NZ511919A - Magnetic treatment device for fluids with inlet and outlet flows in different directions - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing has a tubular wall 1 and two disc shaped permanent magnets 5 located at respective ends. Fluid inlet and outlet conduits 2, 3 penetrate the housing wall and are arranged so that fluid flows through these conduits in different directions.

Description

511919 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 511919 Date: 24 May 2001 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 5 AUG 2002 RECEIVED COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MAGNETIC TREATMENT DEVICES AND METHODS I, VICTOR JAMES WHITTON, a citizen of New Zealand, of 39 Swiss Avenue, Gonville, Wanganui, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: I:\Library\GWW\C-A-P\443164.DOC FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to magnetic treatment devices and methods, and particularly to devices and methods for magnetic treatment of fluids, and more particularly to devices 5 and methods for magnetic treatment of hydrocarbon fuels prior to combustion.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Magnetic treatment of fluids and particularly hydrocarbon fuels, for example diesel and 10 petroleum or gasoline, is known. Typically, fuel is passed through the influence of a magnetic field prior to combustion. Although an understanding of how fuels are affected by magnetic treatment may be incomplete, it is said that such treatment appears to provide enhanced performance factors, such as smoother running, easier starting, increased fuel efficiency (ie decreased fuel consumption), increased engine power, 15 better or more complete combustion, and decreased emission of undesirable exhaust materials.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the combustion of fuels by the use of magnetic treatment, or to provide the public with an alternative device and method for magnetic treatment.

In one aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a magnetic treatment device 25 for treating fluids, the device comprising a housing containing at least two magnets which are spaced apart to provide a fluid treatment space therebetween, the housing having a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet conduit by which fluid may enter and leave the treatment space, each conduit penetrating the housing to communicate between the housing exterior and the treatment space, the magnet or magnets providing a magnetic 30 field in the treatment space, and the housing and conduits being arranged to cause fluid entering and leaving the treatment space to flow in different directions. 129731-2 intellectual property 0 :-i0p of n.z 13 FEE 2m RECEIVED fy'•»- - — - ' r " T Preferably the magnets are permanent magnets.

Preferably the housing is tubular.

Preferably the tubular housing is cylindrical and has a substantially circular cross-section.

Preferably the magnets are arranged in the housing in mutual attraction with opposite magnetic poles facing across the treatment space.

Alternatively the magnets are arranged in the housing in mutual repulsion with like magnetic poles facing across the treatment space.

Preferably the magnets and the housing are substantially shaped as respective right circular cylinders and are substantially coaxial, the magnets are dimensioned to be a clearance fit inside the housing, the inner end faces of the magnets substantially define the axial end limits of the treatment space, and the inlet and outlet conduits penetrate the housing between the opposing inner end faces of the magnets.

Preferably each conduit penetrates the housing in a direction that is substantially radial to the housing, and the conduits penetrate the housing at circumferentially spaced locations. 129731-2 liM! ELLcCfUAr*PROPE*RTYn OFFICE OF M.Z 1 3 FEE 2GW RECEIVED Preferably the conduits penetrate the housing in directions that are substantially mutually perpendicular.

Alternatively at least one conduit penetrates the housing in a direction that is not radial to the tubular housing.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a method of treating a fluid whereby the fluid is made to flow in a plurality of directions through a magnetic field in a fluid treatment space in a housing, the housing containing at least two magnets which are spaced apart to provide the fluid treatment space therebetween, the housing having a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet conduit by which fluid enters and leaves the treatment space, each conduit penetrating the housing to communicate between the housing exterior and the treatment space, the magnet or magnets providing the magnetic field in the treatment space, and the housing and conduits being arranged to cause fluid entering and leaving the treatment space to flow in different directions.

Preferably the housing is cylindrical.

Preferably the housing is a circularly cylindrical housing and the treatment space is between respective axial end pole faces of two circularly cylindrical magnets coaxially aligned in the cylindrical housing.

Preferably the magnets are arranged to be mutually repulsive.

