Automatic pilot control means for, and method of, operating a water softener system

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF REGENERATING A BED OF ZEOLITE IN A WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM, COMPRISING: INTERRUPTING THE NORMAL SUPPLY OF RAW WATER TO THE INLET OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONTINUE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH THE ZEOLITE BED TO THUS PREVENT THE FLOW OF RAW WATER TO SERVICE; PASSING THE SUPPLY OF RAW WATER THROUGH THE BED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO NORMAL FLOW TO EFFECT BACKWASHING OF SAID BED; BY PASSING RAW WATER FROM A PORTION OF ITS NORMAL PAH OF FLOW TO THE INLET OF SAID SYSTEM AT A SLOW RATE TO ENTRAIN BRINE THEREIN AND PASSING THE RESULTING BRINE SOLUTION THROUGH SAID BED IN THE DIRECTION OF NORMAL FLOW TO EFFECT REGENERATION OF SAID BED; CONTINUING THE FLOW OF BY-PASSED RAW WATER THROUGH SAID BED AFTER SAID BED HAS BEEN REGENERATED TO EFFECT RINSING OF SAID BED AT SAID SLOW RATE OF FLOW OF RINSE WATER; RESUMING THE NORMAL SUPPLY OF RAW WATER TO THE INLET OF THE SYSTEM WHILE CONTINUING THE SUPPLY OF BY-PASSED RINSE WATER TO THEREBY COMPLETE RINSING OF SAID BED BY PASSING FULL FLOW OF RAW WATER THROUGH SAID BED AT A RAPID RATE OF FLOW; AND THEN DISCONTINUING SAID BY-PASSING OF RAW WATER AT SAID RAPID RATE OF FLOW AND RESTORING THE SYSTEM TO NORMAL SERVICE.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF REGENERATING A BED OF ZEOLITE IN A WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM, COMPRISING: INTERRUPTING THE NORMAL SUPPLY OF RAW WATER TO THE INLET OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONTINUE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH THE ZEOLITE BED TO THUS PREVENT THE FLOW OF RAW WATER TO SERVICE; PASSING THE SUPPLY OF RAW WATER THROUGH THE BED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO NORMAL FLOW TO EFFECT BACKWASHING OF SAID BED; BY PASSING RAW WATER FROM A PORTION OF ITS NORMAL PAH OF FLOW TO THE INLET OF SAID SYSTEM AT A SLOW RATE TO ENTRAIN BRINE THEREIN AND PASSING THE RESULTING BRINE SOLUTION THROUGH SAID BED IN THE DIRECTION OF NORMAL FLOW TO EFFECT REGENERATION OF SAID BED; CONTINUING THE FLOW OF BY-PASSED RAW WATER THROUGH SAID BED AFTER SAID BED HAS BEEN REGENERATED TO EFFECT RINSING OF SAID BED AT SAID SLOW RATE OF FLOW OF RINSE WATER; RESUMING THE NORMAL SUPPLY OF RAW WATER TO THE INLET OF THE SYSTEM WHILE CONTINUING THE SUPPLY OF BY-PASSED RINSE WATER TO THEREBY COMPLETE RINSING OF SAID BED BY PASSING FULL FLOW OF RAW WATER THROUGH SAID BED AT A RAPID RATE OF FLOW; AND THEN DISCONTINUING SAID BY-PASSING OF RAW WATER AT SAID RAPID RATE OF FLOW AND RESTORING THE SYSTEM TO NORMAL SERVICE.