US3865908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aerators with de-icing means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-15
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1994-01-15
Abstract
Abstract An aerator has inflow and outflow portions, a portion open above the water level with which the upper ends of the inflow and outflow portions are in communication. Means are provided to circulate the water and to aerate it. The undissolved air escapes to the atmosphere as the water flows through the transfer portion. Means are provided within the aerator, should the aerator be restarted after being out of service in cold weather with the water in the transfer portion frozen, to effect communication with the space under the ice with the open air and if normal flow is blocked, to restore such normal flow. In some embodiments, the means require the lifting of the ice, in others, circulation below the ice is provided and, when air lifts are used, a valve-controlled vent may be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Benedict E Hirshon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:19
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/14; C02F3/16; C02F3/165; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; C02F3/20; C02F3/205; C02F3/207; C02F7/00; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
An aerator for a body of open water such as a lake, pond, river, or bay, where ice formation is to be expected, said aerator being positionable therein and comprising depending inflow and outflow conduit portions, and a portion interconnecting the upper ends of said inflow and outflow portions in part below the surface level of the body of water and with their lower ends so disposed relative to each other as to inhibit substantial circulation therebetween, and also including wall structure extending above the water level to bar the inflow of surface water, means to effect the flow of water upwardly through the inflow portion through said interconnecting portion and downwardly through the outflow portion as a continuous stream and to aerate the circulating water before its entry into the outflow portion, said interconnecting portion being oriented to provide a time delay in the flow of the elevated water into the outflow portion to permit the escape of air therefrom, and means operable in the event the water in the interconnecting portions becomes frozen and when the first named means are in operation to effect communication within the wall structure between the space below the ice and the open air and if the ice has blocked the normal flow of water, to restore said normal flow between the inflow and outflow portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
An aerator for a body of open water such as a lake, pond, river, or bay, where ice formation is to be expected, said aerator being positionable therein and comprising depending inflow and outflow conduit portions, and a portion interconnecting the upper ends of said inflow and outflow portions in part below the surface level of the body of water and with their lower ends so disposed relative to each other as to inhibit substantial circulation therebetween, and also including wall structure extending above the water level to bar the inflow of surface water, means to effect the flow of water upwardly through the inflow portion through said interconnecting portion and downwardly through the outflow portion as a continuous stream and to aerate the circulating water before its entry into the outflow portion, said interconnecting portion being oriented to provide a time delay in the flow of the elevated water into the outflow portion to permit the escape of air therefrom, and means operable in the event the water in the interconnecting portions becomes frozen and when the first named means are in operation to effect communication within the wall structure between the space below the ice and the open air and if the ice has blocked the normal flow of water, to restore said normal flow between the inflow and outflow portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The aerator of claim 1 in which the wall structure is inclined upwardly and outwardly to provide sufficient draft to facilitate the freeing of the ice As an incident to the operation of the aerator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The aerator of claim 1 in which the wall structure includes transverse, internal, upwardly exposed shoulders below the outside water level operable to hold the ice cake when freed therefrom from blocking flow through the outflow conduit portion if the circulating water flows over its upper surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The aerator of claim 2 in which the wall structure includes a slip sheet sealed thereto above the water level and below the frost line and so dimensioned as to provide a bag-defining sag.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The aerator of claim 4 and a lubricant confined between the sheet and the wall structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The aerator of claim 1 in which the first named means is an air lift including a supply conduit, the air lift located a distance below the outside water level greater than the maximum expected ice thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The aerator of claim 6 in which the inlet of the air lift includes a check valve operable to prevent water from rising therein to a level at which it might freeze if the air supply failed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The aerator of claim 1 in which the first named means includes a mechanical impeller in one of the conduit portions located below the frost line, an air distributor, and the bottom of the transfer portion has a channel extending from end-to-end thereof of a relatively small cross sectional area and of a depth such that the bottom of the channel is below the frost line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
The aerator of claim 1 in which the bottom of the transfer portion is below the frost line, the inflow portion opens into the transfer portion above the frost line and includes a wall separating the inflow and transfer portions, the first means includes an air distributor adjacent the upper end of the inflow portion and an impeller in one of the conduit portions, and the wall has a series of vertically spaced and normally closed valves that open if flow over said wall is blocked by ice.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The aerator of claim 7 in which the bottom of the transfer portion is below the frost line, the inflow portion includes a section extending upwardly therein and terminating above the frost line and includes a plurality of vertically spaced valves open if the pressure in the inflow section increases as a consequence of a freeze up, and the first means includes an air distributor in the inflow portion below the frost line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The aerator of claim 10 and a vent extending from below the frost line and opening above the water level, and the vent has a series of vertically spaced valves, each valve including a float by which it is held closed if the water in the transfer portion is of appropriate depth.
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) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |