U.S. patent application number 14/240396 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-03 for water treatment system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to QWTIP LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is QWTIP LLC. Invention is credited to Whitaker B. Irvin, SR..
Application Number | 20140183144 14/240396 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47746905 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140183144 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Irvin, SR.; Whitaker B. |
July 3, 2014 |
Water Treatment System and Method
Abstract
The invention in at least one embodiment includes a system for
treating water having an intake module, a vortex module, a
disk-pack module, and a motor module where the intake module is
above the vortex module, which is above the disk-pack module and
the motor module. In a further embodiment, a housing is provided
over at least the intake module and the vortex module and sits
above the disk-pack module. In at least one further embodiment, the
disk-pack module includes a disk-pack turbine having a plurality of
disks having at least one waveform present on at least one of the
disks.
Inventors: |
Irvin, SR.; Whitaker B.;
(Sandy, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QWTIP LLC |
Park City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
QWTIP LLC
Park City
UT
|
Family ID: |
47746905 |
Appl. No.: |
14/240396 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 24, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/52336 |
371 Date: |
February 23, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61526834 |
Aug 24, 2011 |
|
|
|
61604484 |
Feb 28, 2012 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/788 ;
210/259 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 21/262 20130101;
F04D 5/001 20130101; C02F 2301/026 20130101; B01D 21/2411 20130101;
B01D 21/267 20130101; B04C 5/08 20130101; C02F 1/38 20130101; B04C
5/12 20130101; B01D 21/265 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/788 ;
210/259 |
International
Class: |
B01D 21/26 20060101
B01D021/26 |
Claims
1. A system for treating water or other fluids comprising: a motor
module having a base; a disk-pack module having a disk-pack turbine
in rotational engagement with said motor module; a vortex module in
fluid communication with said disk-pack turbine; an intake module
in fluid communication with said vortex module; a plurality of
conduits connecting said vortex module to said intake module; and a
plurality of support members connected to said disk-pack module and
said vortex module, and at least one of said plurality of conduits
and said plurality of support members is connected between said
vortex module and said intake module such that said intake module
is above said vortex module and said disk-pack module.
2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a housing
cover connected to at least one of said plurality of support
members, said housing cover including a bottom opening and a cavity
in which said intake module and said vortex module reside, and
wherein said housing cover and a top surface of said disk-pack
module are spaced from each other forming a passageway in fluid
communication with the bottom opening, and wherein a fluid pathway
runs from the opening through the passageway and the cavity to said
intake module.
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a housing
having a cover connected to at least one of said plurality of
support members, said cover including a cavity in which said intake
module and said vortex module reside, and a lower cover shrouding
said disk-pack module and said motor module, said lower cover
having at least one bottom opening; and wherein said cover and said
lower cover define a passageway in fluid communication with the
bottom opening to provide a fluid pathway from the bottom opening
around the said disk-pack module and said vortex module to said
intake module.
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said intake module
includes an intake screen with a plurality of openings, an intake
housing defining an intake chamber, a plurality of intake outlets
in fluid communication with the intake chamber with each intake
outlet in fluid communication with said vortex module through a
respective conduit, and a solids outlet in fluid communication with
a bottom of the intake chamber.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said vortex module
includes a housing defining a vortex chamber with an outlet axially
aligned with said disk-pack turbine, and a plurality of inlets in
fluid communication with said vortex chamber.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said motor module
includes a motor; and a driveshaft connected to said motor and said
disk-pack turbine.
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said disk-pack module
includes a turbine housing defining an accumulation chamber in
which said disk-pack turbine resides; a discharge housing defining
a discharge chamber in fluid communication with said accumulation
chamber through a discharge channel and a discharge outlet in fluid
communication with said discharge chamber; and wherein said
discharge housing includes a particulate discharge port extending
from a bottom of the discharge chamber.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said discharge
housing includes at least one of the following: a spiral protrusion
running around a wall of the discharge chamber in an upward
direction towards said discharge outlet, and a spiral protrusion
running around a wall of the discharge chamber in a downward
direction towards said particulate discharge port.
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. The system according to claim 17, wherein said discharge outlet
includes a radius flared outwardly wall.
27. The system according to claim 1, wherein said disk-pack turbine
includes a plurality of waveform disks.
28. The system according to claim 1, wherein said disk-pack turbine
includes a plurality of disks having at least two waveforms present
between a center of said disk and a periphery of said disk such
that neighboring disks are nested together.
29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said waveform is
selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial
sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series
of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial
including combinations of these.
30. The system according to claim 28, wherein said disk-pack
turbine includes a plurality of wing shims connecting said
disks.
31. (canceled)
32. (canceled)
33. A system for treating water or other fluids comprising: a
motor; a disk-pack module having a housing having a cavity, and a
disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with said motor, said
disk-pack turbine located within the cavity of said housing, said
disk-pack turbine having a plurality of disks spaced apart from
each other and each disk having an axially centered opening passing
therethrough with the plurality of openings defining at least in
part an expansion chamber; a vortex module having a vortex chamber
in fluid communication with the expansion chamber of said disk-pack
turbine; a plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the
vortex chamber of said vortex module; an intake module having a
whirlpool chamber in fluid communication with the vortex chamber
through said plurality of conduits; and a plurality of support
members connected to said disk-pack module and said vortex module,
and at least one of said plurality of conduit and said plurality of
support members is connected between said vortex module and said
intake module such that said intake module is above said vortex
module and said disk-pack module.
34. The system according to claim 33, further comprising a
discharge housing defining a discharge chamber in fluid
communication with the cavity of said disk-pack housing through a
discharge channel and a discharge outlet in fluid communication
with said discharge chamber; and wherein the cavity in said housing
includes an expanding discharge channel around its periphery from a
first point to a discharge passageway leading to said discharge
chamber.
35. (canceled)
36. The system according to claim 33, wherein the cavity of said
housing is at least one of a modified torus shape, a scarab shape,
and a scarab shape using a golden mean.
37. The system according to claim 33, wherein at least two disks
have at least two waveforms centered about the opening of said
disk, and said waveforms are selected from a group consisting of
sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected
scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms,
hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these.
38. A method for treating water or other fluids comprising: drawing
water into a whirlpool chamber for creation of a whirlpool allowing
most of any particulate, precipitated solids and/or concentrated
solids present in the water to drop from the water as the water
enters at least one of a plurality of conduits; forming a vortex
flow of the water in a vortex chamber that receives the water from
the plurality of conduits, wherein the vortex chamber is located
below the whirlpool chamber; discharging the water into an
expansion chamber defined in a disk-pack turbine; channeling the
water between spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack
turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to an accumulation
chamber surrounding the disk-pack turbine; routing the water
through the accumulation chamber to a discharge chamber; and
forming a vortical flow of the water up through the discharge
chamber back into an environment from which the water was drawn and
a downward flow of solids to a discharge port.
39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising drawing
water into a housing that encloses the whirlpool chamber and the
vortex chamber where the housing draws the water from below a
height of the vortex chamber.
40. (canceled)
41. The method according to claim 38, wherein the vortical flow of
the water includes a plurality of vortical solitons that flow into
the environment containing the water.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/526,834, filed Aug. 24, 2011 entitled
"Water Treatment System and Method for Use in Storage Containers"
and U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/604,484, filed Feb.
28, 2012 entitled "Water Treatment System and Method for Use in
Storage Containers", which are both hereby incorporated by
reference.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention in at least one embodiment relates to a system
and method for use in treating water.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention provides in at least one embodiment a system
including a motor module having a base; a disk-pack module having a
disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor module; a
vortex module in fluid communication with the disk-pack turbine; an
intake module in fluid communication with the vortex module; a
plurality of conduits connecting the vortex module to the intake
module; and a plurality of support members connected to the
disk-pack module, the vortex module, and the intake module such
that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack
module. In a further embodiment, the system further includes a
housing cover connected to at least one of the plurality of support
members, the housing cover including a bottom opening and a cavity
in which the intake module and the vortex module reside, and
wherein the housing cover and a top surface of the disk-pack module
are spaced from each other forming a passageway in fluid
communication with the bottom opening, and wherein a fluid pathway
runs from the passageway through the opening and the cavity to the
intake module. In either of the above embodiments, the system is
installed in a water storage container.
[0004] The invention provides in at least one embodiment a system
including a motor module having a base; a disk-pack module having a
disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor module; a
vortex module in fluid communication with the disk-pack turbine; an
intake module in fluid communication with the vortex module; a
plurality of conduits connecting the vortex module to the intake
module; and a plurality of support members connected to the
disk-pack module and the vortex module, and at least one of the
plurality of conduits and the plurality of support members is
connected between the vortex module and the intake module such that
the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack
module. In a further embodiment, the system further includes a
housing over at least some of the components or substantially all
of the components where the housing can be selected from any of the
various housings described and/or illustrated in this disclosure.
In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the
system further includes any of the means for filtering as described
and/or illustrated in this disclosure. In a further embodiment to
any of the previous embodiments, the intake module includes an
intake screen with a plurality of openings, an intake housing
defining an intake chamber, and a plurality of intake outlets in
fluid communication with the intake chamber with each intake outlet
in fluid communication with the vortex module through a respective
conduit. In a further embodiment to any of the previous
embodiments, the vortex module includes a housing defining a vortex
chamber with an outlet axially aligned with the disk-pack turbine,
and a plurality of inlets in fluid communication with the vortex
chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous
embodiments, the motor module includes a motor and a driveshaft
connected to the motor and the disk-pack turbine in any of the ways
described and/or illustrated in this disclosure. In a further
embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the disk-pack module
includes a turbine housing defining an accumulation chamber in
which the disk-pack turbine resides; and a discharge housing
defining a discharge chamber in fluid communication with the
accumulation chamber through a discharge channel and a discharge
outlet in fluid communication with the discharge chamber. In a
further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the
disk-pack module further includes a supplemental inlet in fluid
communication with the accumulation chamber. In a further
embodiment to the previous two embodiments, the accumulation
chamber includes an expanding discharge channel around its
periphery from a first point to a discharge passageway leading to
the discharge chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the
previous three embodiments, the accumulation chamber is at least
one of a modified torus shape or a scarab shape, which may include
the golden mean. In a further embodiment to the previous five
embodiments, the discharge housing includes at least one of a
spiral protrusion running around a wall of the discharge chamber in
an upward direction towards said discharge outlet and a spiral
protrusion running around a wall of the discharge chamber in a
downward direction towards the particulate discharge port. In a
further embodiment to the prior embodiment, the discharge outlet
includes a radius flared outwardly wall. In a further embodiment to
any of the previous embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a
plurality of non-flat disks. In a further embodiment to any of the
previous embodiments in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine
includes a plurality of disks each having at least two waveforms
present between a center of the disk and a periphery of the disk.
In a further embodiment to any of the previous two embodiments, the
waveform is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial
sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series
of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial
including combinations of these. In a further embodiment to any of
the previous three embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a
plurality of wing shims connecting the disks. In a further
embodiment to any of the previous embodiments in this paragraph,
the disk-pack turbine includes a top rotor and a lower rotor. In a
further embodiment to the previous embodiment, the top rotor and
the lower rotor include cavities.
[0005] The invention provides in at least one embodiment a system
including a motor; a disk-pack module having a housing having a
cavity, and a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the
motor, the disk-pack turbine located within the cavity of the
housing, the disk-pack turbine having a plurality of disks spaced
apart from each other and each disk having an axially centered
opening passing therethrough with the plurality of openings
defining at least in part an expansion chamber; a vortex module
having a vortex chamber in fluid communication with the expansion
chamber of the disk-pack turbine; a plurality of conduits in fluid
communication with the vortex chamber of the vortex module; an
intake module having a whirlpool chamber in fluid communication
with the vortex chamber through the conduits; and a plurality of
support members connected to the disk-pack module and the vortex
module, and at least one of the plurality of conduits and the
plurality of support members is connected between the vortex module
and the intake module such that the intake module is above the
vortex module and the disk-pack module. In a further embodiment,
the system further includes a discharge housing defining a
discharge chamber in fluid communication with the disk-pack housing
cavity (or accumulation chamber) through a discharge channel and a
discharge outlet in fluid communication with the discharge chamber.
In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the
cavity in the housing includes an expanding discharge channel
around its periphery from a first point to a discharge passageway
leading to the discharge chamber. In a further embodiment to any of
the previous embodiments, the cavity of the housing is at least one
of a modified torus shape or a scarab shape, which may include the
golden mean. In a further embodiment to any of the previous
embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of non-flat
disks. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments
in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of
disks each having at least two waveforms present between a center
of the disk and a periphery of the disk. In a further embodiment to
any of the previous two embodiments, the waveform is selected from
a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of
interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate
forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of
these. In a further embodiment to any of the previous three
embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing
shims connecting the disks. In a further embodiment to any of the
previous embodiments in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine
includes a top rotor and a lower rotor. In a further embodiment to
the previous embodiment, the top rotor and the lower rotor include
cavities.
[0006] The invention provides in at least one embodiment a method
of operation for each of the above-described system
embodiments.
[0007] The invention provides in at least one embodiment a method
including drawing water into a whirlpool chamber for creation of a
whirlpool allowing particulate, precipitated matter and/or
concentrated solids present in the water to drop from the water as
the water enters at least one of a plurality of conduits; forming a
vortex flow of the water in a vortex chamber that receives the
water from the plurality of conduits, wherein the vortex chamber is
located below the whirlpool chamber; discharging the water into an
expansion chamber defined in a disk-pack turbine; channeling the
water between spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack
turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to an accumulation
chamber surrounding the disk-pack turbine; routing the water
through the accumulation chamber to a discharge chamber; and
forming a vortical flow of the water up through the discharge
chamber back into an environment from which the water was drawn and
a downward flow of particulate and/or precipitated matter to a
particulate discharge port. In a further embodiment, the method
further includes drawing water into a housing that encloses the
whirlpool chamber and the vortex chamber where the housing draws
the water from below a height of the vortex chamber. In a further
embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method further
includes removing solids from the whirlpool chamber, which in at
least one embodiment causes particulate matter to concentrate at
the center and descend and be ejected through a solids port at the
bottom of the whirlpool chamber. In a further embodiment to any of
the previous embodiments, the vortical flow of the water includes a
significant volume of vortical solitons that are produced by the
system and flow into the environment containing the water.
[0008] Given the following enabling description of the drawings,
the system should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in
the art.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention is described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers
indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The use of
cross-hatching (or lack thereof) and shading within the drawings is
not intended as limiting the type of materials that may be used to
manufacture the invention.
[0010] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a variety of external views of an
embodiment according to the invention.
[0011] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate different cross-sections of the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and are taken at 5-5 and 6-6,
respectively, in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a variety of views of the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 without a housing module including
perspective and side views.
[0013] FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative (without a cover) to the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9.
[0014] FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate views of an upper disk-pack turbine
housing including a top view, a cross-section view, and a bottom
view.
[0015] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate views of a lower disk-pack
turbine housing including a top view and a side view.
[0016] FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment according to
the invention.
[0017] FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a lower cover according to
the embodiment of the invention illustrated, for example, in FIG.
