US3794061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water softener valve
Assignee: RAYTEC WATERGROUP COMPANY LP
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Filing: 1971-11-08
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1991-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A water softener control valve has a number of cam operated valves each of which includes a ball located at a port. A lever is associated with each ball and lever movement by the cams unseats the balls to open the ports. The ports are located in a common, generally horizontal wall and internal generally vertical walls associated with the ports define channeling through which water is directed in achieving the service, backwash, brine slow rinse, and fast rinse cycles of the water softener, and in addition the brine tank water refill after the mineral bed of the water softener has been regenerated. Water pressure urges the balls toward their respective ports and holds the balls seated in the ports. One port is exposed, during the regeneration portion of the water softener program, to both return flow from the mineral tank on one side of the port and service flow to the service outlet on the other side. That port has a ball on both sides of the port to insure closure of the port and isolation of the flow on both sides of the port.
Inventors
- 👤 J Horvath
- 👤 C Nickols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:29
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/42; F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/10; F16K11/14; F16K11/16; F16K11/163; F16K11/166; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6198; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86389; Y10T137/86445; Y10T137/87265; Y10T137/87338; Y10T137/87362; Y10T137/8737
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A water softener valve comprising, in combination, means defining a housing, means defining an inlet opening into the interior of said housing for admitting source water into said housing, means defining a service outlet opening into the interior of said housing for delivering water for service, means defining tank openings in said housing adapted to be connected to a mineral tank and a brine tank, means defining a first wall within said housing, a plurality of valve ports in said first wall, a generally spherical valve member associated with each of said ports, means defining a plurality of walls projecting laterally on both sides of said first wall in association with said ports to define flow passages within said housing communicating with said ports and arranged relative to said ports and said inlet, outlet, and tank openings to direct water through said valve and through said ports from the spherical valve member side thereof so that water flow through said valve urges said spherical valve members into engagement with said ports, lever means movable into selective engagement with said spherical valve members for selectively displacing said spherical valve members from their respective ports and at an angle relative to the axis of said ports to thereby modify the orientation of said spherical valve members to said ports whereby upon movement of said lever means out of engagement with said spherical valve members a different seating surface thereof will be returned to said seat by the flow of said water, means for moving said lever means to displace said spherical valve members from their respective ports, a plurality of resilient members supported on said housing, and wherein said lever means extend through said resilient members and said resilient members are stressed when said lever means are moved to displace said spherical valve members and the inherent bias thereof as a result of said stressing movement of said levers releases said spherical valve members for return to their respective ports when said lever means are released from said means for moving said lever means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A water softener valve comprising, in combination, means defining a housing, means defining an inlet opening into the interior of said housing for admitting source water into said housing, means defining a service outlet opening into the interior of said housing for delivering water for service, means defining tank openings in said housing adapted to be connected to a mineral tank and a brine tank, means defining a first wall within said housing, a plurality of valve ports in said first wall, a generally spherical valve member associated with each of said ports, means defining a plurality of walls projecting laterally on both sides of said first wall in association with said ports to define flow passages within said housing communicating with said ports and arranged relative to said ports and said inlet, outlet, and tank openings to direct water through said valve and through said ports from the spherical valve member side thereof so that water flow through said valve urges said spherical valve members into engagement with said ports, lever means movable into selective engagement with said spherical valve members for selectively displacing said spherical valve members from their respective ports and at an angle relative to the axis of said ports to thereby modify the orientation of said spherical valve members to said ports whereby upon movement of said lever means out of engagement with said spherical valve members a different seating surface thereof will be returned to said seat by the flow of said water, means for moving said lever means to displace said spherical valve members from their respective ports, a plurality of resilient members supported on said housing, and wherein said lever means extend through said resilient members and said resilient members are stressed when said lever means are moved to displace said spherical valve members and the inherent bias thereof as a result of said stressing movement of said levers releases said spherical valve members for return to their respective ports when said lever means are released from said means for moving said lever means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The water softener valve of claim 1 wherein said spherical valve members are in the form of balls heavier than water and all balls are positioned on the same side of said first wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The water softener valve of claim 2 wherein said balls are made of non-resilient material, and including annular seat members releasably mounted in each of said ports and engageable by said balls in closing said ports.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The water softener valve of claim 2 wherein one of said balls cooperates with a resilient disc to open and close said resilient disc on the port through which brine tank refill occurs, and including cam means operatively engaging said one of said balls and being adjustable to vary the length of time said brine tank refill port is open.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The water softener valve of claim 1 wherein said spherical valve members are all positioned on the same side of said first wall and said lever means are normally spaced from said balls when released from said means for moving said lever means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The water softener valve of claim 5 including means defining a drain outlet in said housing, wherein said flow passages provide a path to said service outlet past one of said ports and a path to said drain past said same port, and including a spherical valve member positioned on a first side of said one port opposite to the side upon which said first mentioned spherical valve members are located.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The water softener valve of claim 6 wherein said spherical valve members are balls and the ball on said first side of said one port is lighter than water and the balls on the opposite side of said ports are heavier than water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The water softener valve of claim 7 wherein one of said balls cooperates with a resilient disc which seats directly on the walls of its respective port, and including annular seat members releasably mounted in each of said other ports and engageable by said balls in closing said other ports.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |