Patent US1390596A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3643403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Downflow bubble contact aeration apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-04-29
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1990-04-29
Abstract
Abstract Oxygen deficient water is aerated by dispersing bubbles of air or oxygen gas in a forced downflow of water through a downwardly diverging funnel trapping the bubbles therein for prolonged contact with the water. The bubbles are displaced by crowding from the lower end of the funnel after some of the oxygen has been absorbed in the water and in some cases partially replaced by nitrogen gas stripped from the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E Speece
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:08
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/20; C02F3/205; C02F3/207; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/233; B01F23/2334; B01F23/23341; B01F23/234; B01F23/2341; B01F23/23411; B01F23/2336; B01F23/23362; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said flow confining means forms a flow chamber of uniformly increasing flow area in a downward direction from the inlet end to the outlet end from which the bubbles escape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said flow confining means comprises a Downwardly diverging funnel entrapping said bubbles of gas between the inlet and outlet ends, said bubbles being displaced from the outlet end out of the influence of said downflow by continuous injection of bubbles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said forced flow producing means includes power operated impeller means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said forced flow producing means includes a source of water under a pressure head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for injecting the bubbles of gas includes a source of gas under pressure and a bubble disperser connected to said source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for injecting the bubbles includes a means for cascading water into the flow confining means under a hydrostatic head thereby entraining bubbles of air.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of dissolving and stripping gases from a body of water exposed to atmosphere including the steps of: inducing a downflow stream within said body of water of decreasing velocity; continuously injecting bubbles of a gas into said downflow stream; and confining said bubbles to a limited zone for downward movement only with the stream to prolong contact with the water, the water upstream of the limited zone having a velocity greater than the buoyant velocities of the bubbles thereby entrapping the bubbles downstream of the limited zone, the bubbles being displaced from the limited zone by said continuous injection thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said bubbles of gas includes oxygen progressively replaced by nitrogen during downward movement in the stream as the oxygen is absorbed by the water and the nitrogen is stripped therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said bubbles are displaced from the limited zone when the oxygen content thereof is approximately 21 percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said bubbles of gas are injected by cascading of water into the downflow stream under a hydrostatic head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |