Chemical feed controller

Claim 2

The device as described in claim 2 and further characterized by said third means comprising a second variable resistance, externally controlled, and interposed between, and associated with, said variable resistance and said transmitting means, for increasing or decreasing the magnitude of said second resistance signal transmitted to said feed timer.

Claim 3

The device as described in claim 3 and further characterized by comprising; fourth means comprising: a. a water flow meter contact, associated with said feed timer, for periodically starting said feed timer upon initiation of a flow of water to the process; and b. a continuously recycling timer, associated with said increment timer for periodically starting said increment timer at predetermined times, said cycling timer being reset by said increment timer.

Claim 4

A controller for controlling a process wherein a material is acted upon by a control agent, the effect of such action being observed in order to detect whether there is an excess of said material with respect to said control agent, or vice versa; said process having means for feeding said control agent to the process for a feed time period substantially proportional to the amount of said material; and said feed time period being adjusted in length during feeding to prevent said excess, said controller comprising, in combination: a. a feed timer having a running time period adjustable over a range including said feed time period, for causing said means for feeding to feed said control agent for said feed timer''s running time period as adjusted; b. detecting means associated with said process for detecting said excess and for producing, in response to detection of said excess, an excess signal providing an indication that said excess exists, and an indication of whether said control agent or said material is in excess; c. adjusting means connected to said feed timer for adjusting said feed timer''s running time period in accordance with the sense and duration of said excess signal, for causing said means for feeding ultimately to feed more or less of said control agent as needed; d. converting means interconnecting said adjusting means and said detecting means for converting said excess signal into an adjusting signal adapted to cause said adjusting means to adjust said feed timer''s running period an amount corresponding to the sense and duration of said excess signal.

Claim 5

The controller of claim 5, wherein said converting means is responsive to said excess signal to cause said adjusting signal to have a first character, if, in the then-obtaining running time period of said feed timer, indication, by said excess signal, of excess of said material or of said control agent, is not the next successor to indication, by said excess signal, of excess of respectively, said control agent or said material, said converting means also being responsive to said excess signal to cause said adjusting signal to have a second character, if, in said then-obtaining running time period of said feed timer, indication, by said excess signal, of excess of said material or said control agent, is the next successor to indication, by said first signal, of excess of respectively, said control agent or said material; and e. said adjusting means including means for setting, during the first said feed time period, the maximum possible amount of adjustment thereof due to an excess signal which produces an adjusting signal of said first character; and the maximum possible amount of adjustment thereof due to an excess signal which produces an adjusting signal of said second character, the first said amount being different from the second said amount.

Claim 6

The controller of claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes an increment timer having an adjustable running time period, and said increment timer being effectively responsive to said adjusting signal to have its said running time period adjusted to be longer for adjusting signal of one of said characters, than for adjusting signal of the other said characters; said adjusting means being adapted to adjust said feed timer''s running time period only as long as said increment timer runs.

Claim 7

The controller of claim 7 wherein said adjusting means is adapted to continuously adjust said feed timer''s running time period at a predetermined rate, and just so long as said increment timer''s running time period length adjustment remains continuously that corresponding to a single said character of said second signal.

Claim 8

The controller of claim 6 wherein said first said amount is larger than said second amount.

Claim 9

The controller of claim 7, wherein the running time period of said increment timer is longer for adjusting signal of said first character, than for adjusting signal of said second character.