Bypass valve with blending feature

• US 7,736,500 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquion, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Aquion, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Rivi, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Cecil; Terry K
• Application Number:
  US11/316,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 210/420, 210/434, 210190-191, 137/637.5, 137/625.29, 137/599.12
• US Class Current: 210/190
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/085 with cylindrical plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/207 with two handles or actuating mechanisms at opposite sides of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2574 Bypass or relief controlled by main line fluid condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87346 Including mixing feature

Abstract

A bypass valve assembly for directing fluid flow having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for fluid flow, the bypass valve assembly being attachable to a fluid treatment system. The bypass valve assembly also includes at least one bypass valve in the bypass valve assembly, the bypass valve having a service configuration and a bypass configuration wherein in the service configuration at least a portion of fluid entering the bypass valve assembly through the inlet is transmitted to the water treatment system and wherein in the bypass configuration fluid entering the bypass valve assembly is not transmitted to the fluid treatment system. At least one blending valve is operatively interconnected to the bypass valve assembly, wherein when the bypass valve is in the service configuration the blending valve allows a portion of fluid entering the inlet to be transmitted to the outlet without being transmitted to the fluid treatment system.

Claims

1. A bypass valve assembly for use with a water treatment system having a water treatment inlet and a water treatment outlet, said bypass valve assembly comprising:

a service port inlet, a first valve housing connected to said service port inlet and a valve port inlet connected to said first valve housing and said water treatment inlet;

a first valve rotatably disposed in said first valve housing, said first valve having at least a first and second position;

a bypass tube in fluid communication with said first valve housing;

a service port outlet, a second valve housing connected to said service port outlet and a valve port outlet connected to said second valve housing and said fluid treatment outlet, wherein said second valve housing is in fluid communication with said bypass tube;

a second valve rotatably disposed in said second valve housing, said second valve independently movable from said first valve and rotatable about a longitudinal axis between at least a first and second position, said second valve including a blending valve extending therein that is operatively interconnected to and co-axial with said second valve, said blending valve being in communication with a passageway extending from a point internal to said second valve to a point external to said second valve;

wherein when said first and second valves are in said first position, water flowing into said service port inlet flows through said bypass tube and then out of said service port outlet; and

wherein when said first and second valves are in said second position, water flowing into said service port inlet partially flows through said first valve housing and into said valve port inlet and partially flows through said bypass tube to said passageway in said second bypass valve to combine with a treated water flow.

2. The bypass valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said blending valve is a needle valve.

3. A bypass valving assembly comprising:

a water treatment system having a main control valve, water treatment inlet and water treatment outlet;

a bypass valve assembly having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for water flow, said bypass valve assembly being attachable in fluid communication to said water treatment inlet and said water treatment outlet of said water treatment system;

a first bypass valve in said bypass valve assembly, said first bypass valve having a service configuration and a bypass configuration wherein in said service configuration at least a portion of water entering said bypass valve assembly through said inlet is transmitted to said water treatment system through said water treatment inlet and wherein in said bypass configuration water entering said bypass valve assembly through said inlet is not transmitted to said water treatment system through said water treatment inlet;

a second bypass valve positioned in said bypass valve assembly and independently moveable from said first bypass valve, said second bypass valve rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a service configuration and a bypass configuration wherein in said service configuration treated water exiting said water treatment system through said water treatment outlet passes through said second bypass valve and exits said bypass valve assembly through said outlet and wherein in said bypass configuration treated water does not pass through said second bypass valve;

a bypass tube in fluid communication between said first bypass valve and said second bypass valve; and

a blending valve extending coaxially within and operatively connected to said second bypass valve and being variably adjustable between a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein when the first bypass valve and said second bypass valve are in said service configuration, said blending valve permits untreated water to be transmitted through said bypass tube to said second bypass valve and mix with said treated water exiting the bypass valve assembly through said outlet.

4. The bypass valving assembly according to claim 3, wherein said water treatment system is a water softener.

5. The bypass valving assembly according to claim 3, wherein said water treatment system is a water filter.

6. The bypass valving assembly according to claim 3, wherein said water treatment system is an iron removal system.