Abstract:
An apparatus, system, and method for oscillating the dispersion of a material is provided, which includes a first tube having a plurality of openings through which material passes. One of the openings of the first tube is coupled to a material source. A second tube is provided with an opening positioned at its end for receipt of a portion of the first tube, which assists in guiding the movement of the first tube. The second tube may also have one of more openings positioned along its length that help to form a material ejection stream. A target rotator is provided that positions a target for receipt of dispersed material. Additionally, a moving mechanism positions the first tube so that material is ejected from the first and second tubes on to the target positioned by the target rotator. The target rotator may also be positioned by the moving mechanism.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application, serial No. 60/375,863, filed Apr. 26, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to a dispersion device, and more specifically, to an apparatus, system, and method for oscillating dispersion of a material.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Filtration is the process involving passing a liquid or gas through a porous substance in order to remove constituents, such as suspended matter. One aspect of filtration is to remove foreign particles that would otherwise pollute the liquid or gas being filtered to unacceptable levels. Designers and builders implement many alternatives to accomplish particle removal through filtration.  
           [0004]    The typical swimming pool or hot tub circulation pump is a centrifugal pump that moves the water by impeller action. Water is drawn into the eye of the impeller, thrown from the outer perimeter of the turning impeller into the chamber enclosing the impeller, and then forced into the piping system. If the water is filtered at the suction side of the pump, it is discharged from the pump directly back to the pool. The filter system may be a vacuum or gravity system. If the water is filtered prior to the pump, it is discharged from the pump to a filter station and then on to the pool. This configuration is a pressure system, since the water is delivered to the filters under pressure.  
           [0005]    As the particle removal process takes place in a filter, the particle accumulation in the filter increases resistance to flow. This accumulation eventually reduces the flow to a point where the filter should be cleaned or replaced. A cartridge used in a pool or spa filter may employ a stationary filter material that is periodically removed and cleaned in a hosing process.  
           [0006]    Cartridge filters are typically cleaned according to a process that involves removing the cartridge from the filter housing and rinsing it with a water hose to remove loose debris. Commercial cartridge cleaning solutions may also be utilized to aid in dislodging and dissolving the accumulated particles. To remove calcium or mineral buildup, the cartridge may be soaked in a separate solution and then thoroughly rinsed before returning the cartridge to the filter housing. A cartridge filter may require substantial time to be manually cleaned with a water hose, which may be due to the large number of the longitudinal pleat folds that are common in these types of filters. Cleaning involves combing each pleated section with water. It is also common in this process for the water and effluent debris to splash onto the operator and the surrounding area. Also, because this process is manual and involves manually rotating the filter, inconsistent cleaning often results.  
           [0007]    Other potential solutions include cleaning the filter using centrifugal action and a handheld garden hose; however, this process relies on manual operation and usually causes water to splatter and splash onto the operator and the surrounding area. Because of the high rate of spin in the centrifugal implementation, water typically is not injected between and does not comb the pleats. Thus, debris remains, resulting in unsatisfactory cleaning.  
           [0008]    Cleaning through high-pressure washing may be accomplished using a hand-held or controlled nozzle that is directed by a human operator to the high particle accumulation areas of the target filter. However, many of the same deficiencies plague this solution as well.  
           [0009]    A plurality of nozzles may also be employed with the robotic arm to achieve coverage. A variety of liquids, some toxic to humans, may be dispersed through the air, thereby causing splatter against the object and in the process dislodging dirt and contaminants. Thus, there is ample opportunity for injury through accident or even toxic exposure.  
           [0010]    In similar fashion, painting and coating systems are generally accomplished using a hand-held or robotically controlled plurality of nozzles to wash the object in a mist of air-borne, water-borne, or solvent-borne paints. Because some solvents are hazardous and because the dispensing nozzles are hand-held, there is ample opportunity for overcoating, as the nozzle is directed at one spot or area for too long of a time, or undercoating as the nozzle is not directed long enough at one spot or area for a sufficient time. Moreover, computer-controlled robotic paint control usually involves many moving parts, high cost, and programming complexity.  
           [0011]    Other cleaning devices involve pumping material containing solvents out of a sump against the surface of the object. Still other devices rely on biological organisms, specific pressures, or cleaning reagents to break down the effluent. Some rely on suction, vacuum, heating, purging, solvents, brushes, supercritical temperatures, lamps, and wheels.  
           [0012]    Applying coatings sometimes may involve washing in a bath, dunking, or dredging the object and the conveyor through an open vat of liquid, which is sometimes caustic acid or hot oil. The excess is then allowed to drip off, hopefully into collection pans where it is either disposed of or recycled.  
           [0013]    Some devices use or rely on hand-held devices to direct the spray, a high rate of spin, centrifugal force, nozzles, valves, backwashing, biological organisms, chemical reactions of reagents, pumps, sumps, basins containing solvents or reagents, mixing soaps, drying cycles, or specific measurements or dimensions or pressures.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    Embodiments of the invention can also be viewed as providing an apparatus, system, and method for oscillating dispersion of a material. In this regard, one embodiment, among others, can be broadly summarized as including a first tube having a plurality of openings through which material passes. This first tube includes two or more openings, such that one opening is positioned at an end of the first tube that is coupled to a source. In addition, another of the openings is positioned along the length of the first tube. A second tube or guide is provided with an opening positioned at its end for receipt of a portion of the first tube. The second tube also has one or more openings positioned along its length. A target rotator is provided that positions a target for receipt of dispersed material. Material may include, without limitation, water, oil, solvents, solutions, paints and other liquids; sand, grit, pellets, and other particles; microwaves, light waves, and other wavelengths of energy; air, oxygen and other gases; electrons, photons and other subatomic particles; and any combination. Additionally, a moving mechanism positions the first tube so that material is ejected from the tube on to the target positioned by the target rotator. The target rotator may also be positioned by the moving mechanism.  
           [0015]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0017]    FIGS.  1 A- 1 D are diagrams of an assembly that translates a rotational action from a crank or shaft to a lateral oscillating motion.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2A is a diagram of the dispersion tubes that are controlled by the motor assembly of FIG. 1A.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2B is a diagram of the assembly that comprises the motor assembly of FIG. 1A coupled to the tubes of FIG. 2A.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams of the rotation assembly that include the assembly of FIG. 1A with two matched transfer gears and that turn roller drive shaft connected to gear.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a diagram of the motor assembly of FIG. 1A coupled to the rotation assembly of FIG. 3A and the oscillating assembly of FIG. 2A.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a diagram of an enclosure that house dispersing device of FIG. 4.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment to the dispersing device of FIG. 4.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a diagram of the alternative embodiment dispersion device of FIG. 6 shown housed in an enclosure.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a diagram of an alternate embodiment of the oscillator assembly, as shown in FIG. 2A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    FIGS.  1 A- 1 D are diagrams of an assembly  100  that translates a rotational action from a crank or shaft to a lateral oscillating motion. One of ordinary skill in the art would know that many variations of this kind of assembly  100  are possible.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1A shows motor  101  mounted on base  102  with electricity supplied through wire  108 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know, however, that motor  101  may be powered by other means including, but not limited to water, air, or some other fluid. Shaft  107  of motor  101  is connected to cam  103 , which in turn is connected to rocker arm  104  by connector  105 . Rocker arm  104  is connected to effecter  106 . Effecter  106  transfers the force of the motion to an inner oscillator tube (reference numeral  207  in FIG. 2A). FIG. 1A shows device  100  in its fully contracted position.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1B shows device  100  after approximately a 90-degree counter-clockwise (as viewed from the perspective of the observer) turn of motor shaft  107 . Motor shaft  107  rotates cam  103 , which moves rocker arm  104  and pin  106 . One of ordinary skill would know that motor  101  may also be controlled to operate in a clockwise orientation. FIG. 1C shows device  100  in an extended position. In this figure, motor  101  has rotated shaft  107  approximately 180-degrees from the original position in FIG. 1A. As cam  103  continues to rotate in a counter-clockwise orientation, it moves rocker arm  104  (and, in turn, effecter  106 ).  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1D shows device  100  in the final stage of the cycle. In this position, motor shaft  107  has rotated about 270-degrees from the position shown in FIG. 1A and cam  103  is approximately positioned in a vertical orientation. Also in FIG. 1D, effecter  106  is shown in a retracted position from FIG. 1C.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2A is an exploded view of two tubes,  207  and  208 , controlled by device  100  in FIG. 1A. Tube  207  has one or more openings  202 , which in operation is inserted into tube  208 , which also has one or more openings  201 . FIG. 2B is a diagram of the assembly of FIG. 2A coupled to motor  101  of FIG  1 A. The assembly shown in FIG. 2B is comprised of motor assembly  100  coupled to tube  207  that has a plurality of openings; one to admit material and at least one other (in this non-limiting example, two openings  202 ) to eject material. The material-admitting opening of tube  207  is coupled to inlet hose  209 , which in this non-limiting example, introduces to a material source under pressure.  
