초록 ▼

The present invention provides a fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through a fuel conduit. The fuel treatment apparatus essentially comprises an upper magnet assembly, a lower magnet assembly, and a fastening assembly. The magnet assemblies each comprise a magnet positi

The present invention provides a fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through a fuel conduit. The fuel treatment apparatus essentially comprises an upper magnet assembly, a lower magnet assembly, and a fastening assembly. The magnet assemblies each comprise a magnet positioning cradle, a magnet, and a magnet cover plate. Each cradle comprises a pair of seat flanges upon which the magnets seat. The cover plates maintain the magnets in seated engagement within the cradles and a uniform magnetic field is directed orthogonal to the planes in which the seat flanges lie. Each cradle further comprises a conduit-receiving groove. When the magnet assemblies are fastened to one another via the fastening assembly, the conduit-receiving grooves cooperatively form conduit-receiving apertures. The typically linear fuel conduit is receivable through the conduit-receiving apertures and thus the fuel treatment apparatus is designed to magnetically treat fuel flowing through the fuel conduit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel treatment system, the fuel treatment system comprising, in combination:a fuel line assembly, the fuel line assembly comprising a fuel source, a fuel combustion chamber, and a fuel conduit, the fuel conduit being positioned intermediate the fuel source and the fuel combustion chamber for di

1. A fuel treatment system, the fuel treatment system comprising, in combination:a fuel line assembly, the fuel line assembly comprising a fuel source, a fuel combustion chamber, and a fuel conduit, the fuel conduit being positioned intermediate the fuel source and the fuel combustion chamber for directing a flow of fuel from the fuel source to the fuel combustion chamber, the fuel conduit comprising a substantially linear conduit axis and an outer conduit diameter; and a fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through the fuel conduit, the fuel treatment apparatus comprising an upper magnet assembly, a lower magnet assembly and fastening means for removably fastening the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly, the upper magnet assembly comprising an upper magnet positioning cradle and an upper magnet member, the upper magnet positioning cradle comprising a substantially rectangular upper frame, first and second upper frame seat flanges, and first and second upper frame fastener flanges, the upper frame comprising first and second upper frame end walls, first and second upper frame side walls, a distal upper frame end, a proximal upper frame end, an interior upper frame surface, and an exterior upper frame surface, the upper frame end walls each comprising two laterally-spaced upper frame markers, the upper frame seat flanges being integrally formed with the upper frame side walls at the interior upper frame surface extending from the first upper frame end wall to the second upper frame end wall to the upper frame markers intermediate the distal upper end and the proximal upper end, the upper frame seat flanges being coplanar in an inferior magnet end plane and defining a medially-aligned, substantially rectangular upper frame gap intermediate the upper frame markers, the upper frame fastener flanges being integrally formed with the upper frame end walls at the exterior upper frame surface extending from the first upper frame side wall to the second upper frame side wall, the upper frame fastener flanges each comprising a proximal conduit-receiving upper groove, the upper grooves each being semi-circular thus having a distally-extending upper frame radius of curvature extending from the proximal upper frame end to the inferior magnet end plane, the inferior magnet end plane being substantially tangential to the upper grooves, the upper magnet member having a proximal upper magnet end and a distal upper magnet end, the upper magnet member for seatable engagement with the upper frame seat flanges, the lower magnet assembly comprising a lower magnet positioning cradle and a lower magnet member, the lower magnet positioning cradle comprising a substantially rectangular lower frame, first and second lower frame seat flanges, and first and second lower frame fastener flanges, the lower frame comprising first and second lower frame end walls, first and second lower frame side walls, a distal lower frame end, a proximal lower frame end, an interior lower frame surface, and an exterior lower frame surface, the lower frame end walls each comprising two laterally-spaced lower frame markers, the lower frame seat flanges being integrally formed with the lower frame side walls at the interior lower frame surface extending from the first lower frame end wall to the second lower frame end wall to the lower frame markers intermediate the distal lower end and the proximal lower end, the lower frame seat flanges being coplanar in a superior magnet end plane and defining a medially-aligned, substantially rectangular lower frame gap intermediate the lower frame markers, the lower frame fastener flanges each comprising a proximal conduit-receiving lower groove, the lower grooves each being semi-circular thus having a distally-extending lower frame radius of curvature extending from the proximal lower frame end to the superior magnet end plane, the superior magnet end plane being substantially tangential to the lower grooves, the lower magnet member having a proximal lower magnet end and a distal lower magnet end, the lower magnet member for seatable engagement with the lower frame seat flanges, the upper grooves and the lower grooves cooperatively forming axially-aligned conduit-receiving apertures when the fastening means removably fasten the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly, the fuel conduit being receivable through the conduit-receiving apertures, the fuel treatment apparatus thus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through the fuel conduit. 