Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
33
APPARATUS FOR MAGNETICALLY TREATING 1IQUID
FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE AND CLAMPING MEANS THEREFOR
This invention relates generally ~o apparatus
for magnetically trea~ing a liquid as it flows through a
pipe, and pertains more particularly to a self-contained
permanent magnet unit with hardware means for clamping
various combinations of such units to ~he outside of the
plpe .
U. S. Patent No. 3,22~t~78 granted on January
ll, 1966 to Dean L. Moody for "Method and Apparatus fo~
Treatment of Flowing Liquids to Con-trol Deposition of
Solid Matter Therefrom" is believed representative of
the state-of-the-art. Actually, the alluded-to patent
presents an excellent description of how the treatment
is efected where diamagnetic substances are contained
in the liquid flowing through the pipeO The patent
mentions scale and parafin. Scale can take various
forms but typical of the substances creating scale
problems are calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium
sulfate, sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, as well as
various oils, waxes and greases in addition to paraffin.
As is recognized, inasmuch as the above-listed
substances are diamagnetic, when subjected to a strong
magnetic Eield, the ~ield induces polarization in the
substances in such a way that the diamagnetic molecule
is repelled by the magnetic field and by other polari~ed
diamagnetic molecules. This is characteristic o~
diamagnetic substances and advantage is taken of this
physical phenomenon to prevent the Eormation oE
`~
aY3
--2--
objectionable scale deposits on the inside of the pipe,
for by inducing polarization as mentioned above, the
diamagnetic substances are caused to move away from the
inner surface of the pipe when under the influence of a
sufficiently strong magnetic field equipped with
magnetic means.
The difficulty in the past, however, has been
with respect to providing a strong enough :Eield,
particularly on larger diameter pipes, so that a
substantial proportion of the fluid flowing through the
pipe is subjected to a field of such intensity and for a
long enough period of time that the desired repulsion
will be effected.
Accordingly~ an important object of this
invention is to provide a sufficiently strong magnetic
field such that scale, paraffin and other salts are
prevented from accumulating on the inside of the pipe or
conduit throuqh which the particular liquid is flowing.
In this regard, it is an aim to provide individual
units, each of which contains a plurality of permanent
magnets and each of which units furnishes a high flux
concentration.
Another object of the invention is to provide a
unit comprised of permanent magnets that can be clamped
to the outside of a pipe in whatever combinations prove
most desirable for the particular size of pipe and the
flow rate of the liquid passing therethrough. In other
words, if the pipe is small, my invention enables only
one or two magnetic units to be employedy yet when the
3n diameter is appreciable, a correspondingly greater
numher of units can be applied.
Another object of my invention is to provide a
type of unit and a clamping means thereEor that will
permit the unit to be appl.ied without modifying the pipe
or any plumbing associated therewith. More
specifically, an aim of the invention is to allow the
various units that are clamped in combination to be
shifted when clrcumstances so require. In this latter
regard, in industrial installations, a change or switch
to a different liquid might very well warrant shifting
the units to another location in the system. ThiS can
easily be achieved when practicislg my invention. Also,
the piping system itself might be altered at times, yet
my invention is sufficiently flexihle to compensate for
changesO
Not only is m~ invention suitable for
industrial applications, but it also will find utility
in smaller scale applications, namely commercial, but
also residential. Hence, my invention is truly
versatile as far as its particular use is concernedO
AlSo, the invention has for an object the
provision of apparatus that will produce a concentrated
magnetic field that will extend over a sufficient length
of the pipe so that the liquid flowing through the pipe
will be subjected to the influence of the magnetic field
for a longer period of time in contradistinction to
having the field restricted to flow only transversely
across the pipe which can involve a relatively short
length of pipe in which the field acts on the flowing
liquid for a lesser amount of time.
Yet another object is to provide a permanent
magnet unit that will not be damaged readily, such as by
applying too much clamping pressure. ~ore specifically,
an aim of the invention is to utiliæe external hardware
that acts in a direction to develop compressive forces
in holding the various units against the outsi~e of the
pipe, doinq so in a manner that will not impose undue
stresses that miqht result in damage or separation oF
the unit's parts.
Also, the invention has for an object the
provision of a permanent magnet unit and hardware
therefor that can be rather inexpensivel~ manuFactured,
6~33
--4--
thereby encouraging its widespread use for various
applications.
