AU2015101874A4

AU2015101874A4 - Water treatment device

Info

Publication number: AU2015101874A4
Application number: AU2015101874A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bernard Duffy; Robert Wyborn
Original assignee: Ph Perfect Water Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ph Perfect Water Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-28
Filing date: 2015-04-24
Publication date: 2016-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-24
Also published as: AU2014100425A4; WO2015164906A1; AU2015252746A2; AU2015252746A1

Abstract

A water treatment device having a main body with an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end, a plurality of agitator heels contained within the main body, wherein each agitator wheel has one or more spokes with at least one curved surface facing an upstream side of the device when the inlet is attached to a mains water source. The mains water is allowed to pass through the main body and around the plurality of agitator wheels. The curved surface of each agitator wheel is shaped and positioned to divide a stream of water incident thereon, thereby treating the water so as to mimic water in its natural state, similar to that of water in free flowing streams. WO 2015/164906 PCT/AU2015/000245 Substitute Sheet (Rule 26) RO/AU

Description

PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 - 1 - 2015101874 24Apr2015

WATER TREATMENT DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to water treatment devices. The present 5 invention has particular but not exclusive application for treatment of water for domestic use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tap water from mains water undergoes a number of processes and 0 treatments, both physical and chemical, before it is supplied for domestic use.

The physical and chemical treatment of water produces standardised municipal water. Standardised municipal water is supplied to consumers because it is a reproducible water product that is substantially virus and bacteria free and has no high concentrations of toxic chemicals. 5 The provision and use of the standardised municipal water supplied through the mains water system does not satisfy all consumers. Standardised municipal water is often held in tanks and pipes before it is used. Many consumers prefer the water from free flowing streams and rivers where passage over an uneven stream bed enlivens the water 0 However it is not possible for a consumer to be supplied with water directly from free flowing streams and rivers.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a water treatment device 25 that treats standardised municipal water in a manner that provides the water with properties similar to that of water in free flowing streams and rivers.

This and other objects of the present invention will be made apparent from the following disclosure of the invention.

30 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A water treatment device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of agitator wheels housed within a main body, each agitator wheel defines one or more spokes having at least one curved surface facing an upstream side of the device, the curved surface of each agitator wheel is adapted to PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 -2 - 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 divide a stream of water incident thereon, wherein each agitator wheel is angularly offset with respect to an adjacent agitator wheel.

In one form, the water treatment device comprises an upstream cap and a downstream cap respectively engaged with opposite ends of the main body, each of 5 the upstream cap and downstream cap is adapted to receive therein an inlet or outlet adaptor respectively, the inlet and outlet adaptors facilitating an in-line attachment of the device with a mains water pipe.

Preferably, a sleeve is fitted within the main body, the sleeve forming a fluidic seal at one end with the upstream cap and forming a fluidic seal at an opposite end 0 with the downstream cap, the sleeve housing therein the plurality of agitator wheels.

Preferably, the plurality of agitator wheels are housed within the sleeve in a longitudinal arrangement, wherein each agitator wheel is positioned along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

Preferably, the plurality of agitator wheels are modular, wherein each agitator 5 wheel is adapted to mate with another agitator wheel.

Preferably, each agitator wheel is angularly offset about the longitudinal axis with respect to an adjacent agitator wheel.

Preferably, the upstream cap defines a flow divider positioned centrally with respect to a channel defined within the upstream cap, the flow divider adapted to 0 divide a stream of water incident thereon from the inlet adaptor.

Preferably, each agitator wheel defines a male and female adaptor, the male and female adaptors adapted to mate with adjacent adaptors of an opposite kind.

Preferably, each agitator wheel defines a plurality of spokes symmetrically arranged around a central hub. More preferably, each agitator wheel defines five 25 spokes symmetrically arranged around a central hub

Preferably, the upstream cap has a loosely conical shape, the loosely conical shape facilitating an even flow of water from the inlet adaptor into the main body.

Preferably, the plurality of agitator wheels are arranged within the sleeve to prevent fluid passing through the sleeve from taking a direct path from the inlet 30 adaptor to the outlet adaptor.

The above aspects, variations, and options are to be understood as comprisable within the invention singly, or in combination with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 -3 - 2015101874 24 Apr 2015

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a water treatment device according to 5 the present invention;

Figure 2 provides an exploded perspective view of the water treatment device;

Figure 3 provides a cross-sectional view of a main body of the water treatment device taken along a longitudinal central axis of the device;

Figure 4 illustrates the main body of the water treatment device in a top plan 0 view and cross-sectional view taken across a longitudinal central axis of the device;

Figure 5 illustrates an agitating wheel of the water treatment device in various views; and

Figure 6 illustrates an end cap of the main body in various views.

5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Fig. 1, a water treatment device 100 according to the present invention is described. The water treatment device 100 is adapted to attach in-line to a mains water source. In a preferred embodiment, the water treatment device 100 is attached downstream of a premise’s water meter, in-line with a main 0 pipe supplying water to water outlets on the premise.

The water treatment device 100 has a main body 110 engaged at one end with an inlet adaptor 120, and at an opposite end with an outlet adaptor 130. In one form, the inlet adaptor 120 and outlet adaptor 130 are adapted to engage with the main pipe by threaded pipe joins. In other forms, the inlet adaptor 120 and outlet 25 adaptor 130 may engage with the main pipe by being welded thereto.

The main body 110 is a rigid body constructed to withstand and comfortably work with the standard water pressures of mains water sources. Preferably, the main body 110 satisfies the AS/NZS 3497 standard of the Australian National Testing laboratories. In one form, the main body 110 is constructed of aluminium, 30 and tested to withstand a hydrostatic pressure of 2100kPA, a burst pressure of 3500kPA, and at least 100,000 fluidic pulses of between OkPA and 1035kPA.

With reference to Fig. 2, the main body 110 of the water treatment device 100 is described in greater detail. The main body 110 includes an upstream cap 210, a housing 220, and a downstream cap 230. Together, the upstream cap 210, housing PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 -4 - 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 220, and downstream cap 230 form a volume within which a mechanical agitator 240 is housed. The mechanical agitator 240 includes a sleeve 250 and a plurality of agitator wheels 260. In one form, the sleeve 250 is a cylindrical tube configured to slot into the housing 220 to seal at each end with the upstream cap 210 and 5 downstream cap 230 respectively. The sleeve 250 is preferably adhered to either the housing 220 or the caps 210/230 by PVC cement. The agitator wheels 260 are arranged within the sleeve 250 in an offset arrangement. In a preferred form, every second agitator wheel 260 has the same angular positioning about a longitudinal central axis 305 (see Fig. 3) of the sleeve 250 and agitator wheels 260 interleaved 0 between every second agitator wheel 260 are angularly offset with respect to adjacent agitator wheels 260. In this manner, a spoke of an interleaved agitator wheel 260 is positioned in the space between two spokes of agitator wheels 260 adjacent thereto, when viewed longitudinally from either the upstream cap 210 or the downstream cap 230. 5 Fig. 3 illustrates the main body 110 in lateral cross-section, taken along the longitudinal central axis 305. As illustrated, an upstream most agitator wheel 260A is adapted to couple with the upstream cap 210. In the preferred form, the upstream most agitator wheel 260 is coupled to the upstream cap 210 by insertion into an axial recess 310 (see also Fig. 6) in the upstream cap 210. Similarly, in the preferred form 0 the downstream most agitator wheel 260Z is coupled to the downstream cap 230 by insertion into an axial recess 320 in the downstream cap 230. Further in the preferred form, the remaining agitator wheels 260 are modularly coupled to each other, and to the upstream most and downstream most agitator wheels 260A, 260Z. The modular coupling of the agitator wheels 260 is illustrated in greater detail in the 25 cut-out of Fig. 3, and will be described in greater detail below with reference to Fig. 5.

The sleeve 250, as illustrated in Fig. 3, is sized and shaped with respect to the housing 220 so as to be held securely therein. The sleeve 250 at each end forms a fluidic seal with the upstream cap 210 and the downstream cap 230. In the preferred 30 form, the sleeve 250 is fluidically sealed to each of the caps 210, 230 by PVC cement. Alternatively, in other forms, a gasket and a sufficiently torqued screw-on engagement of each cap 210, 230 with the housing 220 forms the seal.

Fig. 4 illustrates the water treatment device 100 from a top plan view, and as a cross-section taken across the longitudinal central axis 305. As illustrated in the top PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 -5 - 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 plan view of Fig. 4, the agitator wheels 260 are angularly arranged within the sleeve 250 and about the longitudinal central axis 305 such that a fluid flowing through the sleeve 250 is not able to take a direct path from the inlet adaptor 120 to the outlet adaptor 130. This is achieved by the aforementioned offsetting of the agitator 5 wheels 260 such that adjacent wheels are angularly offset about the longitudinal central axis 305 with respect to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the housing 220 has a rounded triangular cross-section. An internal surface of the housing 220 defines protrusions 410 to locate the sleeve 250 in place therewithin.

With reference to Fig. 5, an agitator wheel 260 is described in greater detail. 0 In the preferred embodiment, the agitator wheel 260 is modular, and plural numbers of agitator wheels 260 may be engaged together within the sleeve 250 to form a spine of wheels, as illustrated in the cross-section of Fig. 3.

Each agitator wheel 260 defines a central hub 510 from which a number of spokes 520 extend. The central hub 510 extends in the direction of the longitudinal 5 central axis 305 and defines an upstream end 512 and a downstream end 514. In the preferred form, the upstream end 512 has a female adaptor 513 and the downstream end 514 has a male adaptor 515. It is to be understood, however, that the gender of the adaptors at the upstream end 512 and downstream end 514 are not so limited, and may be swapped as desired. The female and male adaptors 513, 0 515 of an agitator wheel 260 are configured to mate with adjacent adaptors of the opposite kind, thereby forming a spine of agitator wheels 260.

Each spoke 520 has a curved surface 530. The curved surface 530 faces upstream. A downstream facing side of the spoke 520, in one form, defines a concaved recess 540. The curved surface 530 and concaved recess 540 form a 25 spoke 520 that is adapted to separate a stream of fluid incident on the upstream facing side of the agitator wheel 260.

In the preferred form, the agitator wheel 260 is symmetrically provided with five spokes 520. It is to be understood that the invention is not so limited, and that a different number of spokes, symmetrically or asymmetrically arranged, may be 30 provided.

Preferably, the agitator wheel 260 is provided in two or more variations. A first variation is provided with a female adaptor 513 shaped with a positioning surface 550 for receiving a male adaptor 515 of an adjacent agitator wheel 260 at a first offset angle relative to the longitudinal central axis 305. A second variation is PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 -6- 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 provided with a female adaptor 513 shaped with a positioning surface 550 for receiving a male adaptor 515 of an adjacent agitator wheel 260 at a second offset angle, different from the first offset angle. The first and second variations are used in interleave to achieve the aforementioned offset between adjacent agitator wheels 5 260. In other forms, the positioning surface 550 may be replaced with a positioning lug, and the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the male adaptor 515 may be shaped with a positioning indicia.

The agitator wheel 260 is constructed of a rigid material. In one form, the agitator wheel 260 is constructed of injection moulded rigid PVC. The agitator wheel 0 260 may also be constructed of aluminium, steel, silver, other plastics, and/or a combination of such materials, and/or coated with one or more such materials.

With reference to Fig. 6, a cap 610 of the main body 110 is described. The cap 610 illustrated in Fig. 6 may be employed as an upstream cap 210 or a downstream cap 230 for the housing 220. The cap 610 has a loosely conical profile. 5 An apex of the conical profile is provided with an aperture 615. The aperture 615 serves as a fluid entry or exit point. The aperture 615 opens into a short flow way 620. The flow way 620 is preferably threaded and adapted to receive therein the inlet adaptor 120 and/or outlet adaptor 130. The flow way 620 in turn opens into a main cap channel 630. An end of the flow way 620 opposite the aperture 615 is 0 provided with a fluid divider 640. The fluid divider 640 spans across the flow way 620.

When the cap 610 is employed as an upstream cap 210, the fluid divider 640 divides a fluid stream incident thereon, spreading the fluid more evenly within a cross-sectional area of the main cap channel 630 downstream therefrom. The fluid 25 divider 640 defines a conical hub 645 from which a plurality of divider spokes 647 extend.

The main cap channel 630 is adapted to receive therein an end portion of the sleeve 250. The sleeve 250 is received within the main cap channel 630 to abut with an internal end wall 650 of the cap 610. 30 In one form, the cap 610 is engaged with the housing 220 by way of a set of locking lugs 660. The cap 610 may also be engaged with the housing 220 by a screw-on mechanism, clamping mechanism, and the like.

