Paddlewheel aerator drive mechanism

In a paddlewheel aerator having a frame, float elements secured to said frame, and a paddlewheel having a main shaft, rotatably mounted on said frame a chain drive box comprising

• a watertight box with a removable side and a substantially watertight seal means for preventing ingress of water to the interior of said drive box secured on top of said frame,
• a motor fixedly secured at the outside of said drive box having a shaft extending into said box through a sealed opening in one side thereof,
• an intermediate shaft mounted in bearings within said drive box fixed relative to said frame and on about the same vertical level as, and parallel to, said motor shaft,
• speed reduction drive means connected to drive said intermediate shaft from said motor shaft at a rotational speed less than that of said motor,
• an opening in a side of said drive box opposite said motor on about the same vertical level as said motor shaft through which said main shaft extends,
• means for providing a water tight seal for said opening and main shaft,
• a drive sprocket secured to rotate with said intermediate shaft,
• a driven sprocket secured to rotate with said main shaft and having a diameter greater than that of said drive sprocket, and
• a chain belt mounted to drive said driven sprocket from said drive sprocket.

A paddlewheel aerator comprising

• a frame,
• float elements secured to said frame,
• a watertight drive box secured on top of said frame,
• a constant speed motor fixedly secured adjacent said drive box having a power output shaft extending into said box through a sealed opening in one side thereof,
• an intermediate shaft mounted in bearings within said drive box fixed relative to said frame and on about the same vertical level as, and parallel to, said power output shaft,
• a speed reduction drive means including an output shaft sprocket fixedly mounted to rotate with said output shaft, a sprocket relatively larger than said output shaft sprocket fixedly mounted to said intermediate shaft, and a chain belt coupling said output shaft sprocket and said relatively larger sprocket,
• a paddlewheel rotatably mounted on said frame and having a main shaft parallel to said intermediate shaft extending through an opening in a side of said drive box opposite said motor on about the same vertical level as said output shaft,
• means for providing a water tight seal for said opening and main shaft,
• a drive sprocket secured to rotate with said intermediate shaft,
• a driven sprocket secured to rotate with said main shaft and having a diameter at least four times that of said drive sprocket,
• a chain belt mounted to drive said driven sprocket from said drive sprocket, and
• a removable cover for said drive box with a substantially water tight seal means for preventing ingress of water to the interior of said drive box.