2. The fuel treatment system of claim 1 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle and the lower magnet positioning cradle are each sized and shaped to allow for free thermal expansion and contraction of the upper magnet member and the lower magnet member.3. The fuel treatment system of claim 2 wherein the fuel treatment apparatus comprises an upper magnet cover plate and a lower magnet cover plate, the upper magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal upper frame end for maintaining the upper magnet member in seated engagement within the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal lower frame end for maintaining the lower magnet member in seated engagement within the lower magnet positioning cradle.4. The fuel treatment system of claim 3 wherein the conduit-receiving apertures comprise select conduit-gripping means, the select conduit-gripping means for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.5. The fuel treatment system of claim 4 wherein the select conduit-gripping means are selected from the group consisting of friction-enhancing stop structure and conduit-receiving aperture sizing, the conduit-receiving aperture sizing being defined by a conduit-gripping diameter, the conduit-gripping diameter being substantially equal in magnitude to the outer conduit diameter for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.6. The fuel treatment system of claim 5 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet positioning cradle, the upper magnet cover plate, the lower magnet cover plate, and the friction-enhancing stop structure are constructed from nonmagnetic materials for maintaining the directed magnetic field.7. The fuel treatment system of claim 1 wherein the upper magnet member and the lower magnet member together cooperatively form a magnetically-attractive pairing, the magnetically-attractive pairing being selected from a select magnet grouping, the select magnet grouping consisting of a first and second magnet orientation, the first magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, the second magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole.8. The fuel treatment system of claim 7 wherein the magnetically-attractive pairing has a directed magnetic field extending therethrough, the directed magnetic field being substantially uniformly orthogonal to the conduit axis.9. A fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through a fuel conduit, the fuel treatment apparatus comprising:an upper magnet assembly, the upper magnet assembly comprising an upper magnet positioning cradle and an upper magnet member, the upper magnet positioning cradle comprising a substantially rectangular upper frame, first and second upper frame seat flanges, and first and second upper frame fastener flanges, the upper frame comprising first and second upper frame end walls, first and second upper frame side walls, a distal upper frame end, a proximal upper frame end, an interior upper frame surface, and an exterior upper frame surface, the upper frame end walls each comprising two laterally-spaced upper frame markers, the upper frame seat flanges being integrally formed with the upper frame side walls at the interior upper frame surface extending from the first upper frame end wall to the second upper frame end wall to the upper frame markers intermediate the distal upper end and the proximal upper end, the upper frame seat flanges being coplanar in an inferior magnet end plane and defining a medially-aligned, substantially rectangular upper frame gap intermediate the upper frame markers, the upper frame fastener flanges being integrally formed with the upper frame end walls at the exterior upper frame surface extending from the first upper frame side wall to the second upper frame side wall, the upper frame fastener flanges each comprising a proximal conduit-receiving upper groove and two upper frame fastener-receiving apertures, the upper frame fastener-receiving apertures being adjacent the first and second upper frame side walls, the upper grooves each being semi-circular thus having a distally-extending upper frame radius of curvature extending from the proximal upper frame end to the inferior magnet end plane, the inferior magnet end plane being substantially tangential to the upper grooves, the upper magnet member having a proximal upper magnet end and a distal upper magnet end, the upper magnet member for seatable engagement with the upper frame seat flanges; a lower magnet assembly, the lower magnet assembly comprising a lower magnet positioning cradle and a lower magnet member, the lower magnet positioning cradle comprising a substantially rectangular lower frame, first and second lower frame seat flanges, and first and second lower frame fastener flanges, the lower frame comprising first and second lower frame end walls, first and second lower frame side walls, a distal lower frame end, a proximal lower frame end, an interior lower frame surface, and an exterior lower frame surface, the lower frame end walls each comprising two laterally-spaced lower frame markers, the lower frame seat flanges being integrally formed with the lower frame side walls at the interior lower frame surface extending from the first lower frame end wall to the second lower frame end wall to the lower frame markers intermediate the distal lower end and the proximal lower end, the lower frame seat flanges being coplanar in a superior magnet end plane and defining a medially-aligned, substantially rectangular lower frame gap intermediate the lower frame markers, the lower frame fastener flanges being integrally formed with the lower frame end walls at the exterior lower frame surface extending from the first lower frame side wall to the second lower frame side wall, the lower frame fastener flanges each comprising a proximal conduit-receiving lower groove and two lower frame fastener-receiving apertures, the lower frame fastener-receiving apertures being adjacent the first and second lower frame side walls, the lower grooves each being semi-circular thus having a distally-extending lower frame radius of curvature extending from the proximal lower frame end to the superior magnet end plane, the superior magnet end plane being substantially tangential to the lower grooves, the lower magnet member having a proximal lower magnet end and a distal lower magnet end, the lower magnet member for seatable engagement with the lower frame seat flanges; and a fastening assembly for fastening the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly, the fastening assembly comprising two first end screws and two second end screws, the upper frame fastener-receiving apertures and the lower frame fastener-receiving apertures cooperatively forming two substantially parallel first end screw-receiving tunnels and two substantially parallel second end screw-receiving tunnels, the tunnels each having a screw-receiving axis substantially orthogonal to the inferior and superior magnet end planes, the fuel conduit having a substantially linear conduit axis and an outer conduit diameter, the upper grooves and the lower grooves cooperatively forming axially-aligned conduit-receiving apertures when the screws fasten the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly via the screw-receiving tunnels, the fuel conduit being receivable through the conduit-receiving apertures, the fuel treatment apparatus thus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through the fuel conduit. 10. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 9 wherein the upper magnet member and the lower magnet member together cooperatively form a magnetically-attractive pairing, the magnetically-attractive pairing being selected from a select magnet grouping, the select magnet grouping consisting of a first and second magnet orientation, the first magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, the second magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole.11. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 10 wherein the magnetically-attractive pairing has a directed magnetic field extending therethrough, the directed magnetic field being substantially uniformly orthogonal to the conduit axis.12. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 11 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle and the lower magnet positioning cradle are sized and shaped to allow for free thermal expansion and contraction of the upper magnet member and the lower magnet member.13. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fuel treatment apparatus comprises an upper magnet cover plate and a lower magnet cover plate, the upper magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal upper frame end for maintaining the upper magnet member in seated engagement within the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal lower frame end for maintaining the lower magnet member in seated engagement within the lower magnet positioning cradle.14. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 13 wherein the lower frame fastener-receiving apertures each comprise threaded insert members for enhancing fastening engagement of the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly.15. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 14 wherein the conduit-receiving apertures comprise select fuel conduit-gripping means, the select fuel conduit-gripping means for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.16. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 15 wherein the select conduit-gripping means are selected from the group consisting of friction-enhancing stop structure and conduit-receiving aperture sizing, the conduit-receiving aperture sizing being defined by a conduit-gripping diameter, the conduit-gripping diameter being substantially equal in magnitude to the outer conduit diameter for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.17. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 16 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet positioning cradle, the upper magnet cover plate, the lower magnet cover plate, the fastening means, the friction-enhancing stop structure, and the threaded insert members are constructed from nonmagnetic materials for maintaining the directed magnetic field.18. A fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through a fuel conduit, the fuel treatment apparatus comprising:an upper magnet assembly, the upper magnet assembly comprising an upper magnet positioning cradle and an upper magnet member, the upper magnet positioning cradle comprising a substantially rectangular upper frame, first and second upper frame seat flanges, and first and second upper frame fastener flanges, the upper frame comprising first and second upper frame end walls, first and second upper frame side walls, a distal upper frame end, a proximal upper frame end, an interior upper frame surface, and an exterior upper frame surface, the upper frame seat flanges being integrally formed with the upper frame side walls at the interior upper frame surface extending from the first end wall to the second end wall intermediate the distal upper end and the proximal upper end, the upper frame seat flanges being coplanar in an inferior magnet end plane, the upper frame fastener flanges being integrally formed with the upper frame end walls at the exterior upper frame surface extending from the first upper frame side wall to the second upper frame side wall, the upper frame fastener flanges each comprising a proximal conduit-receiving upper groove, the upper grooves each being semi-circular thus having a distally-extending upper frame radius of curvature extending from the proximal upper frame end to the inferior magnet end plane, the inferior magnet end plane being substantially tangential to the upper grooves, the upper magnet member having a proximal upper magnet end and a distal upper magnet end, the upper magnet member for seatable engagement with the upper frame seat flanges; a lower magnet assembly, the lower magnet assembly comprising a lower magnet positioning cradle and a lower magnet member, the lower magnet positioning cradle comprising a substantially rectangular lower frame, first and second lower frame seat flanges, and first and second lower frame fastener flanges, the lower frame comprising first and second lower frame end walls, first and second lower frame side walls, a distal lower frame end, a proximal lower frame end, an interior lower frame surface, and an exterior lower frame surface, the lower frame seat flanges being integrally formed with the lower frame side walls at the interior lower frame surface extending from the first lower frame end wall to the second lower frame end wall intermediate the distal lower frame end and the proximal lower frame end, the lower frame seat flanges being coplanar in a superior magnet end plane, the lower frame fastener flanges being integrally formed with the lower frame end walls at the exterior lower frame surface extending from the first lower frame side wall to the second lower frame side wall, the lower frame fastener flanges each comprising a proximal conduit-receiving lower groove, the lower grooves each being semi-circular thus having a distally-extending lower frame radius of curvature extending from the proximal lower frame end to the superior magnet end plane, the superior magnet end plane being substantially tangential to the lower grooves, the lower magnet member having a proximal lower magnet end and a distal lower magnet end, the lower magnet member for seatable engagement with the lower frame seat flanges; and fastening means for removably fastening the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly, the upper grooves and the lower grooves cooperatively forming axially aligned conduit-receiving apertures when fastened together, the fuel conduit having a substantially linear conduit axis and an outer conduit diameter, the fuel conduit being receivable through the conduit-receiving apertures, the fuel treatment apparatus thus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through the fuel conduit. 19. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 18 wherein the upper magnet member and the lower magnet member together cooperatively form a magnetically-attractive pairing, the magnetically-attractive pairing being selected from a select magnet grouping, the select magnet grouping consisting of a first and second magnet orientation, the first magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, the second magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole.20. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 19 wherein the magnetically-attractive pairing has a directed magnetic field extending therethrough, the directed magnetic field being substantially orthogonal to the conduit axis.21. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 20 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle and the lower magnet positioning cradle are sized and shaped to allow for free thermal expansion and contraction of the upper magnet member and the lower magnet member.22. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 21 wherein the fuel treatment apparatus comprises an upper magnet cover plate and a lower magnet cover plate, the upper magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal upper frame end for maintaining the upper magnet member in seated engagement within the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal lower frame end for maintaining the lower magnet member in seated engagement within the lower magnet positioning cradle.23. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 22 wherein the conduit-receiving apertures comprise select conduit-gripping means, the select conduit-gripping means for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.24. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 23 wherein the select conduit-gripping means are selected from the group consisting of friction-enhancing stop structure and conduit-receiving aperture sizing, the conduit-receiving aperture sizing being defined by a conduit-engaging diameter, the conduit-engaging diameter being substantially equal in magnitude to the outer conduit diameter for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.25. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 24 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet positioning cradle, the upper magnet cover plate, the lower magnet cover plate, and the friction-enhancing stop structure are constructed from nonmagnetic materials for maintaining the directed magnetic field.26. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 20 wherein the upper and lower frame end walls each comprise two laterally-spaced frame markers, the upper and lower frame seat flanges extending medially to the frame markers, the upper and lower frame seat flanges thus defining a medially-aligned upper frame gap and a medially-aligned lower frame gap, the upper and lower frame gaps being located intermediate the frame markers for maintaining the directed magnetic field.27. A fuel treatment apparatus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through a fuel conduit, the fuel treatment apparatus comprising:an upper magnet assembly, the upper magnet assembly comprising an upper magnet positioning cradle and an upper magnet, the upper magnet positioning cradle comprising an upper frame, first and second upper frame seat flanges, and upper frame fastener means, the upper frame comprising a distal upper frame end, a proximal upper frame end, an interior upper frame surface, and an exterior upper frame surface, the upper frame seat flanges being integrally formed at the interior upper frame surface intermediate the distal upper end and the proximal upper end, the upper frame seat flanges being coplanar in an inferior magnet end plane, the upper frame fastener means being formed at the exterior upper frame surface, the upper frame fastener means comprising proximal conduit-receiving upper grooves, the upper grooves each having a distally-extending upper frame conduit-receiving depth extending from the proximal upper frame end to the inferior magnet end plane, the upper magnet having a proximal upper magnet end and a distal upper magnet end, the upper magnet for seatable engagement with the upper frame seat flanges; and a lower magnet assembly, the lower magnet assembly comprising a lower magnet positioning cradle and a lower magnet, the lower magnet positioning cradle comprising a lower frame, first and second lower frame seat flanges, and lower frame fastener means, the lower frame comprising a distal lower frame end, a proximal lower frame end, an interior lower frame surface, and an exterior lower frame surface, the lower frame seat flanges being integrally formed at the interior lower frame surface intermediate the distal lower frame end and the proximal lower frame end, the lower frame seat flanges being coplanar in a superior magnet end plane, the lower frame fastener means being formed at the exterior lower frame surface, the lower frame fastener means comprising proximal conduit-receiving lower grooves, the lower grooves each having a distally-extending lower frame conduit-receiving depth extending from the proximal lower frame end to the superior magnet end plane, the lower magnet having a proximal lower magnet end and a distal lower magnet end, the lower magnet for seatable engagement with the lower frame seat flanges; and select fastening means for removably fastening the upper magnet assembly to the lower magnet assembly, the upper grooves and the lower grooves cooperatively forming conduit-receiving apertures, the fuel conduit having a conduit axis and being receivable through the conduit-receiving apertures, the fuel treatment apparatus thus for magnetically treating fuel flowing through the fuel conduit. 28. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 27 wherein the upper magnet and the lower magnet together cooperatively form a magnetically-attractive pairing, the magnetically-attractive pairing being selected from a select magnet grouping, the select magnet grouping consisting of a first and second magnet orientation, the first magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, the second magnet orientation being defined by the distal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic south pole, the proximal upper magnet end having an upper magnetic north pole, the distal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic north pole, and the proximal lower magnet end having a lower magnetic south pole.29. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 28 wherein the magnetically-attractive pairing has a directed magnetic field extending therethrough, the directed magnetic field being substantially orthogonal to the conduit axis.30. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 29 wherein the fuel treatment apparatus comprises an upper magnet cover plate and a lower magnet cover plate, the upper magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal upper frame end for maintaining the upper magnet in seated engagement within the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet cover plate being removably attachable to the distal lower frame end for maintaining the lower magnet in seated engagement within the lower magnet positioning cradle.31. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 30 wherein the upper magnet-positioning cradle and the lower magnet-positioning cradle are sized and shaped to allow for free thermal expansion and contraction of the upper magnet and the lower magnet.32. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 31 wherein the conduit-receiving apertures comprise select conduit-gripping means, the select conduit-gripping means for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.33. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 32, wherein the select conduit-gripping means are selected from the group consisting of friction-enhancing stop structure and conduit-receiving aperture sizing, the conduit-receiving aperture sizing being defined by a conduit-engaging diameter, the conduit-engaging diameter being substantially equal in magnitude to the outer conduit diameter for preventing the fuel treatment apparatus from moving relative to the conduit axis.34. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 33 wherein the upper magnet positioning cradle, the lower magnet positioning cradle, the upper magnet cover plate, the lower magnet cover plate, and the friction-enhancing stop structure are constructed from nonmagnetic materials for enhancing the directed magnetic field.35. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 28 wherein the select fastening means are selected from the group consisting of a fastener assembly and the select magnet grouping.36. The fuel treatment apparatus of claim 29 wherein upper lower magnet-positioning cradles each comprise two laterally-spaced frame markers, the upper and lower frame seat flanges extending medially to the frame markers, the upper and lower frame seat flanges thus defining a medially-aligned upper frame gap and a medially-aligned lower frame gap, the upper and lower frame gaps being located intermediate the frame markers for maintaining the directed magnetic field.