CA2038358A1 - Comprehensive water treatment system - Google Patents

Abstract

COMPREHENSIVE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In its broadest aspects, a method for the cyclic regeneration of a water system is disclosed. The water softening system comprises an exchange medium in a tank which is in fluid communication with a brine storage tank. This method comprises the steps of filling the brine storage tank with refill NO.2 of softened water in a quantity sufficient to create sufficient brine for said exchange medium, said brine storage tank already containing refill NO.1 of softened water from a later step of the method.
The exchange medium is subjected to backwashing NO.1 with water flowing counter the direction of water flowing therethrough during water softening operations. Next, brine from the brine storage tank is passed through the exchange medium. Water then is passed through the brine exchange tank.
The exchange medium thereafter is subjected to backwashing NO.2 with water flowing counter to the direction of water flowing therethrough during the water softening operation. Finally, the brine tank is refilled with refill NO.1 of softened water to create brine in quantity insufficient for completely brining the exchange medium.

Description

2 ~ 3 8 3 ~ ~

9~ TA~A l M~ ~Ir ll lllTII 1~

~D~
The prescnt Invention r~l~tes to ~Nater tre~tn~ont syst~ms, sometlmes commonly knoY~n as w~ter ~oftoning syste~ns, ~nd more particul~rly to a unlque system c~mprifiing a water so~tening unlt, a control sy~tem tharefor, snd Its use In commercial/lndu~tri~l settlng~.
5Resln type lon exch~n~e devlccs h~ve m~ny u~c~, such ~9 the softening of water. ~s ~he water ~o be processed i~ p~sed through the r~sln-tJlled t~nk, ions in the ~luld t3 be processed, e.~. calclurn, i8 exchan~d wlth ~on~
found ~n the resln, 0.g. ~odium, thereby romovin~ ob~ectlonable lons ~rom the water and exchanging them tor less ob3ectionQble lons found in the re~ln~
10l~uring thi~ ion exeh~nge pro~ess, the ablllty of the resin to exoh~nge lons grBdU8lly 18 redused. Th~t 13, the resin b~d beeome3 exhausted ~nd, therea~ter, w~ter w~ low there~hrough in unpro~essed form.
The cEIp~city of the ion exch~nge re~in bed can be determlned trom the volume of resin used and the particuiar type of resin. Tha conoentratlon ~5of cont~mlnant~s) In the w~t~r to be pro~essed c~n be deterrnined, ~t I~Rst on an averl~e basis. Thu~, the volume o~ wAtor that ¢an be proces~ by a partlcular w~ter trestment unlt Is kno~vn. Once that cap~city o~ watsr ll~s been tre~ted, the bed mu~t be r~gon~rated.
Regener~tlon of tho ion ex~hange re41ns typically involves chernically 20replaclng the ob~ectionable lons trQm the re~in with less oblection~le ion~, c.g. repl~ing cal~ium wlth 80diUIl-l ions Thls re~ener~tlon proc~s requlre~
the suspension o~ the tr~tment process, thus neces~it~ting the water to by-p~ss the ion ~xchange resln tAnk. At the s~n~e tlme AS the lon ~x~hange resin Is regenerated, the bed oan be backwa~hed in order to remove ~rapp~d 25partleul~te m~tter, the resln t~nk c~n be rin~ed to remove obj~ction~l~
solu~le mnterial~, an nppllcatlon of ~terilizatlon ngent to pr~ent ba~teri~l growth c~n be accomplished, etc. All of theæe oper~tions ~re known In th~
~rt.
In the re~eneratlon of res~n bed3 used to trent h~rd wster, a var~ety of 30¢ontrol ntod~s ha~le been employed commer~i~lly. ~or ex~mple, ~ome water soften;ng units functlon on a timer w~ich nec~itates reg~ner~ltîon dt speeifie~ time 5nterv~1s. Thls mod~ of oper~tlon h~ the dis~dvnnt~ge thaS
the re~in bed ~ay hnve suffi~ient enp~city remalnlng to continue for qult~ a - 2 - 2~3X'~5~

tlme there~fter. Anothar mode ot eontrol involve- rnonleorin~ tha volum~
ot w~ter treated ~nd provokln~ rei~en~r~tlon once n ~o~ polnt h~ beQn raachcd. Untortun~toly, rogQnorstlon cy~les oan be tri~g~red undeslrsbly nt Ju~t the tlme when aemQn~ for ~vat~r Is hlE~h under th~ mod~ ot operatlon.
S One o~crrldlng consideratlon rcprdlc3s o~ tho modo of aontrol employed involv~ exheustlon of the r~ln ~ed. If ths resin bea b petmlttsd to b~come comll~etely e~hausted of Its c~pability of exchan~lnl~ lon~ ~
s~nglc regcnoratlon ~ycle will not be ~u~tlclent to ~tablbh the orl~ln~l c~a~lty ot tn~ bed. Inste~d, several reg~lleratlon cycles o~tcn wlll be 10 r~quircd. Moroovor, if ~he bod 18 noar Its ~xhDu~tlon polnt and h hl8h aamana ror water 18 m~de, pregen~ commerclal sy~tsm~ cannot provlde th~
cap~city to ~oftçn the ox~ra water domand ~Ithout risking total ~xh~u~tlon or the r~ln bed. Aecordingly, new WRter treatment ~yst~m~ In~ludln~ thc mode Or oper~tlon theroof ~r~ in dem~nd in thi~ field~
Bro~d St~tement ot thQlnvllntion The prcscnt Invontlon ho8 m ny ~peot~. In It~ b-oAd~st a~p~ets~ o method for tl~e ey~ regansratiôn Ot a vJIltCr oo~nlng ~y~tem 19 dl~lwed.
The weter softening ~y~tcm comprlse~ r~n c~eh~mcc mcdlum In a ~ank wh~h 20 b In fluld communication with a brlne ~torage tanl~. Thl!l method ~ompri~es the s~eps ot tilling tl~e brlne ~tor~lgs t~nk with reflll No. 2 of sot~ned ~rater in a gusntity 6ufflol~nt to cr~sta ~ut~lclQnt brlne for said esehange medlum, saia brlne stora~e tank alr~ady contnlnln~ refill No. 1 of so~tened ~ator trom a letcr 9top of ~hc mothod. The e~cohango medium is sub~coted to 2s ~ckwasnlng No. I with water ~lowlne ~ount~r tho dlrectlon o~ ~ter tlowing therethrough durlng wAter ~oftcnlng opcr~tlon6. Next, brlnQ ~rom the brine storag~ tank Is passed through t~e eY~hange medlum. Wate~ tnen Is Da~sed through the brin~ e~ch~nge tank. The e~change medl~rn thcro~tor {o subjected to backw~shln6 No. 2 wlth w~ter ~lowing counter to the 30 dire~tion of w~ter tlowtng therethrough durlng tlle water ~ott~ning operAtlon. Fin~lly, thc brlno tlmk i~ rcflllod with rotill No. 1 ot ort0nQd ~nter to ~rQate ~rlne In ~ quantitg In~uttl~lent tor oompletely brinlng the ~ch~nge medll~m.
Another aspeot of the pre~n~ Inventlon 1~ an improved vQlve ~s~embly 35 ~hlch Is deslgned to Implement the novel method disclo~ad Qbovo. The Irnproved vslvo nPPembly compri-es a v~lv~ body in~vlng a drain pO-t, ~n Inlet water port, sott~ned water outlet port, nn inl~ctor port, tir~t ond 2~3~35~

Jecond e~chanKa m~dlum tank ports, and ~Ir~t nnd socond In~ector ports. A
puton v~lvc ~sscmhly comprlsas Q pi ton bosrlnt the tlr t nnd ~eoond v~lve, ~,n~ ~ at~posed witnin the valve ~ody A drlve n~-~nbly is connected with the pbton tor roclprocatln~ly movlnt thc piston ~Ithln th~ Yatv~ body for S the v~lves to determlne the flow ot fluld wlt~ln the Y~llve body ~ nOw meter b ~ssocialed wlth th~ valve bodg (or me~Juting water pQssed through tho oxchsngo modlum t~nk. An In~ector ~3s~mbly h~ a rl-qt port In tlula communic~tlon wlUI th~ v~lve body rlr~t port whlch ptov~des ~luld communlcstion with thc v~lve body ~oftoned wQtor ouUst portt ~ second 10 port In tluid communleatlon wlt~ id ~lalve ~ody 9e~0nd port whlch provlde~
~luld communicatlon ~Ith ~id v~lYc body Inlet wstcr pott~ 0nd ~ brlno storate tenk port. The In~eetor ~econ~ port h In fluld eommunicl~tlon wlth the In3ector ~econd port ~hrough a nozi~le Y~hereby w~tor ~lowlng trom ~id In~ootoP ~ceond port to s~id 5nJootor ~int port throu~ s~ld no~z1e erP~te~ a 15 pre~urs re~ tlon In th~ Inlector ~embly betwoen said Inlector second port and 3ald brlne 9torqgo tank port ~or drawln~ b~lne ~rom uld brlne stor~e t~nk to withln 9~1~ In~ec~r a~sembly ~nd oUt ~nld In~ct~r socond port. The piston i~ movab1e from ~ first posltlon wherein WBt~r ~IOWB trom sald v~lv~ body Intet port to r~id ~econd excbang~ modlum Umk port, and 2D ~rom sald exch~nge m~dium tank thr~ugh said flr~t oxchange medium tank port and outs~id ~oft~ncd ~tcr outlet p~tl to a snaond po~ition whcreln sala nlves close tluld cumlllwll~:etlun I ~t~en ~ald vel~e b~dy inlet ~er port and sald valv~ body ~eoond ~xoh-n~ mcdlum tank port, open~ fluld communloation Detween sald valve body ~econd exch~mge medlum tank port 25 nnd said valYe body dr~ln port~ and open~ fluid ~ommunlaatlon bdtweon ~ld valve body inlet ~ter port and s~id fi~t excn~nee medlum tank port end sald In~ector second port ~or wato- to backwcsh ssld exchan~e m~tlum tlmkl to Q thlrd positi~n whereln sald valvell only permit ~lul~ communls~tion betr~een Ynld valve body inlct port and ~Rid In~ector ~econd port fo~ water 30 and ~rine ~rom ~laid brine storsi~e tank to ~low trom said inlector flr5t po~t to sald vQlve body ~ t exch~nge t~nk i~rt, ~nd ~rom ~aid ll~lv~ body exchange medium tank sccond port to tho v81ve body cirain port e~d reclprocAtingly mov~lo baok to sllid secon~ nnd fl~t pwltlons ~equentldly.
Tho piston of the novel valve aa~ombly cnn bc drlven by G uniqu~ h-lix 3S drive disclosed heretn. Ths h~liY drlve comprlse~ a s~atlonery drlve al~le bcarlng a longitudinally dottet slocvo; a pbton having cn apcrturcd end and beint disposed within ~id drlve QX1~ ~Is~ve~ a uans~erse pin, h~vlnE en~

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fltt~d with gulde shoet, d~spo~ed thro~ ald pl~on ~perture and locato~
~;lhin ~id a~sle slot; ~nd a *ive gear h~vlng ~ pnlr ot hsltx paths Y~lthln uld pln guldn ~hoos a~e di~pos~d, whcroby rot~tlon o~ snld drive 6~r rQsults In roclproc~tln~ lon~ltudlnal mov~men~ of the pin withln lh~ a~tl8 910t ond, S thu3~ ~nld drive exle.
Advantage~ of tho pres~nt Inventlon Includo a mod~ ot op~r~tlon tnct provents tho ~xchnnge medlum trom booomln~ exhllusted by olwnya torclng re~enerstion when the r~erve uttlng Is renched. Anntlw odv,~ntag~ ~ ~he ~bllity to ~otten w~ter on ~n emergency basl~ whon hlth domend b specltiod by ~Iwny~' keoplng brlne in the brin~ t~nk. Another Adv~nt~ge b an ~mer~ency mde whoreby servlce water byp~uY tho unit ~o tha~ tho oxohl~n~o bcd can bo rcgenereted prlor to It~ ~oomlng compbt~ly~
eltl au~ted Y~t another ~dv~ntAge IR a unlque valve a!~emDly sy~tem tor implementQtion ot the method dbclo~od heteln. Yet a t~Jrthor odvant~o 19 a unique helix drive ~yst~m th~t cin be adapted for u~e In the novsl valYe wornbl~ dbclo~ed h~reln. The~e and other ndvantages will be r~adlly nppl~rcnt to tho6e skillct in tho ~t ba~ed upon tho dlsolo~uro oont~in4d ~er~ln.

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Flg. I Is a perspectivo olovotlon~l vlew of the lon exchange redn sy~tom Inoludin~ ~ c~bin~t whioh hou~eJ the lon exchan6e resln bed t-nk and tllo va1ve as~ombly o~ the pre3cnt Inventlon~
F18. a l~ ~ sc~lonnl vlow tnken olone 11no 2-q of Pig. 1~
Flg. 3 is an e1~vatlona1 view of tne eom~onent3 ~ompri~lnt t~c oxohan6e medium tenk ~nd tholr ~sumb1y;
Flg. 4 Is ~I per~peotlve vlew ot th~ as~mbly ot tho v~lve bO~ pl~ton v~lve ~sembly, Inlector H~sen~b1y, nd by-pus ~sembly o~ the pre~ent Inv~ntlon;
Flg. 5 is a detalled drawlng ot lhe componsnt~ Imd th~lr ~s~mbly tor thc In~eotor ~ombly ~nd w~lvo body of Yit. 4~
Flg. 6 Is a detslled ~rawlne ot tho com~onent~ ~nd thelr s~mbly ot the pbton v~lve ~Rcmbly of Fi8. ~
F~. 7 19 a deta~1ea dr~wing o~ th~ ~omponent~ and thelr sg~l~mbly ot the bypsss usembty of Fig. ~;
~ig. ~ i9 11 !ulctlonlll vlew token o~ong linR s-a of Flg. l;

