Abstract:
A Polyionic Molecular Diffuser and Filter Method. The device and method provides superlative filtration in macro, micro and nano ranges for a variety of fluids. The device utilizes filtration elements that are relatively low cost, yet provide the significant advantage of being able to be back-flushed periodically to remove captured solids. The device employs an arrangement of filter elements wherein the filtration axis of the filters is perpendicular to the flow axis of the collecting housing. The device and method further provides a way for adjusting filter to capture different sizes of solids, depending upon the particular user adjustment. This same filter is adaptable to operate as a gas diffuser that will diffuse gas into a liquid in a very controllable manner, while also purifying the diffused air.

Description:
[0001]    This application is filed within one year of, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/828,539, filed May 29, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally aerators for liquids and, more specifically, to a Polyionic Molecular Diffuser and Filter Method 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Filters of many designs and configurations have been used in many fields, and for filtering many fluids, including air, oil, water and many others. Whatever the type of conventional filter, it is normal that they be configured in different filtration sizes in order to obtain different results (and to be used with different fluid viscosities), ranging from nano- and micro- to macro-filtration. As filters begin to trap more and more material, they begin to clog and create a pressure drop as well as to block fluid flow. At some point, just about every type of filter element must be replaced due to this fouling. 
         [0006]    There is thus a widely held need to avoid this fouling problem because of the efficiency reductions of the system, as well as to avoid unnecessary replacement costs for new filters. 
         [0007]    A side benefit of these types of filter media is that it can be used very effectively as a gas-into-liquid diffuser. The parallel plates serve well to convert incoming gas (e.g. air) into bubbles of controllable size, for the purpose of aerating the liquid. The device would be suitable to filter dirty air, as the gas will leave the liquid absent of any suspended material or fumes (such as from cigarettes). The system could be used to aerate liquid in fish tanks, water treatment plants, lakes. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, as a filter, the device out-performs a conventional centrifugal fuel filter (e.g. diesel fuel) because, unlike centrifugal filters, the design of the present invention does not separate any components from the fuel (i.e. the heavier lubricating components). Also, it is believed that the fueal molecules are “smoothed” as they pass through the parallel plates, thereby improving their combustion within an engine. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Polyionic Molecular Diffuser and Filter Method. The device and method should provide superlative filtration in macro, micro and nano ranges for a variety of fluids. The device should use filtration elements that are relatively low cost, yet provide the significant advantage of being able to be back-flushed periodically to remove captured solids. The device should employ an arrangement of filter elements wherein the filtration axis of the filters is perpendicular to the flow axis of the collecting housing. The device and method should further provide a way for adjusting filter to capture different sizes of solids, depending upon the particular user adjustment. This same filter should be adaptable to operate as a gas diffuser that will diffuse gas into a liquid in a very controllable manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway side view of one embodiment of the diffuser assembly of present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway side view of a preferred embodiment of the bubbler of the present invention, utilizing the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are partially exploded views of the diffuser assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an intermediate diffuser plate of the assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a stack of diffuser plates of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts the operation of the bubbler of  FIG. 2  in terms of bubble size as a function of diffuser stack compressive force; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partially exploded view of a modified version of the assembly of  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Polyionic Molecular Diffuser and Filter Method. 
         [0019]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG.  1 . 1    FIG. 1  is a cutaway side view of one embodiment of the diffuser assembly  10  of present invention. The assembly  10  is preferably defined by a central diffuser pipe  12  running down its length. A series of flat diffuser plates (generically  14 ) are captured between a pair of compression caps  16 A,  16 B.  1  As used throughout this disclosure, element numbers enclosed in square brackets [ ] indicates that the referenced element is not shown in the instant drawing figure, but rather is displayed elsewhere in another drawing figure. 
         [0020]    As will be depicted below, the diffuser pipe  12  has a plurality of perforations, such as slots, formed along its length. Gas entering the diffuser pipe  12  from a gas supply  26  will exit through the perforations formed in the pipe  12 , and eventually out through the slight gaps between the diffuser plates  14 . 
         [0021]    A variety of materials may be employed for the layers  14 , but it has been demonstrated that “optical” precision filter elements (i.e. very high precision) demonstrate extremely suitable results. The diffuser layers  14  are held together by compression caps  16 A,  16 B. 
         [0022]    The compression caps or bells  16 A,  16 B may be of a similar planar configuration to the diffuser plates  14 , although it may be slightly larger or smaller in diameter in order to avoid any centering issues. In the depicted version, however, the caps  16 A,  16 B actually have a concave bell shape that causes the upper rim of the caps  16 A,  16 B to be the point of contact between the plate  16 A,  16 B and the diffuser layers  14 —this design has been demonstrated as particularly successful because it creates an outer boundary diffusion layer, with an inner core the causes less of a flow restriction. 
         [0023]    The compression caps  16 A,  16 B are pressed against the stack of diffuser layers  14  by an end cap  20 , which threadedly engages the distal end of the diffuser pipe  12 . It should be apparent from the arrangement of the elements in the assembly  10  that if the end cap  20  is tightened or loosened, it will squeeze or release squeezing force against the stack of diffuser layers  14 . By adding compression to the stack of layers  14  (by tightening the end cap  20 ), the diffuser stack height will be reduced and the gap between each layer  14  will be reduced. Conversely, if compression is reduced by loosening the end cap  20 , the diffuser stack height will increase due to the gap between each layer  14  increasing. 
         [0024]    In order to direct as much of the gas as possible to flow out through the diffuser layers  14 , there could be sealing rings  18 A,  18 B at each compression cap  16 A,  16 B. There may also be a sealing ring  22  on the inner face of the end cap  20 . 
         [0025]    A further feature is that there is preferably a housing base plate  24  attached (e.g. welded) to the diffuser pipe  12 . This provides a secure and stable mounting point for the other elements of the housing, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway side view of a preferred embodiment of the bubbler  28  of the present invention, utilizing the assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 . Here, the bubbler  28  is depicted while in operation, so that the gas supply  26  is being diffused into the liquid  30  in the form of small bubbles  27 . The bubbler  28  will typically be anchored well below the surface  32  of the liquid reservoir  30 , but this orientation certainly depends upon the operational circumstances. 
         [0027]    The diffuser assembly  10  is ideally housed within a housing—the housing is comprised of a housing cannister  34  attached to the housing base plate  24  by a plurality of fasteners  38  (such as bolts and nuts). The housing cannister  34  has a plurality of apertures  36  formed through it that allows the gas bubbles  27  to exit, while still protecting the diffuser assembly  10  from damage or fouling. The diffuser assembly  10  is depicted in yet another way in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  is a partially exploded view of the diffuser assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 . Specifically detailed here are the slots  42  formed along the length of the diffuser pipe  38 —these slots  42  serve to allow the gas to be pushed through the diffuser plates  14  evenly. The diffuser pipe  38  terminates in a threaded portion  40 , which is where the end cap  20  threadedly attaches. 
         [0029]    The end cap  20  ideally has a sealing ring  22  on its face that will create a solid seal against the compression cap  16 B when the end cap  20  is tightened until it compresses against the compression cap  16 B. The sealing ring  22  could be an individual element as shown, or it could be incorporated into the end cap  20  (in other versions). 
         [0030]    Similarly, sealing rings  18 A and  18 B are disposed between the compression caps  16 A,  16 B and the adjacent diffuser plate  14 . The diffuser plates  14  are not necessarily all identical, as discussed in connection with  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3B  depicts an alternate design. In this version, the end cap  20 A and compression cap  16 B are integrated into a single component. Also, the top end of the diffuser pipe  38  has a threaded portion  40  at its end for attachment to gas supply piping. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an intermediate diffuser plate  14 A of the assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In order to improve the radial distribution of the out-flowing gas through the plates  14 A, a series of cuts or grooves are formed in one or both faces of the substrate  44  comprising the intermediate diffuser plates  14 A. There are a plurality of radial grooves  52  interconnecting the center aperture  48  formed in the substrate  44  with an outer peripheral groove  50 . The peripheral groove  50  is adjacent to, and inboard of the outer edge  46  of the substrate. Testing has revealed that it is optimum that the groove  50  is very close to the outer edge of the substrate  44 . 
         [0033]    The grooves  50 ,  52  may be cut into a wide variety of profiles and/or shapes, depending upon the gas being diffused and the environment for the application. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the top-most end diffuser plates  14 B will most likely not have the grooves  50 ,  52  cut into them (at least not on the sides that face outwardly from the center of the stack). This is so that a strong gas-tight seal can be formed between the end diffuser plates  14 B and the sealing rings [ 18 A,  18 B]. 
         [0034]    Additional testing has revealed that widening the grooves  50 ,  52  (without making them deeper) results in increased flow of air or fluid (depending upon the application for the assembly  10 . A lower restriction on flow results ni greater throughput for the filter/bubbler. 
         [0035]    As discussed previously, the compressive force imposed on the stack of diffuser plates is controllable in order to control the size of the bubbles that are being emitted by the bubbler [ 28 ].  FIG. 6  depicts this trend. 
         [0036]    Yet another benefit provided by the instant design is a prolonged lifespan. The plates [collectively  14 ] do not need to be periodically replaced, since the assembly [ 10 ] can be back-flushed with liquid to clean out any captured particulates or other contaminants. 
         [0037]    Another improvement to the instant device is depicted in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a partially exploded view of a modified version of the assembly of  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . Of particular interest in this view is the addition of the keeper pegs  100  that engage apertures  102  formed in the diffuser pipe  38 . As the device  10  is assembled, the pegs  100  are inserted through the apertures  102  at each end of the diffuser pipe  38 . The compression caps  16 A,  16 B are equipped with cradle brackets  104  on either side of the central hole formed in the caps  16 A,  16 B. The pegs  100  fit into the brackets  104  when the caps  16 A,  16 B are fitted over the diffuser pipe  38 . These pegs  100  will prevent the compression caps  16 A,  16 B from turning after the assembly  10  is fully assembled. There is enough room in the brackets  104  to allow the compression caps  16 A,  16 B to travel slightly along the diffuser pipe  38 , as necessary, if the end caps  20  are tightened. 
         [0038]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.