RS60405B1 - Backflow prevention device for water softener - Google Patents

Description

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a siphon device in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1 for use with water softening devices, in order to control the removal of water.

State of the art of the invention

[0002] Water softeners are usually set to remove calcium and magnesium from hard water; calcium and magnesium are likely causes of scale and grime that build up in wet areas such as showers and around faucets and inside appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

[0003] An example of removing calcium and magnesium from hard water is by ion exchange, which usually uses an ion exchange resin. The resin contains tiny polymer beads that are specially formulated so that they can be filled with specific ions. As the water passes through the resin, the calcium and magnesium ions exchange places with the sodium ions on the resin. Unlike calcium and magnesium, sodium is highly soluble. Therefore, scale and dirt build-up is reduced or eliminated.

[0004] It should be borne in mind that the process creates a waste liquid, which needs to be removed. A siphon is usually used for the purpose of removing the waste product from the water softener. Typically, the siphon is connected to the water softening unit and contains at least two inlets, where the inlets provide an overflow and pressure relief function. The overflow plant provides a cleaning function where the regeneration water and overflow from the salt tank can be removed to a drain or sewer and pressure relief is provided as an overflow for pressurized water, which is pushed through the system.

[0005] A siphon is usually connected to the water softener with an air gap to discharge the waste liquid away from the water softener. A trap, valve or seal is usually connected to the siphon to facilitate the connection of the water softener to the sewer to remove waste to the sewer.

[0006] The splashing and return flow of the waste product from the sewage system through the siphon should be avoided.

[0007] US patent US 5592 964 relates to an anti-siphon system with air vents designed for high flow waste water drainage from household water softeners and the like. The patent describes a conventional anti-siphon system with air vents, which can be converted to drain low-flow wastewater from domestic reverse osmosis units.

[0008] US patent 2161 204 describes a vacuum breaker adapted for use in pipelines, for example between a feed pipe and a waste tank, wherein the vacuum breaker is used to prevent contaminated water from the tank being sucked into the feed pipe.

The essence of the invention

[0009] In accordance with the present invention, a siphon apparatus is provided as stated in patent claim 1. Advantageously, an internal funnel containing a mesh element in accordance with the technical solution of the present invention reduces or eliminates splashing and the return flow of liquid that is removed from the device to which the siphon is attached, for example a water softener. As such, the siphon device in accordance with the technical solutions of the present invention ensures that the soft water is not contaminated in any way and therefore, when used with a water softener, the soft water produced is safe for use. This means more efficient water flow from the water softener through the system.

[0010] Further preferred technical solutions are defined by the characteristics of dependent claims 2-11.

[0011] The next aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for softening water containing a siphon apparatus according to the first aspect.

Brief description of the draft images

[0012] The technical solutions of the subject invention are described in the following text, only by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a water softening device that includes a siphon device in accordance with the technical solution of the present invention;

Figure 2a is a schematic representation of an exploded view of a siphon apparatus in accordance with the technical solution of the present invention;

Figure 2b is a schematic view of the outlet end of the siphon apparatus in accordance with the technical solution of the present invention; and

Figure 2c is a schematic representation of the mesh element as used with a siphon apparatus according to the technical solution of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0013] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the setup comprising a water softening apparatus 10, which is used to soften water in hard water areas.

[0014] The water softener 10 is connected to the water supply 12, whereby the water is fed into the water softener 10 and undergoes the process of softening the water inside the water softener 10. In Figure 1, the siphon device 14, in accordance with the technical solution of the present invention, is provided at the outlet 16 of the water softening device 10, whereby the siphon device 14 can be connected to a grate (not shown) or a valve system (not shown) such as a mechanical valve or seal that can be used to facilitate the removal of waste from the siphon device (14) into the sewer.

[0015] Referring to Figure 2a, in the shown technical solution, the siphon device 14 contains a hollow body 18, which in the shown technical solution contains the inlet end 20 and the outlet end 22. In the shown technical solution, the outlet end 22 is narrowed so that the outlet end 22 can have a smaller diameter than the inlet end 20. This arrangement facilitates the connection of the siphon device 14 with other equipment.

[0016] The outlet end 22 may include a threaded connection 24 (see Figure 2a) or a straight, "push-fit" connection 26 (see Figure 2b) to facilitate attachment of the siphon apparatus 14 to other equipment, for example a grate (not shown) or a valve, for example a self-closing waste valve (not shown). A grid or valve facilitates the removal of waste from the siphon device (14) into the sewer (not shown).

[0017] Figure 2b shows the assembled arrangement of the siphon apparatus 14.

[0018] In the technical solution shown in Figure 2a, the siphon apparatus 14 is shown as a modular construction, whereby it is produced from separate components that can be assembled to provide the siphon apparatus 14 in accordance with the technical solution subject of the invention. This arrangement facilitates production, construction, installation and maintenance.

[0019] At the inlet end 20, a closure element 32 is provided, which in the shown technical solution includes a screw cap 34 for attaching the closure element 32 to the hollow body 18. The closure element 32 contains a positioned insert 36, which includes two inlet ports 38. A nozzle 40 is connected to each inlet port 38. The nozzles 40 are all connected to the device 10 for softening water accordingly. pipeline/hose (not shown). One nozzle 40 facilitates the removal of debris from the water softener 10 and the other nozzle 40 facilitates pressure reduction. In this regard, it will be known that a working flow of about 30 liters per minute and a working pressure of about 8 bar are expected.