         [0031]    It should be noted that the ejected or emitted material may include, without limitation, water, oil, solvents, solutions, paints and other liquids; sand, grit, pellets, and other particles; microwaves, light waves, and other wavelengths of energy; air, oxygen and other gases; electrons, photons and other subatomic particles; and any combination.  
         [0032]    Tube  207  is positioned within outer tube  208 . Outer tube  208  has a longitudinal opening  201  and an opening (not referenced) to admit inner tube  207 . Outer tube  208  thus acts as a sleeve and guide for inner oscillating tube  207 . Material  203  ejects from opening  202  and passes through opening  201  of outer tube  208 . The opening  201  may serve to further form or direct the ejection stream  203 .  
         [0033]    As effecter  106  moves tube  207  laterally within outer guide  208 , a material ejection stream oscillates laterally as well. The pressure of the output stream is proportional to the pressure of the input material, diameter of tubes and hoses involved, the viscosity of the material, and the size of the intersection of the openings in tubes  207  and  208 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams of rotation assembly  300  comprised of the assembly  100  of FIG. 1A with two 45-degree matched transfer gears  311  and  312  (FIG. 3B). Motor  101  rotates gear  311 , which, in turn, rotates gear  312 . Gear  312  is positioned at a right angle to gear  311 ; however, one of ordinary skill would know that other orientations would work as well. As gear  312  rotates, it communicates radial motion to roller drive shaft  313 , which is coupled to gear  314 . As gear  314  rotates, roller drive gear  315  also rotates, which is coupled to roller  316 .  
         [0035]    Timer  310  controls the on/off current flow of electricity (or other power supply such as air, water, etc.) to the motor  101 . Motor assembly  100 , timer  310 , shaft  313 , and roller  316  are held in place by a case (shown as reference numeral  517  in FIG. 5). Roller  316  may, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), be directly connected to shaft  313 , or connected by gears, pressure rollers, belts and/or clutches (also not shown).  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a diagram of the assembly that comprises the motor assembly of FIG. 1A coupled to material dispersion tubes of FIG. 2A. Motor assembly  100  operates to rotate roller  316  while simultaneously moving tube  207  inside tube  208  in lateral fashion  410  to disperse the material  203  onto a target positioned on roller  316 . Thus, an emitted stream travels across the length of roller  316  while a target positioned on roller  316  rotates. Thus, with the rotation of roller  316  and the lateral movement of tube  207  within tube  208 , effective dispersion coverage on the target is obtained.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 is a diagram of an enclosure that houses dispersing device  400  of FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, dispersing device  400  is enclosed in case  517 . Case  517  may be configured in any shape to house dispersing device  400 , so case  517 , as shown in FIG. 5 is merely a non-limiting example. Case  517  includes object compartment  518  with lid  519 . Outlet  520  allows spent material to exit case  517 . Also shown are timer  310 , inlet hose  209 , roller  316 , and electrical cord  108  (or other power supply) for motor  101  of FIG. 1A. Inlet tube  209  (FIG. 2B) connects to the material source (i.e. water, air, paint, solvent, etc.).  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 is a diagram of device  600 , which is an alternative embodiment to the dispersing device  400  of FIG. 4. More specifically, diagram  600  shows turntable  622  coupled on roller tube  316 . Roller tube  316  turns turntable  622  while the oscillator assembly  200  sprays material, as tube  207  oscillates laterally within tube  208 . One of ordinary skill would know that a variety of configurations exist to rotate the target in addition to roller  316  and turntable  622 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 shows the device  600  of FIG. 6 mounted inside an enclosure  723 . Turntable  622  and oscillator tube  208  are supported by case  723 . Also shown are timer  310 , power cord  108 , and material inlet  209 . In this embodiment, an object is positioned within compartment  718  on turntable  622 . When lid  719  is closed, the device operates, as described above and shields the operator from any overspray.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of the material oscillator assembly  800  in an exploded view with an assembly line, which is similar in function to that shown in FIG. 2A. In this embodiment, inner oscillator tube  207  has one or more helical pattern openings  820  along its length instead of the two openings shown in an earlier embodiment. Tube  207  is positioned inside tube  208  that has longitudinal opening  201 . Tube  207  is rotated by gear  824 . As tube  207  rotates, the intersection of the two tubes&#39; openings moves down the length of outer oscillator tube&#39;s opening  201 . Thus, material disperses is an oscillating fashion.  
         [0041]    Coupler  825  serves to couple tube  207  to a material source but allows tube  207  to rotate. Coupler  825  and sleeve tube  208  remain stationary in this one embodiment. However, one of ordinary skill would know that tube  207  could be configured to remain stationary while tube  208  rotates to disperse material.  
         [0042]    In this embodiment, as material flows into the inlet tube  207  it is afforded a means of escape through the center opening in rotating gear  824 , into tube  207 , and out an opening made by the intersection of a helix cut  820  in tube  207  and a longitudinal cut  201  in a tube  208 . Since the opening traverses the length of the tube opening  201  for each revolution of tube  207  with the helical cut, the ejected material oscillates in a pattern. Different patterns of helical openings will yield different spray patterns; therefore, one of ordinary skill would know that different patterns may be created.  
         [0043]    Oscillating action may be accomplished by motor  101  spin or operator cranking, through a power transfer mechanism, to the inner tube  207  of the dispensing device  400 . While a motor is shown in the preferred embodiment, one of ordinary skill would know that other devices may be used including without limitation a hand crank, spring, or impeller mechanism, depending on the material used, viscosity, and object weight.  
         [0044]    Gravity may be sufficient to keep the object on the roller  316 , but any sort of friction/compression device may also be added to press a less-dense object against the roller  316  to assist with smooth rotation and consistent placement of the object. Depending on the effectiveness of the cleaning material, speed of the oscillator, rotational speed of the roller, and the size and dirtiness of the object, the object may be cleaned after one rotation of the object. The object may be rotated several times for the desired level of cleaning. The cleaned object, such as a hot tub cartridge filter, or coated object, such as a museum piece, once sprayed with dispersing device  400 , may be removed from the device  500  (FIG. 5) and placed back into operation or packed and shipped as the case may be.  
         [0045]    In the case of coating the object is device  517  (FIG. 5) or  723  (FIG. 7); the compartment  518  (FIG. 5) or  718  (FIG. 7) can accommodate a variety of object sizes, shapes, and weights. The object can be placed into the compartment on the rollers  316  (FIG. 5) or turntable  622  (FIG. 7). A timer  310  can be set, which controls the motor  101 . The motor  101  rotates the object as the dispersing device  400  (FIG. 4) or  600  (FIG. 6) sprays coating material (such as oil) along the length of the object&#39;s surface. Depending on the density and stickiness of the coating material, the object is covered after one or more of rotations of the object by the rollers  316 . The excess material is discharged through the drain  520  (FIG. 5) for re-use or disposal. The coated object may then be removed from the device  517  and shipped, stored, or further used.  
         [0046]    Use of a stepper motor (not shown) may enable the position of the dispersed stream to be controlled by a software program or other stepper motor control device. In this alternative embodiment, control may be exercised over the periodicity of the material oscillations and the position of the ejected stream.  
         [0047]    One of ordinary skill would know that the tube  208  may be a set of guides, rings or positioning apparatus to guide the movement of the tube  207 . In this alternative embodiment, the guide, rings or positioning apparatus  208  may be incorporated into the moving mechanism that positions the tube  207 . In addition, the openings  202  in the tube  207  for material dispersion may include a number of holes.  
         [0048]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.