Flocculation apparatus and apparatus for floating upwardly in a liquid and for moving downwardly in the liquid under the influence of gravity

Flocculation apparatus, comprising:

• paddle means for being moved upwardly and downwardly through a liquid in which particles are suspended to facilitate agglomeration of the particles, said paddle means including a plurality of longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed and laterally spaced apart paddle members;
• flotation means and compressed gas discharge means for alternately and continuously moving said paddle means upwardly and downwardly through the liquid in response to compressed gas being introduced continuously into said flotation means, said flotation means for continuously receiving the compressed gas therein and in response thereto for floating and moving the paddle means upwardly through the liquid and after which said compressed gas discharge means are for discharging the compressed gas from the flotation means to allow gravity to pull the paddle means downwardly through the liquid;
• and
• compressed gas supply means for continuously introducing the compressed gas into said flotation means.

Flocculation apparatus for residing in a flocculation basin including walls providing a chamber containing liquid in which particles are suspended, comprising:

• paddle means;
• frame means;
• said paddle means mounted to said frame means and including a plurality of longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed and laterally spaced apart paddle members;
• flotation means mounted to said paddle means, said flotation means for floating and moving said paddle means and said frame means upwardly through the liquid in response to said flotation means continuously receiving compressed gas introduced therein;
• compressed gas supply means for introducing compressed gas into said flotation means;
• compressed gas discharge means operably associated with said flotation means for discharging the compressed gas from said flotation means to allow gravity to pull said paddle means downwardly through the liquid;
• guide means operably associated with said paddle means and said frame means and for preventing said paddle means and said frame means from engaging the walls of the flocculation basin during said upward and downward movement of said paddle means and said frame means;
• and
• upon said paddle means moving upwardly and downwardly through the liquid said paddle means agitating the liquid to facilitate agglomeration of the particles.

Flocculation apparatus for residing in a chamber containing liquid in which flocculatable or settleable particles are suspended, said flocculator apparatus for stirring the liquid to facilitate flocculation of the particles, said flocculation apparatus comprising:

• liquid stirring means including a plurality of longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed and laterally spaced apart paddle members;
• and
• combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means mounted to said liquid stirring means, said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means for receiving compressed gas and in response to sufficient compressed gas being received therein said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means becoming sufficiently buoyant to float said liquid stirring means upwardly in said chamber to cause said liquid stirring means to stir the liquid and upon said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means floating sufficiently high in said liquid said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means automatically discharging sufficient of the compressed gas received therein to cause said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means to lose sufficient buoyancy to permit gravity to pull said stirring means downwardly in said chamber to cause said stirring means to stir said liquid and said combination flotation and gas discharge means for repeatedly alternately floating said stirring means upwardly in said chamber and permitting gravity to pull said stirring means downwardly in said chamber in response to compressed gas received in and automatically discharged from said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means.

Apparatus for floating upwardly in a liquid and for moving downwardly in the liquid under the influence of gravity said apparatus comprising:

• combination floatation and compressed gas discharge means for receiving compressed gas and in response to sufficient floatation said combination compressed gas discharge means becoming sufficiently buoyant to float upwardly in the liquid and upon-said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means floating sufficiently high in the liquid said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means automatically discharging sufficient of the compressed gas received therein to cause said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means to lose sufficient buoyancy to permit gravity to pull said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means downwardly in the liquid and said combination flotation and gas discharge means for repeatedly alternately floating upwardly in the liquid and permitting gravity to pull said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means downwardly in the liquid in response to compressed gas received in and automatically discharged from said combination flotation and compressed gas discharge means, said combination floatation and compressed gas discharge means comprising a first hollow cylinder having an open bottom and a generally closed top provided with a generally centrally formed opening, said first hollow cylinder has a first height and a first width, a second hollow cylinder and a third hollow cylinder, said second hollow cylinder residing interiorly of, spaced inwardly from, and mounted to said first hollow cylinder, said second hollow cylinder having a generally closed bottom, an open top portion placing the interior of said second hollow cylinder in fluid communication with the interior of said first hollow cylinder, and said second hollow cylinder having a second height and a second width smaller than said first height and said first width, said third hollow cylinder residing interiorly of and spaced inwardly from said second hollow cylinder, said third hollow cylinder having an open bottom spaced upwardly from said closed bottom of said second hollow cylinder and placing the interior of said third hollow cylinder in fluid communication with the interior of said second hollow cylinder, said third hollow cylinder having an open top coincident with said opening formed in said generally closed top of said first hollow cylinder and having an upper portion mounted to said generally closed top of said first hollow cylinder, and said third hollow cylinder having a third width smaller than said second width.