Briefly, my invention envisages the use o an
appropriate number of permanent magnet units of
S identical construction. Each unit comprises a casing
containing therein a strip of ferromagnetic material,
such as soft iron, with a pair of ceramic magnets at
each end thereof. Associated with one of each pair of
magnets is a ferromagnetic shoe member, also o soft
iron, that provides an angled pole face that bears
against the outside of the pipe~ the shoe actually
projecting somewhat ~rom the potting compound in which
the strip and permanent magnets are embeddedO
The outside of the casing has an intermediate
notch in one wall thereof and also has a peripherally
directed trough or channel-shaped edge. The notch is
formed so th~t a central portion or bight of a generally
U-shaped metal clamping strap can nest in the notch.
The ends of the legs o-f the U-shaped clamping strap are
provided with outwardly directed feet, each foot having
an integral flange extending generally parallel to the
leg to which its foot is attached. Each foot has a hole
therein for the accommodation of a bolt member. The
flange in each foot is spaced sufficiently from the end
of the leg so as to prevent the nut for each bolk from
turning, the bolt in each instance having a slotted head
so that it can be tightened with a screwdriver.
Tn the following description of the invention,
reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in
which: -
Figure 1 depicts my invention in an actual use,three magnet units being clamped to the length of pipe
there shown,
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the
direction of line 2 - 2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a sectional view correspondinq to
~a~6~03
--5--
Figure 2 but showing foux units instead of the three
units appearing in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view taken
at the same angle as Figure 1 but illustrating only the
clamping hardware, one of the bolts and nuts being
detached, and
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view, also
at the same angle as Figure 1, showing the internal
permanent magnet means for each of the three units, the
casing and potting compound having been removed.
Referring now to the drawinqs, it will be
observed that in Figures 1 and 2 a length of pipe has
been illustrated, having been given the reference
numeral 10. For the sake of discussion, the pipe 10 may
be deemed to have a 2-inch diameter, whereas the pipe
lOa in Figure 3 may be said to have a 3-inch diameter.
The liquid flows through the pipe 10 in the direction of
the arrows 12.
My apparatus has been indicated generally by
the reference numeral 14 in Figures 1 and 2, and by the
reference numeral 14a in Figure 3. Actually, the
apparatus 14a differs from the apparatus 14 in that a
greater number of permanent magnet units 16 is employed
in Figure 3 owing to the larger diameter pipe lOa. It
is thou9ht that the versatility o~ my invention is
demonstrated by presenting both Figures 2 and 3.
As just indicated, each of the permanent magnet
units utilized when practicing my invention has been
denoted generally by the reference numeral 16. As the
description progresses, it will be appreciated that
various combinations oE these units 16 may be utilized
for treating the fluld flowing through either the pipe
10 or the pipe lOa (as well as other sizes of pipes)O
From Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the apparatus
1~ includes three units 16, whereas in Figure 3 the
apparatus 14a includes four units 16.
6C)3
--6--
Rach permanent magnet unit 16 has a thin
plastic trough-like casing 18 which includes a top wall
18a, slightl~ diverging side walls 18b, somewhat
diverging end walls 18c and an open side at 18d. It i5
believed obvious that the top wall 18a, while termed a
top wall, will not always be uppermost~ the position of
the wall 18a actually depending upon the orienta-tion and
position of the particular unit 16 on the pipe 10 or the
pipe lOa. Attention is directed, though, to the free or
lower edges of the side walls 18b and the end walls 18c,
for they merge into a channel-like configuration which
includes a curved flanqe 18e. It should be explained at
this stage that the flange 18e is somewhat deformable in
order to allow the casing 18 to be firmly clamped in
place on the pipe 10 or lOa. It will be seen that the
top wall 18a includes separated longitudinal por~ions
18aa and 18ab that extend above a central notch 18ac.
Thus, the top wall 18a is composed of the portions 18aa,
18ab and 18ac.
Within the casing 18 is a permanent maqnet
means indicated generally by the reference numeral 200
The permanent magnet means 20 includes a ferromagnetic
strip 22 that resides in the casing 18 in close
proximity to the wall 18a. More specifically, the
ferromagnetic strip 22 is of soft iron.
Included in the permanent magnet means 20 are
permanent magnets in the form of ceramic wafers 24 and
26 at one end oE the strip ~2. At the other end of the
strip 22 is an additional pair oE permanent magnet means
constituting two additional rectangular ceramic wafers
28 and 30. It will be appreciated that the magnets 24 7
26, 23 and 30 each have opposite sides residing in
parallel planes. Also, it can be explained that the
magnet 24 has a side or face constituting a north pole,
such face being labeled 24N and a face constituting a
south pole, the latter being identified with the
6603
reference numeral 24S. Similarly, the magnet 26 has a
north pole 26N and a sou~h pole 26S. Still further, the
magnet 28 has a north pole 28N and a south pole 28S,
whereas the magnet 30 has a north pole 30N and a south
pole 30S.
The strip 22 has parallel sides. The face of
the magnet 24 providing the north pole 24N is oriented
so as to bear against one end portion of the strip 22,
whereas the south pole of the magnet 28 labeled 28S
bears against the opposite end portion of the strip 22
The pair of permanent magnets 2~, 26 have
associated therewith a ferromagnetic shoe 32, of soft
iron, whereas the pair of magnets 28, 30 have a similar
shoe 34. The shoes 32 and 34 each have a Elat surface
32a and 34a, respectively, that bear against the face
26S of the magnet 26 in one instance and the face 30N of
the magnet 30 in the other~ The shoe 32 has an angled
face formed with flat surfaces 32b and 32c which extend
obtusely with respect to each other~ Similarly, the
shoe 34 has surfaces labeled 34b and 34c. These
V-shaped surfaces 32br 32c and 34b~ 34c bear against the
exterior of the pipe 10 or lOa, as the case may be.
Within each casing 18 is an appropriate potting
compound 36, such as an epoxy resin containing an
approprlate curing agent. The potting compount 36 is
somewhat resilient, yet efEectively retains the magnetic
structure 20 within the confines of the casing 18. It
will be recognized that the shoe Eaces 32b, 32c and 3~b,
34c project beyond the casing 18 and also beyond the
surface of the potting compound 36 adjacent the open
side 18d of the casing 18.
The apparatus 14 includes a clampinq means
indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. The
clamping means 40 comprises a number of metallic straps
42 providing what might be termed in each instance a
U shaped configuration composed of a bight or connecting
)3
--8--
portion 4~ that is nested or saddled in the previously
mentioned notch 18ac formed in the wall 18a of ~he
casing 18. The biqht or connecting portion 44 has a
pair of legs 46 diverqing therefrom. At the free end of
each leg 46 is a foot 48 that extends substantially
perpendicularly from the end of the leg 46 with which it
is integrally associated. Each foot 48 has a Elange 50
that resides in a plane generally parallel to the plane
of the leg 46 to which its foot 48 is attached~ Each
foot 48 is formed with a hole 52 (Figure ~) therein for
the accommodation of a bolt or screw 54 having a round
head 56 with a screwdriver slot 58 therein. The end of
the screw 54 remote from its head 56 has a nut 60
threadedly attached thereto.
A comparison of Figures 2 and 3 will reveal
that whatever number of straps 42 that are needed can be
used in the clamping means 40. For instance, ~iqure 2
(and Figure 1) depicts three units 16 and a somewhat
smaller pipe 10 than the pipe 10a in Figure 3 so three
metal straps 42 are employed to clamp ~he three units 16
in an angularly spaced relation with each other, more
specifically, with an angle of 120 therebe~weenu On
the other hand, since Figure 3 shows four units 16
quadrantly located, there would be four clampin~ strips
or straps 42. A somewhat larger pipe than that
appearing in Figure 3 would require an even greater
numher of units 160 It will be understood that my
invention allows any practical combination o units 16
to be utili~ed depending on the particular size of pipe
that is to make use of my invention.
It will also be appreciated, though, that when
the various nuts 60 are tightened on the screws 54~ the
units 16 are pulled against the outside of the pipe 10
or 10a by the straps 42. The casing 28 in each
instance, as well as the structure ~0 and compound 36
contained in each casinq 18, are all placed under
g
compression, consequently, there is virkually no
likelihood of any breakage taking place irrespective of
the extent to which the screws 54 and nuts 6~ are
tightened. This is so irrespective of the number o-f
units 16 utilized at any given pipe site.
Thus, while my invention permits any
combination of units 16 to be employed, it permits these
units to be clamped very readily without altering the
piping system. Furthermore, should it be found that the
units 16 should be moved, they can be readily shifted
along a straight section of pipe by merely loosening the
nuts 60. If it should turn out that a given length of
pipe does not require any units 16, such as by changing
the type of liquid flowing therethrou~h, my invention
enables an easy removal of the units 16, and if needed
elsewhere they can be transferred to a different
location where their presence is required, being easily
reclamped in place.
For best results the pipe 10 or 10a should be
plastic, copper, or stainless steel~ although the
invention will be useful on galvanized iron pipes.
Obviously, when employing a plurality of units 16, as
the invention contemplates, the units 16 should be
attached so that their polarities are all the same.
~5 Preferably, the north poles should all be downstream,
the structures 20 as oriented in E'igure 5 being so
arranged. Stated somewhat differently, the uni~s 16
would be clamped to the pipe 10 in Fi~ure 1 with all of
the shoes 34 downstream and all o the shoes 32 ups~ream.
