Patent US3788616A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3788616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Agitating and aerating apparatus
Assignee: Xodar Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-21
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-04-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a system for simultaneously aerating and agitating a body of liquid. The system comprises a body that is pivotally mounted in the liquid with its pivot point located intermediate its ends, and means for feeding air to the lower side of the body. The body is adapted to trap alternately at each end sufficient air to cause that end to rise in the liquid, and means are provided for releasing the air trapped at each end of the body when that end has risen a predetermined amount, with the result that the body oscillates on its pivot axis in see-saw fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 R Clough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:54
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/20; C02F3/205; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/233; B01F31/00; B01F31/44; B01F31/445; B01F35/00; B01F35/30; B01F35/32; B01F35/32005; B01F35/3203; B01F23/2336; B01F23/23362; B01F35/32015; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for aerating and agitating a liquid in which it is submersed, said apparatus comprising a body and means pivotally supporting said body intermediate its opposite ends so that said body can undergo a seesaw motion whereby one of said ends is alternately higher and lower than the other of said ends, said body being adapted to trap at each end thereof when said each end is lower than the other end thereof a quantity of gas sufficient to exert a positive buoyancy force to that lower end, and means for releasing the gas trapped at each end of said body when said each end is higher than the other end thereof so as to eliminate the positive buoyancy force exerted by said trapped gas, and means for directing a molecular oxygen gas alternately to said opposite ends so that first one and then the other of said ends is subjected to said positive buoyancy force and said body will undergo said seesaw motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for aerating and agitating a liquid in which it is submersed, said apparatus comprising a body and means pivotally supporting said body intermediate its opposite ends so that said body can undergo a seesaw motion whereby one of said ends is alternately higher and lower than the other of said ends, said body being adapted to trap at each end thereof when said each end is lower than the other end thereof a quantity of gas sufficient to exert a positive buoyancy force to that lower end, and means for releasing the gas trapped at each end of said body when said each end is higher than the other end thereof so as to eliminate the positive buoyancy force exerted by said trapped gas, and means for directing a molecular oxygen gas alternately to said opposite ends so that first one and then the other of said ends is subjected to said positive buoyancy force and said body will undergo said seesaw motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for releasing gas comprises one or more holes at each end of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises an open frame and a fluid-impervious sheet attached to and extending across the upper side of said frame, said means for releasing gas comprising one or more holes in said sheet at each end of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a fluid-impervious wall with means defining a skirt at each end thereof, and said means for releasing gas comprises one or more holes in said wall at each end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means defining a chamber at each end of said body, said chambers each being open on the side thereof facing the pivot point of said body for admittance of said gas, and further wherein said means for releasing gas comprises one or more holes in an upper wall of each of said chambers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for directing gas comprises means for discharging a gas below said body and a baffle moveable with said body for diverting said gas to one or the other ends of said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for directing air comprises first and second gas discharge means located on opposite sides of the pivot axis of said body and means for alternately operating said gas discharge means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for adjusting the rate at which gas is directed to said opposite ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a frame constructed of tubular members, a stiff sheet overlying and secured to said frame, and a baffle carried by said body that subdivides the space within the confines of said frame and sheet into two gas-trapping chambers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pivot axis of said body is located to one side of its center of gravity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body includes at least one tubular member having an inlet port, means for feeding a gas into said at least one tubular member via said inlet port under pressure, and a plurality of small holes in said at least one tubular member for releasing said gas as small bubbles into the liquid in which said apparatus is submersed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
In combination with a holder for a liquid having lateral boundaries and a bottom, apparatus for simultaneously aerating and agitating said liquid, said apparatus comprising a body and means pivotally holding said body inmersed in said liquid, the pivot axis of said body being intermediate its ends, said body having an open bottom divided into two chambers disposed on opposite sides of said pivot axis, gas supply means, means for directing said gas to said chambers so as to alternately impart each end of said body an unbalancing positive buoyancy force, and means for leaking gas from one chamber as said gas is directed into the other chamber so as to cause said body to oscillate in a seesaw motion on its pivot axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
In combination with a holder for a liquid having lateral boundaries and a bottom, apparatus for simultaneously aerating and agitating said liquid, said apparatus comprising a body and means pivotally holding said body inmersed in said liquid, the pivot axis of said body being intermediate its ends, said body having an open bottom divided into two chambers disposed on opposite sides of said pivot axis, gas supply means, means for directing said gas to said chambers so as to alternately impart each end of said body an unbalancing positive buoyancy force, and means for leaking gas from one chamber as said gas is directed into the other chamber so as to cause said body to oscillate in a seesaw motion on its pivot axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said body comprises an open frame covered On one side by a waterproof sheet, and a baffle attached to said frame on the underside of said sheet, said baffle being disposed to direct said gas into one or the other of said chambers according to the angular position of said body on said pivot axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for leaking gas comprises holes in said sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 14 further including means for adjusting rate of flow of gas from said gas supply means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said body includes tubular members and further including means for pressuring said tubular members with gas and a plurality of holes in said tubular members for effecting release of gas from said tubular members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 12 further including supplementary aeration means separate from said body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein said supplementary means comprises a grid of hollow tubular members and means for supplying gas to said hollow members, said hollow members having a plurality of holes for escape of said gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
In combination with a holder for a liquid having lateral boundaries and a bottom, an aerating system comprising a body in said holder at least partially below the surface of said liquid, said body comprising a frame and a liquid-impervious cover extending across and covering the upper side of said frame, means pivotally supporting said frame at a point intermediate its ends, and means cooperating with said frame and said cover to define a chamber at each end of said frame, means for injecting a gas into the space below said frame and for directing said gas alternately to said chambers so as to impart a positive bouyancy force to first one end and then the opposite end of said body, said body being adapted to release gas from each chamber when the corresponding end of said body has swung upwardly to a predetermined angular position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
146 words
In combination with a holder for a liquid having lateral boundaries and a bottom, an aerating system comprising a body in said holder at least partially below the surface of said liquid, said body comprising a frame and a liquid-impervious cover extending across and covering the upper side of said frame, means pivotally supporting said frame at a point intermediate its ends, and means cooperating with said frame and said cover to define a chamber at each end of said frame, means for injecting a gas into the space below said frame and for directing said gas alternately to said chambers so as to impart a positive bouyancy force to first one end and then the opposite end of said body, said body being adapted to release gas from each chamber when the corresponding end of said body has swung upwardly to a predetermined angular position.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of agitating a body of liquid comprising submersing in said body a device that is adapted to pivot on a pivot axis located intermediate its ends, injecting a gas into one end of said device so as to cause that end to rise in said liquid, releasing gas from said one end as said one end moves above the level of said pivot axis so that said one end loses buoyancy, injecting gas into the other end of said device so as to cause said other end to rise in said liquid, releasing gas from said other end as said other end moves above the level of said pivot axis so that said other end loses buoyancy, and continuing to alternately inject and release gas as described so that said body undergoes a continuous seesaw motion about said pivot axis.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of agitating a body of liquid comprising submersing in said body a device that is adapted to pivot on a pivot axis located intermediate its ends, injecting a gas into one end of said device so as to cause that end to rise in said liquid, releasing gas from said one end as said one end moves above the level of said pivot axis so that said one end loses buoyancy, injecting gas into the other end of said device so as to cause said other end to rise in said liquid, releasing gas from said other end as said other end moves above the level of said pivot axis so that said other end loses buoyancy, and continuing to alternately inject and release gas as described so that said body undergoes a continuous seesaw motion about said pivot axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3664647A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |