WO2006079804A1

WO2006079804A1 - Apparatus for adding material to a fluid transport system

Info

Publication number: WO2006079804A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/000251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Maxwell Pickering
Original assignee: Robert Maxwell Pickering
Priority date: 2005-01-25
Filing date: 2006-01-25
Publication date: 2006-08-03
Also published as: GB0501455D0; GB2422637A; GB0601488D0

Abstract

Apparatus configured to be incorporated into a fluid transport system for adding dosing material to the fluid transported by said system, comprising: a main channel configured to provide a passageway for a flow of said fluid; and a side channel in communication with said main channel, and configured to receive dosing material. The apparatus is configured such that a flow of said fluid through said main channel causes said dosing material to be drawn from said side channel to mix with the fluid.

Description

Apparatus for adding material to a fluid transport system

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to apparatus for adding dosing material to a fluid transport system, and a central heating system containing said apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

Many environments are known in which fluids are transported within a system. An example of such a system is that used for the transportation of heat such as that encountered within a central heating system.

When a new system is installed, pipes are joined together, by methods such as soldering. This introduces debris into the system. Also, many different materials may be used to make the system, including brass, copper, steel and iron. Chemical reactions occur between these different materials and the water in the system. This results in various chemicals such as copper sulphate, iron oxide and nitrogen being formed. Nitrogen is a particular problem as it causes the system to rot and vastly increases the frequency and likelihood of system breakdown. In order to remove this debris and any undesirable chemicals, the system must be cleaned. Previous methods have involved pumping dosing material (in this case cleaning fluid) into individual radiators. This is time consuming and the fluid does not circulate the system thoroughly. It is important to have a uniform mix of the cleaning fluid with the water, to ensure the whole system is properly cleaned.

Once the system has been cleaned with a chemical, it is then necessary to flush the system out with a stabilising chemical, then with clean water, before filling with more water, which would usually contain a chemical such as Fernox™ to prevent future rusting. When these stages are conducted by pumping fluids into radiators, the procedure is a considerable burden on engineers' time.

The present invention offers an efficient method of adding dosing material to fluid transport system.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus configured to be incorporated into a fluid transport system for adding dosing material to the fluid transported by said system, comprising a main channel configured to provide a passageway for a flow of said fluid; and a side channel in communication with said main channel, and configured to receive dosing material; wherein said apparatus is configured such that a flow of said fluid through said main channel causes dosing material to be drawn from said side channel to mix with the fluid.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows dosing apparatus according to the present invention, ready to be fitted;

Figure 2 shows shows dosing apparatus as shown in Figure 1, in position once connected by an engineer; Figure 3A is a cross-section through dosing apparatus 105 in position;

Figure 3B shows the dosing apparatus with a vessel of dosing material attached;

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5A shows details of injector 312; and

Figure 5B is a cross-section of the injector 312.

Written Description of the Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Figure 1

Figure 1 shows closing apparatus according to the present invention, ready to be fitted into a filling loop of a central heating system. In alternative embodiments, the dosing apparatus may be connected directly to a self- filling valve (SFV). When used in a filling loop, dosing apparatus would, in a preferred embodiment, be used in conjunction with a pressure monitor. In an alternative embodiment, a filter is also fitted to remove debris from the system.

Pipe 101 , which is part of the central heating system, has a T piece 102 soldered into it to allow access to the central heating system via pipe

103. The addition of this T piece may be done when the system is installed, or alternatively an engineer may fit T piece 102 when he arrives to fit the dosing apparatus. A stud adaptor 104 is attached (preferably by solder) onto pipe 103, and a check valve is fitted inside stud adaptor 104 to prevent undesired leakage.

Doser 105 is connected into stud adaptor 104. In the present embodiment, the engineer connects doser 105 to stud adaptor 104 whilst performing the required dosing, and then would remove doser 105 when he had finished. However, in an alternative embodiment, doser 105 may remain permanently fitted as part of the system.

Once doser 105 is connected to stud adaptor 104 it should also be connected to a cold water feed shown at 106. In the present embodiment, this is shown as having a T piece 110 fitted to allow doser 105 to be connected, although in alternative embodiments this would be fitted in a different way. A stud adaptor 107 is fitted onto T piece 110, and a check valve is fitted inside stud adaptor 107 to prevent leakage. Doser 105 is connected to cold feed 106 via stud adaptor 107.

