Submersible aerator and mixing apparatus
OwnerJames Dartezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A submersible aerator apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus uses injected air to create both aeration and mixing of a liquid. The apparatus is submersible and may be lowered into a container holding a liquid with suspended and coagulated solids, such as fats, oil, and grease (FOG). Air supplied to the apparatus is injected into the liquid through a hose, which results in an upward flow of large air bubbles and entrained liquid. The upwardly moving large air bubbles are cleaved (i.e., broken apart) by a series of baffle plates that are generally perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air bubbles. This action mixes and aerates the liquid.
Claims20
A submersible aerator and mixing apparatus, comprising:
- a. an elongated cylindrical outer housing having:
- i. an open upper end;
- and,
- ii. a weighted lower end, such that a longitudinal axis of the housing extends from the open upper end to the weighted lower end;
- b. at least two baffle plates connected to an inside surface of the elongated outer housing, wherein each baffle plate:
- i. is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing;
- ii. is positioned at least one inch from any adjacent baffle plate;
- iii. has a semi-circular perimeter section and a straight-cut perimeter section;
- and,
- iv. is aligned so the straight-cut perimeter section of each baffle plate is out of alignment with each adjacent baffle plate;
- c. an air supply hose with a terminal end positioned just below a lowest baffle plate;
- d. an intake near the weighted lower end of the housing, such that a parameter dflow (flow protection distance) is defined as a distance from a lower side of the lowest baffle plate to an upper edge of the intake.
A submersible aerator and mixing apparatus comprising:
- a. an elongated cylindrical outer housing having an open upper end and a weighted lower end, such that a longitudinal axis of the housing extends from the upper end to the lower end;
- b. an intake near the weighted lower end;
- c. an air supply hose that enters the housing through the open upper end;
- d. four baffle plates connected to the elongated cylindrical outer housing so that a primary surface area of each baffle plate is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein,
- i. each baffle plate has a semi-circular outer surface that is configured for connection to an inner surface of the elongated cylindrical outer housing;
- ii. a straight-cut outer surface that is not in contact with the inner surface of the elongated cylindrical outer housing, with the result being an open flow path between the straight-cut outer surface of each baffle plate and the elongated cylindrical outer housing;
- and,
- iii. an internal opening through which the air supply hose passes, such that the air supply hose is secured to each baffle plate and terminates just below a lowest baffle plate.
A submersible aerator and mixing apparatus comprising:
- a. an elongated cylindrical outer housing having an open upper end and a weighted, open, lower end, such that
- i. a longitudinal axis of the housing extends from the upper end to the lower end;
- and,
- ii. an intake is created by the open, weighted lower end;
- b. an air supply hose that enters the housing through the open upper end;
- c. four baffle plates bolted to the elongated cylindrical outer housing so that a primary surface area of each baffle plate is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein,
- iv. each baffle plate has a semi-circular outer surface that is configured for connection to an inner surface of the elongated cylindrical outer housing;
- v. a straight-cut outer surface that is not in contact with the inner surface of the elongated cylindrical outer housing, with the result being an open flow path between the straight-cut outer surface of each baffle plate and the inner surface of the elongated cylindrical outer housing, and wherein the baffle plates are arranged so that each baffle plate is out of alignment with each adjacent baffle plate;
- and,
- vi. an internal opening through which the air supply hose passes, such that the air supply hose is secured to each baffle plate and terminates just below a lowest baffle plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.