Preferably the magnets are arranged to be mutually attractive.

Preferably the fluid is a hydrocarbon fuel.

Preferably the fuel is for an internal combustion engine. 129731-2 intellectual property office- of n.z 13 FEE RECEIVED j||| ..

The invention may further be said to consist in any alternative combination of parts or features here mentioned or shown in the accompanying drawings. Known equivalents of these parts or features which are not expressly set out are nevertheless deemed to be included.

BRIEF LIST OF FIGURES Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 is an end view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, as seen at line A-A' in Figures 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional end view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, as seen at line B-B' in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 6 is a simplified transverse cross-sectional view of the treatment space showing examples of possible configurations of the inlet and outlet conduits.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are simplified transverse cross-sectional views of the treatment space showing further examples of possible configurations of the inlet and outlet conduits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Referring to the drawings it will be appreciated that a magnetic treatment device according to the invention may be implemented in various forms. Many details of magnetic treatment devices and methods will be understood by a skilled reader and have been omitted. The following embodiments are given by way of example only.

Like features appearing throughout the figures have been labelled with like numerals.

I:\Library\GWW\C-A-P\443164.DOC igures 1 to 5 show one preferred embodiment of a magnetic treatment device. A housing has a tubular wall 1 made of a non-magnetic material, for example copper or brass. The tubular wall is fitted with an inlet conduit 2 and an outlet conduit 3 which may also be made of non-magnetic material, e.g. copper or brass, or thermoplastic or polymeric materials. The ends of the tubular wall are closed by end walls 4 which are preferably made of steel but can be made of a either a non-magnetic or magnetic material. The end walls are secured and sealed to the tubular wall with a suitable glue, for example as available under the Locktite brand.

A pair of circular disc-shaped permanent magnets 5 are located within respective ends of the housing, and spaced apart to define a treatment space 6. The magnets and housing are substantially coaxial. The inlet and outlet conduits, or at least at their ends which communicate directly with the treatment space, are directed radially to the housing axis.

The inlet and outlet conduits penetrate the tubular housing wall and protrude into the treatment space at respective positions midway between the two magnets. The protrusion of the conduits into the treatment space may be seen in the cross-sectional views of Figures 4 and 5. In an alternative (not shown) the conduits are flush with the inside of the housing wall.

In one version of the preferred embodiment, the magnets are permanent magnets and are neodymium, rare earth disc magnets of 25 mm diameter, 5 mm thickness and each having poles at opposite axial ends. The magnets each have a strength of about 6000 gauss and are spaced apart by about 10 mm. The conduits protrude into the treatment space by about 5 mm. The magnets are arranged to mutually attract, with opposite poles facing across the treatment space. The magnets are kept apart by abutting against opposite sides of the protruding ends of the conduits.

Alternatively, the magnets can be arranged to repel one another with like poles, i.e. either both north or both south, facing across the treatment space. l:\Libraiy\GWW\C-A-P\443164.DOC In another version of the preferred embodiment, one of the magnets is omitted.

The device has particular application to diesel and petrol or gasoline engines, for example as used in motor vehicles. Other applications include stationary fuel combustion applications, such as furnaces and boilers, for example. The treatment device is fitted in a fuel delivery line. It is preferable that the fuel is treated by the device just prior to combustion. For example, in a vehicle engine the device is located in the fuel delivery line just prior to the carburettor or fuel injector.

One arrangement, with the magnets mutually repelling, with north poles facing across the treatment space, gave an improvement in the performance of a diesel powered internal combustion engine, with better power, smoother running and lower exhaust emissions. A mutually attracting arrangement, with unlike poles facing across the treatment space, provided smoother starting and running, and decreased fuel consumption.

Where the magnets are arranged to attract across the treatment space, the conduits conveniently protrude into the treatment space and movement of the magnets towards one another is checked by the protruding conduits so that the treatment space between the magnets is maintained.

The housing wall can include one or more detents 7, shown in Figures 4 and 5, which also protrude into the treatment space. The detents have similar dimensions to the protruding ends of the conduits.

The detents are circumferentially spaced around the housing from the conduit protrusions, but are at the same axial location along the housing as the conduit protrusions, conduits.

I:\Library\GWW\C-A-P\443164.DOC The detents cooperate with the protruding ends of the conduits to check axial movement of the magnets towards each other and maintain the treatment space between the magnets.

Alternatively, the detents and protruding ends of the conduits can be dispensed with and a spacer (not shown in the figures) can be fitted between the magnets to maintain the treatment space. The spacer is made from a non-magnetic material.

Figure 6 is a simplified transverse cross-sectional view of a treatment space, showing alternative configurations of the non-aligned or angled relationship between the inlet and outlet conduits that are indicative of a wide range of possible arrangements. Optional positions of the outlet conduit are shown by broken lines in Figure 6. The outlet conduit 3A is at 90 degrees to the inlet conduit 2. Outlet conduit 3B is at a smaller angle, whereas outlet conduit 3 C is at a greater angle.

The arrangements of the conduits in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 provide a swirling or circulating motion in the fuel as it passes through the treatment space. In other arrangements of the conduits that achieve this, the outlet conduit 3 is set at an angle to, or laterally offset from, the inlet conduit 2. Examples of such arrangements are shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Figures 7 and 8 are simplified transverse cross-sectional views of a treatment space, and show conduit arrangements that can be used to give the fuel a swirling or circulating motion as it passes through the treatment space. In Figures 7 and 8 the inlet conduit 2A, 2B and outlet conduit 3D, 3E, although entering and leaving the treatment space at diametrically opposite points, are not aligned.

Figure 9 is a simplified cross-sectional view through a treatment space showing yet another alternative arrangement in which the ends of the conduits 2C, 3F, at the treatment space 6, are provided with a cowl or deflector 8 to promote a turbulent or swirling motion in the fuel as it passes through the treatment space.

I:\Library\GWW\C-A-P\443164.DOC The conduit arrangements shown in Figures 6-9 may be applied to one or both of the conduits, or may be mixed so that one conduit is as shown in one figure while the other conduit is as shown in another figure, eg one conduit may be angled as shown in Figures 7 and 8 while the other conduit may be fitted with a deflector as shown in Figure 9.

In yet another arrangement (not shown), the spacer referred to above for maintaining the treatment space between the magnets can be provided with vanes or deflectors to provide the fluid with a turbulent, swirling or circulating motion as it passes through the treatment space.

The turbulent or swirling motion is created by fluid flow through the treatment space and the configuration of the conduits, vanes or deflectors, as discussed above. This motion causes the fluid being treated to flow in a plurality of directions through the magnetic field in the treatment space. The fluid flow rate is at least in part dependent upon the fuel demand of the application. In the case of internal combustion engines using fuel injection, the recirculation of excess fuel from the injectors may be used to maintain the fuel flow rate through the magnetic treatment device at a higher level than would be required if only feeding the fuel combusted by the engine. This is achieved by locating the treatment device between the point at which the recirculated fuel is returned and the injectors.

The turbulent or swirling motion increases the path length taken by the fuel as it moves through the device, when compared to the direct straight line across the treatment space between the inlet and outlet conduits. This increase in distance travelled by the fluid, and the associated increase in the time spent in the magnetic field, increases the desirable effects of the magnetic field on the fluid. It is also thought that these desirable effects are further enhanced by the turbulence or swirling which causes the fluid to be treated by a wide range of magnetic field directions as it moves through the treatment space.

I:\Library\GWW\C-A-P\443164.DOC Although the device has been described with the inlet and outlet conduits specified as such, it is to be understood that the device may be operated with the inlet and outlet functions of the conduits interchanged: ie the device may be fitted either way around.

The tubular wall of the housing and the optional spacer are made from non-magnetic materials so that the magnetic field in the treatment space is not diminished. The end walls can be made from either magnetic or non-magnetic material without substantially affecting the magnetic field in the treatment space.

