Control valve for a fluid treatment system

• US 20090084453A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Culligan International Company
• Original Assignee: Culligan International Company
• Inventors: Morrison, Dan, Reed, Ken, Quinn, Kerry
• Granted Patent: US 8,302,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/637.200
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/16 Regeneration of sorbents, filters
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/22 with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87096 Valves with separate, correlated, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87121 Coaxial stems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8737 Water treatment feature

Abstract

A control valve assembly for a fluid treatment system including a valve housing defining a plurality of compartments and a piston assembly associated with each of the compartments. Each of the piston assemblies is configured to be independently movable in each of the compartments. The control valve assembly also includes a gearbox that is associated with the housing and includes a plurality of cams driven by a motor, where each of the cams is configured to drive a corresponding one of the piston assemblies.

Claims

1. A control valve assembly for a fluid treatment system comprising:

a valve housing defining a plurality of compartments;

a piston assembly associated with each of said compartments, each of said piston assemblies configured to be independently movable in each of said compartments; and

a gearbox associated with said housing and including a plurality of cams driven by a motor, each of said cams being configured to drive a corresponding one of said piston assemblies.

2. The control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said piston assemblies includes a piston having at least one sealing member positioned between said piston and an adjacent wall of a corresponding one of said compartments.

3. The control valve assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said piston assemblies further includes a sleeve surrounding said wall and constructed and arranged for receiving said piston during reciprocation.

4. The control valve assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said compartments includes a biasing member constructed and arranged for biasing a corresponding one of said pistons.

5. The control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said piston assemblies includes a piston having a plurality of sealing members positioned between said piston and an adjacent wall of a corresponding one of said compartments, said sealing members being concentrically aligned with each other and axially spaced along said piston for providing a plurality of sealing surfaces between said piston and said wall.

6. The control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said gearbox further includes a motor drive gear driven by said motor and configured for driving said cams.

7. The control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said gearbox further includes a sensor and a position feedback gear having a plurality of slots, each of said slots configured for optically interacting with said sensor, wherein said sensor is configured for communicating with a fluid treatment system controller.

8. The control valve assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said cams includes an upper peripheral edge constructed and arranged for being engaged by a corresponding one of said pistons.

9. The control valve assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said upper peripheral edges of said cams defines a combination of peaks and valleys equally spaced around a circumference of said upper peripheral edge, each of said pistons travelling along a corresponding one of said peripheral edges such that when each of said pistons is at one of said peaks, a respective flow path within said housing is closed, and when each of said pistons is at one of said valleys, said flow path is open.

10. The control valve assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said pistons includes a nodule extending from a top end of said piston for engaging one of said cams during reciprocation of said piston.

11. The control valve assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said cams includes an upper peripheral edge defining a combination of peaks and valleys equally spaced on said upper peripheral edge, each of said peaks and valleys configured to be engaged by said nodule such that when said nodule is at one of said peaks, a respective flow path within the housing is closed, and when said nodule is at one of said valleys, said flow path is open.

12. A control valve assembly for a fluid treatment system comprising:

a valve housing having a plurality of piston assemblies, each of said piston assemblies including a piston, at least one sealing member engaging said piston, and a biasing member;

a motor having a drive shaft;

a gearbox including a plurality of cams and at least one position feedback gear driven by said drive shaft, each of said cams being constructed and arranged for driving a corresponding one of said pistons, said gearbox further including a sensor configured for optically interacting with said position feedback gear to communicate a status of the fluid treatment system to a controller.

13. The control valve assembly of claim 12, wherein said valve housing includes a plurality of open-ended compartments each configured for receiving one of said piston assemblies, said piston assemblies constructed and arranged for operating independently of each other.

14. The control valve assembly of claim 13, wherein each of said compartments further includes a sleeve surrounding an adjacent wall of said compartment and constructed and arranged for receiving a corresponding one of said pistons.

15. The control valve assembly of claim 12, wherein each of said cams includes an upper peripheral edge configured for being engaged by one of said pistons and having a combination of peaks and valleys.

16. The control valve assembly of claim 15, wherein each piston includes a nodule extending from a top edge of said piston, said nodule configured for traveling along said upper peripheral edge such that when said nodule contacts one of said peaks, said piston reciprocates such that a respective flow path is closed, and when said nodule is contacts one of said valleys, said piston reciprocates such that said respective flow path is open.

17. The control valve assembly of claim 12, wherein said position feedback gear includes a plurality of slots, each of said slots configured for optically interacting with said sensor.

18. A control valve assembly for a fluid treatment system comprising:

a valve housing having a plurality of piston assemblies, each of said piston assemblies including a piston and a nodule extending from a top edge of said piston; and

a gearbox including a plurality of cams each having an upper peripheral edge, the cams being driven by a motor, each of said nodules constructed and arranged for travel along a corresponding one of said peripheral edges for opening and closing a respective flow path within said valve housing.

19. The control valve assembly of claim 18, wherein each of said upper peripheral edges defines a combination of equally spaced peaks and valleys, each of said peaks and valleys constructed and arranged for being engaged by said nodule such that when said nodule is at one of said peaks, a respective flow path within the housing is closed, and when said nodule is at one of said valleys, said flow path is open.

20. The control valve assembly of claim 18, wherein said gearbox further includes a sensor and a position feedback gear having a plurality of slots, each of said slots configured for optically interacting with said sensor, wherein said sensor is configured for communicating with a fluid treatment system controller as said cams are driven by said motor.