Patent Application
20210001286
This disclosure relates to enhanced micro bubble generation, and in particular to devices and methods for generating microbubbles in water or other fluid. Devices and methods according to this disclosure may also introduce nutrients or sanitizing agents into the water or other fluid. Finally, this disclosure also relates to systems and methods for filtering elements from a source of water or other liquids introduced into a tub or similar compartment.
Prior art devices for generating microbubbles have drawbacks which hamper their efficiency and impair their practical uses. One known method for producing microbubbles is to electrolyze a liquid between two electrodes, in which the microbubbles are formed at the surface of one of the electrodes by a gas released in the electrolysis reaction. Such electrolysis processes are too costly to produce microbubbles on a large scale and cannot practically be utilized in conjunction with liquid dispensing fittings because of the physical size and configuration of the necessary components. Furthermore, such systems are typically large and require electrical enclosures to house the necessary components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,523 to Lecoffre et al. (“Lecoffre”) discloses a microbubble injector comprising a deflector wall, which radially deflects a flow of water exiting under pressure from an injector hole and saturated with dissolved air, thus producing cavitation at the edges of the injector hole and generating microbubbles of air downstream of the injector hole. The invention of Lecoffre suffers from several disadvantages, however, and may not be used practically or efficiently with typical liquid dispensing fittings, such as hydrotherapy jets, shower heads, and liquid nozzles.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0108640 to Takahashi et al. (“Takahashi”) discloses a microbubble-generating device which incorporates small orifices or screens through which the pressurized liquid and gas must travel. Such features are undesirable because debris and contaminants present in the liquid may clog the orifices/screens, so that at least one of (1) expensive pre-filtering of the liquid prior to reaching the small orifices/screens and (2) repeated and continual cleaning of the orifices/screens would be required to maintain the device in an operational state. Extensive maintenance of this type would place an unnecessary burden on the end user and thus is not practical. The clogging of the small orifices/screens may also be detrimental to a system employing the microbubble-generating device, because the blockage could cause excessive back pressure, resulting in premature wear on system components.
There is thus a long-felt need for a microbubble-generating device that does not utilize apparatus that are easily clogged and therefore require frequent cleaning or replacement, which can produce large quantities of microbubbles while occupying a small physical space and utilize smaller components that are practical to use with liquid dispensing fittings such as hydrotherapy jets, shower heads, liquid nozzles, and bathtub faucets. It is further advantageous for the device to be capable of operating in conjunction with a plumbing fixture having aesthetic or ornamental appeal, e.g. a bathtub, without detracting from the fixture's aesthetic or ornamental appeal.
Faucets, spigots, pumps, nozzles and other fixtures may include a filter or screen placed between a water source and a tub, basin or similar fluid reservoir. Such filters are often attached in direct communication to the water source in order to provide filtration of contaminants before the water exits the reservoir. Many filter assemblies are complex and require space to mount below a countertop or other structure associated with the reservoir and may further require specific coupling between the filter assembly and the faucet, spigot or fixture as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,938, for example.
Other filter assemblies must be attached to the faucet directly below the base of the water faucet as in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,031. Such filter assemblies are only replaceable from above the countertop after the water faucet assembly has been removed, making it difficult for a user to replace or substitute filter media. Other filter assemblies occupy countertop space and include filters that are replaceable from above the countertop, but suffer from other disadvantages, including their large footprint, difficulty in replacing filter media, and lack of proximity to the water supply.
There is thus a long-felt need for a filtration assembly that can accommodate a wide variety of fittings, including but not limited to hydrotherapy jets, shower heads, liquid nozzles, bathtub and spa diffusers, and bathtub faucets. It is further advantageous for the assembly to be easy to access and adjust, and if necessary remove and replace the filter media periodically. It would also be beneficial if the assembly is not bulky, requires tooling or reconfiguration of surrounding countertops, flooring, etc., and that otherwise does not detract from the fixture's aesthetic or ornamental appeal.
The invention provides an enhanced microbubble pump system without orifices or screens that can produce large quantities of microbubbles in a manner that makes the system practical for use with typical liquid dispensing fittings, such as hydrotherapy jets, shower heads, liquid nozzles, and bathtub faucets. A microbubble pump described herein occupies a physical volume 30-40% smaller, is 10-15% quieter in operation, and uses about 35% less electricity than has heretofore been achieved by the solutions of the prior art. The microbubble pump described herein has an improved shaft seal compared to the devices of the prior art, limiting the possibility of water damage to internal components, and retains little or no water. The microbubble pump described herein also produces a superior quantity and quality of microbubbles as compared to prior art solutions and can be produced with materials that are ozone-compatible. Microbubble pump systems, as disclosed herein, require only two interconnections to a bathtub or plumbing, as compared to the four interconnections typical of prior art systems. Significantly, the microbubble pump disclosed herein can be mounted 3-5 inches lower on a bathtub than prior art devices, greatly diminishing the pump's impact on the overall aesthetic appeal of the bathtub.
The present disclosure provides a microbubble system, comprising a gas inlet comprising a first Venturi injector; a pressure vessel, with a microbubble device therein, interconnected to the gas inlet, the pressure vessel configured to receive liquid via a liquid source and mix the liquid with gas received via the gas inlet, the microbubble device configured to generate microbubbles of the gas in the liquid to form a microbubble-entrained liquid; and an outlet interconnected to the pressure vessel, configured to receive the microbubble-entrained liquid from the pressure vessel and dispense the microbubble-entrained liquid.
In example embodiments, the outlet comprises at least one of a microbubble nozzle and a second Venturi injector.
In example embodiments, the microbubble system further comprises a pump interconnected to the pressure vessel and configured to pump the liquid from the liquid source into the pressure vessel. The gas inlet may be located on at least one of an outlet of the pump and an inlet of the pump.
In example embodiments, the gas inlet is located on at least one of an inlet of the pressure vessel and an inlet line feeding the pressure vessel.
In example embodiments, the microbubble system further comprises a third Venturi injector configured to inject a fluid additive either into the liquid before the liquid enters the pressure vessel or into the microbubble-entrained liquid dispensed from the outlet. The fluid additive may comprise at least one of a nutrient and a sanitizing agent.
In example embodiments, the microbubble system is configured to be interconnected to a vessel. The vessel may be selected from the group consisting of a bathtub, a shower, a hot tub, a swimming pool, a plunge pool, a foot bath, a sink, a trough, a wash basin, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an irrigation ditch, a well, and a spray gun.
In example embodiments, the microbubble system further comprises an attachment interconnected to the outlet and configured to receive the microbubble-entrained liquid. The attachment may be selected from the group consisting of a hair brush, an ear/nose/mouth outlet, a faucet outlet, a handheld wand, a basin, a massager, a handheld scrubber, a soaking vessel, a facial cleansing brush, a multi-outlet jet port, a vessel wall-mounting outlet, and a facial outlet device.
The present disclosure also provides a microbubble system, comprising a gas inlet comprising a first Venturi injector; a pressure vessel interconnected to the gas inlet and configured to receive liquid via a liquid source and mix the liquid with gas received via the gas inlet; a microbubble device configured to generate microbubbles of the gas in the liquid to form a microbubble-entrained liquid; and a microbubble nozzle outlet, interconnected to the pressure vessel and configured to receive the microbubble-entrained liquid from the pressure vessel and dispense the microbubble-entrained liquid.
In example embodiments, the microbubble device is housed within the pressure vessel.
In example embodiments, the microbubble system is configured to interconnect to a vessel containing the liquid, wherein the microbubble device is submerged in the liquid within the vessel. The vessel may be selected from the group consisting of a bathtub, a shower, a hot tub, a swimming pool, a plunge pool, a foot bath, a sink, a trough, a wash basin, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an irrigation ditch, a well, and a spray gun
In example embodiments, the microbubble system further comprises a second Venturi injector configured to inject a fluid additive either into the liquid before the liquid enters the pressure vessel or into the microbubble-entrained liquid dispensed from the microbubble nozzle outlet. The fluid additive may comprise at least one of a nutrient and a sanitizing agent.
In example embodiments, the microbubble system further comprises an attachment interconnected to the microbubble nozzle outlet and configured to receive the microbubble-entrained liquid, the attachment selected from the group consisting of a hair brush, an ear/nose/mouth outlet, a faucet outlet, a handheld wand, a basin, a massager, a handheld scrubber, a soaking vessel, a facial cleansing brush, a multi-outlet jet port, a vessel wall-mounting outlet, and a facial outlet device.
The present disclosure further provides a method for forming an enhanced microbubble-entrained liquid, comprising receiving a starting liquid and a gas; mixing the starting liquid with the gas; generating microbubbles of the gas in the starting liquid to form a microbubble-entrained liquid; and injecting a fluid additive into at least one of the starting liquid and the microbubble-entrained liquid.
In example embodiments, the fluid additive comprises at least one of a nutrient and a sanitizing agent.
It is another aspect of some embodiments of the present invention to provide a filtration system that may be used with one or more of the embodiments of the present invention described above.
In one aspect, the filtration system comprises at least one fitting. In embodiments, the fitting comprises a plurality of apertures for diverting water passing therethrough, which may be arranged in a variety of patterns and/or sizes.
In another aspect, the fitting is removable from a tub, basin or fluid reservoir. In embodiments, the fitting may be positionable on either an inner surface of a tub, basin or fluid reservoir, or on an outer surface of a tub, basin or fluid reservoir.
In another aspect, the fitting is associated with an outlet fed by a pump. In embodiments, the pump supplies a water or other fluid to the outlet and then through the fitting.
In yet another aspect, the fitting comprises a rim or lip, which may be substantially flush when the fitting is positioned against a wall of a tub, basin of fluid reservoir.
In another aspect, the fitting is a variety of shapes, and may be circular, elliptical, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, or other shapes.
In yet another aspect, the fitting is configured to receive a filter. In embodiments, the filter is sized to be placed adjacent to or over the fitting.
In yet another aspect, the filter is comprised of a material that permits the flow of water or other fluid to pass therethrough, but also restricts the passage of bacteria, chlorine, toxins, and other microorganisms of a certain particle size.
In another aspect, the filter material is comprised of a cloth material. In other embodiments, the material is comprised of a composite material suitable for filtration of particle sizes specified herein. In embodiments, the filter material permits filtering of bacteria and other microorganisms larger than about 10 micron. In other embodiments, the filter is comprised of a denser material to permit filtration of microorganisms smaller than about 1 micron.
In another aspect, the fitting is configured to receive different types of filter materials or filter types depending on the user preference.
In another aspect, the filter is shaped to have an outer perimeter that substantially conforms to the outer circumference of the fitting. In embodiments, the filter may further comprise an outer edge that conforms to the lip or rim of the fitting described above. The outer edge may comprise elastic or similar material to ensure a snug fit against the fitting.
In another aspect, the outer edge of the filter may be placed between the lip or rim of the fitting and the wall of the fluid reservoir, thereby securing the filter in place.
In another aspect, the filter is sized to be placed adjacent to the fitting on an outer surface (tub-facing side). In embodiments, the filter may be placed against an inner surface of the fitting.
These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure contained herein.
As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.
It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably.
The embodiments and configurations described herein are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. All patents, applications, published applications, and other publications to which reference is made herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term herein, the definition provided in the Brief Summary of the Invention prevails unless otherwise stated.
Referring now to
Prior art microbubble systems often comprise a pump. The pump may be a centrifugal pump used for shallow water wells and comprises a liquid inlet, a gas inlet on the liquid inlet, a prime port (on a back side of the pump, not shown), a liquid outlet, and a drain port. Because air or other gas is injected to the pump on an inlet or suction side of the pump, cavitation may take place within the pump itself, creating unnecessary noise and an increased likelihood of shaft seal failure. These prior art pumps are also quite large, not self-priming, and requires four connections to a bathtub or plumbing. Water may be retained within the pump, which may lead to the growth of bacteria or molds. The pump may have a substantial electricity requirement of ten amps, and be mounted in a particular direction given the constraints on the bathtub or other plumbing fixture. These and other limitations of the pumps of the prior art are overcome by the microbubble devices and systems illustrated in
As shown in
Referring now to
The microbubble device 200 may comprise drainage hole 260 for draining excess fluid. The microbubble device 200 is housed within the pressure vessel 400 such that it remains fully submerged in fluid below the fluid level L, such that the draining occurs into the volume of liquid Lv maintained within the pressure vessel 400. In a preferred embodiment, the volume of liquid Lv is about 90% by volume of the pressure vessel 400 volume, and the volume of gas Gv is about 10% by volume.
In embodiments, one or more Venturi injectors may inject gases or liquid additives to the liquid prior to the liquid entering the pressure vessel 400. Venturi injectors may additionally be used in conjunction with the microbubble outlet nozzle to inject additional gases or liquids into the dispensed liquid. In embodiments that do not comprise a pump, the pressure vessel 400 may be interconnected directly to the liquid source.
In varying embodiments, the system may be used with a traditional or stand-alone bathtub. However, other vessels suitable for use with systems of the present invention include, but are not limited to, showers, hot tubs, swimming and plunge pools, foot baths, sinks, troughs, wash basins, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation ditches, wells, spray guns, and any other vessels used for bathing, hydrotherapy, cleaning or processing food, and the like.
Referring now to
As shown in
Thus, in embodiments described above, the outlet of the microbubble device is in communication with the interior of the pressure vessel, thereby permitting recirculation of microbubbles within the pressure vessel and delivery through one or more attachments or outlets. A separate nozzle may further stimulate the fluid to create an active concentration of microbubbles flowing to the outlet and into the basin or tub. This stimulating nozzle may be positioned before the outlet and after the pressure vessel.
The system thereby provides a steady flow or fluid entrained with microbubbles without significant loss of pressure and avoiding clogging of the outlet or inlet. As the microbubble device inlet receives a mixture of liquid and large gas bubbles, and as the liquid is converted to all gas bubbles from the steady pressure within the microbubble device, the gas may be released from the device into the top of the pressure chamber tank and controlled at a consistent 40 psi with steady flow and no restrictions. This is beneficial compared to the prior art systems, which comprise pumps as described above operating at 60 psi or higher, with fluctuations, and associated restricted flow.
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The system 100 comprises at least one injector, which receives fluid and tapers down to create an orifice, and further comprises a gas inlet for receiving ambient or compressed gas. The microbubble device then widens and creates a vacuum for gas or liquid to be drawn into the fluid flowing through the microbubble device, which provides consistent water flow and gas flow. These components of the system are all located on the outlet side of the pump to reduce cavitation and potential system failure, as well as address noise and inconsistent gas flow or pressure.
In use, the system is further designed to permit pressurized water from the microbubble device and the pressure vessel to enter an injector inlet, which causes the pressurized water to become constricted toward the injection chamber. This in turn changes the pressurized water into a high-velocity jet stream, which also serves to increase the velocity through the injection chamber and decrease the absolute pressure, creating a vacuum. This process further permits the addition of an additive material, preferably drawn through the suction port and entrained into the water stream, during the delivery of the pressurized fluid. As the jet stream is diffused toward the injector outlet, its velocity is reduced and it is reconverted into lower pressure energy. Further details regarding the method of use of the system is described below.
Referring now to
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Although not shown in
The fitting 3100 may have a rim or lip 3120, which in one embodiment may be placed substantially flush against a wall of a tub, basin of fluid reservoir. Screws or similar devices may be used to attach fitting to the wall of the fluid reservoir. The fitting 3100 may be circular or shaped in another fashion.
A filter 3200 is preferably sized to be placed adjacent to, and in some embodiments over the fitting 3100, as will be described in greater detail below. The filter 3200 is comprised of a material that permits the flow of water or other fluid to pass therethrough, but also restricts the passage of bacteria, chlorine, toxins, and other microorganisms of a certain particle size. In embodiments, the material is comprised of a cloth material. In other embodiments, the material is comprised of a composite material suitable for filtration of particle sizes specified herein. In one embodiment, the filter 3200 permits filtering of bacteria and other microorganisms larger than about 10 micron. In alternate embodiments, the filter 3200 may be comprised of a denser material to permit filtration of even smaller microorganisms, including those smaller than about 1 micron.
The filter 3200 may be shaped to have an outer perimeter that substantially conforms to the outer circumference of the fitting 3100 and may further comprise an outer edge 3300 that conforms to the lip or rim of the fitting 3100 described above. The outer edge 3300 comprises elastic or similar material to ensure a snug fit against the fitting 3100. In alternate embodiments, the outer edge of the filter 3200 may be placed between the lip or rim of the fitting 3100 and the wall of the fluid reservoir, thereby securing the filter 3200 in place. In either of these embodiments, the filter 3200 is secured to the fitting and, thus. avoids displacement by water passing through the fitting 3100 and the filter 3200.
In one embodiment, the filter 3200 is sized to be placed adjacent to the fitting 3100 on an outer surface (tub-facing side). In other embodiments, the filter may be placed against an inner surface of the fitting 3100. In this configuration, screws or other devices may pass through the filter 3200 and further secure the filter 3200 in place on the inside of fitting 3100. In alternate embodiments, the screws are placed to avoid penetrating the filter 3200.
In operation, the filter 3200 is placed over the fitting and fastened directly or with material along the outer edge 3300 or the filter 3200 so that it fits snugly around the lip or rim of the fitting 3100. The fitting 3100 may be removed from the tub and the filter 3200 replaced from time to time without the use of specialized equipment or difficulty accessing the filter 3200. Different types of filter 3200 may be used with a single fitting, depending on the nature of filtration desired.
The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications of the invention are possible, and also changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention.
The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description of the Invention, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments of the invention may be combined in alternate embodiments other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the invention requires more features than are expressly recited. Rather, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.
Moreover, though the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g. as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable, and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps to those described, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable, and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 16/597,724, filed on 9 Oct. 2019, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/565,314, filed on 9 Sep. 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/743,197, filed on 9 Oct. 2018, and is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/146,689, filed on 4 May 2016, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/156,642, filed 4 May 2015. These applications are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62743197 | Oct 2018 | US | |
| 62156642 | May 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16597724 | Oct 2019 | US |
| Child | 17027937 | US | |
| Parent | 15146689 | May 2016 | US |
| Child | 16565314 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16565314 | Sep 2019 | US |
| Child | 16597724 | US |
