US5254243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water conditioning system and an electronic control therefor
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
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Filing: 1992-06-22
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Granted: 1993-10-19
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Expires: 2012-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An electric control for a water conditioning system includes a solenoid valve which controls water inlet into the system and which is controlled by a flow switch that senses product water flow from a water faucet or other outlet. The flow switch also energizes an indicator lamp for indicating processing of water. The flow switch also controls a second solenoid valve which allows water flow into the pressure or "squeeze" side of a bladder type product water storage tank. When product water flow occurs, the second solenoid valve opens to permit supply water to flow therein, providing additional pressure to the product water side of the storage tank. Accordingly, product water flow is effected from the storage tank to the product water outlet. When a predetermined low pressure is sensed, a pressure switch located on the product water side of the storage tank opens the first solenoid valve to supply water to the system for processing. Also, the solenoid valve which provides squeeze water to the storage tank is closed, thereby permitting product water to flow into the storage tank and accumulator. When a predetermined high pressure is sensed by the pressure switch, the first solenoid valve is closed to terminate water processing, until product water flow is again sensed.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith E. Carr
- 👤 Edward C. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:26
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/08; B01D61/081; B01D61/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
349 words
An electrically controlled reverse osmosis water conditioning system adapted for purifying an external water supply, said water conditioning system comprising: a reverse osmosis filter having a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output; a supply water line connectable between said water supply and said supply water input of said reverse osmosis filter for purification for supplying water to said reverse osmosis filter; a first solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said supply water line for controlling the flow of supply water to said reverse osmosis filter, a product water storage tank having an internal bladder, said internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber; a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said squeeze chamber of said product water storage tank; a second solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a drain line connected to said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber; a product water line connected between said product water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said product water chamber of said product water storage tank; a pressure switch located in said product water line having a first preselected high pressure position and a second preselected low pressure position; said pressure switch being operable in said second preselected position to energize and open said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter; a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water line; said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter, and further opening said second solenoid valve to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
349 words
An electrically controlled reverse osmosis water conditioning system adapted for purifying an external water supply, said water conditioning system comprising: a reverse osmosis filter having a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output; a supply water line connectable between said water supply and said supply water input of said reverse osmosis filter for purification for supplying water to said reverse osmosis filter; a first solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said supply water line for controlling the flow of supply water to said reverse osmosis filter, a product water storage tank having an internal bladder, said internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber; a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said squeeze chamber of said product water storage tank; a second solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a drain line connected to said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber; a product water line connected between said product water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said product water chamber of said product water storage tank; a pressure switch located in said product water line having a first preselected high pressure position and a second preselected low pressure position; said pressure switch being operable in said second preselected position to energize and open said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter; a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water line; said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter, and further opening said second solenoid valve to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The water conditioning system of claim 1, further including a full tank indicator light for indicating a full storage tank condition, said full tank indicator light being energizable by said pressure switch in said first preselected high pressure position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The water conditioning system of claim 1, further including a processing indicator light for indicating water processing, said processing indicator light being energizable by said flow switch when product water flow is sensed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The water conditioning system of claim 3, wherein said processing indicator light is also energizable by said pressure switch in said second preselected high pressure position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The water conditioning system of claim 1, further including a processing indicator light for indicating water processing, said processing indicator light being energizable by said pressure switch in said second preselected high pressure position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The water conditioning system of claim 1, further including a reject water line connected to said squeeze water line, and including a flow restrictor for restricting the flow of reject water therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The water conditioning system of claim 1, wherein said supply water line further includes a prefilter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The water conditioning system of claim 1, wherein said product water line further includes a carbon filter, and a manually operable control valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
258 words
An electrically controlled reverse osmosis water conditioning system adapted for purifying an external water supply, said water conditioning system comprising: a reverse osmosis filter having a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output; a supply water line connectable between said water supply and said supply water input of said reverse osmosis filter for purification for supplying water to said reverse osmosis filter; a product water storage tank having an internal bladder, said internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber; a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output of said reverse osmosis and said squeeze chamber of said product water storage tank; a solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a drain line connected to said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber; a product water line connected between said product water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said product water chamber of said product water storage tank, said product water line further including a carbon filter; a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water; said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said solenoid vale to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
258 words
An electrically controlled reverse osmosis water conditioning system adapted for purifying an external water supply, said water conditioning system comprising: a reverse osmosis filter having a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output; a supply water line connectable between said water supply and said supply water input of said reverse osmosis filter for purification for supplying water to said reverse osmosis filter; a product water storage tank having an internal bladder, said internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber; a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output of said reverse osmosis and said squeeze chamber of said product water storage tank; a solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a drain line connected to said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber; a product water line connected between said product water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said product water chamber of said product water storage tank, said product water line further including a carbon filter; a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water; said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said solenoid vale to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The water conditioning system of claim 9, further including a processing indicator light for indicating water processing, said processing indicator light being energizable by said flow switch when product water flow is sensed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The water conditioning system of claim 9, further including a reject water line connected to said squeeze water line, and including a flow restrictor for restricting the flow of reject water therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The water conditioning system of claim 9, wherein said supply water line further includes a prefilter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The water conditioning system of claim 12, wherein said product water line further includes a manually operable control valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
307 words
An electrically controlled reverse osmosis water conditioning system adapted for purifying an external water supply, said water conditioning system comprising: a reverse osmosis filter having a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output; a supply water line connectable between said water supply and said supply water input of said reverse osmosis filter for purification for supplying water to said reverse osmosis filter; a first solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said supply water line for controlling the flow of supply water to said reverse osmosis filter, a product water storage tank having an internal bladder, said internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber; a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said squeeze chamber of said product water storage tank; a second solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a drain line connected to said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber; a product water line connected between said product water output of said reverse osmosis and said product water chamber of said product water storage tank, said product water line further including a carbon filter; a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water line; said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter, and further opening said second solenoid valve to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
307 words
An electrically controlled reverse osmosis water conditioning system adapted for purifying an external water supply, said water conditioning system comprising: a reverse osmosis filter having a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output; a supply water line connectable between said water supply and said supply water input of said reverse osmosis filter for purification for supplying water to said reverse osmosis filter; a first solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said supply water line for controlling the flow of supply water to said reverse osmosis filter, a product water storage tank having an internal bladder, said internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber; a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output of said reverse osmosis filter and said squeeze chamber of said product water storage tank; a second solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a drain line connected to said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber; a product water line connected between said product water output of said reverse osmosis and said product water chamber of said product water storage tank, said product water line further including a carbon filter; a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water line; said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter, and further opening said second solenoid valve to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The water conditioning system of claim 14, further including a processing indicator light for indicating water processing, said processing indicator light being energizable by said flow switch when product water flow is sensed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The water conditioning system of claim 14, further including a reject water line connected to said squeeze water line, and including a flow restrictor for restricting the flow of reject water therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The water conditioning system of claim 14, wherein said supply water line further includes a prefilter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The water conditioning system of claim 17, wherein said product water line further includes a manually operable control valve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
289 words
In a reverse osmosis water conditioning system having a reverse osmosis filter with a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output, a product water storage tank having an internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber, a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output and said squeeze chamber, a drain line connected to said said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber, a product water line connected between said product water output and said product water chamber, the improvement comprising: a first solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located upstream of said supply water line for controlling the flow of supply water to said reverse osmosis filter; a second solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a pressure switch located in said product water line having a first preselected high pressure position and a second preselected low pressure position, said pressure switch being operable in said second preselected position to energize and open said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter; and a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water line, said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter, and further opening said second solenoid valve to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
289 words
In a reverse osmosis water conditioning system having a reverse osmosis filter with a supply water input, a product water output and a waste water output, a product water storage tank having an internal bladder dividing said tank into a squeeze chamber and a product water chamber, a squeeze water line connected between said waste water output and said squeeze chamber, a drain line connected to said said squeeze chamber including means for restricting waste water flow for maintaining a minimum predetermined squeeze water pressure in said squeeze chamber, a product water line connected between said product water output and said product water chamber, the improvement comprising: a first solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located upstream of said supply water line for controlling the flow of supply water to said reverse osmosis filter; a second solenoid valve selectively operable in closed and open positions and located in said squeeze water line for controlling the flow of waste water to said squeeze chamber; a pressure switch located in said product water line having a first preselected high pressure position and a second preselected low pressure position, said pressure switch being operable in said second preselected position to energize and open said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter; and a flow switch for sensing product water flow located in said product water line, said flow switch being operable in a normally open position, said flow switch being movable to a closed position when product water flow is sensed, thereby energizing and opening said first solenoid valve to provide inlet water to said reverse osmosis filter, and further opening said second solenoid valve to provide waste water to said squeeze chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 19, further including a full tank indicator light for indicating a full storage tank condition, said full tank indicator light being energizable by said pressure switch in said first preselected high pressure position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 19, further including a processing indicator light for indicating water processing, said processing indicator light being energizable by said flow switch when product water flow is sensed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement system of claim 21, wherein said processing indicator light is also energizable by said pressure switch in said second preselected high pressure position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement of claim 19, further including a processing indicator light for indicating water processing, said processing indicator light being energizable by said pressure switch in said second preselected high pressure position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 19, further including a reject water line connected to said squeeze water line, and including a flow restrictor for restricting the flow of reject water therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 19, wherein said supply water line further includes a pre-filter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 19, wherein said product water line further includes a carbon filter, and a manually operable control valve.
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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) | 1996-10-18 | 1997-04-19 | 1997-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-18 | 2001-04-19 | 2001-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-18 | 2005-04-19 | 2005-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |