Device for introducing air into water

Abstract

Device for introducing air into water flowing through a spiral tube, comprising a Schauberger spiral tube (10), the casing of which is rotationally deformed to form beads (11, 12) pointing alternately inwards and outwards, which run along the length of the spiral tube (10), characterized by a device for selectively introducing air into water flowing through the spiral tube (10), wherein the device for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube (10) comprises a porous tubular element (13) in the form of a porous hose or a porous tube, which element (13) is arranged coaxially to the spiral tube (10) in the latter at its longitudinal center and is connected to a compressed air source, with which air is introduced through the porous casing of the porous element (13) into the water flowing in the spiral tube (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for introducing air into water flowing through a spiral pipe into standing and moving water, comprising a Schauberger spiral pipe, the casing of which is rotationally deformed to form beads pointing alternately inwards and outwards, which run over the length of the spiral pipe.

[0002] Viktor Schauberger (1885 to 1958), the developer of the spiral pipe named after him, worked professionally in river engineering. While observing streams and rivers, he realized that it cannot be the engineer's job to correct nature. Rather, his task is to explore natural processes as far as possible and to imitate the examples that nature offers in healthy waterways in those that require regulation. With regard to water movement, he recognized that temperature (and temperature changes) is often the trigger for various movement processes. Viktor Schauberger patented devices based on this insight in the 1930s: AT 134 543 B, AT 138 296 B, AT 117 749 B, AT 145 141 B, AT 196 680 B.

[0003] This spiral pipe is still manufactured and used today, among other things, to reduce flow noise. It is based on a soft copper installation pipe that is gradually dented and twisted into the indented spiral cross-section of the Schauberger spiral pipe. In addition to reducing flow noise, the spiral pipe ensures that the water jet emerging from the pipe is characterized by laminar flow behavior. Due to this behavior, the inventor determined in tests with the Schauberger pipe for supplying water to a koi pond that the Schauberger spiral pipe is better suited than conventional water supply pipes for feeding water into the pond and circulating it without disturbing the sensitive fish.On the contrary, the koi repeatedly find themselves in the area where the water exits the spiral pipe, where they remain standing in the water flow for a long time and obviously enjoy it.

[0004] Furthermore, in standing and moving waters inhabited by fish, there is a need to use the spiral pipe, in addition to the above-mentioned favorable water supply by means of the Schauberger spiral pipe, also to supply atmospheric oxygen into the waters, without impairing the favorable flow conditions achievable with the spiral pipe.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of using the Schauberger spiral pipe, in addition to the above-mentioned favorable water supply to bodies of water, to also use this spiral pipe to supply air to the water flowing through the spiral pipe, without impairing the favorable flow conditions achievable with the spiral pipe.

[0006] This object is achieved by devices having the features of claim 1 and claim 2, respectively. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0007] The invention provides, in accordance with claims 1 and 2, two alternative approaches for introducing air into water flowing through the spiral tube, comprising a Schauberger spiral tube, the casing of which is rotationally deformed to form alternately inwardly and outwardly facing beads which run over the length of the spiral tube, characterized by a device for selectively introducing air into water flowing through the spiral tube.

[0008] In accordance with the first approach, the means for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube comprises a porous means in the form of a tubular element, such as a porous tube or a porous hose, which element is arranged coaxially with the spiral tube therein and is connected to a source of compressed air with which air is introduced into the flowing water through the porous shell of the tubular element.

[0009] In accordance with the second approach, the device for the selective introduction of air into the spiral pipe comprises a porous device in the form of a tubular element, such as a pipe or a hose, which element surrounds the spiral pipe at a distance and to which a compressed air source is connected, with which air is introduced into the water flowing in the spiral pipe via selective or point-shaped openings in the casing of the spiral pipe.

[0010] With both approaches, the point-like air inlets ensure the formation of air flow filaments that are entrained by the flowing water without disrupting the characteristic flow profile of the Schauberger spiral tube. Furthermore, the point-like or point-like air injection into the spiral tube using the first approach and the second approach does not disrupt the water flow profile created by the spiral tube, and the air transported by the water flow can be effectively introduced into water bodies.

[0011] In the case of a pipe or hose that surrounds the spiral pipe at a distance, air nozzles are preferably located on the inside of the spiral pipe, on the openings in the casing of the spiral pipe. These air nozzles redirect the air passing through the openings in a direction parallel to the water flowing through the spiral pipe. Advantageously, the outer profile of the air nozzles is designed in such a way that it does not impair the flow of water in the spiral pipe.

[0012] In any case, the hose- or tubular porous device is either closed at one end if the other end is connected to the compressed air source, or closed at both ends if the compressed air source is connected to a radial connection of the pipe / hose.

[0013] A suitable tubular or pipe-shaped porous device, for example, is a porous PTFE hose (polytetrafluoroethylene). This hose is manufactured from a non-porous PTFE hose under controlled conditions during the manufacturing process. This process changes the physical properties of the hose by creating microscopic pores in the structure of the material before it is formed into a hose. An alternative are porous HDPE hoses (high-density polyethylene), which allow fine pore diffusion of air and other gases through the hose casing. Also suitable are hoses made of cellular rubber, whose porous material allows air to pass through. Finally, pipes whose casings are provided with extremely fine perforations are also suitable as porous devices within the meaning of the invention.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 State-of-the-art embodiments of the Schauberger spiral tube Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with a device arranged in the spiral pipe for introducing air into the water flowing through the spiral pipe as intended, and Fig. 3 a second embodiment of the device according to the invention with a device enclosing the spiral pipe for introducing air into the water flowing through the spiral pipe as intended.

[0015] Fig. Figure 1 shows various embodiments of the prior art Schauberger spiral tube. The spiral tubes, generally designated by reference numeral 10, each have a casing that is torsionally deformed to form alternating inward and outward protrusions 11 and 12 that extend along the length of the spiral tube. The five spiral tubes shown on the left are elongated, while the three spiral tubes shown on the right are generally helically curved. The device according to the invention is based on the elongated variants of the spiral tube.

[0016] Fig. Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with a device arranged in the elongated spiral tube 10 for introducing air into the water flowing through the spiral tube 10 as intended. This device for introducing air comprises a porous tubular element 13 in the form of a porous hose or a porous tube, which element 13 is arranged coaxially to the spiral tube 10 at its longitudinal center and is connected to a compressed air source, with which air is introduced in the form of air threads through the porous casing of the tubular element 13 into the water flowing in the spiral tube 10. Extending radially between the outer side of the tubular porous element 13 and the inner wall of the spiral tube 10, along the longitudinal axis, are several rings of pin-shaped struts 14 serving as spacers for the element 13 with respect to the spiral tube 10.

[0017] The tubular porous element 13 of the device for selectively introducing air into the water flowing through the spiral pipe 10 is a tubular element 13 which is fixed to the Fig. 2 is closed at one end with a circular disc 15, while the other end, not shown, is connected to a compressed air source, or it is closed at both ends if the compressed air source, not shown, is connected to a radial connection.

[0018] The porous tubular element 13 is formed as follows: a) as a porous PTFE hose (polytetrafluoroethylene), which has microscopic pores in the structure of the hose material, b) as a porous HDPE hose (High Density Polyethylene), which allows fine pore diffusion of air and other gases through the hose jacket, c) made of cellular rubber, the porous material of which allows the passage of air.

[0019] Fig.3 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention with a device for introducing air into the water flowing through the spiral tube 10 as intended. This device for the selective introduction of air into the spiral tube 10 carrying water comprises a tubular element 16 in the form of a hose or a tube, which tubular element 16 coaxially surrounds the spiral tube 10 at a distance and to which a compressed air source (not shown) is connected via an air supply hose 17 inserted into an opening in the tubular element 16, with which air is introduced in the form of air threads into the water flowing in the spiral tube 10 via selective or point-shaped openings in the casing of the spiral tube 10.

[0020] The punctiform or point-shaped perforations are formed in the bulges 11 of the spiral tube 10 that protrude inward into the spiral tube 10. Air nozzles 18 are located on the inside of the spiral tube, on the perforations in the casing of the spiral tube 10. These nozzles redirect the air passing through the perforations in a direction parallel to the water flowing through the spiral tube 10. In the illustrated embodiment, these are tetrahedral-shaped nozzles 18, whose nozzle openings run parallel to the flow direction of the water flowing in the spiral tube 10. This achieves effective micro-turbulence of the supplied air with the water flowing in the spiral tube 10.

[0021] The tubular element 16 of the device for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube 10, which element encloses the spiral tube 10, is connected in a manner not shown at both ends to the outside of the spiral tube 10 via a respective end ring and thus ensures a tight enclosure of the compressed air fed into the element 16 in an annular chamber thereby formed between the element 16 and the spiral tube 10. List of reference symbols 10 spiral pipe 11 bulge 12 bulge 13 tubular porous element 14 Strut 15 circular disc 16 tubular element 17 Air supply hose 18 Air nozzle

Claims

[1] Device for introducing air into water flowing through a spiral tube, comprising a Schauberger spiral tube (10), the casing of which is rotationally deformed to form beads (11, 12) pointing alternately inwards and outwards, which run over the length of the spiral tube (10), characterized by a device for selectively introducing air into water flowing through the spiral tube (10), the device for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube (10) comprising a porous tubular element (13) in the form of a porous hose or a porous tube, which element (13) is arranged coaxially to the spiral tube (10) in the latter on its longitudinal center and is connected to a compressed air source with which air is introduced through the porous casing of the porous element (13) into the water flowing in the spiral tube (10). [2] Device for introducing air into water flowing through a spiral tube, comprising a Schauberger spiral tube (10), the casing of which is torsionally deformed to form beads (11, 12) pointing alternately inwards and outwards, which run over the length of the spiral tube (10), characterized by a device for selectively introducing air into water flowing through the spiral tube (10), the device for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube (10) comprising a tubular element (16) in the form of a hose or a tube, which tubular element (16) coaxially surrounds the spiral tube (10) at a distance and to which a compressed air source is connected, with which air is introduced into the water flowing in the spiral tube via selective or point-shaped openings in the jacket of the spiral tube (10). [3] Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the porous tubular element (13) is held in position in the spiral tube (10) by spacer means (14). [4] Device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the porous tubular element (13) is alternatively formed as follows: a) as a porous PTFE hose (polytetrafluoroethylene), which has microscopic pores in the structure of the hose material, b) as a porous HDPE hose (High Density Polyethylene), which allows fine pore diffusion of air and other gases through the hose jacket, c) made of cellular rubber, the porous material of which allows the passage of air. [5] Device according to claim 2, wherein the punctiform or punctiform openings are formed in the inwardly facing beads (11) of the spiral tube (10). [6] Device according to claim 2 or 5, wherein on the inside of the spiral tube, on the openings in the casing of the spiral tube (10), air nozzles (18) are located, which redirect air passing through the openings in a direction parallel to the water flowing through the spiral tube (10). [7] Device according to claim 6, wherein the outer profile of the air nozzles (18) is formed in a tetrahedral shape for effective micro-turbulence of the supplied air with the water flowing in the spiral tube (10). [8] Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular porous element (13) of the device for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube (10) or the tubular element (16) surrounding the spiral tube (10) for selectively introducing air into the spiral tube (10) is either closed at one end if the other end is connected to the compressed air source, or closed at both ends if the compressed air source is connected to a radial connection of the respective element (13, 16).

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