Blockages and flow reductions caused by the accumulation of scale and other deposits on the interior walls of water pipes, steam lines, and heat exchangers are well known maintenance problems. Similar problems can occur in gas and fuel lines and in sewage lines.
Piping system maintenance is a major, yet necessary, expense for operators of residential, commercial, and municipal piping installations, including: pipelines; pumping stations; water treatment plants; sewage systems; fuel plants; boiler and heat exchanger installations; steam generators; greenhouses; poultry, swine, and other agricultural facilities; irrigation networks; and the thousands of other infrastructure installations needed to convey water, sewage, liquid fuels, natural gas, and other fluids common to contemporary life. It is therefore desirable to identify technology capable of reducing or eliminating the need for labor-intensive fluid line cleaning and expensive pipeline and plumbing repairs or replacement. It is an objective of the present invention to treat fluids in such a way as to reduce or prevent blockages and flow restrictions. It is a further objective of the present invention to treat fluids by magnetic means with the objective of increasing the quality, utility, or efficacy of the fluid thus treated.
The magnetic treatment technology of this invention also may be applied to liquid and gaseous fuels with beneficial results. Magnetically treated fuels have a reduced tendency to form fuel line blockages, but magnetic fuel treatment has the particularly beneficial effect of causing fuel to burn more cleanly. Careful experiments have demonstrated that magnetically treated fuels burn more cleanly and more completely than the same fuel left untreated. As a result of magnetic fuel treatment, combustion temperatures are higher and the exhaust stream is characterized by a significant reduction in such undesirable combustion byproducts as particulate carbon, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, which are known to be major contributors to poor air quality and environmental pollution generally.
The present invention achieves these and other beneficial effects by systematically applying magnetic field producing means using a combination of superficially similar, yet fundamentally different and carefully controlled, modules or configurations. For brevity, this specification will often use the word “magnet” rather than magnetic field producing means. Reference to a magnet is to be understood to include a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, or any other structure capable of producing a useful magnetic field. Each modular arrangement has its own particular geometry of magnets to achieve a particular result in the fluid being treated. While each modular arrangement may be beneficial by itself in certain circumstances, a controlled treatment sequence provided by an engineered assembly containing the proper combinations of these modules ordinarily yields a result superior to that obtained by using any single module by itself.
Experimentation has confirmed that, when the magnet is a permanent magnet, a combination of different permanent magnet types often produces a result superior to that obtained using only a single permanent magnet type. For example, experimental results have shown that a ferrite magnet produces longer flux lines capable of operating at greater effective distances than many other permanent magnets. Neodymium magnets, which produce a more intense magnetic field than ferrite magnets, typically produce shorter flux lines with a somewhat lesser effective distance than a ferrite magnet. These different magnetic field characteristics can often be combined to good effect when magnets of both types are used in sequentially staged modules, or in compound treatment modules employing magnets of more than one type. Magnets may comprise ferrite permanent magnets, neodymium permanent magnets, or other magnet types depending on the application. AlNiCo and samarium cobalt permanent magnets may also be used, and other permanent magnet compositions are available. The composition of the permanent magnet is not a limitation of the invention. Most permanent magnets will be used as generally rectangular bars of material, but it is also possible to obtain beneficial results by shaping the permanent magnet in specific ways, as by finishing the ends of permanent magnets to obtain a chisel-shaped profile. Electromagnet geometry may also be manipulated to obtain beneficial effects, and this invention is not limited to any particular magnet geometry.
It is well known that magnets have two opposite poles, usually called the North pole and the South pole. When discussing magnet geometries, it is often convenient to describe a magnet as having a magnetic equator. The magnetic equator is a conceptual surface separating the magnet's North and South poles and, in many geometries, is substantially parallel to both poles. This is a convenient concept when dealing with button magnets, rectangular or square bar magnets, and similar structures commonly used for magnetic fluid treatment.
This specification uses the word “fluid” in its most general sense, referring to either a liquid or gaseous state of matter. It will occasionally be necessary to be specific about the fluid being treated—for example, when the specific fluid is a liquid hydrocarbon fuel—but fluid, as used in this specification, may be either a liquid or gas. Similarly, it is well known that magnets may be permanent magnets, electromagnets, or even naturally-occurring magnetized mineral bodies such as lodestone. As used herein, magnets producing a magnetic field will be understood to include permanent magnets, electromagnets, and any other source of magnetic field energy.
It is instructive to use an imaging aid known as magnetic imaging paper, exemplified by Magne-View Film® produced by Magne-Rite, Inc., 17625 East Euclid Avenue, Spokane, Wash., 99216. This visualization aid may be used to identify changes in magnetic polarity. This specification describes some materials as having weak, little, or no magnetic response, and other materials as having a strong magnetic response. The notion that a material has a weak or a strong magnetic response is an intuitive, qualitative description of a physical property formally known as magnetic permeability. The magnetic permeability, p, of a material is a physical parameter relating the mechanical force between two currents to their magnitudes and geometrical configurations. It is common to express magnetic permeability as the product of two terms. The first term is the fundamental physical constant known as the permeability of free space, symbol μ0, having an exact (defined) magnitude of 4π×10−7 H/m in SI units. The second term is the relative permeability of the material, μR, a dimensionless quantity expressing a material's magnetic permeability relative to the permeability of free space (μ=μRμ0).
Equivalently, a material's relative permeability is the ratio of the material's magnetic permeability to the permeability of free space (μR=μ/μ0). Most materials have a relative permeability of substantially unity (substantially 1), meaning their exhibited magnetic response is essentially that of free space (μ=μRμ0≈1μ0≈μ0). For purposes of this application, a material having relative permeability of substantially unity (typically in the range 0.95 to 1.05) is said to exhibit weak (little or no) magnetic response. A relative few materials including iron, nickel, steels (excepting a very limited number of specialty steel alloys), ferrites, and certain specialty alloys such as mu-metal and permalloy have large relative permeabilities spanning a very wide range (2-4,000 or more). Relative permeability often varies with frequency, temperature, geometry, and other influences beyond the scope of this application. Materials having a relative permeability substantially greater than unity are said to exhibit a strong magnetic response.
In a first embodiment the present invention comprises an assembly for magnetically treating a fluid. The assembly comprises at least one buster module, each buster module comprising an outer sleeve, a fluid conduit having a central axis, and an even number of magnets. Each magnet has a first pole and a second opposite pole, the poles separated by a magnetic equator. The conduit is disposed within the sleeve forming an annular space between the conduit and the sleeve. The magnets are symmetrically disposed in the annular space with their magnetic equators parallel to the central axis of the conduit. The magnets are oriented such that, for any magnet disposed such that its first pole is positioned adjacent the conduit, an adjacent magnet is disposed such that its second pole is positioned adjacent the conduit.
In an alternative embodiment the present invention is directed to an assembly for magnetically treating a fluid. The assembly comprises at least one buster module and at least one aligner module. Each buster module comprises an outer sleeve, an inner fluid conduit having a central axis, and an even number of magnets. Each magnet has a first pole and a second opposite pole, the poles separated by a magnetic equator. The conduit is disposed within the sleeve forming an annular space between the conduit and the sleeve. The magnets are symmetrically disposed in the annular space with their magnetic equators parallel to the central axis of the conduit. The magnets are oriented such that, for any magnet disposed such that its first pole is positioned adjacent the conduit, an adjacent magnet is disposed such that its second pole is positioned adjacent the conduit. Each aligner module comprises an outer sleeve, an inner fluid conduit having a central axis, and one or more magnets each having a first pole and a second opposite pole. The poles of the magnets are separated by a magnetic equator. The conduit is disposed within the sleeve forming an annular space between the conduit and the sleeve. The magnets are symmetrically disposed in the annular space with their magnetic equators parallel to the central axis of the conduit. The magnets are oriented such that each magnet has the same first pole or second pole placed nearest the conduit.
In yet another embodiment the invention is directed to an assembly for magnetically treating wastewater. The assembly comprises a perforated pipe adapted to screen wastewater, a buster module, an aligner module, and a pump having an inlet side and an outlet side. The buster module comprises an outer sleeve, an inner fluid conduit having a central axis, and an even number of magnets each having a first pole and a second opposite pole, the poles separated by a magnetic equator. The inner conduit is disposed within the sleeve forming an annular space between the conduit and the sleeve. The magnets are symmetrically disposed in the annular space with their magnetic equators parallel to the central axis of the conduit and the magnets are oriented such that for any magnet disposed such that its first pole is positioned adjacent the conduit an adjacent magnet is disposed such that its second pole is positioned adjacent the conduit. The aligner module comprises an outer sleeve, an inner fluid conduit having a central axis, and one or more magnets each having a first pole and a second opposite pole, the poles separated by a magnetic equator. The inner conduit is disposed within the sleeve forming an annular space between the conduit and the sleeve. The one or more magnets are symmetrically disposed in the annular space with their magnetic equators parallel to the central axis of the conduit and the magnets are oriented such that for each magnet has the same first pole or second pole placed nearest the conduit. A first end of the fluid conduit of the buster module is connected to the perforated pipe. A second end of the fluid conduit of the buster module is connected to a first end of the fluid conduit of the aligner module. A second end of the fluid conduit of the aligner module is connected to the inlet side of the pump.
In still another embodiment the present invention is directed to an assembly for magnetically treating a fluid. The assembly comprises a housing, an inner support frame, a first magnet and a second magnet, a first conduit and a second conduit, an inlet fluid conduit, and an outlet fluid conduit. The housing has a top surface and bottom surface, the top and bottom being parallel. The support frame is disposed within the housing and comprises first and second parallel sides. The magnets each have a first pole and a second pole, the poles separated by a magnetic equator. The first magnet is supported on an exterior surface of the support frame such that the first pole is adjacent the first parallel side of the support frame and the second pole is adjacent the top surface of the housing. The second magnet is supported on an exterior surface of the support frame such that the first pole is adjacent the second parallel side of the support frame and the second pole is adjacent the bottom surface of the housing. The first conduit is disposed within the housing adjacent a first side of the support frame. The second conduit is disposed within the housing adjacent a second side of the support frame. The inlet fluid conduit is connected to a first end of the first conduit and a first end of the second conduit. The outlet fluid conduit is connected to a second end of the first conduit and a second end of the second conduit.
In another alternative embodiment, the invention is directed to an assembly for magnetically treating a fluid. The assembly comprises at least one buster module where the buster module comprises an outer sleeve and an even number of magnets. The outer sleeve has an inner wall. The magnets each have a first pole and a second opposite pole. The magnets are symmetrically disposed within the outer sleeve such that for any magnet disposed such that its first pole is positioned adjacent the interior wall of the outer sleeve, an adjacent magnet is disposed such that its second pole is positioned adjacent the inner wall of the outer sleeve.
The present invention is directed to fluid treatment apparatuses for a variety of applications. The apparatuses include a plurality of magnets arranged geometrically in ways causing magnetic forces to reinforce each other or to oppose each other. As fluid molecules pass through the fluid treatment apparatus, they are exposed to intense magnetic fields which cause the fluid molecules to rotate into alignment with the field. In some cases, intense oppositely-directed forces encourage the fluid molecules to shear or otherwise modify their geometry. The former effect—that of forcing fluid molecules to align themselves with the device's magnetic field—gives the name “aligner” to the modular assembly specifically designed to enhance the alignment effect. Other magnet geometries are responsible for the latter effect, exposing the fluid molecules to oppositely-directed forces which produce more violent behaviors, introducing turbulence into the fluid and also introducing molecular level stresses encouraging larger molecules to break into smaller molecular fragments. The modular assembly producing these effects is called a “buster,” for it encourages larger molecules to break or “bust” into smaller fragments.
With reference to the drawings in general and to
Buster module 10 features magnets 26 which are arranged to present alternating polarities to the fluid conduit 12. In
Fluid conduit 12 defines an inner annular volume 32 for product flow. Fluid conduit 12 is normally provided with inlet fitting 34 and outlet fitting 36 (shown in
Referring now to
Aligner module 50 features a fluid conduit 12 having an outer wall 14 and an inner wall 16, shown as a section of pipe with circular cross-section for purposes of illustration. Fluid conduit 12 carries the fluid being treated and ordinarily is formed of material which is chemically compatible with the fluid and which has little or no magnetic response. The aligner module 50 features an outer sleeve 18, shown as a section of pipe with circular cross-section for purposes of illustration. Outer sleeve 18 has an outer wall 20 and an inner wall 22. Outer sleeve 18 will ordinarily be made of a mild steel or other material with a strong magnetic response. Outer sleeve 18 should be formed without welding or other high-heat fabrication operations. Inner wall 22 of outer sleeve 18 is of larger diameter than the outer wall 14 of fluid conduit 12, thereby forming annular space 24 between the fluid conduit 12 and outer sleeve 18. Annular space 24 contains a plurality of magnets 26, which may be either an even or an odd number of magnets. Preferably, five bar-type permanent magnets are used. The magnets 26 are arranged with their respective major axes parallel to the axis of fluid conduit 12. The magnets 26 are arranged in a radially symmetric equidistantly spaced relationship in annular space 24. Each magnet 26 has a North pole 28 and a South pole 30. The innermost pole faces of the magnets 26 are maintained in close proximity to the outer wall 14 of fluid conduit 12, while the outermost pole faces of the magnets 26 are maintained in close proximity to the inner wall 22 of outer sleeve 18.
Aligner module 50 features magnets 26 arranged to present the same polarity to the fluid conduit 12. In the embodiment of
Fluid conduit 12 defines an inner annular volume 32 for product flow. Fluid conduit 12 is normally provided with inlet fitting 34 and outlet fitting 36 (shown in
The buster module 10 and aligner module 50 previously described are fundamental functional units, each with a different effect on the fluid being treated. A single buster module 10 can be used by itself to treat a fluid line, and a single aligner module 50 can be used by itself to treat a fluid line. In the embodiments, one or more buster modules and one or more aligner modules are combined in various ways to create a magnetic fluid treatment assembly in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to
Fluid flow is indicated schematically by the arrow near the inlet fitting 94. The fluid to be treated enters the magnetic fluid treatment assembly 100 by means of the inlet fitting 94, flows through the first buster module 10, then flows through the second buster module 80, then flows through the aligner module 50, and then exits the magnetic fluid treatment assembly 100 by means of outlet fitting 96. An individual fluid molecule passing through the assembly 100 is exposed to the magnetic field characteristic of buster module 10, followed by a brief transit through a pipe segment with little or no external magnetic field (corresponding to the intermodule gap), followed by exposure to the magnetic field characteristic of buster module 80, followed by exposure to another segment with little or no external magnetic field, followed by exposure to the magnetic field characteristic of aligner module 50.
Section A-A′ in
Section B-B′ in
Section C-C′ in
Turning now to
The fuel treatment assembly 130 of the present embodiment comprises a plurality of mounting plate assemblies 114. Each mounting plate assembly comprises one or more permanent magnets 102 attached to one side of a semicircular mounting plate 108 made of material with a high magnetic response, typically a mild steel. Preferably, three magnets 102 are mounted on the plate 108. More preferably, the permanent magnets 102 are oriented so their South poles 106 (shown in
The semicircular mounting plate 108 comprises a semicircle having an arcuate edge 112 and a straight edge 110. Two outer magnets 102 are placed near the intersections of the arcuate edge 112 with the straight edge 110, with the outer magnets 102 being placed so the straight edge 110 of the semicircular mounting plate 108 is substantially tangent to the two outer magnets 102. The third magnet 102 is between and roughly equidistant from the two outer magnets 102. The third magnet 102 is set back from the semicircular mounting plate's 108 straight edge 110 by a distance substantially equal to the magnet's 102 radius. The three magnets 102 are separated from one another by small gaps, as shown.
As shown in
Magnetic fuel treatment device 130 further comprises a top outer plate 124, which covers the remaining permanent magnets 102. This construction results in two interior, generally D-shaped, semicircular cavities 118 immediately adjacent the South poles 106 of a total of twelve permanent magnets 102. The North poles 104 of the permanent magnets 102 are immediately adjacent either the top outer plate 124 or bottom outer plate 122. The outer plates 122 and 124 act as magnetic field concentrators, driving magnetic flux into the fluid conduit 128. Fluid conduit 128 passes through the linear gap 126 formed by the straight edges 110 of the magnetic treatment halves 120. The interior semicircular cavities 118 are immediately adjacent the diameter of the fluid conduit 128, forcing maximum magnetic flux into the interior of fluid conduit 128 and treating the fluid flowing therein.
The third embodiment of the present invention, shown in
Wastewater 206 is removed from the sump 202 by applying power to the pump 214, whose rotating impeller vanes (not shown) create suction, or partial vacuum, causing wastewater 206 to be pulled through the perforated pipe 204 and then through one or more buster assemblies and one or more aligner assemblies before the wastewater 206 passes through the pump 214 into the discharge line 220. Parallel paths are desirable to reduce the likelihood of shutdown due to blockage and to increase the exposure of the wastewater stream to the magnetic fields of busters and aligners.
The treatment apparatus 200 comprises a plurality of compound buster assemblies 224, referred to as such because they are composed of multiple buster assemblies similar to those already described, shown in
The installation for the treatment assembly 200 comprises a first compound buster unit 224 containing a first ferrite buster module 236, a buster module as previously taught in which the magnets are ferrite permanent magnets, and a first neodymium buster module 238, a buster module as previously taught in which the magnets are neodymium permanent magnets. The first compound buster 224 is followed by a second compound buster unit 224 containing a second ferrite buster module 236 in which the magnets are ferrite permanent magnets, and a second neodymium buster module 238 in which the magnets are neodymium permanent magnets. The second compound buster unit 224 is followed by a ferrite aligner assembly 226, an aligner assembly discussed below in which the magnets are ferrite permanent magnets. Outlet fittings 242 of the aligner units 226 are connected to capped cleanout fittings 244. Preferably, the caps can be removed to provide access allowing piping 228 to be backflushed for cleaning. Capped cleanout fittings 244 are connected to cutoff valves 246 allowing the wastewater tee 248 to be isolated from the pump suction inlet 250, which facilitates cleaning the piping 228 and cleaning or replacing the pump 214. The cutoff valves 246 are attached to a wastewater tee 248 near the pump suction inlet 250, introducing further turbulence into the wastewater flow. The pump's discharge line 220 exits the pump 214 and is directed to further water treatment or disposal means (not shown).
Referring now to
The inlet fluid conduit 268 arrangement in this aligner unit 226 embodiment provides two paths, or loops, through and immediately adjacent the exterior 270 and interior 272 rectangular structures. A single inlet fluid conduit line 268 is fitted with an inlet side tee 274. The fluid then passes through one of two elbows 276, through one of the gaps between the exterior 270 and interior 272 rectangular structures, through another elbow 276, and then enters the outlet side tee 278 which combines the two fluid paths into a single outlet fluid conduit 280. The fluid conduits 268 and 280, tees 274 and 278, and elbows 276 thus described are preferably composed of a material with little or no magnetic response. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, PVC plastic, HDPE plastic, copper, or stainless steel.
Turning now to
As shown in the top view of
As may be seen in the side view of
The front view in
With reference now to
Treatment of the natural gas stream fueling a large natural gas internal combustion engine is made more efficient by establishing a nonmagnetic gap between buster and aligner modules, thereby preventing unwanted magnetic interactions between the treatment modules. The necessary gap between buster and aligner modules is achieved using spacers 454 typically made of a material with little or no magnetic field response yet having adequate structural strength to safely confine the pressurized natural gas in the treatment unit. Aluminum is one material with satisfactory material properties for this task, although other suitable materials are available and the use of aluminum is not a limitation of the invention. Buster 410 and aligner 450 modules and associated spacers 454 may be attached to one another by a variety of means readily available to those skilled in the mechanical arts. Details of the connection means are not limitations of the invention.
Improved performance may be achieved using an assembly containing more than one buster module. When two or more buster modules are used, they ordinarily will be radially offset with respect to one other—that is, if one buster module has its magnets mounted in the 12, 3, 6, 9 o'clock positions of the earlier example, additional buster modules should be rotated by a relatively uniform amount to realize a cumulative displacement of approximately 45° relative to the first buster module. Thus, the magnets of a second and succeeding buster modules generally appear in the annular gaps between the magnets of the first buster module when viewed down the bore of the fluid path. This arrangement provides the greatest operating benefit by imparting a twisting moment as well as shearing forces as the gas stream passes through the buster assemblies.
A buster module 410 as used in the fifth embodiment is shown in cross-section in
Buster module 410 magnets 426 are arranged to present alternating polarities to the outer sleeve 418. In
A detailed description of a representative aligner module 450 as used in the fifth embodiment is shown in cross-section in
Aligner module 450 features an outer sleeve 418, shown as a section of pipe with circular cross-section for purposes of illustration. Outer sleeve 418 has an outer wall 420 and an inner wall 422. Outer sleeve 418 will ordinarily be made of a mild steel or other material with a strong magnetic response. Outer sleeve 418 should be formed without welding or other high-heat fabrication operations. A plurality of magnets 426, which may be either an even or an odd number, are affixed substantially adjacent the inner wall 422 of outer sleeve 418. Preferably, five magnets 426 are used and shown as bar-type permanent magnets. Magnets 426 are preferably arranged with their respective major axes parallel to the axis of outer sleeve 418 in a radially symmetric equidistantly spaced relationship. Each magnet 426 has a North pole 428 and a South pole 430. The radially outermost pole faces of the magnets 426 are maintained in close proximity to the inner wall 422 of outer sleeve 418.
Aligner module 450 features magnets 426 arranged to present the same polarity to the outer sleeve 418. In
If the six magnets 426 are imagined to correspond to 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 o'clock on a clock face, the construction of
The six-element module also may be configured as an aligner. As before, each magnet 426 has a North pole 428 and a South pole 430. If the six magnets 426 in
As is evident from the detailed description above, it is meaningful to describe not only a magnetic fluid treatment module's dimensions, materials, and function (buster or aligner) but also the number and type of magnets 426 employed in the module's construction. For purposes of illustration, the detailed construction of the present embodiment describes a fluid treatment assembly typically installed on a 2-inch diameter natural gas line. In this example, circular cross-section, a regularly spaced apart relationship between the magnets (permanent magnets) and use of multiple magnets of consistent dimensions are understood. Thus, the entry “3-inch diameter 4-inch long six-element neodymium buster” will be understood to describe a six-element circular configuration with total length of four inches and nominal diameter of substantially three inches constructed according to
The embodiment 460 of the present invention used to treat a 2-inch diameter natural gas line is shown in side view in
Referring to
Spacers 454 are preferably formed of aluminum or other material with magnetic permeability of substantially unity. The use of aluminum for spacers 454 is not a limitation of the invention.
In the present embodiment, busters 410, 412, and 452, aligners 462 and 464, and spacers 454 are held in position by adhesives. This is a matter of manufacturing convenience and is not a limitation of the invention. For example, busters 410, 412, and 452, aligners 462 and 464, and spacers 454 could also be held in position by threaded engagements, coupling unions, pins and gaskets, or other joining features known in the mechanical arts. Only welding, soldering, brazing, or other high-heat operations are discouraged.
Once installed in the pressure jacket 456 (with threaded adapters 458 welded or otherwise securely attached in a gas-tight manner to the pressure jacket 456), failure of an adhesive bond, threaded fitting, gasket, or other joint will not result in a dangerous leak because the natural gas being treated will continue to be confined by pressure jacket 456 and associated threaded adapters 458.
With reference now to
Shown in
Gasoline in the inner fluid conduit 502 initially passes through first buster 518 consisting of four magnets 520 mounted inside an outer sleeve 510. Outer sleeve 510 is made of material having a strong ferromagnetic response (relative permeability much greater than unity), typically a mild steel, although use of mild steel is a matter of design choice. Other materials such as nickel would be equally acceptable for use as the outer sleeve 510. Outer sleeve 510 has an inner wall 512 and an outer wall 514. In the sixth embodiment, four permanent magnets 520, each having a North pole 522 and a South pole 524, are securely attached immediately adjacent the inner wall 512 of outer sleeve 510. In one embodiment, magnets 520 are neodymium permanent magnets, but this is a matter of design choice and is not a limitation of the invention. Other types of magnets may be used.
Assuming the magnets 520 in first buster 518 are oriented as shown in Section A-A′ of
As shown in
It is desirable to have a slight nonmagnetic gap between the outer sleeves 510 of first buster 518 and second buster 528. This gap is provided by first spacer 526, a nonmagnetic object arranged to maintain a gap between the outer sleeves 510 of first buster 518 and second buster 528. Spacer 526 is a short length of commercially available Schedule 40 PVC tubing, but it may be composed of any non-magnetic material having relative permeability of substantially unity. Spacer 526 normally will be made of electrically insulating material, but this is not a limiting consideration. Spacer 526 must be hollow with an annulus sufficiently large to pass inner fluid conduit 502 therethrough. Suitable materials for use as spacer 526 would be aluminum, any number of plastics (PVC, HDPE, polyurethanes, nylon, and the like), or materials such as phenolics. These are matters of design choice and are not limitations of the invention. Dimensions of spacer 526 are such that the outside diameter of spacer 526 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of outer sleeves 510, thereby allowing spacer 526 to project slightly inside the outer sleeves 510 before abutting the ends of magnets 520 inside first buster 518 and second buster 528.
The final modular treatment is a first aligner module 530. For convenience, assume the magnets 520 in first aligner 530 are oriented as shown in Section C-C′ of
It is desirable to have a slight nonmagnetic gap between the outer sleeves 510 of second buster 528 and first aligner 530. As done to establish the nonmagnetic gap between first buster 518 and second buster 528, the desired gap is established by second spacer 526, a second nonmagnetic object arranged to maintain a gap between outer sleeves 510 of second buster 528 and first aligner 530. In the present embodiment, all spacers 526 are short lengths of commercially available Schedule 40 PVC tubing and are interchangeable. As previously discussed, spacers 526 may be composed of any non-magnetic material having relative permeability of substantially unity. Dimensions of spacer 526 in the present embodiment are such that the outside diameter of spacer 526 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of outer sleeves 510, thereby allowing spacer 526 to project slightly inside the outer sleeves 510 before abutting the ends of magnets 520 inside first buster 518 and second buster 528. This feature provides manufacturing advantages, but is not a limitation of the invention.
First buster 518, second buster 528, and first aligner 530 are held in position within an outer jacket (not shown) by silicone, glue, epoxy, or similar encapsulants or adhesives. Use of adhesives or encapsulants is a matter of manufacturing convenience and is not to be considered a limitation of the invention. For example, first buster 518, second buster 528, and first aligner 530 could also be held in position by threaded engagements, coupling unions, pins and gaskets, plastic members, or other joining and positioning feature known in the mechanical arts. Only welding, soldering, brazing, and other high-heat operations are discouraged.
The entire fuel treatment unit 500 is encased in an outer jacket 516 made from a material such as brass, aluminum, stainless steel, or selected engineering plastics approved for use with gasoline. Outer jacket 516 exists to protect and help maintain proper alignment of the magnetic treatment unit components previously discussed. In addition, the outer jacket 516 may be formed with mounting features to assist in securing the fuel treatment unit 500 to the engine-powered unit on which it will be used.
Several closely-related variations of the sixth embodiment are possible, although all are very similar in appearance and construction to the apparatus shown in
A slightly larger variant is contemplated for use in automotive applications for passenger automobiles and trucks. The inner fluid conduit 502 used on the automotive variant is ½-inch trade size stainless steel tubing having ⅝-inch i.d. and 13/16-inch o.d. Inlet end 504 and outlet end 506 are adapted to existing fuel lines by threaded ends rather than barbed fitting. In the automotive variant, outer sleeve 510 used to fabricate first buster 518, second buster 528, and first aligner 530 is made from 2-inch i.d., 2¼-inch o.d. mild steel pipe cut to a length of 1⅛-inch. All magnets 520 are ½-inch wide, ¼-inch high, and 1-inch long neodymium magnets. Each of the spacers 526 are made from Schedule 40 PVC pipe cut to a length of ⅜-inch. First buster 518, first spacer 526, second buster 528, second spacer 526, and first aligner 530 are held together by silicone, glue, or epoxy. Assembly of the automotive variant is completed by sliding the inner fluid conduit 502 through the annulus of the buster-spacer-buster-spacer-aligner assembly and filling all voids with silicone. When cured, this treatment assembly is installed in an aluminum exterior jacket 516.
One skilled in the art will appreciate the number, type, and composition of magnets are matters of design choice. Materials and dimensions of the materials used as outer sleeves, outer jackets, spacers, fluid conduits, and other structural elements are likewise matters of design choice.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/835,383, filed Jul. 13, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/225,133, filed Jul. 13, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61225133 | Jul 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12835383 | Jul 2010 | US |
Child | 14089567 | US |