Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CA 02488099 2004-11-23
RESIDENTIAL WATER PRESSURE BOOSTER
by Arthur R. Knobloch
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lack of adequate water pressure is a problem in many residences. This problem
relates to older homes in which the plumbing system may not be capable of
providing
adequate pressure to operate multiple water-demanding appliances and uses
simultaneously. Dwellings supplied by individual wells often have limits on
the
available water pressure. Moreover, many public water supplies also experience
periods
of low pressure. Even where adequate pressure is available for ordinary uses,
pressure
drops will often be experienced when there are extraordinary demands, such as
filling a
swimming pools or watering lawns/shrubbery.
Therefore, there exists a need for an inexpensive, compact, easily usable
device to
augment residential water pressure that does not require an external source of
power. In
the industrial setting, pressure boosters have utilized pumps driven by
booster turbines.
Such devices are disclosed by Schwartzman, LT.S. Patent No. 4,067,665, Hansen,
U.S.,
Patent No.5,017,086, Murray, U.S. Patent No. 5,599,164, and Oklejas, Jr., U.S.
Patent
No. 6,345,961. However, these references are desired for recovery of energy
from
industrial pump applications and are not readily adaptable to residential use.
The
complexity and expense associated with these references is also beyond the
capacity of
the typical homeowner, who needs a device which is inexpensive and simple to
install.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a water pressure booster which
is
effective yet has an ease of use and installation suited for the residential
user.
CA 02488099 2004-11-23
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies the need for an
easily
installed, effective, and inexpensive water pressure booster for residential
use. The
device is compact and readily adaptable to residential plumbing while
preserving the
practical functions of more sophisticated industrial pressure boosters.
Residential
plumbing fixtures, pipes or hose lines may be attached easily and quickly to
the input and
output ends of the device, which performs the function of increasing the water
pressure
without an outside energy source. This optimizes the efficiency of the
residential water
supply system by providing an adequate pressure to each individual use.
A self powered water pressure booster having features of the present invention
comprises a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end. A horizontal axis
connects
the centers of the inlet and outlet ends and delineates an upstream direction
towards the
inlet end and a downstream direction toward the outlet end. A primary inlet
positioned
below the horizontal axis in the inlet end attaches to a water source, while
an outlet in the
outlet end attaches to a pipe or hose fitting supplying the residential water
use. The
primary inlet connects to an annular cavity, which forms a lower induction
chamber
below the horizontal axis and an upper induction chamber above the horizontal
axis.
Liquid flows from the primary inlet into the lower induction chamber, filling
it, and then
flows into the upper induction chamber.
From the upper induction chamber, the liquid flows through a secondary inlet
into
the turbine chamber. The turbine chamber is axially positioned immediately
adjacent to
and in the downstream direction from the annular cavity. Inside the turbine
chamber is a
turbine impeller, which is driven by the force of the liquid entering the
turbine chamber
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CA 02488099 2004-11-23
through the secondary inlet and thereby extracts energy from the flowing
liquid. The
turbine impeller is mounted on a drive shaft that runs along the horizontal
axis and is
supported by bearing mounts on either side, allowing it to rotate freely in
either direction.
The turbine impeller imparts the enemy extracted from the flowing liquid to
the drive
shaft in the form of rotational motion.
A constriction chamber is axially positioned immediately adjacent to and
downstream of the turbine chamber, to which is hydraulically connected by a
tertiary
inlet. The constriction chamber has a truncated conical shape such that its
cross sectional
area decreases in the downstream direction, thereby increasing the velocity of
the flowing
liquid. The liquid flows from the constriction chamber into a pump chamber,
axially
positioned immediately adjacent to and downstream from the constriction
chamber. The
pump chamber houses a pump impeller mounted on the drive shaft, which imparts
to the
pump impeller the rotational motion supplied by the turbine impeller. The
rotational
motion of the pump impeller, in turn, imparts energy to the flowing liquid,
thereby
boosting the velocity and pressure of the liquid. From the pump chamber the
liquid flows
to the outlet in the outlet end of the housing, which outlet is immediately
adjacent to and
downstream from the pump chamber. From the outlet, the liquid leaves the
housing and
flows into a pipe or hose fitting supplying the residential water use.
In the preferred embodiment, the residential water pressure booster further
comprises a centrifugal pump chamber axially positioned between the turbine
chamber
and the constriction chamber. In the centrifugal pump chamber a centrifugal
pump
impeller is mounted on the drive shaft and is designed to receive the
rotational energy
supplied to the drive shaft by the turbine impeller and impart said energy to
the flowing
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CA 02488099 2004-11-23
liquid, thereby causing the liquid to experience centripetal acceleration and
to whirl
around the drive shaft as it enters the constriction chamber. The decreasing
cross-
sectional area of the constriction chamber augments the centripetal
acceleration of the
flowing liquid as it moves towards the pump chamber. The centripetal
acceleration
thereby gained increases the efficiency of the pump impeller and results in a
greater
pressure boost to the liquid.
In the preferred embodiment, the rotational motion of the water in the
constriction
chamber is directed and optimized by a series of static directional fins
projecting from the
walls of the constriction chamber and by a series of static directional
grooves formed in
the walls of the constriction chamber. The fins and the grooves are oriented
in the
downstream direction in a spiraling pattern, thereby directing and regulating
the whirling
motion of the flowing liquid.
Optionally, a tertiary inlet bypass tube hydraulically connects the turbine
chamber
with the centrifugal pump chamber, thereby allowing a portion of the flowing
liquid to
pass from the turbine chamber into the centrifugal pump chamber unobstructed
by the
turbine impeller. This feature serves to mitigate the reduction of the
liquid's flow rate
associated with the interaction of liquid with the turbine impeller.
Optionally, a recycled flow transfer tube hydraulically connects the area of
the
pump chamber in the downstream direction from the pump impeller with the
turbine
chamber. This feature allows some of the pressurized liquid downstream of the
pump
impeller to flow back in the upstream direction to the turbine chamber and
thereby impart
additional enemy to the drive shaft as the pressurized liquid passes through
the turbine
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impeller. The overall boost in liquid pressure is thereby increased as the
liquid makes
multiple passes through the device.
Optionally, in order to avoid cavitation, a tubular flow diffuser may be
positioned
immediately adjacent to and downstream from the pump impeller. The tubular
flow
diffuser has a series of openings designed to reduce the turbulence of the
flowing liquid,
thereby avoiding cavitation on the back of the pump impeller blades.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a full section view of a self powered water pressure booster
embodying
features of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE IWENTION
As shown in Fig. 1, a self powered residential water pressure booster
embodying
the features of the present invention 10 consists of a housing 11 and a drive
shaft 25,
which is supported on either end by a bearing mount 26. The housing comprises
an inlet
end 12 and an outlet end 13, the centers of which are connected by a
horizontal axis 14.
With respect to the horizontal axis, there is an upstream direction towards
the inlet end 12
and a downstream direction towards the outlet end 13. The interior of the
housing 11
comprises, in order from upstream to downstream, a primary inlet 15, an
annular cavity
16, a turbine chamber 19, a centrifugal pump chamber 29, a constriction
chamber 21, a
pump chamber 23, and an outlet 24. Mounted on the drive shaft, in order from
upstream
to downstream, are a turbine impeller 27, a centrifugal pump impeller 30, and
a pump
impeller 28.
CA 02488099 2004-11-23
The primary inlet 15 is positioned on the inlet end 12 for connection to a
water
source (not shown) whereby a flowing liquid enters the housing 11. Immediately
adjacent to and downstream of the primary inlet, the annular cavity 16
consists of a lower
induction chamber 17 below the horizontal axis 14 and an upper induction
chamber 18
above the horizontal axis 14. The liquid from the water source flows through
the primary
inlet 15, filling up the lower induction chamber 17, and then entering the
upper induction
chamber 18. Above the horizontal axis 14, immediately adjacent to and
downstream from
the upper induction chamber 18, is located a secondary inlet 20 whereby the
liquid enters
the turbine chamber 19 and there engages the turbine impeller 27, causing it
to rotate and
impart rotational energy to the drive shaft 25. After passing through the
turbine impeller
27, the liquid flows down through the turbine chamber below the horizontal
axis 14 and
through the tertiary inlet 22 into the centrifugal pump chamber 29, which is
located
immediately adjacent to and downstream of the turbine chamber 19. In the
centrifugal
pump chamber 29, the centrifugal pump impeller 30 is mounted on the drive
shaft Z5,
from which it receives rotational energy which it, in turn, imparts to the
flowing liquid.
Immediately adjacent to and downstream from the centrifugal pump chamber 29,
the
liquid flows into the constriction chamber 21, which is configured as a
truncated cone,
the cross-sectional area of which decreases in the downstream direction,
thereby
increasing the velocity of the flowing liquid. The liquid then enters the pump
chamber 23,
where it is acted upon by the pump impeller 28. The pump impeller 28 imparts
to the
liquid the rotational energy transmitted through the drive shaft, thereby
boosting the
velocity and pressure of the liquid. The pressurized liquid exits the housing
11 through
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CA 02488099 2004-11-23
the outlet end 13 out the outlet 24 into a pipe, hose fitting or other
connection (not
shown) supplying the residential water use.
The drive shaft 25 extends along the horizontal axis 14 of the housing 11 from
the
inlet end 12 to the pump chamber 23, and is connected to the housing 11 via
bearing
mounts 26 which allow it to rotate freely in either direction. Mounted on the
drive shaft
25 are the turbine impeller 27, the centrifugal pump impeller 30, and the pump
impeller
28. The turbine impeller 27 is mounted on the drive shaft 25 in the turbine
chamber 19.
The turbine impeller 27 captures some of the energy of the flowing liquid and
imparts a
rotational motion to the drive shaft 25. In the preferred embodiment, the
centrifugal pump
impeller 30 is mounted on the drive shaft 25 in the centrifugal pump chamber
29, which
is a.~cially positioned immediately adjacent to and downstream of the turbine
chamber 19.
The centrifugal pump impeller 30 receives rotational energy from the drive
shaft and
imparts said energy to the flowing liquid, causing it to whirl around the
drive shaft 25 as
it enters the constriction chamber 21. The decreasing cross-sectional area of
the
constriction chamber 21 causes the linear and rotational velocity of the fluid
to increase
as it moves towards the pump chamber 23. The pump impeller 28 is mounted on
the drive
shaft 25 in the pump chamber 23, which is axially positioned immediately
adjacent to and
downstream from the constriction chamber 21. The pump impeller 28 receives
rotational
energy from the drive shaft and imparts said energy to the flowing liquid,
thus increasing
the velocity and pressure of the liquid, which then exits the housing 11
through the outlet
24.
In the preferred embodiment, a series of static directional fins 31 and static
directional grooves 32 are formed within the constriction chamber 21. The
static
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CA 02488099 2004-11-23
direction fins 31 and the static directional grooves 32 serve to direct and
regulate the
spiraling motion imparted to the liquid by the centrifugal pump impeller 30.
The static
directional fins 31 and static directional grooves 32 guide the liquid's
whirling motion
around the drive shaft 25, which accelerates as the liquid proceeds downstream
through
the constriction chamber 21.
Optionally, a tertiary inlet bypass tube 33 connects the turbine chamber 19
with
the centrifugal pump chamber 29, enable a portion of the liquid flowing
through the
turbine chamber 19 to bypass the tertiary inlet 22 and maintain a flow rate
undiminished
by the turbine impeller 27.
