Surge eliminator

A surge eliminator includes a longitudinal cylindrical housing (10) with rounded ends (12) and (14). Fluid flows into inlet chamber (20) and through pipes (34) to a first dampening chamber (22). The fluid then flows from the chamber (22) to a chamber (24) through pipes (36). Fluid then flows from chamber (24) to an outlet chamber (26) through orifices (38) to an outlet (18). The fluid is continually oriented such that it must turn 180.degree. from the inlet to the outlet in each of the dampening chambers.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains in general to accumulator type devices, and 
more particularly to a surge eliminator that does not utilize bladders 
and/or mechanical moving devices. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
When dealing with high volume, high pressure fluid systems, it is necessary 
to account for surges in order to insure that pressure surges and the like 
do not damage plumbing equipment, couplings, etc. The use of accumulator 
type devices with various gas filled bladders is well-known to solve this 
problem. 
Accumulators utilizing bladders with a gas disposed therein at a 
predetermined pressure are prone to damage as they have moving parts that 
wear out. In addition, there are other types of mechanical type 
accumulators which also have the same problem in that they have a number 
of moving parts. An accumulator in general is utilized to allow for 
expansion of the fluid whenever there is a surge and thereby provide a 
dampening effect. Generally, the accumulators are also utilized to provide 
an expansion chamber. However, when utilized to dampen surges, the overall 
movement of the accumulator is minimal since only a small amount of 
movement is required to relieve a given amount of pressure. This is due to 
the fact that with fluid systems a relatively incompressible fluid is 
being passed through the system. One type of system that utilizes an 
accumulator of this type is used to eliminate "water hammer". This type of 
device is typically disposed in series with the water line such that when 
taps and the such are closed off after water has been running, the 
termination of flow does not result in impact on the overall system. This 
generally is a spring actuated piston type device. 
In view of the above disadvantages with present accumulators and mechanical 
type dampening devices, there exists a need for a dampening device without 
mechanical moving parts. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises a surge 
eliminator which includes a plurality of dampening chambers disposed in a 
cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing has a first input chamber 
defined by a baffle plate disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 
of the housing. A first dampening chamber is formed by a second baffle 
plate disposed at the end of the housing and a second dampening chamber is 
formed by a baffle plate disposed between the first and second baffle 
plates and proximate to the input chamber. An output chamber is provided 
between the first and second dampening chamber. A first plurality of 
longitudinal pipes is disposed between the input chamber and the first 
dampening chamber and a second plurality of pipes are provided for 
communicating between the first and second dampening chamber. Orifices in 
the baffle plate between the second dampening chamber and the output 
chamber provide a communication therebetween. An input port is provided 
for directing flow perpendicular to the flow through the first set of 
longitudinal pipes with the second set of pipes being parallel to the 
first set of pipes such that fluid flow is required to traverse at an 
angle of approximately 180.degree..

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a cross-sectional diagram of 
the surge eliminator of the present invention. The surge eliminator 
essentially consists of a cylindrical housing 10 having rounded closed off 
ends 12 and 14. In the preferred embodiment, the overall length of the 
surge eliminator is approximately 80.5 inches. An inlet 16 is provided on 
the peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing 10 proximate to the 
rounded off end 12 and an outlet 18 is provided on the periphery of the 
cylindrical housing 10 approximately midway between the rounded off end 12 
and the rounded off end 14. 
Four chambers are defined within the surge eliminator of the present 
invention. They are the inlet chamber 20, the first dampening chamber 22, 
the second dampening chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 26. The inlet 
chamber 20 is disposed proximate to the rounded off end 12 and is 
separated from the second dampening chamber 24 by a baffle 28. The outlet 
chamber 26 is separated from the second dampening chamber 24 by a baffle 
30. The outlet chamber 26 is separated from the first dampening chamber 22 
by a baffle 32. The first dampening chamber 22 is proximate to the rounded 
end 14. In the preferred embodiment, the inlet chamber 20 is approximately 
13 inches, the first dampening chamber 22 is approximately 31 inches, the 
second dampening chamber 24 is approximately 24 inches and the outlet 
chamber 26 is approximately 12 inches, each measured proximate to the 
longitudinal access of the surge eliminator. 