Referring back to Figs. 1 to 3, an operation of the water treatment device 100 is described. PCT/AU2015/000245 WO 2015/164906 -7- 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 ln operation, the water treatment device 100 is positioned in-line with a mains water pipe, with the inlet adaptor 120 (Fig. 1) at an upstream end and the outlet adaptor 130 at a downstream end. The water from the mains water pipe is passed from the inlet adaptor 120, through the main body 110 where it is treated, and out 5 through the outlet adaptor 130 to the premise connected to the mains water pipe. A stream of water entering the inlet adaptor 120 first passes through the aperture 615 of the upstream cap 210 into the flow way 620. As the stream exits the flow way 620, the stream is incident on the fluid divider 640, where the stream is caused to fan out across a transverse cross section of the main cap channel 630. 0 From the upstream cap 620, the water from the divided stream enters the sleeve 250, where it is incident upon a first of the agitator wheels 260A.

The upstream curved surface 530 of a spoke 520 of the first agitator wheel 260 causes the water incident thereon to further divide. This division of water is repeated for each incidence of the water on spokes 520 of subsequent agitator 5 wheels 260 in the sleeve 250. Additionally, the division of water at one spoke 520 may result in a recombination with water divided by other spokes 520, with may subsequently be again divided and recombined by spokes 520 further downstream. The continual division and recombination of streams of water as the water passes through the sleeve 250 treats the water and conveys thereto properties similar to that 0 of water running in free flowing mountain streams.

Upon reaching the downstream cap 230, the water is funnelled out of the flow way 620 of the downstream cap 230 into the outlet adaptor 130 and back into the mains water piper leading to the premise.

Water that is treated by the water treatment device 100 of the present 25 invention is agitated compared to non-treated mains supply water.

One particular embodiment of the water treatment device 100 has the following dimensions:

Main Body Length 280.20 mm Main Body Diameter 78.75-79.15 mm Sleeve Outer Diameter 60 mm Sleeve Inner Diameter 53.60 mm Agitator Wheel Diameter 53 mm 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 WO 2015/164906 PCT/AU2015/000245 -8- Agitator Wheel Height 30 mm Agitator Spoke Curvature R6.5 Agitator Spoke Height 11 mm Agitator Spoke Width 13 mm Cap Aperture Diameter 26.89 mm Cap Height 55 mm Cap Main Channel Diameter 59.56 mm Cap Main Channel Length 27.5 mm

It is to be understood, however, that the water treatment device 100 may be provided with other dimensions, to suit specific/custom applications and/or premises. Further, in one particular embodiment of the water treatment device 100, eight 5 agitator wheels 260 are provided in the sleeve 250. However, it is to be understood that more or less than eight agitator wheels 260 may be provided to suit specific/custom applications.

ADVANTAGES 0 The water treatment device of the present invention, in being adapted for in line installation with a mains water source, provides treated water to an entire premised supplied from the mains water source. Accordingly, only a single treatment device is required, as opposed to a treatment device at each water outlet on the premise. 15 The water treatment device of the present invention further treats mains supply water so as to mimic water in its more natural state, similar to that of water in free flowing mountain streams. Accordingly, occupants of a premise are provided with more beneficial water for use as drinking water, bathing water, cooking, and the like. 20

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within 25 the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. WO 2015/164906 2015101874 24 Apr 2015 PCT/AU2015/000245 -9-

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A water treatment device including: a main body having an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end; and a plurality of agitator wheels contained within the main body, each of said agitator wheels has one or more spokes that have at least one curved surface facing an upstream side of the device, wherein the inlet is attached to a mains water source, the inlet adapted to receive water from the mains water source and direct the water to the plurality of agitator wheels, and the curved surface of each agitator wheel is shaped and positioned to divide a stream of water incident thereon.
2. A water treatment device as claimed in claim 1, further including a sleeve fitted within the main body, the sleeve housing therein the plurality of agitator wheels in a spinal arrangement; each agitator wheel is angularly offset with respect to an adjacent agitator wheel about a longitudinal axis of the spinal arrangement; each of the agitator wheels has a plurality of radially extending spokes.
3. A water treatment device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of agitator wheels are modular, and each agitator wheel is adapted to mate with an adjacent agitator wheel to form the spinal arrangement.
4. A water treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including an upstream cap sealed to an upstream end of the main body, the upstream cap has a flow divider adapted to divide a stream of water flowing through the upstream cap.
5. A water treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of agitator wheels are arranged with every second agitator wheel having the same angular positioning about a longitudinal central axis so that the spokes of adjacent agitator wheels are positioned substantially 90 degrees with respect to each other.