US3926071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control device
Assignee: Culligan International Co
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Filing: 1974-11-04
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1994-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling actuation of valves of a liquid treatment apparatus such as a filter or a water conditioning apparatus during the reconditioning operation such as washing the filter apparatus or regenerating the water conditioning apparatus characterized by a compound cam unit having at least two cam surfaces formed by a center member and a segment member which may be relatively rotated and adjusted to simultaneously adjust the length of the two cam surfaces. To rotate the cam unit, a motor drives a pinion which is yieldingly mounted for engagement with a driven gear of the cam unit which driven gear has a cut-out segment for receiving the pinion when the cam unit is in a neutral or service position. To shift the cam unit from the service position into an operating position, the device includes a shifting means which may be a pivoting lever operated by a calendar device or a solenoid engaging a groove on the cam unit when actuated by a sensed signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene R Elliott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:06
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C23/00; G04C23/14; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/42; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/1987; Y10T74/19874; Y10T74/19879; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A device for controlling actuation of valves of a liquid treatment apparatus during a reconditioning operation performed thereon, comprising a support; a compound cam unit mounted on said support for rotation, said cam unit including a driven gear having a cut-out segment in its periphery, a center member attached to the driven gear to rotate therewith, a segment member, and means for adjustably inTerconnecting the segment member and the center member, said center member and segment member each having a partial crylindrical surface, at least one of said partial cylindrical surfaces having axially spaced portions of different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means positioning the cylindrical surface of the segment member in overlapping relation with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the center member so that said partial cylindrical surfaces coact to form a first and second cylindrical cam surfaces which are axially spaced and have different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means enabling relative rotation between said members to vary the lengths of both cam surfaces; first and second means for controlling actuation of a valve with each means having cam followers, said first and second means being mounted on the support with their cam followers engaging the first and second cam surfaces as the cam unit is in a service position; a motor mounted on said support; a pinion driven by said motor; means for mounting the pinion at the cut-out segment of the driven gear when the cam unit assumes the service position, said means for mounting enabling yielding of the pinion gear relative to the driven gear to enable mesh engagement therewith as the driven gear is rotated from the service position; and means engageable with the cam unit when in the service position for rotating the cam unit from the service position in response to an initiating signal so that the pinion rotates the cam unit through one revolution to sequentially actuate the first and second switch means to control the valves during the reconditioning operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
330 words
A device for controlling actuation of valves of a liquid treatment apparatus during a reconditioning operation performed thereon, comprising a support; a compound cam unit mounted on said support for rotation, said cam unit including a driven gear having a cut-out segment in its periphery, a center member attached to the driven gear to rotate therewith, a segment member, and means for adjustably inTerconnecting the segment member and the center member, said center member and segment member each having a partial crylindrical surface, at least one of said partial cylindrical surfaces having axially spaced portions of different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means positioning the cylindrical surface of the segment member in overlapping relation with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the center member so that said partial cylindrical surfaces coact to form a first and second cylindrical cam surfaces which are axially spaced and have different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means enabling relative rotation between said members to vary the lengths of both cam surfaces; first and second means for controlling actuation of a valve with each means having cam followers, said first and second means being mounted on the support with their cam followers engaging the first and second cam surfaces as the cam unit is in a service position; a motor mounted on said support; a pinion driven by said motor; means for mounting the pinion at the cut-out segment of the driven gear when the cam unit assumes the service position, said means for mounting enabling yielding of the pinion gear relative to the driven gear to enable mesh engagement therewith as the driven gear is rotated from the service position; and means engageable with the cam unit when in the service position for rotating the cam unit from the service position in response to an initiating signal so that the pinion rotates the cam unit through one revolution to sequentially actuate the first and second switch means to control the valves during the reconditioning operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second means for controlling are switches each having an actuator with said cam follower, said switches being in an electrical circuit for first and second solenoid actuated valves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said cam unit is mounted on said support with the center member and segment member on one side of the support, said means for adjustably interconnecting the segment member and center member extending through said support to enable a relative rotation of the members from the other side of the support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said segment overlies a portion of the partial cylindrical surface of the center member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said partial cylindrical surface of the center member has the axial spaced portion of different arcuate lengths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said center member has means adjacent one of said axially spaced portions for mounting a segment element to increase the length of one of the cam surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the cam unit includes a segment element having an arcuate surface adjustably mounted on the center member and coacting with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the segment member to form a third cam surface axially spaced from the first and second cam surfaces, third means for controlling a valve having a cam follower and means for mounting the third means on the support with the follower engaging the third cam surface when the cam unit is in the service position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said means for mounting the third means mounts the third means on the first means with the follower aligned with the follower of the first means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said segment member has a circumferential extension aligned with the portion coacting with the segment element to form the third cam surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the first, second and third means for controlling are switches each having an actuator with the cam follower, said switches being in electrical circuits for three solenoid actuated valves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said means for rotating the cam unit from the service position engages a groove on the cam unit and includes a solenoid mounTed on the support and receiving the initiating signal so that the application of initiating signal to the solenoid causes the solenoid to rotate the cam unit from the service position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein the treatment apparatus is a watering conditioning apparatus and the reconditioning operation is a regeneration of the conditioning apparatus and which device includes an amplifier for receiving a signal from a sensing probe in the conditioning apparatus and for applying the amplified signal to the solenoid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein the center member adjacent the portion forming the second cam surface has means for mounting an additional arcuate segment to extend the length of the second cam surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein said driven gear includes a projection, and wherein said means for rotating the cam unit includes a calendar device mounted on the support and driven by said motor, said calendar device including a trip lever mounted for pivotable movement from a position withdrawn from the path of the projection on the cam gear to a position engaging the projection to rotate the driven gear from the service position independent of actuation of the solenoid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said calendar device includes a day gear having a radial extending projection, means mounting the day gear for rotation on the support, drive means disposed on a support for transferring rotation of the motor to the day gear, a star wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses and a shiftable abutment associated with each of the recesses, said abutment each being movable beyween an extended position and a retracted position, said star wheel being mounted on said support adjacent said day gear so that the projections of the day gear engage one recess to rotate the star wheel through a portion of a revolution for each revolution of the day gear and the abutments while in an extended position engage a portion of the trip lever to shift it to a position to engage the projection on the driven gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein the day gear is provided with a dial movable relative to the day gear, said dial and day gear having coacting grooves and projections to maintain the dial in a fixed position relative to the day gear, wherein the means for mounting the day gear comprises a fixed post receiving the dial and the day gear for rotation thereon and means biasing the dial into engagement with the day gear and biasing the day gear into driving relation with the drive means, said biasing means enabling selective disengagement of the dial and day gear to allow setting the time of day and the time for engagement of the radial projection with a recess of the star wheel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein the trip lever is provided with a handle to enable pivoting of the lever independent of the calendar device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said means for rotating the cam unit from the service position engages a projection on the driven gear and comprises a calendar device mounted on the support and driven by said motor, said calendar device including a trip lever mounted for pivotable movement from a position withdrawn from the path of the projection on the driven gear to a position engaging the projection and rotating the gear from the service position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
A device according to claim 18, wherein said calendar device includes a day gear having a radial extending projection, means mounting the day gear for rotation on the support, drive means disposed on a support for transferring rotation of the motor to the day gear, a star wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses and a shiftable abutment associated with each of the recesses, said abutments each being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said star wheel being mounted on said support adjacent said day gear so that the projections of the day gear engages one recess to rotate the star wheel through a portion of a revolution for each revolution of the day gear and the abutments when in an extended position engage a portion of the trip lever to shift it to a position to engage the projection on the driven gear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
139 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein the day gear is provided with a dial movable relative to the day gear, said dial and day gear having coacting grooves and projections to maintain the dial in a fixed position relative to the day gear, wherein the means for mounting the day gear comprises a fixed post telescopically receiving the dial and day gear for rotation thereon and means biasing the dial into engagement with the day gear and biasing the day gear into driving engagement with the drive means, so that a time of day and the time for the engagement of the radial projection with a recess of the star wheel can be set by selectively shifting the dial and the day gear axially on the post out of engagement with the day gear and drive means respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein the trip lever is provided with a handle to enable pivoting of the lever independent of the calendar device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
A device according to claim 18, wherein the cam unit includes a segment element having an arcuate surface adjustably mounted on the center member and coacting with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the segment member to form a third cam surface axially spaced from the first and second cam surfaces, third means for controlling a valve having a cam follower, and means for mounting the third means on the support with the follower engaging the third cam surface when the cam unit is in the service position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said means for mounting the third means mounts the third means on the first means with the follower aligned with the follower of the first means and wherein said segment member has a circumferential extension aligned with the portion coacting with the segment element to form the third cam surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
214 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein the treatment apparatus is a water conditioning apparatus and the reconditioning operation is a regenerating operation and wherein each of the first, second and third means are switches each having an actuator with the cam follower, said switches being in electrical circuits for controlling first, second and third solenoid actuated valves, respectively, said circuit including a delay relay having a first position opening the circuit to the switches and a second position closing the circuit thereto, wherein the cam unit includes a projection engaging a forth switch means mounted on the support as the cam unit approaches the service position, said forth switch when actuated by the projection applying a signal to the delay relay to shift it to the first position, and wherein the device includes an amplifier for receiving a signal from a sensing probe disposed in the water conditioning apparatus, said amplifier applying a signal from the probe to the delay relay to shift it to the second position so that the first, second and third control means actuate the solenoid valves only after the relay has been shifted to the second position by a sensed signal from the probe and after the calendar device has rotated the cam unit from the service position.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
