GB2298378A

GB2298378A - Magnetic treatment of substances

Info

Publication number: GB2298378A
Application number: GB9504119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Colin Brebner
Original assignee: MAGNAFLOW Ltd
Current assignee: MAGNAFLOW Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-01
Filing date: 1995-03-01
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Also published as: GB9504119D0

Abstract

A device for treating substances magnetically comprises two parts, a permanent magnet e.g. sintered ferrite, and a steel plate. The area of the magnet 2 is chosen in relation to the diameter and wall thickness of the pipework or equipment such that the magnetic force saturates the material and penetrates directly through to the centre of the substance flowing in the pipework or equipment. The steel driver/mounting plate 1 is of such an area and thickness that in relation to the magnet 2 it directs the majority of the magnetic force at the treatment area leaving equipment positioned adjacent to the steel plate unaffected. Thus the device will not effect delicate equipment in close proximity to it. The device can be used to treat fluids and gases in ferrous or non-ferrous pipes, ductwork and equipment. It can be stored un-magnetised and can be magnetised with either a north or south pole treatment face as required for a specific application and re-magnetised in either pole without dis-assembly. The two parts are bonded together by adhesive. The plate 1 has slots to allow the device to be fixed in place e.g. by wide rubber bands 3, thus making it removable.

Description

Magnetic treatment unit for pipes, duct work. equipment and substances therein.

This simple invention relates to the magnetic treatment of substances contained within ferrous and non-ferrous pipes, ductwork and equipment.

Magnetic treatment of fluids, gases and air is well known. For example: the application of a magnetic field into the flow of hard water is known to prevent hard scale build up and clogging. The application of a magnetic field to air prior to its use in a combustion chamber is known to improve the efficiency of the burn, whilst a magnetic field applied to gas is known to improve its combustion.

A typical device featured in US Pat No 4,605,498 to Kulish, comprises of a cylindrical casing surrounding a fluid flow line. This casing holds a number of magnets arranged to surround a part of the flow line.

A problem with existing non-condensing permanent magnet devises is that they do not optimally transmit the majority of the magnetic field to the centre of the substance in a flow line where ferrous material is used as the conduit or casing and in all cases where effective use on ferrous pipework is claimed the devises are unnecessarily complex or utilise more than 2 separate component parts in their assembly. Existing devices are made to a magnetic specification (north pole, south pole or various poles) which cannot be changed without the removal of component pieces, replacement of such pieces or re-assembly of the existing components in a different way (turning the magnets through 90 degrees).

A need exists for a simple 2 part device which is easy to manufacture, uses few raw materials, is simple to install, can be re-used in either pole without dis-assembly and can effectively project its magnetic field into the centre of substances within a flow line on both ferrous and nonferrous pipe, ductwork or equipment of any standard commercial or industrial size.

Summary of the invention7 An apparatus and method for magnetically treating substances present within a flow line or equipment. This apparatus consists of2 parts. A single permanent magnet is placed around a section of pipework or equipment, the area of the magnet being such that in relation to the diameter and wall thickness of the pipework or equipment the magnetic force saturates the material and penetrates directly through to the centre of the substance in the flow. A steel driver plate, the thickness of which being such that in relation to the area of the magnet it restricts the magnetic force from escaping from the outside ofthe unit, is used to protect equipment from magnetic disruption and forces the magnetic field into the substance.An inventive step/improvement is claimed by simplification of original ideas, US Pat No 5,269,915 and US Pat No 5,269,916 Colonel Clair, International Patent WO 92/10430 Ambrose and US Patent No 4,995,425 Weisenbarger/Moran.

A technical advantage of the invention is that it can be produced simply and inexpensively from 2 un-magnetised raw materials, in 2 parts only and given a standard, durable paint finish, the finished unit is stored in a non-magnetised form and then magnetised to customers requirements at time of delivery. Another technical advantage is that as the unit is magnetised after assembly and finishing both the component parts, the ceramic block and the steel driver plate are magnetised, this results in an increase in performance and gives the flexibility of choice as to which pole (north or south) is to treat a particular substance, this invention can also be re-used and the treatment face can be re-magnetised as south or north pole..

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective of the unit.

FIGURE 2 shows the unit installed on a large steel pipe 4, the pipe not comprising an element in this invention.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1, the invention comprises of a sintered ferrite block 1 and a mild steel plate 2. These items are permanently bonded to one another by the use of an adhesive.

The mild steel driverlkeeper plate contains two slots on either side to allow a multitude of methods of fixing the unit to pipework, ducts or equipment. Figure 2 shows a possible fixing method, in this case the use of two wide rubber strips 3.

Claims

A simple 2 part device which is easy to manufacture, uses few raw materials, is easy to install, can be re-used in either magnetic pole without dis-assembly and can effectively project its magnetic field into the centre of substances within a flow line on both ferrous and non-ferrous pipe, ductwork or equipment of any standard commercial or industrial size.
2 A simple magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 1 which comprises of not more than 2 component parts and a protective finish.
3. A simple magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 that is effective in the treatment of fluids and gases passing through or contained within ferrous and non-ferrous pipework, ducting and equipment. The area of the magnet being such that in relation to the diameter and wall thickness of pipe work, ductwork and equipment the magnetic force saturates the material and penetrates directly through to the substance being treated.
4. A simple magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 that has a mild steel driver/mounting plate the area/thickness of which being such that it restricts the magnetic force from escaping from the non-treatment (outside face) of the unit.
5. A simple magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 where the said magnetic block is permanent anisotropic ferrite which can be left un magnetised for easy storage until delivery to customer.
6. A simple magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 which can be given either a north or south pole treatment face when its use is specified and can be re-used and or re-magnetised in either pole as required.
7. A simple magnetic treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim that can be used on its own, or in conjuction with other devices of either south or north pole in either opposing, attracting or linear configuration to produce the optimum desired magnetic treatment for fluid or gas contained within or flowing through pipework, ductwork or equipment.