Floatation aerator for aerating and moving water

Claim 2

A water aeration apparatus for aerating a body of water by propelling a stream of water from said body upwardly and outwardly above the surface of said body comprising: a. a float member of substantial area to float on a body of water and serve as a support, said float member having therethrough a central opening with a vertical axis; b. a ring member posItioned in and encasing said central opening and defining a vertical water flow passage through said float member, said ring member having laterally outward extending portions resting in supporting engagement with the float member to retain the ring member relative thereto; c. motor support members spaced on said ring member and depending therefrom; d. a submersible motor carried by said motor support members and spaced below said float member, said motor having a power shaft substantially axially aligned with said flow passage; e. a propeller mounted on said power shaft between the motor and float member and spaced below the float member and ring member, the area under the float member and surrounding the propeller and motor having only the spaced motor support members therein for substantially unobstructed movement of water from below the float member to said propeller, said propeller being driven by said motor to propel a stream of water upwardly through said water passage; f. a diffuser of generally inverted cone shape supported on said ring member above the float member and substantially axially aligned with said water passage, said diffuser having upwardly and outwardly curved surfaces for impingement of the stream of water and to disperse said water upwardly and outwardly over a wide area.

Claim 3

A water aerating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said float member having a plastic shell defining a sealed hollow chamber, said chamber being filled with a foam material whereby said plastic shell prevents water from contacting said foam.

Claim 4

A water aerating apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including: a. ribs protruding from an upper disposed surface of said float member and extending outwardly from said opening; and b. means associated with said ring member and cooperating with said ribs for holding said motor and said ring member from rotation relative to said float member.

Claim 5

A water aeration apparatus for aerating a body of water by propelling a stream of water from said body upwardly and outwardly above the surface of said body comprising: a. a float member of substantial area to float on a body of water and serve as a support, said float member having therethrough a central opening with a vertical axis, said float member having a plastic shell defining a sealed hollow chamber, said chamber being filled with a foam material whereby said plastic shell prevents water from contacting said foam; b. a ring member positioned in said central opening and defining a vertical water flow passage through said float member, said ring member having laterally outward extending portions engaging the float member to retain the ring member relative thereto, the laterally outwardly extending portions on the ring member being a top flange resting in supporting engagement with the float member around said central opening; c. motor support members spaced on said ring member and depending therefrom; d. a submersible motor carried by said motor support members and spaced below said float member, said motor having a power shaft substantially axially aligned with said flow passage; e. a propeller mounted on said power shaft between the motor and float member and spaced below the float member and ring member for substantially unobstructed movement of water from below the float member to said propeller, said propeller being driven by said motor to propel a stream of water upwardly through said water passage; f. a diffuser of generally inverted cone shape supported on said ring member above the float member and substantially axially aligned with said water passage, said diffuser having upwardly and outwardly curved surfaces for impingement of the stream of water and to disperse said water upwardly and outwardly over a wide area; g. ribs protruding from an upper disposed surface of said float member and extending outwardly from said opening; h. means associated with said ring member and cooperating With said ribs for holding said motor and said ring member from rotation relative to said float member; i. the means cooperating with the ribs on the float member are notches in said flange; j. the motor support members depending from the ring member include tie-rods secured to the motor and ring member and sleeves on said rods, said tie-rods and sleeves being adjustable for selective spacing of the motor and propeller below the float member.

Claim 6

A water aeration apparatus for aerating a body of water by propelling a stream of water from said body upwardly and outwardly above the surface of said body comprising: a. a float member of substantial area to float on a body of water and serve as a support, said float member having therethrough a central opening with a vertical axis, said float member having a plastic shell defining a sealed hollow chamber, said chamber being filled with a foam material whereby said plastic shell prevents water from contacting said foam; b. a ring member positioned in said central opening and defining a vertical water flow passage through said float member, said ring member having laterally outward extending portions engaging the float member to retain the ring member relative thereto, the laterally outwardly extending portions on the ring member being a top flange resting in supporting engagement with the float member around said central opening; c. motor support members spaced on said ring member and depending therefrom; d. a submersible motor carried by said motor support members and spaced below said float member, said motor having a power shaft substantially axially aligned with said flow passage; e. a propeller mounted on said power shaft between the motor and float member and spaced below the float member and ring member for substantially unobstructed movement of water from below the float member to said propeller, said propeller being driven by said motor to propel a stream of water upwardly through said water passage; f. a diffuser of generally inverted cone shape supported on said ring member above the float member and substantially axially aligned with said water passage, said diffuser having upwardly and outwardly curved surfaces for impingement of the stream of water and to disperse said water upwardly and outwardly over a wide area; g. ribs protruding from an upper disposed surface of said float member and extending outwardly from said opening; h. means associated with said ring member and cooperating With said ribs for holding said motor and said ring member from rotation relative to said float member; i. the means cooperating with the ribs on the float member are notches in said flange; j. the motor support members depending from the ring member include tie-rods secured to the motor and ring member and sleeves on said rods, said tie-rods and sleeves being adjustable for selective spacing of the motor and propeller below the float member.

