# US 2005/0142011 A1 · Water circulation systems for ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2005/0142011 A1 - Document ID: US20050142011A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/067,061 - Filed: 2005-02-25 - Published: 2005-06-30 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-31 - Assignees: Psi-Ets - Inventors: Willard Tormaschy; Gary Kudma; Tait Obritsch; Joel Bleth; Corey Simnioniw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20050142011A1 ## CPC - B01F 23/23341: {with tubes surrounding the stirrer} - B01F 27/213: characterised by the connection with the drive - B01F 33/503: Floating mixing devices - C02F 3/16: the aerator having a vertical axis - C02F 7/00: Aeration of stretches of water - F04D 13/066: {Floating-units} - C02F 2201/009: Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells - C02F 2209/22: O2 - C02F 2209/40: Liquid flow rate - Y02A 20/212: Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Circulation systems for ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water using a flotation platform, dish, and impeller. One embodiment has a connecting arrangement between the drive motor and the impeller that permits the two to be easily and quickly coupled and uncoupled. The connecting arrangement also is designed to accommodate slight misalignments between the shafts. An arrangement to adjust and calibrate the depth of the inlet to the draft tube is disclosed. The system further includes solar panels that can be pivotally swung outwardly to open positions, angularly adjusted about a horizontal axis, and mounted to face toward the central axis of the flotation platform rather than away from it. Arrangements are further provided to monitor and control the components of the system including remotely from shore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circulation system for a body of water, said system including a flotation platform, a dish, an impeller, a drive motor, and a connecting arrangement (100) between said drive motor (17) and said impeller (21), said connecting arrangement including a first shaft (17′) driven by said drive motor to rotate about a first, substantially vertical axis (13), a second shaft (21′) extending along a second axis (13′) and secured to said impeller, and a coupling between said first and second shafts to substantially align said first and second axes wherein rotation of said first shaft about said substantially vertical first axis by said drive motor rotates said second shaft and the impeller secured thereto about said second axis, said coupling including at least first (101) and second (102) coupling members removably attached to one another wherein said second shaft (21′) and the impeller (21) secured thereto can be selectively removed from attachment to said first shaft (17′). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein one (101) of said coupling members has at least a pair of legs (105) extending along said first (13), said legs being spaced from one another to create a gap therebetween and wherein the other (102) of said coupling members has a substantially rectangular head (106), said substantially rectangular head being removably receivable and securable between the legs of said one coupling member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein said head is substantially square. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second coupling members are movable relative to each along said first axis (13) between an attached position and an unattached position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second coupling members are removably attached to each other by a releasable sliding arrangement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second coupling members are removably attached to one another for movement relative to each other about a pivotal axis (129) substantially perpendicular to and spaced from the substantially vertical first axis (13) of the shaft (17′) driven by said drive motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second coupling members are removably attached to one another for pivotal movement relative to each other about first and second pivotal axes (129,131) 5 substantially perpendicular to and spaced from the substantially vertical first axis (13) of the shaft (17′) driven by said drive motor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first coupling member has a main body (107) and al least a pair of legs (105) extending away from the main body along said first axis (13), said legs having 5 respective sections (105′) spaced from one another a first distance to create a first gap (109) therebetween, each leg having a free standing end portion (105″) spaced from the main body and having a lip (113,115) extending toward the axis of the first coupling member and toward the other lip, said lips being spaced from each other a second distance to create a second gap (111) therebetween, said second distance being less than said first distance, said second coupling member (102) having a main body (104) and a head (106) extending away from the main body thereof along and about said second axis (13′), said head extending outwardly of said second axis for a third distance less than the first distance (109) between the leg sections (105′) of the first coupling member and greater than the second distance (111) between the lips (113,115) of the leg end portions (105″) wherein the head of said second coupling member can be moved to be received between the legs sections (105′) of the first coupling member and thereafter moved along the axis (13) of the first coupling member to abut the lips of said first coupling member to connect the first and second coupling members together with the axes (13,13′) of said first and second coupling members substantially aligned. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein each lip extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis (13) of the first coupling member and has a surface (117,119) abutting the head (106) of the second coupling member, said first coupling member further including at least one stop extending along the axis (13) of the first coupling member substantially perpendicular to at least one of the lip surfaces (117,119) to positively limit movement of said abutting head in a first direction along said one lip surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein each lip surface (117,119) has at least one stop (121,123). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein each lip surface (117,119) has only one stop and the stops (121,123) are on opposite ends of the respective lip surfaces (115,117) to positively limit movement of said abutting head in said first direction and in a direction opposite to said first direction along said lip surfaces. ### Claim 12 A circulation system for a body of water, said system including a flotation platform, a dish, an impeller, a drive motor, and a connecting arrangement (100) between said drive motor (17) and said impeller (21), said connecting arrangement including a first shaft (17′) driven by said drive motor to rotate about a first, substantially vertical axis (13), a second shaft (21′) extending along a second axis (13′) and secured to said impeller, and a coupling between said first and second shafts to accommodate a slight misalignment of said first and second axes (13,13′) wherein rotation of said first shaft (17′) about said substantially vertical first axis (13) by said drive motor rotates said second shaft (23′) and the impeller secured thereto about said slightly misaligned second shaft (13′), said coupling including at least first (101) and second (102) coupling members attached to each other for movement relative to each other about a pivotal axis (129) substantially perpendicular to and spaced from the substantially vertical first axis (13) of the shaft (17′) driven by said drive motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein one of said coupling members has a least a pair of legs (105) extending along the first axis (13), said legs being spaced from one another to create a gap (109) therebetween and wherein the other coupling member has a head receivable in said gap between the legs of said one coupling member, said pivotal axis (129) being defined by one edge portion of said head. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein said first and second coupling members are attached to each other for movement about first and second pivotal axes (129,131) said pivotal axes being spaced from one another and substantially perpendicular to and spaced from the substantially vertical first axis (13) of the shaft (17′) driven by said drive motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein one of said coupling members has a least a pair of legs (105) extending along the first axis (13), said legs being spaced from one another to create a gap (109) therebetween and wherein the other coupling member has a head receivable in said gap between the legs of said one coupling member, said first and second pivotal axes being spaced from one another and substantially perpendicular to and spaced from the substantially vertical first axis (13) of the shaft (17′) driven by the drive motor, said first and second pivotal axes being respectively defined by first and second edges portions (129,131) of said head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein said first and second coupling members are removably attached to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein said first and second coupling members are removably attached to one another by a releasable sliding arrangement. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein said first and second coupling members (101,102) are movable relative to each other along said first axis (13) between an attached position and an unattached position. ### Claim 19 A water circulation system for drawing water from the depths of a body of water to the surface for exposure to the atmosphere and creating a circulation pattern in the body of water, said system including a flotation platform, a dish, an impeller, and a draft tube with an adjustable length, said draft tube having a lower end portion and said system further including an arrangement (130) to adjust the depth of the lower end portion of the draft tube in the water, said adjusting arrangement including a plurality of substantially linear members (132), each linear member having a lower portion (132′) fixedly attached adjacent the lower end portion of the draft tube and an upper portion adjustably securable to said flotation platform at different locations along said upper portion to thereby vary the distance between the affixed lower portion of the linear member and the secured location of the upper portion thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein said linear members are chains. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein said plurality of linear members includes at least three chains. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein the affixed lower portions of said chains are substantially equally spaced about the lower end portion of the draft tube and the secured upper portions of said chains are substantially equally spaced about the flotation platform. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein said plurality of linear members includes at least three and wherein the affixed lower portions of said member are substantially equally spaced about the lower end portion of the draft tube and the secured upper portions of said members are substantially equally spaced about the flotation platform ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 further including a plurality of depth markers respectively attached to said linear members along the respective lengths thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein said flotation platform extends above the surface of the body of water and the upper portions of said linear members are adjustably secured to said flotation platform above the surface of the body of water. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein said draft tube has an inlet at the lower end portion thereof defined in part by a substantially planar member, said linear members being adjustable to align said planar member to extend substantially horizontally.