U.S. patent application number 09/808161 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-26 for regeneration of water treatment media.
Invention is credited to Chau, Yiu Chau.
Application Number | 20010009237 09/808161 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22600656 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010009237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chau, Yiu Chau |
July 26, 2001 |
Regeneration of water treatment media
Abstract
Regeneration of water treatment media is disclosed which
includes a water treatment unit having one or more media therein,
and which upon initiation of flow of the water, imparts turbulence
and abrasion to the treatment medium to automatically cleanse the
medium of light solid contaminants as well as contaminant coatings
on the media. This greatly improves the operation of the media and
extends its life. In addition, the water treatment unit disclosed
may simply be rotated through any one of a number of positions
between service, backwash, flush, off, and/or bypass operational
modes for further regeneration of the treatment media.
Inventors: |
Chau, Yiu Chau; (Richmond
Hill, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOK, ALEX, MCFARRON, MANZO, CUMMINGS & MEHLER LTD
SUITE 2850
200 WEST ADAMS STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
22600656 |
Appl. No.: |
09/808161 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09808161 |
Mar 13, 2001 |
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09511933 |
Feb 24, 2000 |
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6231763 |
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09511933 |
Feb 24, 2000 |
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09165830 |
Oct 2, 1998 |
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6042729 |
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09165830 |
Oct 2, 1998 |
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09025231 |
Feb 18, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/661 ;
210/269; 210/278; 210/281; 210/282; 210/284; 210/670; 210/677;
210/791; 210/795 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 24/12 20130101;
B01D 24/4642 20130101; C02F 2201/006 20130101; B01D 2201/165
20130101; B01D 24/008 20130101; C02F 1/003 20130101; C02F 1/42
20130101; Y10T 137/86863 20150401; B01D 24/008 20130101; B01D 24/12
20130101; B01D 24/4642 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/661 ;
210/670; 210/677; 210/791; 210/795; 210/269; 210/282; 210/284;
210/281; 210/278 |
International
Class: |
B01D 024/36; B01D
024/46; B01D 024/18; B01D 024/48 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A unit including a rotatable valve comprising; a substantially
disc shaped valve plate, a face on one side of the disc shaped
valve plate, and a plurality of passages extending into said plate
from said openings in said face, with at least some of said
passages extending through the thickness of said valve plate to
communicate with the side of said plate opposite the face, said
disc shaped valve plate being rotatable about an axis which extends
at a substantial angle to said face; and a valve housing having a
face adjacent said valve plate face, said valve housing also having
a plurality of passages therein and opening to said valve housing
face, a first of said valve housing passages communicating with a
supply of fluid, a second of said valve housing passages
communicating with a discharge for said fluid from said valve
housing, and a third of said passages communicating with a drain
from said valve housing; said valve plate being rotatable about its
said axis between a first position in which the fluid is supplied
from said first passage in the valve housing to one of the passages
through the valve plate, and from another of the passages through
the valve plate to said second passage in said valve housing
communicating with the discharge from said valve housing, and a
second position in which the fluid is supplied from another of said
passages in the valve housing to another of the passages through
the valve plate, and from another of the passages through the valve
plate to said third passage in said valve housing communicating
with the drain from said valve housing.
2. The unit of claim 1, wherein said faces are substantially planar
and parallel to each other, and the axis of the plate is
substantially perpendicular to the planar faces.
3. The unit of claim 2, including a plurality of seals on at least
one of the faces which are selectively alignable with ones of the
passages which open through the other of the faces when the other
of the faces is rotated relative to at least one of said faces as
said valve plate is rotated.
4. The unit of claim 3, wherein said seals may comprise O-rings
5. The unit of claim 3, wherein said seals comprise spring loaded
gaskets.
6. The unit of claim 1, including a plurality of seals on at least
one of said faces which are selectively alignable with ones of the
passages which open through the other of said faces when the other
of said faces is rotated relative to said at least one of said
faces as said valve plate is rotated.
7. The unit of claim 6, wherein said seals comprise O-rings.
8. The unit of claim 6, wherein said seals comprise spring loaded
gaskets.
9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the unit also includes in
combination with the rotatable valve, a housing containing at least
one fluid treatment medium; and wherein when said valve plate is in
said first position, the fluid is supplied from the first passage
from the fluid supply in the valve housing to one of the passages
through the valve plate and to the fluid treatment medium, and from
said fluid treatment medium to another of the passages through the
valve plate to said second passage in said valve housing
communicating with the discharge from said valve housing to provide
fluid which has been treated by said fluid treatment medium through
said discharge, and said second position in which the fluid is
supplied from another of said passages in the valve housing to
another of the passages through the valve plate and to said fluid
treatment medium, and from said fluid treatment medium to another
of the passages through the valve plate and to said third passage
in the valve housing communicating with the drain from said valve
housing to backwash the fluid treatment medium.
10. The unit of claim 9, wherein said valve plate is also rotatable
to at least one or more additional positions which include a rinse
position in which fluid passes from the fluid supply through the
fluid treatment medium to rinse it and therefrom to the drain, an
off position in which fluid flow through the unit is turned off or
a bypass position in which fluid is bypassed around the fluid
treatment medium from the fluid supply through the valve plate and
to a fluid discharge from the valve housing.
11. The unit of claim 9, wherein when said valve plate is in said
second position, fluid is supplied from the fluid supply to said
fluid treatment medium to backwash said fluid treatment medium.
12. The unit of claim 9, wherein said valve housing includes a
passage for communication with a source of brine for regeneration
of the fluid treatment medium, and when said valve plate is in the
second position, fluid is supplied from the source of brine through
the last mentioned passage to said fluid treatment medium to
regenerate the fluid treatment medium.
13. The unit of claim 9, wherein said housing in which the medium
is contained is fixed to said valve plate, whereby said valve plate
is rotated between the first and second positions by rotation of
the housing.
14. The unit of claim 13, wherein said valve plate is also
rotatable by the rotation of said housing to at least one or more
additional positions which include a rinse position in which fluid
passes from the fluid supply through the fluid treatment medium to
rinse it and therefrom to the drain, an off position in which fluid
flow through the unit is turned off or a bypass position in which
fluid is bypassed around the fluid treatment medium from the fluid
supply through the valve plate and to a fluid discharge from the
valve housing.
15. The unit of claim 13, wherein when said valve plate is in said
second position, fluid is supplied from the fluid supply to said
fluid treatment medium to backwash said fluid treatment medium.
