Timer

Claim 2

A timing device for controlling the operation of a valve assembly, having a plurality of valves, according to a schedule; comprising : a. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate; b. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate; c. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said valve assembly; d. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means; e. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means; f. first means on said timer dial means for signaling said gear actuator means to cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; g. valve actuator means for independently controlling at least one of said valves; and h. second means on said timer dial means for signaLing said valve actuator means so as to independently control the operation of said valve.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. cam means operatively connect said gear means to said valve assembly so as to control the operation of said valves; and b. said valve actuator means acts on said cam means so as to independently control at least one of said valves.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said first means on said timer dial means being a first set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins from the first set of day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said gear actuator means and thereby cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein: a) said second means on said timer dial means being a second set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said valve actuator means and thereby independently control the operation of said valve.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein: a. cam means operatively connect said valve assembly to said gear means so as to control the operation of said valves; b. said valve actuator means acts on said cam means so as to independently control at least one of said valves; c. said valve actuator means includes an arm means having an actuator finger formed on one end, said actuator finger being positioned relative to said timer dial means such that contact with one of said day pins from the second set when in its first position causes movement of the other end of said arm means so as to contact and drive a pin member into position to control said independently controlled valve.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein said independently controlled valve is controlled by a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower means associated therewith and rotatable relative thereto, said cam follower means being effective to move said valve from a closed position to an open position upon contact with a portion of said cam member, and said pin member being positioned relative to said cam member to move said cam member away from engagement with said cam follower means upon contact between a day pin from said second set with said actuator finger.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said gear means including a ring gear having a series of gear teeth formed on a major section of its periphery; b. a minor section of said periphery being relieved of gear teeth; c. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means whereby said pinion means is ineffective to mesh with and rotate said gear means when said pinion means is radially aligned with a least a portion of said minor section; d. said gear actuator means including arm means for initially rotating said gear means to cause said gear teeth to mesh with said pinion means whereby said pinion means rotates said gear means through said major section before said gear means comes to rest once more; and e. said first means on said timer dial means causing said arm means to initially rotate said gear means.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4 wherein said timer dial means comprises: a. a dial member mounted for rotation on a rotatable shaft; b. lock means on said shaft for releasably locking said dial member to said shaft for rotation in prescribed relation to the shaft; c. a time disc mounted for rotational movement on said dial member, said time disc having time indicia thereon with which relationship between actual time and selected regeneration time can be set; and d. said first and second sets of day pins alternately seated about the periphery of said dial member.

Claim 10

In a water conditioning system including a valve assEmbly having a plurality of valves including a brine shutoff valve controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, including: a. first means for controlling said valve assembly to position said valves for a regeneration cycle including a brining cycle and a backwash cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and b. second means for independantly controlling said brine shutoff valve to selectively bypass the brining cycle during regeneration on any given day or days.

Claim 11

In a water conditioning system including a valve assEmbly having a plurality of valves including a brine shutoff valve controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, including: a. first means for controlling said valve assembly to position said valves for a regeneration cycle including a brining cycle and a backwash cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and b. second means for independantly controlling said brine shutoff valve to selectively bypass the brining cycle during regeneration on any given day or days.

Claim 12

In a water conditioning system including a valve assembly having a plurality of valves for controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to a predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, comprising: a. cam means for operating said valves between a service flow cycle position and a regeneration position; b. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate; c. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate; d. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said cam means; e. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means; f. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means; g. first means on said timer dial means for signaling said gear actuator means to cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and h. second means associated with said timer dial means to operate on said cam means so as to position said valves to bypass the brine cycle during the regeneration cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days.

Claim 13

In a water conditioning system including a valve assembly having a plurality of valves for controlling a service water flow cycle and a regeneration cycle having at least a brining cycle and a backwash cycle, a timing device for operating the valves according to a predetermined schedule to sequence normal service softening and regeneration, comprising: a. cam means for operating said valves between a service flow cycle position and a regeneration position; b. motor means rotating timer dial means at a predetermined rate; c. said motor means also rotating pinion means at a predetermined rate; d. gear means adapted to be operatively connected to said cam means; e. said gear means being arranged relatively to said pinion means such that said pinion means selectively meshes with and rotates said gear means; f. gear actuator means for causing said pinion means to mesh with said gear means; g. first means on said timer dial means for signaling said gear actuator means to cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days; and h. second means associated with said timer dial means to operate on said cam means so as to position said valves to bypass the brine cycle during the regeneration cycle at a predetermined time or times on any given day or days.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10 wherein said valve assembly includes a brine valve movable between an open position permitting the passage of brine therethrough during the regeneration cycle and a closed position preventing the passage of brine therethrough during the regeneration cycle, said cam means includes a cam member selectively engageable with a cam follower means associated therewith and rotatable relative thereto, said cam follower means being effective to move said brine valve from said closed position to said open position upon contact with a portion of said cam member, and said second means being operative upon activation to cause said cam follower means to engage said cam member.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 11 wherein said first means on said timer dial means being a first set of day pins seated therein and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins from the first set of day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to engage said gear actuator means and thereby cause said pinion means to mesh with said gear means.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 12 wherein said second means includes a second set of day pins seated on said timer dial means and movable from a first position to a second position, the movement of one of said day pins to its first position being effective upon rotation of said timer dial means to cause said day pin to contact an arm means which is effective to cause said cam follower means to engage said cam member.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 13 wherein said second means includes said arm means having an actuator finger formed on one end, said actuator finger being positioned relative to said timer dial means such that contact with one of said day pins from the second set when in its first position causes movement of the other end of said arm means so as to contact and drive a pin member into contact wiTh said cam member and thereby move said cam member into position to disengage said cam follower means.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 14 wherein said cam member is biased towards a position to prevent engagement with said cam follower means.