EP1117877B1

EP1117877B1 - Apparatus for modulating fluid flow

Info

Publication number: EP1117877B1
Application number: EP99945753A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Albert Chadwick Hobson; Peter Guy Hobson
Original assignee: Chadson Engineering Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Chadson Engineering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-03
Filing date: 1999-09-03
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-03
Also published as: WO2000014344A1; EP1117877A4; ES2330172T3; AUPP568498A0; AU743517B2; DE69941295D1; AU5839699A; EP1117877A1; ATE440185T1

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for modulating fluid flow which comprises a first flow path (13) and a second flow path. The second flow path is transverse to the first flow path (13), and has a fluid inlet (31) which opens onto the first flow path (13). The fluid inlet (31) is such that a portion of fluid flowing along the first flow path (13) is diverted into the second flow path. The position of the fluid inlet (31) is set in relation to the direction of fluid flow in the first flow path (13) and in relation to the extent of fluid to be diverted from the first flow path (13) into the second flow path.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for modulating fluid flow according to the preamble of claim 1. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for modulating fluid flow between a first fluid path and a second flow path which branches from the first flow path.
US 4,816,155 discloses an apparatus for mixing a solid/liquid slurry and separating said liquid from said slurry, wherein said apparatus comprises a horizontal slurry pipe for carrying a flow of the slurry, a plurality of mixing elements each comprising a cylindrical tube, inserted completely through said slurry pipe at angles perpendicular to the slurry flow, wherein the mixing elements obstruct only a portion of the slurry flow, wherein drainage surfaces of each of the mixing elements comprise openings in the tubes allowing passage of the liquid, and preventing passage of said solid into the mixing elements. Furthermore, this apparatus comprises an exit port connected to a lower end of each of the mixing elements for enabling removal of the liquid from the mixing elements.
US 5,474,102 discloses a fluid distribution manifold, where the input piping is inserted in through the manifold's circular intake opening and onto its cylindrical input port. The manifold's intake opening leads through a cylindrical path to a closed terminal end. Along the inner manifold wall, there are arranged in a sequence, a number of distribution outlet openings and their respective ports.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides apparatus for modulating fluid flow comprises a first flow path, a second flow path transverse to the first flow path, the second flow path having a fluid inlet which opens onto the first flow path whereby a portion of fluid flowing along the first flow path is diverted into the second flow path, the position of the fluid inlet being set in relation to the direction of fluid flow according to the extent of fluid to be diverted from the first flow path into the second flow path.
The position of the fluid inlet is adjustable to vary the extent of fluid diverted as desired. Such adjustment may be made prior to and/or during operation of the apparatus.
The second flow path is defined by a conduit which extends across the first flow path but which does not entirely block fluid flow therealong. The fluid inlet is located in a side wall of the conduit. Where the conduit is of circular cross section, the fluid inlet would be located in the cylindrical side wall of the conduit.
The fluid inlet comprise one or more apertures. In a particularly advantageous arrangement, the fluid inlet comprises two apertures circumferentially spaced about the conduit.
The conduit extends entirely across the first fluid path thereby providing two branch lines extending from opposed sides of the first flow path, providing thereby an even distribution of fluid flowing through the various branch outlets.
There is a plurality of said conduits positioned at spaced intervals along the first flow path.
The first flow path is defined by a conduit having an internal size greater than the external size of the conduit defining the second flow path.
The invention has been devised particularly, although not solely, for use in a fluid distribution manifold having a plurality of branch outlets, the arrangement allowing fluid discharging from the manifold through the branch outlets to be regulated. The regulation allows a uniform fluid flow through each of the branch outlets. Typically, a conventional manifold having a plurality of branch outlets does not provide an even distribution of fluid flowing through the various branch outlets.
A particular application of the apparatus according to the invention is In a horizontal swimming pool falter. A horizontal swimming pool filter typically has an inlet manifold positioned above a filtering media, the purpose of the manifold being to distribute water to be filtered evenly within a water space above the filtering media, so as to allow a laminar flow which does not disturb the surface of the filtering media bed. Uneven distribution of water would cause currents in the water space above the filtering media bed, causing scouring in the surface of the filtering media which in turn causes the filtering media to migrate, leaving areas of reduced media depth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a water distribution manifold, according to a first embodiment as used in a horizontal swimming pool filter;
Figure 2 is a schematic end view of the manifold;
Figure 3 is a view, partly cut-away, illustrating the position of various branch lines in the main chamber of the manifold;
Figure 4 is a schematic end view of a water distribution manifold according to a second embodiment, showing apertures in one position; and
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 except that apertures are shown in another position.

BEST MODEL(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiments shown in the drawings are each directed to a manifold for use in a horizontal swimming pool filter, the manifold being provided to distribute pool water evenly into a water space above a bed of filtering media contained within the filter.
In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the manifold 10 comprises a first conduit 11 defining a first flow passage 13. The conduit 11 is cylindrical and closed at one end by way of a cap 15. Pool water to be filtered is delivered to the flow passage 13 through the other end of the conduit 11.
The manifold 10 further includes a plurality of branch lines 19. The branch lines 19 are in pairs on opposed sides of the first conduit 11, each pair of branch lines 19 being defined by a second conduit 21 extending transversely through the first conduit 11. Each second conduit 21 is received within holes 23 formed in the cylindrical side wall of the first conduit 11. In the first embodiment shown in the drawings, there are five such second conduits 21, identified by reference numerals 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21 d and 21 e respectively. Each second conduit 21 has an external diameter which is less than the interior diameter of the first conduit 11.
In this way, the second conduits do not block flow along the first flow passage 13. The second conduits 21 do, however, act as baffles in the first flow passage 13.
Each conduit 21 has a fluid inlet 31 opening into the interior of the first flow passage. With this arrangement, some of the fluid within the first flow passage can be diverted into the second conduit through the fluid inlet 31. The diverted fluid then flows along the two branch lines 19 defined by the respective second conduit 21.
The extent to which fluid is diverted from the first conduit 11 into each second conduit 21 can be regulated by the orientation of the inlet 31 with respect to the first conduit. In this way, the fluid inlets 31 in the five second conduits shown in the drawings can be so positioned that the volumetric flow rate of fluid through each of the branch lines 19 is approximately equal. As can be seen from figure 1 of the drawings, the fluid inlets 31 in the second conduits 21, have a range of positions including a position which directly faces the fluid flow in the first conduit, a position which faces a direction generally normal to the fluid flow and a position which faces a direction opposite to the fluid flow.
In assembling the manifold, the various second conduits 21 are rotated within the first conduit 11 so that the respective inlets 31 assume the required position and then the second conduits 21 are sealingly fixed in position within the first conduit 11. The fixing can be achieved in any suitable fashion such as by adhesive bonding or welding.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the fluid inlet 31 in each second conduit 21 is defined by a single aperture in the cylindrical side wall of the conduit. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is shown apparatus according to a second embodiment in which each fluid inlet 31 comprises a plurality of apertures 35 in the cylindrical side wall of the respective second conduit 21. In the embodiment as shown, there are four such apertures 35, each of circular cross-section. The apertures 35 are in pairs 37, with the two apertures 39 in each pair being circumferentially spaced with respect to each other. The circumferential spacing is such that the centres of the apertures 39 in each pair 37 are approximately at 90° with respect to each other. In Figure 4 of the drawings, the second conduit is shown in an orientation in which one aperture 39 of each pair is directly facing the direction of fluid flow and the other aperture 39 of each pair is facing a direction generally normal to the direction of fluid flow. In figure 5 of the drawings, the second conduit 21 is shown in an orientation in which the apertures 39 in each pair 37 obliquely face the direction of fluid flow.
It should be understood that the apparatus can be operated in a reverse flow mode in which fluid enters the manifold 10 through the branch lines 19 and exits through the first conduit 11. In such use, the fluid inlets 31 can produce a venturi effect in the manifold.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention provides a simple yet highly effectively apparatus for modulating fluid flow.
While the apparatus has been described in each of the two embodiments in an arrangement which provides uniform flow through the various branch lines, it should be understood that it can be arranged to deliver prescribed but nevertheless uneven flows to the various branch lines.
It should also be understood that the apparatus according to the invention has application for fluid flows other than pool water. Indeed, the apparatus may have application for modulating flow of any liquid or gaseous fluid (or combination thereof).
Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

An apparatus (10) for modulating a fluid flow comprising
- a first flow path (13) and

- a second flow path (19) transverse to the first flow path (13),
wherein the second flow path (19) is defined by a conduit (21) which extends across the first flow path (13), but which does not entirely block fluid flow therealong,
wherein the conduit (21) has a fluid inlet (31) which opens into the first flow path (13) whereby a portion of fluid flowing along the first flow path (13) is diverted into the second flow path (19),
wherein the position of the fluid inlet (31) is adjustable between first and second positions for varying the extent of fluid to be diverted, the first position being upstream in relation to the direction of fluid flow in the first flow path (13) and the second position being downstream in relation to the direction of fluid flow in the first flow path (13),
characterized in that the conduit (21) provides two branch lines extending from opposed sides of the first flow path (13).
An apparatus for modulating fluid flow according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the inlet (31) is adjusted to a set position between the first and second positions and fixed with respect to the direction of the fluid flow in the first flow path (13) after having been placed in the set position.
An apparatus for modulating fluid flow according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid inlet (31) is located in a side wall of the conduit (21).
An apparatus for modulating fluid flow according to claim 3, characterized in that the conduit (21) is circular in cross section, so that the fluid inlet (31) is located in the cylindrical side wall of the conduit (21).