A plurality of longitudinal pipes 34 are disposed between the inlet chamber 
20 and the first dampening chamber 22 and extend through baffles 28, 30 
and 32 and are sealed with respect to the baffles such that fluid does not 
communicate between adjacent chambers. In a similar manner, a plurality of 
longitudinal pipes 36 are disposed between the chamber 24 and the chamber 
22 extending through baffles 30 and 32 and sealed with respect thereto. 
The pipes 36 and the pipes 34 each extend to the surface of the baffle on 
the chamber side of the chambers that they communicate with. The baffle 30 
has a plurality of orifices 38 disposed therethrough to allow the 
dampening chamber 24 to communicate with the outlet chamber 26. 
In operation, fluid flows downward into the inlet chamber 12 at an angle 
perpendicular to the direction of the pipes 34. The fluid circulates 
around the inner chamber 20 and into one end of the pipes 34, as 
illustrated by a plurality of flow arrows 40. The fluid then flows out the 
other end of the pipes 34 into the dampening chamber 22 and circulates 
around the chamber primarily being deflected off the rounded end 14 and 
then into one end of the pipes 36. This is illustrated by flow arrows 42. 
The fluid then flows out of the opposite end of the pipes 36 and into the 
second dampening chamber 24. This fluid flows outward and impinges upon 
the surface of the baffle 28 and then back toward the orifices 38 and into 
the outlet chamber 26. The fluid flow in the second dampening chamber 24 
is illustrated by flow arrows 44. The fluid in the outlet chamber 26 flows 
upward past the pipes 36 and 34 that run through the outlet chamber 26 and 
out the outlet 18. It is important to note that the fluid of the outlet 18 
is disposed at right angles to the fluid flow through orifices 38, such 
that the fluid must impact the baffle 32 and then move upward toward the 
outlet 18. This is represented by flow arrows 48. 
Although not entirely understood, it is believed the frictional forces 
provided by the surface areas of the pipes 34 and 36 resulting from the 
fluid flow over the surface thereof and also the requirement that the 
fluid must circulate 180.degree. in dampening chambers 22 and 24 and 
90.degree. in chambers 20 and 26 provides the dampening effect. Although 
no expansion is provided, thus requiring no moving parts, this dampening 
causes a reduction in the surge pressure between the inlet 16 and the 
outlet 18. In addition, the fluid in the outlet chamber 12 must flow 
upward past the outer surface of the pipes 36 and 34, thus introducing 
additional friction into the flow path. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a perspective cutaway view of 
the surge eliminator, wherein like numerals refer to like parts in the two 
figures. It can be seen that there are approximately seven pipes 34 and 
seven pipes 36. In the preferred embodiments, each of the pipes has an 
inside diameter of approximately 1.25 inches. There are illustrated seven 
orifices 38. By utilizing a larger number of pipes as compared to one 
large pipe, a given surface area is provided for fluid flow with respect 
to the crosssectional surface area of the pipes as a whole, whereas the 
surface area on the walls of the pipe that provides resistance to fluid 
flow is significantly increased. This resistance in addition to the fact 
that the fluid is relatively incompressible and not totally incompressible 
provides the dampening effect. 
In summary, there is provided a surge eliminator which includes a plurality 
of dampening chambers. Each dampening chamber causing the fluid to flow at 
an angle of 180.degree. from entrance to exit are provided between an 
inlet port and an outlet port. The chambers are disposed such that an 
inlet chamber is disposed next to a second baffle chamber with an outlet 
chamber disposed next to the second baffle in a dampening chamber and a 
first dampening chamber disposed adjacent the outlet chamber. Pipes are 
provided for communicating between the inlet chamber and the first 
dampening chamber and pipes are provided for communicating between the 
first dampening chamber and pipes are provided for communicating between 
the first dampening chamber and the second dampening chamber. Orifices are 
disposed between the separating member separating the second dampening 
chamber to allow fluid flow therebetween and out through an outlet port. 
Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should 
be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be 
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention 
as defined by the appended claims.