Alternatives to the embodiments described above include: the housing is a non-circular tube, the housing is injection moulded from a plastics material, for example a high-grade polypropylene plastic, the magnets are electromagnets, - the magnets have knurls or a stop ring the same width as the protruding conduits, to limit magnet movement (instead of using detents in the housing walls), and the end walls are made of a plastics material (in one example about 5 mm thick).

The parts of the conduits external to the housing can be configured for convenient 20 accommodation of the device in applications where space may be limited, for example in an engine bay of a motor vehicle. To this end the inlet and outlet conduits may be bent, e.g. with a 90 degree bend, to provide an alternative alignment between the external connection ends of the conduits. The conduit with the bend may be rotatable to allow the alignment of the connections to be readily selected during installation. The 25 rotatable conduit may be retained in the housing wall by a screw thread and/or a spring circlip and an O-ring may be used to maintain a fluid-tight seal.

The device and method are particularly suited to treatment of liquid hydrocarbon fuels prior to combustion but may also have application to treatment of combustible fuels in a 30 liquid, atomised or gaseous state. They may also have application to the treatment of fluids other than hydrocarbons.

I:\Library\GWW\C-A-P\443164.D0C

Claims (19)

-11 - WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A magnetic treatment device for treating fluids, the device comprising a housing containing at least two magnets which are spaced apart to provide a fluid treatment space therebetween, the housing having a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet conduit by which fluid may enter and leave the treatment space, each conduit penetrating the housing to communicate between the housing exterior and the treatment space, the magnet or magnets providing a magnetic field in the treatment space, and the housing and conduits being arranged to cause fluid entering and leaving the treatment space to flow in different directions.

2. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnets are permanent magnets.

3. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing is tubular.

4. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tubular housing is cylindrical and has a substantially circular cross-section.

5. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the magnets are arranged in the housing in mutual attraction with opposite magnetic poles facing across the treatment space.

6. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the magnets are arranged in the housing in mutual repulsion with like magnetic poles facing across the treatment space.

7. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the magnets and the housing are substantially shaped as respective right circular cylinders -12- and are substantially coaxial, the magnets are dimensioned to be a clearance fit inside the housing, the inner end faces of the magnets substantially define the axial end limits of the treatment space, and the inlet and outlet conduits penetrate the housing between the opposing inner end faces of the magnets.

8. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each conduit penetrates the housing in a direction that is substantially radial to the homing, and the conduits penetrate the housing at circumferentially spaced locations.

9. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the conduits penetrate the housing in directions that are substantially mutually perpendicular.

10. A magnetic treatment device as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least one conduit penetrates the housing in a direction that is not radial to the tubular housing.

11. A method of treating a fluid whereby the fluid is made to flow in a plurality of directions through a magnetic field in a fluid treatment space in a housing, the housing containing at least two magnets which are spaced apart to provide the fluid treatment space therebetween, the housing having a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet conduit by which fluid enters and leaves the treatment space, each conduit penetrating the housing to communicate between the housing exterior and the treatment space, the magnet or magnets providing the magnetic field in the treatment space, and the housing and conduits being arranged to cause fluid entering and leaving the treatment space to flow in different directions.

12. A method of treating a fluid as claimed in claim 11, wherein the housing is cylindrical.

13. A method of treating a fluid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the housing is a circularly cylindrical housing and the treatment space is between respective axial end 129731-1 intellectual property office of n.z 13 FEE 2CW RECEIVED -13- pole faces of two circularly cylindrical magnets coaxially aligned in the cylindrical housing.

14. A method of treating a fluid as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the magnets are arranged to be mutually repulsive.

15. A method of treating a fluid as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the magnets are arranged to be mutually attractive.

16. A method of treating a fluid as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the fluid is a hydrocarbon fuel.

17. A method of treating a fluid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fuel is for an internal combustion engine.

18. A magnetic treatment device for treating fluids, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of treating a fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. 129731-1 13 FE3 2C34 RECEIVED