Magnetic conditioner for treating liquids

Abstract: These improvements are applicable to conditioners fitted with three independent magnetic fields, each generated by a set of magnets (3, 5, 7) and consisting in coupling to the first set of magnets (3) an auxiliary magnet or group of magnets (17) using a telescoping shaft (16), which complementary magnet (17) will tend to move away from the first magnetic field (3) and will carry a front or conical plug (18) which may move to a greater or lesser extent depending on the stream of fluid running through the closer this auxiliary magnet (17) is and the greater the intensity of the magnetic field in the area (20) where the water flows through between the permanent magnet group (3) and its gap (4). The design also provides for the incorporation of a magnetic filter (12-13) and a rotor fitted with blades (21-22), equipped with a coil (23) in which an electromotive force is generated which may be tapped thrugh outside contacts (24).

Description: PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION This invention is a series of improvements introduced into magnetic conditioners for treating liquids such as, for example, drinking water, water for heat exchanges or fuels, for example. Depending on the specific application for which a given magnetic conditioner is designed, with the improvements concerned herein, the conditioner will prevent the formation of crust and scales on the inner wall of the pipes through which the liquid circulates, ionize water for human consumption, intensify the combustion process, for example. FORERUNNERS OF THE INVENTION Magnetic water treatment is a non-chemical method consisting in running the water through a magnetic field having a strength of 1,000 to 10,000 gauss. The magnetic field is generated by a bank of permanent magnets forming a coaxial magnetic circuit. Under normal conditions, the magnetic field strength is preserved indefinitely (loss of 0.15% of its magnetism every thirty years). The magnetic unit requires no special maintenance, except for inspection and cleaning for the magnetic filter set alongside the bank of magnets, which prevents any clogging due to metal particles suspended in the body of water. Among the known patents based on this treatment are Spanish patents of invention 490,239, 496,327, corresponding to WO-A-8 101 112, 508,581 corresponding to US-A-4 320 003, and 553,149, corresponding to US-A-4 734 202, as well as models of utility 285,515 and 286,311, wherein different solutions are described with regard to the means used to create the coaxial magnetic circuit that is to act on the water. However, the same constant appears in all these solutions: each descaler has an optimal operating range which depends on its diameter. This is because water lines never flow in a constant stream, since the rate at which liquid circulates through conditioners varies depending on users needs. In conventional apparatuses, a constant rate of water flow of between 1 and 3 m/sec. must be maintained in order for these apparatuses to perform their conditioning task well. In an attempt to overcome this problem, this applicant holds patent of invention ES-A-2 014 912, describing a magnetic conditioner for treating liquids which, based on the incorporation of several magnetic fields totally independent of one another, with different operating angles and circulating liquid flowthrough areas, allows for an optimal fit in all cases of real practice. More specifically, said conditioner was designed to have three separate magnetic fields, the first formed by permanent working ring magnets and gaps which succeed in concentrating the entire magnetic field in the circulating liquid flowthrough areas, forming a radial magnetic field at a perpendicular angle to the liquid flow, with the possibility of regulating the stream to meet the needs of the case at hand. Next, after a spacer ring made of magnetic material, lies the second field, formed by a series of groups of permanent working magnets placed so that the resulting field does not interfere with the field of the adjacent magnets. This set of magnets is centered along the interior of a tube made of ferromagnetic material, at a preset radial distance. This assembly forms a radial magnetic field at an altered angle. Next, after another spacer, there is a third magnetic field whose characteristics match those of the first. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The improvements proposed herein, applicable to a magnetic conditioner for treating liquids such as the one in patent of invention ES-A 2 014 912, not only considerably simplify the structure of said conditioner, but also considerably strengthen its powers. More specifically, in accordance with one of the improvements herein, at the intake to the housing of the conditioner, before the magnetic group, there is an oblique side outlet, closed by a suitable cap, to which is attached a magnet and a stainless steel strainer or sieve reaching all the way to the main conduit, such that this assembly prevents particles of a certain size from obstructing or interfering with the conditioner's magnetic fields at the same time as it attracts metal particles swept along by the fluid toward the cap area. Another improvement included in the invention affects the flow regulating system in the core of the conditioner itself, so that it is automatically regulated. To do so, a complementary magnet or group of magnets is coupled frontally and axially, with the aid of a telescoping shaft, to the axial alignment of magnets comprising the conditioner's main operational nucleus. Attached to said magnet or group of magnets is a conical plug, such that the repelling force between this complementary magnet or group of magnets and the main group of magnets tends to push the plug toward a seat in the housing, also in the shape of a truncated cone, interrupting water circulation. Obviously, the extraction of this plug will depend on the water stream passing through the conditioner, maintaining said stream and the liquid flowthrough area allowed by the aforesaid plug proportional, and at the same time producing an increase in the magnetic field in the gaps when the fluid stream increases. Lastly, in accordance with another of the improvements herein advanced, the magnetic conditioner has been designed to be able to act simultaneously as a current generator, by implanting in its core a coil mounted on a bladed rotor, such that said coil is turned by the circulation of the fluid, generating in the coil core an electromotive force which may be tapped for any use through suitably-placed contacts on the outside surface of the housing. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order to complement the description made herein and to aid in better understanding the characteristics of the invention, attached to this descriptive report as an integral part hereof is a set of drawings designed to illustrate but not to limit the following: Figure 1. This figure shows a side elevational view in a lengthwise cross section of a magnetic conditioner for treating liquids built in accordance with the improvements concerned herein. Figure 2. This figure shows a cross section of the generator shown in figure 1, cut along the A-B line on said figure. Figure 3. This figure shows a diagram similar to figure 1, but depicting a conditioner designed for therapeutic use. Figure 4. This figure shows a cross section of the generator shown in figure 3. Figure 5. This figure shows a diagram of the electronic circuit for the electric generator in its use as a high-frequency generator for ozonating water. PREFERRED EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION In view of these figures, especially figure 1, it may be seen how a magnetic generator constructed in accordance with the improvements proposed herein is built with a body or housing (1) terminating in end flanges (2-2') equipped for intercalating the conditioner into the conduit carrying the liquids or fluids to be treated. In the core of this body (1) is established, as in patent of invention 8903003, a first group of permanent magnets (3) with their corresponding sheathing annular gap (4); a second group of permanent magnets (5), also with its corresponding gap (6); and a third group of permanent magnets (7) with their gap (8); all these groups are coupled to one another coaxially and are appropriately distributed with the aid of suitable spacers (9). Starting from this basic structure, in accordance with one of the improvements herein, near the intake flange (2), the body (1) incorporates a side duct or outlet (10), in the oblique position shown in figure 1, closed by means of a workable lid (11) to which are suitably fixed a permanent magnet (12) and a strainer or sieve (13), preferably made of stainless steel, whose free end (14) is positioned diametrically in the core of the main conduit (15) of the conditioner, forming a perforated barrier to the passage of the fluid which collects all kinds of solids larger than a preset size, especially metallic solids attracted by the permanent magnet (12), keeping such metal particles from interfering with or short-circuiting the magnetic circuits of the conditioner. In accordance with another of the improvements herein, the first group of magnets (3) is coupled coaxially with the help of the telescoping shaft (16) to an auxiliary magnet or group of magnets (17), ending in a conical plug (18) which tends, due to the polarity of the magnet itself (17), to move into its closed or plugged position in a seat (19) in the shape of a truncated cone formed by the body or housing (1) itself. In accordance with this construction, clearly, the greater the stream of water passing through the conditioner, the greater the movement of the conical plug (18), the closer the complementary magnet (17) is brought to the first magnet group (3) and, therefore, the greater the intensity of the magnetic field in the operating area (20) of the conditioner defined by the gap (4). In accordance with another of the improvements herein, the conditioner may act simultaneously as a current generator, for which purpose at the level of the middle magnet group (5) there is a rotor (21) fitted with a number of inner blades (22). This rotor is linked to a coil (23) such that when the fluid circulates through the inside of the conditioner, the proper orientation of the blades (22) causes the rotor (21) to turn. This, due to the effect of the magnetic field of the magnet (6) sheathing the coil, generates in the coil (23) an electromotive force which may be tapped for any use through contacts (24) suitably placed on the outer skin of the body (1). The generator thus obtained may be properly grounded. In accordance with the structure described herein, a magnetic conditioner with the improvements concerned herein is applicable in the water treatment industry. Said conditioner can successfully filter out all suspended solids circulating through the water supply lines, in addition to preventing lime scales in pipes and eliminating already existing scales. With the classic sacrificial anode (25), the facility is protected from galvanic corrosion. Complementarily, the water circulating through the apparatus provides a certain amount of electrical energy directly proportional to the stream of water circulating through the conditioner. This power may be tapped for lighting, to power an electronic circuit monitoring the water stream circulating through the apparatus, for example. This electricity may be consumed directly or stored in suitable storage batteries. In domestic applications, because the average stream is smaller, the sacrificial anode may be done away with, and for economic reasons a current generator is not of interest. The conditioner may also be applied in the magnetic treatment of fuels, where the combustion process is intensified, allowing more oxygen ions to combine with carbon monoxide molecules to form carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Since this type of combustion is fuller, such treatment reduces emissions of hydrocarbons, cleans the combustion chambers, cleans spark plugs and other engine components, and saves on fuel consumption since it boosts the performance of the treated fuel. In this case, as in the preceding case, the sacrificial anode is also unnecessary, and the electrical generator is eliminated for economic reasons. This simplified conditioner is the one shown in figures 3 and 4, where the conditioner's housing has not been depicted, or where a housing (26) made of magnetic material may be used as a substitute, therefore acting as a gap, and where all magnets in the working group mentioned above are linked in the core of a housing (27) made of nonmagnetic material, whose front end constitutes the aforesaid conical plug (28). This solution is especially appropriate in therapeutic uses, since, as is well known, water ionized by a magnetic field keeps all the salts the human body needs intact, since its chemical composition is not altered, and it also acquires a greater solvent capacity, becoming more diuretic and digestive and thus beneficial for the body. Returning again to the electrical generator feature of the conditioner, said generator is especially indicated for producing direct current. As shown in the diagram in figure 5, where the generator, as the whole described above, appears labeled (29), said generator is coupled to a voltage multiplier (30), which is coupled to a frequency converter (31), one of whose terminals (32) is grounded while the other is connected to a distributing ring (33) in which a direct current of on the order of 6,000 volts and a very high frequency is obtained. This current in turn creates an electrical field (34) without a current flow. This field is entirely innocuous for humans due to its very low intensity (on the order of 3 to 10 milliamperes). Obviously, this field is created in the core of the aforesaid distributing ring (33), mounted on the body (1) of the conditioner with a teflon sleeve (35), and it causes the oxygen in the water to change into ozone, which, as is well-known, is a highly effective bactericide (on the order of 600 times more powerful than chlorine) and in addition has no byproducts that may pose a hazard in the long run. The electrostatic field thus produced controls the growth of bacteria, and said control may also be observed to extend to the initial growth of viruses, parasites and algae. In practice, as shown in figure 1, the electronic circuit described and depicted in figure 5 is very simple and small, that is, it occupies very little space, so it may be held on the inside of the apparatus's own housing, in a recess (36) set for that purpose right in the conditioner's own body (1). No further description is considered necessary in order for any expert on the subject to grasp the scope of the invention and the advantages it offers. The materials, shape, size and position of the components may vary, provided that such variations do not alter the essential nature of the invention, as set forth in the claims. The terms used to write up this report should always be taken in their broadest sense, not as limitations.

Claims: Magnetic conditioner for treating liquids, of the type that has a body or housing made of a nonmagnetic material, each of whose ends terminates in a companion flange, and in whose core three independent magnetic fields are established, aligned coaxially, based on groups of magnets strung together with spacers and assisted by sheathing annular gaps, characterized in that the group of magnets (3) constituting the first magnetic field in the direction of fluid circulation is linked to an auxiliary magnet or group of magnets (17) by means of a telescoping coaxial shaft (16), and the front of said auxiliary magnet (17) ends in a conical plug (18), that tends to rest on a truncated cone-shaped seat (19) formed in the body or housing (1) of the conditioner due to the effect of the first main magnetic field generated by the magnets (3). Magnetic conditioner for treating liquids as set forth in claim 1, wherein immediately in front of the seat (19), the body or housing (1) incorporates a side outlet or duct (10) in an oblique position, whose free end is closed with the help of a workable lid (11), to which is attached another permanent magnet (12) housed in the core of a tubular strainer or sieve (13), preferably made of stainless steel, whose free end (14) is suitably chamfered off in a diametric position in the core of the main conduit (15) of the conditioner. Magnetic conditioner for treating liquids as set forth in the previous claims, wherein at the core of the body or housing, preferably at the level of the middle magnetic field defined by the middle groups of magnets (5), there is a rotor (21) bearing a number of inner blades (22) so that the passage of the fluid imparts a turning movement to the rotor, which bears a coil (23) in which is generated an electromotive force that may be tapped directly by means of outside contacts (24) or through a set of storage batteries. Magnetic conditioner for treating liquids as set forth in claim 3, wherein the electrical generator (29) is coupled to a voltage multiplier (30), and the voltage multiplier is coupled to a frequency converter (31), and one of the outlets of the aforesaid circuit is grounded (32), and the other is connected to a distributing ring (33) mounted inside the body (1) with the help of a teflon sleeve (33), and this electric circuit (30-31) is designed to fit into a small recess (36) set in turn in the very housing (1) of the apparatus.

Inventors: DE LA TORRE BARREIRO JOSE LUIS, DE LA TORRE BARREIRO, JOSE LUIS, De la Torre Barreiro, José Luis
Applicants: TORRE BARREIRO JOSE LUIS DE, DE LA TORRE BARREIRO, JOSE LUIS
Application year: 1993
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: F02M27, C02F1