Fluid conduction utilizing a reversible unsaturated siphon with tubarc porosity action

• US 6,766,817 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tubarc Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Tubarc Technologies LLC
• Inventors: da Silva, Elson Dias
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US10/082,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 137/1, 137/132, 137/142
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2774 Periodic or accumulation responsive discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2842 With flow starting, stopping or maintaining means

Abstract

A method and system for harnessing an unsaturated flow of fluid utilizing a reversible unsaturated siphon conductor of fluid having a tubarc porous microstructure. Fluid is conducted from a zone of higher (+) fluid matric potential to a zone of lower (−) fluid matric potential utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure. The fluid can be reversibly transported from different zones bearing a differential fluid matric potential according to the status of the fluid matric potential in each zone utilizing the tubarc porous microstructure. The tubarc porous microstructure comprises an enhanced geometric porosity. In this manner, the fluid can be harnessed for irrigation, drainage, filtration, fluid recharging and other fluid delivery uses, such as refilling writing and printing instruments.

Claims

1. A method for harnessing an unsaturated flow of fluid utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure, said method comprising the steps of:

conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure; and

delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said tubarc porous microstructure, thereby permitting said fluid to be harnessed through the hydrodynamic movement of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is reversibly transportable from said saturated zone to said unsaturated zone and from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is hydrodynamically transportable through said tubarc porous microstructure according to a gradient of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

conducting said fluid through said tubarc porous microstructure, such that said fluid is conductible through said tubarc porous microstructure in a reversible longitudinal unsaturated flow.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

conducting said fluid through said tubarc porous microstructure, such that said fluid is conductible through said tubarc porous microstructure in a reversible lateral unsaturated flow.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

conducting said fluid through said tubarc porous microstructure, such that said fluid is conductible through said tubarc porous microstructure in a reversible transversal unsaturated flow.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

harnessing said fluid for a drainage purpose utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure through the hydrodynamic conduction of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

harnessing said fluid for an irrigation purpose utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure through the hydrodynamic conduction of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

harnessing said fluid for a fluid supply purpose utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure through the hydrodynamic conduction of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

harnessing said fluid for a filtering purpose utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure through the hydrodynamic conduction of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure, further comprises the step of:

hydrodynamically conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said tubarc porous microstructure, further comprises the step of:

hydrodynamically delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said tubarc porous microstructure.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of:

conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure; and

delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said tubarc porous microstructure;

respectively further comprise the steps of;

conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone through an unsaturated conductor of fluid having a tubarc physical microstructure for multidirectional and optionally reversible unsaturated flow; and

delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said unsaturated conductor.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said tubarc porous microstructure comprises a siphon.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said siphon comprises a reversible unsaturated siphon.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

arranging said reversible unsaturated siphon in a spatial geometry formed from a plurality of cylinders of synthetic fibers braided to provide an even distribution of a longitudinal solid porosity and a uniform cross-sectional pattern.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

configuring said plurality of cylinders such that each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders comprises a smooth or jagged surface to increase an area of contact between a fluid and said longitudinal solid porosity.

18. A method for harnessing an unsaturated flow of fluid utilizing a reversible unsaturated siphon, said method comprising the steps of:

conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing a reversible unsaturated siphon having a macro geometry for multidirectional and optionally reversible unsaturated flow; and

delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said a reversible unsaturated siphon, thereby permitting said fluid to be harnessed through the hydrodynamic movement of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another, such that said fluid is reversibly transportable from said saturated zone to said unsaturated zone and from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone utilizing said reversible unsaturated siphon.

19. A system for harnessing an unsaturated flow of fluid utilizing a tubarc porous microstructure, said system comprising:

a tubarc porous microstructure for conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone; and

said fluid delivered from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said tubarc porous microstructure, thereby permitting said fluid to be harnessed through the hydrodynamic movement of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluid is reversibly transportable from said saturated zone to said unsaturated zone and from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluid is hydrodynamically transportable through said tubarc porous microstructure according to a gradient of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluid is conductible through said tubarc porous microstructure in a reversible longitudinal unsaturated flow.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluid is conductible through said tubarc porous microstructure in a reversible lateral unsaturated flow.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluid is conductible through said tubarc porous microstructure in a reversible transversal unsaturated flow.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein said tubarc porous microstructure is adapted for use in fluid drainage.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein said tubarc porous microstructure is adapted for use in irrigation.

27. The system of claim 19 wherein said tubarc porous microstructure is adapted for use in supplying said fluid from a fluid source.

28. The system of claim 19 wherein said tubarc porous microstructure is adapted for use in filtration.

29. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluid is hydrodynamically conducted from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing said tubarc porous microstructure.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said fluid is hydrodynamically delivered said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said tubarc porous microstructure.

31. The system of claim 19 wherein said tubarc porous structure comprises an unsaturated conductor of fluid having a tubarc physical microstructure for multidirectional and optionally reversible unsaturated flow.

32. The system of claim 19 wherein said tubarc porous microstructure comprises a siphon.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said siphon comprises a reversible unsaturated siphon.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said reversible unsaturated siphon is arranged in a spatial geometry formed from a plurality of cylinders configured, such that each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders comprises a smooth or jagged surface that increases an area of contact between a fluid and said longitudinal solid porosity.

35. A system for harnessing an unsaturated flow of fluid utilizing a reversible unsaturated siphon, said system comprising:

conducting a fluid from a saturated zone to an unsaturated zone utilizing a reversible unsaturated siphon having a geometry for multidirectional and optionally reversible unsaturated flow; and

delivering said fluid from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone through said a reversible unsaturated siphon, thereby permitting said fluid to be harnessed through the hydrodynamic movement of said fluid from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another, such that said fluid is reversibly transportable from said saturated zone to said unsaturated zone and from said unsaturated zone to said saturated zone utilizing said reversible unsaturated siphon.