Salt platform

• US 5,411,717 A
• Filed: 01/27/1994
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald B. Peddicord, Steven M. Peddicord
• Original Assignee: Donald B. Peddicord, Steven M. Peddicord
• Inventors: Peddicord, Donald B., Peddicord, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/188,141
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 422/261, 422/263, 422/265, 422/275, 422/311, 210/190, 210/191, 220/4.28, 220/529, 206/526, 248/676, 248/678, 108/50, 108/90, 108/150, 108/157, 135/96, 4/227.1, 4/490
• US Class Current: 422/275
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 49/75 of water softeners

Abstract

A salt platform (10, 50, 80) is disclosed which can be used in an ion exchange water softener to support the salt used in the water softening process. The salt platform will be typically placed in a tank containing a salt brine which wets the grid (34) and the area above the grid containing the dry salt which is drawn into the brine as the salt is depleted during the process. The platform includes a plurality of vertically oriented members (12-24) which are preferably formed of PVC plastic pipe. Bracing members (26, 28) are secured between adjacent vertically oriented cylinders to provide a stable platform. A grid (34) is supported atop the vertically oriented cylinders and the salt, in turn, is supported on the grid.

Claims

1. A salt platform for supporting a load of salt in a water softener brine tank comprising:

a plurality of vertically oriented members;

at least one horizontal bracing member secured between adjacent vertically oriented members to form a stable platform to support salt thereon; and

a salt grid supported on the plurality of vertically oriented members, salt being supported on the salt grid.

2. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein plurality of the vertically oriented members have a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of each of the vertically oriented members lying in a common plane.

3. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of vertically oriented members are tubes, each of said tubes having a plurality of holes formed therethrough to minimize buoyancy of the salt platform.

4. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vertically oriented members include a central vertically oriented member and six radial vertically oriented members positioned an equal radial distance from the central vertically oriented member.

5. The salt platform of claim 1 wherein plurality of the vertically oriented members are formed of PVC plastic pipe and the horizontal bracing members are formed of PVC plastic pipe.

6. The salt platform of claim 1, wherein the salt grid is formed of ABS plastic and has a plurality of holes formed therethrough, the plurality of holes being approximately 1/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter.

7. A salt platform for supporting a load of salt in a water softener brine tank, comprising:

a center vertically oriented member formed of a section of PVC pipe;

a plurality of radial vertically oriented members, each formed of a section of PVC pipe and positioned radially relative the elongated axis of the center vertically oriented member; and

at least one horizontal bracing member formed of a section of PVC pipe interconnecting the center vertically oriented member with each of the radial vertically oriented members to define a stable platform to support salt thereon within the water softener brine tank;

a salt grid supported on the vertically oriented members, salt being supported on the salt grid.

8. The salt platform of claim 7 wherein each of the vertically oriented members have a plurality of open holes formed therethrough to minimize buoyancy of the salt platform.

9. The salt platform of claim 7 wherein the plurality of radial vertically oriented members comprises six members.

10. The salt platform of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of radial vertically oriented second members, each formed of a section of PVC pipe and positioned radially relative the elongated axis of the center vertically oriented member and radially outward of said plurality of radial vertically oriented members;

a pair of horizontal bracing members, each formed of a section of PVC pipe, interconnecting adjacent radial vertically oriented members with each of said radial vertically oriented second members.

11. The salt platform of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of radial vertically oriented second members, each formed of a section of PVC pipe and positioned radially relative the elongated axis of the center vertically oriented member, each of said radial vertically oriented second members positioned radially outward from a radial vertically oriented member along a radius centered at the elongate axis of the center vertically oriented member;

at least one horizontal radial bracing member formed of a section of PVC pipe interconnecting each of the radial vertically oriented second members to the radial vertically oriented members positioned along the radius from the elongated axis of the center vertically oriented member; and

a plurality of horizontal circumferential bracing members formed of a section of PVC pipe interconnecting adjacent radial vertically oriented second members.

12. A method of installing a salt platform for supporting a load of salt in a water softener brine tank, comprising the steps of:

positioning a center vertically oriented member in a vertical orientation;

positioning a plurality of radial vertically oriented members in a vertical orientation about the center vertically oriented member;

attaching at least one horizontal bracing member between each of the radial vertically oriented members and the center vertically oriented member supporting a salt grid on the vertically oriented members, the salt being supported on the salt grid; and

placing the vertically oriented members, horizontal bracing members and the salt grid within the water softener brine tank to support the salt in the water softener brine tank.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of forming open holes through the vertically oriented members to minimize buoyancy of the salt platform.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of attaching the horizontal bracing members to the vertically oriented members by gluing the members.

15. A salt platform for supporting a load of salt in a water softener, comprising:

a plurality of vertically oriented sheets, each of said sheets having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, defining surfaces, and upper edge;

a plurality of horizontal tubes, each of said tubes being inserted through an aperture in each of said sheets, each of said tubes having a pair of holes formed therethrough immediately adjacent the surfaces of each of the sheets where the tube passes through the sheets, the holes being on opposite sides of the sheets; and

a plurality of fasteners, a fastener being place in each of the holes in said plurality of tubes to space the sheets apart and to hold the platform together;

a salt grid supported on the upper edges of the sheets, salt being supported on the salt grid.

16. The salt platform of claim 15 wherein the sheets are made of ABS plastic and the tubes are made of PVC pipe.

17. The salt platform of claim 15 wherein the fasteners are plastic wire ties.

18. The salt platform of claim 15 wherein the fasteners are bolts.

19. The salt platform of claim 15 wherein each of the sheets has four apertures formed therethrough, said plurality of tubes comprising four tubes.