Figure 2 Figure 2 shows dosing apparatus as shown in Figure 1 , in position once connected by an engineer. Doser 105 has a bottle adapter 201 configured to receive a vessel containing dosing material to be added to the system, as shown in Figure 3B. There is also provided an LCD readout 202, which provides information relating to the volume of fluid which has passed through dosing apparatus 105. Arrow 203 shows the direction of flow of fluid and dosing material through the apparatus, which forms a main channel from T piece 110 to T piece 102.

Figure 3A Figure 3A is a cross-section through dosing apparatus 105 in position as shown in Figure 2. T piece 102 can be seen to be connected to stud adaptor 104 which contains a check valve 108. A quick release adaptor 301 screws into a thread inside stud adaptor 104. Doser housing 302 fits into quick release adaptor 301. Doser housing 302 is configured to receive turbine 313, injector 312, bottle adaptor 201, cam actuator 311, and check valve 310. The assembly of doser housing 302 is further described with reference to Figure 4. Injector 312 is described further with reference to Figure 5. When assembled, screws 320 and 321 hold the components together. O-rings 315 and 316 are provided to produce a seal where the apparatus is fitted together. Two further o-rings 317 and 318 hold injector 312 in position and form a seal around it.

An LCD readout provides information relating to the volume of fluid passing through the turbine. In a preferred embodiment this reading is obtained via a Hall Effect transducer 314 which detects how many times the blades of turbine 313 have rotated, a figure which can be used to calculate the volume of fluid that has passed through. In the present embodiment the LCD readout has two buttons 324 and 325, which allow for it to be switched on and off, and to be reset. A check valve cassette 303 fits into the opposing end of doser housing 302, surrounded by o-ring 316. Check valve cassette 303 is held in place by screw 321. Check valve cassette 303 contains a check valve 304.

A further quick release adaptor 305 fits into check valve cassette 303.

Silicone tubing 306 connects quick release adaptor 305 to a further quick release adaptor 307 which is fitted into stud adaptor 107, by screwing it into the internal thread of stud adaptor 107. There is provided a cold feed actuator 308 which operates a check valve 109. Check valve 109 is closed when actuator 308 is not interacting with it, therefore it prevents leakages.

When quick release mechanism 307 is attached to stud adapter 107, cold feed actuator 308 opens check valve 109 and allows fluid to pass through it.

Bottle adaptor 201 screws into doser housing 302, being held in place by thread 319. Doser housing 302 also contains bottle actuator 309.

A check valve is contained inside a bottle adaptor 201 and bottle actuator 309 operates this check valve, such that the valve is opened when bottle adaptor 201 is screwed into doser housing 302. This allows dosing material to pass down a side channel 322 into injector 312.

Once the doser 105 has been fitted, as described with reference to

Figure 1 , the following procedure is undertaken. Firstly, it is necessary to fill the system with water, in order to obtain a measurement relating to how much water is required for the system.

Previous methods for this have involved estimation of the volume of water in the system, which does not enable an accurate dilution of dosing material to water to be obtained. Once in position, and with the cold water feed switched on, water passes through T piece 110, through check valve 109 (which has been opened by cold feed actuator 308), through quick release adaptor 307 and into silicone tubing 306. The pressure of fluid causes check valve 304 to open which therefore allows water to enter doser housing 302 (and acts as a one way valve). Check valve 310 is opened by rotation of cam actuator 311 by an operator. After passing through check valve 310 fluid then passes through injector 312, followed by passing through turbine 313 and then leaving doser housing 302 to pass through quick release adaptor 301 and then stud adaptor 104. The pressure of fluid is sufficient to open check valve 108, thus allowing the fluid to enter T piece 102 which leads to, in a preferred embodiment, the central heating system. Check valve 108 also acts as a one-way valve. As a first step, the central heating system is simply filled and the volume of fluid required to fill it is noted. This fluid is then discarded.

Figure 3B

After flushing out the system as described above, the dosing apparatus is then rotated by one hundred and eighty degrees. This is facilitated by the presence of quick release adaptors 301 and 305. With dosing apparatus 105 inverted, a vessel such as bottle 323 containing dosing material can be screwed into bottle adaptor 201 without risk of spillage of dosing material. Once the vessel is securely attached, dosing apparatus 105 can be rotated back through one hundred and eighty degrees to its original orientation. This is shown in Figure 3B. Bottle 323 is configured such that it has means 326 for allowing air to enter it so that when the dosing material leaves the bottle 323, bottle 323 does not collapse.

With fluid flowing through the system as described with reference to Figure 3a, dosing material is drawn from bottle 323 to join the fluid, this is further described with reference to Figures 5a and 5b. Bottle 323, in a preferred embodiment, has a scale which enables the operator to gauge the correct amount of dosing material to add to the system.

If required, once a first dosing material has been added, the vessel such as bottle 323 can be removed (by inverting the apparatus as described above) and a vessel containing a different dosing material, such as a stabilising chemical, can be attached, and added to the system in the same way.

When dosing is complete, the apparatus is, in a preferred embodiment, removed from the system and the engineer would take it away with him, leaving T piece 102 in place. Alternatively, the entire apparatus may remain connected for future dosing of the system.

Figure 4

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 illustrates how the parts of the dosing apparatus shown in Figure 3 are assembled. Assembly of the end connectors was described with reference to Figure 3, and assembly of the doser 105 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Doser housing 302 as shown in Figure 3 consists of two sections: turbine housing 401 and main body 402. In a preferred embodiment turbine housing 401 consists of a lower portion which contains turbine 313, and a lid portion which interacts with the lower portion. LCD readout 202 is contained within turbine housing 401. Injector 312 (further detailed in Figure 5) fits inside main body 402. Main body 402 and turbine housing 401 are held together by a screw 320. Cam actuator 311 fits into main body 402, and operates check valve 310. The check valve 403 contained within bottle adaptor 201 can be seen in Figure 4. This controls the influx of dosing material into side channel 322. Bottle actuator 309 can also be seen in Figure 4, and it can be appreciated how it opens check valve 403 when in operation. A bellows seal 404, which compresses under pressure is also provided to prevent leakages.

Check valve cassette 303 is attached to main body 402 and is secured by a screw 321.

Figure 5A . Figure 5A shows details of injector 312. Injector 312 has a first opening 501 to allow the influx of dosing material, and a second opening 502 to allow dosing material to exit. Further smaller openings such as 503 and 504 are positioned around a protruding portion 505, the end of which is opening 502. Smaller openings 503, 504 etc extend throughout the length of injector 312. This is shown clearly in the cross-sectional view of Figure

5B.

Figure 5B

Figure 5B is a cross-section of the injector 312. The direction of flow of both fluid and dosing material is shown by arrow 506.

When in use, fluid enters the injector at openings such as opening 509 and flows through channels such as channel 507 and out of openings such as opening 503. As the fluid passes opening 502, dosing material is drawn in from side channel 322, through opening 501 , through channel 508 and out of opening 502 to join the flow of fluid. Because of the way the dosing material is drawn out and the fluid is passing through the channels such as channel 507, thorough mixing of the fluid and the dosing material occurs.

Claims

1. Apparatus configured to be incorporated into a fluid transport system for adding dosing material to the fluid transported by said system, comprising: a main channel configured to provide a passageway for a flow of said fluid; and a side channel in communication with said main channel, and configured to receive dosing material; wherein said apparatus is configured such that a flow of said fluid through said main channel causes said dosing material to be drawn from said side channel to mix with the fluid.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including an injector to facilitate the mixing of said dosing material with said fluid.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a check valve to control the influx of said dosing material into said side channel.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 3, including a check valve to control said flow of fluid through said main channel.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said check valve prevents backwards flow of said fluid or said dosing material.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 , including means for attaching a vessel containing dosing material.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 and claim 6, wherein said check valve allows the apparatus to be rotated by 180 degrees to allow easy connection of said vessel whilst avoiding spillage of said dosing material.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for measuring the volume of fluid passing through.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , including a turbine.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 and claim 9, including a Hall Effect Transducer.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, including a digital display of the volume of fluid passing through.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a filter to remove debris from the system.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, configured to be connected directly to a self-filling valve (SFV).

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, configured to be used within a filling loop of a heating system.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, used in conjunction with a pressure monitor.

16. A central heating system comprising apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15.

17. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.