Method and means for merging liquid streams
AssigneeValkyrie Scientific Propritary, L.C.
InventorJoseph B. Kaylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plurality of relatively high pressure, but low velocity, liquid entry streams, that may be of different pressures and flow rates, are directly combined to form a single exit stream of higher velocity but lower pressure by merging the streams in a waterway having an elongated, generally ovoid shape. The entering streams are arranged in an equi-spaced relationship about the longitudinal axis of the waterway, and the cross-section of each entering stream is configured as an ellipse that is oriented with the major ellipse axis generally parallel to the waterway longitudinal axis, but offset therefrom by a small angle. The entering streams mesh and rotate within the waterway to form a unified exit stream.
Claims18
A device for merging a plurality of liquid streams comprising:
- a housing confining an internal waterway with two ends, said waterway having an elongated, generally ovoid shape and being symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, one of said waterway ends exiting into a conduit of regular cross-section;
- and
- a plurality of entry passageways joining said waterway adjacent the other of said waterway ends, said passageways equi-spaced about the waterway longitudinal axis, each said passageway having a cross-section shaped as an ellipse at its junction with said waterway, said ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, the major ellipse axis oriented generally parallel to said waterway longitudinal axis, but offset therefrom by a small angle, the major ellipse axis of each said passageway being parallel, one to another.
A method for merging a plurality of relatively high pressure, liquid entry streams to form a single lower pressure, but higher velocity, liquid exit stream comprising:
- passing said entry streams into an elongated waterway at a location adjacent one waterway end, said waterway being of generally ovoid shape, and having a longitudinal axis;
- arranging said streams in an equi-spaced relationship about said longitudinal axis
- shaping each said entry stream to form, in cross-section, an ellipse of continuously expanding area as said stream passes into the waterway, said ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis;
- orienting each said entry stream such that its major ellipse axis is generally parallel to said waterway longitudinal axis, but offset therefrom by a small angle;
- and
- causing said entry streams to merge and rotate within said waterway to create a zone of reduced pressure within the waterway, and to exit from an other end of the waterway as a unified exit stream of lower pressure, but of higher velocity, than said entry streams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.