Apparatus and method for producing air bubbles in a body of liquid

Claim 2

Interconnecting means for delivering air from a distributing conductor to an elongated air conductor having an internal passage and a plurality of openings distributed along its length for allowing outward flow of air to produce bubbles in a body of liquid comprising: a pair of mating conductors, one adapted to connect to said distributing conductor, and the other adapted to connect to said elongated air conductor so that together they form an interconnecting passage, threaded means for detachably fastening said mating conductors together in mating relationship, a plug having a restricted orifice for producing a pressure drop across the interconnection between said distributing conductor and said air conductor, and means for removably fastening said plug within the interconnecting passage.

Claim 3

Interconnecting means according to claim 1 wherein said mating conductors are the legs of separate T-connectors.

Claim 4

Apparatus adapted to be connected to a compressor for producing air bubbles in a body of liquid comprising: at least one elongated air conductor having an internal passage and a plurality of openings distributed along its length for allowing air to flow outwardly from its internal passage to produce bubbles, an additional conductor having an opening adapted to be connected to a compressor, and an internal passage communicating with said opening and adapted to conduct air from said compressor under high pressure, means interconnecting the internal passage of said elongated air conductor with the internal passage of said additional conductor at at least two separate locations both remote from said compressor, and means for producing a pressure drop across the interconnection nearest said opening, said elongated air conductor comprising at least two detachable sections and said additional conductor comprising at least two detachable sections, each section of said elongated conductor being attached to a section of said additional conductor, and including a first fitting having three ports, two of which connect a pair of said sections of said elongated conductor, and a second fitting having three ports, two of which connect a pair of said sections of said additional conductor, the remaining ports of said fittings being interconnected to provide said interconnecting means.

Claim 5

Apparatus adapted to be connected to a compressor for producing air bubbles in a body of liquid comprising: at least one elongated air conductor having an internal passage and a plurality of openings distributed along its length for allowing air to flow outwardly from its internal passage to produce bubbles, an additional conductor having an opening adapted to be connected to a compressor, and an internal passage communicating with said opening and adapted to conduct air from said compressor under high pressure, means interconnecting the internal passage of said elongated air conductor with the internal passage of said additional conductor at at least two separate locations both remote from said compressor, and means for producing a pressure drop across the interconnection nearest said opening, said elongated air conductor comprising at least two detachable sections and said additional conductor comprising at least two detachable sections, each section of said elongated conductor being attached to a section of said additional conductor, and including a first fitting having three ports, two of which connect a pair of said sections of said elongated conductor, and a second fitting having three ports, two of which connect a pair of said sections of said additional conductor, the remaining ports of said fittings being interconnected to provide said interconnecting means.

Claim 6

Apparatus adapted to be connected to a compressor for producing air bubbles in a body of liquid comprising: a first elongated air conductor having an internal passage continuous at all times throughout its length, a plurality of openings spaced longitudinally along the length of said conductor for allowing air to flow outwardly from its internal passage to produce bubbles, a second elongated air conductor fastened in substantially parallel relation to said elongated air conductor and adapted to conduct air from a compressor under high pressure, a plurality of restricted interconnecting means connecting the passages of said conductors and having a longitudinal spacing greater than the longitudinal spacing of said openings, whereby the air within said first conductor is maintained at a substantially uniform pressure, and in which the first air conductor comprises a plurality of detachable sections, and the second air conductor also comprises a plurality of detachable sections, each section of said first conductor being fastened in substantially parallel relation to a section of said second conductor, and having H fittings connecting the adjoining ends of corresponding sections of said air conductors, the restricted interconnecting means being located in said H fittings.

Claim 7

Apparatus adapted to be connected to a compressor for producing air bubbles in a body of liquid comprising: a first elongated air conductor having an internal passage continuous at all times throughout its length, a plurality of openings spaced longitudinally along the length of said conductor for allowing air to flow outwardly from its internal passage to produce bubbles, a second elongated air conductor fastened in substantially parallel relation to said elongated air conductor and adapted to conduct air from a compressor under high pressure, a plurality of restricted interconnecting means connecting the passages of said conductors and having a longitudinal spacing greater than the longitudinal spacing of said openings, whereby the air within said first conductor is maintained at a substantially uniform pressure, and in which the first air conductor comprises a plurality of detachable sections, and the second air conductor also comprises a plurality of detachable sections, each section of said first conductor being fastened in substantially parallel relation to a section of said second conductor, and having H fittings connecting the adjoining ends of corresponding sections of said air conductors, the restricted interconnecting means being located in said H fittings.

Claim 8

Apparatus for releasing air bubbles into a body of liquid comprising: an elongated air distributing conductor adapted to conduct air from a compressor under high pressure, said distributing conductor comprising a plurality of flexible, interconnected detachable sections, a flexible bubbling hose comprising a plurality of flexible interconnected, detachable sections, each section of bubbling hose being fastened to one of said flexible, interconnected conductor sections in substantially parallel relationship and close proximity thereto, to form a flexible two-conductor bubbler adapted to be wound onto spools, each end of each bubbling hose section being located adjacent a different end of the flexible, interconnected section to which it is fastened, and each of said bubbling hose sections having openings spaced longitudinally along its length for allowing air to flow outwardly from its internal passage to release bubbles, a fitting located at each interconnection of the elongated air distributing conductor, said fitting including: means for interconnecting the adjacent ends of the distributing conductor sections and providing open communication beTween said sections, and restricted interconnecting means for interconnecting the interior of the distributing conductor with the bubbling hose on the interconnected section of the air distributing conductor whereby the air within the bubbling hose may be maintained at a substantially more uniform pressure.

Claim 9

Apparatus for releasing air bubbles into a body of liquid comprising: an elongated air distributing conductor adapted to conduct air from a compressor under high pressure, said distributing conductor comprising a plurality of flexible, interconnected detachable sections, a flexible bubbling hose comprising a plurality of flexible interconnected, detachable sections, each section of bubbling hose being fastened to one of said flexible, interconnected conductor sections in substantially parallel relationship and close proximity thereto, to form a flexible two-conductor bubbler adapted to be wound onto spools, each end of each bubbling hose section being located adjacent a different end of the flexible, interconnected section to which it is fastened, and each of said bubbling hose sections having openings spaced longitudinally along its length for allowing air to flow outwardly from its internal passage to release bubbles, a fitting located at each interconnection of the elongated air distributing conductor, said fitting including: means for interconnecting the adjacent ends of the distributing conductor sections and providing open communication beTween said sections, and restricted interconnecting means for interconnecting the interior of the distributing conductor with the bubbling hose on the interconnected section of the air distributing conductor whereby the air within the bubbling hose may be maintained at a substantially more uniform pressure.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which each said restricted interconnecting means comprises a pair of separable mating conductors, forming an interconnecting passage and a plug having a restricted orifice removably secured within said interconnecting passage.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which each said restricted interconnecting means comprises a pair of separable mating conductors forming an interconnecting passage and a plug having a restricted orifice located within said interconnecting passage and clamped between seats formed on said mating conductors.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which each said restricted interconnecting means comprises a pair of separable mating conductors threaded together to form an interconnecting passage and a plug having a restricted orifice located within said interconnecting passage and clamped between seats formed on said mating conductors.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 5 including continuously adjustable means for adjusting the restriction in said restricted interconnecting means.