AU2011201577A1

AU2011201577A1 - Water conditioning systems

Info

Publication number: AU2011201577A1
Application number: AU2011201577A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Uden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-29
Filing date: 2011-04-07
Publication date: 2011-04-28
Also published as: AU2004224957A1

Description

Regulation 3.2 -1.

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT APPLICANT: Robert Uden NUMBER : FILING DATE: Invention Title: WATER CONDITIONING SYSTEMS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -2 WATER CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Technical Area This invention relates to improvements in water conditioning systems and components and is therefore particularly useful, although not restricted to, s use in air conditioning systems, Background to the invention Water conditioning systems per se are well known, and they normally comprise an element located in the flow path of the water which is designed to neutralise any ions present in the water preventing any deposition occurring on the 10 equipment. The electric current can be passed between the element and the surrounding area, or, on occasion between the element and a sacrificial device which is also in at least electrical contact with the water. In some applications the electrical flow necessary may be generated purely by the positioning of the components of the system in the earth, where there could is be a pair of parallel members, one of which would be copper and one zinc located in an earthed location, with the zinc element being sacrificial. Alternatively, the current may be generated by use of a battery, generator or the like. The disadvantage of previous conditioners, particularly where units for location 20 in small diameter pipelines are concerned, is that they are generally quite expensive as they have to be manufactured by machining a tube having at each end means whereby connecting portion or the like can affect connection to the pipeline in which the unit is to be located. Extensive machining is usually needed so that the actual conditioning element is firmly and positively held within the 25 tube, -3 Outline of the invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an water conditioning unit which is more effective for relatively small pipes and can work for long periods of time 5 without maintenance. The unit is designed to prevent the calcification in evaporative air conditioners so prolonging the life/longevity of the cooling pads, pump and interior of the evaporative air conditioner. It is a further object of the invention to provide a water conditioning unit which makes use of the existing piping already available. 1o The invention provides a water conditioning unit having a body portion and a conditioning assembly whereby the conditioning assembly is adapted to cause turbulence in a water flow and introduce electrons into the unit, the unit capable of being readily connected within a pipeline. It is preferred that the body portion be made of conductive material. J5 It is preferred that the conditioning assembly has at least one screw, or in larger units, rod or post or the like, which is adapted to disturb the normal water flow and cause turbulence. It is further preferred that the conditioning assembly be provided with a zinc member which acts as a sacrificial member to donate electrons to the 20 conditioning unit. It is preferred that the conditioning unit may be connected to the adjacent pipeline via a hose or pipe.

-4 In order that the invention be more readily understood we will describe by way of non limiting example a specific embodiment thereof. Brief description of the Drawing Figure Figure 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the conditioning S unit according to the invention. Figure 2 shows the positioning of the screws relative to each other within the central aperture of the conditioning unit according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is atop view of an embodiment of the conditioning unit according 10 to the invention. Figure 4 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the conditioning unit showing a longitudinal core located within the unit. Description of an Embodiment of the Invention Figures 1 to 4 show a preferred embodiments of the invention as it relates to a is conditioning member for use in water conditioning systems. In this embodiment of the invention there is provided a water conditioning unit 1 which is adapted to be located within and used with pre-existing pipelines. The conditioning unit I has a body portion 2 and a conditioning assembly 7. The conditioning unit 1 is made of a conductive metallic material which is preferably 20 stainless steel. The diameter of the unit 1 can vary however, the outer diameter should be equivalent to the inner diameter of the adjacent hose or pipeline it is being connected to such that, either end of the unit 1 is adapted to be received within the adjacent hose or pipeline.

Each end of the unit 1 is provided with a connecting portion 19 which having a raised portion 3 and a recessed portion 4, which provides a means for enabling a clamp 5 or the like to lock onto and grip the connecting portion 19 when it is located thereover. 5 The raised portion 3 of the connecting portion 19 is designed to taper slightly towards the outer edge of the unit 1. This enables the adjacent hose or pipeline to be fitted thereover with greater ease. It also allows the clamp 5 to remain more securely connected to the unit 1. The hose or pipeline can be fitted by cutting and the reducing the hose or pipeline to size and fitting it over the 4 connecting portions 19 at either end of the unit. The hose or pipeline can then be held in place by a clamp 5 or the like which is adapted to be located thereover and tightened until it grips the connecting portion 19. The body portion 2 of the conditioning unit 1 is generally cylindrical such that it can be accommodated by the adjacent pipelines and not interfere with the flow 3s of water therethrough. Extending throughout the length of the conditioning unit is a central aperture 6 which allows the water to flow through the entire conditioning unit 1. In this embodiment of the invention, the conditioning assembly 7 has at least one screw 8 which is adapted to be passed through one wall 9 of the body 2 and 20 across the central aperture 6 of the conditioning unit 1. The screw 8 is passed through a hole 10 provided in the body 2 of the conditioning unit 1 and is tightened to feed the screw 8 through until the tip 11 of the screw 8 abuts the inner wall on the opposite side of the body 2 of the conditioning unit 1. Preferably, there are a plurality of screws 8 provided along the length of the 25 conditioning unit 1. Where size of the conditioning unit is large, the screws 8 can be replaced with a rod or post or the like which will serve the same purpose.

-6 The screws 8 are positioned in different directions at varying angles in respect of one another. Whilst the screws 8 are not large enough to unduly impede the flow of water through the conditioning unit 1, they present as an obstacle to the water and create turbulence within the unit. 5 The conditioning assembly 7 also has provided a metal member 13 which is spaced from the screws 8 and extends outwardly from the body 2 of the conditioning unit 1. The metal member 13 is made of a conductive metallic material which may or may not be the same as the conditioning unit 1. The end of the metal member 13 situated farthest from the body 2 of the conditioning unit wo 1 can be provided with an aperture 14 to enable an electrical connection thereto by means of a nut or the like. The conditioning assembly 7 also has provided a sacrificial member 15 which is made of zinc and is adapted to be connected to the metal member 13. Where the device is being used in an air conditioning system the zinc member 15 will 15 normally be located in a water reservoir, being part of the system. Alternatively, a power pack or generator may be connected between the zinc member 15 and the metal member 13 adjacent each end of the body 2 of the conditioning unit 1 to cause the required flow of electricity throughout the unit. Where the conditioning unit 1 is connected to the adjacent pipeline via a hose 20 which has the conditioning unit 1 located therein, the metal member 13 may extend outwardly from the unit through a junction between the hose portions such that, the zinc member 15 can be directly connected to its free end. The two hose lengths can thus, be located closely adjacent each other obviating the need for any form of screwed or clamped connection to the zinc member 15. This 25 arrangement is designed to be completely under water so that circuit is completed automatically by the surrounding liquid.

-7 In practice, as the water flows through the conditioning unit 1 and hit the screws 8, the water becomes more turbulent and the water molecules are caused to have a more erratic direction of movement and in particular, are directed so that they hit the walls of the conditioning unit 1 to encourage conditioning of all the 5 particles. Whilst this is occurring, electrons are introduced into the conditioning unit via a small flow of electric current. The combination of the turbulence and electrons causes a separation of the salt/mineral particles in the water and eliminates the cohesion between these particles to break them down. As a result there is little deposit of these particles 10 on the walls of the conditioning unit, providing a low maintenance conditioning unit which does not have to be cleaned regularly. However, when it is necessary to clean the unit, the screws 8 can be removed giving a cylinder bore which can readily be cleaned by a wire brush or the like. When the screws are withdrawn, any scale build up on these is removed by the 15 thread in the aperture in which they are located. Alternatively, the conditioning unit 1 can be cleaned with an acid solution. In an alternate embodimen$ the conditioning assembly 7 is not provided with screws 8 however, the central aperture 6 has provided a longitudinal core 16 which is generally cylindrical extending throughout the length of the conditioning 20 unit 1. This core is held in place by a screw 17 having a lock nut 20 which is passed through the unit and core via a tapped aperture 18. The principle of the core 16 is the same as the screws 8 in that, the core has provided a plurality of channels 21 along its periphery to give a wave formation so that, water passing through the unit is caused to adopt a non streamline flow and will tend to contact 26 the conditioning member. In a further embodiment of the invention, which is not illustrated herein, the conditioning unit 1 may be of a bronze casting having connected at one end thereof a length of pipe made of copper. In this arrangement the unit 1 is connected to the adjacent pipeline by passing part of the hose of the pipeline over the free end of the copper pipe and clamping it thereto, and passing the other end of the pipeline over the whole conditioning unit and onto the copper s pipe on the end opposite to which the first hose was connected. The electrical connection to the unit can be made to the exposed length of copper pipe which extends between the two hoses. A zinc member is then located within a reservoir of water which is in contact with the water which passes through the hose to complete the circuit. The zinc member is a sacrificial 1o member with the flow of current generated because of the electrochemical properties of the conditioning unit. The water conditioning unit 1 may also have provided a by-pass which can be located around the unit. This by-pass enables, under normal operation, the flow rate to be maintained and provides a safety by-pass should the area around the is conditioning unit 1 be obstructed. Whilst we have described herein a specific embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the scope thereof. 20

Claims

1. A water conditioning unit having a body portion and a conditioning assembly whereby. the conditioning assembly is adapted to cause turbulence in a water flow and introduce electrons into the unit, the unit capable of being readily connected within a pipeline.

2. A water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1 made of a conductive material.

3. A water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the conditioning assembly has provided at least one screw which is adapted to disturb the Wo normal water flow and cause turbulence.

4. A water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each screw may be replaced with a rod or post.

5. A water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the conditioning assembly has provided a longitudinal core which is adapted to disturb the 15 normal water flow throughout the unit.

6. An water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 2 to 5 wherein the conditioning assembly has a sacrificial member which donates electrons to the unit.

7. A water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sacrificial member is a zinc member.

8. A water conditioning unit as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the flow of electrons is effected by a small electric current via the -10 electrochemical properties of components of the unit and its surroundings or via a power source.

9. A water conditioning unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the unit is connected to an adjacent pipeline via a hose or pipe.

10. A water conditioning unit as claim in claim 9 wherein the unit is positively held within a hose or pipe via a clamp.

11. A water conditioning unit, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 29 day of October, 2004 Robert Uden By His Patent Attorneys A TATLOCK & ASSOCIATES