16. The unit of claim 13, wherein said valve housing includes a
passage for communication with a source of brine for regeneration
of the fluid treatment medium, and when said valve plate is in said
second position, fluid is supplied from the source of brine through
the last mentioned passage to said fluid treatment medium to
regenerate said fluid treatment medium.
17. A fluid treatment unit comprising: a housing having a chamber
therein which is of a given volume; a finely divided loose fluid
treatment medium in the chamber and which occupies a volume which
is substantially less than the given volume of the chamber when
fluid to be treated is not flowing through said medium; an inlet to
the chamber for introducing the fluid to be treated to the chamber
and beneath the fluid treatment medium in the chamber; an outlet to
the chamber downstream of the fluid treatment medium for
discharging the fluid which has been treated from the chamber; and
wherein said unit is constructed and arranged to lift said loose
fluid treatment medium in a controlled manner upon initiation of
flow of fluid to be treated from said inlet to flush and remove any
contaminants from said medium, to suspend said medium during
continuing flow of the fluid, and to permit said medium to settle
to the bottom of the chamber when the flow of fluid has ceased.
18. The fluid treatment unit of claim 17, wherein said chamber has
a height which is greater than its maximum width, and said chamber
includes at least one portion intermediate its height which portion
has a width substantially less than said maximum width to reduce
the rate at which the medium is lifted in the chamber as the flow
of fluid is initiated.
19. The fluid treatment unit of claim 18, including a plurality of
said portions spaced from each other along the length of the
chamber.
20. The fluid treatment unit of claim 18, wherein the
cross-sectional area of said portion is about 5-50% of the
cross-sectional area of said chamber at its said maximum width.
21. The fluid treatment unit of clam 18, wherein the
cross-sectional area of said portion is about 10% of the
cross-sectional area of said chamber at its maximum width.
22. The fluid treatment unit of claim 17, including an additional
inlet intermediate the length of said chamber and which is
associated with said lesser width portion to introduce additional
fluid to be treated to the chamber adjacent said lesser width
portion.
23. The fluid treatment unit of claim 22, wherein the
cross-sectional area of said portion is about 5-20% of the
cross-sectional area of said chamber at its said maximum width.
24. The fluid treatment unit of claim 22, wherein the
cross-sectional area of said portion is about 10% of the
cross-sectional area of said chamber at its maximum width.
25. The fluid treatment unit of claim 17, wherein said lesser width
portion comprises a sleeve positioned in the chamber.
26. The fluid treatment unit of claim 17, wherein said medium is a
particulate metal selected from the group consisting essentially of
copper, zinc and mixtures thereof.
27. The fluid treatment unit of claim 26, wherein said metal is an
alloy of copper and zinc.
28. The fluid treatment unit of claim 17, including a rotatable
valve comprising; a substantially disc shaped valve plate, a face
on one side of said disc shaped valve plate, and a plurality of
passages extending into said plate from said openings in said face,
with at least some of said passages extending through the thickness
of said valve plate to communicate with the side of said plate
opposite said face, said disc shaped valve plate being rotatable
about an axis which extends at a substantial angle to said face; a
valve housing having a face adjacent said valve plate face, said
valve housing also having a plurality of passages therein and
opening to said valve housing face, a first of said valve housing
passages communicating with a supply of fluid, a second of said
valve housing passages communicating with a discharge for said
fluid from said valve housing, and a third of said passages
communicating with a drain from said valve housing; said valve
plate being rotatable about its said axis between a first position
in which the fluid is supplied from said first passage in the valve
housing to one of the passages through the valve plate and to the
fluid treatment medium, and from another of the passages through
the valve plate from the fluid treatment medium and to said second
passage in said valve housing communicating with the discharge from
said valve housing, and a second position in which the fluid is
supplied from another of said passages in the valve housing to
another of the passages through the valve plate and to the fluid
treatment medium, and from another of the passages through the
valve plate and from the fluid treatment medium to said third
passage in said valve housing communicating with the drain from
said valve housing.
29. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein said faces are
substantially planar and parallel to each other, said axis is
substantially perpendicular to said planar faces; and a plurality
of seals on at least one of said faces which are selectively
alignable with ones of the passages which open through the other of
said faces when the other of said faces is rotated relative to said
at least one of said faces as said valve plate is rotated.
30. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein said seals
comprise O-rings.
31. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein said seals
comprise spring loaded gaskets.
32. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein said valve plate
is also rotatable to at least one or more additional positions
which include a rinse position in which fluid passes from the fluid
supply through the fluid treatment medium to rinse it and therefrom
to the drain, an off position in which fluid flow through the unit
is turned off or a bypass position in which fluid is bypassed
around the fluid treatment medium from the fluid supply through the
valve plate and to a fluid discharge from the valve housing.
33. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein when said valve
plate is in said second position, fluid is supplied from the fluid
supply to said fluid treatment medium to backwash said fluid
treatment medium.
34. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein said valve
housing includes a passage for communication with a source of brine
for regeneration of the fluid treatment medium, and when said valve
plate is in said second position, fluid is supplied from the source
of brine through the last mentioned passage to said fluid treatment
medium to regenerate said fluid treatment medium.
35. The fluid treatment unit of claim 28, wherein said housing in
which the medium is contained is fixed to said valve plate, whereby
said valve plate is rotated between said first and second positions
by rotation of said housing.
36. The fluid treatment unit of claim 35, wherein said valve plate
is also rotatable by the rotation of said housing to at least one
or more additional positions which include a rinse position in
which fluid passes from the fluid supply through the fluid
treatment medium to rinse it and therefrom to the drain, an off
position in which fluid flow through the unit is turned off or a
bypass position in which fluid is bypassed around the fluid
treatment medium from the fluid supply through the valve plate and
to a fluid discharge from the valve housing.
37. A method of rapidly regenerating a finely divided loose fluid
treatment medium upon initiation of the treatment of the fluid,
comprising: permitting the finely divided loose fluid treatment
medium to settle into a bed following a preceding treatment of the
fluid by ceasing or reducing the fluid flow to an amount
insufficient to suspend the medium; initiating the flow of fluid to
be treated beneath the bed of the finely divided loose fluid
treatment medium, the flow as initiated being of sufficient
magnitude to lift the finely divided loose fluid treatment medium
from the bed while restraining the rate at which the fluid
treatment medium is lifted to thoroughly separate and flush away
contaminants that may have accumulated on the medium; and
continuing to maintain the flow of fluid to be treated in a manner
sufficient to continue to maintain the loose fluid treatment medium
suspended in the flowing fluid during treatment of the fluid.
