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US 5,851,066 AGranted
Floating mixer
AssigneeAerators, Inc.
InventorsFrank Nocifora, Charles E. Kruse
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAerators, Inc.
InventorsFrank Nocifora, Charles E. Kruse
Estimating the term…
A floating mixer which is suitable for use in anoxic processes in wastewater treatment facilities is provided. The mixer includes a float and a motor having an elongated shaft which is carried on the float such that the shaft extends into the body of liquid. A motor base is also carried by the float and it supports a shaft enclosure which surrounds and protects the shaft. When the mixer is floating in a body of liquid, the upper end of the shaft enclosure is in communication with the atmosphere above the surface of the body of liquid and the lower end of the shaft enclosure is in communication with the body of liquid. The mixer further includes a propeller attached to the drive shaft below the surface of the liquid which, when driven by the motor, creates a low pressure zone which extends to the lower end of the shaft enclosure. In addition, at least one pressure relief aperture is provided in the shaft enclosure which is sized and positioned below the surface of the liquid surface so that the tendency of the low pressure region to draw air into the shaft enclosure is substantially minimized.
A floating mixer for use in a body of liquid comprising:
A floating downflow mixer for use in a body of liquid comprising:
A method for preventing air flow through a shaft enclosure of a floating downflow mixer, wherein the shaft enclosure surrounds and protects a shaft of a motor which extends through the shaft enclosure to support a propeller at the lower end thereof in the body of liquid, wherein the shaft enclosure has an upper end in communication with the atmosphere and a lower region in the body of liquid which has an open end through which the shaft passes, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.