Aeration system with foldable low-loss downcomers and method of operation thereof

Claim 2

Air diffuser apparatus include a low-loss downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank; the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds; the diffuser apparatus being readily separable from an air supply fitting normally communicating with it, and each section of the downcomer having a lift formation near its top whereby the diffuser apparatus may be raised initially as a rigid unit by hoist means attached at the top of the upper section, where accessible during aeration, and lifted further with a folding action by hoist means attached at the top of the lower section.

Claim 3

Air diffuser apparatus including a low-loss downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank; the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds; the diffuser apparatus being separable from an air supply fitting normally communicating with it, and each section of the downcomer having a lift formation near its top whereby the diffuser apparatus may be raised initially as a rigid unit by hoist means attached at the top of the upper section, where accessible during aeration, and lifted further with a folding action by hoist means attached at the top of the lower section; a parking bracket associated with the header, and holding means for the parking bracket above the water level whereby the hoist means may place the parking bracket of the folded aeration equipment in the holding means and be taken away for other use, leaving the header accessible for servicing.

Claim 4

Air diffuser apparatus including a low-loss downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank; the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds; the diffuser apparatus being separable from an air supply fitting normally communicating with it, and each section of the downcomer having a lift formation near its top whereby the diffuser apparatus may be raised initially as a rigid unit by hoist means attached at the top of the upper section, where accessible during aeration, and lifted further with a folding action by hoist means attached at the top of the lower section; a parking bracket associated with the header, and holding means for the parking bracket above the water level whereby the hoist means may place the parking bracket of the folded aeration equipment in the holding means and be taken away for other use, leaving the header accessible for servicing.

Claim 5

Air diffuser apparatus including a low-loss downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank; the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds; the diffuser apparatus being separable from an air supply fitting normally communicating with it, and each section of the downcomer having a lift formation near its top whereby the diffuser apparatus may be raised initially as a rigid unit by hoist means attached at the top of the upper section, where accessible during aeration, and lifted further with a folding action by hoist means attached at the top of the lower section; a parking bracket associated with the header, and holding means for the parking bracket above the water level whereby the hoist means may place the parking bracket of the folded aeration equipment in the holding means and be taken away for other use, leaving the header accessible for servicing; at least part of said holding means also serving to hold the diffuser equipment in service position but readily separable.

Claim 6

Air diffuser apparatus including a low-loss downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank; the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds; the diffuser apparatus being separable from an air supply fitting normally communicating with it, and each section of the downcomer having a lift formation near its top whereby the diffuser apparatus may be raised initially as a rigid unit by hoist means attached at the top of the upper section, where accessible during aeration, and lifted further with a folding action by hoist means attached at the top of the lower section; a parking bracket associated with the header, and holding means for the parking bracket above the water level whereby the hoist means may place the parking bracket of the folded aeration equipment in the holding means and be taken away for other use, leaving the header accessible for servicing; at least part of said holding means also serving to hold the diffuser equipment in service position but readily separable.

Claim 9

Air diffuser apparatus including a low-loss downcomer for delivering air from a supply fitting to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank, the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds and the downcomer being readily manipulatable to bring the header to adjacency with the supply fitting; spring means effective when the hinge mean is closed for holding it closed firmly to maintain a seal and proper alignment of the sections.

Claim 10

Air diffuser apparatus including a low-loss downcomer for delivering air from a supply fitting to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank, the downcomer being foldable at an intermediate level by virtue of hinge means rigidly associated with upper and lower sections of the downcomer and hinged together about an axis which passes in substantially nonintersecting relationship to the air flow space within the downcomer, the hinged parts, with their upper and lower sections, being substantially sealed to one another when the hinge means is closed and breaking open to the surrounding medium as the downcomer folds and the downcomer being readily manipulatable to bring the header to adjacency with the supply fitting; spring means effective when the hinge mean is closed for holding it closed firmly to maintain a seal and proper alignment of the sections.

Claim 11

Air diffusion apparatus according to claim 5 in which said spring means resists the folding action only during the initial portion of the folding action.

Claim 12

Air diffuser apparatus including a downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank, a supply fitting support structure associated with the supply fitting for normally supporting the downcomer in communication with the supply fitting, the downcomer being separable from the supply fitting for raising the header to an accessible position, characterized by: the downcomer having associated with its upper edge a rest member normally resting on widely separated parts of the support structure so that its position as to levelness is accurately determined and normally having a rigid and predetermined angular relationship with the header as to levelness, to hold it level when the rest member is at rest on said widely separated parts.

Claim 13

Air diffuser apparatus including a downcomer for delivering air to a header carried at its foot for deep submergence in an aeration tank, a supply fitting support structure associated with the supply fitting for normally supporting the downcomer in communication with the supply fitting, the downcomer being separable from the supply fitting for raising the header to an accessible position, characterized by: the downcomer having associated with its upper edge a rest member normally resting on widely separated parts of the support structure so that its position as to levelness is accurately determined and normally having a rigid and predetermined angular relationship with the header as to levelness, to hold it level when the rest member is at rest on said widely separated parts.

Claim 14

Air diffuser apparatus according to claim 4 in which adjustable means is provided for making an installation adjustment of the header to levelness while the rest member is thus at rest.