38. The method of claim 37, including selectively restraining the
rate at which the medium is lifted at least at one location over
the path of the flow during the initiation of flow of fluid.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the rate at which the medium is
lifted is selectively restrained at least at two spaced
locations.
40. The method of claim 37, wherein the rate at which the medium is
lifted is restrained by passing the lifted fluid treatment medium
through a cross-sectional area which is about 5-50% of the maximum
cross-sectional area of the bed.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein the rate at which the medium is
lifted is restrained by passing the lifted fluid treatment medium
through a cross-sectional area which is about 10% of the maximum
cross-sectional area of the bed.
42. The method of claim 37, including introducing additional fluid
to be treated at least at one location over the path of flow during
the initiation of flow of fluid.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the rate at which the medium is
lifted is restrained by passing the lifted fluid treatment medium
through a cross-sectional area which is about 5-50% of the maximum
cross-sectional area of the bed.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein the rate at which the medium is
lifted is restrained by passing the lifted fluid treatment medium
through a cross-sectional area which is about 10% of the maximum
cross-sectional area of the bed.
45. The method of claim 37, wherein said medium is a particulate
metal selected from the group consisting essentially of copper,
zinc, and mixtures thereof.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein said metal is an alloy of
copper and zinc.
47. The method of claim 37, wherein said fluid is water.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein said medium is a particulate
metal selected from the group consisting essentially of copper,
zinc and mixtures thereof.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein said metal is an alloy of
copper and zinc.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 09/025,231, filed Feb. 18, 1998.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to the regeneration of
water treatment media and, more particularly, to a water treatment
unit having one or more media with a valve for the selective
regeneration of the media, and to a method of regenerating the
media.
[0003] Fluid treatment systems employing one or more fluid
treatment media have been employed in the past for the treatment of
various fluids, such as water, to remove various impurities and
contaminants therefrom. In some of these systems, various different
treatment media have been employed in serial relationship to each
other so that for example one medium may have a beneficial effect
on subsequent downstream media. For example, in HESKETT U.S. Pat.
No. 5,415,770 it is disclosed that the use of certain finely
divided metals, such as alloys of copper and zinc, may be employed
as an upstream treatment medium to remove certain chemical
constituents, such as residual chlorine, prior to subjecting water
to other downstream water treatment media, such as activated carbon
and/or an ion exchange medium. Removal of the chlorine is not only
beneficial to the quality of the ultimate product, but it also
improves the function, and life of the latter two media when
present may be improved and extended.
[0004] In prior systems the several respective media are frequently
located in several distinct units which are physically separated
from each other and the fluids are passed through these distinct
units in a serial fashion. These individual units can be
individually serviced, but they are demanding of space and
material. Where the several respective media are contained in a
single container or tank, they are difficult to maintain separate
from each other, particularly due to the wide disparity in weights
and/or sizes of the respective media particles. Even where they can
be maintained separate from each other, the placement of each of
the media in the same tank makes it physically difficult to service
or replace one medium without replacing the others due to their
positioning relative to each other. Another disadvantage,
particularly in small counter top water or tap mounted treatment
units, such as shower head mounted units, is that no provision is
usually possible to permit rinsing or backwashing of the media
which, if possible, might greatly extend the life of the system and
their respective media.
[0005] Another disadvantage in many water treatment units is that
the flow through the treatment media during service is generally in
a direction which tends to compact the medium. Thus, any dirt or
other contaminants which are removed by the medium become trapped
in the medium and accumulate to eventually clog the medium or
interfere with its treatment function. When this occurs, it ends
the life of the medium and requires its replacement.
[0006] It is the purpose of the present invention to avoid or
eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. In the present
invention, a multimedia fluid treatment unit with an efficient
control valve which is a part of the unit is provided which is
compact, permits ready servicing of the unit and the utilization of
a number of different media in the unit. In the present invention,
the life of the unit is significantly extended and the effective
amount of medium is reduced by selective arrangement of the several
media relative to each other to remove compounds which might be
harmful to some of the media, by providing for periodic rinsing
and/or backwashing of the treatment medium, and/or by automatic
regeneration of the medium upon initiation of normal fluid flow.
Moreover, the portion of the unit which contains the media need
only be simply manually rotated to effect such rinsing and
backwashing. When needed, in the fluid treatment unit of the
present invention any replacement and service of the unit and any
treatment media therein are facilitated.
[0007] In one principal aspect of the present invention, a unit
includes a rotatable valve which comprises a substantially disc
shaped valve plate, a face on one side of the disc shaped valve
plate, and a plurality of passages extending into the plate from
openings in the face, with at least some of the passages extending
through the thickness of the valve plate to communicate with the
side of the plate opposite the face. The disc shaped valve plate is
rotatable about an axis which extends at a substantial angle to the
face. A valve housing having a face adjacent the valve plate face
also has a plurality of passages therein which open to the valve
housing face. A first of the valve housing passages communicates
with a supply of fluid, a second of the valve housing passages
communicates with a discharge for the fluid from the valve housing,
and a third of the passages communicates with a drain from the
valve housing. The valve plate is rotatable about its axis between
a first position in which the fluid is supplied from the first
passage in the valve housing to one of the passages through the
valve plate, and from another of the passages through the valve
plate to the second passage in the valve housing communicating with
the discharge from the valve housing, and a second position in
which the fluid is supplied from another of the passages in the
valve housing to another of the passages through the valve plate,
and from another of the passages through the valve plate to the
third passage in the valve housing communicating with the drain
from the valve housing.
[0008] In another principal aspect of the present invention, the
faces are substantially planar and parallel to each other, and the
axis of the plate is substantially perpendicular to the planar
faces.
[0009] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
a plurality of seals on at least one of the faces are selectively
alignable with ones of the passages which open through the other of
the faces when the other of the faces is rotated relative to at
least one of the faces as the valve plate is rotated.
[0010] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the seals may comprise O-rings and/or spring loaded gaskets.
