Autotrol Corporation

J David Seal

Jeffrey G Franks

A water quality monitor receives water that has passed through a water softener treatment tank. The monitor contains a sample of ion exchange resin that is exposed to the water and which shrinks in volume when the water quality deteriorates to the point where it is no longer being softened. Shrinking of the resin sample signals that corrective action should be taken, such as regenerating the softener. Signaling may be a visual or audible signal or it may involve closing a valve preventing the flow of service water to one or more points of use, or restricting the flow to the extent that the restricted flow constitutes a signal to the user. The sample ion exchange resin is contained in a replaceable cartridge that can be inserted into the monitor and replaced after the monitor has functioned to signal deteriorating quality.

Water quality monitor

An improved control for a resin bed water softener includes a microcomputer which is supplied with input data from a flowmeter indicative of the quantity of soft water leaving the softener. In accordance with the flow data, the microcomputer determines the amount of water used since the last regeneration and also determines the average daily soft water consumption. The microcomputer also coupled to a data input device and receives input data indicative of the total resin bed treating capacity and the incoming water hardness. At a prescribed hour each day, the microcomputer determines the remaining water softener resin bed treating capacity as calculated from the water hardness, the total resin bed treating capacity and the amount of water used since the last regeneration. The remaining resin bed treating capacity is compared to the reserve established as a proportion of the average daily consumption of soft water and regeneration is initiated when the reserve is greater than the remaining resin bed treating capacity.

Microcomputer controlled demand/scheduled water softener

An improved control for a water softener includes a resin bed sensor for sensing when the resin bed has been depleted to a predetermined percentage of the total resin bed treating capacity. The resin bed sensor is connected to a microcomputer which is also coupled to a flow meter to receive data therefrom indicative of the quantity of treated water leaving the water treatment device over a given period of time. When the resin bed sensor signals the microcomputer that the resin bed has been depleted to the predetermined capacity the microcomputer calculates the total softening capacity of the resin bed. Each day, the microcomputer computes both the total quantity of treated water consumed since the last regeneration and the remaining capacity of the resin bed. The microcomputer also maintains a record in memory of the previous 7 days' usage and the average usage is calculated to establish a soft water reserve value. Should the remaining resin bed capacity be less than the established soft water reserve, the regeneration is initiated.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

J David Seal