Fluid handling – Flow affected by fluid contact – energy field or coanda effect – Means to regulate or vary operation of device
Patent
1999-05-24
2000-11-14
Chambers, A. Michael
Fluid handling
Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect
Means to regulate or vary operation of device
123538, 210222, F15C 104
Patent
active
061455423
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a water treatment apparatus.
There are many different techniques which are used in order to treat water, including chemical, magnetic and electric treatments, all of which seek to remove undesired solid particles which are dissolved or held in suspension in a body of water.
In the application of water treatment devices for domestic use, the main undesired materials to be removed are those which make water "hard", and which (if not treated) can cause build-up of deposits (limescale) on the internal walls of pipes and other water contact surfaces, such as in a boiler; and also excessive hardness of water requires increased use of soaps and detergents.
One electrical technique which has been proposed recently is to apply wires externally around water flow pipes (in the manner of an aerial), and to pass electrical currents through the wires at radio-type frequencies. The means by which these currents have a beneficial effect or treatment of the water flowing through the pipe is not entirely clear, but it is a scientifically accepted fact that there is a favourable influence on the dissolved ions (usually calcium ions), and which makes them less liable to form deposited layers on water contacting surfaces.
Known devices apply waveforms to the aerials which have varying frequencies, so as to have a desired influence on the dissolved ions. However, the desired waveforms for one diameter of pipe may not be suitable, or at least not as beneficial, for a pipe of a different diameter. Existing devices do provide predetermined waveforms of varying frequency, but in regularly repeated cycles, but do not provide any means of adjustment of the waveforms to suit different requirements.
The present invention addresses this problem, and provides, in a common design of apparatus, a means of adjustment to permit different frequencies of application of waveforms to suit different diameters of pipe.
According to the invention there is provided an electrically operated device for treatment of "hardness" of water in a pipe or other water-flow guidance or containment, said device comprising: and at radio frequency; to receive said waveform; and pipe with which the device is to be used.
Thus, a device according to the invention, in a single piece of apparatus, is capable of being adjusted in its output of radio frequency waveform to suit different sizes of pipe.
The generator includes an oscillator which generates a required pattern of the waveform, and preferably a frequency adjuster is connected to the oscillator and which is adjustable to vary the frequency of the waveform.
In a practical example, the generator is housed within a casing, and a pair of output ports may be provided on the casing to which the ends of the aerial can be plugged-in. The frequency adjuster may be adjusted between different frequency settings by operation of a push-button or the like mounted externally on the casing.
In one example, four different frequencies of waveform can be selected, with the lowest frequency being set with one pressing of the push-button, and the highest frequency being set by consecutive pressing of the push-button four times.
A visual indicator may be provided on the casing, to indicate the frequency selected, and to show that the device is operating. A series of four indicator lights may be provided, and one (or more) can be arranged to be illuminated during setting (to indicate to the operator the setting which has been made), and thereafter the lights can be flashed on and off consecutively at a speed which is representative of the adjusted frequency of the waveform.
A preferred embodiment, of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an electrical mains powered device for treating water hardness, and having an aerial wrapped around a water flow pipe; and
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of essential components of the electronic circuitry embodied within a casing of the device.
Referring now to FIG.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4865747 (1989-09-01), Larson et al.
patent: 4938875 (1990-07-01), Niessen
patent: 5074998 (1991-12-01), De Baat Doelman
patent: 5171431 (1992-12-01), Schulte
patent: 5738766 (1998-04-01), Jefferson
Chambers A. Michael
Liff Holdings Limited
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