Patent US3846516A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3846516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Aerator device and method
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An aerator device and method of aerating which comprises a hollow-bladed axial impeller means to effect supercavitation below the surface of the liquid and to produce a downward, swirling flow of gas and liquid; means for admitting a flow of gas to and through a first venturi and out through the blades of the propeller; wall means surrounding said blade means for cooperatively forming therewith an effective second venturi adjacent the blades; and means for preventing gas having passed the blades from reentering the blade area before being dissolved in the liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 L Carlson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:10
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1278; C02F3/1294; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/233; B01F23/2331; B01F23/23311; B01F23/2334; B01F23/23341; B01F33/00; B01F33/50; B01F33/503; C02F3/14; C02F3/16; C02F3/165; B01F23/23314; B01F27/00; B01F27/05; B01F27/11; B01F27/113; B01F27/80; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In an aeration device having an axial flow impeller disposed to rotate below the surface of a liquid body, the improvement comprising: a. an impeller, including a plurality of radially extending propeller blades, at least some of which are hollow, said hollow blades having at least one opening formed therein to permit passage of gas into said liquid from the interior of said hollow blades; b. means communicating with the interior of said hollow blades wherefrom the gas flows out the openings in said blades as said blades rotate to impel Liquid; c. a vertically disposed venturi arranged to surround the impeller with the throat of said venturi adjacent said blades so that said blades impel a downward flow of liquid in the lower expanding portion of said venturi, said venturi having an inlet end disposed above said blades, said inlet end having a radially extending lip which curves inwardly and downwardly to said throat portion adjacent said blades; and d. float means which support said venturi from above, said float means having a smoothly curved bottom which is spaced above said inlet end of said venturi and which cooperates with said lip to form a smooth course for liquid into said inlet end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In an aeration device having an axial flow impeller disposed to rotate below the surface of a liquid body, the improvement comprising: a. an impeller, including a plurality of radially extending propeller blades, at least some of which are hollow, said hollow blades having at least one opening formed therein to permit passage of gas into said liquid from the interior of said hollow blades; b. means communicating with the interior of said hollow blades wherefrom the gas flows out the openings in said blades as said blades rotate to impel Liquid; c. a vertically disposed venturi arranged to surround the impeller with the throat of said venturi adjacent said blades so that said blades impel a downward flow of liquid in the lower expanding portion of said venturi, said venturi having an inlet end disposed above said blades, said inlet end having a radially extending lip which curves inwardly and downwardly to said throat portion adjacent said blades; and d. float means which support said venturi from above, said float means having a smoothly curved bottom which is spaced above said inlet end of said venturi and which cooperates with said lip to form a smooth course for liquid into said inlet end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 1 including means coupled to said impeller to rotatably drive it at a speed sufficient to produce supercavitation at said blades thereby aspirating the gas out the openings in said blades.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said coupling includes a tubular shaft and said shaft has at least one opening in its wall for admitting air into said hollow blades.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 3 including a hollow hub member from which said blades radially extend and from which the air passing from said passageway in said shaft enters said hollow blades.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said blades are arranged to produce supercavitation thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein said lower expanding portion of said venturi comprises a continuous wall which is circular in cross-section and which expands outwardly and downwardly from a narrow throat portion adjacent said blades to an outlet end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said lower expanding portion of said venturi has a length such that the fluid velocity at said outlet end is greater than the velocity at which bubbles tend to rise.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said venturi has lower expanding portion having a divergence of approximately sixty degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said impeller is adapted to impart swirl to the liquid to substantially prevent flow separation between the air-water mixture and the wall of said lower expanding portion of said venturi.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said lower expanding portion of said venturi extends downward sufficiently to recapture, at its lower open end, the fluid pressure head generated by the impeller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said lower expanding portion has a divergence angle of the order of about 60*.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a constriction fitted thereinto for restricting the flow of air.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said constriction has the form of a venturi nozzle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said blades are arranged at an appropriate pitch to induce a swirl in the liquid downstream from said impeller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the blades are proportioned to provide uniform distribution of air throughout the length of the blades.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |