Fluid handling – Systems – Tank with internally extending flow guide – pipe or conduit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-05-29
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Tank with internally extending flow guide, pipe or conduit
C137S593000, C137S493700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to water circulation systems for potable water storage tanks and more particularly, to an apparatus for use with single pipe water storage tanks which minimizes thermostratifying and further promotes water circulation with a positive retention time.
With many conventional potable water storage tanks as used in a typical city or county water supply, a single pipe is used to fill and drain the water within. Typically, this single pipe injects and removes water from the base of the storage tank. In such a system, the water which enters the tank is usually the water which exits immediately thereafter when a supply of water is needed by the community. This means that there is little if any retention time for water which is injected into the tank. This is especially true in warmer months when the water which enters is often colder than the water within the tank and therefore tends to remain at the lowest portion of the tank. Thus, water which is removed is typically the same water which immediately theretofore entered. This form of water removal precludes thorough mixing with or depletion of water which was at the upper portions of the storage tank. Without a through mixing of inlet and outlet water, the tank tends to thermostratify. This means that the water has a temperature gradient within the tank. The colder portions of said gradient tend to induce sweating on the outside of said storage tank and thereby cause said tank to externally deteriorate. That is, since the tanks are typically manufactured of an external ferrous metal material, said material oxidizes or its exterior coating deteriorates due to the sweated moisture present on its exterior surface. Furthermore, in chlorinated water supply systems, the lack of thorough mixing within a single pipe system denies any injected chlorine the time to circulate and mix with the water within the storage tank. This may cause excessively low or high concentrations of chlorine in the municipal water supply.
In the colder months, ice will typically form on the top surface of the water held in a storage tank. The greater the ice buildup, the greater the potential for damage to the interior protective coating of the storage tank. Thus, a city or county water supplier has a vested interest in minimizing surface ice buildup. In the winter months, water which enters the tank from the base is typically warmer than the surrounding water. Unfortunately, with a conventional single pipe system, the inlet water is unable to reach the top surface of the storage water without diffusing and cooling with the water stored within the tank. Thus, the potential for inlet water minimizing surface freezing within the tank is not utilized.
Prior to the art of the present invention, the only solution for solving the thermostratification problem in a single pipe system has been the incorporation of a separate inlet and outlet pipes. That is, the inlet pipe functions only as a conduit for inlet water and a second pipe of sufficient fire flow diameter is added to provide outlet flow at the base of the water storage tank. This modification is quite costly and time consuming.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for positive water retention and circulation in storage tanks which injects inlet water at a higher level within the storage tank and removes water from a lower level within the tank thereby promoting a positive retention time of injected water.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for positive water retention and circulation in storage tanks which is easily adaptable to a conventional single pipe potable water storage tank.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for positive water retention and circulation in storage tanks which minimizes thermostratification within the storage tank and also provides for a thorough mixing of inlet and outlet water.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for positive water retention and circulation in storage tanks which is able to minimize ice buildup on the surface of the stored water during winter months.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention there is provided an apparatus for positive water retention and circulation in storage tanks in conjunction with a single pipe potable water storage tank. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises two or more directional flow control check valves which mate onto and with the entrance or inlet pipe for a single pipe water storage tank, and an extension pipe for directing the inlet water near or above the top surface of the stored water. Said flow control check valves are typically one way flapper valves, but may comprise other types of directional valves which allow water flow in only one direction.
In a single pipe water storage tank, the water enters and exits through a pipe at the base of the tank. The present art apparatus in preferred and alternative embodiment forms, fits onto the single entrance pipe and directs water entering the tank through the extension pipe and water leaving the tank through the one or more exiting flow control check valves near the base. This arrangement creates water inflow to the upper portions of the tank and water removal from the lower portions of the tank. A preferred embodiment will utilize two directional flow control check valves near the base of the tank for exiting water and one check valve within or below the extension pipe which allows water to enter the upper portions of the tank. Alternative embodiments may remove the inlet directional flow control valve and place the extension pipe above the surface of the water. Further alternative embodiments may utilize more or less than two directional flow control check valves for exiting water.
In a preferred embodiment, a pipe coupler having four ports, two substantially horizontal and two substantially vertical, is placed onto the potable water storage tank entrance pipe. The entrance pipe is coupled to the lower most substantially vertical port of said coupler. Onto the upper most substantially vertical port is coupled an extension pipe and an inlet flow control check valve. Onto each of the substantially horizontal ports is coupled an exiting flow control check valve. Each flow control check valve allows water to flow in only one direction, thus proper direction placement is critical. Since said pipe coupler is located near the base of the water storage tank, said exiting flow control check valves are able to ensure that only water from the base ofthe tank exits when a demand is placed upon the water tank. All entering water is transferred near or above the surface of the water level by the extension pipe. An alternative embodiment may incorporate a pipe coupler having only three ports, thereby providing only one exiting flow control check valve near the base of the tank. Further alternative embodiments may incorporate a pipe coupler having a plurality of ports together with a plurality of check valves. All embodiments incorporate exiting flow control check valves which in combination are of sufficient size to allow fill fire flow capacity as required by the community serviced.
The present art may be adapted for elevated leg water storage tanks having a wet riser as shown in Figure two or ground storage tanks having a water column extending to ground level as shown in Figure one. A wet riser is a term of art which describes a pipe connected around the entrance of inlet pipe and of substantially larger diameter. The wet riser forms a water column of typically three (3) feet or larger size around the inlet pipe and couples with the storage tank. This wet riser pipe typically mates and connects with the base of the elevated water storage tank and extends downward to ground level. With the art of the present invention, water is removed from the base of the wet riser or water column near ground level. That is, the exiting flow control c
Klug Kevin L.
Rivell John
LandOfFree
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