Abstract:
Devices for receiving fluid such as water are described. Principally (although not necessarily exclusively) designed for use as chlorinators, the devices may divert water flowing in conduits into the devices for treatment and subsequent return to the flow stream. A device may connect to a pipe without tools and require only one hole to be formed in a pipe wall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/399,884 entitled “Chlorinators and Other Fluid Receiving Devices” filed on Jul. 19, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to fluid receiving devices and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to chlorinators or other treatment devices for circulating water used in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or other water-containing vessels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,026 to Denkewicz, et al., discloses water-purification equipment useful especially in connection with swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, where water recirculates. The equipment may provide “plug-in” forms of fluid-flow diverters “designed to penetrate, or fill, openings intermediate remote ends of conduits.” See Denkewitz, col. 2, ll. 3-4. As indicated in the Denkewicz patent:
         Embodiments of the invention contemplate diverting flowing fluid to purification equipment formed about or otherwise connected to such diverters, permitting diverted water to be purified before rejoining the flow. The . . . circulating nature of the water permits more of its volume ultimately to be diverted into the equipment for purification.
 
See id., ll. 13-15.
       

     Positioned within the equipment of the Denkewicz patent is water purification media such as “mineral-based pellets or other objects of silver-, zinc-, or copper-containing material.” However, other media alternatively may be used therein. According to the Denkewicz patent, “[c]hlorine or other chemicals which may be dissolved or contacted by the water being diverted are among suitable alternatives.” See id., ll. 57-59. 
     International (Patent) Publication No. WO 2006/110799 of Kennnedy, et al. [sic Kennedy, et al.] details additional equipment used to divert flowing fluid for purification. Diverted fluid may be treated by, for example, a salt water chlorinator (SWC) having an electrolytic cell. Treated water is then returned to the main flow stream via a series of fins, with the overall configuration of the equipment being designed to, among other things, cause the bulk of fluid experiencing pressure spikes to remain in the conduit. See, e.g., Kennedy, p. 12, ll. 4-10. Accordingly, housings detailed in the Kennedy publication may be “fabricated from less pressure-resistant materials, and need not be engineered in the same way as other pressure vessels.” See id., ll. 13-14. The contents of the Denkewicz patent and the Kennedy publication are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides additional equipment in the style of the diverters of the Denkewicz patent and the Kennedy publication. Devices of the invention may divert water flowing in conduits into the devices for treatment and subsequent return to the flow stream. Inlet and return tubes may be utilized within the conduits, with the openings of the tubes preferably (but not necessarily) angled relative to central longitudinal axes of the conduits. The openings additionally may (but again need not necessarily) open in the same plane. 
     An optional third tube, beneficially in the form of a feeder port or gas extraction tube, also may be present in devices of the invention. If desired, the opening of the third tube too may be in the same plane as the openings of the inlet and return tubes. Moreover, the inlet tube may include a deflector and be formed generally as a “scoop.” Combined, the configurations of (at least) the inlet and return tubes tend to create vortex action evacuating fluid from the return tube back into the conduit. Additional tubes may be employed as part of devices of the invention. 
     Unlike certain other devices, in which the inlet and return tubes are intentionally spaced longitudinally within a conduit, devices of the present seek to omit that spacing. Accordingly, inlet and return tubes (and any optional third tube) may share walls or other boundaries. As a consequence, only one opening need be drilled or otherwise created in a wall of a conduit to accommodate entry of all of the tubes. 
     A device of the present invention further may be retained in position about a conduit using a single knob, nut, or similar fastener. This single fastener may engage a lower portion of a housing of the device and move a plate upward, with the upward movement of the plate inducing the conduit to bear against a rubber or similar seal associated with an upper portion of the housing. This structure as well permits the device to accommodate conduit of differing sizes or diameters. One or more straps or other fasteners (including use of multiple fasteners) could be employed instead. 
     A presently-preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates a salt-water chlorinator (SWC) within the upper portion of the housing. Fluid, most typically water, flowing within a conduit is diverted from the conduit into the device via the inlet tube. Thereafter the diverted water passes through the SWC for treatment and then is returned to the conduit via the return tube. Because electrodes of an SWC are consumed in use, the consumable portions of the SWC within the upper portion of the housing may be removable therefrom for disposal and replacement. Hence, devices of the present invention may include removable caps on the housings to allow access to the to-be-removed portions of the SWCs. 
     Versions of the invention may utilize features as described above yet need not necessarily chlorinate or otherwise treat fluid. Some versions, for example, may include sensors adapted to sense various characteristics of fluid flowing diverted from a conduit into the housing. These versions may, if appropriate, include a baffle or otherwise be configured to create one or more low-flow regions within the housings. Different versions may divert fluid from the conduit to a separate device. 
     Other embodiments of the invention may include controllers connected directly to housings. Such direct connection may be both mechanical and electrical, moreover. Particularly when electrically-powered equipment (such as SWCs) are included in the devices, directly connecting a controller to a housing may, for example, avoid electrical cabling that otherwise would be required. 
     It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide innovative fluid receiving devices. 
     It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide “plug-in” types of equipment particularly useful for treating or otherwise receiving circulating water. 
     It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide fluid receiving devices in which inlet and return tubes create vortex action to evacuate fluid from the devices and into conduits. 
     It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide fluid receiving devices in which a single fastener may be employed to clamp devices about conduits of varying sizes. 
     It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide fluid receiving devices to which sensors, controllers, or other equipment may be connected directly or indirectly. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant fields with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an exemplary device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  shown attached to a conduit. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the device of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         FIGS. 4A-C  are views of a first alternate device of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A-B  are views of a second alternate device of the present invention to which a controller is connected. 
         FIGS. 6A-D  are views of the device of  FIGS. 5A-B  to which different controllers are connected. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is exemplary device  10  of the present invention. Device  10  advantageously may include housing  14  and knob or nut  18 . Housing  14  may comprise at least upper portion  22  and lower portion  26 , which are preferably connected about pipe or conduit P when device  10  is in use. As shown in, e.g.,  FIG. 4B , lower portion  26  may include one or more prongs  30  configured to snap-fit into, or otherwise engage, corresponding recesses  34  of upper portion  22 . 
     Also comprising device  10  may be any or all of cap  38 , collar  42 , electrode housing  46 , seal  50 , and push plate  54 . Cap  38  is configured to connect to either or both of collar  42  or upper portion  22 . Cap  38  also preferably is removable from at least upper portion  22  so as to allow access therein. Beneficially, cap  38  is positioned over opening  58  of upper portion  22  and locked into place using threaded collar  42 , whose threads  62  engage corresponding threads  66  of the upper portion  22 . 
     Interconnecting with either or both of cap  38  and collar  42  may be electrode housing  46 . Electrode housing  46 , which may be part of an SWC, preferably is positionable within—but removable from—upper portion  22 . Removability of electrode housing  46  is especially important when its electrodes are consumed in use, as replacement of the electrodes eventually will be required in such circumstances in order for device  10  to remain functional. Similarly, if device  10  includes consumable chemical media (e.g. solid chlorine, solid bromine, erodable metals, etc.) within upper portion  22 , replacement of the media may need to occur. 
     Seal  50 , push plate  54 , and nut  18  facilitate clamping of conduit P between upper portion  22  and lower portion  26  of housing  14 . As illustrated particularly in  FIGS. 2-3 , when device  10  is upright, seal  50  may be positioned between upper portion  22  and an upper part of the wall of conduit P. By contrast, push plate  54  may be positioned within lower portion  26  adjacent a lower part of the wall of the conduit P. Prongs  30  then may be fitted into recesses  34  to connect upper and lower portions  22  and  26 . 
     Nut  18 , which may be threaded, also includes central protrusion  70 . As nut  18  is inserted into corresponding threads  74  of lower portion  26  and then rotated, central protrusion  70  moves upward, forcing push plate  54  to bear against conduit P. This bearing in turn causes conduit P to bear against seal  50 . The result is the clamping of conduit P firmly within device  10 —with such clamping requiring only one fastener (e.g. nut  18 ) and not requiring any tools. Moreover, because electrode housing  46  may be accessed from above by removing cap  38 , electrode housing  46  may be removed and replaced as desired without any need to unclamp device  10  from conduit P. 
     Upper portion  22  may include a generally saddle-shaped floor  78 . Protruding downward therefrom may be tube structure  82 . When device  10  is in use, structure  82  is fitted into conduit P. In the version of device  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , because tube structure  82  is unitary, only one hole need be created in a wall of conduit P to allow insertion of the structure  82  into the interior volume V 1  of the conduit P. By creating only one hole in conduit P, the risk of fluid leakage from the conduit P is reduced. 
     Incorporated into tube structure  82  are at least inlet tube  86  and return tube  90 . As shown especially in  FIGS. 2-3 , these separate tubes  86  and  90  nevertheless may share a boundary (e.g. wall  93 ). Such boundary sharing reduces the diameter of structure  82 , allowing the hole necessarily created in conduit P to be smaller. Sharing of boundaries is not mandatory, however, as tubes  86  and  90  may be configured in any appropriate manner. 