13.
[0018] FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a bottom plate according
to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 13.
[0019] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrates side and top views of another
cover embodiment according to the invention.
[0020] FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-section of a cover according to
an embodiment of the invention taken at 17/18-17/18 in FIG.
16B.
[0021] FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-section of another cover
according to an embodiment of the invention taken at 17/18-17/18 in
FIG. 16B.
[0022] FIGS. 19A-19C illustrates an alternative housing module
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of a system with a cylinder
filter according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 21A illustrates a screen for use in at least one
embodiment according to the invention.
[0025] FIGS. 21B and 21C illustrate the screen installed in a
system according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 22A illustrates a filter sponge (or other filter
medium) for use in at least one embodiment according to the
invention. FIG. 22B illustrates the filter sponge installed in a
system according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate another embodiment according to
the invention.
[0028] FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate another embodiment according to
the invention.
[0029] FIGS. 25-27 illustrate different precipitate collection
container embodiments according to the invention.
[0030] FIG. 28 illustrates a further precipitate collection
container embodiment according to the invention.
[0031] FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate a further precipitate
collection container embodiment according to the invention.
[0032] FIG. 30A illustrates an alternative wing shim embodiment
installed in a partial disk-pack.
[0033] FIG. 30B illustrates a side view of a support member of the
wing shim illustrated in FIG. 30A. FIG. 30C illustrates a top view
of a support member of the wing shim illustrated in FIG. 30A.
[0034] FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate a waveform disk pack turbine
example according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
[0035] FIGS. 32A-32E illustrate a waveform disk pack turbine
example according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 33 illustrates another embodiment according to the
invention.
[0037] FIGS. 34A and 34B depict images of the water after it exits
the discharge outlet of a prototype built according to at least one
embodiment of the invention.
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIGS. 1-12B illustrate example embodiments according to the
invention. The illustrated systems in at least one embodiment are
for treating water that is relatively free of debris such as water
present in water storage containers and systems, pools, industrial
process systems, cooling towers and systems, municipal and/or
tanker supplied water, and well water that are examples of
environments from which water can be drawn. In further embodiments,
there are additional filter structures around the intakes of the
water treatment system such as a screen box or ring and/or filter
material. Although the non-limiting embodiments described herein
are directed at water, water should be understood as an example of
a fluid, which covers both liquids and gases capable of flowing
through a system. The illustrated system includes a housing module
500, an intake module 400, a vortex module 100, a disk-pack module
200, and a motor module 300. Although not illustrated, the housing
module 500 in at least one embodiment further includes additional
structure built around the system to cover and hide components of
the system from visual inspection as illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 13.
[0039] Most of the illustrated and discussed systems have similar
modes of operation that include drawing water into a whirlpool (or
intake) chamber for creation of a whirlpool allowing particulate,
precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids present in the water
to drop from the water as the water enters at least one of a
plurality of conduits that connect to a vortex chamber where a
vortex flow, which in at least one embodiment is a vortex, of the
water is formed prior to being discharged into an expansion chamber
present in a disk-pack turbine. The water is channeled away from
the expansion chamber into the spaces that exist between disks of
the disk-pack turbine to travel to an accumulation chamber
surrounding the disk-pack turbine where the water is accumulate and
circulated into a discharge channel that leads to a discharge
chamber. The discharge chamber in at least one embodiment forms a
vortical flow of the water up through the discharge chamber back
into an environment from which the water was drawn and a downward
flow of particulate and/or precipitated matter to a particulate
discharge port. In some further embodiments, the mode of operation
includes drawing water into a housing that at least substantially
encloses the whirlpool chamber and the vortex chamber where the
housing draws the water from below a height of the vortex chamber
such as around the disk-pack turbine module or from below an
elevated base of the motor module. In a further embodiment to any
of the previous embodiments, the method further includes removing
solids from the whirlpool chamber, which in at least one embodiment
causes particulate matter to concentrate at the center and descend
and be ejected through a solids port at the bottom of the whirlpool
chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous
embodiments, the vortical flow of the water includes a significant
volume of vortical solitons that are produced by the system and
flow into the environment containing the water.
[0040] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an example of a housing module 500
including a cover 520 that covers the intake module 400 and the
vortex module 100. The housing module 500 as illustrated, for
example, in FIG. 5 includes a plurality of support members 524 and
526 that align and support the vortex module 100, the intake module
400, and the cover 520. The support members (or bosses) 524 in at
least one embodiment are incorporated into a top of the disk-pack
housing 220 and spaced around it forming a substantially circular
pattern (although other arrangements could be used) as illustrated,
for example, in FIG. 11A. The support members 526 attach to the
support members 524 and extend up through connection points such as
mounting ears and/or holes 119 (see, e.g., FIG. 7) on the vortex
housing 120, the intake housing 420 and the cover 520 and stop at
either the vortex housing 120 or the intake housing 420. In at
least one embodiment the support members 524 are connected to at
least one housing/cover with bolts, screws, adhesive, interlocking
engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, and the like as
illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6. In at least one
embodiment, the support members 526 do not all extend up to the
cover 520. In further embodiments, the support members 526 are
multi-part. In a further embodiment as illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 10, the support members do not run between the vortex housing
120 and the intake housing 420, but instead the conduits 490
provides the support between these housings. In a still further
embodiment, the support members 526 are omitted from above the
intake housing 420 and the cover 520 is supported by posts
extending up from the disk pack housing 220 or it rests on the disk
pack housing 220 or another housing structure. In a still further
embodiment, the support members 526 act as guide rails for lowering
the vortex module 100 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 9 and
the intake module 400 onto the disk-pack module 100 and in a
further embodiment the cover 520 is attached to the top or
proximate to the top of the support members 526.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1, the cover 520
includes a recessed area around the discharge outlet (or discharge
manifold) 232 to allow for the flow of water up and away from the
discharge outlet 232. Based on this disclosure, it should be
appreciated that the discharge outlet 232 could be spaced further
from the cover 520 resulting in the recessed area being smaller or
omitted entirely. In a further embodiment, the discharge outlet 232
extends further up along the cover 520. In a still further
embodiment, the discharge outlet 232 extends above the cover
520.
[0042] In addition, the cover 520 of the housing module 500 and the
top of the disk-pack module 200 define the inlet (or opening) 522
for water to be pulled into the system as illustrated, for example,
in FIG. 1. In a further embodiment, the cover 520 is fitted against
the disk pack turbine module 200 or a further housing as
illustrated, for example, in FIG. 13 to draw water from a lower
area in the container (e.g., below the intake module and/or the
vortex module) in which the system is operating where water is
drawn up from below the system through a plurality of openings 532
present in the top of a lower cover 530 illustrated, for example,
in FIG. 14 and a plurality of openings 542 present in a bottom
plate 540 illustrated, for example, in FIG. 15. In yet further
embodiments, the cover 520 may take a variety of other shapes to
that illustrated in the Figures such as a substantially box shape,
a fulcrum shape, and a substantially spherical shape. In at least
one embodiment, the cover 520 allows for operation of the system in
shallower water than the height of the intake catch 425. In at
least one embodiment, the larger and heavier solids that are
present in the water that make it past, for example, the inlet 522
or the openings 542 will drop out of the upward flow of the water
within the cover 520.
[0043] The water flows in at the inlet 522 (or through the openings
542) and up to an intake catch 425 as illustrated, for example, in
FIGS. 5 and 6. The water after entering the intake catch 425 enters
into the intake chamber 430 through the intake screen 426, which
forms a substantial portion of the bottom of the intake catch 425
as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7. The screen blocks material
and other debris above a certain size based on the size of the
openings in the screen 426.
[0044] As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5, the intake chamber
430 includes a substantially parabaloid shape upper section that
narrows into a solids outlet 438 to collect particulate,
precipitated solids, and/or concentrated solids from the intake
chamber 430. In at least one embodiment, the chamber shape
encourages rotational movement in the water to form a whirlpool in
the intake chamber 430 with a funnel shape from the negative
pressure in the disk pack turbine 250 pulling through the vortex
chamber 130 and the conduits 490, and the resulting whirlpool
precipitates solids present in the water into the solids outlet
438. The solids outlet 438 in at least one embodiment connects to a
hose (or conduit) 590 that is routed out through an opening 528 in
the cover 520 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3). In at least one
embodiment, the precipitated solids are deposited external to the
system. In a further embodiment, the conduit 590 travels to a point
external to the environment in which the system is installed, while
in other embodiments a catch (or precipitated collection) container
600 (see, e.g., FIGS. 23A-27) or other type of catch container
(see, e.g., FIGS. 28-29B) is used to collect the precipitated
solids for later removal. An alternative example of the conduit
590A is illustrated in FIG. 10 where the conduit also acts as a
support between the intake chamber 430 and the vortex chamber
130.
[0045] As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5, near the top of the
intake chamber 430, there are a plurality of outlets 432 connected
to the conduits 490. The outlets 432 in at least one embodiment
extend tangentially away from the intake chamber 430 in a
counterclockwise direction as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7.
Although the conduits 490 are illustrated as pipes, based on this
disclosure it should be appreciated that the conduits can take a
variety of forms while still providing a passageway connecting the
outlets 432 to the vortex chamber inlets 132. One alternative for
the illustrated conduits 490 is the use of flexible conduit. In a
still further embodiment, the conduits 490 could spiral around to
one of the other vortex inlets instead of as illustrated, for
example, in FIGS. 7-10.
[0046] As illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vortex
induction chamber 130 is a cavity formed inside a housing 120 of
the vortex module 100 to shape the in-flowing water into a
through-flowing vortex that is fed into the disk-pack module 200.
The illustrated vortex chamber 130 includes a structure that
funnels the water into a vortex upper section 134 having a bowl (or
modified concave hyperbolic) shape for receiving the water that
opens into a lower section 136 having a conical-like (or funnel)
shape with a steep vertical angle of change that opens into the
disk-pack module 200. The vortex chamber 130 in at least one
embodiment serves to accumulate, accelerate, stimulate and
concentrate the water as it is drawn into the disk-pack module 200
via centrifugal suction. In at least one embodiment, the vortex
chamber 130 is formed by a wall 137. The sides of the wall 137
follow a long radial path in the vertical descending direction from
a top to an opening 138 that reduces the horizontal area defined by
the sides of the wall 137 as illustrated, for example, in FIG.
5.
[0047] As illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
illustrated housing 120 of the vortex module 100 includes a
two-part configuration with a cap 122 and a main body 124. The cap
122 and the main body 124 can be attached in a variety of ways
including, for example, with screws, bolts, adhesive, interlocking
engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, the support members
526, etc. In at least one embodiment, the cap 122 and the main body
124 form the vortex inlets 132 when assembled together. In an
alternative embodiment, the cap 122 is illustrated as having the
top portion of the vortex chamber 130 formed by a concentric
concave depression 1222 on the inside face of the cap 122. The cap
122 and the main body 124 together form the plurality of vortex
inlets 132. Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the
art should understand that the vortex housing could have different
configurations of housing components while still providing a vortex
chamber in which a vortex flow can be established.
[0048] The main body 124 is illustrated as having a passageway
passing vertically through it to form the lower portion 136 of the
vortex chamber 130. The main body 124 in at least one embodiment is
attached to the disk-pack housing 220 with the same support members
526 used to attach the cap 122 to the main body 124 as illustrated,
for example, in FIGS. 5-9. Other examples for attaching the main
body 124 to the disk-pack module 200 include adhesive, screws, and
interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, and
friction engagement. In at least one embodiment, the main body 124
sits in and/or on the disk pack turbine module 200.
[0049] In at least one embodiment illustrated, for example, in FIG.
5, as the rotating, charging water passes through the base
discharge opening 138 of the vortex induction chamber 130 it is
exposed to a depressive/vacuum condition as it enters into the
revolving expansion and distribution chamber (or expansion chamber)
252 in the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, in
FIGS. 5 and 6. The disk-pack module 200 includes (or forms) the
revolving expansion chamber 252 that is illustrated as having an
oval/elliptical/egg-shape chamber that includes a curved bottom
portion provided by a rigid feature 2522 incorporated into the
bottom rotor 268 of the disk-pack turbine 250 in at least one
embodiment. Most of the volumetric area for the expansion chamber
252 is formed by the center holes in the separated stacked disks
260 which serve as water inlet and distribution ports for the
stacked disk chambers 262 where each chamber is formed between two
neighboring disks. The top portion of the expansion chamber 252
roughly mirrors the bottom with the addition of an opening passing
through an upper rotor 264 that is bordered by a curved structure.
The opening is centered axially with the vortex induction chamber
outlet 138 above it as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5,
providing a pathway through which the water can pass between the
two respective chambers. In at least one embodiment, the expansion
chamber 252 has a substantially egg shape.
[0050] An example of a disk-pack turbine 250 is illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6. The illustrated disk-pack turbine 250 includes the
top rotor 264, a plurality of stacked disks 260, and the bottom
rotor 268 having a concave radial depression 2522 that provides a
bottom for the expansion chamber 252. The illustrated bottom rotor
268 includes a motor hub 269, which in some embodiments may be
integrally formed with the bottom rotor 268. The motor hub 269
provides the interface to couple the disk-pack turbine 250 to the
drive shaft 314 extending from the motor module 300 as illustrated,
for example, in FIG. 5. The top rotor 264, the bottom rotor 268,
and/or the motor hub 269 are coupled to the housing 220 with a
bearing element (or a bushing) 280 or have a bearing incorporated
into the piece to allow for substantially reduced rotational
friction of the disk-pack turbine 250 relative to the housing as
driven by the drive shaft 314 and the motor 310.
[0051] Centrifugal suction created by water progressing from the
inner disk-pack chamber openings, which are the holes in the center
of the disks 260 illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5, toward the
periphery of the disk chambers 262 establishes the primary dynamics
that draw, progress, pressurize and discharge fluid from the
disk-pack turbine 250. The viscous molecular boundary layer present
on the rotating disk surfaces provides mechanical advantage
relative to impelling water through and out of the disk-pack
turbine 250.
[0052] In at least one embodiment, the disk-pack turbine includes a
plurality of wing-shims 270 (illustrated in FIG. 6) spaced near (or
at) the outer edge of the individual disks 260. Examples of
wing-shims are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/213,614 published as U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0048813, which
is hereby incorporated by reference in connection with the
disclosed wing-shims 270 et seq. The wing-shims provide structure
and support for the disks 260 in the disk-pack turbine 250 and in
at least one embodiment are responsible for maintaining disk
positions and separation tolerances. The disk separation provides
space (or disk chambers) 262 through which water travels from the
expansion chamber 252 to the accumulation chamber 230. In an
alternative embodiment, the wing shims are located around and
proximate to the expansion chamber 252. In at least one embodiment,
the wing shims assist the creation of a negative pressure without
sheering of or forming cavitations in the water and assist the
movement of the water into the accumulation chamber.
[0053] The disk-pack turbine 250 is held in place by the housing
220 of the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 5. The housing 220 includes an accumulation chamber 230 in
which the disk-pack turbine 250 rotates. The accumulation chamber
230 is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5, 6, and 11A-12B as
having a modified torus shape or scarab shape, which may include
the golden mean, (or in an alternative embodiment a hyperbolic
paraboloid cross-section) that leads to a discharge outlet 232 on
the outside periphery of the housing 220. In this illustrated
embodiment, there is one discharge outlet 232, but one or more
discharge outlets 232 may be added and, in at least one embodiment,
the discharge outlets 232 are equally spaced around the housing
periphery.
[0054] Once the fluid passes through the disk-pack turbine 250, it
enters the accumulation chamber 230 in which the disk-pack turbine
250 rotates. The accumulation chamber 230 is an ample, over-sized
chamber within the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for
example, in FIG. 5. The accumulation chamber 230 gathers the fluid
after it has passed through the disk-pack turbine 250. The highly
energetic water with concentrated mixed motion smoothly transitions
to be discharged at low pressure and low linear velocity (with a
large velocity in at least one embodiment within the motion
including micro-vortices) through the discharge outlet 232 back
into the environment from which the water was taken. As
illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shape of the
accumulation chamber 230 is designed to provide its shortest height
proximate to the perimeter of the disk-pack turbine 250. Beyond the
shortest height there is a discharge channel 231 that directs the
water around to the discharge outlet 232 and also in at least one
embodiment provides for the space to augment the water in the
accumulation chamber 230 through an optional supplemental inlet
290. The discharge channel 231 has a substantially elliptical
cross-section (although other cross-sections are possible) as
illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5. The accumulation chamber wall
in at least one embodiment closes up to the perimeter of the disk
pack turbine 250 at a point proximate to the discharge channel 231
exits the accumulation chamber 230 to provide a passageway that
travels towards a discharge chamber 2324.
[0055] The illustrated housing 220 includes a top section 2202 and
a bottom section 2204 that together form the housing and the
illustrated accumulation chamber 230 with a discharge channel 231
extending substantially around the periphery of the accumulation
chamber 230. FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate the top section 2202, while
FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate the bottom section 2204. As
illustrated in FIG. 12B, the bottom section 2204 includes a
particulate discharge port 2326 that in at least one embodiment
includes a spiraling protrusion 2327 illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 12A.
[0056] FIGS. 11A-12B illustrate the presence of the supplemental
inlet 290 into the accumulation chamber 230 to augment the water
present in the accumulation chamber 230. As illustrated, the
supplemental inlet 290 enters the accumulation chamber 230 at a
point just after the discharge channel 231 extends away from the
accumulation chamber 230 to route fluid towards the discharge
chamber 2324. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the supplemental inlet
290 includes a curved bottom 2922 that extends out from an inlet
feed chamber 292 into the start of the discharge channel 231 as it
expands and travels in a counter-clockwise direction away from the
accumulation chamber 230 and the supplemental inlet 290. In at
least one embodiment, the inlet feed chamber 292 shapes the
incoming flow of water from the supplemental inlet 290 to augment
the counter-clockwise flow of water in the accumulation chamber 230
and the discharge channel 231. In at least one embodiment, this is
accomplished by the creation of a vortical flow in the inlet feed
chamber 292. In at least one embodiment, the supplemental inlet 290
includes an optional valve 294 to control the level of augmentation
as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3. Although the value
294 is illustrated as being a manual valve, it should be understood
based on this disclosure that the valve could be electronically
controlled in at least one embodiment. In a further embodiment the
supplemental inlet 290 is omitted as it is being an optional
component to the illustrated system.
[0057] As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5, the discharge outlet
232 includes a housing 2322 having a discharge chamber 2324 that
further augments the spin and rotation of the water being
discharged as the water moves upwards in an approximately
egg-shaped compartment. In an alternative embodiment, the output of
the discharge outlet 232 is routed to another location other than
from where the water was drawn into the system from. In at least
one embodiment as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
housing 2322 includes an upper housing 2322', which can be a
separate piece or integrally formed with housing 2322 that defines
an expanding diameter cavity for discharging the water from the
system. The discharge chamber 2324 includes a particulate discharge
port 2326 that connects to a conduit 592 to remove from the system,
for example, particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated
solids that have precipitated out of the water during processing
and to route it away from the system in at least one embodiment. In
at least one embodiment, the shape of the discharge chamber 2324
facilitates the creation of a vortex exit flow for material out
through the particulate discharge port 2326 and a vortex exit flow
for the water out through the discharge outlet 232 forming multiple
vortical solitons that float up and away from the discharge outlet
232 spinning and in many cases maintaining a relative minimum
distance amongst themselves as illustrated in FIGS. 34A and 34B.
The vortical solitons in this embodiment continue in motion in the
container in which they are discharged until they are interrupted
by another object.
[0058] In at least one embodiment, the discharge chamber 2324
includes at least one spiraling protrusion 2325 (illustrated, for
example, in FIGS. 5 and 11C) that extends from just above (or
proximate) the intake (or discharge port or junction between the
passageway coming from the accumulation chamber 230 and the
discharge chamber 2324) 2321 (see FIG. 11C) into the discharge
chamber 2324 up through or at least to the discharge outlet 232
(and/or upper housing 2322' illustrated in, for example, FIG. 5) to
encourage additional rotation in the water prior to discharge. In
at least one embodiment, the spiraling protrusion 2325 extends up
through the discharge outlet 232. The spiraling protrusion 2325 in
at least one embodiment spirals upward in a counterclockwise
direction when viewed from above; however, based on this disclosure
it should be appreciated that the direction of the spiral could be
clockwise, for example, if these system were used in the southern
hemisphere.
[0059] In at least one embodiment, the discharge chamber 2324
includes at least one (second or particulate) spiraling protrusion
2327 that extends from just below and/or proximate to the intake
2321 down through the discharge chamber 2324 towards the
particulate discharge port 2326 as illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 12A. When viewed from above in FIG. 12A, the spiraling
protrusion 2327 spirals in a counter-clockwise direction; however,
based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the
direction of the spiral could be clockwise, for example, if the
system were used in the southern hemisphere. Based on this
disclosure, it should be understood that one or both of the
spiraling protrusions 2325, 2327 could be used in at least one
embodiment. In an alternative embodiment to the above protrusion
embodiments, the protrusions are replaced by grooves formed in the
discharge chamber wall.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the discharge chamber's diameter
shrinks as it approaches the upper housing 2322', which as
illustrated includes a long radii expanding back out to decompress
the discharged water for return to the storage tank or other water
source. In an alternative embodiment, the long radii begins
proximate to the intake 2321 in the discharge chamber 2324. This
structure in at least one embodiment provides for a convergence of
flow of water prior to a divergence back out of the flow of
water.
[0061] The base of the systems illustrated, for example, in FIGS.
1-10B is the motor module 300 that includes a housing 320 with an
outwardly extending base 324 having a plurality of feet 322 spaced
around the periphery of the base 324 to provide support and
distribute the weight of the system out further to provide
stability in at least one embodiment. The motor housing 320
substantially encloses the motor 310; however, as illustrated in
FIGS. 1, 2, 10, and 13, there may be multiple openings 326 through
which water can pass and cool the motor in at least one embodiment.
The motor housing 320 provides the base on which the disk-pack
module 200 rests and is connected to by bolts or the like
connection members.
[0062] FIGS. 16A-18C illustrate additional housing module
embodiments according to the invention. FIGS. 16A and 16B
illustrate a side and top view of a cover configuration embodiment
that would cover the examples illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. The
cover is separated into a base cover 520A and an upper cover 521A
that are joined on a horizontal plane such as proximate to the top
of the discharge port recess in the cover 520A. There are a variety
of ways to hold the base cover 520A and the upper cover 521A
together including, for example, frictional fit; adhesives or
sealants; a plurality of screws, bolts, and/or rivets spaced around
the perimeter of the joining area between the components; and/or
downward pressure provided by the attachment of the upper cover
521A to support members present within the cover at optional bosses
5212A with these examples including or not including a O-ring or
other gasket. FIG. 16A also provides an illustration of the base
cover 520A attached to, connected to or abutting the lower cover
530. FIG. 17 illustrates an example of where the upper cover 521A
includes a lip (or flange) that fits over the top of the base cover
520A. Although an O-ring is not illustrated, an O-ring could be
added to the engagement area to further seal the cover. FIG. 18
illustrates a base cover 520B that includes around its top a
channel 5206B for receiving a bottom of the upper cover 521B and an
optional O-ring 5218B. These illustrated covers allow for the upper
cover to be removed in order to gain access to the intake module
and vortex module that are housed within the base cover and the
lower cover. As discussed previously, this access in some
embodiments would allow for removal of these components from the
cover, for example, for inspection, replacement, and/or repair.
[0063] FIGS. 19A-19C illustrate another approach for the cover 520C
that includes two halves 5202C, 5204C that are substantially
mirrors of each other except for the inclusion of an optional
opening 298 for the optional supplemental inlet to pass. The
illustrated cover includes what previously has been illustrated as
a cover, a lower cover, and a lower plate (see, e.g., FIGS. 13-15).
An alternative embodiment would be to omit the lower plate 540C
from the other components in the cover 520C. In at least one
embodiment, the cover 5202C, 5204C includes a flange (or
alternatively a plurality of attachment ears) 5206C with a
plurality of mounting holes to attach and secure the two covers
5202C, 5204C together. FIGS. 19A-19C also illustrate the presence
of optional mounting bosses 5212C for securing to any support
members that are present and the illustrated mounting bosses 5212C
provide an example of how these might be arranged if present.
[0064] Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that there are a variety of ways that the cover may
be configured for assembly and manufacturing.
[0065] FIGS. 20-22B illustrate optional filter/screen alternative
embodiments for blocking debris that may be present in the water
from entering the system. FIG. 20 illustrates a substantially
cylindrical screen 550 fitted between the cover 520D and the lower
cover 530 (i.e., over opening 522) to allow water to be drawn
through it for processing by the system while blocking debris
larger than the openings (or slots) present in the screen 550. In
at least one embodiment, the screen 550 includes a plurality of
evenly spaced vertical slots.
[0066] FIGS. 21A-21C illustrate a different screen 560 that is
substantially flat and is illustrated as being U-shaped to fit
around the motor housing 320. Either the lower plate 540E
(illustrated in FIGS. 21B and 21C) or the lower cover 530 (not
illustrated) includes a flange member (or bracket) 548 on either
side to receive the screen 560 and hold it in place. In at least
one embodiment, the screen 560 includes a handle 562 that allows
for easier insertion and removal of the screen 560 from the system.
FIG. 21C also illustrates how in at least one embodiment, the lower
plate 540E does not include openings passing through it outside the
area over which the screen 560 covers.
[0067] FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate another embodiment that uses a
filter material 570 that is porous and allows for water to pass
through it. Examples of such material include swamp (or
evaporative) cooler wetting material and/or a filter-sponge. In a
further embodiment, the filter material 570 includes interweaved
wire or other support structure to improve the integrity of the
material. In at least one embodiment, the filter material 570
includes a slit (or cut) 572 that improves the ability to insert
the filter material 570 into the space defined by the lower plate
540 and the lower cover 530 while fitting around the motor housing
320 that houses motor 310. In a further embodiment, the filter
material 570 includes a cut-out to fit around the discharge chamber
2324 that extends into the lower cover 530.
[0068] The above screens and filter material are collectively
examples of means for filtering. In further embodiment, the means
for filtering includes the various openings and inlets present in
the housing modules 500 discussed above.
[0069] FIGS. 23A-24B illustrate two different examples of how to
connect the conduits 590, 592 to the precipitate collection module
600. FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate a Y-connection between the
conduits with just one conduit running into the precipitate
collection container 600. In contrast, FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate
conduits 590, 592 running individually into the precipitate
collection module 600. In at least one embodiment, the conduits
would have their own dedicated precipitate collection
containers.
[0070] FIGS. 25-27 illustrate different optional precipitate
collection modules 600 having a precipitate collection container
620 according to the invention. FIGS. 23A-24B illustrate an example
of a precipitate collection container 620 connected to an
embodiment of the system; however, based on this disclosure it
should be appreciated that the different precipitate collection
modules 600 could be attached to the various embodiments for the
system discussed in this disclosure along with other water
treatment systems having a precipitated discharge. One of ordinary
skill in the art should realize that the precipitate collection
container 620 can take a variety of shapes and forms beyond that
illustrated in FIGS. 25-27 while still providing a cavity 622 to
receive, for example, particulate, precipitated matter and/or
concentrated solids or similar material and a screened discharge
(or screen) 624 such as that illustrated on an exit port 626. In an
alternative embodiment, the raised portion is a taller pipe
structure (or riser) 626C extending up from the rest of the
precipitate collection container 620C illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 28. In the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 23A-27, a screen
624 is included to allow for water to pass through while preventing
the material from passing back out into the water being
processed.
[0071] FIGS. 25-27 illustrate cross-sections of example embodiments
for the precipitate collection container 620 where the
cross-section taken along their lengths. FIGS. 25-27 illustrate an
inlet 621 at the end of the precipitate collection container 620
opposite where the screen 624 and/or exit port 626 are located.
Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the exit
port 626 extending above the cover 628 may be omitted. FIG. 25
illustrates the precipitate collection container 620 having an
inlet 621 through which the conduit 592 attaches to provide a fluid
pathway into the cavity 622 to allow for the accumulation of
material in the bottom of the precipitate collection container 620
while water is allowed to exit from the precipitate collection
container 620 through, for example, the screen 624 (illustrated as
part of the exit port 626). Based on this disclosure, it should be
understood that the conduit 592 (although shown as extending into
the cavity 622) may instead have a connection point external to the
cavity 622 such as through a hose connector or other mechanical
engagement. FIG. 25 also illustrates a further optional embodiment
for the precipitate collection container 620 where it includes a
lid 628 that can be removed so that the collected material can be
removed from the precipitate collection container 620. FIG. 20
illustrates another embodiment of the precipitate collection
container 620A having a bottom 6222A of the cavity 622A with a
slight gradient from the inlet 621 down towards the exit port 626.
FIG. 27 illustrates the embodiment from FIG. 26 where the
precipitate collection container 620B includes the addition of a
screen projection (or wall) 623 extending from the wall opposite of
the inlet 621 into the cavity 622B. The screen projection 623
although illustrated as extending at an angle, could instead be
substantially horizontal. The screen projection 623 acts as a
further barrier to the material escaping from the precipitate
collection container 620.
[0072] FIG. 28 illustrates an alternative precipitate collection
container 620C that includes an inlet 621 that can take the forms
discussed above for the inlet. It should be appreciated that
additional inlets could be added to accommodate additional conduits
or alternatively the inlet could include a manifold attachment for
connection to multiple conduits. The illustrated precipitate
collection container 620C further includes a lid 628C on which is a
riser 626C, which is an example of an exit port, with a screen 624C
along its top surface to allow for the flow of water through the
precipitate collection container 620C up through the riser 626C
while the material is collected inside the device. The various
internal configurations discussed for FIGS. 25-27 could also be
present within the precipitate collection container 620C.
[0073] FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate a funnel shaped precipitate
collection container 620D with a whirlpool chamber 622D present
within it. Like the previous embodiments, the precipitate
collection container 620D includes an inlet 621D for connection to
a conduit. It should be appreciated that additional inlets could be
added to accommodate additional conduits or alternatively the inlet
could include a manifold attachment for connection to multiple
conduit. The illustrated precipitate collection container 620D
includes a lid 628D on which a riser 626D extends up from to allow
for the flow of water through the precipitate collection container
620D while the material is collected inside the device. The funnel
shape of the cavity 622D with a particulate port 629D extending
from the bottom of the cavity 6222D encourages the formation of a
whirlpool, which will pull any material present in the cavity 6222D
into a downward flow to drain out the particulate port into another
cavity or out of the environment in which the system is running. In
a further embodiment, the particulate port 629D includes a valve
that can be open to drain any material that has collected in the
cavity 6222D as part of a flush operation using the water present
in the system to flush the material out of the particulate port
629D. FIG. 33 illustrates an example of the precipitate collection
container 620D installed in a water storage tank with the
particulate port 629D passing out through the bottom of the tank.
In a further embodiment, there are multiple inlets and risers
evenly spaced about the cover in an alternating pattern. In a still
further embodiment, the inlets and/or risers are angled relative to
the cover. FIGS. 29A, 29B, and 33 also illustrate an alternative
embodiment of the precipitate collection container 620D having a
plurality of legs 627D to in part stabilize the precipitate
collection container 620D against a surface.
[0074] In a further embodiment to the above precipitate collection
container embodiments, a diffuser in fluid communication with the
conduit is present within the cavity to spread the water and
material coming into the cavity out from any direct stream of water
and/or material that might otherwise exist. Examples of a diffuser
are a structure that expands out from its input side to its output
side, mesh or other large opening screen, and steel wool or other
similar material with large pores.
[0075] In a further embodiment, the precipitate collection
container would be replaced by a low flow zone formed in the
environment from which the water is being pulled, for example a
water tank.
[0076] FIG. 13 illustrates an optional embodiment that adds an air
release valve 528 proximate the top of the housing 520. In at least
one embodiment, the air release valve 528 is used to allow air to
escape from the system upon it first being placed in the water. The
air release valve 528 is an optional add-on for the above-described
embodiments. In at least one embodiment, the air release valve
provides an easy and controllable way for air to be purged from the
system during installation and/or refilling of the environment in
which it is placed. In a further embodiment it assists in priming
the system for operation. FIG. 13 also illustrates an embodiment
where the housing 520 attaches, connects, or abuts a lower cover
530 to establish a flow path from below the lower cover through the
openings 542 of the lower plate 540 illustrated in FIG. 15 up
through the top of the lower cover 530 illustrated in FIG. 14 and
up through the housing 520. The openings 542, 532 in the lower
plate 540 and top of the lower cover 530 provide additionally
filtering/screening of debris that is larger than the openings
preventing the debris from flowing into the system and reducing the
likelihood of clogging the system during operation.
[0077] Both the lower cover 530 and the lower plate 540 include
examples of mounting holes 534, 544 present in them as illustrated,
for example, in FIGS. 14 and 15, respectively. A variety of
mounting holes may be present to facilitate connection with other
components in the system such as the support members 524, 526, the
disk pack housing 220 and as discussed above supplemental screening
and/or filter material. Both the lower cover 530 and the lower
plate 540 include an opening 536, 546 passing through at least one
surface to fit around the discharge outlet 232 as illustrated, for
example, in FIGS. 14 and 15, respectively. In at least one
embodiment, these openings 536, 546 facilitate fitting these
housing components around the discharge outlet.
[0078] In a further embodiment to the above-described embodiments,
the housing cover 520 is omitted as illustrated, for example, in
FIGS. 7-9. One adjustment to the system depicted in these figures
is that the support members 526 would be shortened to provide a
flush surface on the top for the intake catch 425 and/or the intake
screen 426. In a further embodiment, the support members 526 would
stop at the vortex housing 120 and conduits 490 would at least
partially support the intake housing 420 as illustrated, for
example, in FIG. 10.
[0079] FIGS. 30A-30C provide an illustration of an alternative wing
shim a plurality of spacers 272N and a hexagonal support member
276M connecting them and providing alignment of the spacers 272N
relative to the support member 276M and the disk 260N. The spacers
272N include a hexagonal opening passing through it to allow it to
slide over the support member 276N. The disks 260N include a
plurality of hexagonal openings 2602N. The support members 276N
extend between the top and lower rotors and in at least one
embodiment are attached to the rotors using screws or bolts. Based
on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the cross-section of the support members may take
different forms while still providing for alignment of the spacers
272N relative to the disks 260N.
[0080] In a further embodiment to at least one of the previously
described embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality
of disks having waveforms present on them as illustrated in FIGS.
31A-32E. Although the illustrated waveforms are either concentric
circles (FIGS. 31A and 31B) or biaxial (FIGS. 32A-32E), it should
be understood that the waveforms could also be sinusoidal, biaxial
sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series
of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial
including combinations of these that when rotated provide
progressive, disk channels with the waveforms being substantially
centered about an expansion chamber. The shape of the individual
disks defines the waveform, and one approach to creating these
waveforms is to stamp the metal used to manufacture the disks to
provide the desired shapes. Other examples of manufacture include
machining, casting (cold or hot), injection molding, molded and
centered, and/or electroplating of plastic disks of the individual
disks. The illustrated waveform disks include a flange 2608, which
may be omitted depending on the presence and/or the location of the
wings, around their perimeter to provide a point of connection for
wing shims 270 used to construct the particular disk-pack turbine.
In a further embodiment, the wing shims 270 are located around and
proximate to the expansion chamber in the disk turbine. In a
further embodiment, the wing shims are omitted and replaced by, for
example, stamped (or manufactured, molded or casted) features that
provide a profile axially and/or peripherally for attachment to a
neighboring disk or rotor.
[0081] In a variety of embodiments the disks have a thickness less
than five millimeters, less than four millimeters, less than three
millimeters, less than and/or equal to two millimeters, and less
than and/or equal to one millimeter with the height of the disk
chambers depending on the embodiment having approximately 1.3 mm,
between 1.3 mm to 2.5 mm, of less than or at least 1.7 mm, between
1.0 mm and 1.8 mm, between 2.0 mm and 2.7 mm, approximately 2.3 mm,
above 2.5 mm, and above at least 2.7 mm Based on this disclosure it
should be understood that a variety of other disk thickness and/or
disk chamber heights are possible while still allowing for assembly
of a disk-pack turbine for use in the illustrated systems and
disk-pack turbines. In at least one embodiment, the height of the
disk chambers is not uniform between two neighboring nested
waveform disks. In a still further embodiment, the disk chamber
height is variable during operation when the wing shims are located
proximate to the center openings.
[0082] FIGS. 31A-32E illustrate respective disk-pack turbines 250X,
250Y that include an upper rotor 264X and a lower rotor 268X that
have a substantially flat engagement surface (other than the
expansion chamber elements) facing the area where the disks 260X,
260Y are present. In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG.
32E, the disk-pack turbine includes an upper rotor 264Y and a lower
rotor 268Y with open areas between their periphery and the
expansion chamber features to allow the waveforms to flow into the
rotor cavity and thus allow for more disks to be stacked resulting
in a higher density of waveform disks for the disk-pack turbine
height with the omission of substantially flat disks 260Y' that are
illustrated as being covers over the open areas of the rotors 264Y,
268Y. FIG. 32E also illustrates an alternative embodiment where
there is a mixture of substantially flat disks 260Y' and nested
waveform disks 260Y. FIGS. 31A-32E illustrate how the waveforms
include descending thickness waves in each lower disk. In at least
one embodiment, the waveforms are shallow enough to allow
substantially the same sized waveforms on neighboring disks.
[0083] FIG. 31A illustrates a side view of an example of the
circular waveform disk-pack turbine 250X. FIG. 31B illustrates a
cross-section taken along a diameter of the disk-pack turbine 250X
and shows a view of the disks 260X. Each circle waveform is
centered about the expansion chamber 252X. The illustrated circle
waveforms include two ridges 2603X and three valleys 2604X. Based
on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the number of
ridges and valleys could be reversed along with be any number
greater than one limited by their radial depth and the distance
between the expansion chamber 250X and the flange 2608.
[0084] FIG. 32A illustrates a top view of a disk-pack turbine 250Y
without the top rotor 264X to illustrate the biaxial waveform
2602Y, while FIGS. 32B-32E provide additional views of the
disk-pack turbine 250Y. FIGS. 32A-32E provide an illustration of
the waveforms rising above the disk while not dropping below the
surface (or vice versa in an alternative embodiment). The
illustrated biaxial waveform 2602Y that is illustrated as including
two ridges 2603Y and one valley 2604Y centered about the expansion
chamber 252Y. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated
that the number of ridges and valleys could be reversed along with
be any number greater than one limited by their radial depth and
the distance between the expansion chamber 252Y and the flange
2608. FIG. 32B illustrates a side view of three waveform disks 260Y
stacked together without the presence of wing shims 270 or the
rotors 264X, 268X. FIG. 32C illustrates a partial cross-section of
the disk-pack turbine 250Y. FIG. 32D illustrates a side view of the
assembled disk-pack turbine 250Y. FIG. 32E illustrates a
cross-section taken along a diameter of the disk-pack turbine 250X
and shows a view of the disks 260Y.
[0085] In a further embodiment to any one of the previously
described embodiments, the components are rearranged/reconfigured
to change the rotation provided by the system in the opposite
direction, for example, for use in the Southern Hemisphere.
[0086] FIG. 33 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the system
installed in a water storage tank 910, which is partially cut-away
to show what is present inside the storage tank. The illustrated
system includes the housing module 500, the intake module 400 (not
shown), the disk-pack module 200, and the vortex module 100 (not
shown) of the previous embodiments. The illustrated system includes
an external A/C motor 210A driving the disk-pack turbine through a
drive system such as indirect drive linkage including, for example
but not limited to, one or more belts (e.g., O-rings) or a
transmission linkage that is present in a belt housing 330 that
passes through the water storage wall 912 and provides a
compartment connecting the driveshaft connected to the disk-pack
turbine, which is present in the base 324A, and the motor
driveshaft. The illustrated base 324A is representative of a
variety of shapes that may be used while providing a cavity in
which the disk-pack turbine driveshaft is present and capable of
engagement with a belt. The illustrated embodiment places the motor
housing 320A external to a storage tank so that the motor does not
need to be a submersible motor. If multiple belts are included with
the system and the driveshaft from the motor includes a plurality
of gears, then the size of the belt is selected to drive the
disk-pack turbine at a predetermined set speed. Alternatively, the
driveshaft engaging the disk-pack turbine may include the gears in
addition or instead of the external driveshaft.
[0087] In at least one embodiment the belt housing 330 is sealed
and held in place by a gasket 340 that fits snugly around it and
engages a cutout (or other opening) created in the water storage
tank wall 912. The gasket connection provides an advantageous
anchoring point for the system within the water storage tank.
[0088] In a further embodiment, the conduits 590 and 592 are routed
into the belt housing 330 through holes with gaskets at a point
inside the water storage tank and exiting out from the belt housing
330 at a point external to the water storage tank.
[0089] Also illustrated in FIG. 33 is an example of a particulate
collection container 620D that was previously discussed in
connection with FIGS. 29A and 29B. FIG. 33 illustrates how the
particulate port 629D will pass through the bottom 914 of the tank
910, which in at least one embodiment includes a gasket or other
seal around the particulate port 629D.
[0090] In a further embodiment, the system includes a controller
that controls the operation of the system. The above-described
motor modules may be provided with a variety of operation, control,
and process monitoring features. Examples include a switch (binary
and variable), computer controlled, or built-in controller resident
in the motor module. Examples of a built-in controller include an
application specific integrated circuit, an analog circuit, a
processor or a combination of these. The controller in at least one
embodiment provides control of the motor via a signal or direct
control of the power provided to the motor. The controller in at
least one embodiment is programmed to control the RPM of the motor
over a predetermined time based on time of day/week/month/year or
length of time since process start, and in other embodiments the
controller responds to the one or more characteristics to determine
the speed at which the motor is operated. In a further embodiment,
the controller runs for a predetermined length of time after water
has been added to the storage tank. In a further embodiment, the
controller also controls operation of the supplemental valve 294
when present in an embodiment with a controller.
[0091] In at least one embodiment, the controller monitors at least
one of the voltage, amperage, watts, hours of run time (current
operation period and/or total run time) and speed (rotations per
minute (RPM)) of the motor to determine the appropriate level of
power to provide to the motor for operation and/or adjust the speed
of the motor. Other examples of input parameters include chemical
oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BUD), pH, ORP,
dissolved oxygen (DO), bound oxygen and other concentrations of
elements and/or lack thereof and have the controller respond
accordingly by automatically adjusting operational speeds and run
times.
[0092] A prototype built according to at least one embodiment of
the invention was placed into a tank having a capacity of at least
100 gallons and substantially filled to capacity with water, which
caused the system to be completely submerged in water. The system
was started up with submerged lights placed around and aimed at the
discharge port to capture the images depicted in FIGS. 34A and 34B,
which are both enlarged to the same amount and have light coming
from the right side of the image. These images were captured from a
slow-motion video taken with a macro lens. FIG. 34A shows the
relative size of the vortical solitons that were discharged from
the discharge outlet relative in size to an adult male's fingers.
The vortical solitons spin and rotate about their centers as they
move up and down within the water. The vortical solitons appear to
be substantially flat vortex disc that are spinning and moving
based on the captured video as represented in the images depicted
in FIGS. 34A and 34B. The images include countless pairs of
vortical solitons that upon discharge from the discharge outlet 232
wholly saturate the water within a contained environment with each
soliton persisting until its energy is discharged via contact with
a solid boundary or an obstruction. Although the water is saturated
with these vortical packets of rotating energy, each maintains a
relative distance of separation from its other soliton in the pair
without collision with the other soliton. From review of the video,
it appears that the soliton pairs move in complete lockstep with
each other as they progress through the water environment while
turning and spinning. It is believed that this restructuring of the
water allows in part for it to impact the larger volume of water in
which the system runs, because these vortical solitons will
continue on their respective paths until interfered with by another
object such as the wall of the container or other structural
feature.
[0093] It should be noted that the present invention may, however,
be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as
limited to the embodiments and prototype examples set forth herein;
rather, the embodiments set forth herein are provided so that the
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The
accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments according to the
invention.
[0094] As used above "substantially," "generally," and other words
of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible
variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended
to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it
modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional
characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or
approximating such a physical or functional characteristic.
"Substantially" also is used to reflect the existence of
manufacturing tolerances that exist for manufacturing
components.
[0095] The foregoing description describes different components of
embodiments being "in fluid communication" to other components. "In
fluid communication" includes the ability for fluid to travel from
one component/chamber to another component/chamber.
[0096] Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that the use of "same", "identical" and other
similar words are inclusive of differences that would arise during
manufacturing to reflect typical tolerances for goods of this
type.
[0097] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
adaptations and modifications of the exemplary and alternative
embodiments described above can be configured without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be
understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the
invention may be practiced other than as specifically described
herein.
* * * * *