Non-clogging airlift pumps and systems and methods employing the same
AssigneePulsed Burst Systems, LLC
InventorMasao Kondo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Non-clogging airlift pumps and associated systems and methods employing said pumps. The airlift pumps generally include an enclosed air tank within which is located a hollow cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom wall. A gas (e.g., air) line passes into the air tank for supplying gas thereto. A suction port is located in the bottom wall of the cylinder, and a substantially vertically-oriented discharge pipe passes through a top wall of the air tank such that an intake end of the discharge pipe resides within the cylinder. Multiple airlift pumps may be used in conjunction in a given application.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A non-clogging airlift pump powered mixer, comprising:
- an enclosed air tank;
- a gas input line operatively passing into the air tank;
- a hollow cylinder located within the air tank, the cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom wall;
- a drain port passing through the closed bottom wall of the cylinder;
- and
- a substantially vertically oriented discharge pipe passing in a sealed manner through a top wall of the air tank, an intake end of the discharge pipe being within the hollow cylinder above the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder.
The airlift pump powered mixer of claim 1, wherein accumulated air within the hollow cylinder escapes substantially about the entire circumference of the terminal end of the discharge pipe proximate the horizontal open intake end.
A non-clogging airlift pump powered mixer, comprising:
- an enclosed air tank;
- a gas input line operatively passing into the air tank;
- a hollow cylinder located within the air tank, the cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom wall;
- a drain port passing through the closed bottom wall of the cylinder;
- and
- a substantially vertically oriented discharge pipe passing in a sealed manner through a top wall of the air tank, an intake end of the discharge pipe being within the hollow cylinder above the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder;
- the discharge pipe extending beyond a top wall of the air tank;
- the drain port including a drain tube extending downward a distance from the bottom wall of the cylinder toward the bottom of the air tank;
- the discharge pipe being attached to an inner wall of the hollow cylinder
- the drain port being centered within the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder;
- and
- at least one suction tube having a discharge end, the suction tube passing into the air tank such that a discharge end of the suction tube resides within the air tank below the drain port.
A non-clogging airlift pump powered mixer, comprising:
- an enclosed air tank;
- a gas input line operatively passing into the air tank;
- a hollow cylinder located within the air tank, the cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom wall;
- a drain port passing through the closed bottom wall of the cylinder;
- and
- a substantially vertically oriented discharge pipe passing in a sealed manner through a top wall of the air tank, an intake end of the discharge pipe being within the hollow cylinder above the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder;
- the discharge pipe extending beyond a top wall of the air tank;
- the drain port including a drain tube extending downward a distance from the bottom wall of the cylinder toward the bottom of the air tank;
- the discharge pipe being attached to an inner wall of the hollow cylinder
- the drain port being centered within the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder;
- and
- at least one suction tube having a discharge end, the suction tube passing into the air tank such that a discharge end of the suction tube resides within the air tank below the drain port;
- wherein accumulated air within the hollow cylinder escapes substantially about the entire circumference of the terminal end of the discharge pipe proximate the horizontal open intake end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.