Apparatus for magnetically treating liquid flowing through a pipe and clamping means therefor

A casing containing a strip of ferromagnetic material has a pair of ceramic magnets at each end thereof associated with one of each pair of magnetics is a ferromagnetic shoe member that provides an angled pole face that bears against the outside of the pipe. These components are contained within the casing by a means of a potting compound.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to apparatus for magnetically treating 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 the outside of the pipe. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,878 granted on Jan. 11, 1966 to Dean L. Moody for 
"Method and Apparatus for Treatment of Flowing Liquids to Control 
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 effected where diamagnetic substances 
are contained in the liquid flowing through the pipe. The patent mentions 
scale and paraffin. 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 field, the field induces polarization 
in the substances in such a way that the diamagnetic molecule is repelled 
by the magnetic field and by other polarized diamagnetic molecules. This 
is characteristic of diamagnetic substances and advantage is taken of this 
physical phenomenon to prevent the formation of 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 field, 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. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
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 
through 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 
employed, yet when the diameter is appreciable, a correspondingly greater 
number of units can be applied. 
Another object of my invention is to provide a type of unit and a clamping 
means therefor that will permit the unit to be applied 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 circumstances 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 practicing my invention. 
Also, the piping system itself might be altered at times, yet my invention 
is sufficiently flexible to compensate for changes. 
Not only is my 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 concerned. 
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. More 
specifically, an aim of the invention is to utilize external hardware that 
acts in a direction to develop compressive forces in holding the various 
units against the outside of the pipe, doing so in a manner that will not 
impose undue stresses that might 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 inexpensively manufactured, 
thereby encouraging its widespread use for various applications. 
Briefly, my invention envisages the use of an appropriate number of 
permanent magnet units of 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 of soft 
iron, that provides an angled pole face that bears against the outside of 
the pipe, the shoe actually projecting somewhat from the potting compound 
in which the strip and permanent magnets are embedded. 
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 that a central portion or bight of a generally U-shaped metal 
clamping strap can nest in the notch. The ends of the legs of 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 bolt from turning, the bolt 
in each instance having a slotted head so that it can be tightened with a 
screwdriver.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that in FIGS. 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 10a in FIG. 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 
FIGS. 1 and 2, and by the reference numeral 14a in FIG. 3. Actually, the 
apparatus 14a differs from the apparatus 14 in that a greater number of 
permanent magnet units 16 is employed in FIG. 3 owing to the larger 
diameter pipe 10a. It is thought that the versatility of my invention is 
demonstrated in presenting both FIGS. 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 of these units 16 may be utilized for treating the 
fluid flowing through either the pipe 10 or the pipe 10a (as well as other 
sizes of pipes). From FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the apparatus 14 
includes three units 16, whereas in FIG. 3 the apparatus 14a includes four 
units 16. 
Each permanent magnet unit 16 has a thin plastic trough-like casing 18 
which includes a top wall 18a, slightly diverging side walls 18b, somewhat 
diverging end walls 18c and an open side at 18d. It is 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 
orientation and position of the particular unit 16 on the pipe 10 or the 
pipe 10a. 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 flange 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 10a. It will 
be seen that the top wall 18a includes separated longitudinal portions 
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 magnet means indicated generally by the 
reference numeral 20. 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 of the strip 22. At the other end 
of the strip 22 is an additional pair of permanent magnet means 
constituting two additional rectangular ceramic wafers 28 and 30. It will 
be appreciated that the magnets 24, 26, 28 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 
reference numeral 24S. Similarly, the magnet 26 has a north pole 26N and a 
south 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 24, 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 eac have a flat 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 had surfaces 
labeled 34b and 34c. These V-shaped surfaces 32b, 32c and 34b, 34c bear 
against the exterior of the pipe 10 or 10a, as the case may be. 
Within each casing 18 is an appropriate potting compound 36, such as an 
epoxy resin containing an appropriate curing agent. The potting compound 
36 is somewhat resilient, yet effectively retains the magnetic structure 
20 within the confines of the casing 18. It will be recognized that the 
shoe faces 32b, 32c and 32b, 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 clamping 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 portion 44 that is nested 
or saddled in the previously mentioned notch 18ac formed in the wall 18a 
of the casing 18. The bight or connecting portion 44 has a pair of legs 46 
diverging 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 flange 50 that 
resides in a plane generally parallel to the plane of of the leg 46 to 
which its foot 48 is attached. Each foot 48 is formed with a hole 52 (FIG. 
4) 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 FIGS. 2 and 3 will reveal that whatever number of straps 42 
that are needed can be used in the clamping means 40. For instance, FIG. 2 
(and FIG. 1) depicts three units 16 for a somewhat smaller pipe 10 than 
the pipe 10a in FIG. 3 so three metal straps 42 are employed to clamp the 
three units 16 in an angularly spaced relation with each other, more 
specifically, with the angle of 120.degree. therebetween. On the other 
hand, since FIG. 3 shows four units 16 quadrantly located, there would be 
four clamping strips or straps 42. A somewhat larger pipe than that 
appearing in FIG. 3 would require an even greater number of units 16. It 
will be understood that my invention allows any practical combination of 
units 16 to be utilized 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 20 and compound 36 contained in each casing 18, are 
all placed under compression, consequently, there is virtually no 
likelihood of any breakage taking place irrespective of the extent to 
which the screws 54 and nuts 60 are tightened. This is so irrespective of 
the number of 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 nuts 16, such as by clamping the 
type of liquid flowing therethrough, 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. Preferably, the north poles should all be downstream, the 
structures 20 as oriented in FIG. 5 being so arranged. Stated somewhat 
differently, the units 16 would be clamped to the pipe 10 in FIG. 1 with 
all of the shoes 34 downstream and all of the shoes 32 upstream.