Fluid additive control valve

摘要

A valve arrangement includes various improvements useable in the context of a fluid additive system, such as a water softener. For example, the valve assembly may include a seal assembly engaged by a reciprocating piston, in which the seal assembly includes a minimal number of parts, is easily assembled, and can be easily inserted in the bore of the valve body without jeopardizing the integrity of the seals. The valve assembly may further include a quick-disconnect system which allows a “control head” including a valve actuation system and electronic controls to be disconnected from the rest of the valve arrangement with only a partial rotation of the control head. The valve assembly may also include a venturi used for drawing regeneration fluid into the system, and an associated venturi cleaner system which allows a user to unclog the fluid-flow orifice of the venturi without any disassembly of parts of the valve arrangement.

主权项

1. A seal assembly for use in a multi-port valve, the seal assembly comprising:
a first seal subassembly structure defining a longitudinal axis and including a first pair of flanges separated by a first plurality of stanchions, said first seal subassembly structure having a first shoulder extending axially away from said one of said first pair of flanges and a second shoulder extending axially away from the other of said first pair of flanges; a first outer seal mounted to one of said first shoulder and said second shoulder, said outer seal having a first outer seal surface disposed radially outwardly of said first pair of flanges; a second seal subassembly structure defining a longitudinal axis and including a second pair of flanges separated by a second plurality of stanchions, said second seal subassembly structure having a third shoulder extending axially away from said one of said second pair of flanges and a fourth shoulder extending axially away from the other of said second pair of flanges; and an inner seal mounted to one of said third shoulder and said fourth shoulder, said inner seal extending radially inwardly of said second pair of flanges, a second outer seal mounted to one of said third shoulder and said fourth shoulder, said second outer seal having an outer seal surface disposed radially outwardly of said second pair of flanges, said outer seal surface of said first outer seal and said outer seal surface of said second outer seal defining progressively larger outer diameters suitable for a conical valve bore; one of said first and second shoulders axially fixed to one of said third and fourth shoulders such that said first seal subassembly structure is axially fixed to said second seal subassembly structure, said first outer seal axially captured between one of said first pair of flanges and one of said second pair of flanges, and said inner seal axially captured between one of said first pair of flanges and one of said second pair of flanges.