Claim 7

A water aerating apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including: a. a second submersible motor having a power shaft axially of and spaced below the first named submersible motor; b. said motor support members including the rod extensions and sleeves secured relative to the first named submersible motor and extending therebelow and secured to said second submersible motor to support same from said ring member; c. a second propeller mounted on the power shaft of said second submersible motor and operative to move water in said body of water upwardly around and past said first named submersible motor.

Claim 8

A water aeration apparatus comprising: a. a float member of substantial area to float on a body of water in a selected position, said float member having a central opening extending therethrough; b. mounting means supported by the float member at said opening and having portions extending therefrom downwardly in the body of water; c. a submersible motor carried by said mounting means portions in downwardly spaced relation to said float member; d. a propeller driven by said submersible motor and positioned below the float member and substantially axially aligned with said central opening to propel water upwardly through said opening; e. a diffuser supported on the float member above and in axial alignment with said opening for impingement of water propelled by said propeller; f. said diffuser having an upwardly and outwardly curved surface to disperse said water upwardly and outwardly over a wide area; g. means anchoring said float in a selected position on the body of water, said anchor means includes a plurality of secured cable members each having one end connected to the float member in a tensioned condition; h. means associated with said motor for adjusting the depth of said propeller in the body of water; i. means mounting said motor on said float member and preventing relative rotation therebetween; j. said motor having a shaft extending upwardly therefrom and having said propeller mounted thereon between the motor and float member; k. said float member having an outer plastic shell filled with foam material, said plastic shell sealing said foam preventing contact with water, said float member having ribs protruding from an upper disposed surface and extending outwardly from said opening; l. said mounting means includes a ring member with a flange extending radially outwardly from one end thereof, said ring being received in said opening and having said flange in supporting engagement with said upper surface, said flange having at least one notch therein receiving a respective rib for preventing rotation between said ring and said float member; m. tie-rods mounted on said ring member with ends extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom, said motor being secured to the lower ends and said diffuser being secured to the upper ends; and n. sleeve members mounted on each end of the tie-rods having same extend therethrough with the sleeves on the upper ends of the tie-rods being between the diffuser and the ring and with the sleeves on the lower ends of the tie-rods being between the motor and the ring whereby the depth of the propeller is adjustable by the use of different length sleeves on the lower ends of the tie-rods.

Claim 9

A water aeration apparatus comprising: a. a float member of substantial area to float on a body of water in a selected position, said float member having a central opening extending therethrough; b. mounting means supported by the float member at said opening and having portions extending therefrom downwardly in the body of water; c. a submersible motor carried by said mounting means portions in downwardly spaced relation to said float member; d. a propeller driven by said submersible motor and positioned below the float member and substantially axially aligned with said central opening to propel water upwardly through said opening; e. a diffuser supported on the float member above and in axial alignment with said opening for impingement of water propelled by said propeller; f. said diffuser having an upwardly and outwardly curved surface to disperse said water upwardly and outwardly over a wide area; g. means anchoring said float in a selected position on the body of water, said anchor means includes a plurality of secured cable members each having one end connected to the float member in a tensioned condition; h. means associated with said motor for adjusting the depth of said propeller in the body of water; i. means mounting said motor on said float member and preventing relative rotation therebetween; j. said motor having a shaft extending upwardly therefrom and having said propeller mounted thereon between the motor and float member; k. said float member having an outer plastic shell filled with foam material, said plastic shell sealing said foam preventing contact with water, said float member having ribs protruding from an upper disposed surface and extending outwardly from said opening; l. said mounting means includes a ring member with a flange extending radially outwardly from one end thereof, said ring being received in said opening and having said flange in supporting engagement with said upper surface, said flange having at least one notch therein receiving a respective rib for preventing rotation between said ring and said float member; m. tie-rods mounted on said ring member with ends extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom, said motor being secured to the lower ends and said diffuser being secured to the upper ends; and n. sleeve members mounted on each end of the tie-rods having same extend therethrough with the sleeves on the upper ends of the tie-rods being between the diffuser and the ring and with the sleeves on the lower ends of the tie-rods being between the motor and the ring whereby the depth of the propeller is adjustable by the use of different length sleeves on the lower ends of the tie-rods.