Patent ID: 7568501

Claim:
A bypass valve for a water treatment system comprising: a body having a primary inlet for receiving untreated water, an untreated water outlet for connection to the water treatment system, a treated water inlet for connection to the water treatment system, and a primary outlet through which treated water flows, the body including a first valve seat between the primary inlet and the untreated water outlet, a second valve seat between the treated water inlet and the primary outlet, and a third valve seat in a flow path between the primary inlet and the primary outlet, wherein the first valve seat, the second valve seat, and the third valve seat respectively surround a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture extending through at least one wall of the body, wherein the first and second valve seats are located in a first plane, and the third valve seat is in a second plane spaced from and parallel to the first plane; a first flapper valve element movable with respect to the body to selectively engage and disengage the first valve seat; a second flapper valve element movable with respect to the body to selectively engage and disengage the second valve seat; and a third flapper valve element movable with respect to the body to selectively engage and disengage the third valve seat; wherein the bypass valve has a first state in which the first flapper valve element engages the first valve seat, the second flapper valve element engages the second valve seat, and the third flapper valve element is disengaged from the third valve seat, which first state blocks all fluid flow from the primary inlet into the water treatment system, and has a second state in which the first flapper valve element is disengaged from the first valve seat, the second flapper valve element is disengaged from the second valve seat, and the third flapper valve element engages the third valve seat.