US3928200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detection devices for use in solution processing systems
Assignee: WATER GENERAL Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1974-12-19
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1994-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A detection device for use in a cyclical solution processing system, such as a water softening system, where an ion-exchange material the dimensions of which vary as a function of the salt concentration of and the valence of ions present in the solution is placed on a flexible, solid substrate material of fixed dimensions. The device is placed in contact with the processed solution at or near the system output so that the dimensional changes of the ion-exchange material causes a flexing of the substrate material, which device is then effectively used as a switch in control circuitry for controlling the operating time of one or more of the sub-cycles of operation required in the overall processing cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvin Calmon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:52
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J47/00; B01J47/14; G; G05; G05D; G05D21/00; G05D21/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A DETECTION DEVICE FOR USE IN A SOLUTION PROCESSING SYSTEM, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SENSING ELEMENT INCLUDING A FIRST ION-EXCHANG MATERIAL THE DIMENSIONS OF WHICH VARY AS A FUNCTION OF THE SALT CONCENTRATION OF SAID SOLUTION AND AS A FUNCTION OF THE VALENCE OF IONS PRESENT IN SAID SOLUTION WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID SOLUTION, SAID FIRST MATERIAL HAVING MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS WHEN IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SOLUTION HAVING MONO-VALENT IONS WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS UNFLEXED STATE AND HAVING REDUCED DIMENSIONS WITH IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SOLUTION HAVING MULTI-VALENT IONS WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS FLEXED STATE AND SAID FIRST MATERIAL FURTHER HAVING ITS MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS WHEN IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SALT SOLUTION HAVING A RELATIVE LOW SALT CONCENTRATION WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS UNFLEXED STATE AND HAVING REDUCED DIMENSIONS WHEN IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SALT SOLUTION HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH SALT CONCENTRATION WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS FLEXED STATE; A SECOND, SUBSTANTIALLY FLEXIBLE, SOLID MATERIAL HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED DIMENSIONS WHICH ARE RETAINED IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID SOLUTION INDEPENDENTLY OR THE SALT CONCENTRATION THEREOF AND THE VALENCE OF IONS THEREIN; SAID FIRST MATERIAL BEING IN CONTACT WITH A SURFACE OF SAID FLOXIBLE, SOLID MATERIAL, WHEREBY DIMENSIONAL CHANGES OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL WHICH OCCUR WHEN SAID FIRST MATERIAL IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID SOLUTION CAUSE A FLEXING OF SAID SENSING ELEMENT DUE TO THE FLEXING OF SAID SECOND MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A DETECTION DEVICE FOR USE IN A SOLUTION PROCESSING SYSTEM, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SENSING ELEMENT INCLUDING A FIRST ION-EXCHANG MATERIAL THE DIMENSIONS OF WHICH VARY AS A FUNCTION OF THE SALT CONCENTRATION OF SAID SOLUTION AND AS A FUNCTION OF THE VALENCE OF IONS PRESENT IN SAID SOLUTION WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID SOLUTION, SAID FIRST MATERIAL HAVING MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS WHEN IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SOLUTION HAVING MONO-VALENT IONS WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS UNFLEXED STATE AND HAVING REDUCED DIMENSIONS WITH IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SOLUTION HAVING MULTI-VALENT IONS WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS FLEXED STATE AND SAID FIRST MATERIAL FURTHER HAVING ITS MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS WHEN IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SALT SOLUTION HAVING A RELATIVE LOW SALT CONCENTRATION WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS UNFLEXED STATE AND HAVING REDUCED DIMENSIONS WHEN IT IS IN CONTACT WITH A SALT SOLUTION HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH SALT CONCENTRATION WHEREBY SAID SENSING ELEMENT IS IN ITS FLEXED STATE; A SECOND, SUBSTANTIALLY FLEXIBLE, SOLID MATERIAL HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED DIMENSIONS WHICH ARE RETAINED IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID SOLUTION INDEPENDENTLY OR THE SALT CONCENTRATION THEREOF AND THE VALENCE OF IONS THEREIN; SAID FIRST MATERIAL BEING IN CONTACT WITH A SURFACE OF SAID FLOXIBLE, SOLID MATERIAL, WHEREBY DIMENSIONAL CHANGES OF SAID FIRST MATERIAL WHICH OCCUR WHEN SAID FIRST MATERIAL IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID SOLUTION CAUSE A FLEXING OF SAID SENSING ELEMENT DUE TO THE FLEXING OF SAID SECOND MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 1 for use in a solution processing system having a system input for feeding a solution to be processed and a system output for supplying a processed solution, and further including means for positioning said sensing element at a location such that during the processing of said solution said detection device is in contact with said solution near said system output; and means responsive to the flexing of said second material for indicating a change in the characteristics of said solution with respect to the salt concentration thereof and the valence of ions therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said indicating means include first electrical contact means mounted on said sensing element; second electrical contact means mounted in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to said first contact means, said first and second electrical contact means forming a part of an electrical circuit; whereby said flexing of said sensing element causes an opening or closing of said electrical circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 3 for use in a solution processing system having an overall operating cycle which includes an ion-exchange processing sub-cycle, an ion-exchange regeneration sub-cycle and a rinse sub-cycle. said sensing element of said detection device changing from its unflexed state to its flexed state substantially at the end of said ion-exchange processing sub-cycle, remaining in its flexed state during said ion-exchange regeneration sub-cycle and changing from its flexed state to its unflexed state substantially at the end of said rinse sub-cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second material of said sensing element is formed as a band fixedly mounted at one end thereof and having said first electrical contact means mounted thereon at a position remote from said one end; said first material is applied to one surface of said second material; and said second electrical contact means is fixedly mounted to be in contact with said first electrical contact means when said sensing element is in its unflexed state and to be out of contact with said first contact means when said sending element is in its flexed state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second material of said sensing element is formed as a band fixedly mounted at one end thereof and having said first electrical contact means mounted thereon at a position remote from said one end; said first material is applied to one surface of said second material; and said second electrical contact means is fixedly mounted to be out of contact with said first contact means when said sensing element is in its unflexed state and to be in contact with said first contact means when said sending element is in its flexed state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sensing device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first electrical contact means is positioned at the other end of said band of said second material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sensing device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first electrical contact means is positioned at the other end of said band of said second material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A sensing device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second material of said sensing element is fixedly mounted at one end thereof and said first electrical contact means being attached thereto between the ends thereof; and said first material is fixedly mounted at its ends to said second material, said second electrical contact means being attached thereto between the ends thereof so that said first electrical contact means is in contact with said second electrical contact means when said sensing element is in its unflexed state and is out of contact with said second electrical contact means when said sensing element is in its flexed state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sensing device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first and said second electrical contact means are each positioned substantially at the centers of said second and first materials, respectively, between the ends thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said detection device is out of contact with the solution at the output of said system during a portion of said ion-exchange processing sub-cycle and is intermittently in contact with the solution at the output of said system during the remaining portion of said ion-exchange processing sub-cycle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 11 and further wherein said detection device is out of contact with the solution at the output of said system during said regeneration sub-cycle and is in direct contact with a regenerant solution during said regeneration sub-cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A detection device in accordance with claim 12 and further wherein said detection device is out of contact with the solution at the output of said system during said rinse sub-cycle.
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) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |