Patent ID: 12202749

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The present disclosure illustrates water scale prevention systems and devices that reduce the deposition of scale in water/ice delivery and water recirculating systems. The water scale prevention devices, and the systems that contain them, reduce the deposit of limescale and/or compounds such as phosphates formed by the action of polyphosphate filtration commonly used with ice machines, as well as potentially reducing other scale components by exposing the water flow, or interrupted volume of a water flow, to a strong magnetic field. The intensity of the magnetic field applied to the water is enhanced by including one or more permanent magnets within, rather than around, the water flow path, and providing that the permanent magnet, which is a rod/bar magnet, has an axis extending between the magnet's magnetic poles in a direction perpendicular to the flow of the water. The intensity of the field may be further enhanced by the use of two (or more) bar/rod magnets, with the same poles of each of the magnets forced into proximity or contact within the water flow.

Referring now toFIG.1A, a block diagram of an example water scale prevention system10A is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Water scale prevention system10A is implemented in the water input path of an ice machine5, which receives input water flow from a water source WS, e.g., from a municipal water system, which is coupled through piping/tubing18A to a water filtration or water softening subsystem14that includes one or more filters, one of which may be a filter with a polyphosphate water treatment core. The output flow of water filtration or water softening subsystem14is provided to a water scale prevention device20, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Water scale prevention device20exposes water flow conducted through water scale prevention device20and also static volumes of water within water scale prevention device20to a strong magnetic field. The result of the magnetic field exposure leads to a dramatic decrease in water scale deposits in output piping/tubing18C that couples water scale prevention device20to ice maker5, and also may reduce scale deposits within ice maker5. Ice machine5, and water scale prevention system10A, provides an example of an interrupted flow implementation of a water scale prevention system. Since ice machine5only operates an input valve water scale prevention system10only operates an input water control valve7to supply water flow to an ice maker9within ice machine5when an ice output bin12is not full, the flow of water through piping/tubing18A,18B and18C is intermittent, and suspended scale within water contained in piping/tubing18C, as well as in the internal components of ice machine5will deposit on interior surfaces of piping/tubing18C and the internal components of ice machine5. The magnetic field exposure provided by water scale prevention device20changes the nature of the suspended scale and/or the deposition process of scale formation, so that deposits of limescale and or phosphates/phosphor compounds and other post-ionic precipitates is reduced or eliminated within piping/tubing18C and may be prevented the internal components of ice machine5. The effect provided by water scale prevention device20is generally only limited by the length of piping/tubing18C, and not the time that the flow is interrupted, so the effect of the scale reduction is dependent to some degree, on the length of the path through piping/tubing18C and the internal components of ice machine5.

Referring now toFIG.1B, a pictorial view of example water scale prevention system10A ofFIG.1Ais shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Piping/tubing18A receives input water from water supply WS, which is introduced to filtration or water softening subsystem14. Filtration or water softening subsystem14is illustrated as a cascade of three filters14A,14B and14C, which may be a mesh sediment filter14A, followed by a filter14B that provides polyphosphate (PHO) treatment and filtration, and a carbon block filter14C to remove chlorine and other organic/odor-producing impurities. Alternatively, filtration or water softening subsystem14may include any filtration or water softening system, or a combination of both. Piping/tubing18B conducts the output of filtration or water softening subsystem14to water scale prevention device20, which exposes the water flow to a high-intensity magnetic field, and piping tubing18C conducts the output of water scale prevention device20to ice machine5, which produces ice available from ice output bin12.

Referring now toFIG.2, a front left perspective view of an example water scale prevention device20as may be used in example water scale prevention system10A ofFIG.1AandFIG.1B, as well as in example water scale prevention system10B ofFIGS.4A and4Bis shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Example water scale prevention device20has a body21that may be formed from a plumber's cross fitting with removable plugs26A,26B inserted for ease of service and construction, or which may, for example, be a molded assembly forming one contiguous piece, molded around the internal components. Example water scale prevention device20has an inlet fitting22A and an outlet fitting26B, which are illustrated as threaded pipe fittings, but which alternatively may be slip fittings, flare fittings, push-to-connect fittings, or other types of attachment suitable for a particular type of installation and associated plumbing.

Referring now toFIG.3A, a front cross-section view of example water scale prevention device20is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Within example water scale prevention device20, a pair of permanent rod magnets24A,24B are arranged with their same magnetic poles in contact, or in very close proximity, at an interface25between24A,24B, and are retained in such a configuration by force applied by plugs26A,26B and spacers27A,27B that apply force to corresponding magnets24A,24B, by their respective plugs26A,26B. For example, the North poles of permanent rod magnets24A,24B may be held in contact within example water scale prevention device20, or alternatively the South poles of permanent rod magnets24A,24B may be held in contact within example water scale prevention device20. Magnets24A,24B are examples of suitable magnets that a may be used within example water scale prevention device20, and will generally be permanent rare-earth magnets in order to provide a very strong magnetic field. While rod magnets having a circular cross-section are employed as magnets24A,24B in the exemplary illustration, magnets24A,24B may alternatively be bar magnets having a square or rectangular cross-section. Additionally, multiple magnets may be used on either side of interface25, for example, two or three magnets per side, which may be arranged with their opposite polarity poles in contact to make an effectively longer magnet on either side of interface25, or with their same-polarity poles opposed as with magnets24A,24B, to provide multiple interfaces between same-polarity poles to intensify the magnetic field at the additional interfaces. A protective sleeve28is fitted around magnets24A,24B, which assists in maintaining the lateral position of magnets24A,24B, and protects the magnets24A,24B from direct contact with the water flow through a magnetizing chamber27, as well as protecting the water from any contamination from magnets24A,24B. Protective sleeve28may be a food-safe plastic, stainless steel, or other tube formed from suitable non-magnetic material.

Referring now toFIG.3B, a side view of example water scale prevention device20is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The position of plugs26A,26B with respect to magnets24A,24B is visible, as well as the position of interface25within the water flow.

Referring now toFIG.3C, a perspective cross-section view of a bottom portion of example water scale prevention device20is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. An end face29B of magnet24B is shown, which is placed in contact or very close proximity to an end face of magnet24A (not shown), where both ends are, for example, North poles of magnets24A,24B.

Referring now toFIG.3D, an exploded view of example water scale prevention device20is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Protective sleeve28is fitted around magnets24A,24B and spacers27A,27B and are inserted in body21through the cylindrical void that passes through body21from bottom to top. Plugs26A,26B are screwed in to the threaded fittings at the top and bottom of the plumbing cross forming body21to complete the assembly of example water scale prevention device20.

Referring now toFIG.4A, a block diagram of another example water scale prevention system10B is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Water scale prevention system10B is implemented in the water recirculation path of a dishwasher40, which receives input water flow from a water source WS, e.g., from a municipal water system, which is coupled to dishwasher40. Water input is controlled by an input solenoid valve7A of dishwasher, and may additionally be conditioned as described above with reference to example water scale prevention system10A ofFIGS.1A-1B. However, example water scale prevention system10B prevents scale formation within dishwasher40and on dishes, glasses, and utensils within dishwasher40that may be caused not only by components of water received from water source WS, but by detergents and other additives introduced within dishwasher40. Water scale prevention device20exposes water flow conducted through a recirculation path from a collecting sump42that collects water at the bottom of dishwasher40that is recirculated by a recirculation pump44and provided by a sprayer assembly46that sprays water on dishes, glasses, and utensils within dishwasher40. and prevents or reduces scale formation as described above. Water scale prevention device20exposes the recirculating water flow to a strong magnetic field, changing the characteristics of any scale and scale pre-products in the recirculating water and/or changing the process by which scale would otherwise form on, e.g., glassware and other contents of dishwasher40.

Referring now toFIG.4B, a pictorial view of example water scale prevention system10B is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Water scale prevention device20is connected between recirculation pump44and sprayer46at the bottom of dishwasher40, which is illustrated as a bottom view of dishwasher40inFIG.4B.

Referring now toFIG.5, a pictorial view of a magnetic field generated by example water scale prevention device20is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The direction of water flow W is illustrated, as are field lines of the strong magnetic field generated at interface25, where the proximal ends of magnets24A,24B are abutted, and, which terminate on the distal ends of magnets24A,26B to complete the magnetic loop. The field intensity is enhanced, i.e., at least doubled, in the vicinity of interface25, since the field lines must terminate on one or the other of the distal ends of magnets24A,26B. Additionally, the field passes through the volume of water surrounding interface25on all sides of magnets24A,26B, due to the central placement of the portion of the cylinders of rod magnets24A,26B within water flow W.

Referring now toFIG.6, a pictorial view of an alternative magnet arrangement60that may be used within example water scale prevention device20is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Instead of using permanent, e.g., rare earth magnets as in the examples of water scale prevention device20as described above, a pair of electromagnets formed by a pair of separate windings64A,64B wound around a pair of cores62A,62B, which may be iron, steel, a ferrous composite, or other suitable formed or machined cores, are connected to a power supply unit (PSU)66that supplies current to energize magnet arrangement60so that opposite poles are formed at the interface between cores62A,62B. PSU66may be a DC current supply, but alternatively very low-frequency AC current operation, e.g., periodic pole inversion, is also contemplated, and may be desirable if needed to avoid permanent magnetization of cores62A,62B.

In summary, this disclosure shows and describes example water scale prevention systems and devices. This disclosure also shows and describes methods, which are methods of operation of the systems and/or devices. The water scale prevention systems may include the devices, which are devices for applying a magnetic field to a flow of water containing suspended scale. The devices include an inlet for receiving an inlet water flow, a magnetizing chamber, and an outlet for providing an outlet water flow. The magnetizing chamber may include at least one permanent magnet at least partially disposed within the water flow and having an axis extending between the poles of the magnet in a direction perpendicular to the flow, so that the magnetizing chamber exerts a magnetic force on scale suspended within the inlet water flow.

In some example embodiments, the system may include a shut-off valve coupled to the outlet that interrupts the outlet water flow, and the suspended scale may remain in suspension in the outlet water flow when the outlet water flow is interrupted. In some example embodiments, the system may further include a water filter or water softener having an inlet coupled to the inlet of the water processing system and an outlet coupled to the magnetizing chamber. The water filter may include a scale control medium, which may be a polyphosphate scale control medium and/or may include a water softener. In some example embodiments, the at least one permanent magnet may include includes a pair of rod/bar magnets each having a first one of their ends mechanically held in proximity within the magnetizing chamber. The first one of the ends of each of the pair of rod/bar magnets may have the same magnetic polarity, so that an intensity of a magnetic field within the magnetizing chamber is increased.

In some example embodiments, the first ends of the pair of rod/bar magnets may be held in mechanical contact. In some example embodiments an inlet and outlet of the magnetizing chamber may be provided by a first through passage of a plumbing cross, and the pair of rod/bar magnets may be installed in a second through passage of the plumbing cross that is perpendicular to the first through passage. The pair of rod/bar magnets may be secured in the second through passage and passing through the center of the first through passage by plugs installed at each end of the plumbing cross. In some example embodiments, the water processing system may be an automatic dishwasher, and the magnetizing chamber may be disposed within a circulating flow of the automatic dishwasher, and causes scale within the circulating flow to remain in suspension, so that deposits on dishware are reduced.

While the disclosure has shown and described particular embodiments of the techniques disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the techniques shown above may be applied to systems other than water treatment systems.