[0020] In the example shown, the nozzles 40 are a "push-fit" connection to the ports 38. The O-ring seal 41 is provided to provide and ensure a sealed connection between the respective ports 38 and the nozzles 40.

[0021] At the inlet end 20, the siphon apparatus 14 also includes an inner funnel 42 and a seal 43. In the shown technical solution, the inner funnel 42 is centrally located in the flange 44, which is located inside the hollow body 18 at the inlet end 20. The flange 44 contains an inclined surface 45 that narrows slightly towards the inner funnel 42. During use, the inner funnel 42 extends into hollow body 18.

[0022] The conical flange 44 facilitates directing the flow of liquid from the inlet nozzles 40 towards the inner funnel 42 .

[0023] In the shown technical solution, the inner funnel 42 includes a mesh element 46, which is inserted into the inner funnel 42. In the example shown, the mesh element 46 contains a regular pattern of radially extending trapezoids 48, which extend from the central circular hole 50 (see Figure 2c). It is understood that the arrangement of the holes forming the mesh element may be made as an irregular pattern.

[0024] The arrangement of the inner funnel 42, the flange 44 and the mesh element 46 is such that the water flowing through the inlet nozzles 40 is stabilized so that, upon exiting the inner funnel 42, splashing is eliminated as the liquid passes through the part of the hollow body 18 containing the apertures 52. In addition, the arrangement helps to eliminate any risk of backflow. The inclusion of a mesh element facilitates the control and leveling of the fluid flowing through the hollow body; thus eliminating the risk of splashing during flow passage through the area containing the apertures 52. The apertures 52 provided through the body wall 18 provide an air opening as required by regulatory authorities.

[0025] The inner funnel 42 extends from the flange 44 to the hollow body 18. The length of the inner funnel 42 is dimensioned so that the outlet of the inner funnel 42 is positioned outside the rim 56 of the aperture 52 or substantially flush with the rim 56 of the window 52.

[0026] The mesh element 46 can be produced as an insert or as an integral part of the element containing the inner funnel 42 and the flange 44.

[0027] In the shown technical solution, the hollow body contains four apertures 52. This is for illustrative purposes and it should be kept in mind that one or more apertures 52 can be provided.

[0028] Although the specific technical solutions of the subject invention have been described above, it is understood that deviations from the described technical solutions may still fall within the scope of the subject invention.

Claims (11)

Patent claims 1. A siphon device (14) that can be used to connect, during use, to a water softener, wherein the siphon device (14) contains: a body (18) defined by one or more walls, wherein the walls define a through cavity through the body (18) and wherein at least one window (56) defines an aperture (52) laterally through the one or more walls; a closure element (32) provided at one end of the body (18) and wherein the closure element (32) contains one or more connections (38), which are/are in fluid communication with the hollow body (18), wherein each connection (38) is provided through the closure element (32); an inner funnel (42) extending downwardly from the closure member and extending at least partially into the hollow body (18), characterized in that the inner funnel (42) is centrally located in a removable flanged insert (44) lying in the inlet end (20) of the hollow body (18), wherein the removable flanged insert (44) includes an inclined surface (45) that tapers downwardly toward the inner funnel and toward the outlet end (22). a hollow body (18), wherein, during use, the inclined surface (45) of the removable flange insert (44) facilitates the direction of liquid from one or more ports (38) towards the inner funnel (42), wherein the length of the inner funnel (42) is dimensioned such that the outlet of the inner funnel (42) is positioned outside the rim (56) or is substantially flush with the rim of the aperture (52); and a mesh member (46) comprising a plurality of apertures (48), wherein the mesh member (46) is configured to receive within the inner funnel (42), wherein, during use, the flanged insert (44), the inner funnel (42), and the mesh member (46) can channel and stabilize fluid entering the inner funnel (42) from one or more ports (38). 2. A siphon apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closure element (32) includes a positioned insert (36) received at the inlet end (20) of the hollow body (18) and resting on the edge of the inlet end (20), wherein the closure element (32) can be inserted and removed from the hollow body 3. A siphon apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a screw cap (34) which can be removed and attached to the inlet end (20) of the hollow body (18), wherein the screw cap (34) secures the closure element (32) relative to the hollow body (18). 4. A siphon apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mesh element (46) is an insert, removable from and attached to the inner funnel (42), wherein the mesh insert is positioned relative to the inner funnel and the conical flange (45) so that the flow of liquid from the connections (38) affects the mesh element (46). 5. A siphon apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mesh element comprises a regular pattern of apertures. 6. A siphon apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mesh element comprises an irregular pattern of openings. 7. A siphon apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the openings comprise a pattern comprising radially extending trapezoids, extending from a substantially circular central portion (50). 8. A siphon apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the central part is solid. 9. A siphon apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the central part is hollow. 10. A grate comprising a siphon apparatus (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grate facilitates the removal of waste from the siphon apparatus to a disposal element, such as a drain. 11. A water softener comprising a siphon apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.