[0011] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the unit also includes in combination with the rotatable valve, a
housing containing at least one fluid treatment medium. When the
valve plate is in the first position, the fluid is supplied from
the first passage from the fluid supply in the valve housing to one
of the passages through the valve plate and to the fluid treatment
medium, and from the fluid treatment medium to another of the
passages through the valve plate to the second passage in the valve
housing communicating with the discharge from the valve housing to
provide fluid which has been treated by the fluid treatment medium
through the discharge. When the valve plate is in the second
position, the fluid is supplied from another of the passages in the
valve housing to another of the passages through the valve plate
and to the fluid treatment medium, and from the fluid treatment
medium to another of the passages through the valve plate and the
third passage in the valve housing communicating with the drain
from the valve housing to backwash the fluid treatment medium.
[0012] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the valve plate is also rotatable to at least one or more
additional positions which include a rinse position in which fluid
passes from the fluid supply through the fluid treatment medium to
rinse it and therefrom to the drain, an off position in which fluid
flow through the unit is turned off or a bypass position in which
fluid is bypassed around the fluid treatment medium from the fluid
supply through the valve plate and to a fluid discharge from the
valve housing.
[0013] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
when the valve plate is in the second position, fluid is supplied
from the fluid supply to the fluid treatment medium to backwash the
fluid treatment medium.
[0014] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the valve housing includes a passage for communication with a
source of brine for regeneration of the fluid treatment medium, and
when the valve plate is in the second position, fluid is supplied
from the source of brine through the last mentioned passage to the
fluid treatment medium to regenerate the fluid treatment
medium.
[0015] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the housing containing the fluid treatment medium is fixed to the
valve plate, whereby the valve plate is rotated between the first
and second positions by rotation of the housing.
[0016] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
a fluid treatment unit comprises a housing having a chamber therein
which is of a given volume, and finely divided loose fluid
treatment medium in the chamber and which occupies a volume which
is substantially less than the given volume of the chamber when
fluid to be treated is not flowing through the medium. The chamber
has an inlet for introducing the fluid to be treated to the chamber
and beneath the fluid treatment medium in the chamber, and an
outlet to the chamber downstream of the fluid treatment medium for
discharging the fluid which has been treated from the chamber. The
unit is constructed and arranged to lift the loose fluid treatment
medium in a controlled manner upon initiation of flow of fluid to
be treated from the inlet to flush and remove contaminants from the
medium, to suspend the medium during continuing flow of the fluid,
and to permit the medium to settle to the bottom of the chamber
when the flow of fluid has ceased.
[0017] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the chamber has a height which is greater than its maximum width,
and the chamber includes at least one portion intermediate its
height which portion has a width substantially less than the
maximum width to reduce the rate at which the medium is lifted in
the chamber as the flow of fluid is initiated.
[0018] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the cross-sectional area of the portion is about 5-50%, and more
preferably about 10% of the cross-sectional area of the chamber at
its maximum width.
[0019] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
a plurality of the portions are spaced from each other along the
length of the chamber.
[0020] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
an additional inlet is positioned intermediate the length of the
chamber and which is associated with the lesser width portion to
introduce additional fluid to be treated to the chamber adjacent
the lesser width portion.
[0021] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the lesser width portion comprises a sleeve positioned in the
chamber.
[0022] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the medium is a particulate metal selected form the group
consisting essentially of copper, zinc and mixtures thereof, and is
preferably an alloy of copper and zinc.
[0023] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
a method of rapidly regenerating a finely divided loose fluid
treatment medium upon initiation of the treatment of the fluid,
comprises permitting the finely divided loose fluid treatment
medium to settle into a bed following a preceding treatment of the
fluid, by ceasing or reducing the fluid flow to an amount
insufficient to suspend the medium, initiating the flow of fluid to
be treated beneath the bed of the finely divided loose fluid
treatment medium, with the flow as initiated being of sufficient
magnitude to lift the finely divided loose fluid treatment medium
from the bed while restraining the rate at which the medium is
lifted to thoroughly separate and flush away contaminants that may
have previously accumulated on the bed, and continuing to maintain
the flow of fluid to be treated in a manner sufficient to continue
to maintain the loose fluid treatment medium suspended in the
flowing fluid during treatment of the fluid.
[0024] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the method includes selectively restraining the rate at which the
medium is lifted at least at one to two locations over the path of
the flow during the initiation of flow of fluid.
[0025] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
in the method the rate at which the medium is lifted is restrained
by passing the lifted fluid treatment medium through a
cross-sectional area which is about 5-50%, and more preferably
about 10% of the maximum cross-sectional area of the bed.
[0026] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the method includes introducing additional fluid to be treated at
least at one location over the path of flow during the initiation
of flow of fluid.
[0027] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
in the method of the invention, the medium is a particulate metal
selected from the group consisting essentially of copper, zinc and
mixtures thereof, and is preferably an alloy of copper and
zinc.
[0028] In still another principal aspect of the present invention,
the fluid being treated is water.
[0029] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood through a
consideration of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] In the course of this description, reference will frequently
be made to the attached drawings in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is an overall, cross-sectioned elevation view of a
preferred embodiment of fluid treatment unit incorporating the
principles of the present invention and while the unit is at rest
following prior fluid treatment and before the initiation of fluid
flow for subsequent treatment;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectioned, plan view of the unit as viewed
substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is an overall, cross-sectioned elevation view of the
unit and valve shown in FIG. 1, but in which fluid flow for
treatment has been initiated;
[0034] FIG. 4 is an overall, cross-sectioned elevation view of the
unit and valve shown in FIG. 3, but in which fluid flow for
treatment continuous following initiation;
[0035] FIGS. 5A-5E are exploded, sequential perspective views of a
preferred embodiment of control valve of the present invention, and
showing the valve components in the service position in FIG. 5A,
the backwash position in FIG. 5B, the flush position in FIG. 5C,
the off position in FIG. 5D and the bypass positioning FIG. 5E;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a broken, cross-sectioned view of the O-ring seal
embodiment substantially viewed within circle 6 in FIG. 3; and
[0037] FIG. 7 is a broken, cross-sectioned view of a spring loaded
gasket embodiment of seal.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0038] A multimedia fluid treatment unit 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-4.
In a preferred application, the unit 10 may be a counter top or
under the counter unit or may be a water tap mounted unit, such as
a shower head unit for the treatment of municipal or other potable
water supply.