Optionally, a recycled flow transfer tube 34 hydraulically connects the area
of the
pump chamber 23 downstream of the pump impeller 28 and the turbine chamber 19.
This
feature allows some of the pressurized liquid downstream of the pump impeller
28 to
flow back in the upstream direction to the turbine chamber 19 and thereby
impart
additional energy to the drive shaft 25 as the pressurized liquid passes
through the turbine
impeller 27. The overall boost in liquid pressure is thereby increased as the
liquid makes
multiple passes through the device.
Optionally, in order to avoid cavitation, a tubular flow diffuser 35 may be
positioned immediately adjacent to and downstream from the pump impeller 28.
The
tubular flow diffuser 35 has a series of openings designed to reduce the
turbulence of the
flowing liquid, thereby avoiding cavitation on the back of the pump impeller
blades 28.
The moving parts of the device can be fabricated of steel or steel alloy of
suitable
strength, while the housing can any of the durable metal or plastic materials
typically
used in residential plumbing applications.
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CA 02488099 2004-11-23
The operation of the residential water pressure booster 10 would be as
follows:
Liquid would enter the primary inlet 15 from a source connected thereto by a
pipe or hose
fitting. The liquid would then flow into the annular cavity 16, first filling
the lower
induction chamber 17 then reaching the upper induction chamber 18 and flowing
through
the secondary inlet 20 into the turbine chamber 19. In the turbine chamber 19,
the liquid
would provide energy to the turbine impeller 27, causing it to rotate and turn
the drive
shaft 25, which would in turn rotate the centrifugal pump impeller 30 and the
pump
impeller 28. The liquid would then pass through the tertiary inlet 22 into the
centrifugal
pump chamber 29. Optionally, an additional path, the tertiary inlet bypass
tube 33, would
allow excess liquid that is unnecessary for the powering of the turbine
impeller 27 to
bypass the turbine impeller 27 and retain its initial velocity as it passes
into the
centrifugal pump chamber 29, thus maintaining pressure.
The rotation of the centrifugal pump impeller 30 in the centrifugal pump
chamber
29 is powered by the rotation of the turbine impeller 27 transmitted through
the drive
shaft 25. The centrifugal pump impeller 30 rotates the liquid and gives it a
centrifugal
force, whirling it around the drive shaft 25 as it enters the constriction
chamber 21, where
the decreasing cross-sectional area causes the linear and rotational velocity
of the liquid
to increase Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, static directional fins
31 and static
directional grooves 32 formed in the walls of the constriction chamber 21
direct and
regulate the accelerating rotational motion of the liquid.
The liquid then flows from the constriction chamber 21 into the pump chamber
23
where the liquid is acted upon by the rotating pump impeller 28, which has the
effect of
boosting the velocity and pressure of the liquid. The efficiency of the pump
impeller 28
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in imparting energy to the liquid is improved by the rotational motion of the
liquid in the
same direction as the rotation of the pump impeller 28.
Optionally, the pressurized liquid passing through the pump impeller 28 may be
directed through a tubular flow diffuser 35, the openings of which tend to
restore laminar
flow, thereby reducing turbulence and avoiding cavitation on the back of the
pump
impeller blades 28. Also optionally, a portion of the pressurized liquid
passing through
the pump impeller 28 may be directed back upstream to the turbine chamber 19,
where it
can provide additional energy to the turbine impeller 27 and attain additional
pressurization by multiple passes through the device.
The present invention is, therefore, well adapted to satisfy the need for
increased
residential water pressure without e:cternal power in an easy and convenient
way. The
present invention, moreover, allows for multiple residential applications to
be utilized on
the same well or public water source without concern for pressure loss, as
well as
enabling better efficiency in individual domestic water uses.
While the present invention has been described in some detail with references
to
certain currently preferred embodiments, other embodiments are feasible and
will readily
suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the spirit and
scope of the
appended claims is not limited to the description of the preferred embodiments
contained
herein.
