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US 4,308,137 AGranted
Water aeration and circulation apparatus
OwnerPeter A. Freemaninventor
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OwnerPeter A. Freemaninventor
Estimating the term…
Self-contained treatment apparatus for a body of water includes a mounting assembly having flotation elements for fixedly supporting a circulation or agitation device below the surface of the water and driving or motor mechanism above the water surface. Actuation of the motor mechanism operates the circulation or agitation device such that naturally occurring oxygen-saturated water near the surface is drawn downwardly and mixed with the lower oxygen deficient reaches of the body of water and effecting a net increase in dissolved oxygen content. Optionally, actuation of the motor mechanism operates a bubble generator adjacent the water surface so that the air bubbles generated are drawn down with the oxygen-saturated surface water, where oxygen from the bubbles dissolves into the surrounding oxygen-deficient water, thus accelerating the improvement in dissolved oxygen content. Additionally, structure may be included for selective directional control of the oxygen-enriched discharge stream, so that a gentle flushing action can be applied against nutrient-rich sediments, sludges or residues accumulating on the bottom, thereby further improving the water quality.
A self-contained treatment apparatus for a body of water provided with a surface and having naturally oxygen-enriched surface water disposed atop lower reaches of oxygen deficient water including, a mount assembly having a base element disposed below the water surface, water circulation means including an impeller disposed substantially below said water surface, driving means connected to said impeller and disposed above said water surface, vertically extending connecting means joining said driving means and impeller, said driving means including a wind-driven rotor, a shroud defining a vertical interior water channel of substantial diameter surrounding said impeller and at least a portion of said connecting means, said shroud having top and bottom openings, said top opening adjacent to yet fully spaced beneath said water surface and said bottom opening disposed beneath said impeller, said shroud top opening disposed in an unobstructed manner relative said water surface thereabove to allow unimpeded ingress of water from said surface therethrough whereby, operation of said wind-driven rotor actuates said impeller to circulate naturally oxygen-enriched surface water from said water surface radially adjacent and above said shroud top opening in a substantially non-impeded manner downwardly through said shroud water channel and through said bottom opening to the lower reaches of said body of water.
A self-contained treatment apparatus for a body of water including, a mount assembly having a base element disposed below the water surface, water circulation means including an impeller disposed substantially below said water surface, driving means connected to said impeller and disposed above said water surface, vertically extending connecting means joining said driving means and impeller, a shroud defining a vertical interior water channel of substantial diameter surrounding said impeller and at least a portion of said connecting means, said shroud having top and bottom openings, said top opening well-spaced beneath said water surface and said bottom opening disposed beneath said impeller, a bubble generator attached to said connecting means adjacent said water surface intermediate said driving means and shroud top opening, whereby, operation of said driving means actuates said impeller to circulate naturally oxygen-enriched surface water from said water surface adjacent said shroud top opening downwardly through said shroud water channel and through said bottom opening to the lower reaches of said body of water.
A self-contained treatment apparatus for a body of water including, a mount assembly having a base element disposed below the water surface, water circulation means including an impeller disposed substantially below said water surface, driving means connected to said impeller and disposed above said water surface, vertically extending connecting means joining said driving means and impeller, said driving means including a wind-driven motor, a shroud defining a vertical interior water channel of substantial diameter surrounding said impeller and at least a portion of said connecting means, said shroud having top and bottom openings, said top opening well-spaced beneath said water surface and said bottom opening disposed beneath said impeller, a bubble generator attached to said connecting means adjacent said water surface and intermediate said driving means and shroud top opening whereby, operation of said wind-driven rotor actuates said impeller to circulate naturally oxygen-enriched surface water from said water surface adjacent said shroud top opening downwardly through said shroud water channel and through said bottom opening to the lower reaches of said body of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.