Liquid purification or separation – Magnetic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-10-09
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Magnetic
C210S695000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299768
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic treatment apparatus used for magnetically activating water by exposing water to a magnetic field.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is widely known that water, when exposed to a magnetic field, will be activated. This is because the magnetic radiation makes molecule groups of water become smaller. Such an magnetic treatment is advantageous since the treated water gives an improved taste while also preventing the forming of rust and/or scale.
Conventionally, various types of magnetic treatment apparatus have been proposed. However, these conventional apparatus usually have complicated inner arrangements, so that water flow may be hindered in the apparatus. Under these circumstances, unfavorable fur will often be generated in a region where the water is stagnant, thereby making the apparatus unhygienic.
Further, it is difficult to clean the inside of the conventional apparatus due to their complicated arrangements. It is also a problem that water to be treated is arranged to come into direct contact with permanent magnets of the apparatus. Clearly, such an arrangement is not favorable in terms of hygiene. Also, the magnetic force of the permanent magnets will unduly be weakened due to the direct contact with the water. As a result, water conditions in the conventional apparatus may become worse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic treatment apparatus which eliminates or reduces the above-described problems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a magnetic treatment apparatus for magnetically activating water comprising:
an upstream connector formed with a water inlet passage extending therethrough, the water inlet passage having a first cross-sectional area;
a housing formed with a magnetic treatment passage which extends through the housing and is in communication with the water inlet passage, the magnetic treatment passage having a second cross-sectional area;
a downstream connector formed with a water outlet passage which extends through the downstream connector and is in communication with the magnetic treatment passage, the water outlet passage having a third cross-sectional area; and
a magnetic unit releasably accommodated in the housing, the magnetic unit including at least one magnet holding pipe extending along the magnetic treatment passage, the magnet holding pipe hermetically containing a plurality of permanent magnets.
According to a preferred embodiment, the second cross-sectional area may be greater than each of the first and the third cross-sectional areas. In this manner, water passing through the magnetic treatment passage per unit time can be equal in amount to water passing through each of the water inlet passage and the water outlet passage per unit time.
Preferably, the permanent magnets may be in a disk-like shape. Any adjacent ones of the permanent magnets may be held in contact with each other via unlike poles (namely, North pole and South pole).
According to the preferred embodiment, the magnet holding pipe may contain a plurality of positioning members between which the permanent magnets are disposed.
Advantageously, the magnetic unit may include a plurality of magnet holding pipes which extend along the magnetic treatment passage and are spaced from each other by a constant distance. In this arrangement, treated water can uniformly be exposed to the magnetic field produced by the magnetic unit.
According to the preferred embodiment, each of the magnet holding pipes may hermetically contain a plurality of disk-like permanent magnets, so that the disk-like magnets will not come into contact with water.
With such an arrangement, it is possible to prevent rust from forming within the magnetic treatment apparatus, so that the treated water will not become foul. Further, the permanent magnets are prevented from decreasing in magnetic force.
Preferably, any one of the permanent magnets in a selected one of the magnet holding pipes may be located adjacent to a counterpart permanent magnet in another one of the magnet holding pipes, wherein the North-pole surfaces of said any one of the permanent magnets and said counterpart permanent magnet are arranged to face in opposite directions.
According to the preferred embodiment, each of the magnet. holding pipes has a fourth cross-sectional area, and each of the first and the third cross-sectional areas may be rendered equal to a difference between the second cross-sectional area and a sum of the fourth cross-sectional areas of the magnet holding pipes.
With such an arrangement, water to be treated will be caused to flow smoothly (i.e, without becoming stagnant) through the magnetic treatment apparatus.
Preferably, the magnetic treatment apparatus of the present invention may further comprise horizontal connection bars and vertical connection plates for keeping the magnet holding pipes in place within the housing.
In the above instance, each of the magnet holding pipes may be provided at its ends with fixing members each of which is formed with a through-hole for permitting insertion of one of the horizontal connection bars.
The horizontal connection bars may be supported by the vertical connection plates in a manner such that the connection bars are vertically spaced from each other at regular intervals.
According to the preferred embodiment, the housing has a hexagonal cross section. In this manner, the magnet holding pipes can be reliably fixed in position via the horizontal connection bars and the vertical connection plates (see
FIG. 4
of the accompanying drawings).
Preferably, the upstream connector may be integrally formed with the housing. On the other hand, the downstream connector may be releasably attached to the housing. In this arrangement, when the downstream connector is detached from the housing, the magnetic unit can be put into or taken out of place with respect to the housing (i.e., be releasably held in position within the housing).
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed description of preferred embodiments given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 3680705 (1972-08-01), Happ et al.
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patent: 4289621 (1981-09-01), O'Meara, Jr.
patent: 4505815 (1985-03-01), Lindler
patent: 4515692 (1985-05-01), Chandler et al.
patent: 4532040 (1985-07-01), Meeks et al.
patent: 5043063 (1991-08-01), Latimer
patent: 5468373 (1995-11-01), Chou
patent: 5863404 (1999-01-01), Fujimaki
patent: 5871642 (1999-02-01), Meeks
patent: 5882514 (1999-03-01), Fletcher
Bednarek Michael D.
Business Center Organization Co. Ltd.
Ocampo Marianne
Savage Matthew O.
Shaw Pittman LLP
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