[0039] The unit 10 preferably comprises an outer housing 12 having
two chambers 14 and 16 therein for containing preferably dissimilar
water treatment media 18 and 20 in the respective chambers. The
inner chamber 14 is preferably defined by an inner vertical
cylindrical sidewall. A perforated plate 24 is positioned adjacent
the bottom of the inner chamber 14, and it, in turn, provides a
support plate for a mesh screen 26 which supports the treatment
medium 18 when there is little or no fluid flow through the
unit.
[0040] A plurality of vertical slots 28 are positioned at the top
of the sidewall 22. The slots 28 preferably decrease in width over
the thickness of the sidewall and in the normal fluid service flow
direction toward the chamber 16, as best viewed in FIG. 2, so that
the minimum slot width is at the flow discharge side of the slots
under normal service operation from the chamber 14 to the chamber
16. The minimum width of the slots 28 is selected to be slightly
narrower than the smallest size of the finely divided water
treatment medium 18 in the chamber 14 as well as the minimum size
of the medium 20 in the chamber 16. This prevents the medium 18
from passing from the chamber 14 during service operation, and
minimizes the possibility of the medium lodging in the slots
permanently, because on backwash any medium 18 which may get stuck
in the slots will be backflushed back into chamber 22. This also
prevents the loss of medium 20 to the chamber 22 and the medium 18
during backwash.
[0041] The outer annular chamber 16 surrounds the inner chamber 14
and is defined by the sidewall 22 and the outer sidewall 30. A
floor plate 32 preferably extends across the entire width between
the outer side wall 30 and is formed integrally therewith. The
floor plate 32 includes an opening 34 which defines the fluid inlet
for the unit as seen by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4. The floor
plate 32 also defines the bottom of chamber 14 for receiving the
fluid which is to be treated and passing it to the fluid treatment
medium 18. In addition, the floor plate 32 between the inner
sidewall 22 and outer sidewall 30 includes a plurality of outwardly
extending slots 36 which are similar to the vertical slots 28 in
that they are wider at the side facing the fluid treatment medium
20 and narrower at the discharge side thereof for the reasons
previously described with respect to the vertical slots 28 at the
top of the inner sidewall 22.
[0042] The unit 10 also includes a generally disc shaped valve
plate 38 which is firmly mounted to the bottom of the outer
sidewall 30, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The valve plate 38
is preferably upwardly cup shaped as shown in the drawings to
receive a perforated support plate 40. The support plate 40
preferably rests upon a shoulder 41, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4,
and it supports a fine mesh screen 42 which is preferably of finer
mesh than the mesh of screen 26 at the floor of chamber 14. The
mesh size of screen 42 which is, for example about 0.5 microns, has
the purpose of retaining any extremely small fines that may be able
to make their way through the respective media or may constitute
the smallest of the particle sizes of the media which are able to
find their way through the media and the slots 36 with the treated
fluid. These extremely small fines will be retained on the fine
mesh 42 until flushed from the system during the flush cycle to be
described below.
[0043] The flat disc shaped bottom 44 of the cup shaped valve plate
38 contains several passages, only some of which are seen in FIGS.
1, 3 and 4, and all of which are seen in FIG. 5. These passages in
the flat disc shaped bottom of the valve plate 38 open to its
bottom face 46. They include passages 48, 49 and 50, all of which
are shown in FIG. 5, and all of which pass through the valve plate
38, and a U-shaped bypass passage 52. The bypass passage 52 does
not pass through the valve plate 38. Both of its ends open to the
bottom face 46 of the valve plate.
[0044] The unit 10 also includes a valve housing 54 which is
attached to the bottom of the housing 12 and in underlying
relationship to the valve plate 38 as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and
4. The valve housing 54 also preferably presents an upwardly facing
cup shaped body which receives the cup shaped valve plate 38
therein, and which includes outwardly facing threads 56 at the top
of the cup.
[0045] A coupling ring 58 which also has threads 60 is threaded
onto the treads 56 of the valve housing 54 to couple the valve
housing to the bottom of the housing 12 with the valve plate 38 in
between. The bottom of the housing 12 preferably includes an
enlarged annular shoulder 62 which is trapped between the upper end
of the valve housing 54 and the coupling ring 58 when the ring is
installed to attach the unit components together. This coupling
arrangement permits the housing 12 and top of the valve housing 54
to rotate relative to each other. However, the valve plate 38 is
fixed to the housing 12 so that it rotates with the housing and
relative to the valve housing 54. Suitable O-rings 61, 62 and 63
are provided at this juncture to insure that the parts which
interfit with each other are sealed against leakage.
[0046] The valve housing 54 includes a number of passages, ports
and seals, all as best seen in FIG. 5, for the conduction of fluid
to and from the housing 12 of the unit and the treatment media
therein. Prior to discussing these ports and passages specifically,
it should be generally noted with reference to FIG. 5 that seals
which do not have a port or a passage associated therewith through
the valve housing 54, i.e. "blind" seals, are denoted in solid
black. This is in contrast to "port" seals which are shown in
outline only in FIG. 5 and which are associated with a port, for
example the port at the top of port passage P as shown in FIG. 6.
The blind seals as well as the port seals S, as shown in FIG. 6,
are preferably located in shallow annular recesses in the upwardly
facing face 64 of the valve housing 54. In the alternative, a
gasket G may be spring loaded by a spring L upwardly against the
bottom face 46 of the valve plate 38, as shown in FIG. 7. The
gasket arrangement as shown in FIG. 7 is particularly advantageous
to compensate for less than perfect tolerances between faces 46 and
64 as the valve plate 38 is rotated through its various operational
modes as will be discussed below, because the spring loaded gasket
provides a better, more consistent seal.
[0047] A fluid inlet 66, for example from a municipal water supply,
provides water to a compartment 68 in the valve housing 54, as best
seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Any one of several passages are connected
to the compartment 68 to receive water from the compartment 68 and
conduct the water through the valve plate 38 to the media 18 and 20
for interaction with the media, or to bypass the water past the
media. These passages and ports in the valve housing 54 which
communicate the supply fluid from compartment 68 include (a)
passage 70 and its port 71 which communicate the supply fluid to be
treated to the passage 48 in the valve plate 38 and to the media
during the service operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5A; (b)
passage 72 and its port 73 which communicate the supply fluid to
passage 49 in the valve plate 38 and to the media during the
backwash operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5B; (c) passage 74 and
port 75 which communicate the supply fluid to the passage 48 in the
valve plate 38 and to the media during the flush operational mode
as seen in FIG. 5C; and (d) passage 72 and its port 73 which align
with the U-shaped bypass passage 52 in the valve plate 38 during
the bypass operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5E. Again referring to
FIG. 5, fluid discharged from the media is discharged (a) through
the passage 49 in the valve plate 38 to the port 78 and discharge
passage 79 for treated fluid from the valve housing 54 in the
service operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5A; (b) through the
passage 48 in the valve plate 38 to the port 80 and its passage 81
in the valve housing 54 to drain during the backwash operational
mode, as seen in FIG. 5B; (c) through the passage 50 in the valve
plate 38 to the port 82 and its drain 83 in the valve housing 54 in
the flush operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5C; and (d) from the
U-shaped bypass passage 52 in the valve plate 38 and through the
port 84 and bypass passage 85 in the bypass operational mode, as
seen FIG. 5E.
[0048] In addition to the port seals associated with the last
mentioned ports in the face 64 of the valve housing 54, various
blind seals 86-90 are positioned on the face 64 in the various
positions seen in FIG. 5. Various passages in the valve plate 38
will align with these blind seals during certain operational modes.
However, flow through those valve plate passages will be precluded
because of the fact that these seals are blind. These respective
blind seals 86-90 have only been numbered in the mode figures in
which a passage in the valve plate 38 actually has been positioned
so as to be in alignment with the particular blind seal in order to
simplify the respective FIGS. 5A-5E.
[0049] In the event that one of the media is an ion exchange
medium, it may be desirable to backwash with a brine solution to
regenerate the medium, rather than with simple water. In this
event, a brine passage which is connected to a suitable brine
supply (not shown) may be tapped into the passage 72. In this
event, suitable check valves V are provided in the brine passage
72A and at the outlet from compartment to prevent back up of
service supply water to the brine supply and/or brine to the
service supply water in the compartment 68.
[0050] In addition to the regeneration of the fluid treatment media
as the result of the backwashing and rinsing which have been
briefly referred to already, and which will be discussed in more
detail below, the unit of the present invention is also constructed
and arranged to produce frequent and immediate regeneration of the
treatment medium 18 each time the unit is started up. This is
advantageous where the unit is a counter top or under the counter
unit for the treatment or other potable water supply, and even more
advantageous where the unit is a showerhead unit because in that
usage, the initial water flow is typically discarded anyway. In
such uses, the water which is to be treated is typically turned on
and off with some frequency. When off, no treatment of the water is
taking place and when on, the water being consumed is undergoing
treatment. In particular, where the treatment medium is a finely
divided copper-zinc metal, such as disclosed in the previously
mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,770, it is advantageous to briefly
and frequently regenerate the medium on initial start up to remove
any light solid contaminates which may have settled on the medium
while the unit has been shut off. These light contaminants will
typically settle on the upper surface of the settled treatment
medium bed 18 during shut down because they are substantially
lighter and, therefore, will settle more slowly by gravity than the
heavier metal particulates. Conversely, when an energetic fluid
flow is reinitiated, as in the present invention, these lighter
solid contaminants will move away from the medium 18 at a much
faster rate than the heavier metal particulate medium 18 will move,
and the light contaminants will be flushed from the system.
[0051] Particularly advantageous is the flushing of the surface of
the medium to remove oxidization products, such as the chloride
salts from chlorine, which may have coated the surface during prior
water treatment so that the surface is again exposed to its fullest
extent to react with the newly arriving oxidizing contaminants.
This removal of oxidants from the surface of the metal particles
will greatly enhance the life span of the particulate metal medium
to from as little as six months to one year to two to three years.
At the same time, this frequent regeneration permits a reduction in
the amount of metal particulate medium needed to perform the same
treatment of as much as 30-50%.
[0052] In order to accomplish this initial substantial
regeneration, the chamber 14 is tall and relatively narrow at its
maximum width. This ensures that the flow rate through the chamber
from the input end at support plate 24 to the fluid discharge
through the slots 28 will be sufficient to permit medium 18 to be
progressively suspended and agitated, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
upon start up of the unit so that the particles will aggressively
abrade each other to remove the oxidation product coating
thereon.
[0053] In order to maximize this early abrasion and turbulence of
the particles upon start up, the lifting of the particles is slowed
and throttled. This is accomplished in the invention by one or more
sleeves 91, 92 and 93 which are installed into the chamber 22. The
bottom sleeve 91 is preferably a simple cylinder which at the top
may be more or less crenelated to produce inlet orifices 94 for
introducing inlet fluid to be treated at a higher elevation in the
chamber 22 to enhance turbulence effect on the water treating
medium 18, as seen by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4. The external
diameter of the sleeve 91 preferably is slightly less than the
internal diameter of the inner sidewall 22 of the chamber 14 to
provide an annular channel 96 from the fluid inlet beneath plate 24
and upwardly about the sleeve 91 to the inlet orifices 94.
[0054] The next upper sleeve 92 is also preferably somewhat less in
external diameter than the interior diameter of the inner sidewall
22 so that an annular channel 97 is also provided to conduct inlet
fluid further up the chamber to inlet orifices 98 between the top
of sleeve 92 and the bottom of the uppermost sleeve 93.
[0055] The principal purpose of the sleeves 92 and 93 is to provide
one or more spaced shelves 99 which extend inwardly from the
sidewall 22 of the chamber. Sleeves 99 provide substantially
reduced cross sectional areas in the chamber 22 at spaced locations
along the height of the chamber by way of apertures 100, as seen in
FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, which are much narrower than the maximum
cross-sectional area of the chamber 22. Without these apertures
100, the particulate medium 18 would become rapidly suspended at
the top of the chamber 22 on start up and, thus, would not have the
maximum ability to extensively abrade each other in close contact.
However, the much smaller cross sectional area apertures 100 reduce
the rate at which the particulate medium will ascend, and will
produce a much more intimate relationship between the particles
upon start up. These narrowed apertures 100, together with the
orifices 94 and 98 which inject fluid adjacent these apertures,
will result in substantial turbulence in the flow and suspension of
the particulate water treatment medium 18, as seen in FIG. 3.
[0056] The maximum diameter of the chamber 14 may vary widely, but
will typically be anywhere between a fraction of an inch up to as
much as foot or more. What is important is the relationship of the
cross section area of the aperture 100 to the maximum
cross-sectional area of the aperture 100 to the maximum
cross-sectional of the chamber 22. This aperture area should be
about 5-50% of the maximum cross-sectional area of the chamber 14,
with about 10% preferred, to achieve the desired regeneration.
[0057] The medium 20 in the outer chamber 16 may take any one of a
number of forms. It may be an ion exchange resin for the removal of
undesirable ions, such as a cationic resin for the removal of
hardness from the water or an anionic resin for the removal of
undesirable nitrates or organic contaminants. It may also be a
particulate activated carbon for the removal of various odors,
flavors or other organic contaminants as are well known in the art.
Indeed, where the water treatment medium 20 is either an ion
exchange resin or an activated carbon, the use of a particulate,
finely divided metal as the upstream medium 18 can actually prolong
the life of the later contacted medium by removing residual
chlorine from the water, because chlorine has a deleterious effect
on either an ion exchange medium or activated carbon.
[0058] Although it is believed that the operation of the water
treatment unit of the present invention will be evident to those
skilled in the art from the forgoing description, a detailed
description of the operation follows.
[0059] Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the fluid treatment unit
10 is shown in its at rest condition after a preceding treatment
operation and awaiting start up for the next treatment operation.
In this condition, the unit is in its service operational mode as
shown in FIG. 5A so that as soon as fluid flow is again initiated,
for example of a municipal water supply, the unit is prepared to
start its next treatment operation. In this at rest condition, no
flow of water is occurring through the unit and the water treatment
medium 18, for example the finely divided, particulate metal
particles as disclosed and described in the aforementioned U.S.
Pat. No. 5,415,770, has settled to the bottom of the chamber 14 to
form a relatively compact, condensed bed at the bottom of the
chamber, as seen in FIG. 1. When the unit was brought to its at
rest condition following a preceding treatment operation, the
particulate metals which are of considerable weight will have
rapidly settled to the bottom of chamber 14 to form the bed as
shown in FIG. 1. However, most other solid contaminants which are
lighter than the metal particles and which might have been present
when the previous treatment operation was ceased will settle at a
slower rate and become deposited on the top of the bed of metal
particles.
[0060] In this at rest condition in which the unit is in its
service operational mode, the valve plate 38 will have been rotated
to the position A in FIG. 5A so that it is in the service position
when fluid flow is reinitiated. In this service position A, the
passage 48 in the valve plate 38 is aligned with the passage 70 and
its port 71 in the valve housing 54 in readiness to conduct the
service fluid which is to be treated to the media for treatment
when flow is reinitiated. Passage 49 in valve plate 38 is also
aligned with port 78 and passage 79 in the valve housing 54 to
conduct fluid from the media which has been treated to discharge it
from the valve housing 54.
[0061] When the flow of fluid is to be initiated for treatment, the
fluid will enter the supply conduit 66 from the source of supply of
the fluid (not shown), for example a municipal service supply of
water, and the water will fill the compartment 68 in the bottom of
the valve housing 54 under pressure. As best seen in FIG. 3, this
fluid to be treated will then flow upwardly through passage 70 and
port 71 in the valve housing 54, through the opening 34, through
the space above the floor plate 32 in the chamber 14 and upwardly
through the support plate 24 and mesh screen 26 into the fluid
treatment medium 18.
[0062] This initial flow will commence the automatic cleaning of
the medium 18 as previously described by flushing any loose,
lighter contaminant solids which may have previously settled back
onto the surface of the medium bed, upwardly and out through the
vertical slots 28 at the top of chamber 14 for ultimate discharge
from the unit. As shown in FIG. 3, this initial flow will also tend
to displace the finely divided, particulate medium 18 in the bed
upwardly from its previously settled, at rest position as shown in
FIG. 1. This upward flow, coupled with the jetting action from the
input water which passes through the annular channels 96 and 97 and
which is jetted through the inlet orifices 94 and 98 adjacent the
shelves 99, and also coupled with the restraint of the upward flow
of the particulate medium 18 by the shelves and narrowed apertures
100, will result in substantial turbulence in the medium, as
depicted by the arrows in FIG. 3, and abrasion of the particles
against each other. Without the restraint by shelves 99, the
particulate medium 18 would immediately flow to the top of the
chamber 14 with a minimum of turbulence and abrasion.
[0063] The considerable agitation and turbulence in the particulate
medium 18 upon start up will remove substantial percentages of the
oxidation contamination products, for example the chloride salts
from chlorine, which have previously accumulated on the surface of
the particulate metal medium. This results in an automatic cleaning
action which flushes these previously removed contaminants from the
system upon at the beginning of each start up and presents a fresh
metal surface on the particulate medium 18 which maximizes the
removal of the undesirable oxidants in the next batch of fluid to
be treated. It has been found, for example, that 50-90% of the
oxidation products which were previously coated upon the
particulate metal surface of medium 18 will be removed within a few
seconds following start up. This is particularly desirable for
example in a shower head treatment installation in which the first
several seconds of water flow is discarded anyway.
[0064] As the flow of water continues, all of the particulate
medium 18 will eventually become suspended in the upper part of
chamber 14, as viewed in FIG. 4, where it will continue to treat
the continuing flow of water as it passes through that chamber.
Once treated by the suspended particulate medium 18, the water will
flow through the vertical slots 28 at the top of sidewall 22 and
downwardly through the medium 20 in chamber 16. As previously
discussed, the medium 20 may take any one of a number of desired
forms including various ion exchange resins and/or activated
carbon.
[0065] After passing through the medium 20 as depicted by the
arrows in FIG. 4, the treated water will pass through the slotted
openings 36 in the floor plate 32, and then through the mesh screen
42 and support plate 40, passage 49 in the valve plate 38, and port
78 and passage 79 in the valve housing to be discharged from the
valve housing, as shown in FIG. 5A. Any extremely fine contaminants
which also may pass through the slots 36 will accumulate on the
very fine mesh screen 42 for later flushing, as will be described
below. No flow will pass through passage 50 in the valve plate 38
because it is aligned with blind seal 86 on the face 64 of the
valve housing 54 as seen in FIG. 5A. Moreover, there will be no
flow through the U-shaped bypass 52, as viewed in FIG. 5A, because
it is rotated to a nonoperative position in which its openings are
aligned with non-functional, inactive locations on the face 64 of
the valve housing 54, as shown in FIG. 5A.
[0066] Notwithstanding the automatic regeneration feature of the
present invention as previously described or in its absence, it
will likely be desirable to further periodically regenerate one or
both of the media after periods of extended use, and in a manner
unlike and in addition to the auto cleaning feature previously
described.
