 , which may have controller  70  integrated therewithin, and allows these components to be electrically coupled to one another and to the components on the upper surface. Lens  72  may be interposed between sensor/emitter  30  and base  36  to protect sensor/emitter  30  from ambient contamination, such as any contamination from media  20  contained within container  11 , while also allowing transmission of wave  22  therethrough. For example, lens  72  may be made from clear glass or clear plastic material in order to readily transmit wave  22  while also providing a physical barrier to ingress of contamination. In an exemplary embodiment, lens  72  creates a hermetically sealed environment for sensor/emitter  30  to ensure a long service life and reliable operation. 
     With lid  28 , panel  34 , and base  36  coupled to each other, the assembled package can then removably coupled to lid connector  38  via base  36 . Lid connector  38  contains a cup-shaped upwardly facing interior which tightly receives base  36  of sensor assembly  14  such that sensor assembly  14  has a secure fit within lid connector  38 , i.e., a user would need to apply a significant amount of force in order to remove sensor assembly  14  from lid connector  38 . In one embodiment, lid connector  38  is made of rubber and is formed in a similar fashion to a rubber stopper, though it is contemplated that lid connector  38  may be made of other materials such as plastic, high density polyethylene (HDPE), etc. 
     Lid connector  38  includes a retention clip  42  extending downwardly from the cup-shaped portion that couples to base  36  of sensor assembly  14 . Retention clip  42  serves to couple sensor assembly  14  to lid  12  of vessel  10 . Retention clip  42  includes a plurality of flexible protrusions  58  that operate to resiliently fix sensor assembly  14  to lid  12 . In particular, lid connector  38  may be press-fit into a hole formed in lid  12  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), such that protrusions  58  deform inwardly by engagement with the edge of aperture  60  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). As protrusions  58  descend beyond the edge of aperture  60 , protrusions  58  resiliently extend outwardly and return to their original configuration. While the lower portions of protrusions define a gently sloped surface designed to promote this deformation with minimal downward force upon installation, the upper portion of protrusions  58  define a sloped surface much closer to horizontal, which requires a substantially higher upward force upon removal. In this way, the configuration of protrusions  58  facilitates installation of lid connector  38  to lid  12  while also providing a secure fit for lid connector  38  within aperture  60  after installation. 
     In an alternative embodiment, sensor assembly  14  may be mounted at another location relative to container  11 , and simply oriented and positioned to monitor the level of media  20  in the same or similar manner as the lid-mounted embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and described herein. For example, container  11  may be an open-top barrel which does not include a lid, and sensor assembly  14  may be mounted to a fixed or movable arm which can be removed or pivoted out of the way for loading and/or removing media  20 . Such open-top barrels may be used, for example, in connection with large-capacity media containers commonly associated with industrial applications. 
     In operation, when sensor assembly  14  and lid connector  38  are installed onto lid  12  or otherwise positioned and oriented to monitor the level of media  20 , cord  16  is electrically coupled to cord receiving connector  24  and plug  18 , and plug  18  is electrically coupled to electrical outlet  46  to power alert system  40  via electric power provided from electrical outlet  46 . In an alternate embodiment, sensor assembly  14  may have a battery or a portable source of power such that cord  16  and plug  18  are not required. 
     Once electrically powered, sensor/emitter  30  emits wave(s)  22  within container  11  to measure the amount of media within container  11  in accordance with a predetermined schedule for sensor assembly  14 , as described in detail above. Once wave  22  is emitted, sensor/emitter  30  measures the amount of time needed for wave  22  to return to sensor/emitter  30  and calculates the amount of media  20  within container  11  based on its time of flight measurement. Sensor/emitter  30  then compares the measured amount of media  20  with a predetermined threshold (which may be set by the user or pre-programmed). If the measured amount of media  20  within container  11  is less than the predetermined threshold, indicator light  32  and/or sound emitter  31  will be activated (depending on the positioning of switch  26 ), such that a user will be notified of the condition within container  11  an appropriate action may be taken by the user. In other embodiments, controller  70  may initiate another corrective action or remediation procedure, such as automatic refill of storage container  11  as described above. 
     The configuration of sensor assembly  14  provides for a retrofittable alert system  40  that can be inserted on to a multitude of different systems, whether pre-existing or newly installed. For example, alert system  40  may be installed to work with an existing, previously installed water softener (e.g., water softener  50  shown in  FIG. 1 ), or in other water filtration systems where sensor assembly  14  can be configured to detect the amount of media present within a container, such as container  11  having media  20  ( FIG. 2 ). In such uses, alert system  40  functions to monitor the amount of media present in the container and, when the media is below a predetermined threshold, to alert a user or take other corrective action. 
