Abstract:
A reagent injector and/or aerator for aqueous fluids can use a variety of different removable end caps to adapt a venturi to different types of water treatment systems. The invention is adjustable because the end caps can be removed and springs that activate poppet valves can be changed to accommodate changes in the pressure or flow requirements of the system in which it is used. In addition to, or instead of, atmospheric air, reagent chemical solutions or gasses can be entrained into a flowing water stream by the venturi.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the treatment of liquids, and more particularly to the aeration of potable water to enhance its treatment and/or to facilitate the storage of fully treated potable water. 
   OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved reactant injecting aeration devices for aqueous solutions. 
   Another object is to provide injector aerators that can be adjusted when system operating conditions change. 
   An additional object is to provide removable flow directing or controlling end caps for a venturi housing that has separated internal flow channels. 
   Another object is to integrate into a single fitting for a water treatment system, a back pressure relief valve, a check valve, a system pressure relief valve and a venturi aerator. 
   Another object is to provide venturi aerator housings that can be used in different water treatment systems by attaching different end caps to the housings. 
   A further object is to provide an aerator with removable valve positioner capsules. 
   An additional object is to provide potable water aerators that are usable under widely varying operating conditions. 
   Another object is to provide venturi injectors for air or chemical solutions in systems that recycle reverse osmosis concentrate back into the stream of water being treated. 
   A further object is to provide reactant injector venturi aerators for potable water treatment systems that are durable, economical, easy to use and repair and adjust and maintain, and which do not possess defects found in similar prior art aerators. 
   Other objects and advantages of the reactant injectors and aerators incorporating this invention will be found in the specification and claims and the scope of the invention will be set forth in the claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a partially broken away, side view of an embodiment of an air inductor in accord with this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the inductor in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an end view from the opposite end of the inductor in  FIG. 1  showing a locator pin in cross section. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic partially cross sectional side view of an embodiment of apparatus using the inductor of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 5  is an end view of the end cap of the apparatus in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  6 — 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic partially cross sectional side view of another embodiment of apparatus using the inductor of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 8  is an end view of the end cap of the apparatus in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  9 — 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an open end view of a positioner capsule and partial view of an abutment in accord with this invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic partial side view of another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The reagent injecting liquid aerator  5  of this invention may be used as a venturi injector nozzle with the apparatus disclosed in my U.S. Patents numbered U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,562 and 6,080,306 to remove hydrogen sulfide from potable water by the methods disclosed in those patents. This aerator can also be used to keep hydropneumatic water pump storage tanks loaded with an air cushion. The invention can also be used to aerate and inject reactant or reagent chemical solutions or gasses and to recycle reverse osmosis aqueous condensate back into a stream of water being treated. It is intended that filtered and unfiltered atmospheric air be included in the definitions of reagent and reactant as used herein. 
   The aerator injector  5  includes an integral, generally circular, essentially solid block housing  10 . The block-like interior  11  of the housing is solid except that cavities  6 , in accord with common molding industry practice, may be needed in various locations to compensate for shrinkage or distortion when molten plastic is injected into a mold, or when metal alloys are cast in sand mold. Also, shallow, crescent shaped cavities  7  and  8  at each end may be used to provide working clearances, and holes and vents may be provided for gages and other attachments. Housing  10  has an exterior wall or surface  12 , an unaerated water inlet end  13  and an opposite aerated water outlet end  14 . A first circular conduit  16  for unaerated water or water without a reagent extends through the solid interior  11  of the housing from its inlet end  13  to its outlet end  14 . A second circular conduit  17  for water that is entrained with air and/or an other reagent also extends through the solid housing interior  11  from inlet end  13  to outlet end  14 . The first and second conduits  16  and  17  are separated from each other by the solid interior  11  of the housing so that they provide distinct, separated water flow channels  19  and  20  through the interior of housing  10 . The water passing through housing  10  flows in the same general direction through the separated channels  19  and  20 . First conduit  16  has a first water inlet port  22  at the inlet end  13  of the housing and a discharge port  23  for aerated water or water with a reactant at the outlet end  14  of the housing. A first valve seat  24  in first conduit  16  is located between the first water inlet port  22  and the water discharge port  23 . Second conduit  17  has a second water inlet port  25  at the housing inlet end  13  and a discharge port  27  for aerated water or water with a reactant at the outlet end  14 . 
   The second conduit  17  has a constricted portion  28  between The second water inlet port  25  and the aerated water discharge port  27 . The constriction  28  provides a venturi effect inside of channel  20 . An externally threaded hole or aperture  30  through the housing exterior wall  12  is located at constriction  28 . The suction created by the venturi may draw atmospheric air into the second conduit  17  and entrain the air into the water passing through the second conduit when the valve  31  in T-shaped pipe fitting  32  is open. The suction from the venturi may also be used to draw in a reactant solution for increasing ph, such as sodium hydroxide, or a disinfectant, such as sodium hypochlorite, or a gas such as oxygen, instead of or in addition to atmospheric air, into the water passing through channel  20  when the valve  33  is open. 
   The housing  10  may have tapped or threaded holes at predetermined locations for attachment of conventional accessories, such as pressure gages and metering valves, that are not a part of this invention. For example, a pressure gage may be threaded into to tapped hole  35  that is connected to a inlet pressure vent opening  36 , a needle valve threaded into tapped hole  37 , and a poppet valve  38  attached to hole  30 . The outlet end  14  of housing  10  should have a plurality of locator openings or recesses that can be used to properly align flow channels and valves that may be in various end caps that are attached to the housing. Projections on the end caps will protrude beyond the end caps and extend into the locator openings. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  show an embodiment of the invention that may be used in a system that removes hydrogen sulfide from potable water, or in a system that keeps hydro-pneumatic water pump storage tanks loaded with an air cushion. A source of pressurized potable water  40  may be connected to inlet end  13  of housing  10  through a line  41  to a fitting  42  that is threaded on to external threads  43  that surround end  13 . Outlet end  14  may be connected through a fitting  44  that is threaded on to external threads  45  to a line  46  to a pressurized tank  48  that is used to treat potable as described in my aforementioned patents, or the tank  48  may be used to store water under an air cushion. Water may pass out of tank  48  through a service line  49 . 
   A removable first valve closure assembly  50  is located in the flow channel  19 . It has a first poppet valve closure member  51  that has a head  52  encircled by an O-ring  53  and is sized to mate with the first valve seat  24 . A coil compression first spring  55  urges closure member  51  toward seat  24  in a direction opposite to the flow direction of water in the first conduit  16 . A removable, hollow, cylindrical first valve positioner or capsule  56  containing the valve member  51  and spring  55  locates the spring and valve closure member in the center of the first conduit. The closure member  51  has a cylindrical stem  57  that is inserted into the positioner  56 . The head  52  of the member  51  is located outside of the positioner. One end of the spring  55  bears against an end  60  of the positioner, and the opposite end of the spring bears against the end  62  of the member  51 . The first positioner has a diameter less than that of the first conduit  16  so that liquid in the conduit can flow around the first positioner. Two pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending, radial fins  63  on the outside of positioner  56  hold the positioner in the center of the conduit  16 . The fins  63  ensure that the positioner will remain centered in the conduit  16  even though variable hydraulic and mechanical forces acting on the positioner may cause the positioner to shift or rotate. 
   A removable flow control end cap  70  into which aerated and unaerated liquid may be directed is attached to end  14  of the housing. In the end cap  70 , a removable second poppet valve closure assembly  71  for the second valve seat  27  includes a second valve closure member  73  that has a head  74  encircled by an O-ring  75  and is sized to mate with the seat  27 . A coil second spring  76  in a cylindrical cavity  77  in the end cap urges valve closure member  73  toward the second seat in a direction opposite to the direction of aerated water flow through the second conduit  20 . A stem  72  extends from the bottom of member  73  into spring  76 . The second valve closure assembly end cap  70  has a collection conduit or chamber  78  for hydraulically combining the water that has flowed through the first and second conduits  19  and  20  and a discharge conduit or chamber  79  connected to the collection chamber. A pressure relief outlet  80  is connected by a line  81  to a suitable drain or recycling line. A pressure relief port  82  between the collection chamber  78  outlet  80  has a third valve seat  85 . A removable third valve closure assembly  86  has a third poppet valve closure member  87  that has a head  88  encircled by an O-ring  89  is sized to mate with port  82 . A coil third spring  90  urges the valve closure member  87  toward the valve seat  85 . A removable hollow cylindrical second positioner  91  contains the member  87  and spring  90  and holds spring  90  and closure member  87  within the end cap. A stem  94  from valve closure member  87  extends into the center of spring  90 . A threaded cap  92  screws on to external threads  93  on end cap  70  so as to removably hold the third valve closure assembly in the end cap. 
   An relatively thin, centrally located abutment  100  extends into collection chamber  78  for holding the first positioner  56  in place in the first conduit. The abutment  100  may completely span the chamber  78  as shown or may only extend part way across the chamber. After the end cap  70  has been attached to the housing  10 , the abutment bears against a central diameter of the end  60  of the positioner capsule  56  and holds the positioner securely in place in the conduit  19  against the flow of liquid in the conduit, as shown on  FIG. 10 . Liquid in chamber  78  flows past both sides of abutment  100 . 
   A portion of cavity  8  defines a curved end cap locator opening or recess  101  at outlet end  14 . A curved locator pin  102  that has a complementary shape that fits into the opening  101  protrudes beyond the end cap valve closure assembly at a predetermined location. Insertion of the locator pin  102  into the locator opening  101  positions head  74  of second valve closure member  73  in the second valve seat  27 . The locator pin  102  also ensures that the abutment  100  will be positioned against the end  60  of the first valve closure member in the collection conduit  79 . 
   Flow control end cap  70  has external threads  110  circumscribing one of its ends  111 . A rotatable ring  112  encircling the outlet end  14  of the housing may be used to removably attach the end cap. Ring  112  has internal threads  113  that mate with end cap threads  110 . The housing  10  has an outwardly projecting peripheral rim  114 . Ring  112  has an inwardly projecting circumferential ledge  115  that bears against rim  114  so that rotation of the ring draws ends of the end cap toward the outlet end  14  of the housing and compresses a gasket such as O-ring  116  in a groove  117  between the mating end cap end  111  and outlet end  14 . Engagement of threads  110  and  113  and rotation of ring  112  removably attaches the second valve assembly end cap to the housing  10 . 
   The strength or value of the springs  55 ,  76  and  90  is predetermined to enable the valve closure members  50 ,  71  and  86  to open and close the conduits  19  and  20  and pressure relief outlet  80  at the design pressures and flow rates of the system. The aerator  5  can be adjusted to changes in the pressure or volume of water flowing into or out of the system, or when the system requires more or less aeration of the water flow. The aerator is adjusted by unscrewing the ring  112  and separating the end cap  70  from the housing  10 . Then one or more of the springs  55 ,  76  or  90  can be changed to a spring or springs of different strength to enable the aerator to provide the adjusted aeration required. 
     FIGS. 7–9  show an embodiment of the invention that may be used in a system that treats potable water by reverse osmosis or similar form of membrane water treatment. A source of pressurized potable water  120  may be connected through a line  121  to an untreated water inlet conduit  122  of a removable flow control end cap  125 . An outlet port  126  may be connected through a fitting  127  that is threaded on to external threads  128  to a line  129  to a reverse osmosis unit  130  pressurized by a pump  131 . Treated water passes out of the unit  130  through a service line  132 , and aqueous condensate concentrate leaves through a recycle line  133 . The condensate recycle line  133  may be connected to inlet end  13  of housing  10  through a fitting  42  that is threaded on to external threads  43  that surround end  13 . The structure and operation of the parts of the housing  10  and the first valve closure assembly  50  are identical to those described above, so the same reference numbers will be used to identify identical parts. Air may be injected into the condensate when valve  31  is open. Reactant solutions and/or gasses may be added when valve  33  is open. 
   End cap  125  has a conduit  135  for aerated aqueous condensate that is hydraulically connected to discharge port  27  of second conduit  20 . Conduit  135  hydraulically connects port  27  to inlet conduit  122 . The pump  131  increases the pressure in line  133  above that in conduit  122  so the condensate in line  133  can flow through conduits  20  and  135  into conduit  122 . A waste chamber  137  hydraulically connects discharge port  23  of first conduit  19  through a waste drain conduit  138  to a waste drain outlet line  139  for disposal of excess condensate that can not be recycled. 
   An relatively thin, centrally located abutment  140  extends into conduit  137  for holding the first positioner  51  in place in the first conduit. The abutment  140  may completely span the conduit  138  as shown or may only extend part way across the conduit. After the end cap  125  has been attached to the housing  10 , the abutment  140  bears against a central diameter of the end  60  of the positioner capsule  56  and holds the positioner securely in place in the conduit  19  against the flow of condensate in the conduit, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Liquid in conduit  138  flows past both sides of abutment  140 . A flow control washer  141  may be located in conduit  19  between inlet  22  and conduit  138 . 
   A hollow, circular end cap locator projection  142  extends beyond end cap  125  into aerated liquid discharge port  27 , which serves as the locator opening in this embodiment. An O-ring  143  around projection  142  seals against the side wall of the port  27 . Projection  142  aligns port  27  and conduit  135  with outlet conduit  126  and places the abutment  140  into contact with the end  60  of first valve positioner to hold the valve positioner in first conduit  19  against the flow of concentrate in the first conduit. The fact that projection  142  is hollow enables the hydraulic connection between channel  20  and conduit  135 . 
   Flow control end cap  125  has external threads  145  circumscribing one of its ends  146 . The rotatable ring  112  encircling the outlet end  14  of the housing  10  may also be used to removably attach end cap  125 . Ring  112  has internal threads  113  that mate with end cap threads  145 . The housing  10  has an outwardly projecting peripheral rim  114 . Ring  112  has an inwardly projecting circumferential ledge  115  that bears against rim  114  so that rotation of the ring draws ends of the end cap toward the outlet end  14  of the housing and compresses a gasket such as O-ring  116  in a groove  117  between end cap end  146  and outlet end  14 . Engagement of threads  145  and  113  and rotation of ring  112  removably attaches the end cap to the housing  10 . 
   The strength or value of the spring  55  and the size of the hole in the washer  141  are predetermined to enable the valve closure members  50  to open and close the conduits  19  at the design pressures and flow rates of the system. The aerator  10  can be adjusted to changes in the pressure or volume of potable water entering inlet  122  or of aqueous condensate flowing from unit  130 , or when the system requires more or less aeration of the condensate flow. The aerator is adjusted by unscrewing the ring  112  and separating the end cap  125  from the housing  10 . Then the spring  55  may be changed to a spring of different strength to enable the aerator to provide the adjusted aeration required. Another adjustment may be made by unscrewing fitting  42  and changing the size of washer  141 . 
   The housing  10  and end caps  70  and  125  may be cast from any plastic, such as PVC or ABS, or from lead-free metal alloys, such as brass, bronze or stainless steel that are usable at elevated pressures and temperatures in potable water service. Other gaskets such as O-rings  148  in grooves  149  may be used where indicated to prevent leakage. End caps  70  and  125  also may have cavities  150 , in accord with common molding industry practice, in various locations to compensate for shrinkage or distortion when molten plastic is injected into a mold. 
     FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of the invention in which the means for removably attaching an end cap  70  or  125  may include a circular first peripheral rim  152  on the outlet end  14  of the housing  10 . Rim  152  circumscribes the housing and extends beyond the exterior surface  12  of the housing. The end cap  70  or  125  has a circular second peripheral rim  153  at its mating end  111  or  146 . Rim  153  circumscribes its end cap and extends beyond the outer surface of the end cap. The rims  152  and  153  have flat abutting faces  154  and  155 . An O-ring gasket  156  in lodged in a groove  157  between the abutting faces. A plurality of threaded fasteners such a headed bolts  158  with nuts  159  secure the rims  152  and  153  together so as to compress the O-ring  156  therebetween. 
   While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not intended to illustrate or describe all of the equivalent forms or ramifications thereof. Also, the words used are words of description rather than limitation, and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.