Water treatment apparatus

Abstract

A magnetic treatment apparatus comprising an outer housing, a plurality of parallel water conditioning devices mounted within the outer housing, each conditioning device having a cylindrical inner tube, a cylindrical outer tube surrounding the cylindrical inner tube, a fluid path formed between the cylindrical outer tube and cylindrical inner tube, a plurality of helical flights extending through the fluid passageway, a plurality of magnets within the cylindrical inner tube, each having a length equal to a distance between adjacent helical flights, the magnets in the inner tube being magnetically aligned.

Claims

1. A magnetic treatment apparatus comprising: an outer housing; a plurality of parallel water conditioning devices mounted within said outer housing, each conditioning device comprising: a cylindrical inner tube; a cylindrical outer tube surrounding said cylindrical inner tube, a fluid path formed between said cylindrical outer tube and said cylindrical inner tube; a plurality of helical flights extending through said fluid passageway; a plurality of magnets within said cylindrical inner tube, each of said magnets having a length equal to a distance between adjacent helical flights; said magnets in said inner tube being magnetically aligned; and an inlet to said fluid path and an outlet therefrom.

2. The magnetic treatment apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said magnets has a length of between 2 and 4.

3. The magnetic treatment apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said magnets has a field strength of at least 10,000 Gauss.

4. The magnetic treatment apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conditioning devices are formed of a stainless steel material.

5. The magnetic treatment apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer housing is formed of a mild steel.

6. The magnetic treatment apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are between 3 and 9 conditioning devices mounted within said outer housing.

7. The magnetic treatment apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inner tube and said helical flights comprise a screw, said screw having a pitch equal to the length of each of said magnets.

8. A method for maintaining a colloidal suspension in water comprising the step of supplying a magnetic treatment apparatus comprising: an outer housing; a plurality of parallel water conditioning devices mounted within said outer housing, each conditioning device comprising: a cylindrical inner tube; a cylindrical outer tube surrounding said cylindrical inner tube, a fluid path formed between said cylindrical outer tube and said cylindrical inner tube; a plurality of helical flights extending through said fluid passageway; a plurality of magnets within said cylindrical inner tube, each of said magnets having a length equal to a distance between adjacent helical flights; said magnets in said inner tube being magnetically aligned; an inlet to said fluid path and an outlet therefrom; and passing water through said water conditioning devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said water has at least 50 ppm mineral salts.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said water has between 50 and 1,000 ppm of mineral salts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic treatment apparatus according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 1A is an exploded view thereof;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;

[0019] FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of the central portion of the magnetic treatment apparatus;

[0020] FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the input end;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the outlet end thereof;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cylindrical outer tube;

[0023] FIG. 5A is a longitudinal sectional view of the cylindrical outer tube with the helical flights thereabout;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the conditioning devices; and

[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cylindrical inner tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a magnetic treatment apparatus which is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

[0027] Magnetic treatment apparatus 10 includes an outer housing 12, an inlet end generally designated by reference numeral 14, and an outlet end generally designated by reference numeral 16. Mounted interiorly of outer housing 12 are a plurality of conditioning devices 18, 118, 218, 318 and 418. In the illustrated embodiment, there are provided five such conditioning devices; it will be understood that more or less may be provided. Preferably, there are provided either three, five, seven or nine such devices within an outer housing 12.

[0028] Each conditioning device 18, 118, 218, 318 and 418 is substantially identical and thus, only one such device will be described in detail herein.

[0029] Conditioning device 18 has an inner cylindrical tube 20. Inner cylindrical tube 20 is preferably formed of stainless steel. Mounted interiorly of inner cylindrical tube 20 are a plurality of magnets 22. Each magnet 22 has a north pole 24 and a south pole 26. It will be noted that magnets 22 are magnetically aligned with a consistent north south-north-south arrangement.

[0030] Surrounding inner cylindrical tube 20 is an outer cylindrical tube 28 which is concentric therewith. Formed between outer cylindrical tube 28 and inner cylindrical tube 20 is a fluid path generally designated by reference numeral 30.

[0031] Mounted in fluid path 30 are helical flights 32. In this respect, helical flights 32 comprise a single helix which extends within fluid path 30 and is preferably secured to inner cylindrical tube 20. It will of course be recognized that other arrangements for helical flights 32 may be utilized.

[0032] Helical flights 32 are arranged such that a distance between each adjacent thereof flights is equal to the length of magnets 22.

[0033] Outer housing 12 is provided with a pair of end caps 34 and 36 at inlet end 14 and outlet end 16 respectively. A plenum 38 is provided at inlet end 14 and a plenum 40 is provided at outlet end 16. Plenum 38 provides for the distribution of the fluid to be treated through conditioning devices 18, 118, 218, 318 and 418 while plenum 40 collects the output therefrom.

[0034] It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.