IL45850A - Control valve for water conditioners - Google Patents

Description

D*a *3o e -nay men oinop Control valve for water conditioners BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to wate conditioning systems, and has more particular reference to control valves of the two-position type such as are used in ion exchange water softening apparatus to govern 'service and regenerating flows therein.

A typical water softener installation of this nature may comprise a softener tank containing an ion exohange medium, such as a bed of synthetic resin beads, a brine tank, an injector for educting brine from the brine tank, and a control valve to govern service and regenerating flows of fluid through the softener tank.

A two-position control valve of the type with which this invention is concerned , is provided with a valve spool to normally direct hard water in one direction through the softener tank for service operation of the system; and to successively effect flow in the opposite direction through the tank of brine and then rinse water for regenerating operation of the system in the second position of the valve spool* SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a purpose of this invention to provide a two-position service and regenerating flow control valve for water conditioning apparatus which features compactness and simplicity of construction to enable manufacture and repair at low cost.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a control valve for water conditioning apparatus wherein an Improved porting arrangement assures the desired compactness and simplicity of construction referred to in the preceding paragraph.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control valve such as described , with a valve element that is shifted back and forth between service and regenerating positions by actuating means governed by a pilot valve which also serves to establish communication of one of a pair of tank port8 in the valve body with a drain port to which brine effluent flows in the regenerating position of the valve element.

With these observations and objectives in mind, the manner in which the invention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which exemplify the invention, it being understood that changes may be made in the specific apparatus disclosed herein viithout departing from the essentials of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of the embodiment of the" invention constructed according to the beet mode eo far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a water conditioner control valve of this invention, showing the valve spool thereof in its service position; and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the valve spool in its regenerating position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the body of the service and regenerating flow control valve of this invention. The body is comprised of several component parts - namely, a main body portion 6, front and rear end covers 7 and 8, respectively, and a pilot housing 9. These components are secured together by suitable screw threaded fasteners (not shown) with the pilot housing 9 at the top of the main body portion 6 and near the front cover 7.

It is a feature of this invention that the body can be made either as an in ection molding of a suitable high strength plastic material, such as "Noryl", or as a casting of any of the corrosion V resistant metale commonly used for water softener valves. In either event, the main body portion 6 is formed with an adapter nipple 11 which projects from its bottom and has external screw threads 12 thereon* The nipple provides for attachment of the control valve to the top of a water softener tank, such as indicated at 13, and it is provided with a flange 11 having an O-ring 15 confined in a groove in its underside to seal the joint between the nipple and the tank.

The main body port on 6 is formed with a chamber 17 which extends horizontally therethrough from the front cover 7 to the rear cover 8, to be closed by said covers. The front cover 7 is cup-shaped and is preferably made of a transparent plastic material. Its rim is sealingly engaged, as at 18, with the front wall of the main body portion 6, and its hollow interior registers and communicates with an enlarged front portion 20 of the chamber 17.

The hollow interior of the cover defines a pair of communicating front and rear cylinders 21 and 22, respectively, the rear cylinder 22 being larger in diameter than the front cylinder 21 but coaxial therewith.

A valve spool 24 is reciprocably received within the chamber 17 , and it has a stem 25 which projects forwardly into the larger rear cylinder 22 in the cover. A stepped piston 26 is secured to the stem 25, as by a screw threaded connection 27. The smaller diameter portion 28 of the piston is reciprocably received in the front cylinder 21, while the larger diameter piston 29 is reciprocably received in the rear cylinder 22.

The piston and cylinder arrangement described provides a hydraulic actuator for the valve spool, which is operable to effect shifting of the spool back and forth between ita service position seen in Figure 1, and its regenerating position seen in Figure 2. The cylinders 21 and 22 normally contain hard water at the same pressure, so that the fluid force exerted upon the rear face of the larger piston 29 in cylinder 22 will hold the valve spool in a forward limit of motion.

It is only when the space in cylinder 22 behind the larger piston is vented that the fluid pre8sure force acting upon the front face of the smalle piston i cylinder 21 becomes effective to shift the valve spool to its rearward limit of motion seen in Figure 2.

