Improvements in Means for Purifying Liquids for the Prevention of Steam Boiler Incrustation, Ageing Liquors, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Purifying Liquids for the Prevention of
Steam Boiler Incrustation, Ageing Liquors, and the like.
1, WILLIAM BENEDICT BULL, of Quincy, in the County of Adams, State of Illinois,
United States of America. Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PURIFYING LIQUIDS FOR THE PREVENTION OF
STEAM BOILER INCRUSTATION, AGEING LIQUORS, ETC., and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
It is a well settled fact, that, by subjecting water and other liquids or liquors to
the influence of a magnetic field certain changes are effected, whereby the impurities
are removed or so altered as to relieve them of their harmful properties so that water
so treated will not deposit its impurities within steam boilers in the form of incrusta-
tion, and alcoholic liquors are aged and deprived of certain harmful elements, the
exact nature of the changes, however, being so far as I am at present advised unknown,
although the results are well established facts and need not be further mentioned at
this time.
My present invention relates generally speaking to that class of devices for carrying
this discovery into practice, in which the liquid is subjected to the influence of a
magnetic field and more specifically stated, to that class of purifiers, in which a
moving body of the liquid is subjected to the influence of a magnetic field as for
instance the water passing through a feed pipe to a steam boiler or through a conduit
to a tank or point of distribution.
Broadly stated the invention may he said to consist in locating a magnet or other
magnetic field producer, in proximity to the flowing body of liquid, either within the
conduit or entirely outside of the same as will be presently more particularly pointed
out.
Further, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and com-
binations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter described and pointed out
specifically in the clauses of claim at the end of this specification.
Referring to the drawings a
:-
Figure is an elevation of a steam boiler showing the feed water pipe with my
invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the magnet and section of the feed water pipe.
Figures 3 and 4 are views showing how electro-magnets may be employed.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a section of a conduit, with a portion `t roken away
to show the magnet secured within the same.
Figure 6 is a cross section of figure 5.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section showing one arrangement of magnets for
acting successively.
Figure 8 is a view similar to figure 5 showing a bundle or sheaf of magnets.
Figure 9 is a cross section of figure 8.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a bundle of prismatic magnets which may
be used.
Figure 11 is a cross section showing the prismatic magnets in position.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section showing a series of sheafs of magnets.
Like letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the construction shown in figure the invention is shown as applied to a steam
boiler, M, the feed water pipe or conduit A not being altered in the least but a
magnetic field is created within the same by a magnet B surrounding or exerting its
influence on the feed water pipe and the water passing through the same. The
| magnet B shown on an enlarged scale in figure 2 consists simply of a series of

page_text: ordinary permanent horse shoe magnets applied to the pipe, with one pole on each
side.
In figures 3 and 4 specific adaptations of the invention are shown, consisting
essentially of arms N extending laterally from the feed water pipe A and surrounded
by helices through which electric currents are established. In these instances, the
arms N, constituting in effect, the cores of the helices, are of magnetic material
such as short sections of ordinary iron pipe united to the feed water pipe as
shown although the pipe itself need not be of magnetic material in any of the forms
shown.
It is preferable that the feed water pipe be subjected to the magnetic influence at a
point in proximity to the boiler although as is obvious, the pipe or conduit may be
conducted through such a field at any point, or the principle may be adapted and
applied to cause a desired effect or prevent injurious deposits where they are likely to
occur in any receptacle or receiver other than a steam boiler, or the water may be
subjected to such influence before entering the tank from whence it is supplied to
the boilers.
Referring particularly, now to figures 5 to 12 inclusive A indicates the pipe or
conduit through which the liquid whether water, liquor or other liquid to be purified,
passes and within the conduit is located a magnet or magnets, supported by suitable
spiders, studs or open work frames and preferably having their poles arranged
longitudinally of the conduit.
In figures 5, 6 and 7 the magnets are shown as cylindrical magneis B located
within a short section of the conduit, which for convenience and to prevent any
retardation of the liquid is preferably made somewhat larger than the other portion
of the conduit the magnets being supported entirely out of contact with the walls of
the conduit by studs or arms b, of non-magnetic material if desired, thus permitting
of the ready passage of the water around, and if the magnet he tubular, through the
same close to the magnetic poles, and therefore through the most intense magnetic
fields. When desired, the magnets may be arranged as in figure 7. one behind the
other with opposite poles in proximity and a small space between their adjacent.
poles, or a bracket or arm of non-magnetic material may connect the poles to form
a rigid structure.
The effect of locating the magnets within the conduit and out of contact with the
wall of the same when of magnetic material, it will be seen, is to induce magnetic
conditions in the conduit itself and establish an intense magnetic field between the
two, similar to that established between magnets of opposite polarity when brought
into juxtaposition, and through this field or fields the liquid is caused to pass.
more than one magnet is employed, as in figure 7 the liquid is subjected to the
influence of a series of magnetic fields ensuring a complete effect on all of the water
passing through the same.
If
Where the conduit is large, or it is desired to subject the water to the action of the
magnetic field for a longer period of time by passing the same through a chamber of
very much larger cross-sectional area than the conduit, a series, bundle or sheaf of
magnets may be located within the conduit or chamber with relatively small spaces
between the poles of the magnets, adjacent poles, of course, being preferably of
opposite polarity so as to intensify the magnetic field.
The preferred arrangements of uagnets when a number is employed is shown in
figures 8 to 12 inclusive. In figures 8 and 9 the magnets E are cylindrical in cross
section and are so arranged as that but very small spaces are left between any two
magnetic points, the collective area or capacity however being made equal to or
greater than that of the conduit on either side of the magnets to prevent any retarda-
tion or to permit the water to remain longer within the magnetic field. The
cylindrical sheaf of magnets it will be seen is held in place by an open frame work E'
preferably of non-magnetic material and the whole sheaf and frames are preferably so
joined as that they may be readily removed in a body from the conduit. In fact all
of the forms of the invention preferably embody this feature.

page_text: A more economical and perhaps more convenient form of the device is illustrated
in figures 10 and 11 wherein a series of prismatic magnets G are provided, joined
together by bolts and intermediate washers g, g'.
The magnets are properly proportioned and arranged with the widest at the middle
and gradually narrowing as they near the sides to fit within a tubular conduit or
chamber, leaving a series of slits or flat openings for the passage of the water.
This form of the sheaf or bundle of magnets may be held in place by arms H
secured in place by the bolts and adapted to rest against the sides of the conduit.
While I have specifically described the magnets as being located within a chamber
of larger capacity than the conduit, I do not wish to be limited absolutely thereto
as in many instances the magnets may be suspended directly in the conduit
without changing the same at all, save to disconnect a joint and slip the magnets
in place.
Neither do I wish to be limited to any particular form of magnet or magnets, nor
to placing but a single sheat of magnets within the conduit as a series of sheafs may
be located therein as shown in figure 12.
The device may be, and as shown, is especially designed to be employed as an
incrustation preventer for steam boilers, in which instance, it is located within the
feed pipes but it is obvious that it may be employed for other purposes as the ageing
of liquors etc. and therefore do not wish to be limited to any special application
intending it for use wherever it may be desirable to subject a body of liquid passing
through a conduit to a magnetic action for the removal of impurities etc.
By subjecting the relatively small body of water in the feed-water pipe to the action
of the concentrated magnetic field the effect is greatly intensified and the results
accomplished proportionally greater, than where the liquid in the receiver is acted upon
as a body. Further than this it will be seen that the invention is peculiarly adapted
for application to apparatus now in position for clearing the liquid, without changing
the construction of the parts in the least. On locomotives for instance, it is
practically impossible to apply the devices heretofore constructed to any advantage,
as any apparatus which encumbers the already limited space must be discarded.
More than one magnet may be employed either close together or at different.
points along the conduit without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination with a steam boiler and a relatively small feed water pipe
leading into the same, of a magnet having its pole or poles surrounding said pipe
whereby an intense magnetic, field is formed within the pipe; substantially as
described.
2. The combination with a steam boiler and a relatively small feed water pipe
leading into the same, of a magnet having its pole or poles in proximity to said
pipe whereby the pipe is embraced within a magnetic field substantially as
described.
3. The combination with a liquid receiver or boiler and its feed conduit of a
permanent magnet in proximity to and embracing said conduit within its field of
force; substantially as described.
4. The combination with a liquid receiver or boiler and its feed conduit, of a
permanent magnet having its poles surrounding said conduit; substantially as
described.
5. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit or passage
through which the liquid passes, of a magnet located entirely within said conduit;
substantially as described.
6. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit or passago
through which the liquid passes, of a magnet located within and out of contact with
the walls thereof; substantially as described.

page_text: 7. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit or passage
through which the liquid passes, of a magnet removably suspended in said conduit
and out of contact with the walls thereof; substantially as described.
8. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit or passage
through which the liquid passes, of the series of magnets arranged in proximity
to each other and having adjacent poles of opposite polarity; substantially as
described.
9. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit or passage
through which the liquid passes, of a magnet suspended within the same and having
its poles arranged longitudinally thereof whereby the liquid is subjected to the
successive action of two magnetic fields of opposite polarity; substantially as
described.
10. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit or passage
through which the liquid passes, of a series of magnets interposed therein to act on
the water successively with their proximate poles of opposite polarity; substantially
as described.
11. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit through
which the liquid passes, of a series of magnets connected together and removably
secured within the conduit; substantially as described.
12. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit through
which the liquid passes, of a series of substantially parallel magnets suspended
within the couduit with their poles arranged longitudinally of the conduit; substan-
tially as described.
13. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit through
which the liquid passes, of a series of parallel magnets connected together and
removably secured within the conduit; substantially as described.
14. In a magnetic purifier for liquids, the combination with the conduit through
which the liquid passes, of a series of substantially parallel magnets connected
together with their proximate poles of opposite polarity and suspended within the
conduit; substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of Juno 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.