Aeration pad installation tool
OwnerLarry Fransseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool for installing an aeration pad into a discharge vessel, the aeration pad having a rubber boot abutting the inside surface of the discharge vessel and a threaded pipe portion extending through an opening of the discharge vessel, the pipe having outside threads of a first predetermined size and inside threads of a second predetermined size. The tool includes an elongated cylindrical main body having a first end portion and a second end portion, an elongated secondary body pivotably connected to the main body, with a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having a pivot connection to the main body and a threaded portion at the second end portion thereof, the threaded portion having threads of the second predetermined size for attachment to an aeration pad.
Claims19
A tool for installing an aeration pad into a discharge vessel, the aeration pad having a rubber boot abutting the inside surface of the discharge vessel and a threaded pipe portion extending through an opening of the discharge vessel, the pipe having outside threads of a first predetermined size and inside threads of a second predetermined size, said tool comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical main body having a first end portion and a second end portion;
- an elongated secondary body pivotably connected to said main body, with a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion having a pivot connection to said main body and a threaded portion at said second end portion thereof, said threaded portion having threads of said second predetermined size for attachment to an aeration pad.
A tool for installing an aeration pad into a discharge vessel, comprising:
- a main section which includes a first end and a second end, said first end including a means for attaching a threaded guide;
- a threaded section which includes a first end and a second end, said second end including a threaded portion for attaching an aeration pad;
- and
- a pivot connection located in a middle portion of said main section, said pivot connection pivotably attached to said threaded section first end to accommodate pivoting of said threaded section about said pivot connection between a position parallel with a longitudinal axis of said main section and a position approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said main section.
The tool of claim 14 wherein said main section further includes a cavity for receiving said means for attaching a threaded guide.
The tool of claim 15 wherein said means for attaching a threaded guide is detachable from said main section.
A method for installing an aeration pad in a discharge vessel including an aeration opening and using an installation tool, said tool comprising a guide attachment section including a pivot connection, and a threaded section pivotably attached to said pivot connection, said method comprising the steps of:
- threading said tool through the aeration opening using a guide such that said tool is accessible through a bottom opening of the discharge vessel;
- attaching the aeration pad to said threaded section;
- using the guide to pull said tool through the aeration opening until the aeration pad is adjacent to an inner surface of the vessel;
- removing the guide from said guide attachment section;
- sliding a securing assembly along said tool towards the aeration pad;
- pivoting said guide attachment section about said pivot connection so that said guide attachment section is approximately perpendicular to said threaded section;
- tightening the securing assembly against the aeration pad while using said tool to hold the aeration pad in place;
- and
- unscrewing said tool from the aeration pad.
The method of claim 17 wherein said securing assembly includes a washer and a nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.