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US 6,149,393 AGranted
Air lift pump
AssigneeNate International
InventorDennis Chancellor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combination of an air lift pump and a mechanical pump is used to lift a fluid from a lower level to a higher level. In preferred embodiments compressed air is released below the level of a submerged mechanical pump having an impeller, such that the compressed air impinges upon the low pressure side of the impeller. The combination may be used advantageously in conjunction with a semipermeable membrane disposed within a deep channel to lift a purified fluid.
Claims17
A method of pumping a fluid from a lower level to a higher level, comprising:
- causing the fluid to enter a channel;
- providing a mechanical pump in fluid communication with the fluid;
- operating the mechanical pump to pump the fluid towards the higher level;
- causing a gas to flow into the channel in a manner which assists in pumping the fluid towards the higher level;
- and
- releasing a compressed gas such that at least a portion of the compressed gas passes through the mechanical pump.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.