[0067] When it is desired to backwash the media, all that need be
done is to rotate the housing 12 and the valve plate 38 which is
fixed to its bottom, from the service position A shown in FIG. 5A
to the backwash position B shown in FIG. 5B. The valve housing 54
remains stationary during this simple rotation of the housing
between these operational modes. When the housing 12 and valve
plate 38 have been located to the backwash position B, as seen in
FIG. 5B, supply fluid will continue to flow through inlet 66 and
into compartment 68, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. However, passage
49 in the valve plate 38 will now be aligned with passage 72 and
port 73 in the valve housing 54, and passage 48 in the valve plate
38 will now be aligned with port 80 and passage 81 on the valve
housing 54. Accordingly, supply fluid will flow from the
compartment 68 upwardly through passage 72, and its port 73, and
through passage 49. This fluid will continue its flow reversely
upwardly through the support plate 40 and mesh screen 42 to
dislodge any fine particles which may have accumulated on that
screen so that they may be flushed later through passage 50.
Backflush flow will continue upwardly through slots 36 and the
medium 20 in chamber 16, through the slots 28 at the top of chamber
14 and down through the bed of medium 18, the mesh screen 26 and
support plate 24, through passage 48 in valve plate 38, as seen in
FIG. 5B, and port 80 and passage 81 to drain where it is discharged
and discarded.
[0068] In the event that the medium 20 is an ion exchange resin for
the removal of water hardness, nitrates or other undesirable
contaminants, the backwashing fluid would preferably consist of a
brine of sodium salts or potassium salts or the like for the
regeneration of the ion exchange medium, rather than just simple
water from a municipal service supply. In this event, the brine
will be introduced from a suitable source of brine (not shown)
through passage 72A and into passage 72 where the brine flow will
continue to flow as previously described in the backwash
description, as shown in FIG. 5B. Also where the unit includes
provision for the introduction of brine, suitable check valves V
will be included in passages 72 and 72A, as shown in FIGS. 5B and
5E, to preclude improper flow of fluids between the water supply
and brine supply, or vice versa.
[0069] With further reference to the backwash position B shown in
FIG. 5B, it will be seen that passage 50 in the valve plate 38 is
effectively immobilized because it is aligned with the blind seal
87 on the face 64 of the valve housing 54. The U-shaped bypass
passage 52 in the valve plate 48 is also effectively immobilized
because it is aligned with a nonfunctional, inactive area on the
face 64 of the valve housing 54, as shown in FIG. 5B.
[0070] If it is desired to flush the fluid treatment media, the
housing 12 with the valve plate 38 fixed thereto is simply further
rotated to the flush position C as shown in FIG. 5C. In this
position passage 48 in the valve plate 38 is aligned with port 75
and passage 74 in the valve housing 54. Passage 74 communicates
with the compartment 68 in the valve housing 54. Passage 50 in the
valve plate 38 is aligned with port 82 and passage 83 to drain in
the valve housing 54, as shown in FIG. 5C. Accordingly in this
flush position C, supply fluid flows through the inlet 66, the
compartment 68 and through passage 74 and port 75 in the valve
housing 54, through the passage 48 in the valve plate 38, and to
the media to flush the media. The fluid flow through the media is
in the same direction as it is during the service mode as
previously described. The fluid which leaves the media following
flushing then flows into the chamber beneath floor plate 32 to
flush any fines which may have been dislodged from mesh 42 through
passage 50 in the valve plate 38 and port 82 and passage 83 in the
valve housing 54 to be discharged to drain.
[0071] As will be seen in FIG. 5C, the passage 49 in the valve
plate 38 is immobilized because it is aligned with the blind seal
88 on the face 64 of the valve housing 54. The U-shaped bypass
passage 52 is also immobilized because one of its ends is aligned
with the blind seal 89 and the other end with a non-functional,
inactive area on the face 64 of the valve housing 54, as seen in
FIG. 5C.
[0072] If desired, the entire unit may simply be turned off by
further rotating the housing 12 and the valve plate 38 which is
fixed to it to the off position D, as shown in FIG. 5D. In this
position, all of the passages in the valve plate 38 are either
aligned with nonfunctional, inactive areas on the face 64 of the
valve housing 54 or with a drain discharge. More specifically,
passages 48 and 49 as well as the U-shaped bypass passages 52 in
valve plate 38 are aligned with nonfunctional, inactive areas on
the face 64 of the valve housing 54 when the valve plate 38 is in
the off position D. The only other passage 50 in the valve plate 38
is aligned with the bypass discharge port 84 and passage 85.
Accordingly, no fluid flow occurs from or to the unit in this off
position D.
[0073] If it is desired to bypass the fluid past the treatment
media, the housing 12 and valve plate 38 are rotated to the bypass
position E, as shown in FIG. 5E. In this position, one leg of the
U-shaped bypass passage 52 in valve plate 38 is aligned with
passage 72 and port 73 on the valve housing 54 and the other leg of
the U-shaped bypass passage 52 is aligned with port 84 and passage
85 in the valve housing 54. Accordingly, in the bypass position E,
supply fluid will flow from the inlet 66 to compartment 68, through
passage 72 and port 73 in the valve housing 54, through the
U-shaped bypass passage 52 in the valve plate 38, and out through
port 84 and passage 85 through a bypass discharge in valve housing
54. Any flow to the brine passage 72A will be blocked by its check
valve V.
[0074] When the valve plate 38 is in the bypass position E and
shown in FIG. 5E, the remaining passages through the valve plate 38
are immobilized. Passage 49 in valve plate 38 is aligned with blind
seal 90, passage 50 is aligned with port 80 and drain passage 81
which is currently nonfunctional and inactive, and passage 48 in
valve plate 38 is aligned with blind seal 89 on the face 64 of the
valve housing 54.
[0075] Although as many as five operational modes have been
described with reference to FIGS. 5A-5E, it will be appreciated
that the unit of the present invention may be simplified by
eliminating one or more of the described operational modes without
departing from the spirit of the invention. Any such modification
of the valve plate 38 and/or valve housing 54 to eliminate
operational modes is well within the skill of those in the art
after considering the more complex multiple modes which have been
thoroughly explained and described with reference to FIGS.
5A-5E.
[0076] It will also be understood that the preferred embodiment of
the present invention which has been described in merely
illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Numerous
modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *