U.S. patent number 3,626,972 [Application Number 05/073,564] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-14 for soluble granule feeders.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Anzen Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Walter C. Lorenzen.
United States Patent |
3,626,972 |
Lorenzen |
December 14, 1971 |
SOLUBLE GRANULE FEEDERS
Abstract
A tank through which a proportion of return line liquid from a
pool is bypassed when the pool pump is on receives soluble granules
from an adjustable metering cup depending from a granule supply bin
connecting to the tank. A valving cylinder responsive to a float in
the tank alternately opens the bin to the metering cup or the cup
to the tank in response to the on-off cycling of the pool pump.
Flow through the tank is from the pool water circulation line
bypass into the tank, through the tank to a return line independent
of or downstream of the pump. A check valve intervenes between the
tank and the pump.
Inventors: |
Lorenzen; Walter C. (Hacienda
Heights, CA) |
Assignee: |
Anzen Products, Inc. (Arcadia,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22114461 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/073,564 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
809605 |
Mar 21, 1969 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/268; 210/123;
137/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05D
11/006 (20130101); C02F 1/688 (20130101); B01F
1/0033 (20130101); Y10T 137/2559 (20150401); Y10T
137/4891 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
C02F
1/68 (20060101); G05D 11/00 (20060101); E03c
001/046 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/268,109
;210/97,123X,169,136 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rothberg; Samuel B.
Assistant Examiner: Wright; William H.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation in part of my copending
application Ser. No. 809,605 now abandoned filed Mar. 21, 1969 and
entitled "SOLUBLE GRANULE FEEDER."
Claims
I claim:
1. A soluble granule feeder for use in a liquid circulation system
with a pump and suction and return lines, the feeder comprising a
mixing tank, a bypass conduit joining the tank to the return line
downstream of the pump, a venturi unit in the return line
downstream of the bypass conduit, an educer tube connecting between
the mixing tank and the venturi unit, a check valve between the
bypass conduit and the pump, a supply bin for granules connecting
to the tank, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin
valve port in the granule supply bin, a cup valve port in the
metering cup, a float in the mixing tank; a valve member adapted
alternately to open and close the cup and bin ports, the cup port
being open when the bin port is closed and the bin port being open
when the cup port is closed; means fixing the valve member to the
float such that the float lifts the valve member through the valve
ports when the pump turns on so that granules in the metering cup
move through the cup port into the mixing tank and so that the bin
port is closed, and such that the float lowers the valve member
through the valve ports when the pump shuts off so that the cup
port is closed and the bin port is open so that the granules from
the bin fill the metering cup; the educer tube being positioned
within the mixing tank such that liquid flows through the tank so
long as the pump delivers liquid to the return line.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the metering cup
comprises a threaded collar depending from the supply bin about the
bin port, a sleeve threadably engaged with the collar, and a floor
on the sleeve sloping downwardly to the aforesaid cup port.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means
for changing the position of the educer tube within the mixing tank
to vary the liquid level in the tank when the pump is on.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the check valve
comprises a plumbing tee connecting to the bypass conduit, a sleeve
tube in the tee, a valve wall in the tube transversely thereof, an
annular wall in the valve wall defining a valve port, a support
spider in the tube remote from the valve wall, a valve stem
supported in cantilever fashion from the spider, a valve closure
member on the stem remote from the spider and separated therefrom
by the valve wall and adapted to close the valve port, a stop on
the valve stem, the spider being interposed between the valve wall
and the stop, and a compression spring between the spider and the
stop urging the valve closure member into closed relationship to
the valve port.
5. In a soluble granule feeder having a mixing tank and inlet and
outlet liquid lines, the combination comprising a granule supply
bin, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port,
a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank
responsive to liquid level in the tank, and a valve member
operative by the float alternately to open and to close the cup
valve port and the bin valve port by raising and lowering the valve
member into and out of bin and cup ports in response to the liquid
level of the mixing tank, said metering cup having a frustoconical
floor sloping to the cup valve port.
6. A soluble granule feeder for use in a liquid circulation system
with a pump and suction and return lines, the feeder comprising a
mixing tank, a bypass conduit joining the tank to the circulation
line downstream of the pump, means connecting the feeder to a
return line to the pool, a check valve between the tank and the
pump, a supply bin for granules connecting to the tank, a metering
cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port in the granule
supply bin, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the
mixing tank; a valve member adapted alternately to open and close
the cup and bin ports, the cup port being open when the bin port is
closed and the bin port being open when the cup port is closed;
means fixing the valve member to the float such that the float
lifts the valve member through the valve ports when the pump turns
on so that granules in the metering cup move through the cup port
into the mixing tank and so that the bin port is closed, and such
that the float lowers the valve member through the valve ports when
the pump shuts off so that the cup port is closed and the bin port
is open so that the granules from the bin fill the metering
cup.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the metering cup
comprises a threaded collar depending from the supply bin about the
bin port, a sleeve threadably engaged with the collar, and a floor
on the sleeve sloping downwardly to the aforesaid cup port.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the metering cup
comprises a first cylindrical chamber, a second frustoconical
chamber, a valve port at the minimum diameter of the second
chamber, and a resilient transverse membrane at the port adapted to
sealingly receive said valve member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chlorine and other chemicals are used in swimming pools to control
growth of algae and other organisms in the pool water. The chlorine
concentration level must be maintained in a range below the level
harmful to pool users and above the minimum effective to eliminate
the algae. Therefore, the amount of chlorine introduced into the
pool should be relative to the amount of water circulating in the
pool.
Conventionally measured amounts of chlorine are manually added at
intervals to the pool water in the pool, which is periodically
tested as to concentration level. Previous attempts to chlorinate
pools automatically have been ineffective because the previous
chlorinating apparatus had to be located in the pool water
recirculation system such that concentrated chlorine passed through
the pump, filter and heater with accumulative damage thereto. My
invention enables the concentrated chlorine to be introduced after
dilution into the circulation line to protect the vulnerable
mechanical apparatus or to return to the pool independent of the
pool water recirculating system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention contemplates soluble granule feeders for use in a
swimming pool or other liquid circulation system having a pump
joined to suction and return flow lines. Each feeder comprises a
mixing tank open to atmosphere and connected to a granule supply
bin. A bypass conduit taps the return line to supply liquid from a
portion of the return line flow to the mixing tank.
A metering cup having means for volumetric adjustment connects to
the granule supply bin. Supply bin and cup have vertically aligned
valve ports. A cylindrical valve member reciprocates in and out of
the valve ports in response to a valve float in the tank, opening
one valve port and closing the other as the pump cycles on and off,
filling and emptying the mixing tank.
In one embodiment an educer tube includes means for adjusting the
level of the tube entrance in the tank to control the water level
to correlate with the volume of granules metered by the metering
cup.
In another embodiment a first mixing tank receives the granules and
determines a measured water amount to be mixed with the granules
before the solution overflows into a second mixing tank.
The granule feeder of the invention thus introduces a measured
volume of granules into a measured volume of water each time the
pump cycles. In a swimming pool system the pump conventionally
turns on or is turned on at the start of the day. Thus the soluble
chlorine, for instance, is discharged into the mixing tank as the
conduit conducts return line liquid from the pump to the tank,
raising the valve float. The float movement opens the metering cup
valve port and closes the bin valve port so that only granules from
the cup enter the tank.
When the pump shuts off mixing tank water drains away, the valve
positions reverse and the supply bin fills the closed metering cup
to prepare for the next cycle.
These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the
following detailed description and drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing, partly in section, of an embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a valve membrane;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an alternate
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a circulation system combined with a further
alternate embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of an inlet valve; and
FIG. 9 is an alternate circulation diagram.
In the drawing like parts are given like reference characters.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 comprises a supply bin 10 for soluble
chlorine granules 11 having a removable cap 12 and an inverted
conical bottom 13. The granules partially fill the bin. Centrally
of bottom 13 is a valve membrane 17. Concentric with the valve
membrane and depending from the supply bin is an exteriorly
threaded collar 19. An internally threaded sleeve 21 having an
inverted conical bottom 22 is adjustably engaged with depending
collar 19. The sleeve may be transparent or translucent. The collar
and sleeve define an adjustable metering cup 23. Centrally of the
floor 22 is a valve membrane 24.
Supply bin 10 rests upon a tank 26. The tank is largely
cylindrical, may be of a transparent plastic material and includes
a narrow vertical side chamber 28 extending from one side of the
tank. In the upper portion of the tank are windows 31, 32, 33, 34
which open the tank to atmosphere.
A connecting conduit 36 extends from the bottom of the tank to a
pool water return line 38. The pool return line extends from the
swimming pool filter to the pool through a venturi unit 39.
A vertical pipe 41 extends upwardly from the venturi unit and
receives a U-shaped educer tube 43 through a threaded connector 44.
Tube 43 has a downward leg 45 extending into vertical pipe 41 and a
downward leg 46 extending into chamber 28 of the tank. Leg 46 has a
series of graduation marks 48 to calibrate the depth of penetration
of the leg into the tank.
A check valve 51 in line 38 upstream of the tank conduit 36
prevents backflow from the tank to the filter, since the check
valve closes when the pool supply pump stops and also keeps the
filter from draining its liquid back into the pool through the
suction line.
A float valve assembly 53 resides within the tank. The assembly may
comprise a foam plastic float 54 having a spider 55 fixed to the
float across float central opening 54A. A valve rod 56 extends
upwardly from the spider into supply bin 10. Intermediate of the
rod is a cylindrical valve member 57 having conical ends 58, 59 at
the bottom and top of the member, respectively. The float rests
upon a water permeable base 61 which rests upon a floor 63 of the
tank.
As can be seen from FIG. 3, each valve membrane may comprise an
annular amount 65 with a neoprene or rubber elastic membrane 66
fixed therein. The membrane has a central port 67 which is
preferably slightly less in diameter than the outside diameter of
valve member 57.
In FIG. 1 valve member 57 occupies the port in valve membrane 24,
precluding any transfer of granules between the metering cup 23 and
the interior of the tank. When the pump of the pool circulation
system is started, water enters through the conduit 36, filling the
tank and raising float assembly 53 to the level shown by the dotted
lines 53A. Water flow through venturi unit 39 induces water flow up
leg 46 of educer tube 43 and down through the venturi to the pool.
The level to which liquid rises is controlled by positioning end 68
of the educer tube leg 46 as desired. The water level is changed by
adjustment of leg 46 to correlate with the amount of dry chlorine
in the metering cup.
When the tank fills sufficiently, valve member 57 rises through
valve membrane 24 into valve membrane 17 in the position shown by
dotted lines 57A. In this position port 67 of the valve membrane
between the supply bin and the metering cup is closed, whereas the
port of valve membrane 24 is open between the metering cup and the
tank.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4 an automatic chlorinator assembly 70
comprises a supply bin 10 for soluble chlorine granules 11, a
removable cap 12 and a conical bottom 13 and a substantially
cylindrical mixing tank 76 upon which the bin rests. The tank has a
narrow vertical side chamber 28 at one side of the tank. A
plurality of windows like windows 31, 32 of FIG. 4 opens the upper
portion of the tank to atmosphere.
The mixing tank has a molded floor 77 from which a connecting
conduit 78 extends to a molded Tee 79 fitted into a pool water
return line 38 shown in broken lines. A short plastic nipple 81
connects Tee 79 with a venturi unit 39. The venturi unit connects
to a line (not shown) extending to the pool.
A vertical pipe 41 extends upwardly from the venturi unit and
receives a U-shaped educer tube 43. Educer tube 43 has a downward
leg 45 which extends into vertical pipe 41 through a slip connector
44 and a second downward leg 46.
Educer tube leg 46 extends downwardly into vertical side chamber 28
of tank 76. Graduation markings 48 on leg 46 register with top 83
of the tank to permit accurate positioning of an outlet 68 of tube
46 to adjust the tank water level with respect to the rest of the
components of the tank assembly.
Connecting Tee 79 receives a check valve assembly 85 in its
upstream orifice. The check valve assembly comprises a tube 86
supporting a spider 87 and a valve collar 88 at opposite ends of
the tube. Collar 88 has an annular valve port 89.
A valve stem 91 is slidably mounted in spider 87. One end of the
stem supports a valve closure member 93 adapted to seal port 89.
The other end of the stem has a restraining collar 95 which
contains a compression spring 97 about the valve stem. The
compression spring bears against spider 87, disposing the valve to
close against port 89. The spring is calibrated to permit opening
of the valve when line pressure in line 38 increases as the pool
supply pump turns on. When the valve is closed, as shown by the
dotted position 93A of the closure member, back flow from the
mixing tank to the filter and other pool supply equipment is
precluded, as is drainage from the filter through the suction line
from pool to filter.
When the pool pump is turned on either manually or by automatic
timing devices, a part of the flow from return line 38 passes
upwardly through connecting conduit 78 and a metering port 98 into
the bottom of tank 76. As the volume of water within the tank
increases, an air-filled float member 101 rises in the tank,
pushing upwardly a valve assembly 53 into the body of granules 11
in supply bin 10. The valve assembly comprises a rod 56 fixed to a
spider 103 in the central orifice of the float and a cylindrical
valving member 57 with conical ends on the rod. Rod 56 extends
upwardly into the supply bin in an extension 56A which serves as a
pilot guide for the valving member and tends to agitate the
granules 11 within the supply bin.
Valve member 57 passes upwardly through a valving membrane 24
secured in the bottom of a transparent metering cup 105. The
metering cup has a frustoconical bottom portion 106 and is
threadably engaged with a metering cup collar 107 secured to the
bottom of bin 10. Bin 10 has a valving membrane 17 centrally
located in its sloping floor 13.
Each elastic valving membrane has a central opening 67 which has an
inside diameter which is preferably slightly less than the outside
diameter of valving membrane 57.
In operation the two illustrative embodiments are similar. Each is
responsive to the on-off cycling of return line flow, which is
conventionally induced by a pump. When liquid is forced through the
line, most of the liquid surmounting the check valve continues on
through the venturi unit to the pool or other usage site. A portion
of the liquid is bypassed through the mixing tank. When the supply
bin is filled and the float assembly at rest, the bin port is open
so that the metering cup is filled from the bin. As liquid enters
the mixing tank from the return line to float assembly rises,
moving the valve member with respect to the bin and cup valve
ports.
When the water level reaches the intake of the educer tube of the
float assembly is generally raised sufficiently so that the valve
member closes the bin port and opens the metering cup port. The
measured amount of soluble granule therefore traverses the cup port
into the liquid in the mixing tank where it dissolves.
The concentrated solution is drawn through the educer tube by the
action of the venturi unit to be further mixed with the liquid in
the return line prior to reaching the pool or other useful
repository. Flow continues through the mixing tank as long as flow
continues in the return line, assuring complete transfer of the
metered solubles from the tank. The tank itself is thereby spared
the effects of long-term storage of a heavy chemical
concentration.
When the pump or other impeller shuts down, flow in the return line
ceases and the check valve closes. Liquid in the tank drains
through bypass conduit 38 (or 78) to the return line and thence to
the pool. Components of the circulating system upstream of the
check valve do not drain, either by way of the return line or the
pump suction line, as air cannot pass the check valve to permit
reverse flow.
As liquid drains from the tank after pump shutoff, the float
assembly lowers. Valve member 57 migrates through the valve
membrane 17 into valve membrane 24. The effect of such migration is
to open the port between the bin and cup just after closing the
valve port between the metering cup and the mixing tank. Naturally,
granules flow from the supply bin to the cup to charge the cup with
another measured quantity available for mixing on the next pump
cycle. No addition of granules to the tank takes place, as the
metering cup port is closed.
Either of the metering cups may be adjusted volumetrically by
turning the sleeve on the collar to change the space between the
bin floor and the cup floor. The tank windows afford access to the
sleeve.
As the metering cup capacity is changed, it may be desired to
change the water level in the tank correlatively. The water level
is adjusted by raising or lowering the educer tube in the slip
connector on the vertical tube from the venturi unit. Graduations
48 on leg 46 of the educer tube may be coordinated with the thread
lead on the metering cup sleeve to facilitate coordinated
adjustment.
The embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 also has means for adjusting the supply
of granules received in the metering cup and means to insure proper
dilution of the chlorine solution before the solution enters the
circulation system or pool.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a soluble granule feeder 120 has a mixing
tank 121 with a cover 122 and a supply container 123, which is
removably supported above the cover. A bypass line 126 connects
from the pool recirculation line 127 to an inlet coupling 128 in an
end of the tank. Preferably conduit 126 connects to the line 127
between the filter and the heater. The connection may be of the
conventional type.
A return conduit 131 connects to a return line segment 127A between
the pool and the pump with a conventional connector fitting
133.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the feeder 120 with the top 122 removed
and the feeder oppositely oriented from its position in FIG. 5,
fitting 128 being at the right end in FIG. 6. FIGS. 6 and 7 both
show a fitting 128 abutting a curving end wall 135 of the tank 121,
to which it is held in sealed relationship by a nut 136 on a
plastic tee 138 connecting through the wall to the fitting. A valve
stem 139 resides vertically in the tee, being sealingly engaged
with a conventional compression nut 141 at the top of the tee. The
valve has an L-shaped port 142 coinciding with the entry path of
fitting 128. A ball check valve assembly 143 in downward leg 144 of
the tee prevents back flow. The handle 145 affords means for
turning valve stem 139 to preclude flow from fitting 128 through
port 142.
A flexible tube 146 is conventionally secured to tee 138 by a
compression nut 147. The tube extends downwardly and leftwardly as
shown in FIG. 7 within tank 121 and extends through the bottom
portion of a cylindrical first mixing tank 150 which is sealed to
the bottom of tank 121, in which solution is further mixed. The
tube terminates in a flutter type or "duck bill" check valve
148.
A foam float 154 is movable within first mixing tank 150. The float
is hollow, having a cylindrical outer wall 155 and a frustoconical
inner wall 156. The float has a vertical aperture 158 which gives
the float the appearance of a "C" in FIG. 6.
Near the bottom of the float a horizontal pin 161 extends radially
from interior wall 156 and is fixed to a leg 162 which has a foot
163. In FIG. 7 the foot rests upon the bottom of the tank, limiting
the downward reciprocation of the foam float.
A guide rod 165 anchored in the wall 166 of first mixing tank 150
extends through the aperture 158 of the float. The rod extends
radially and terminates near the center of the mixing tank in a
slot 168 which guides a valve member 170. The valve member
comprises a vertical wire 172 anchored at its lower end in post 161
and leg 162 and carrying a cylindrical valve component 174, which
is preferably divided into an upper element 176 and a lower element
177.
The mixing tank wall terminates in an upper edge 179 at a height
below the tank top 122.
A metering cup 181 is supported upon a cup receiver 182 which
protrudes downwardly through top 122 into the second mixing tank
121. Cup 181 and receiver 182 are substantially identical in
configuration, each having an upper cylindrical portion 184, a
reduced diameter cylindrical wall 185 and a frustoconical wall 186
terminating downwardly in an opening 187. The juncture of wall 184
and wall 185 defines a shoulder 189 which rests upon the top 122 of
the tank 121 about a cylindrical aperture 191 in the tank. The cup
and receiver are in substantial alignment with the first mixing
tank such that the valve member is reciprocable both through
downward opening 187 of the receiver and a metering cup valve port
193 at the bottom of the metering cup.
The receiver has a plurality of apertures 195 through which the
mixing tanks communicate to atmosphere. The metering cup is devoid
of such apertures.
An elastic or resilient valving membrane 197 is held in the bottom
of the metering cup. The membrane is similar to the valve membrane
66 of the previously described embodiment. The diagram has a port
aperture 198 which restricts about the valve member element 197 in
FIG. 7, precluding granule flow through the port.
Metering cup 181 supports a container adapter 201. The adapter has
a collar 202 which fits about the upper portion of the metering cup
cylinder and has a reduced diameter portion defining a wall 204
which receives the inner cylinder of a neck 206 of a container 207,
shown fragmentarily.
The adapter 201 has an upper central orifice 208 in which an
elastic valve membrane 210 seats. The membrane has a port aperture
211 to receive valve member element 176 in sealing
relationship.
A downwardly depending boss 214 on the adapter receives externally
a metering volume adjuster 215. The volume adjuster has a first
cylindrical chamber 217 and a larger second cylindrical chamber 218
and to which boss 214 fits.
The volume adjuster is capable of limiting the amount of granules
received by the metering cup in a manner to be described later
on.
Circulation through the chlorinator initiates from the bypass line
126 and passes through the valve stem 139 with its check valve
assembly 143. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the valve stem has a
horizontal inlet passage 221 connecting to a vertical passage 222.
The vertical passage has a lower counterbore 223, with a valve seat
224, in which a check ball 225 and a compression spring 226 reside.
A transverse pin 227 retains the spring and ball in the bore. The
check valve precludes flow from the first mixing tank, and may
replace the duck bill valve in the flexible tube 146. The stem is
easily removed to clear either of the passages, which are about
0.096 inch in diameter.
Return conduit 131 connects to the second mixing tank 121 by means
of a conventional threaded coupler 231 which passes through the
wall 135 of the tank 121 to threadably engage a float arm bracket
233 which is further held by a screw 234. The coupler contains a
check valve 236 allowing outward flow from the tank, but preventing
input from conduit 131. The check valve may vary in type but is
shown as a "duck bill" type press-fitted in the coupler.
The coupler, sealed in the tank wall, provides a tank outlet. The
outlet is valved by means of a float valve assembly 238 which
responds to the liquid level in the second tank 121. The assembly
has a float arm 241 with a depending valve support finger 242
carrying a valve element 244 which seats against the inward face of
coupler 231 to close the outlet when the valve arm is at its lowest
position.
The end of the float arm remote from a pivot pin 246 which secures
the arm to bracket 233 is fixed to a foam float 247. The float arm
has a ribbed area 249 into which the float 247 protrudes, although
some interval may exist between the foam float and the arm surfaces
between ribs. The interval provides a space into which weight
material (not shown) may be injected to achieve the proper
flotation response for the arm. Other means of achieving float
performance are not precluded from the scope of the invention, the
described apparatus being illustrative only.
Liquid enters the valve stem 139 and emerges in first mixing tank
150, causing float 154 to rise from its foot 163. As the float
rises, say at the time the pool circulation pump is first turned
on, valve component 174 also rises, changing the valving positions
of elements 176 and 177 to shut off the supply bin port and open
the port of the previously filled metering cup, transferring
granules from the cup to the first mixing tank. The granules mix
with the liquid flowing in the tank, and, as the liquid level
rises, are carried over edge 179 in full or partial solution and
into the volume defined by tank 121, where further mixing takes
place.
Valve float 247 responds to rising liquid in the second tank by
actuating finger 242 to open coupler 231 so that liquid exits the
chlorinator and flows to the pool. Flow may be by way of the pump
circuit under pump suction, or, as illustrated in FIG. 9, may be by
a separate line 251 to the pool, if the pool chlorinator is above
pool level. Alternatively, conduit 131 may be linked to a venturi
unit in the conventional pool return line, as in the previously
described embodiment, such that flow from the second tank is educed
by return line suction. The chlorinator of the invention is thus
seen to be adaptable to either cross pump, downstream or separate
return systems.
Flow through the tanks continues as long as the pump is on and
valve 139 is open. When the pump is off, flow ceases to the
chlorinator, and the tanks drain until valve element 244 closes
coupler 231. A small drain aperture 253 in the wall of tank 150
provides means for the liquid level in the first mixing tank to
lower such that the valve elements 176 and 177 are carried
downwardly, closing the metering cup and opening the bin port.
Granules then flow into the metering cup in an amount determined by
the volume adjuster 215. The cup without the adjuster on boss 214
may hold 5 ounces. A single adjuster may reduce the amount to 4
ounces as contact of the rising granule level with the adjuster
closes the path to the cup. Since the valve element can migrate
through the adjuster to close the bin port, the amount of granules
in the metering cup remains as determined by the adjuster.
Adjusters of varying sizes, used in multiples, can thus set the cup
measure as desired.
The illustrative embodiments described above do not exhaust the
variations within the scope of the invention, and other variations
in that scope will occur to those skilled in this art. It is
therefore desired that the invention be measured by the appended
claims.
* * * * *