US4029576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for softening water
Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
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Filing: 1976-02-23
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Granted: 1977-06-14
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Expires: 1996-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for reducing the hardness of raw water to a level where it is suitable for circulation to a boiler wherein the water is converted to steam for generating power and subsequent use in equipment for building tires. The system employs, (i) a sedimentation tank in which a mixture of raw water, lime and soda ash is heated to cause the precipitation of calcium carbonate from the water as a sludge; (ii) a filter with a bed of coal for removing sludge which escapes with the water removed from the sedimentation tank; (iii) a softener with a resinous bed of sodium zeolite resin for further reducing the hardness of the water to a desired or tolerable level; and (iiii) a special filter or trap between the coal filter and zeolite softener for removing particles of coal carried along by the water as it flows through the coal filter, since the particles of coal eventually destroy the capacity and effectiveness of the zeolite softener.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Shivers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:03
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F9/00; C02F1/00; C02F1/28; C02F1/283; C02F1/42; C02F2001/425; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/02; C02F2103/023; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/002; C02F2209/00; C02F2209/03; C02F2303/00; C02F2303/24; C02F5/00; C02F5/02; C02F5/025; C02F5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for reducing the total hardness of water expressed in parts per million of calcium carbonate, comprising: a. a sedimentation tank in which calcium carbonate is precipitated as sludge from water to be softened; b. a bed of coal for removing sludge carried from the tank by the water treated therein; c. means for circulating water from the tank to the bed of coal for filtration therethrough; d. a resinous bed of sodium zeolite, separate from the bed of coal, for further reducing the total hardness of water treated in the tank; e. means for circulating water, which has filtered through the circulating water, which has filtered through the bed of coal, to the resinous bed for filtration therethrough; and f. a separator interposed between the two beds for removing particles of coal carried from the bed of coal by water which has filtered through the bed of the coal, said separator comprising:
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for reducing the total hardness of water expressed in parts per million of calcium carbonate, comprising: a. a sedimentation tank in which calcium carbonate is precipitated as sludge from water to be softened; b. a bed of coal for removing sludge carried from the tank by the water treated therein; c. means for circulating water from the tank to the bed of coal for filtration therethrough; d. a resinous bed of sodium zeolite, separate from the bed of coal, for further reducing the total hardness of water treated in the tank; e. means for circulating water, which has filtered through the circulating water, which has filtered through the bed of coal, to the resinous bed for filtration therethrough; and f. a separator interposed between the two beds for removing particles of coal carried from the bed of coal by water which has filtered through the bed of the coal, said separator comprising:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
a housing which is impervious to water and which has a top and bottom when disposed vertically; 2. an inlet port through which coal-laden water enters the housing adjacent the top thereof; 3. an outlet port through which coal-free water exits the housing adjacent the bottom thereof; 4. a stationary cage disposed within the housing in spaced relation from the inlet and outlet ports, the cage having openings in the top and bottom thereof and formed of wire screen having a mesh sufficiently small to contain particles of coal within the cage; and 5. means disposed within the housing for directing coal-laden water from the inlet port into the cage through the opening in the top thereof, and through the wire screen and into the space between the cage and outlet port for exit through the outlet port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
a housing which is impervious to water and which has a top and bottom when disposed vertically; 2. an inlet port through which coal-laden water enters the housing adjacent the top thereof; 3. an outlet port through which coal-free water exits the housing adjacent the bottom thereof; 4. a stationary cage disposed within the housing in spaced relation from the inlet and outlet ports, the cage having openings in the top and bottom thereof and formed of wire screen having a mesh sufficiently small to contain particles of coal within the cage; and 5. means disposed within the housing for directing coal-laden water from the inlet port into the cage through the opening in the top thereof, and through the wire screen and into the space between the cage and outlet port for exit through the outlet port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, which includes: g. means for storing water that has filtered through the resinous bed of resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the separator includes: 6. a catch basin disposed below the cage for receiving and temporarily storing particles of coal falling, by gravity, from the cage through the opening in the bottom thereof; 7. means of viewing particles of coal in the catch basin; 8. means for flushing particles of coal from the catch basin without interrupting operation of the system; and 9. means for monitoring the flow of water to and from the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 3, wherein the coal is anthracite coal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the means (e) for circulating water from the bed of coal to the resinous bed includes a pump.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
256 words
A method of reducing the total hardness of water expressed in parts per million of calcium carbonate, comprising: a. reacting water with lime and soda ash in a sedimentation tank to precipitate calcium carbonate from the water, as sludge, thereby reducing the hardness of the water; b. then passing the water, with the reduced hardness, through a bed of coal for filtering out sludge carried by water from the sedimentation tank; c. then passing the water, filtered through the bed of coal, through a separator for removing particles of coal carried by water from the bed of coal, the separator comprising: 1. a housing which is impervious to water and which has a top and bottom when disposed vertically; 2. an inlet port through which coal-laden water enters the housing adjacent the top thereof; 3. an outlet port through which coal-free water exits the housing adjacent the bottom thereof; 4. A stationary cage disposed within the housing in spaced relation from the inlet and outlet ports, the cage having an opening and formed of wire screen having a mesh sufficiently small to contain particles of coal within the cage; and 5. means disposed within the housing for directing coal-laden water from the inlet port into the cage through the opening and through the wire screen and into the space between the cage and outlet port for exit through the outlet port; and d. then passing the water, from the separator, through a resinous bed of sodium zeolite to further reduce the total hardness of the water.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
256 words
A method of reducing the total hardness of water expressed in parts per million of calcium carbonate, comprising: a. reacting water with lime and soda ash in a sedimentation tank to precipitate calcium carbonate from the water, as sludge, thereby reducing the hardness of the water; b. then passing the water, with the reduced hardness, through a bed of coal for filtering out sludge carried by water from the sedimentation tank; c. then passing the water, filtered through the bed of coal, through a separator for removing particles of coal carried by water from the bed of coal, the separator comprising: 1. a housing which is impervious to water and which has a top and bottom when disposed vertically; 2. an inlet port through which coal-laden water enters the housing adjacent the top thereof; 3. an outlet port through which coal-free water exits the housing adjacent the bottom thereof; 4. A stationary cage disposed within the housing in spaced relation from the inlet and outlet ports, the cage having an opening and formed of wire screen having a mesh sufficiently small to contain particles of coal within the cage; and 5. means disposed within the housing for directing coal-laden water from the inlet port into the cage through the opening and through the wire screen and into the space between the cage and outlet port for exit through the outlet port; and d. then passing the water, from the separator, through a resinous bed of sodium zeolite to further reduce the total hardness of the water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the coal is anthracite coal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the water is passed, under pressure, from the bed of coal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8, which includes monitoring the flow of water through the separator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, which includes triggering an audible alarm when the pressure of the water exiting the separator falls below a predetermined level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10, which includes bypassing the water around the coal separator when the audible alarm is sounded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
190 words
A separator for removing particles of coal from coal-laden water, comprising: a. a housing which is impervious to water and which has a top and bottom when disposed vertically; b. an inlet port through which coal-laden water enters the housing adjacent the top thereof; c. an outlet port through which coal-free water exits the housing adjacent the bottom thereof; d. a stationary cage disposed within the housing in spaced relation from the inlet and outlet ports, the cage having openings in the top and bottom thereof and formed of wire screen having a mesh sufficiently small to contain particles of coal within the cage; e. means disposed within the housing for directing coal-laden water from the inlet port into the cage through the opening in the top thereof, and through the wire screen and into the space between the cage and outlet port for exit through the outlet port; f. a catch basin disposed below the cage for receiving and temporarily storing particles of coal falling, by gravity, from the cage through the opening in the bottom thereof; and g. means for flushing particles of coal from the catch basin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
190 words
A separator for removing particles of coal from coal-laden water, comprising: a. a housing which is impervious to water and which has a top and bottom when disposed vertically; b. an inlet port through which coal-laden water enters the housing adjacent the top thereof; c. an outlet port through which coal-free water exits the housing adjacent the bottom thereof; d. a stationary cage disposed within the housing in spaced relation from the inlet and outlet ports, the cage having openings in the top and bottom thereof and formed of wire screen having a mesh sufficiently small to contain particles of coal within the cage; e. means disposed within the housing for directing coal-laden water from the inlet port into the cage through the opening in the top thereof, and through the wire screen and into the space between the cage and outlet port for exit through the outlet port; f. a catch basin disposed below the cage for receiving and temporarily storing particles of coal falling, by gravity, from the cage through the opening in the bottom thereof; and g. means for flushing particles of coal from the catch basin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The separator of claim 12, which includes means for viewing particles of coal within the catch basin.
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) | 1980-06-13 | 1980-12-13 | 1981-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-13 | 1984-12-13 | 1985-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-13 | 1988-12-13 | 1989-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |