GB1519102A - Water softening apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1519102 Water softener J P R ROUSSELIN 28 Oct 1976 [29 Oct 1975] 44779/76 Heading B1J A water softener, particularly for incorporation into an automatic clothes or dish washer, comprises a container 1 for ion-exchange material 2 and a container 5 for salt and brine 5 interconnected by pipes 8, 10 having non-return valves 9, 19 and the former having a flow-regulating device 18 and a variable volume chamber 12 comprising a piston 13 moveable under the influence of the prevailing water pressure between limits defined by the top of the chamber and a stop 14 carried on the piston. The piston may be downwardly biassed by a spring 16. In use, magnetic valve 22 is opened allowing hard water to enter, raising piston 13 until annular groove 27 is opposite pipe 25 so that water can flow through exchange mass 2 and softened water exit at 24. On closure of valve 22, piston 13 falls displacing the volume of water below it into the brine container 7 and hence displacing an equal volume of brine via pipe 10 into the exchange mass 2, This remains there until valve 22 is opened at the beginning of the next softening cycle when it is washed out via pipes 23, 29 cylinder 12 and outlet pipe 30 until piston 13 rises to the top of the cylinder to close off pipes 29 and 30 and allow flow of softened water to 24. A bypass valve 32 may be provided. The variable volume chamber is preferably housed within container 1 or 7. Reference is also made to retaining piston 13 at its upper position by an electromechanical device and releasing it under the control of a water meter.