     For example, an exemplary application in which alert system  40  may be utilized is the water treatment system described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0252185 entitled “Fluid Additive Control Valve,” filed on Mar. 1, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference. Alert system  40  may be used to detect the level of media  20  stored within container  11 , which is used by the system to “soften” or chemically alter incoming water. Alert system  40  may work with controller  70  to set alerts and/or activate system functions—e.g., brine regeneration, brine charge, water softening, backwash, and rinse cycles—by electronically controlling the movement of corresponding parts of the water softener system. For example, when an indication of “low but not depleted” for the level of media  20  is received by controller  70 , controller  70  may reconfigure the function of the control valve to limit the rate of media depletion, such as by preventing a “full regeneration” cycle in favor of a partial regeneration in order to preserve the longevity of the remaining media. Controller  70  may also output a “low but not depleted” and/or “add salt” signal to alert the user to replenish media  20  soon. In addition, when an indication of “media depleted” for the level of media  20  is received by controller  70 , controller  70  may shut down the function of the control valve to avoid any regeneration process from occurring, and/or output a “media depleted” and/or “add salt” signal to alert the user to replenish media  20  immediately. 
     Controller  70  may also include wireless communication functionality in order to transmit status signals pertaining to storage vessel  10  to a location remote from the immediate area around vessel  10 . For example, controller  70  may be “WiFi” capable by including an integrated wireless signal generator which is designed to be compatible with a radio wireless local area network of devices based on the standards set forth in IEEE 802.11. The signal generator may output wireless signals as described herein, and such signals may be received by a wireless network interface controller (e.g., an internet router) for distribution to other devices. To the extent that vessel  10  may be located beyond the range of a preferred wireless network interface controller, controller  70  may include an antenna to extend the range of generated signals to reach more remote interface controllers. 
     In one embodiment, the wireless signals generated by controller  70  are uploaded to a website, which may be access by a user of alert system  40 . The user may login to the website via an internet-connected computer terminal or phone, for example, to view the status and function of storage vessel  10  as monitored by alert system  40 . Alternatively or in addition to website upload, controller  70  may send signals directly to a computer terminal or phone via email, SMS text message, or other communication protocol. 
     In addition to the function signals, level signals, and other signals as described herein, controller  70  may generate additional signals for particular use in the context of remote monitoring. For example, a specific service set identifier (SSID) may be assigned to and associated with a particular vessel  10 , such as via manufacturer programming. This SSID may be output by controller  70 , such that the user or manufacturer can identify via a remote terminal (computer, phone, etc.) the location and operational presence of a designated vessel  10 . Controller  70  may also output a “heart beat” indicator which, when received by a remote terminal, indicates that alert system is connected, functioning and online. 
     Controller  70  may also be programmed to receive signals from a remote location via its wireless network interface controller, and use these signals to influence the operation and function of alert system  40  and vessel  10 . For example, a manufacturer may modify the level signals thresholds associated with “full,” “low but not depleted” or “medial depleted” states for the level of media  20 , in order to adjust the function of alerts for a particular installation. A user may be able to view, adjust and initiate media refill operations, regeneration cycles or any other system function as described herein. As with the receiving and view of signals generated by controller  70 , signals may be sent to controller  70  by a computer terminal, phone or other remote device capable of communicating via the wireless network interface controller. 
     Furthermore, sensor assembly  14  may be used in combination with the regenerant substrate monitor of the aforementioned publication (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0252185), which is incorporated by reference herein. Ion exchange water softeners may require regeneration periodically with salt brine. Sodium chloride or potassium chloride in pellet or rock form may be stored in a substrate reservoir, which may be a plastic or fiber glass vessel in some exemplary embodiments, of a water softener. Water is added to reservoir during one of the cycles provided by the ports of the valve arrangement cooperating with the piston as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0252185. Each time the water softener regenerates, salt is consumed from the reservoir (such as container  11 ). The amount used during each regeneration cycle varies by the relative size of the water softener  30  and elective programming. Sensor assembly  14  may be used in a manner described above to alert the user when salt or substrate in the reservoir is low, thereby ensuring that such substrate will remain continuously available to the water softener by urging users to refill the reservoir when necessary. Alternatively, in some systems, sensor assembly  14  may initiate an automated replenishment protocol as noted above. This continuous availability of substrate, in turn, ensures proper regeneration of the brine and proper softening of the water passing through the valve arrangement. This properly softened water protects steam boilers and other water using equipment, and in other applications where water quality is of particular importance such as hospitals, laundries, car washes, window manufactures, nursing homes, pretreatment for reverse osmosis membranes, commercial dishwashers, etc. 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.