Patent US3866630A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866630A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ball canister and system for controlling cavitation in liquids
Assignee: FOWLER KNOBBE AND MARTENS
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a ball canister having a hollow case with an inlet and an outlet, the case having a portion which is frustoconical and is filled with tightly packed balls, with the diameter and length of the ball filled case portion being sized to significantly repress cavitation in a liquid flow system into which the canister is to be inserted, either alone or in conjunction with a control valve. A sizing method is disclosed and a particular construction example is explained for a high pressure water system.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert A Webb
- 👤 James Paul Tullis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:46
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15D; F15D1/00; F15D1/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
In a liquid flow system, an apparatus for supplying the liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while repressing cavitation in the liquid comprising, a ball canister containing a volume of balls and inserted in said system, said ball canister including a case having an inlet and outlet and including an elongated tapered portion approximately in the form of a truncated cone having a circular cross section at the upstream terminus thereof the internal diameter of which excedes a plurality of ball diameters, said truncated cone gradually increasing in diameter going downstream, said volume of balls filling at least a portion of the length of the tapered portion of the case, the length of the ball filled tapered portion of the case being in excess of many ball diameters and the internal diameter of the case at the upstream end of the upstream-most ball in the ball volume exceeding a plurality of ball diameters, and means retaining the balls tightly packed and immobile in the case, with the diameter and length of said ball filled case portion being sized to significantly repress cavitation over a range of volume flow rates which includes the designed maximum volume flow rate of the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a liquid flow system, an apparatus for supplying the liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while repressing cavitation in the liquid comprising, a ball canister containing a volume of balls and inserted in said system, said ball canister including a case having an inlet and outlet and including an elongated tapered portion approximately in the form of a truncated cone having a circular cross section at the upstream terminus thereof the internal diameter of which excedes a plurality of ball diameters, said truncated cone gradually increasing in diameter going downstream, said volume of balls filling at least a portion of the length of the tapered portion of the case, the length of the ball filled tapered portion of the case being in excess of many ball diameters and the internal diameter of the case at the upstream end of the upstream-most ball in the ball volume exceeding a plurality of ball diameters, and means retaining the balls tightly packed and immobile in the case, with the diameter and length of said ball filled case portion being sized to significantly repress cavitation over a range of volume flow rates which includes the designed maximum volume flow rate of the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the canister case at the upstream end of the ball volume is sufficiently small to present a liquid velocity near the incipient cavitation velocity at that location at the designed maximum volume flow rate of the system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diameter of the case at the downstream end of said ball volume is sized to produce a liquid velocity at that location near incipient cavitation velocity at the designed maximum volume flow rate of the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a liquid flow system, a ball canister for receiving the liquid stream at high pressure and reducing the pressure while repressing or controlling cavitation in the liquid, said ball canister comprising a case having an inlet and outlet, a volume of balls filling a portion of the length of the case, and means retaining the balls in the case, said ball filled case portion being tapered with its diameter increasing in the downstream direction, with the diameter and length of said ball filled case portion being sized to significantly repress cavitation in said system, and with the canister including a gas tap communicating with the interior of the case at the top thereof and at a position downstream of said ball volume, and a gas pressure relief valve connected to said tap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a liquid flow system, a ball canister for receiving the liquid stream at high pressure and reducing the pressure while repressing or controlling cavitation in the liquid, said ball canister comprising a case having an inlet and outlet, a volume of balls filling a portion of the length of the case, and means retaining the balls in the case, said ball filled case portion being tapered with its diameter increasing in the downstream direction, with the diameter and length of said ball filled case portion being sized to significantly repress cavitation in said system, and with the canister including a gas tap communicating with the interior of the case at the top thereof and at a position downstream of said ball volume, and a gas pressure relief valve connected to said tap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A ball canister for repressing or controlling cavitation in a liquid flow system comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of relatively small balls filling the case along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the small balls in the case, said retaining means including a plurality of relatively large balls contained in the case downstream of the small balls and in abutting relationship therewith, and means retaining the relatively large balls in the case, with a plurality of the relatively large balls being welded together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A ball canister for repressing or controlling cavitation in a liquid flow system comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of relatively small balls filling the case along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the small balls in the case, said retaining means including a plurality of relatively large balls contained in the case downstream of the small balls and in abutting relationship therewith, and means retaining the relatively large balls in the case, with a plurality of the relatively large balls being welded together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A ball canister for repressing or controlling cavitation in a liquid flow system comprising a case having an inlet, a plurality of relatively small balls filling the case along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the small balls in the case, said retaining means including a plurality of relatively large balls contained in the case downstream of the small balls and in abutting relationship therewith, and means retaining the relatively large balls in the case, with the plurality of relatively large balls including a downstream layer of balls and a pyramidal nest of balls welded together and having as its base said downstream layer of balls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
A ball canister for repressing or controlling cavitation in a liquid flow system comprising a case having an inlet, a plurality of relatively small balls filling the case along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the small balls in the case, said retaining means including a plurality of relatively large balls contained in the case downstream of the small balls and in abutting relationship therewith, and means retaining the relatively large balls in the case, with the plurality of relatively large balls including a downstream layer of balls and a pyramidal nest of balls welded together and having as its base said downstream layer of balls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case containing a volume of balls and having an inlet and an outlet, the case including an elongated tapered portion approximately in the form of a truncated cone having a circular cross section at the upstream terminus thereof the internal diameter of which excedes a plurality of ball diameters, said truncated core gradually increasing in diameter going downstream, said volume of the balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length of the tapered portion of the case, the length of the ball filled tapered portion of the case being in excess of many ball diameters and the internal diameter of the case at the upstream end of the upstream-most ball in the ball volume exceeding a plurality of ball diameters, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
183 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case containing a volume of balls and having an inlet and an outlet, the case including an elongated tapered portion approximately in the form of a truncated cone having a circular cross section at the upstream terminus thereof the internal diameter of which excedes a plurality of ball diameters, said truncated core gradually increasing in diameter going downstream, said volume of the balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length of the tapered portion of the case, the length of the ball filled tapered portion of the case being in excess of many ball diameters and the internal diameter of the case at the upstream end of the upstream-most ball in the ball volume exceeding a plurality of ball diameters, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the retaining means includes a retaining plate having a plurality of openings therein disposed downstream of said ball volume, and a plurality of balls abutting said retaining plate and welded in position so that they do not pass through or obstruct said openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the upstream layer of balls in the ball volume is bare and fully exposed to the liquid stream without intervening support structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a volume of balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position, the interior of said case portion being of circular cross section and the perimeter of the ball volume at one or more of said welded layers of balls being machined to match said circular cross section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a volume of balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position, the interior of said case portion being of circular cross section and the perimeter of the ball volume at one or more of said welded layers of balls being machined to match said circular cross section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a volume of balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position, with the ball canister case including a detachable inlet section containing one or more layers of balls which are welded in position therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a volume of balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length thereof, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position, with the ball canister case including a detachable inlet section containing one or more layers of balls which are welded in position therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
148 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a volume of relatively small balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length thereof, a plurality of relatively large balls contained in the case downstream of the small balls, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of the relatively small balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position, and a retaining plate having a plurality of openings therein and contained in the case downstream of the relatively small balls with a plurality of said relatively large balls abutting the retaining plate and being welded in position so that they do not obstruct said openings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
A ball canister for supplying liquid at a relatively low pressure from a high pressure supply while significantly repressing cavitation in the liquid, comprising a case having an inlet and an outlet, a volume of relatively small balls filling the case interior along at least a portion of the length thereof, a plurality of relatively large balls contained in the case downstream of the small balls, and means retaining the balls tightly packed in the case, said retaining means including one or more layers of the relatively small balls at the upstream end of the ball volume which are welded in position, and a retaining plate having a plurality of openings therein and contained in the case downstream of the relatively small balls with a plurality of said relatively large balls abutting the retaining plate and being welded in position so that they do not obstruct said openings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2583206A
Cited
US3471025A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |