The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 28, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 21, 2005
Mark J. Wittig, Franklin, WI (US);
Kenneth J. Sieth, Delafield, WI (US);
John D. Stolz, Grafton, WI (US);
Jeffrey G. Franks, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Mark J. Wittig, Franklin, WI (US);
Kenneth J. Sieth, Delafield, WI (US);
John D. Stolz, Grafton, WI (US);
Jeffrey G. Franks, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A flow control valve controls a flow of water through a passage to a brine tank of a water treatment apparatus. A valve seat is between first and second sections of the passage. The valve seat has a first end with a concave surface facing the first section and an aperture extending from the concave surface to a second end that faces the second section. A groove in the concave surface extends from the first end to the aperture. A valve element moves within the first section in response to pressure of the water in the first section thereby varying the size of a path through the passage by an amount that varies as a function of the water pressure. The action of the valve element maintains a substantially constant flow rate through the flow control valve regardless of water pressure variation.