The forward or service position of the valve spool is defined by the engagement of the larger- piston 29 with a rearwardly facing annular shoulder 30 at the bottom of the larger cylinder 22. The rearward or regenerating position of the valve epool is defined by the engagement of a valve dise^ 32 on its rear end with a forwardly facing annular valve seat 33 formed on an inward extension 34 of the rear cover 8. This inward extension 34 is received in an enlarged rear portion 35 of the chamber 17.

The spool 24 has a pair of front and rear lands 36 and 37, respectively, disposed at opposite axial ends of a circumf rential groove 38 in the spool. The lands and the groove cooperate to control communication between a number of ports and passages in the valve body, now about to be described.

The main portion 6 of the valve body is provided with adjacent hard water inlet and eervice outlet ports 40 and 41, respectively. These ports open to the far side of the body to be respectively connected with source water and service lines » not shown. The inlet port 40 opens inwardly to the small diameter central portion 42 of the chamber 17 , and it is closer to the front of the body than the service outlet 41.

The service port 41 opens inwardly to the chamber at a location slightly forwardly of the valve 8eat 33 and in line with the wall of an annular rear spool guide member 43 which comprises an enlarged forward art of the inward extension 34 on the rear cover. The rear land 37 on the spool is guided for back and forth sliding motion within the surrounding wall of the guide member 3. Openings H*» in said wall cooperate with similar openings 15 in the wall of the cover extension 3¼ rearwardly of the valve se^at 33 to provide for flow of softened water to the service port 41 in a manner to be described shortly.

The front cover 7 serves to hold a second annular spool guide member >*7 in position within the front chamber portio 20. The side wall of the front guide member surrounds and has guiding engagement with the forward land 36 on the spool, and it is also provided with a number of openings »»8 which communicate the central chamber portion 4 with the enlarged front chamber portion 20 when the valve spool is in its service position seen in Figure 1.

The body is further provided with first and second tank ports 50 and.51 which open downwardl to the underside of the main body portion 6 through the interior of the nipple 11» ΤΪ1¾ first tank port communicatee directly with the enlarged front chamber portion 20, while the rsacond tank port 51 communicates with the enlarged rear chamber portion 35 through a lateral branch 53 of the latter located near the bottom of the body.

This lateral branch 53 of the chamber is defined in part by an inner wall portion 51 of the cover. The rear land 37 on the spool Is guided for back and forth sliding motion within the surrounding wall of the guide member A3. Openings in said wall cooperate with similar openings in the wall of the cover extensien 3¾ roarwardly of the valve sea 33 to provide for flow of soft@ned water to the service port l in a manner to be described shortly.

The front cover 7 ser es to hold a second annular spool guide member t7 in position within the front chamber portion 20. The side wall of the front guide member surrounds and has guiding engagement with the forward land 36 on the spool, and it is also provided with a number of openings M8 whia communicate the central chamber portion ff2 with the enlarged front chamber portion 20 when the valve spool is in its servie® position seen in Figure 1.

Th© body is further provided with first and second tank ports 50 and 51 which open downwardl to the underside of the main body portion 6 through the interior of the nipple 11* The first tank port communicatee directly with the enlarged front chamber portion 20, while the eecond tank port 51 communicates with the enlarged rear chamber portion 35 through a lateral branch 53 of the latter located near the bottom of the body.

This lateral branch 53 of the chamber is defined in part by an inner wall portion 5»» of the which extends sidewise thereacrosa , and by a horizontal wall 55 beneath the wall portion formed on the upper end of a socket 56. The bore in the socket provides the tank port 51 which opens upwardly \ into the lateral branch 53 of the rear chamber portion 35.

The socket provides for reception of the upper end of the long tube 57 that extends down into the softener tank substantially to the bottom thereof, to be embedded in the ion exchange material therein. Though not shown, the bottom of the tube is provided with a multiplicity of narrow slits which prevent the tiny beads of ion exchange material from passing into the tube along with softened water during upward service flow of fluid in the tube.

It should be noted that the wall 55 and the port forming sooket thereon are part of a plug-like fitting which is fixed in the interior of the nipple 11 without, however, interfering with flow of fluid through that portion of the nipple that provides the first tank port 50.

The main body portion 6 is also provided with an injector port 60 which is at all times communicated with the service outlet ^l and whiah is adapted to be connected to one end port of an injector indicated at 61, by means of a duct 62. A brine inlet port 63 in the center of the rear cover 8 is adapted to be connected to the outlet end of the injector as by a duct 6U.

\ As is customary, the injector has a side eductio port 65 which is adapted to be communicated with a source of concentrated brine , so that such brine will be drawn into the injector during flow of hard water through the latter and delivered into the rear chamber portion 35 through the brine inlet port 63 in the cover 8.

The pilot housing 9 is eecured to the top of the main body portion 6 directly over an upwardly opening well 67 therein. A hole 68 leading through the bottom of the well to the enlarged front chamber portion 20 cooperates with the well to define the inner end portion of a drain passage. The drain passage extends upwardly through an annular valve seat 69 formed in the housing 9 , and leads to a drain por 70 that opens laterally to the exterior of the housing from a vertical counterbore 71 concentric with the valve seat 69 and providing an outer end portion of the drain passage* The counterbore 71 is formed at the inner end of a bore 71· which slidably accommodates the stem 72 of a pilot valve. The head 73 of the pilot valve . is located in the well 67 and is normally held in engagement with the downwardly facing valve seat 69 by a spring 74, to close off the drain passage from the drain port.

The larger cylinder 22 in the front cover 7 is both pressurized and vented through a passageway 76 in the main body portion 6, One end of this passageway opens to the well 67 , and the other end thereof is communicated with the large cylinder 22 through notches 78 in the front guide member and an annular groove 79 in its periphery.

It will thus be seen that the inner end portion of the drain passageway, which is to say that portion thereof which is beneath the valve seat 69, is at all times in communication with the first tank port 50 and with the larger actuating cylinder 22 in the front cover 7. Moreover, in the service position of the valve epool 24, the pressure of hard water from the inlet port 40 is imposed on the rear face of the piston in cylinder 22 so as to hold the spool in its forward position seen in Figure 1. This is poseible because the groove 38 in the spool and the openings H8 in the front guide member then afford communication between the inlet port MO and the hole 68 at the inner end of the drain passage, while the well 67 at all times affords communication between the hole 68 and the passageway 76 leading to cylinder 22.

As soon as the head 73 of the pilot valve is moved off of its seat 69, however, the well 67 communicates the hole 68, the venting passageway 76 and cylinder 22 with the drain port 70 through the counterbore 71 in the pilot housing 9. At the same time, of course, the first tank port 50 is e^lao vented to the drain port 70.

With the pilot valve open, water under pressure from the inlet port 10 can flow into the forward end of the smaller cylinder 21 in cover 7 to exert force on the front face of piston 28 therein and thereby cause the valve spool to be shifted rearwardly to its regenerating position seen in Figure 2. Such flow of source water into cylinder 21 is made possible through the provision of coaxial passageways 81 and 82 in the valve spool and its ©tern, respectively. The passageway 81 opens rearwardly to the groove 38 in the spool, while the passageway 82 opens forwardly through the differential piston 28, 29 into the space in cylinder 21 ahead of the small diameter piston 28.

OPERATION The stem 72 of the pilot valve projects upwardly out of the pilot housing 9 to make possible either manual or automatic actuation of the pilot valve, as through the medium of timer mechanism indicated at 84 , mounted on the top of the body portion 6 of the valve body. In either event, the pilot valve is held closed as long as the control valve is to remain in service operation .

For purpose of illustration, it can be assumed that the first tank port 50 is connected to the top of the tank of a downf ow service-upflow regeneration softener; while the second tank port 51 is in communication with the bottom portion of the tank through the tube 57.

In its service position, the rear land on the spool seats in a U-cup seal in the valve body, and the spool directs incoming hard water from inlet port HO to the tank port 50 for downward flow through the bed of ion exchange material in the softener tank. Soft water from the bottom portion of the softener tank flows upwardly in the tube 57 to the tank port 51 and debouches into the rear chamber portion 35 through the lateral extension 53 thereof. The soft water thus entering chamber portion 35 flows forwardly through the now open valve seat 33 to the. service por t m.

At this time also, the pressure of water at the inlet port HO is manifested in the rear portion of the larger cylinder 22 in cover 7 to hold the valve spool in its service position. Though the injector port 60 is also in communication with the rear chamber portion 35 at this time, soft water will not flow through the injector for the reason that its outlet end is also in communication with chamber portion 35. This ie to say that the injector is inoperative because the water pressures at its inlet and outlet ends are equal in the service position of the valve spool, Actuation of the pilot valve to unseat the' same initiates a regenerating cycle comprised of brining and rinsing following brining, during the time the pilot valve is open. The duration of the brining operation is ordinarily determined by the amount of brine available for eduction by the injector, and the rinsing step of the cycle follows automatically after the supply of brine has been educted.

When the pilot valve is unseated, tank port 50 is vented to the drain port 70, as is the larger diameter cylinder 22 of the hydraulic actuator. Source water then flows into the forward cylinder 21 to cause rearward actuation of the valve spool to its regenerating position seen in Figure 2.

In that position, the land 36 on the valve spool seats within another U-cup seal to thus close off the inlet port 40 from the top of tank port 50, while spool groove 38 connects the inlet with the service port 41. This makes hard water available to the service lines for the entire period the pilot valve is held open. At this time also, the valve disc 32 on the valve spool is in engagement with its seat 33 to thereby close off the service outlet port 11 from the large rear chamber portion 35 and the bottom of tank port 51. Bypass w The brine thus enterin the large chamber portion 35 is constrained to flow down through the bottom of tank port for regeneration of ion exchange material in the softener tank. The brine effluent discharging from the top o tank port 50 flows through the open pilot valve to the drain port 70.

After a measured quantity of brine has been educted by the injector, the flow of brine thereto is shut off by the usual float valva in the brine tank (not shown). Only clear hard water then flows through the injector and into the tank for upward rinsing of the ion exchange material. The rinse water, of course, is also returned to the tank port 50 for discharge to the drain port 70.

Rinsing is terminated as soon as the pilot valve is reclosed. This can be effected manually, or automatically at the dictate of timing mechanism as mentioned earlier. Such reclosure of the pilot valve closes off the top of tank port SO from the drain port 70 and causes tank water issuing from the port 50 to flow into the hole 68 of the drain passage, through the well 67 fend passageway 76 , into the rear of the large diameter cylinder 22 of the hydraulic spool actuator. This, of course, drives the spool forwardly, back to its service position, where it remains until the pilot valve is again actuated to its open position.

It should be noted that actuation of the valve spool toward and from its service position is facilitated by reason of the provision of a vent 86 in the front cover 7, which opens to the space in the actuating cylinder 22 at a location ahead of the shoulder 30 which defines the forward limit of spool movement.

From the foregoing description, together with the accompanying drawings , it wil be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides an improved two-position control valve for water conditioners, featuring ease of servicing and manufacture at low cost.

The invention is defined by the following claims:

Claims (1)

45850/2 A service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditioning apparatus, having a body with a chamber to receive a reeiprocable valve spool, and wherein land means on the spool is operable to direct untreated water from an inlet port through said chamber to a first tank port in a service position of the spool at which said land means also directs treated water through said chamber to a service outlet port from a second tank port, characterized by: A* said body further having a drain port, an injector port communicating with the service outlet, and a brine inlet port at all times communicating with the second tank port; B. drain passage means in the body having one end portion communicated with the drain port and its other end portion at all times in communication with said first tank port through said chamber; C said land means on the spool being operable upon movement thereof to a regenerating position spaced axially from its service position to communicate the inlet port with the injector and service outlet ports but to close it off from the first tank port and from said other end portion of said drain passage means, and to also close off the service outlet from the second tank port; 45850/2 . hydraulic actuating means for the valve spool operable to hold the same in its service position except upon ventin of a pressure chamber comprising a portion of said actuating means; E. a venting passage for said pressure chamber comprising a branch of said drain passage means at all times communicatin with said other end portion of said drain passage means; and valve means independent of the valve spool normally closing off coE-munication between the drain port and said one end portion of said drain passage means, but movable to an open position to effect venting o said pressure chamber and said first tank port to the drain port. 2* A distributor valve for water conditioning apparatus, having a body with a chamber to receive a reeiprocabie valve spool, an inlet for untreated water, a service outlet for treated water, first and second tank ports, a drain port, an injector port in communication with the service outlet, and a brine inlet port at all times communicating with the second tank port, characterized by: Δ. land means on the spool operable in a service position thereof to direct inlet water to said first tank port and to direct treated water to the service outlet from said second tank port; B. passage means in the body to communicate the first tank port with the drain port; 45850/2 ψ, G. valve means movable relative to the spool to and from a normally closed position blocking said passage means; D. said land means being operable i a regenerating position of the spool spaced axiall from its service positio to communicate said inlet and outlet ports, to close off the inlet port from the first tank port, and to close off the second tank port from the service outlet; E. hydraulic actuating means for the valve spool operable to hold the same in its service position except upon venting of a pressure chamber comprising a portion of said actuating means; 3? means providing a venting passage for said pressure chamber, said ventin passage communicatin with the first tank port and being communicable with the drain port whenever said valve means is moved out of its closed position; Q. and said land means on the spool being operable in the regenerating position thereof to close off communication between said venting passage and the inlet port. 3. A service and regenerating flow control valve for water conditioning apparatus, wherein the body of the valve is provided with a valve chamber having front, rear and central portions, said control valve being characterized by: A. a valve spool guided for axial fore and a t motion in said valve chamber between defined limits; 45850/2 B. the body having a drain passage the inner end of which opens to the front portion of the valve chamber and to a spool actuating chamber adjacent thereto; 0. a separate pilot valve normally closing the outer end of said drain passage? B. spool actuating, means rendered operative by pressure of water in said actuating chamber to hold the spool in its forward limit of motion at times when the pilot valve is closed, and rendered operative to effect motion.of the spool to its rearward limit of motion i consequence of opening of the pilot valve to effect venting of said actuating chamber; E. the bod having (!) a first tank port which opens to said front portion of the chamber and is at aU times communicated thereby with the inner end of the drain passage so as to be also communicated wit said actuating chamber, (2) passage means communicating with the rear portion of the chamber and providing a brine inlet port, a second tank port at all times communicated with the brine inlet port, and communicating service outlet and injector ports, (3) and a water inlet port which opens to said central portion of the chamber; 45850/2 P. the valve spool being operable in its forward limit of motion to connect said water inlet and first tank ports and to communicate the second tank and service outlet ports; ψ. means rendering the valve spool operable in its rearward limit of motion to close off the first tank port from the water inlet H. and other means rendering the valve spool operable in its rearward limit of motion to close of the second tank port from the service outlet port. 4. t e control valve of claim f wherein said other means comprises an annular valve seat on the body -through whic the second tank port communicates with the service outlet, and a disc Oh the rear of the valve spool arranged to engage said seat and close off fluid flow therethrough in the rearmost limit of spool motion. 5. service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditioning apparatus, having a body with a valve chamber extendin from front to back therethrough, characterized b i A. the valve chamber having a central portion into which untreated water can flow from an inlet port, and having enlarged portions fore and aft of said central portion; B, means on the body closing said enlarged chamber portions including a hollo cover having a pressure chamber therein; 45850/2 ^ a valve spool movable axially in the valve chamber between defined limits front and rear spool guide members in said enlarged valve chamber portions having wall portions surrounding the spool to guide the same for fore and aft reciprocatory motion; the body having passage means which communicates with the enlarged f ont portion of the valve chamber and provides (1) a first tank port at all times in communication with said pressure chamber, (2) and a drain passage having one end portion at all times communicated with the first tank port an said pressure chamber, and its other end portion connected to a waste water port; the bod having other passage means communicating with the enlarged rear chamber portion and providing (1) service outlet and injector ports, (2) a second tank port, (3) and a brine inlet port at all times in communication with the second tank port; means in the body providing a water inlet port whieh opens to said central chamber portion; the valve spool having a circumferential groove therein to provide for communication of the water inlet port with the first tank port and said one end portion of the drain passage in the forward limit of spool motion, and to provide for communication of the wate inlet w h t e e t e a 45650/2 T_ I. a pilot valve normally closing said other end portion of the drain passage but operable when opened to effect venting of said first tank port and of said pressure chamber; J. and actuating means for the valve spool controlled by said pilot valve, said actuating means being housed in the hollow interior of said cover and said pressure chamber comprising a part of said actuating means, the latter being operable to effect motion of the spool to its forward limit of motion in consequence of closure of the pilot valve means to close off said pressure chamber from the waste water port, and to effect movement of the spool to its rearward limit of motion in consequence of opening of the pilot valve to vent said pressure chamber to the waste water port. The control valve of claim 5» further characterized by: A. said spool guide members having guide bars thereon which extend axially of the spool in engagement with land means thereon; B. and said guide bars being spaced clrcumferentially from one another to define openings through which fluid can flow from the water inlet port to the first tank port, from the second tank port to the service outlet port, and from the brine port to the second tank port. 45850/2 ^ .; 7* A service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditionin apparatus, characterized by: A, a body having first and second chambers, a pair of tank ports, and a drain passage communicating with one of said tank ports and leading to a drain port; B. a valve spool in said first chamber movable back and forth between defined service and regenerating positions in the latter of which the spool is operable to direct waste water to the drain passage from said one tank port; (J. actuatin means for the spool, said actuating means including said second chamber, and being operable to actuate the spool to its regenerating position providing said second chamber is vented; ©* means providing a venting passage for said second chamber leading to the drain port through a portion of said drain passage that is at all times connected with said one tank por E. and a separate pilot valve normally closin off communication between the venting passage and the drain port, said pilot valve being movable to an open positio to simultaneously connect said second chamber and said one tank port with the drain port, 8. A service and regenerating flow control valve for water conditioning apparatus, having a body with a chamber extending from the front of the body to the back thereof, characterized by: 45850/2 A. said chamber having a central portion and enlarged chamber portions fore and aft thereof; B. covers secured to the front and rear of the body and closing said enlarged chamber portions ; G. a valve spool movable fore and a t in the chamber between defined limits; B. front and rear spool guide members in said enlarged chamber portions having wall portions which are engaged b axially spaced portions of the spool to guide the same for fore and af reciproeatorry motion in the chamber;

1. the body having passage means communicating with the front chamber portions and providing a first tank port, and a drain passage which communicates with said first tank port and leads to a drain port; F. the body having other passage means consmunicable with the rear chamber portion and providing service outlet, injector, second tank, and brine inlet ports, said last two ports being communicated at all times; (r. means in the body providin a water inlet port which opens to said chamber; H. the spool having a circumferential groove to communicate the water inlet and first tank ports in the forward limit of spool motio and to communicate the water inlet with the service outlet and injector ports in the rearward limit of spool motion; 45850/2 I. cooperating means on the body and the spool operable in the forward limit of spool motion to seal off the inlet port from the service port; J. cooperating means on the bod and the spool operable in the rearward limit of spool motion to seal off the water inlet from the first tank port and to also seal off the second tank and brine inlet ports from the service outlet port; K. hydraulic actuating means for the spool comprising a pressure chamber which, when subjected to the pressure at said water inlet port causes the spool to be held in its forward limit of motion, said actuating means being adapted to effect motion of the spool to its rearward limit upon venting of said pressure chamber; I means in the body providing a passageway through which said pressure chamber can be vented to the drain port, said passageway having branch which leads to said front chamber portion to be communicable with the inlet port through openings in the wall of the front guide member and said spool groove in the forward limit of spool motion; M* and valve means separate from the valve spool normally closing said passageway o governing communicatiOn of the first tank port and said pressure chamber with the drain port. 45850/2 flow control valve of claim 8, further characterized by: A„ said front and rear spool guide members being held in position by said cup covers; a. said front cover being cup shaped? and said hydraulic actuating means being located in the hollow interior of the front cover. HE: k