Aerating apparatus and method

Claim 2

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said discharge means being at the level of the thereadjacent portion of said surface to cause liquid supplied through said discharge means to flow onto said surface without cascading downwardly thereto and said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across said surface towards its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means whereby the liquid is supplied to said surface without cascading downwardly thereto; the periphery of said surface being, when said wall means is supported by said supporting means adjacent the upper level of a body of liquid, at an elevation at least as low as the upper level of the surrounding liquid; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprising baffle means longitudinally extending around said discharge means and post means projecting outwardly form said baffle means at locations spaced along the length of the latter.

Claim 3

Aerating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said baffle means includes an upper surface facing away from said surface of said wall means which slopes from said discharge means towards the periphery of said wall means surface, and said baffle means and said post means include sides remote from said discharge means which are substantially flush with one another.

Claim 4

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said discharge means being at the level of the thereadjacent portion of said surface to cause liquid supplied through said discharge means to flow onto said surface without cascading downwardly thereto and said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across said surface towards its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means whereby the liquid is supplied to said surface without cascading downwardly thereto; and the periphery of said surface being, when said wall means is supported by said supporting means adjacent the upper level of a body of liquid, at an elevation at least as low as the upper level of the surrounding liquid; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid fLow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprising at least one baffle projecting outwardly from aid surface and longitudinally extending around said discharge means, and a plurality of spaced post elements associated with said baffle end projecting outwardly therefrom.

Claim 5

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said discharge means being at the level of the thereadjacent portion of said surface to cause liquid supplied through said discharge means to flow onto said surface without cascading downwardly thereto and said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across said surface towards its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means whereby the liquid is supplied to said surface without cascading downwardly thereto; and the periphery of said surface being, when said wall means is supported by said supporting means adjacent the upper level of a body of liquid, at an elevation at least as low as the upper level of the surrounding liquid; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid fLow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprising at least one baffle projecting outwardly from aid surface and longitudinally extending around said discharge means, and a plurality of spaced post elements associated with said baffle end projecting outwardly therefrom.

Claim 6

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having generally annular discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprises baffle means longitudinally extending around said discharge means and posts means projecting outwardly from said discharge means at locations spaced along the latter.

Claim 7

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having generally annular discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprises baffle means longitudinally extending around said discharge means and posts means projecting outwardly from said discharge means at locations spaced along the latter.

Claim 8

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having generally annular discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means including at least one baffle projecting outwardly from said surface and longitudinally extending around said discharge means, and a plurality of post elements projecting outwardly from said baffle at locations spaced along the length thereof.

Claim 9

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having generally annular discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means including at least one baffle projecting outwardly from said surface and longitudinally extending around said discharge means, and a plurality of post elements projecting outwardly from said baffle at locations spaced along the length thereof.

Claim 10

Aerating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said baffle includes an upper surface facing away from said surface of said wall means which slopes upwardly from said discharge means towards the periphery of said wall means surface.

Claim 11

Aerating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said baffle and said post elements include sides remote from said discharge means which are substantially flush with one another.

Claim 12

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having generally annular discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said surface sloping downwardLy from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatevely associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprising annular baffles projecting from said surface and encircling said discharge means, and spaced post elements operatively associated with said baffles to project outwardly therefrom.

Claim 13

Aerating apparatus comprising supporting means; wall means carried by said supporting means to be supported thereby adjacent the upper level of a body of the liquid to be aerated with a surface of the wall means facing upwardly from the liquid; means providing flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid when said wall means is so supported and having generally annular discharge means generally centrally of said surface for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface; said surface sloping downwardLy from said discharge means towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatevely associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; said surface being provided with means for causing turbulence in liquid flowing thereacross for promoting and accelerating aeration of such liquid during such flow; said turbulence causing means permitting liquid flow from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface in substantially all radial directions; and said turbulence causing means comprising annular baffles projecting from said surface and encircling said discharge means, and spaced post elements operatively associated with said baffles to project outwardly therefrom.

Claim 14

Aerating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said baffles include upper surfaces which incline as they extend from said discharge means.

Claim 15

Aerating apparatus comprising a floatable support; wall means carried by said support such that, when said support is floated in a body of liquid, said wall means is adjacent the upper level of the liquid and has a surface facing upwardly from the liquid and exposed to air thereabove; means defining flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid below said wall means when said wall means is so supported and having discharge means for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface of said wall means; said discharge means including a generally annular discharge orifice located generally centrally of said surface operatively discharging liquid onto said surface generally centrally thereof and said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge orifice towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; and means operatively associated with said surface for promoting the quantity of the liquid flowing thereacross directly exposed to air and providing intermixing of aerated and unaerated portions of such liquid during such flow; said promoting means comprising at least one baffle projecting outwardly from said surface and longitudinally extending around said discharge means, said baffle permitting flow of liquid outwardly from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface over the outermost surface of said baffle and being of length to prevent liquid flow from said discharge means to such periphery around said baffle, and said promoting means also comprising a plurality of post elements projecting further outwardly from said baffle at locations along the length of said baffle.

Claim 16

Aerating apparatus comprising a floatable support; wall means carried by said support such that, when said support is floated in a body of liquid, said wall means is adjacent the upper level of the liquid and has a surface facing upwardly from the liquid and exposed to air thereabove; means defining flow passage means adapted for receiving liquid below said wall means when said wall means is so supported and having discharge means for discharging liquid from said flow passage means onto said surface of said wall means; said discharge means including a generally annular discharge orifice located generally centrally of said surface operatively discharging liquid onto said surface generally centrally thereof and said surface sloping downwardly from said discharge orifice towards its periphery to facilitate liquid flow across the surface to its periphery; pump means operatively associated with said flow passage means for pumping liquid through said flow passage means and discharge means onto said surface; and means operatively associated with said surface for promoting the quantity of the liquid flowing thereacross directly exposed to air and providing intermixing of aerated and unaerated portions of such liquid during such flow; said promoting means comprising at least one baffle projecting outwardly from said surface and longitudinally extending around said discharge means, said baffle permitting flow of liquid outwardly from said discharge means to the periphery of said surface over the outermost surface of said baffle and being of length to prevent liquid flow from said discharge means to such periphery around said baffle, and said promoting means also comprising a plurality of post elements projecting further outwardly from said baffle at locations along the length of said baffle.

Claim 17

Aerating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said outermost surface of said baffle slopes upwardly from said discharge means towards the periphery of said surface, and the side of said outermost surface most remote from said discharge means is spaced above the thereadjacent portion of said wall means surface.

Claim 18

Aerating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sides of said baffle and posts remote from said discharge means are substantially flush with one another.