Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/490,357, filed Jul. 28, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning or treating water that is believed to improve the quality of water used in supporting life. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Applicant believes that the crystalline structure of water is varied as it flows through the apparatus of the invention and thereby improves its life supporting and other qualities. The apparatus includes two fittings having bifurcated legs, for example Y-shaped fittings with a longitudinally elongated conductive metal rod extended therebetween and a pair of elongated vortexian spiral tubes symmetrically positioned around the rod with each tube having seven helical circular loops extending in fluid conducting relationship to the respective legs of the fittings. The tubes are mounted in overlaying relationship with the loops of each tube overlaying loops of the same size as those of the other tube and the loops of one tube being would in clockwise direction and those of the other tube in a counterclockwise direction. Advantageously the area encompassed by the loops of each tube in the direction from one fitting to the other is 1:1:2:3:5:8:13. 

   
     BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploited view of the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal, enlarged fragmentary view that is generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  with the spacing of the loops from the rod being exaggerated; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal enlarged fragmentary view that is generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  with the spacing of the loops from the rod being exaggerated; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of the Y-fittings of the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a transverse cross section view that is generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary view of the second embodiment of the fittings and adjacent ends of the tubes that are connected thereto and the intermediate part of the rod connecting the fittings being broken away. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The water treatment apparatus of the first embodiment of this invention includes a longitudinally elongated, solid rod  25  made of an electrically conductive metal, advantageously stainless steel. One end of the rod mounts a Y-fitting  28  and at the opposite end mounts a Y-fitting  44 . The fitting  28  includes a main leg  28 A that is fluidly connectable to a member  24  and bifurcated legs  28 B,  28 C that diverge in opposite directions at equal angles from the central axis of the main leg. The transverse cross sectional, fluid flow conducting area of leg  28 A is twice that of each of legs  28 B,  28 C. Similarly the fitting  44  includes a main leg  44 A that is fluidly connectable to a member  23  and bifurcated legs  44 B,  44 C with the cross sectional fluid flow conducting area of leg  44 A being twice that of each of legs  44 B,  44 C. 
   Fluidly connected to and extending between the legs  28 A,  44 A is an elongated, conductive metal tube X. The tube X in extending from leg  28 A to leg  44 A is bent to have several, substantial circular helix loops  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  37 ,  39 ,  40 ,  42  that are coiled in a clockwise direction with the rod  25  extending through each of these loops. As viewed in plan view (the apparatus being supported on a horizontal surface with the rod being parallel to the surface), each of the loops includes a generally semicircular part designated with A as the last part of the reference number for each of the loops that extends below the rod and a second general semicircular part designated with the letter B as the last part of the reference number for each of the loops that extends above the rod. Desirably the ratio of the areas encompassed in the helical circular loops in a direction from loop  42  to loop  30  is 1:1:2:3:5:8:13. 
   Each of the semicircular parts of each of the loops  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  37 ,  39 ,  40 ,  42  that in part includes the letter B as part of its reference number has one end fluidly connected to the one end of the respective semicircular part that in part includes the letter A. The tube X includes a first end portion  29  that has one end fluidly connected to fitting leg  28 B andthe opposite (other) end fluidly connected to the other end of loop  30 A. The other end of loop portion  30 B is fluidly connected to the other end of loop portion  32 A by a generally linear tube portion  31 . Likewise, the generally linear tube portion  33  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  32 B to the other end of loop portion  34 A, the generally linear tube portion  35  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  34 B to the other end of loop portion  37 A, the generally linear tube portion  38  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  37 B to the other end of loop portion  39 A, the generally linear tube portion  45  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  39 B to the other end of loop portion  40 A and the generally linear tube portion  41  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  40 B to the other end of loop portion  42 A. The other end of loop portion  42 B is fluidly connected to fitting leg  44 B by the opposite end portion  43  of the tube X. 
   Fluidly connected to and extending between the legs  28 C,  44 C is an elongated, metal tube Y. The tube Y in extending from leg  28 A to leg  44 A is bent to have several, substantial circular helix loops  52 ,  54 ,  57 ,  59 ,  72 ,  74 ,  77  that are coiled in a counterclockwise direction with the rod  25  extending through each of these loops. As viewed in plan view, each of the loops of tube Y includes a generally semicircular part designated with A as the last part of the reference number for each of the loops that extends below the rod and a second general semicircular part designated with the letter B as the last part of the reference number for each of the loops that extends above the rod. Desirably the ratio of the areas of the loops in a direction from loop  77  to loop  52  is 1:1:2:3:5:8:13. 
   Each of the semicircular parts of each of the loops  52 ,  54 ,  57 ,  59 ,  72 ,  74 ,  77  that in part includes the letter A as part of its reference number has one end fluidly connected to one end of the respective semicircular part that in part includes the letter B. The tube Y includes an end portion  51  that has one end fluidly connected to leg  28 C and an opposite end portion fluidly connected to other end of loop  52 A. The other end of the loop portion  52 B is fluidly connected to the other end of loop portion  54 A by a generally linear tube portion  53 . Likewise, the generally linear tube portion  55  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  54 B to the other end of loop portion  57 A, the generally linear tube portion  58  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  57 B to the other end of loop portion  59 A, the generally linear tube portion  71  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  59 B to the other end of loop portion  72 A, the generally linear tube portion  73  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  72 B to the other end of loop portion  74 B and the generally linear tube portion  75  fluidly connects the other end of loop portion  74 B to the other end of loop portion  77 A. The other end of loop portion  77 B is fluidly connected to fitting leg  44 C by the opposite end portion  50  of the tube Y. 
   The length of each of the tube linear section is about the same of the combined radii of the loops that it is connected to. For example, the length of the linear section  31  is advantageously substantially the same as the combination of the outer radii of the loops  30  and  32  while the length of the linear section  58  is advantageously substantially the same as the combination of the outer radii of the loops  57  and  59 . Through the provisions of the linear sections, the loops of each tube are connected in series between the fittings. 
   The tubes X and Y are of the same electrically conductive metal and may be made of stainless steel or copper and may or may not have their inner and outer surfaces coated with other conductive metals. The pair of tube X and Y are of the same size and shape other than one has its loops bent clockwise and the other has its loops bent counterclockwise whereby the linear sections of one tube are on the transverse opposite side of the rod  25  from the linear sections of the other tube. Thus, the tubes are mirror images of one another with the linear sections being on transverse opposite sides of the rod with the loops of one tube substantially overlaying the loops of the same size of the other tube. Further, the rod passes through the central portion of each of the pair of loops. 
   In use the apparatus of the first embodiment of this invention, water may be supplied from a source  24  to flow through the fitting  28 -and tubes X and Y to the fitting  44  and thence to the receptacle  23 , or alternately from a source  23  to flow through the fitting  44  and tubes X and Y to fitting  28  and thence to receptacle  24 . Thus, regardless whether the water flow is from member  24  to member  23 , or from member  23  to member  24 , equal volumes of water flow through each of tubes X and Y at the same rate of flow. The water flowing through the tubes may be distilled water. 
   It is to be understood that the water treatment apparatus may include more than seven loops in each tube. If more than seven loops are included, the additional loops connected between the fitting  28  and the loops  30 ,  52  with each of the additional loops of each tube being in a ratio that the ones connected to loops  30 ,  52  and the fitting  28  being the sum of the last two ratios in the series (8 plus 13) of the preceding two loops and the second added loops being the sum of the two preceding loops (13 plus 21) in the series and so on for each additional pair of loops connected between the loops  30 ,  52  and the fitting  28 . With the addition of more loops, the rod  25  would be of greater lengths and there would additional linear sections extending between loops  30 ,  52  and the additional loops and portions  29 ,  51 , the tubes X and Y being of greater lengths. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the fittings  70 ,  71  respectively have their bifurcated legs  70 B,  70 C and  71 B,  71 C extending at substantially right angles to their respective main leg  70 A,  71 A in diametrically opposite directions relative to the main legs. Further, the end portions  74 ,  77  of the tubes E and F are fluidly connected to the legs  70 C,  70 B respectively and the opposite end portions  75 ,  78  are connected to legs  71 C,  71 B, the tube end portion are of lengths which may be slight different and bent slightly different-from the end portions  51 ,  29 , 50 ,  43  of the first embodiment in view of the bifurcated legs  28 C,  28 B,  44 C,  44 B of the first embodiment extend outwardly of the fitting main legs  28 A,  44 A at a different angles than the bifurcated legs of the fittings  70 ,  71  extend away from their main legs  70 A,  71 B. Additionally, the rod  73  which corresponds to rod  25  and mounts the fittings  70 ,  71  may be slightly shorter than rod  25  in that the end portions  74 ,  77  that are connected to the largest diameter loops extend more nearly directly toward one another than having to converge toward the respective fitting such as shown for the first embodiment. This is also applicable to the end portions  75 ,  78  of the tubes of the second embodiment that are connected to the smallest diameter loops and to the bifurcated legs of the fitting  71 . Accordingly, even though the loops of the second embodiment are of the same size and shape as those of the first embodiment, the longitudinally adjacent surfaces of the fittings  70 ,  71  are slightly more closely adjacent one another than the juncture of ends of the rod  25  to the fittings  28 ,  44 . Other than for the above differences of the end portions of the tubes E, F, the tubes E, F include loops and linear portions (not shown) that are the same size and shape as the corresponding parts of Y, X. Even though not shown, the end portions  74 ,  77  are fluidly connected to larger diameter loops that correspond to loops  30 ,  52  and the tube end portions  75 ,  78  are fluidly connected to the smaller diameter loops that correspond to loops  42 ,  77 . 
   In use the apparatus of the second embodiment of this invention water or other liquid may be supplied from a source  24  to flow through the fitting  70  and tubes E and F to the fitting  70  and thence to the receptacle  23 , or alternately from a source  23  to flow through the fitting  71  and tubes E and F to fitting  70  and thence to receptacle  24 . Thus, regardless whether the water flow is from member  24  to member  23 , or from member  23  to member  24  of the second embodiment, equal volumes of water flow through each of tubes E and F at the same rate of flow. The water flowing through the tubes may be distilled water. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the receptacle  24  is connected to the main leg  28 A of the fitting  28  while the main leg  44 A of the fitting  44  is connected to the receptacle  23 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the receptacle  24  is connected to the main leg  70 A of the fitting  70  while the main leg  71 A of the fitting  71  is connected to the receptacle  23 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the loops of each tube are qenerally circular, serially connected and respectively include loops  54 ,  32  that encompasses areas that are larger than that encompassed by loops  57 ,  34  and smaller than that encompassed by loops  52 ,  30 . 
   EXAMPLE 
   In order to ascertain the effects on a liquid passed through the second embodiment of the invention, measurements were made to ascertain various parameters of spring water (sample A), a quantity of the spring water that was the same as that of sample A was pumped to pass from member  24  to flow first through the large loops and subsequently to member  23  (sample B) and a quantity of the spring water that was the same as sample A was similarly pumped to pass from member  23  to flow first through the small loops and subsequently to member  24 . The total length of each of the tube E, F was approximately 12 feet. As Samples B and C, the flow rate through the tubes was approximately 1.75 gallons/minute and the pump pressure was approximately 58 psi. The inner diameter of each tube was approximately an eighth of an inch. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
                 
                 
               Density 
                 
               Surface Tension 
             
             
               SAMPLE 
               pH 
               (g/mL) 
               Specific Gravity 
               (dynes/cm) 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               A 
               6.60 
               0.997 
               1.000 
               69.2 
             
             
               B 
               6.81 
               0.997 
               1.000 
               59.8 
             
             
               C 
               6.94 
               0.997 
               1.000 
               67.2 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Each sample was analyzed in five replicates for apparent surface tension. The average of the three best values, a gravity constant of 980.8 cm/sec 2 , an R/r value for the platinum ring of 53.6 and the sample density reported above were used to determine the correction factor calculating the true surface tension. 
   With lower surface tensions, is absorbed more easily through plant and animal cellular walls. Basically with lower surface tensions, the water is wetter and the water is absorbed easier through the cellular walls. As a result there can be better hydration of the cells. It also enhances the cellular waste exchange. 
   With a somewhat increase in the alkalinity of the water, there is provided an increased benefit to living cells. 
   Although it is preferred that the tubes be of conductive metal, it is to be understood they could be made of other materials. Also, even though it is preferred the liquid flowing through the tubes is water, it could be other types of fluids.

Technology Category: 8