WO2007036634A1

WO2007036634A1 - Water softener with dual-mode regeneration

Info

Publication number: WO2007036634A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002189
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Steiner
Original assignee: Michel Steiner
Priority date: 2005-09-27
Filing date: 2006-09-27
Publication date: 2007-04-05
Also published as: FR2891164A1; FR2891164B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a water softening apparatus comprising an ion-exchange resin reservoir (12) and a distributor valve (18), said distributor valve being mounted on said reservoir, said valve (18) including a valve body (20) with piston (28) and a cylinder head (22), said dispensing valve (18) further including two bypass means and two regenerating channels. The invention is characterized in that said bypass means comprise a cylinder head gasket (25) switchable between said cylinder head (22) and said valve body (20), said cylinder head gasket having at least one open-work portion (114, 116, 122, 126) and at least one solid portion (118,1 120, 124, 128); and in a first position, said solid portion is adjusted across one of said channels, while in a second position, said solid portion is adjusted across the other of said channels.

Description

Water softener with dual regeneration mode

The present invention relates to a water softening apparatus, which can be used both in a co-current regeneration mode and in a counter-current mode.

Already known water softener devices, which have an ion exchange resin reservoir or a filter media, a reservoir of regenerating salts or brine and a dispensing valve to be able to control the different flows. In addition, the dispensing valve comprises a valve body in which a controllable piston is slidably mounted and is equipped with a cylinder head which overcomes the valve body. The latter also includes a raw water supply from a conventional water supply circuit, and a water outlet which is connected to a softened water circuit. The ion exchange resin reservoir has it, a reservoir inlet that passes through, in a normal mode of treatment, the raw water, and a tank outlet adapted to recover the raw water after it has passed through said resin .

Moreover, two regeneration channels and an evacuation channel are formed in the distribution valve, one of the regeneration channels being intended for the so-called cocurrent mode, while the other is intended for the counter mode. -current. These regeneration channels make it possible to circulate the raw water to suck at the same time the brine in the reserve and to discharge the mixture of raw water and brine through the resin by regenerating it.

These two regeneration channels respectively have a shutter. When it is desired to regenerate the reservoir resin, according to a so-called cocurrent mode for example, one of the regeneration channels is closed while the other is released and the piston is adjusted in a first predetermined position. Thus, the mixture of raw water and brine is injected through the tank inlet and, moreover, the outlet of the tank is put into communication with the evacuation channel which led to a sewer, so that the brine mixture flows continuously and passes through the resin to regenerate it in a direction of flow of water corresponding to the normal direction of operation, while the raw water inlet is directly connected to the outlet, the softened water circuit is then supplied with raw water during the regeneration cycle.

On the other hand, when it is desired to regenerate the reservoir resin in a so-called countercurrent mode, one of said regeneration channels is released while said other is closed and the piston is adjusted in a second determined position. The mixture of raw water and brine is then injected through the tank outlet and the tank inlet is communicated with the evacuation channel. Thus, the brine also flows continuously through the resin, this time in a direction of flow contrary to that of the normal operating direction. In particular, reference may be made to US Pat. No. 6,402,944, which describes such a water softening apparatus.

However, this device comprises a large number of parts to implement which makes it complex and in addition relatively expensive. Also, a problem which then arises and which the present invention seeks to solve, is to provide a water softening apparatus that is capable of functioning equally well in a so-called co-current mode or in a so-called counter-current mode. current, by simple permutation of an element, and especially which is less complex and which presents less parts.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes a water softening apparatus comprising an ion exchange resin reservoir, a brine reserve and a dispensing valve, said dispensing valve being mounted on said reservoir, said valve having a controllable piston valve body and a cylinder head overlying said valve body, said valve body including a raw water inlet and a water outlet, while said reservoir is an inlet and a tank outlet connected to said valve body, said distribution valve having two regeneration channels and an evacuation channel, said regeneration channels being intended to allow the circulation of raw water to suck said brine into said reserve and to allow the flow of a mixture of raw water and brine through said resin to regenerate it, said dispensing valve further comprising bypass means permitting, in a first bypass position and in a first position of said piston, to release one of said regeneration channels by closing the other to inject said mixture through said co-current reservoir inlet and to put said reservoir outlet in communication with said evacuation channel, and in a second position bypassing and a second position of said piston, closing said one of said regeneration channels and releasing ledi t another for injecting said mixture through said tank outlet in countercurrent and communicating said tank inlet with said evacuation channel; according to the invention, said bypass means comprise a switchable head gasket between said cylinder head and said valve body, said head gasket having at least one perforated portion and at least one solid portion; and in said first bypass position, said solid portion is fitted across said other one of said channels, said perforated portion being fitted across said one of said channels, while in said second bypass position, said solid portion is fitted across said one said channels, said perforated portion being fitted across said other one of said channels.

Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of a cylinder head gasket sandwiched between the cylinder head and the valve body, said cylinder head gasket being perforated in at least one portion but full in at least one other portion, so that it can be adjusted in two different positions, one in which the solid part closes one of the regeneration channels and the perforated portion leaves free the other regeneration channel and the other in which the solid part shut off the other regeneration channel while the perforated portion releases the first regeneration channel. In this way, by simply switching the cylinder head gasket, one simply switches from a so-called co-current mode to a so-called countercurrent mode. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said cylinder head comprises two regeneration flow paths, respectively constituting a portion of said regeneration channels. And moreover, preferably, said two paths have a common path in which water circulates, both in the cocurrent mode and in the countercurrent mode and which comprises venturi means said brine reserve communicating with said venturi means so as to suck in both cases the brine and thereby make a mixture of raw water and brine to then guide it through the other portions of the regeneration channels and through the resin. The venturi means have the advantage of constituting both suction means and mixing means. In addition, the cylinder head is capable of being formed in one piece, for example molded plastic material, which makes it economical to produce, and it is for example maintained on the valve body by means of a cylinder head cover .

Furthermore, said cylinder head has a through orifice, which does not communicate with the two aforementioned passageways and which makes it possible to form a portion of said evacuation channel.

In addition, said yoke is substantially of rectangular parallelepipedal shape and, advantageously, it extends longitudinally by defining a mean plane; it has a plane of symmetry longitudinally intersecting said cylinder head in two parts, perpendicular to said mean plane, said cylinder head further having a contact face facing said valve body and a front portion and a rear portion separated by a central portion; and one of said passageways forms a first loop in said cylinder head and passes through a first central orifice said contact face in said central portion and on one side of said plane of symmetry and opens through a second central orifice in said contact face on the other side of said plane of symmetry and shifted rearwardly. In addition, preferably, the other of said passageways forms a second loop in said cylinder head and passes through said contact face a first time through a first rear orifice, in said rear portion of said other side of said plane of symmetry and opens a second time in said contact face through a second rear port, said one side of said plane of symmetry and shifted toward said central portion. In this way, the cylinder head gasket will allow, in one of its positions, to release the two orifices of the passageway to allow the circulation of water in the first loop, while it closes the second loop of the another path that opens, she, in the contact face to the rear of the breech, and in the other of its positions, conversely, to release the path of passage of the second loop and close the other way passage of the first loop.

To do this, said head gasket advantageously extends on a surface corresponding to said contact face and has the same corresponding parts, a front part and a rear part separated by a central part and a line of longitudinal symmetry corresponding to the plane of symmetry of the yoke, and said at least one perforated portion has two pairs of openings, a first pair located in the central portion and a second pair located at the rear. In addition, the openings of each of the pairs are located on either side of the line of longitudinal symmetry but offset with respect to each other, and especially as will be explained in more detail later. of the description, the cylinder head gasket has a face on which appears a first central opening located in the central part and on one side of the longitudinal line of symmetry, while a second central opening appears offset towards the rear of the other side of the line of symmetry, so as to coincide respectively with the two central orifices of the cylinder head, while in the rear part, a first rear aperture appears on one side of the line of symmetry while a second rear opening appears him, offbeat towards the central part, on the other side of the line of symmetry. Thus, the pair of rear openings does not coincide with the rear holes of the cylinder head, simply to close said second loop. On the other hand, by turning the head gasket 180 ° and applying it against the contact face, the pair of central openings no longer coincides with the central orifices, to close the first loop of the passageway, while the pair of back openings coincides it, respectively with the two rear orifices.

Furthermore, said piston advantageously has an axial recess and two piston heads opposite one another, said piston heads being separated by a groove. Thus, thanks to its axial recess, the piston allows the flow of water longitudinally through it, and with its two heads spaced from each other and the groove between them, the piston is likely to form an annular chamber in the groove which is separated from two other chambers on either side of the two heads.

In addition, and according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve body has an axial chamber divided by at least five coaxial rings substantially regularly spaced apart from each other, said crowns defining at least five consecutive annular chambers. said piston being slidably mounted in said rings for isolating said annular chambers from each other. In this way, and as will be explained in more detail in the following description, one of the piston heads whose length is greater than the distance between two consecutive crowns, allows for a sealed annular chamber when this head joins the two crowns. In addition, the throat whose width is greater than the distance that precisely separates two consecutive crowns, makes it possible to communicate together the two annular chambers defined by the two consecutive crowns. Furthermore, said axial chamber advantageously has a first annular chamber communicating with said raw water inlet, a last annular chamber opposite the first, communicating with said water outlet, a central annular chamber communicating with said water channel. discharge and two intermediate annular chambers, a first located between said first annular chamber and said central annular chamber and communicating with said reservoir inlet and a second intermediate chamber communicating with said reservoir outlet. The following description will explain in detail the method of circulation of the water through the various chambers according to the axial position of the aforementioned piston and the operating mode of the apparatus, either in -current, or against the current.

In addition, said valve body advantageously has an axial cylindrical housing which opens axially into said last annular chamber, said axial cylindrical housing being adapted to receive a shutter piston movable in translation towards said axial chamber, to close said outlet of said water and avoid that raw water is delivered into a water supply system. Preferably, said shutter piston is movable in translation between a rest position in which it is housed in said axial cylindrical housing and in which raw water is delivered into the supply circuit and an active position in which it closes said axial recess of said piston to prohibit the delivery of raw water. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a water softener apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective detail view of two elements shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic axial sectional view of an element shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view of elements illustrated in Figure 1, according to a first mode of operation; - Figure 5 is a schematic view of details of elements shown in Figure 1, according to a second mode of operation;

- Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view in section, of a water meter adapted to be mounted on the softener apparatus;

- Figure 7 is a schematic detail sectional view of elements of a water softener apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the invention and in a first position; and,

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the elements illustrated in Figure 7 in a second position.

Figure 1 illustrates a water softener apparatus 10 according to the invention. It comprises a reservoir 12 of an ion exchange resin 14, an arrival of a brine 16 of a regenerating salt, this brine being contained in a reserve not shown, and a distribution valve 18 mounted on the reservoir. This dispensing valve 18 comprises a valve body 20 and a cylinder head 22 which overcomes it and which is covered by a cylinder head cover 24 screwed onto the valve body 20. Furthermore, a cylinder head gasket 25 is interposed between the cylinder head 22 and the valve body 20. The description of this cylinder head 22 and the cylinder head gasket 25 associated with it will be detailed in the following with reference to FIG. 2.

The valve body 20 has a substantially cylindrical axial chamber 26 in which extends a piston 28 with asymmetrical double heads, separated by a groove 29. This piston 28, which is found in detail illustrated in FIG. axial recess 30 which opens into the respective bottom of the piston heads and is controllable in translation in the axial chamber 26, by means of an axial control rod 31 which passes through the valve body 20 in a sealed manner to come out and which engages in one of the piston heads 28. In addition, one of the piston heads 32 is more long as the other head 34, and it has a length substantially corresponding to the width of the groove 29, while the length of the other head 34 has it, a length substantially equal to half the width of the groove 29 In addition, the piston 28 is integral with an axial grooved piston rod 36 which is adapted to also pass through the valve body 20 sealingly to join a portion of the valve body 20 forming a brine valve 38 which appears in Figure 1. As will be explained in the following description, the axial control rod 31 and the axial piston rod with groove 36 are permutable on the two piston heads 32, 34.

Furthermore, in Figure 1, the axial chamber 26 is divided into five successive annular chambers by six coaxial rings. A first annular chamber 40 is formed by a first ring 42 and a second ring 44; a first intermediate chamber 46 is formed by the second ring 44 and a third ring 48; a central annular chamber 50 is formed by the third ring 48 and a fourth ring 52; a second intermediate annular chamber 54 is formed by the fourth ring 52 and a fifth ring 56; and a last annular chamber 58 is formed by the fifth ring 56 and a sixth ring 60. The six coaxial rings 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, and 60 are substantially identical, and regularly spaced apart from one another. a distance less than the width of the groove 29 of the piston 28 but greater than the length of the smallest piston head 34. In addition, the piston heads 34, 32 are slidable inside the coaxial crowns and seal them tightly.

In addition, the valve body 20 comprises a raw water inlet 62 which opens into the first annular chamber 40 and a water outlet 64 which opens into the last annular chamber 58. The tank 12 has it, an inlet 65 which opens into the first intermediate annular chamber 46 and an outlet 66 which opens into the second intermediate annular chamber 54. Moreover, while the inlet 65 communicates with a top surface 68 of the resin 14, the outlet 66, it is extended by a tube 70 which is immersed in the resin to the bottom of the tank 12 and which ends with a strainer 72 through which only the water can diffuse. Also, the distribution valve 18 has two distinct regeneration channels and an evacuation channel, a portion of which passes through the axial chamber 26 and another portion, formed by passageways, passes through the cylinder head 22. essentially elsewhere the latter, in combination with the cylinder head gasket 25 and with a specific position of the piston 28 which allows the selection of one or the other of the regeneration channels.

We will now detail with reference to Figure 2, the cylinder head 22 and its associated gasket 25. This yoke 22 which extends longitudinally, defines a mean plane P1, and is substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry P2 which cuts longitudinally and perpendicularly to the mean plane P1. In addition, it has a contact face 76 which appears hidden in Figure 2 and against which will come to apply the cylinder head gasket 25 as will be explained below and which will be maintained opposite the valve body 20. The yoke 22 has a front portion 78, a central portion 80 and a rear portion 82, the front portion 78 having a venturi suction system 84 which at the same time forms a portion of the common way of the two paths distinct passages corresponding to the two regeneration channels. This common portion of passageway begins above a filtering grid 86 and then continues under the yoke 22 and then reappear in an injector 88 of the suction system 84 and extend into a first portion 90 of a first lateral channel 92. In addition, in this front portion 78 opens a brine inlet opening 94 which will be placed in communication with the injector 88 by a depression 96 of the cylinder head cover 24.

In addition to this common portion of a passageway, a first pathway, forming with the common portion a first loop, begins with a first central orifice 98 which is made through the contact face 76, on one side of the plane of symmetry P2, and which extends to open above the filtering grid 86. After the common portion this first path continues through a branch 100 which is extended by a second central orifice 102 formed through the contact face 76, on the other side of the plane of symmetry P2, and slightly shifted backwards 82 relative to the first central orifice 98.

A second passageway, forming with the common portion a second loop, begins with a first rear orifice 104 formed in the rear portion of the contact face 76 on the same side of the plane of symmetry P2 as the second central orifice 102, and which is extended by a second lateral channel 106 which opens above the filtering grid 86. After the common portion, the second passageway continues in the first lateral channel 92 to then open through a second rear orifice 108 which passes through the contact face 76, in the rear portion 82, opposite to the first rear orifice 104 relative to the plane of symmetry P2 and slightly displaced towards the central portion 80.

In addition, the yoke 22 also has a portion of exhaust channel 110 which passes therethrough and which is intended to join, a sewer outlet via a recovery channel 112 connected to the cover breech 24 and that is found illustrated in Figure 1. Thus, with reference to Figure 1, which has been reported some references of the breech 22 necessary for understanding, it appears that the first central port 98 opens in the first annular chamber 40, in a position substantially diametrically opposed to that of the raw water inlet 62, while the second central orifice 102 opens into the first intermediate annular chamber 46 and that the first rear orifice 104 opens into the last annular chamber 58, while the second rear orifice 108 opens into the second intermediate annular chamber 54; the portion of discharge channel 110 opening into the central annular chamber 50.

Furthermore, before describing in more detail the operation of the water softening apparatus according to the invention, the gasket 25 which, in combination with the cylinder head 22, constitutes the essential elements of the invention will be described. This cylinder head gasket 25 has a surface which coincides exactly with the cylinder head 25 according to its mean plane P1. It has a longitudinal axis of symmetry A corresponding to the plane of symmetry P2 of the cylinder head 22. In addition, it has a first central opening 114 which coincides in FIG. 2, exactly with the first central orifice 98 of the cylinder head 22, and a second central opening 116 which coincides with the second central orifice 102. In this way, when the cylinder head gasket 25 bears against the contact face 76, the aforementioned first passageway is free and communicates with the first chamber Annular 40 and the first intermediate annular chamber 46. However, and this is a characteristic of the invention, when returning the cylinder head gasket of 180 ° about its longitudinal symmetry axis A, and that it is applied against the contact face 76, the central openings 104,116 no longer coincide with the central orifices 98, 102, and the latter are closed respectively by first and second central solid portions 118, 120 of the seal 25. The first path is thus closed and the regeneration channel that corresponds to it.

In addition, the cylinder head gasket 25 has a first rear aperture 122 which is associated symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry A a first full rear portion 124, which coincides here exactly with the first rear orifice 104, and a second rear aperture 126 which is associated symmetrically, a second rear full portion 128 which coincides exactly with the second rear orifice 108. Thus, when the cylinder head gasket 25 is applied against the contact face 76, in this Figure 2, the second path of aforementioned passage is then closed as the regeneration channel associated with it. In on the other hand, by returning the cylinder head gasket by 180 ° about the longitudinal axis of symmetry A, while the first passageway is in turn closed, as has just been explained above, the second passageway is made free for it since the first and second rear openings 122, 126, are respectively fitted opposite the first and second rear orifices 104, 108.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the cylinder head gasket 25 has a circular central recess 130 coinciding with the discharge channel portion 110, a rectangular front recess 132 substantially coinciding with the filtration grid 86 and the suction system 84 to venturi, and a front bore 134 coinciding with the inlet opening 94 brine, and that these recesses and holes are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry A and that their respective position is invariant after the rotation of 180 ° of the cylinder head gasket 25. The operation of the water softening apparatus according to the invention, in a particular mode of regeneration operation, referred to as counter-current with reference to FIGS. Figure 4, in which the cylinder head gasket 25 shown in Figure 2 has been turned 180 ° about the axis of symmetry A, and said co-current with reference to FIG. 5 on which the cylinder head gasket 25 shown in Figure 2 has been held in the position shown.

Reference will first be made to Figure 4, in which only the references necessary for its description will be reported so as not to overload the Figure. Apart from the inverted position of the cylinder head gasket 25, the piston 28 has not only been fitted into the axial chamber 26 so that the longest head 32 is located to the left of the drawing, while the shorter head 34 is located. to the right of the drawing, but it has also been adjusted by means of the axial control rod 31 by well-known automatic control means, in an axial position in which the longest head 32 is in contact with the fourth ring 52 and the fifth 56 crown, so as to isolate the second intermediate annular chamber 54 of the axial chamber 26, while the groove 29 makes them communicate with each other and isolates them from the axial chamber 26, the first intermediate annular chamber 46 and the central annular chamber 50, whereas thanks to the axial recess 30 of the piston 28, the first annular chamber 40 communicates with the last annular chamber 58. In addition, the grooved piston 36 of the brine valve 38 is in a position such that the brine inlet opening 94 is in position. communication with the brine entrance 16.

Thus, the raw water that arrives in the first annular chamber 40 can only flow through the axial recess 30, because the first central orifice 98 is closed by the first central solid portion 118 of the cylinder head gasket 25, and a portion of this raw water joins the water outlet 64 to flow into a drinking water network, while another part passes through the first rear opening 122 and the first rear port 104 to take the second path of water. passage above, and of course the common portion which it will allow, on the one hand to suck through the brine inlet 16, the brine and on the other hand, to achieve a mixture of raw water and brine which it, will be reinjected through the second rear orifice 108 and the second rear opening 126. In this way, the mixture of raw water and brine flows into the second intermediate annular chamber 54 which is isolated from the axial chamber 26 and who communicates with the released e 66 of the reservoir 12. Thus, the resin 14 is regenerated in the so-called countercurrent mode. Then, the regeneration water leaves the tank 12 through the inlet 65 and opens into the first intermediate annular chamber 46, itself in communication with the central annular chamber 50, and then escapes through the portion 110 of the channel evacuation to reach the recovery channel 112.

According to the co-current inverse mode of operation, and illustrated in FIG. 5, besides the cylinder head gasket 25 has been turned 180 ° from its position shown in FIG. 2, the piston 28 has been returned from the longest head 32 is located to the right of the drawing, while the shorter head 34 is located to the left. In addition, the piston has been adjusted to an axial position, so that the longer head 32 is in contact with both the second ring 44 and the third ring 48 to isolate the first intermediate annular chamber 46 from the axial chamber. 26, and so that the shorter head 34 is engaged in the fifth ring 56; the groove 29 placing in communication the second intermediate annular chamber 54 and the central annular chamber 50.

Thus, as in the previous mode of operation, the raw water from the raw water inlet 62 flows through the axial recess 30 of the piston 28 to terminate at the water outlet 64. On the other hand, here a portion of the raw water flowing in the first annular chamber 40 passes through the first central opening 114 and the corresponding first central orifice 98 to join the first passageway, and the common portion while aspiring the brine through the brine inlet 16, then joining the second central orifice 102 and the second central opening 116 to flow into the second intermediate annular chamber 46 and then through the inlet 65, into the reservoir 12 on the The regeneration water rises from the reservoir 12 through the outlet 66 and flows into the first intermediate annular chamber 46 in the central annular chamber 50 to then escape through the portion 110 of the evacuation channel. e t join the recovery channel 112.

In another aspect, illustrated in FIG. 6, the present invention proposes a water meter that can be installed on the dispensing valve according to the invention, in order to measure the quantity of water flowing through this valve. same valve.

This water meter has a main chamber 150 in which is mounted a turbine ogive 152, here illustrated in axial section. This turbine 52 is rotatably mounted around a turbine axis 154 maintained in a fixed position, and it has a bearing zone 156 terminated by a first ceramic ball 158 projecting, and which bears on a second ceramic ball 160 , partially embedded in the body In addition, the meter has an electronic sensor 164 located outside the main chamber 150, but adapted to come opposite a magnetic element housed in the turbine. In this way, for each turbine tower, the electronic sensor 164 produces a signal. Thus, when a fluid, and in particular water circulates in the main chamber 150 and flows against the turbine 152 from the ogival portion, the first ceramic ball 158 is not only force-driven against the second ceramic ball 160 in a reduced point of contact, but moreover, the first ball 158 is rotated against the second ball 160. Thus, the two lines resting on one another form an extremely strong bearing, since of a the point of contact is minute and the nature of the balls 158, 160 is such that their wear is extremely low.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 7 and 8 a distribution valve, according to an alternative embodiment, to completely interrupt the supply of water especially during the regeneration step to prohibit the delivery of raw water.

The object of FIG. 7 corresponds to that of FIG. 4, and takes up the essential characteristics thereof according to said variant embodiment. The identical elements then extend in a similar position to provide the same function. Also, in this Figure 7, the references of the elements identical to those shown in Figure 4, will be the same affected by a prime sign: "'".

Thus, the water softening apparatus comprises a valve body 20 'having an axial chamber 26' in which extends a piston 28 'with asymmetrical double heads. The piston 28 'is integral with an axial grooved piston rod 36' which passes through the valve body 20 'to join a brine valve 38'. According to this variant embodiment, the grooved piston axial rod 36 'extends and passes through the valve body 20' in a sealed manner to emerge on the outside. The axial grooved piston rod 36 'which is integral in translation with another head 34' of the piston 28 'then makes it possible to control the latter in translation from the outside of the valve body 20 '. In contrast, the piston 28 'has a free head 32'.

The valve body 20 'has a raw water inlet 62' opening into a first annular chamber 40 'and a water outlet 64' which opens into a last annular chamber 58 '. As for the tank not shown here, it has an inlet 65 'which opens into a first intermediate annular chamber 46' and an outlet 66 'which opens into a second intermediate annular chamber 54'.

In addition to the piston rod with grooves 36 'controllable from the outside, to drive the piston 28' in translation, according to this embodiment, the valve body 20 'has a cylindrical axial housing 200 located opposite the brine valve 38 ', in the extension of the axial chamber 26' and beyond the sixth ring 60 '. This axial cylindrical housing 200 makes it possible to completely house a shut-off piston 202 with a single head which is integral with it with another axial control rod 204, which passes through the valve body 20 'in a sealed manner in order to come out on the outside and opposite the axial grooved piston rod 36 '. In this way, the shutter piston 202 is controllable in translation towards the axial chamber 26 'from the outside and independently of the piston 28' with double heads. In addition, the shutter piston 202 is adapted to sealingly join the coaxial rings, the sixth 60 'and has a circular lip seal 206 mounted in its circular peripheral edge and oriented towards the axial chamber 26'.

However, as shown in Figure 7, the shutter piston 202 is at rest and is inactive, and the operation of the dispensing valve is then strictly identical to that of the dispensing valve shown in Figure 4. Therefore , the raw water flows through the axial recess 30 'to be delivered to the water outlet 64' while the resin is regenerated in the so-called countercurrent mode. Referring now to Figure 8, in which the double-headed piston 28 'has been held in a position as illustrated in Figure 7, but on which, in contrast, the shutter piston 202 has been driven into position. translation along the arrow F against the piston 28 'with double heads via the other axial control rod 204. Thus, the lip seal 206 is sealingly applied against a circular edge of the head 32' free of the double-headed piston 28 ', while the shutter piston 202 remains engaged in the sixth coaxial ring 60'. In this way, the shutter piston 202 closes the axial recess 30 'and the raw water can no longer flow into the last annular chamber 58' and therefore no longer be delivered to the water outlet 64 ' . Notwithstanding, the resin is regenerated in the so-called countercurrent mode.

Of course, the dispensing valve according to this embodiment variant can be transformed to operate according to the inverse mode said co-current. For this, the cylinder head gasket 25 as shown in FIG. 5 has been turned 180 °, while the piston 28 'shown in FIG. 7 or 8 has been turned so that the shorter head 34' extended facing the shutter piston 202.

Claims

A water softening apparatus comprising a reservoir (12) of ion exchange resin (14), a brine reserve and a dispensing valve (18), said dispensing valve being mounted on said reservoir, said valve (18). ) having a controllable piston body (20) and a cylinder head (22) overlying said valve body, said valve body (20) including a raw water inlet (62) and a water outlet (64), while said reservoir (12) has an inlet (65) and a reservoir outlet (66) connected to said valve body (20), said dispensing valve (18) having two regeneration channels and a d discharge, said regeneration channels being intended to allow the circulation of raw water to suck said brine into said reserve and to allow the flow of a mixture of raw water and brine through said resin (14) for the regenerate, said dispensing valve (18) further comprising s derivation means allowing, in a first bypass position and in a first position of said piston (28), to release one of said regeneration channels by closing the other to inject said mixture through said reservoir inlet (65) in cocurrent and communicating said reservoir outlet (66) with said discharge channel, and in a second bypass position and a second position of said piston, closing said one of said regeneration channels and releasing said other for injecting said mixture through said tank outlet (66) countercurrently and communicating said reservoir inlet (65) with said evacuation channel; characterized in that said bypass means comprises a switchable head gasket (25) between said cylinder head (22) and said valve body (20), said cylinder head gasket having at least one perforated portion (114, 116, 122, 126) and at least one full portion (118, 120, 124, 128); and in that in said first bypass position, said solid portion is fitted across said other one of said channels, said perforated portion being fitted across said one of said channels, while said second bypass position, said solid portion is fitted across said one of said channels, said apertured portion being fitted across said other one of said channels.

2. water softener apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said yoke (22) comprises two regeneration flow paths, respectively constituting a portion of said regeneration channels.

3. water softener apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said two paths, have a common channel comprising venturi means (84, 88), said brine reserve communicating with said venturi means.

4. water softener apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said yoke (22) has a through orifice (110) constituting a portion of said discharge channel.

5. water softening apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said yoke (22) extends longitudinally defining a mean plane (P1), and it has a plane of symmetry (P2) longitudinally cutting said cylinder head in two parts, perpendicular to said mean plane, said cylinder head further having a contact face (76) facing said valve body (20) and a front portion (78) and a rear portion (82). separated by a central portion (80), and in that one of said passageways forms a first loop in said yoke (22) and passes through a first central orifice (98) said contact face in said central portion and one side of said plane of symmetry and opens through a second central orifice (102) in said contact face on the other side of said plane of symmetry and shifted rearwardly.

6. water softening apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the other of said passageways forms a second loop in said cylinder head (22) and through a first time said contact face (76) by a first rear orifice (104) in said rear portion (82) of said other side of said plane of symmetry and opens a second time by a second rear port (108) in said contact face of said one side of said plane of symmetry and offset towards said central portion.

Water softening apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said cylinder head gasket (25) extends on a surface corresponding to said contact surface (76), and in that said at least one perforated portion has two pairs of openings (114, 116, 122, 126).

8. water softening apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said piston (28) has an axial recess (30) and two piston heads (32, 34) opposite one of the other, said piston heads being separated by a groove (29).

Water softening apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said valve body (20) has an axial chamber (26) divided by at least five coaxial rings (42, 44, 48, 52, 56) substantially regularly spaced apart from each other, said rings defining at least five consecutive annular chambers (40, 46, 50, 54, 58), said pistons being slidably mounted in said rings to isolate said annular chambers from each other. other.

Water softening apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said axial chamber (26) has a first annular chamber (40) communicating with said raw water inlet (62), a last annular chamber (58) opposite at the first, communicating with said water outlet (64), a central annular chamber (50) communicating with said discharge channel and two intermediate annular chambers, a first (46) located between said first annular chamber and said annular chamber and communicating with said reservoir inlet (65) and a second intermediate chamber (54) communicating with said reservoir outlet (66).

11. Water softening apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said valve body (20 ') has an axial cylindrical housing (200) opening axially into said last annular chamber (58'), said axial cylindrical housing (200). ) being adapted to receive a shutter piston (202) movable in translation towards said axial chamber (26 ¹ ).

12. water softening apparatus according to claims 8 and 11, characterized in that said shutter piston (202) is movable in translation between a rest position in which it is housed in said axial cylindrical housing (200) and a active position in which it closes said axial recess (30 ') of said piston (28').