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~i~. 9 is ~ ~ide vlew of s~e ~llx driv~ component~ whloh prov1da reclproc~ting longitudln~l movement o~ the pbton 8~t forth in Flg. 8 I?lg. 10 l8 ~ CYt^8W~y vi~w Or the valve ~onlrol ~g~embly ~howlng the flow of w~ter and brlne thcrethrough;
S Fi~ nO~ diagrGm tor tho eloctronlc control meRns uEed In oon~unction with the wat~r ~o~tenine gy3t3m ot tho present inventlon~
Plg. 12 i~ ~n ~Itern~tive flow diagr~m to thllt 8et ~orth ~t Fig. 11~ .snd F16. 13 b a schem~tlc r~presentation ot ~ plur~lity ot ~ter so~tenln~
unlts ~nd their mode ot oper~tlon in ~ aln~le sy~tom.
Thcsc drawlng~ wil1 be de~orlbed in det~il In connectlon wlth the rol10wing Detail~d l~egcrlptlon o~ the Inventlon.
~a .
The watct softenlng unit o2 ths oomprohe~l~e ~ t~r treitm~nt system ot the pre~ent Inventlon i~ deplcted at ~Ig. 1. Housed within c~bln~t 10 Is lon exch~ng~ Inedium tank J2. (See F~ nd 3). Mounted ~top tank 12 is Y~IVC control ars6mbly 1~ whlch will ~e dE!IcrlDed In det~lll In connection wlth Fi~s. 4-9). Llne la b ~or connectlon to ~-lnc 9tor~go tnnk 18 Hnd llne 20 i~ the conn~ctlon to e drsln. W~ter enters the compreh~n~lYe ~0 water treatment system throu~h Inlet 22 and wftened w~tor i~ wlthdre~n through outlet 24. Frame ~6 (3ee Plg. 2 ~180) mounts stop c~bir,l~t 10 en~
retalr~s QOVor 28 whlch hlde~ v~lv~ control ag~em~ly l~
Wnlle exchange m~dlum tsnk 12 cen bc made In one or more reetlons, Pig. 3 dcpict~ it n8 fo~mod f om upper tank ~ection 30 ~nd lower tnnk ~ection 32. ~r~i~ grr~neement p~rm;ts the ;nsertlon ot centrn~ annubr ~-ct;ons to ir.crc~se the h~lEht of t~nk 12 ~hould It CQ neces~ry, aedre~1c, or conwnlene. Tenlc 12 b ~llown ~itted wlth upper ~croonJdlstrlbutor 34, centor screen/distrlbutor 36, end lower ~creenJd~stributor 38. Tne uss o~
three scre~ntal~tributors 05 shown ~t Pig~ ~ permlts dlttorent roslnr or exctlange modlum beds to be o~t~bllshod bct~een dlçtributor~ 34 an~ 36, ~n~
34 nnd 38. Exeh~nge beds ~LqO c~n b~ loc0ted ~t~p dbtributor 3~ and ~eneath dlstrlbutor 38, It neces~ary, doslrllble, or convcnlent. It wlll b~
appreci~tcd thnt oont~lr screenJdi~trlbutor 36 m~y bs omltt6~ to atabll:lh a ~ingle bed. Alternrltively, Yllth addltlon~l cenSrel~r-dlsposet tank ~c~tlons as with Q~socistea ~crcQn~alsul~uto~, Aa~ lUllell Lledls coul~ De e~ b~loh-ld ~1~
Is necess0ry, desir~ble, ~r conveniont. Hc~d spuo~ 35 Is provlded b~twa~n ~Ippcr scroQnldutrlbutor 34 ~nd the ~pherlc~1 top ot upper msdium t~nk 2 ~ 3 ~

3~ctlon 30. Prefer~bly, he~d 3paCC 35 ia lllled with medla (o.g. ~0180 mesh ~srnet) capAble o~ tilterlnE p~rtlculate ~ontamlnant-~ from wst~r pu~o~
th2rsthroueh, Moun~ing brack~ts 40 rot~ln valve oontrol ~ombly 14. Flll aperturo ~2 in upper modium t~nk sectlon 30 ean ~e usee to edd rodn to 5 tank 12 for fllling tl~e upper sectlon hou~ed withln upper mediu~ tank 30 ond can be u~ed ~or withdrQwal Or resin by Invor~lon ot t~nk 12. Flll plug 4- nnd O-rln~ 4~ fill ~perture 42 w~n ~ecess thereto h noe requlrod. ~11nllar1y, lower medlum tunk ~ectlon 92 ha6 dr~ln plug ~3 whlch retalns lo~or nll plug 60 ~nd 0-rlng 52.
Io upper me~lum tenk ~ectlon 30 ~urthor has Inlet ~p~rture 6~ and outlat apertur~ S6 di~po!l~d sbout Its spherioal top. ~ e 58 ~see ~18. 2) pro]~tg do~nwardly ~rom the top ot upper med5um t~nk ~ection 30 and provldo~
communic~tlon b~tween outlet ~p~rturo sa and oen~t ~low tube ~o.
Aportured plate B2 and ns~ociatea O-rln~ 6~ mate wlth tbng~ 58 to prov~de a c~vlty In commwllcution ~Ith center nO~ tubc B0 thdt flts throuth ths sperture In platc 62 ~nd, thu~, provide an outlet for ~ottHn2d water s~psrato from the nead spac~ wlthln upper medlum t~nk ~ection 30 whlsh lo tillnt ~Ith servico w6tor to be softoncd as it ont~rs tank 1~ vi~ Inlet apertur~ 5~.
The flow ot water admittQd vl~ Inlet aperture 54 p~ equential4r throu~h the g~rnet medi~l In ho~d~p~ce 36 whcroin portloulato mctter 1~ rlltered, ~hrough upper ~oreen/dlstrlbutor 34 througn upper rnln bod 01~, through c~n~er 3cresn/distributor 30 ~nd througb lower resin bod 58, and lin~l~y throui~h lower ~creen/d~tr~butor ~8. The wnter then flow~ up through center ~low tube 60 an~ into tne chamber cr~atet by flange sa and p1ete B~
~or being wlthdrewn from t~nh 12 vle outbt operture 58.
Control of the ~low ot w~ter between ~xchango msdium t~nk 12~ ~rinc s~or~u ~ank 18, and within exchnn~o modlum t~nk 121~ conttolled by v~lve control a6rombly 14 which b depl~ted ~t Plg. 4. Tt~ embly b compo~ed of ~alve booy 10, inJector ~ssemblg ~2~ hollx drive as~ombly 74, and ~yp -~
~ombly ~5. Thls componsnt and ~ssQmbly drswing wlll b~ r~ferred to In conn~ctlon with ~n8 ~etall~d drawlnp ot e~ch ot tho:le assemblle~
d~ptcted ;n other fi~ures.
Reterring to Fig. 5, val~e es~embly ~0 and Irdoctor ~sembl~ 7a ar~
~een in det~ll. Yalve ~od~ 7l b s~en to hQve eight ports: water Inl~t pott as ~t, 60~t~ned water outlet port 80, h~ll% drlvs port 82, drein port 34~ flnt exch8n~e medlum lank port 86, ~econd exchangc medium tAnk port 8a, flr~t injector port eo~ ~nd r~cond In~otor port 92. ~na c~p 94, wlth O-rlng S6 2~333~

~nd ~yllnder In~ert 90 eonnects to tlsnge 100, whlch etAlns thrcsdod Innrt~
102a-102e, by bolts l04~-104O. I.ino 20 (Fit. 1) conn0ets t~ end Cllp 94.
InJaetor as~qmbly 02 ~.5 seen tO be comprbed o~ In~ector houdng 108 wllie~l nat Internslly threAded end 108 into whlch llt3 throat 11~, no~zb 112, S ~crecn lli, O-r;n~ IIB, ~nd thr~lsded plug 118. ln~c~o- houdng 10~ further hu tlrst port~ lzn ~nd s~con~ ~ort 122. Flr~t InJector port 120 mat~ wi~h ~irst ~ v~ body port 90 wlth Intcrvenln6 O-rlnt 12- therebatwaen. ~gcond In~-ctor port 122 m~tes ~Ith !leoond v~lve body port 92 ~rlth O~lng 1~
dbposed th~rebetw~en. Thrclldcd olocvc 128 b aonn~ted to ~Ibow 130 10 whlch 80rv~8 116 thc brlne t~nk port ~or InJ~tor ~2 ~nd Is conn~ct~d to Une Flg. 1). Dlsposed wi~hln Injqctor houdnt 10~ ~nd In th~ ~p~rtUre tormed by threadcd ~Iceve 128 18 sp~int 132, poppet 134, ~nd o-rln~ 136.
Thl~ spring ~embly 1~ in~ert~d Into In~ector hou~lng 10~ ~la clon~te aperture 138 ~nd ~s sealed to tho outsldc by elon~llts eovsr 140 wit~
lS intermedlately dl~p~sea O-rin6 142. Cover I~Q b rctained to In~ector housln~ 10~ by thre~dcd bolt~ 14~s~
Roferring to v~lv~ ~ssemb4~ 70, cyllndcr in~rt 144 (r`4 S) flts Into aperture ~2 which Is 8urmounted by tlange 148 whlch contslns thr~d~d Insort~ 143~-145e. V~lvc ~6~embly 150 b eompr~ed ~f pl~ton 152 whtCh 20 rot~lr~ first vslve ~4 ~nd ~scond vslve 150. One end o~ piston 6a b termin~ted by crucltix 15~ which flts Into v~lvv body end l!Rp 9- ~nd b termln~ted At the ~IhRr end by transvone aperture 15~. Drlve xle 1112 be~rs longltudln~lly slottcd slcove 18~ ~nd h~ mounts for mountln~ motor l95 wlSh ~orewo 168~ ~nd 168b. D~lve ~XIs 162 Itsclt L~ mounted to v~lYe 25 body ~Icn~u 140 by bolt~ l70~-170e. Tho ~pcrtur-d ond o~ p~ton 152 ~It~
throu~h drlvc sxle 18~ hnd ~lotted deeve IB~. Crq~s pln 172 ~It~ gUldR
shoes 174 ~nd 17~ tit~ through sperturo 160 and ridoo In th~ lon¢l~udinal ~lot In ~lottcd sleev~ 1~4. Slotted ~leeve 1~- permit~ pl~ton 152 t~ mova In 8 longltudimll alroctlon only.
The he~x *iv~ unit (Plt. 8~ th~t provld~ reclproe~tlng moYemont o~
piston 152 includes ~u~hing 118, llellx drlve gellr 180, hellx *ive cont~r laa~
and nell~ dri~e end 184. Switch ring doublc 186, swlteh rln~ ~ingle 188, nnd bushlng thrust washer l90 eomplRte the neux drlve ~ss~lmbly. Referrln~ to Flg. 4, motor cover 192 attach~ to th~ motor mount tl~n~e Or drlv~ ~YIe 35 162 wlth sorews 194a and 194b. Junetion Drlnted cl~cuit bo~rd (PC8~ 198 slmilarly 19 attache~ wlth screws 19~a an~ 108b. O~rln~ 200 oompletes the ~3~3~

wa~erproof ee~l ~tab11~h~d between bellx drlvo ~nembly 74 and Y~llVe body 70.
Referring now to bgp4ss ~ mbly 7~ deplcted in detall ~t ~Ig. 7, bypsss hou~lng 202 hss w~ter Inlet port 20~ tn~t eonnecto to nl~e body Inlet s port 711 and w~lcr outl~t p~rt 206 th~ conn~t3 to v~lv~ body outl~t port 80.
O-~;ngs 205 and 207 ae~l port 204 to v~lvs body Inl0t p9rt 78 ~Ind psrt 20~ to ~lalve body outl~t port 1~0, respectiv~ly (uo l~o Plg. 4). Tur~lno 208 IB
rotained In port ~06 by ~1ow dlr-ctor 210. Mounted In ~on~unetion t~erewlth i~ preuure dif~erontl~ ~wltch 2~2, mounted wlth screw~ 2I~R-2I~d ~nd O-rlng~ nd 2teb~ nnt turbln~ s~ntor PC~ 21a rotalned by un~or ~p 220 ~nd serew 222. ~Wit~l 212 pQrmlt~ the ~r~sure drop acrce~ ~h~ tedn ~ed~
to b~ monltored ba~ed on tho Inlet ~nd ou~lot wllter pr~ur~r. Il thl~l valu~
b too ~ t, 11kely the resln b~d(~ lo~g~d ~nd the ~ter ~or~snlng ~t~m 1~ ~nut out, I.e. tull by-bus mode b eotabllshed. Tho turbine son~or assembly provlde now metcrint o~ th~ ~ortened w~ter exltini~ the ~y~t~m.
~ull bypa~s o~ water 18 llchl~ved u~ing bypns~ usembly 7~ by ~ctlvating rotllting handle 22Si which 3~ atflxed to bypa~ hou lng 802 by wrew 22B.
H~ndla ~24, in turn, Is attnd~ed to ~rlve sha~t 22ti whlch ~ccommodates O-rlng 230 th~rebet~een. Drlve ~haft 228~ In turn, ~orewo into piston - embly ~0 which i~ connected et its other ~na to end oap 232. End c~p 2~2, In turn, rQUlnS vslve test porl 234. End cap 832 1~ at~chod to bgpus houdni~
aO2 by ~crews il~c-~36h whloh ~cr4w Into th ~adeo IMerts 23ii~-238h whlch ~re ratainRd by byp~s9 houdng 20~ rlng 240 complete~ thc OQ
estsbU3hed betwe~n end C8p 2as and byi~w howlng 202.
Fln~lly, O-rini~ 242 ~nd 244 p-oviae se~11ne sng~gement betwcen tlrst and sea~nd t-nk ports 86 and 88, and Inlet iS4 ~nd ouU~ S6, resp~tlvQly, or uppor modlum tAnk eotlon 30. In~eetnr ll~sembly 1219 ~t~lxad ~19O to upper mcdlum tank sectlon ~0 by scrsw~ 240~ nd 346b. Byi~ howin~ 7~ ib rehined by screw~ 248e-~48c. Thu~, eomplet~ the a~mbly o~ valve oDntrol ~s~embly 14.
~.9 to opo~tlsn of v~lve eontrol u~embly 14, rs~erencs l~ nde to Flgs. 1-lO. piaton valve as~embly 150 ~Isposed wlthln vdve boaiy 70 ha~
Ihroe di~tin&t ~ ttions to ~hlch valve~ l66 and 154 ~a bro~ ht. Ju~tinn PCB li16 In con~unctlon v~lth ~ulitchlng la6 ana 198 provldes a ~topplng po1~t wllen each o~ the~e three posltions Is reaehcd and, thu~l, p~rmlt~ motor 15~
to be dc~cti~ated, a9 wlll b~ mor~ p~rtloul~rly ~iescrlbed below. The position of plston velve s~sembly 150 topleted in Fl~. 8 18 th~ norm-l 6 ~ b ~

operl~tion~l Inode wl~er~n servic~ ter to bc 30ftonod ent~r~ v~lv~ body 70 via Inlet port 78 und pas~s through ~econd t~nk port 8~ Into t~nk 12 to be sof~noa. ~talve 154 i~ in Cont~et with v~lve 50~t 252 ond, tllue, provonts ths Y,r~ter Irom flowln~ p~9t tirst v81vô l54. S,lmilQrly, dr~ln lin~ 20 ls bloe~ed S by O-rin6 ~30 At the erueitix ~nd o~ plston 1~2. Sorten~d ~ater b wlthdr~wn trom exch~ngc medlum t~nk 12 Ylfl ~Ir~t tsnk port se Qnd out o~
v~lvo body 70 vi4 outlet port 80, flr.~t v~lYe 15q ~aln pr~Ygntlng the w~t~r ~rom (lowln~ therep~st due to it~ ~e~tlng a~ln~t vdve ~oe~ 252. In thb norm~l oporntlon~l mod~, ~deond v~lve 15fi performs no tunetion. Motor 16~
10 ~Au~e~ eenth~ ~elix drlve 18~ to r~t~te its v~ e ~ctustlng sur~ace (e.g. by Qllm~;ng antlnnl into ~ont~ct wlth ~oppot v~lvo 134 to op~n elbow 130 ~nd ~ormit oo~tonod wotoP to tlow nnt tt)r~a~lv~ vR 12a, elb~w 130. Into ll~le 181 und tln~ Into ~rlne DtorQ~0 tlsnk lR. All bril~o ere~ltea In tRnk 111 1 wl~n uu~ n~ nn~el, Nc;,~t~ motor t~a àr;l~oo plo~on t~ o ~ p~slti~l 15 whero~t s~ond v41ve 156 seat~ ~g21n8t valYe seat 2~0. Thl~ op~n- dr~ln llno 21~. Firsl valve 154 however, ~tlll la In cont&ct wlth ~alve l~oat 2S2. The ncw poeition o~ s~oond valve 156 prevent.~ ~ervlce water enterln~ v~lv~ body inl~t por~ ~8 from tlowine to vnlvo body second tank port 88. INtcad, th~
posltlon of ~ir~t ~alYe 164 p~rmits 8ervlGe WAtsr to now ~low out v~ hody 20 ~econd in~eotlon port 92 And thenoo Into In~ector hou~ing 103. ~ ~ortlon ol ~ho ~ster ~l~o flo~ out in~ector flrst port 120 into v61~e body 70 and out va1vo body tlrst t~nk port 8~ Into exchan~e medlum tank 12, but In th~
~Irectlon oppwil~ the nsrmal flow o!lt~bllshod durlng ~ott0nlng o~ Inlet ~rvice w~tc-. Thu b tho ~ c~llQd "baekw~h" thAt l~l ~onventlon~l~ known Zs In tne ~rt. Tne bAckw~sh cyclc pcrmito ouspond~d ~ol~d~ Imd ~or~lgn m~tt-r to bo wAshed from the ~srnct b~d and lon sYel~ange rn~ln nous~d wlthln exohange medlum tank. Thu b~ckw~h of w~tor pa~3es throu~l~ v~lvo ~odg second tank port 88 and out drllln tin~ 20. Double s~ltol~ rlng 138 anC dn~10 ~wlteh ring 188 p~rmlt tlmlng by ths controls tor the durstion ot oll eyclcs 30 by c~rryink sevcn three-bit blnary numborg thqt provlde reedbAck to U
microp~oo~gsor e~tAb1lshlng the p-e~isQ Dosltlon Or pi~ton 15~ and~ hene~
~he precls~ cycle Bnd ~low o~ wator In valvo control ~embly 14. Dctont- In switehlngs 185 an~ 138 ~n6e~o Jwltehe~ on ~un~tlon PCB 196 and torm U~e hinnry num~er, though lando or other Indicia could 'oc us~d.
lYhcn thi~ oyc1~ has b~vn completed, pl~ton 152 egaln ~r~ver~os to a po~ltlon where~t second v~lYe 15e ~111 rstein~ cont~ct wlth v~ o ooat aso, but now ~i~st valve 164 Is seat~d ~ t value se~t 254. In this posltlon, th~

ù 3 ~j ~

f~ow o~ servlee wAter ant~ring v~lY~ body inlet poPt 18 and ou~ ls~ bociy seeond injection port ~ is ot such a sufflelent veloclty ~s lt p~l!l9S tl~ou~h nozzle 11~, that a partiAI vacuum is e~t~lblished wlthin in~ector h~u~ing 10~
In communic~tion with threaded sleeve la8~ Poppet 134 1~ moved to nn op~n 5 po~ltion by the cammlng action of drl~e l~a ~0 that th5~ parti~l v~euum su~k~ brlne wflter from brlne t~nk 18 bAek through llne lB Rnd into In~ector houslng 106 to be mixed vJith ~ervlee w~t~r pis~ed thro~lgh In~ector tir~t port 122 into ~lve body 70 and thenc~ out valve body ?Irst t~nk port 8~.
This "brinlng" or rev~rse ~on exch~n~e re~reshes th2 lon exch~ng~ r~ln snd 10 restabllshe~ it~ inltlal eapacity for ~o~tenlng water. Th~ ef~luent i8 wlthdruwn trom ~xch~nge m~dium tank 12 through vRlve body ~e~snd t~nk port 88 nnd out drain line 20. Aga5n, when ~he timer indtc~o~ th~ thls cycle has been completed, pi3~on 152 reciprocates In the oppo~ite dire~t~on and ~Hch ~f these oper~tions s~quentially Is conducted ag~ln, but now in the 15 reverse order. ~ t i8, ~t the next or mlddle position, the lon exchenge resln is ba~k-Ya~hed. Theresfter, plston 1~2 Is moved back to the position depicteci ~t ~ig. 8 ~nd w~ter ~oîtening h re~ommen~ed. Fln~lly, softenad WAt~r ~gs1n 1~ permitted to flow into ~rlne stor~g~ tenk 18. nurin~ the brlnlng oper~tion, a flow ot water dlrectly b~t~oen v~lve body inl~t port 78 20 ~nd outlet port 80 i3 ogtRt)ll8hed tO th~t no loss ~ servicz Is experienc~d, The reciproc~lng movement ot pi~ton 152 Is determlne~ b~ hellx dr~vs ~ssembly 74, particularly ~ it rel~tes to hellx drlve ge~ Q, helix driv~
cent3r 182, ~nd hellx drive end 184. R~rerrln~ more p~rtlc~ rly tG Fig~ 9, It ~111 be observ~d th~t guide sh~e 176 1~ dlsposed in the hellx p~th ~snted In 25 one direction. ?~ot ~hown in Flg. 9 is ~liide shoe 17~ that 5~ d~sp~ed opposlte guid~ shoe 17~. 'rh~s~ gulde shoe~ follow the doubl~ h~llx path~
Since, howevar, cro3s pln 17~ hns only one aegtee of freedom of n ovemont, v'z. in the slot o~ slotted sleeve 1~4, cross pln 1'~2 31l1ded by ~uide shoes 174 ~nd 176 c~n only mo~Je longit~ldlnnlly in the direction ~f pl~tor: 152 ~s the 30 hallx drlve rotRtes powered by motor 1~. A slnlple, ~et hlghly efficl~nt and rellable rociproc~ting motlve sy~tem for p~ton 152, thus, is dlsclo~ed.
The oper~tion o~ VBI~ control assembly 14 19 eontr~lled ~y ~
micropro~es~or th~t contalns d pr~r~m that wlll be ~cr~bed b~low In conn~ction with ~i~. Il. Initi~lly, however, d~t~ m~st be enta~ed Into the 35 progrsm in order ~o c~le~lQte th~ RES~RVE for the ~y~tem. The ~a~er treatment s~stem of the pre~ent Invention mRInt~ins ~ r~rYe c~p~qity ~n order to prevent the resln b~d from beeominE eompl~t~l~ exhsu3t~d.

r,~

Preferably, this reserve i3 ~39u~ 0 one ~Iay~s aver~ge ~Ige sf water, thou~h other tims periods c~n be selected as is nec~ ry, ~esir~ble, or conY~nient.
In o~der ~o c~lculate th~ R~RV~, the "~r~in cap~clty" of the re31n tank must be enter~d ~thls i8 dep~ndent upon the quantity of resln In th~ t~nk ~nd 5 the cornposition of ~he re~in), the hArdness of the w~ter to be tre~ted ig ent~red; the number of people in the ~n~lly b~ing served by the wat~r tre~tment sy~tem ls ent~redi the evsra~e consumption of weter, g~llons/~a~ emb~d~ed In th~ ~oftw~re, thou~h 1~ could b~ 8 Ylll~ihble whlch ~l~o is ~ntered; nnd the computer th~n c~lculates the P~ESERVE. As ~n exempl~, ~ssuMe th~t the cap~c;ty of t~nk 1~ is 2~,000 ~r~ins, t~e h~rdness of the water to be treAt~d Is IG grain~/gallon, th~ ~mlly comprlsQs four p~r~ons, and the a~era~e com~umptlon Is 75 ~11ons/daylp~r~oQ. Th~
totsl C~pRc~ty of tank 12 i5 2300 E~llons ~nd one d~y'3 ~ERV~ 19 equ~l to 300 gallons. The ~olume Or water Intend~d for softening prior to reger,erAtion, V~, then i~ equ~l to 2,0~0 g~llon3. The time of d~y th~t the computer ~an~ple~ the statu~ of the system ~ddltlon~lly can be ~ v~riable, or lt csn be plese~ in the comput~r, e.g. conveni~ntly to 12 o'~lock p.rn.
With the foregolng inform~tlon ent~red Into th~ computer, the computer program stArts ~t block 25B. Since the ~ystem is deslgnod to pr~ent comple~ exhaust~on of the r~sln bed in tHnk 12, the initi~l st~p of tho computer progrsm ~t block 25~ looks to see whether the volume o~
wat~r softened exe~eds the calcul~tcd capacity, V8, of thc re~in bed(~) ~n tsnk 12. In the hypothetical set forth ~bove, the capeclty h~s been c~lculated to equ~l 2,000 gallons. 1~ the program det~rmines that thls 2S cap~clt~r has been exoeeded, th~ progr~m pro~eeds to block a~o wherein re~ener~tJon o~ the resln bed Is commen~d Immed}~tely, r~gardle~s Or tlme of da~. The computer program at blOCk 261 al~o look~ to see the press~ure dlf~erenti~l, P, between the Incoming h~rd water ~nd the outgoing so~tened w~ter. I~ P exceeds R given value tor ~he ~ystem, ~t i3 as~umet t~ th~
resin beds are clotg~ed Rnd emer~ency reg~ner~tlon al~o is requ~red. The regenaratlon of the resln b~d Is aceompllshed with the w~ter treatment ~ystem as de~crlbed in connection wlth tho previous d~a~lng3. The~e ~re overrldc situ~tlon~ th~t occur ~t block~ as8 snd 861 In the progr~m ~nd aro unlque fe~tures of the present In~ention.
It the volume of ~ter softened, V5, h~s not exceeded th~ c~p~it!~ of the ~ystem and the pre~ure dlfferentl~l has no~ ex~e~ded the tsrtet valuo, th~ computer program proe~eds to blook a~a whereln the tlme o~ day, ~d. i~

,`?,~,3'33~-3'~

s~mpled. As noted above, tnl~ tlme can be s0t by the user, or can be en~bedded in the computer pro~r~rn. Nlidnlght ~ a conveni~nt time tor s~mpIIng the ~ystem sincs it Is ~ l~kely ~ime that no water demand i8 m~de on the w~ter tr~a~ment ~y~tem. I~ the 3et tlme of day hns not been r~aah~d, 5 th~n the progr~m returns to block 258. If, however, the sQmple time of ~y has ~een reAched, then the computer program cont~nu~s to block 2~4 wh~eln the progr~m agaln look~ to see whether the de~lgn c~pacity Or the systemt viz a,oo~ gallon~ In the ex~nlple above, h~s been reach~d. In oth~r words, the pro~r~m looks t~ se~ ~,qhether ~he w~ter treatment ~y~tom has 10 6ntered the ~eSERVE cdpacity ~et ~or the resln bed. It this ~l~lue hQs n~t h0en ro~ched, then th~ program r~turns to block 258.
If th~ prograrn dot~rmines thst the resln bed u operatin~ ~ the ~S~RVE portlon of th~ bed, then the computer program cuntinue~ to block 2~B whereIn the comput~r cslculatss the volume o~ water requIre~ to be 15 addQd to brlne stor~ge t~nk 18 in order to m~ke suf~Iclent brine to re~enernte the resin be~ ~nd re-e~tablistl Its Initlal c~pe~lty. 8Inc~ the volume of water pAssed through the resin ~d can v~ry, ~his step ot th~
computer program ensures th~t only the mlnlmum ~mount of brlne requlred to ~xchan~e with the resIn bed i8 used. ~Ince ~he r~gener~tlon sequ~noe of 20 the present inventlon alway~ retalns a frsct;on of the brIne preformed in brine $tor8ge tank 18, only the volu~e of water needed to brlng the brln~ up to the r~qulred volunle needs to be ~dded. Once th~ volume of wRt~r Ig c~lculsted at block 2~6, the computer program proceeds to block 238 wh~reln motor 1~6 i~ satuated for rotatlng tho helix drlve 8~ th~t th~
~5 ~mmlng ~ction of ~enter helix drlve 19~ sctiYates popp~t 134 to permi~ ~ha co~put~d volume of w~ter to ~low into brlne storsge tank 18. Next, motor 165 is aotuated for moving plston 15a di~posed in ~alve body 70 to backwa~h the resin In exchange medlum t~nk 12. The progr~m then proceedæ to blo~k ~.qO ~hereln a tlme pause or del~y, 'rp, Is encountered~ Thl~ dalay permlt3 30 sufficient tlme for the w~ter p~ssed Into brlne storage t~nk 18 t~ dls~olve sufficlent brine to establish ~ brlne sol~ltlon ade~uat~ ~or treatment o~ th~
resin ln exchsnge medium tunk 12. ~ convention~l tl~e pnu~ Is two h~u?s, ~hich me~n~ th~t th~ regener~tion o~ th~ redn bed norm~lly ~qlll o~cur at 2:00 a.m. in 2ccord~nce wlth 9tep 272 ~f the eomput~r progr~m. It will b~
~5 obserYsd th~t ~der the emergeney re~ener~tlon mode of oper~tion at block 2~0, ~he tîme p~u~e at block 270 ~l~o 1~ encQunter~d~ Follo-Yln~
regenerst;on of the resln bed, the progr~m pro~eeds to ~t~p 274 wh~reln ~ho I 3 ~ ~ f~3 accumulstqd volums of water ~oftened 1~ re~t to zero. The program then return~ to block 25~ ot th~ program.
The emerg~ncy regenQr~tlon carri~d out at btock 260 ot the computer progra~ call~ for the bed to be re~enerated with the brlne prosent In b~lne stora~e tank 18 by virtur~ of refill Ro. 1. Pollowlng thls p~rtlal regeneration of the re~in bed, r~ill NoO I i3 s~t for the ~ull CDpAClty Or the resln 5~d and reflll No. 2 Is omittç~. At Td, the full amount of brine In ~rine storage tank 18 then is u~ed to regenerate the bed. Dependlng upon the amount of ~ter th~t ha~ been us~d between the tlme at whlch the lO emer~eney regeneratlon W8~ execut~d and the nornlsl regeneration time, Td, this sequence under emergency regen~retlon may result In the overbrinlng of the beà. AlternatiYely1 on ~xtra demand of w~ter therea~t~r could re3ult in t~e Cap~city of the r8~in bed belng exceeded a6ain be~ors reachlng the approprlat~ ~tandu~d r~gsneration time o~ d~y, 'rd.
1~ Accordin~ly, the a1ternatl~e computsr prograrn depicted a~ Fig. 12 mod~flo~
the emar~en&y ro~neration s~qucnec~ ~ollow~ng th6 ~mergen~y regener~tion at step 260, the progr~m proceed~ to block 27~ whereln the ~olume o~ ~ater soften~d a~aln is rnonitored to see Yhe~her It ha3 oxeeed8d the c~p~city of the ~ystem, viz 2300 gallons In the example u~ed hereln. If 20 this eapaclty 3gAin has been ~xcseded, thcn the pro~r~m returns to step a~o whereln emer~ency reg~neratlon Qgnin Is executed. Ir, ~owever, thc full capaclty of ths r~91n bed h~ not been exç~eded, the conlputer pro~ram ccntinue~ to blo~k 278 wherein the tlme of dsy again i~ ~ampled. Thb time o~ day m~y or may not be the ssme tlme that ~andard r~g~nerstlon ~t block 25 252 utili~ thls sampl~ tlme o~ d~y at block 278 hA9 not been r~ached, then the progr~m returns to block 276 ~or monltorlng tha ~ap~alty of water p~uod through ths water tre~tmant sys~em ~gain. 1~ the ~ample tlmo ~ ~ay has been reeched, then the progrsm continues to ~t~p 280 whersin va~ve ~ontrol assembly 14 is actlvated for ~Illlng ~rine stor~g~ tank 18 w!th 30 ~ufflclent w~ter to completely brlne th~ rssln bed and the pro~ræm c~ntinues to block 270.
When a plurality of th~ comprehenæ~v~ ~ater Sr~tment sy~t~m3 ~e ~o be us~d in ~ commercl~l or industrial settlng whereln large e~p6cl~e~ of Whter need to be soft~n2d, the operatlonal ~quenee el8 illu~trated ht ~ig, 1'~
35 may bc ~l~ed. Merely for ill~l~tratlYe purpose~ /e unltA were cho~n to b~
~epicted at Fig. 13. ~t wlll be appre~i~ted that a greater or l~ser number of ~mlt3 m~y be comblned in par~llel oper~tlon ~g Illu~rated ~t Pi~. 13.

b A~in, It Is msnd~Sory thrt nsno o~ th~l unlts h~vo ~ quAntlty ot waterp~Dsed therothrough ~o thAt the rosin ~ed l~ complotoIy el~h~usted. 8tnoe no two w8ter trea~m~llt units wlII ~xpresa thc snmo pre~ure di~fe~entlAI
thor~scross, ~nd honoe th~ me volu~etrlc flow o~ water, It Is not ~ur~ to S ~s~urne th~t one-ti~tn ot the t1O~v o~ wst~r ~III bo p~s~ed through ~oh o~
~he tive unlts when they ~re opo-at~d in per~ t thle a~umptlon were mede, the oper~tar t6ke~ ~ derlnlte fbk that one o~ tho unlts wlII
Droterenli~ e~hiblt ~ lower p~ssurc dlffePcnti31 ther~ na, ~lenca, It oould b0 ~perQted to exh~u~tlon. Thus, Shls oper~tlon~l mods of th~
IO prQsent Inventl~n alwsys ensures that no tnnk wlll bo d0pl~t~d. ~9 ~n ~Itorn~tlve, thc regen~r~t~d t~nk, ~or examplo, eould ~e ~eld oft-llno ~hlch would pro~lde at le~st one t~nk In r~s~rve should qn emcrtenoy ~ltuetlon ~i89.
With tho Çnur wat~r sot~enlng unlt~ illu~trated at ~Ig. 19 nt tho top~
e~ch unlt ~t~rts with ~ comploto resln bod ~ trated at ~. Plve rcgoner~tlon oycl~ then ~Pe dopl~ted at C-C. In ord~r to est~blbh tho sequ~nce tor t~ ter dem~md set p~int, thc cepeolt~ of the ~mslb~t of tho four units is dlvided by tho numb~ o~ unIt~, m the illwtr~lon ~t Plg. I l wlth e~usl cflp8city unltg, the capacit~ ot eny one unit would ~e dlvl~od by tour. 9~y, th~lt e~eh unit 13 cnp~hlo ot softenln~ 120 gAllQns ~r water. Tnls cnpeclty divided by tha number o~ unlt~ makes ths ~et point ot 30 ga11Ons.
Thb me~ns lhat unlts 1-4 on tho averQI~c w111 softon eaoh 10 t~llons. One Qr moro of the unlts m~y be above or b~low ~l~is aver~o flgure. Wilen this ~pAClty h~ ~een tlrst re~ched by any of the units, unit I then 1-~5 r~generetod. Shc choloe of tank I i- arbltrllry. Any unlt could nev~ o~n ~elected, not ne~essari1y the unlt Ul~t ~rig~ored r~Benor~tion. Whon ~
has been r~generstod"t is immcdiat~ly pb~ed beck in serv~ The countor i~ reset to 2ero ~t the on~t o~ re~eneretion. Monîtorlng of whon any unlt r~ache~ ~0 gellons agaln is commenesd. At oyolo D when ~0 gllllons 8t~1n i3 ri,9t rc~ohod by 3ny unit, ~equentielly tHnk 2 i~ r~zener~t~d and the remelnlng unlts contlnue to ~o~ten the wster. ~y the timc th~t oyol~ E 15 re~ched, the onb unlt not to hc r~an~rst~d, unlt 4, ha5 un throuEh four oyclo~ o~ WAter sortenlng~ Since on the ~veruge each cycle Involvo~ tha soflenlng of ~0 gellons, Its e~paclty h~ not been reach~d Qnd at cycle ~, It as i~ withdrawn ror regene~Ation. Tt~ cycle then commences ~gsln at Cl.
Whllo thls ~ampl~ Is ~asod on ~ unlt6, it wlll bo under~tood Ulllt Otnsr fiumbers oo~lld be used to cslculsta tne regen~ratlon ~et point. Of 3 ri ~3 ~mporlsnoe i~ the operation ln a modo wh~reby compl~te exh~ustlon o- ~ry one unit Is ~vulded. By ba~lng r~gcne-ation on the ~mall~st onp~ y unlt, unel~cn oapqclty unit3 ~Iso ~an be u~ld ~3 Is neces~ry, ~eslreblc, or ~onv~nlent.
s