     Also illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is optional third tube  94 , beneficially in the form of a feeder port or gas extraction tube. Although referred to herein as “tubes,” none of structure  82 , inlet tube  86 , return tube  90 , or third tube  94  need be “tubular” in any strict sense. Stated differently, “tubes” as used in this application need not refer solely to cylindrical objects or items with curved walls. Rather, they may encompass any bounded region allowing fluid flow consistent with the objectives of the invention. 
     In at least one version of device  10 , inlet tube  86  includes deflector  98  at its entrance  102 . Deflector  98  facilitates inlet tube  86  acting as a “scoop” to divert fluid from conduit P into interior volume V 2  of upper housing  22 . Likewise, in at least one version of device  10  including third tube  94 , the third tube  94  and return tube  90 , while separate, nonetheless share a boundary. When device  10  is in use, (some) fluid flowing in direction D encounters inlet tube  86  and is diverted (in the direction of arrow A) into volume V 2 . Within volume V 2 , the fluid contacts electrodes or plates  106  of electrode housing  46 ; thereafter, it flows in the direction of arrow B to return to conduit P via return tube  90 . In this version of device  10 , third tube  94  may be used to extract gas that otherwise might accumulate within volume V 2 . Any such gas may flow in the direction of arrow C from volume V 2  into conduit P. 
     Shown particularly in  FIGS. 2-3  is that deflector  98  and entrance  110  of return tube  90  (as well as entrance  114  of optional third tube  94 ) may be planar, with the plane being angled relative to a longitudinal axis X of conduit P. Applicants believe this configuration of tube structure  82  creates vortex action within conduit P and facilitates operation of the Venturi principle to enhance fluid capture via inlet tube  86  and fluid evacuation via return tube  90 . Identified in  FIG. 2  is an angle θ depicting the angling relative to axis X. Presently preferred is that angle θ range within 10-80°, most preferably between 30-60°. Notwithstanding these present preferences, however, angle θ may, in some embodiments, range from 0-90°. Moreover, depending on the design of tube structure  82 , angle θ conceivably could be greater than 90° or less than 0°. 
       FIGS. 4A-C  depict alternate device  10 ′ of the present invention. Device  10 ′ may include any or all of housing  14  (including upper portion  22  and lower portion  26 ), nut  18 , collar  42 , seal  50 , and push plate  54 . Device  10 ′ additionally may include cap  38 ′, similar in some respects but not identical to cap  38 . Rather than (or in addition to) including electrode housing  46 , however, device  10 ′ may include one or more sensors within volume V 2  as well as, for example, optional internal baffle  116 . Moreover, in the version of device  10 ′ shown in  FIGS. 4A-C , third tube  94  may connect to an acid supply via internal tube  117  and function as a feeder port to dispense acid into fluid flowing in conduit P. Alternatively, device  10 ′ may be configured to perform any of the treating, sensing, or other tasks discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0032355 of Andrews, et al. or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/797,701 of Hin, et al., and the contents of these two applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference. 
       FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-D, finally, illustrate device  10 ″ of the invention. Device  10 ″ may be generally similar to device  10  and, for example, contain electrode housing  46  within volume V 2 . Alternatively, device  10 ″ may contain alternative or additional electrical or electronic devices. 
     Depicted atop or adjacent device  10 ″ in  FIGS. 5A-B  and  6 A-D are various exemplary controllers  118 . In each drawing, a controller  118  is shown as connected to device  10 ″ without using any exterior or stand-alone cabling. Instead, modular or other jacks and plug arrangements may be employed to connect a controller  118  to electrode housing  46  (or other electrical or electronic device). In at least one embodiment of device  10 ″, cap  38 ″ may be modified so that electrodes of an SWC contained within volume V 2  may be accessed without removing the cap  38 ″. When controller  118  is mechanically attached to device  10 ″—which may occur in any suitable manner—the controller  118  also connects electrically. Preferably, controller  118  is removable from (or with) cap  38 ″ so as to allow access within volume V 2  when needed. 
     Controller  118  may itself contain a computer or, instead, be as simple as a power supply. It may receive power in any suitable way. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , power to controller  118  may be provided by electrical mains M. Alternatively, other power sources (including, but not limited to, solar power) may be used. 
     Directional terms (including but not limited to “upper,” “lower,” “above,” etc.) are used as though devices  10 ,  10 ′, and  10 ″ are upright. The devices may be installed other than in an upright manner, however. Consequently, none of the directional terms is necessarily used herein in any absolute sense. Indeed, the foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.