Apparatus for preventing scale formation in water systems

Abstract

Water conditioning apparatus including a housing adapted for connection into a fluid delivery system, the housing having a fluid flow chamber with aligned entrance and exit openings, the chamber having an inner generally tubular surface with inwardly directed spirally oriented flow control ribs and a unitary member coaxially arranged therein, the member having an axial length less than the length of the inner chamber. The chamber includes at least one water return scoop in the form of an annular V-shaped groove formed within the chamber about the exit opening. The surface of the unitary member is configured with undulate fin sections, with the fin sections cooperating with the spirally oriented ribs to promote turbulence of the fluid passing therethrough. The water return scoop further assists in the process by causing about one third of all water passing through the chamber to feed back into the chamber for greater turbulence. The parts are configured, dimensioned and arranged so that the combined effect is to promote turbulence in the fluid flow form the exit end and downstream within the fluid flow delivery system to prevent the formation of scale in the conduit. The housing and unitary member are both metallic and formed of a composition of approximately two-third copper with the balance being zinc, nickel and tin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.