Water Softener System and Method
A water treatment system is provided that includes a control valve. The control valve includes a plurality of orifices and a piston. Movement of the piston is operative to change the flow of water through the orifices. A brine tank is in operative connection with the control valve. The brine tank includes a pump. A resin tank is in operative connection with the control valve and includes an ion exchange resin bed. At least one controller is operatively configured to cause the pump to operate to push brine from the brine tank through the control valve and into the resin tank.
1 . A water treatment system comprising:
a control valve, wherein the control valve includes:
a plurality of orifices;
a piston, wherein movement of the piston is operative to change the flow of water through the orifices;
a brine tank in operative connection with the control valve, wherein the brine tank includes a pump therein;
a resin tank in operative connection with the control valve, wherein the resin tank includes an ion exchange resin bed;
at least one controller operatively configured to cause the pump to operate to push brine from the brine tank through the control valve and into the resin tank.
2 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the orifices are configured to connect to a source of untreated water, a treated water outlet, a brine tank, a drain, and the resin tank.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the resin tank includes a passageway which directs brine pumped from the brine tank to move upwardly through the resin exchange resin bed.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a brine valve that is operative to open and close a passageway through which brine from the brine tank moves through to the resin tank, wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to operate the piston and brine valve to direct water through the passageway and through the pump.
5 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the brine tank includes a riser tube, wherein the riser tube extends upwardly from a bottom of the resin tank, wherein the pump is positioned inside the riser tube.
6 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the pump is submersed in brine.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller monitors the pump current to determine when the water is at a predetermined level and causing the piston to move responsive to the determined water level.
8 . The system according to claim 1 and further comprising an indicating arrangement that indicates when the salt in the brine tank needs to be replenished.
9 . The system according to claim 1 and further comprising a timer wherein the at least one controller is responsive to the timer to operate the pump, wherein the timer includes an atomic clock signal receiver device.
10 . A method comprising:
a) moving a piston with a first motor to change a flow of water through a plurality of orifices in a control valve of a water softening system comprising a brine tank and a resin tank in operative connection with the control valve, wherein the brine tank includes a pump therein, wherein the resin tank includes an ion exchange resin bed;
b) through operation of at least one controller, causing the pump to operate to push brine from the brine tank through the control valve and into the resin tank.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
c) operating the piston and a brine valve to direct water through a passageway through which brine from the brine tank moves through to the resin tank and through the pump.
12 . The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:
c) monitoring the pump current to determine when the water is at a predetermined level; and
d) operating the piston responsive to (c).
13 . The method according to claim 10 wherein in (b) the brine is pushed upwardly through the resin bed of the resin tank.
14 . The method according to claim 10 wherein in (b) the brine is pushed downwardly through the resin bed of the resin tank.
15 . The method according to claim 10 including operating a brine valve with a second motor to open and close one passage between the control valve and the brine tank.