435 words
A system for controlling the actuation of valves on a first and second water conditioning apparatus to separately regenerate the pair of apparatuses, said system comprising a first and second control device with each of said control devices comprising a support, a compound cam unit mounted on said support for rotation, said cam unit including a driven gear having a cut-out segment in its periphery, a center member attached to the driven gear to rotate therewith, a segment member, and means for adjustably interconnecting the segment member and center member, said center member and segment member each having partial cylindrical surface, at least one of said partial cyliNdrical surface having axially spaced portions of different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means positioning the cylindrical surface of the segment member in overlapping relation with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the center member so that the partial cylindrical surfaces coact to form first and second cylindrical cam surfaces which are axially spaced and have different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means enabling relative rotation between said members to vary the length of both cam surfaces; first and second switch means each having an actuator with a cam follower, each of said switch means being in a circuit for solenoid actuated valves on their respective apparatus, said first and second switch means being mounted on the support with their cam followers engaging the first and second cam surfaces when the cam unit is in a service position; a motor mounted on said support, a pinion driven by said motor, means for mounting the pinion at the cut-out segment of the driven gear when the cam unit assumes a service position, said means for mounting enabling yielding of the pinion gear relative to the driven gear to enable mesh engagement therewith as the driven gear is rotated from the service position; means engageable with the cam unit when in the service position for rotating the cam device from the service position in response to an initiating signal, said means for rotating engaging a groove on the cam unit and including a solenoid mounted in the support and receiving an initiating signal from a sensing probe disposed in the respective apparatus, and said system including interlocking means for preventing operation of one control device during operation of the other control device, said interlocking means interconnecting the first and second control devices so that when one of the cam units is controlling regeneration of its respective conditioning apparatus, the other cam unit is prevented from rotating to regenerate its respective apparatus until the one cam unit returns to the service position.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
435 words
A system for controlling the actuation of valves on a first and second water conditioning apparatus to separately regenerate the pair of apparatuses, said system comprising a first and second control device with each of said control devices comprising a support, a compound cam unit mounted on said support for rotation, said cam unit including a driven gear having a cut-out segment in its periphery, a center member attached to the driven gear to rotate therewith, a segment member, and means for adjustably interconnecting the segment member and center member, said center member and segment member each having partial cylindrical surface, at least one of said partial cyliNdrical surface having axially spaced portions of different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means positioning the cylindrical surface of the segment member in overlapping relation with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the center member so that the partial cylindrical surfaces coact to form first and second cylindrical cam surfaces which are axially spaced and have different arcuate lengths, said interconnecting means enabling relative rotation between said members to vary the length of both cam surfaces; first and second switch means each having an actuator with a cam follower, each of said switch means being in a circuit for solenoid actuated valves on their respective apparatus, said first and second switch means being mounted on the support with their cam followers engaging the first and second cam surfaces when the cam unit is in a service position; a motor mounted on said support, a pinion driven by said motor, means for mounting the pinion at the cut-out segment of the driven gear when the cam unit assumes a service position, said means for mounting enabling yielding of the pinion gear relative to the driven gear to enable mesh engagement therewith as the driven gear is rotated from the service position; means engageable with the cam unit when in the service position for rotating the cam device from the service position in response to an initiating signal, said means for rotating engaging a groove on the cam unit and including a solenoid mounted in the support and receiving an initiating signal from a sensing probe disposed in the respective apparatus, and said system including interlocking means for preventing operation of one control device during operation of the other control device, said interlocking means interconnecting the first and second control devices so that when one of the cam units is controlling regeneration of its respective conditioning apparatus, the other cam unit is prevented from rotating to regenerate its respective apparatus until the one cam unit returns to the service position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
204 words
A system according to claim 25, wherein the interlock means includes a delay relay in a power circuit for each of the motors of the first and second control device, each of said delay relays having a first position opening a power circuit to the motor and a second position closing the power circuit, each of said cam units having a projection and a reset switch means mounted on the support and having an actuator with a cam follower engaged by the projection as the cam unit is rotated through one revolution and approaches the service position, and electrical circuitry interconnecting the first and third switches of each device with the delay relay of the other device so that actuation of the first switch means of one of the first and second devices during rotation of the cam unit shifts the delay relay of the other device to the first position to open the circuit of the motor of the other device and actuation of the reset switch as the cam unit approaches the service position on completion of rotation shifts the delay relay of the other device to the second position to close the power circuit of the motor of the other device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
99 words
A system according to claim 26, wherein each of the cam units includes a segment element having an arcuate surface adjustably mounted on the center member and coacting with a portion of the cylindrical surface of the segment member to form a third cam surface axially spaced from the first and second cam surfaces, third switch means for controlling a third solenoid valve and having an actuator with a cam follower, and means for mounting the third switch means on the support with the follower engaging the third cam surface when the cam unit is in the service position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3077300A
Cited
US3805154A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |