BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the turbine inverter according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the turbine inverter during assembly stage as a sheet of metal with cut lines outlining the plurality of blades and their angle of tilt.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the turbine inverter during assembly stage as sheet of metal after cutting the blades and bending the blades inward, but before final shaping into cylinder form.
FIG. 4 is an antero-lateral view of the turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 4-4, illustrating one small blade of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 5 is an antero-lateral view of the turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 5-5, illustrating one medium blade of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 6 is an antero-lateral view of the turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 6-6, illustrating one large blade of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 7 is antero-lateral view of turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 7-7, illustrating the first layer of blades of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 8 is an antero-lateral of turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 8-8, illustrating the second layer of blades of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 9 is an antero-lateral of turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 9-9 illustrating the third layer of blades of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 10 is an antero-lateral view of the turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 11 is an antero-lateral view of the turbine inverter illustrated in FIG. 3, with the metal sheet partially folded into semi cylinder shape.
FIG. 12 is an antero-lateral view of the sheet of metal illustrated in FIG. 3, with the flow vectors illustrated by arrows, demonstrating fluid flow direction as it approaches and is diverted by the blades of the turbine inverter.
FIG. 13 is an entry view of the turbine inverter, illustrating only the orientation of the small blades.
FIG. 14 is a mid view of the turbine inverter, illustrating only the orientation of the medium blades.
FIG. 15 is an end view of the turbine inverter, illustrating only the orientation of the large blades.
FIG. 16 is a flow entry view of the turbine inverter, illustrating the orientation of the small, the medium and the large blades.
FIG. 17 is a side view perspective side view of the turbine inverter in operation, illustrating the flow of fluid as it moves into and out of the turbine inverter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a turbine inverter for improving the flow of fluids through any enclosed medium. FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the turbine inverter 10 of the present invention. The turbine inverter 10 has a main body 11. Although the main body 11 is preferably cylindrical, it could be of any suitable shape to complement the shape of the enclosed medium in which the turbine inverter is to be used. An example of such an enclosed medium could be a pipe, a hose, or a similar device typically used to transport fluids.
Referring to FIG. 1, the main body 11 is hollow and has an exterior surface 12, an interior surface 14, a first end 13 and a second end 15. Vanes, also referred to as blades, 16, 18, 20 are fixedly positioned along the interior circumference of the main body 11. The blades 16, 18, 20 project into the hollow of the main body 11.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the turbine inverter 10 of the present invention is typically manufactured when a series of cuts are made along cut lines 17 on a sheet of metal to define a plurality of individual blades 16, 18, 20. Stainless steel is preferred, but any other suitable metal could be used, as long as it is flexible, strong and resists corrosion, rust and heat.
In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the blades of the turbine inverter of the invention are arranged in a multi-layer fashion. Referring to FIG. 2, the first layer consists of small blades 16, the second layer consists of medium blades 18, and the third layer consists of large blades 20. Although the turbine inverter of the illustrated embodiment includes three layers of blades, the turbine inverter of the invention can be constructed to include four, five, six or more layers of blades, as necessary. In the illustrated embodiment, the layer of small blades 16 is proximal to the first end 13 of the turbine inverter 10 and the layer of large blades 20 is proximal to the second end 15 of the turbine inverter 10. As seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, although the individual blades 16, 18, 20 are distinct in size and surface area, they are proportionally identical in shape.
In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the blades 16, 18, 20 are six-sided and double-winged in shape, with the wings preferably forming the shape of a āVā. As shown in FIG. 2, the cut lines 17 are made along only five of the six sides in each of the blades. One of the sides 16a, 18a, 20a in each of the blades remains attached to the main body 11. After the cuts are made, the blades 16, 18, 20 are folded inward about their attached sides 16a, 18a, 20a such that the blades project from the interior surface 14 of the turbine inverter 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the attached sides 16a, 18a, and 20a of the blades 16, 18, 20 are oriented at varying angles with respect to the horizontal axis.
As a result, as seen in FIG. 3, the blades 16, 18, 20 project from the interior surface of the turbine inverter 10 at varying angles with respect to the horizontal axis. Specifically, the layer of small blades 16 (shown in FIG. 7) is oriented at the smallest angle with respect to the horizontal, the layer of medium blades 18 (shown in FIG. 8) is positioned at a larger angle, and the layer of large blades 20 (shown in FIG. 9) is positioned at the largest angle with respect to the horizontal axis. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the blades 16, 18, and 20 are preferably curved at the same diametrical proportion as the interior surface 14 of the main body 11 of the turbine inverter 10. Because the blades 16, 18, 20 are curved, the arrangement of blades in the turbine inverter 10 is referred to as swept-wing design.
After the blades 16, 18, 20 are folded inward, the two ends of the metal sheet are brought in proximity of each other as shown by the directional arrows in FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 11, as the ends are moved toward each other, the turbine inverter 10 begins to form its shape in accordance to the medium within which it will be functioning (e.g., circular, cylindrical, elliptical, etc.). FIG. 11 illustrates an end view of the turbine inverter 10 as the circle is approximately halfway complete. FIG. 16 illustrates the turbine inverter 10 of the invention in its final form, after the circle is complete. FIG. 13 illustrates the turbine inverter 10 from the same end view, but shows the orientation of only the small blades 16. Similarly, FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the turbine inverter 10 from the same view, but show the orientations of only the medium blades 18 and only the large blades 20, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 16, it can be seen that the blades 16, 18, 20 are cooperatively arranged such that they cover substantially the entire circumference of the turbine inverter 10 and substantially the entire area of the hollow of the main body 11. The center portion 22 of the hollow is not covered by any of the blades 16, 18, 20.
FIG. 17 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation. In operation, the turbine inverter 10 of the invention is inserted into a hose, a pipe, or any other enclosed medium 23 typically used to transport fluids. The turbine inverter 10 is preferably positioned such that fluid 24 enters through the first end 13 of the turbine inverter 10 and exits through its second end 15. As fluid 24 approaches the turbine inverter 10, its flow inside of the enclosure 23 is turbulent because individual fluid particles (not shown) hit each other and bounce off each other and off the enclosement borders at almost every possible direction, as indicated by directional arrows in FIG. 17. As fluid 24 approaches the turbine inverter 10, the friction, drag, and resistance are high. The fluid 24 enters the turbine inverter 10 and is diverted or redirected by the three layers of blades 16, 18, 20 in succession. The blades 16, 18, 20 divert the flowing fluid 24 in accordance to the size, shape and orientation of the blades, as shown in more detail in FIG. 12. As discussed above and as seen in FIG. 12, blades 16 are oriented at the smallest angle to the horizontal, blades 18 are oriented at a larger angle, and blades 20 are oriented at the largest angle to the horizontal. Consequently, as seen in FIG. 12, each successive layer of blades 16, 18, 20 provides a larger entry angle of approach with respect to the fluid 24. Specifically, the layer of blades 16 provides a small entry angle of approach, the layer of blades 18 provides a larger entry angle of approach, and the layer of blades 20 provides the largest entry angle of approach.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the shape of the blades 16, 18, 20 is designed to create maximum surface area at the center of the blades, where most of the fluid flow will be diverted. The V-shape formed by the wings of the blades 16, 18, 20 creates a high/low pressure differential as the diverted fluid leaves the blades. Specifically, as fluid is diverted by any given blade, there is a high pressure gradient along each of the two wings, and a low pressure gradient along the middle of the V. As such, the shape of the blade is set to reduce friction, drag and resistance at the angle of fluid entry. The V-shape of the blade greatly reduces the negative pressure buildup referred to as eddy. The swept-wing design of each blade creates a flow and pressure differential as matter leaves each blade layer, resulting in a swirling as well as a pulling effect of matter toward the center of the medium. In addition, as discussed above, each successive blade layer contains an incrementally larger blade size, as well as a larger entry angle of approach, thereby increasing the swirling speed and pulling intensity of the matter through the low pressure.
Referring back to FIG. 17, as the fluid 24 moves through turbine inverter 10, fluid 24 is spun along the medium by that increasing the swirling speed and pulling intensity of the matter through the device diameter limits due to high pressure flow. Along the proximal diameter of the turbine inverter 10, the fluid flow 28 is more linear due to lower pressure flow. Along the center, there is a very low pressure resulting in a more linear flow 28. Because there is a high pressure fluid flow 30 proximally to the interior surface 14 of the turbine inverter 10 and a very low pressure linear flow 28 at the center, a pull of matter from high to low pressure occurs, and there is a creation of uniform pull of matter forward and towards the center.
Accordingly, there is an increase in flow due to decreased turbulence, decreased resistance and drag and due to an increased uniform flow and an increased pull from high to low pressure area. Because the fluid flow is less turbulent and more laminar as the fluid comes out of the turbine inverter, the power of a pump or a motor required to move the fluid through the pipe or hose is lower. Similarly, if the pump is left at the same power level, a larger amount of fluid moves through the pipe/hose when the turbine inverter of the invention is utilized. Thus, there is provided a device which, when inserted into any enclosed medium, provides an increase in the efficiency of flow.
Although three layers of blades are used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of blade layers may be adjusted in order to make a turbine inverter of any required size. Also, the blades do not have to be sized and oriented in exactly the way illustrated in the drawings. In fact, the amount of successive layers of blades, the size and shape of the blades, and the approach angle may be varied in accordance with at least the following factors: the diameter of the enclosed medium, the velocity of fluid flow, and the temperature, viscosity, and molecular weight of the fluid moving through the enclosed medium. In addition, depending on the length of the enclosed medium, not one, but a plurality of turbine inverters may be placed at predetermined spaced intervals along the enclosed medium to effectively achieve the objectives of the present invention.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.