Claims (25)

1. In a method for the cyclic regeneration of a water softening system comprising an exchange medium In an exchange medium tank which Is In fluid communication with a brine storage tank, which comprise the stops of:
(a) filling said brine storage tank with refill No.2 of softened water in a quantity sufficient to create enough brine for said exchange medium, said brine storage tank already containing refill No. 1 of softened water from a later step of the method;
(b) backwashing No. 1 of said exchange medium with water flowing counter to the direction of water flowing therethrough during water softening;
(c) passing brine from said brine storage tank through said exchange medium;
(d) passing water through said brine exchange medium;
(e) backwashing No. 2 of said exchange medium with water flowing counter to the direction of water flowing therethrough during water softening; and and (f) refilling said brine tank with refill No. 1 of softened water to create brine In a quantity insufficient to brine said exchange medium.

2. The method of claim I wherein steps (c) and (d) occur simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein refill NO. 1 softened water is in an amount sufficient to brine about one-half of said medium

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a reserve capacity for said exchange medium In said exchange medium tank is set based on the capacity of said exchange medium, the hardness of water to be softened, and the anticipated rate of softening water pet unit time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of water softened 1 monitored to see whether it exceeds the of said capacity of said exchange medium.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein regeneration is accomplished immediately if the volume of water actually softened the capacity

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the volume of water softened is monitored to see whether it exceeds the capacity of said exchange medium

8. The method of claim 7 wherein regeneration is accomplished if the volume of water softened exceeds the capacity of said exchange medium

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure differential of water to be softened and that of the softened water is monitored.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein if said monitored pressure differential exceeds a predetermined value, regeneration is effected

11. The method of claim I wherein said exchange medium tank to contains a bed of Inert particles for filtering particulate contaiminants in said water prior to said water entering said exchange medium therein.

12. In a water softening system of an exchange medium tank, a brine storage tank in fluid communication therewith and a valve assembly for controlling fluid flow of said system, the improvement wherein said t o assembly comprises:
(a) valve body having a drain port, an Inlet water port, softened water outlet port, in Injector port, first and second exchange medium tank ports, and first and second injector pports:
(b) a piston valve assembly comprising a piston bearing a first and a second valve, and being disposed within said valve body; a drive assembly connected with said piston for reciprocating moving said piston within said valve body for said valves to determine the flow of fluid within said valve body;
(e) a flow meter for measuring water passed through said exchange medium tank (d) an injector assembly having a first port in fluid communication with said valve body first port which provides fluid communication with said valve body softened water outlet port, a second port in fluid communication with said valve body second port which provides fluid communication with said valve body inlet water port, and a brine storage tank port; said injector second port being in fluid communication with said injector second port through a nozzle whereby water flowing from said injector second port to said injector first port through said nozzle creates a pressure reduction in the injector assembly between said injector second port and said brine storage tank port for drawing brine from said brine storage tank to within said injector assembly and out said injector second port;
said piston movable from a first position wherein water flows from said valve body inlet port to said second exchange medium tank port, and from said exchange medium tank through said first exchange medium tank port and out said softened water outlet port; to a second position wherein said valves close fluid communication between said valve body inlet water port and said valve body second exchange medium tank port, opens fluid communication between valve body second exchange medium tank port and said valve body drain port, and opens fluid communication between said valve body inlet water port and said first exchange medium tank port and said injector second port for water to backwash said exchange medium tank;
to a third position wherein said valves only permit fluid communication between said valve body inlet port and said injector second port for water and brine from said brine storage tank to flow from said injector first port to said valve body first exchange tank port, and from said valve body exchange medium tank second port to the valve body drain port; and reciprocatingly movable back.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a pressure differential switch is connected between said valve body inlet water port and said valve body softened water outlet port.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein a spring biased poppet is disposed in said injector assembly brine storage tank port.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said drive assembly connected with said piston stationary drive axle bearing a longitudinally slotted sleeve, said piston has an apertured end and is disposed within said drive axle sleeve;
a transverse pin, having ends fitted with guide shoes, is disposed through said piston aperture and is located within said axle slot; and a drive gear having a pair of helix halves within which said pin guide shoes are disposed, whereby rotation of said drive gear results in reciprocating longitudinal movement of said pin within said axle slot and, thus, said drive axis.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said drive assembly connected with said piston comprises a stationary drive axle bearing a longitudinally slotted sleeve, said piston has an apertured end and is disposed within said drive axle sleeve;
a transverse pin, having ends fitted with guide shoes, is disposed through said piston aperture and is located within said axle slot; and a drive gear having pair of helix halves within which said pin guide shoes are disposed, whereby rotation of said drive gear results in reciprocating longitudinal movement of said pin within said axle slot and, thus, said drive axle.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said drive gear exterior has a camming surface in contact with said poppet for opening of said injector assembly brine storage tank port.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein an electronic controller is in electrical connection with a plurality of switches, the exterior surfaces of said drive gear additionally containing a pattern of detents that are in contact with said switches, said pattern feeding back the location of said piston thereby.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein said exchange medium tank is multi-compartmented.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of said compartments contains said ion exchange medium and another of said compartments is filled with particles for filtering particulate contaminants from water passed therethrough.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said inert particles comprise garnet particles.

22. A helix drive for a piston which comprises:
(a) a stationary drive axle bearing a longitudinally slotted sleeve;
(b) a piston having an apertured end and being disposed within said drive axle sleeve;
(c) a transverse pin, having ends fitted with guide shoes, disposed through said piston aperture and located within said axle slot; and (d) a drive gear having a pair of helix paths within which said pin guide shoes are disposed, whereby rotation of said drive gear results in reciprocating longitudinal movement of said pin within said axle slot and, thus, said drive axle.

23. A method for operating a system comprising a plurality of water treatment units, N, for the treatment of water flowing therethrough, each unit containing a treatment bed which requires periodic regeneration in order to re-establish its treatment capacity, which comprises the steps of:
(a) calculating the volume of water to be treated per cycle, VS, by dividing the capacity of the smallest capacity unit by N;
(b) treating water flowing through all of said units connected in parallel until VS water has been treated by any of said units;
(c) subjecting a unit to regeneration while treating additional water with all remaining units until regeneration is complete; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) of the method by sequentially regenerating each unit.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein all units have the same capacity.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein N is between about 3 and 20.