Patent US4086165A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4086165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid-treatment system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-12-08
•
Granted: 1978-04-25
•
Expires: 1996-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A modular liquid-treatment system for treating water having a liquid-treating tank with a liquid-treatment cartridge therein for treating untreated water and a similar storage tank which receives the treated water and stores it for supply on demand. The detection of variation of the water level of the storage tank below a predetermined level is used to automatically control supply of untreated water to the liquid-treating tank. A modular liquid-flow control unit is removably mounted on the two alike tanks. The unit has two similar symmetrically mounted couplings each removably mounted on a corresponding one of the tanks. A supply valve on the unit controls supply of water from an untreated water supply main and supplies the untreated water to a flow-control device which maintains the flow substantially constant in the presence of pressure variations in the supply main. This device precludes water-hammering in the system and keeps the flow within the pressure tolerances of the system so that the tanks and many elements can be made of relatively light plastic. A pair of electromagnetic valves which are closed when de-energized are disposed on the modular coupling on the liquid-treating tank. The electromagnetic valves are energized to open them by application of an electrical signal applied when the level of treated water is detected to be below the predetermined level. Outflow of treated water from the storage tank is automatically controlled by detecting when the treated water level exceeds a predetermined level. The storage tank is vented to allow entry of filtered air and venting of air to the atmosphere as the water level therein varies and avoids contact with the atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Augusto Formenti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:03
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/28; C02F1/283; B; B01; B01J; B01J47/00; B01J47/02; B01J47/022; B01J47/024; B01J49/00; B01J49/75; C02F1/006; C02F1/008; C02F2209/00; C02F2209/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
463 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water comprising; a first tank having a liquid-treatment cartridge therein for treating all of a liquid received for treatment; a second tank constructed similarly to the first tank without a cartridge for receiving the liquid treated in said first tank; a modular liquid-control unit for controlling flow of liquid into said first tank to be treated and flow of liquid from said first tank to said second tank and outflow of treated liquid from said second tank comprising, two similar modular couplings symmetrically mounted and each removably connected to the interior of a corresponding one of said first tank and said second tank, a mounting element fixedly mounting said modular couplings relative to each other thereon for mounting and for removal of said liquid-control unit as an assembly with respect to the two tanks, mounting elements on said modular couplings for mounting thereof removably on the corresponding tanks, each modular coupling having two independent coaxial flow paths comprising an inner and an outer flow path, a removable connecting conduit connecting the outer flow paths of the modular couplings, a supply valve mounted on said mounting element connectable in use to a supply main for supplying liquid to be treated and having a valve element for turning on and off flow of liquid into said liquid-control unit, a flow-control device in series with said supply valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said supply valve at a substantially constant flow at a pressure tolerable by the liquid-treatment system in the presence of pressure variations in the supply main and for precluding water-hammering in the system, at least one electromagnetically-controlled valve closed when deenergized mounted on and upstream of the modular coupling mounted on said first tank and downstream of said flow-control device for supply of liquid therethrough to the inner flow path of said modular coupling on said first tank for flow through said liquid-treatment cartridge, a pair of similar microswitches on said fluid-control unit comprising a first microswitch for controlling application of an electrical signal to said electromagnetically-controlled valve for opening for allowing flow of liquid into said first tank in dependence upon the water level in said second tank to render said first microswitch effective to apply said signal when said liquid in said second tank is below said predetermined level; means for rendering the second of said microswitches effective to control the outflow of liquid from said second tank through the inner flow path of said second modular coupling; said second tank having one-way means above said predetermined level for venting it to the atmosphere; and one-way means on said second tank for allowing entry of filtered air thereinto as the level of said second tank varies downwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
463 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water comprising; a first tank having a liquid-treatment cartridge therein for treating all of a liquid received for treatment; a second tank constructed similarly to the first tank without a cartridge for receiving the liquid treated in said first tank; a modular liquid-control unit for controlling flow of liquid into said first tank to be treated and flow of liquid from said first tank to said second tank and outflow of treated liquid from said second tank comprising, two similar modular couplings symmetrically mounted and each removably connected to the interior of a corresponding one of said first tank and said second tank, a mounting element fixedly mounting said modular couplings relative to each other thereon for mounting and for removal of said liquid-control unit as an assembly with respect to the two tanks, mounting elements on said modular couplings for mounting thereof removably on the corresponding tanks, each modular coupling having two independent coaxial flow paths comprising an inner and an outer flow path, a removable connecting conduit connecting the outer flow paths of the modular couplings, a supply valve mounted on said mounting element connectable in use to a supply main for supplying liquid to be treated and having a valve element for turning on and off flow of liquid into said liquid-control unit, a flow-control device in series with said supply valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said supply valve at a substantially constant flow at a pressure tolerable by the liquid-treatment system in the presence of pressure variations in the supply main and for precluding water-hammering in the system, at least one electromagnetically-controlled valve closed when deenergized mounted on and upstream of the modular coupling mounted on said first tank and downstream of said flow-control device for supply of liquid therethrough to the inner flow path of said modular coupling on said first tank for flow through said liquid-treatment cartridge, a pair of similar microswitches on said fluid-control unit comprising a first microswitch for controlling application of an electrical signal to said electromagnetically-controlled valve for opening for allowing flow of liquid into said first tank in dependence upon the water level in said second tank to render said first microswitch effective to apply said signal when said liquid in said second tank is below said predetermined level; means for rendering the second of said microswitches effective to control the outflow of liquid from said second tank through the inner flow path of said second modular coupling; said second tank having one-way means above said predetermined level for venting it to the atmosphere; and one-way means on said second tank for allowing entry of filtered air thereinto as the level of said second tank varies downwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water according to claim 1, including a second electromagnetically-controlled valve controlled by said signal mounted on the modular coupling on said first tank downstream of the first-mentioned electromagnetically-controlled valve and upstream of the modular coupling on said first tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water according to claim 1, in which said means for rendering said second microswitch effective comprises second sensing means for sensing the level of the liquid in said tank and to render said second microswitch effective when a maximum predetermined level is exceeded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water according to claim 1, in which said tanks are made of plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water according to claim 4, in which said first and second modular couplings are made of plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water and the like according to claim 1, in which said supply valve comprises a manually-operated valve element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
408 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water and the like comprising; two alike plastic tanks of similar capacity; a liquid-treatment cartridge in one of said tanks for treating all the liquid received therein; a modular-liquid control unit comprising, a pair of similar modular couplings each removably connected with the interior of a corresponding one of said two tanks, each modular coupling having two independent flow paths internally thereof, mounting means for mounting said modular couplings relative to each other for removably mounting on and removal from said two tanks as an assembly of said unit, a supply valve on said unit connectable in use to a supply main for supply of a liquid to be treated and for turning on and off supply of said liquid from said supply main, flow-control means on said unit downstream of said supply valve for controlling the flow of said liquid to maintain it substantially constant in the presence of pressure variations in said supply main to preclude water-hammering in said system, an electromagnetic valve closed when de-energized and mounted on one of said modular couplings on said one tank between said one modular coupling in series with one of the flow paths thereof and said flow-control device for control of flow of liquid into said one tank in dependence upon the liquid in the other of said two tanks being below a predetermined level, conduit means removable in said unit for providing communication between the other of the flow paths of said one modular coupling and one of the flow paths of the other modular coupling on the other of said two tanks; means including automatic sensing means for sensing level variations of the liquid in said other tank; means for automatically applying an electrical signal to said electro-magnetic valve to open it when said sensing means detects the level of said liquid falls below a predetermined level; means for automatically controlling the outflow of liquid from said other tank through the other flow path of said other modular coupling in dependence upon automatic detection of the level of the liquid in said other tank exceeding a predetermined level; one-way venting means for filtering air and allowing it to enter into said other tank as the level of the liquid therein drops; and one-way overflow and venting means above the level of said predetermined level on said other tank for allowing venting of air therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
408 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water and the like comprising; two alike plastic tanks of similar capacity; a liquid-treatment cartridge in one of said tanks for treating all the liquid received therein; a modular-liquid control unit comprising, a pair of similar modular couplings each removably connected with the interior of a corresponding one of said two tanks, each modular coupling having two independent flow paths internally thereof, mounting means for mounting said modular couplings relative to each other for removably mounting on and removal from said two tanks as an assembly of said unit, a supply valve on said unit connectable in use to a supply main for supply of a liquid to be treated and for turning on and off supply of said liquid from said supply main, flow-control means on said unit downstream of said supply valve for controlling the flow of said liquid to maintain it substantially constant in the presence of pressure variations in said supply main to preclude water-hammering in said system, an electromagnetic valve closed when de-energized and mounted on one of said modular couplings on said one tank between said one modular coupling in series with one of the flow paths thereof and said flow-control device for control of flow of liquid into said one tank in dependence upon the liquid in the other of said two tanks being below a predetermined level, conduit means removable in said unit for providing communication between the other of the flow paths of said one modular coupling and one of the flow paths of the other modular coupling on the other of said two tanks; means including automatic sensing means for sensing level variations of the liquid in said other tank; means for automatically applying an electrical signal to said electro-magnetic valve to open it when said sensing means detects the level of said liquid falls below a predetermined level; means for automatically controlling the outflow of liquid from said other tank through the other flow path of said other modular coupling in dependence upon automatic detection of the level of the liquid in said other tank exceeding a predetermined level; one-way venting means for filtering air and allowing it to enter into said other tank as the level of the liquid therein drops; and one-way overflow and venting means above the level of said predetermined level on said other tank for allowing venting of air therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A liquid-treatment system made of modular elements for treating liquids such as water and the like according to claim 7, including another electromagnetic valve on said one modular coupling controlled simultaneously with the first-mentioned electromagnetic valve and in the same flow path as said first-mentioned electromagnetic valve upstream of said one modular coupling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US582405A
Cited
US1625197A
Cited
US2751930A
Cited
US3616912A
Cited
US3695449A
Cited
US3679053A
Cited
US3799344A
Cited
US3741390A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |