Ecowater Systems, Inc.

Nordson Corporation

Ralph H Larson

William M Yavorsky

Jeffrey A Zimmerman

Cardell E Miller

Paul C Myhre

John L Schlafer

Robert F Folley

A water softener and a method of operating the same are provided to allow for the efficient use of either NaCl or KCl as the regenerant salt. A user interface is provided to allow the user to indicate to the computer controlling the water softener whether NaCl or KCl is being used. The computer controller adjusts the fill time and brine time, depending on the type of regenerant salt used and on the temperature of the brine.

Brine fill apparatus for water softener

A potassium permanganate feeder has an inlet container and an outlet container disposed in an outer container. An inlet tube disposed in the inlet container supplies fill water which flows out of the inlet container through a porous screen to dissolve potassium potassium crystals. The resulting potassium permanganate solution flows into the outlet container through a porous screen where it may be withdrawn through an outlet tube disposed therein.

Permanganate feeder for iron filter

A method of manufacturing a valve rotor with a wear-resistant, low-friction surface, wherein a disk having angled edges and a shape which correspond with the surface of the rotor is formed from a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The disk is placed at the bottom of a mold cavity, and a plastic material is injected in the mold. The plastic fills the mold cavity surrounding and covering the angled edges of the disk. Once hardened, the plastic is locked together with the angled edges of the PTFE disk. In a preferred embodiment, a method of manufacturing a water treatment valve rotor with a PTFE rotating surface is shown.

Plastic coated valve rotor and a method of manufacturing

Container filling apparatus having a novel, multi-purpose nozzle including a valve designed to control injection of a liquid or semi-liquid product into the container and a further means for evacuating any froth or foam from the container while simultaneously sensing when the level of product within the container reaches the predetermined full level. The valve comprises a hollow cylindrical body defining a chamber for receiving froth and foam and discharging same through a drain port. Passing longitudinally through this body member is a tubular piston having a product tube portion extending therefrom and dimensioned to fit through the neck of the container to be filled. The product tube has an exit port near its distal end and surrounding the product tube is a combination venting and level sensing tube. The space between the outside of the product tube and the inside of the venting/level sensing tube communicates with the froth/foam receiving chamber in the valve body. Means are provided for coupling this same clearance space to a fluidic logic controller. When a container to be filled is positioned with the coaxial tube arrangement entering the filling neck thereof, the exit port zone of the product tube is extended outwardly from the distal end of the venting/level sensing tube, thereby unblocking the exit ports allowing the liquid product to flow into the container. As froth or foam flows up the venting/level sensing tube to the drain chamber, the pressure in this tube is continuously sensed. When the product level reaches the open end of the venting/sensing tube, a sudden pressure change is detected which triggers the fluidic control unit, causing the tubular piston to be retracted, terminating the product flow.

Growing community of inventors

Bayport, MN, United States of America

Ralph H Larson