GB437857A - Improvements in water softening apparatus of the base-exchange type and in filters - Google Patents

Abstract

437,857. Softening water; filters; electricmotor control systems. UNITED WATER SOFTENERS, Ltd., Aldwych House, Aldwych, London. Jan. 18, 1935, No. 1760. Convention date, Jan. 27, 1934. [Class 46] [See also Group XXXVII] A battery of base-exchange water-softeners or filters has a common timing mechanism to start the reconditioning cycles of the several units in succession at predetermined intervals and each unit has associated therewith a device for automatically cutting off the discharge of water therefrom if the treating-material is spent before the timing mechanism initiates its reconditioning cycle. The invention may be applied to apparatus with units having reconditioning means comprising a multi-passage valve rotated discontinuously by an electric motor 50 as described in Specification 437,856, but the circuits are modified so that the contact closed by the cam 28 turned by the meter 26 does not complete a circuit to energize the magnet 53 of the motor switch 52 to initiate reconditioning but closes a circuit through a magnet 31 operating a valve controlling the supply of pressure liquid to a diaphragm 35, which closes a valve 36 in the pipe through which water is discharged from the meter 26. The central timing device comprises a motor 4 which by means of an adjustable crank 7, pawl arms 8, 9 and a ratchet wheel 10 turns a shaft carrying cams 18, 22- one for each unit of the battery. Reconditioning in any unit commences when the corresponding cam closes a contact 19 in a circuit comprising a contact strip 44 and the magnet 53, as described in the above-mentioned Specification. The circuit of the motor 4 may be controlled by a hand switch 16 or by a float in a common storage tank 3 for the treated water. The operating magnet of a switch 92 controlling a motor 93 which drives a pump 94 supplying the water to be treated to the apparatus may be arranged in parallel with the motor 4. The meter 26 may be replaced by a device which causes electrical apparatus to function when the discharge from a unit becomes slightly hard and therefore a slightly better conductor of electricity than soft water.