Valved or progressively opening sparger with rigid upper seat

Claim 2

In a tank containing a body of liquid, and means for supporting therein a sparger submerged in said body of liquid, a valved sparger supported by said means, and including a rigid peripheral seat and a valve member having its periphery movable to close with respect to the seat, said movable valve periphery being so located as to be exposed during normal operation to the body of liquid while determining the distribution of air release about the sparger, characterized by: said valving member having, at a selected minimum airflow volume which is appropriate for establishing above the sparger a vigorous air-lift column to break up bubbles therein to fine bubbles, a position at which the total effective orifice area is constricted to provide a back pressure equivalent to at least two inches of water column; said sparger including yieldable stop means initially engaged by the valving member when it has opened to said position and preloaded to induce substantial equality of distribution of said orifice area about the seat before yielding to provide an increase of said area to accommodate greater flow with only moderate increase of the air pressure immediately upstream from the orifice area.

Claim 3

In a tank containing a body of liquid, and means for supporting therein a sparger submerged in said body of liquid, a valved sparger supported by said means, and including a rigid peripheral seat and a valve member having its periphery movable to close with respect to the seat, said movable valve periphery being so located as to be exposed during normal operation to the body of liquid while determining the distribution of air release about the sparger, characterized by: a yieldable stop means which in its initial position rests at its periphery on the seat but has a slight clearance from the valving member throughout their peripheries; the clearance being such that at a selected minimum air-flow volume which is appropriate for establishing above the sparger a vigorous air-lift column to break up bubbles therein to fine bubbles, the total effective orifice area provided by the valve when moved off of the seat and uniformly engaging the stop means in said initial position is constricted to provide a back pressure equivalent to at least two inches of water column; and means for applying a preloading force to the stop means to provide an initial contact pressure against the seat such that before yielding, the stop means will induce said back pressure and induce substantial equality of distribution of said orifice about the seat; and said stop means being yieldable to provide an increase of said area to accommodate greater flow with only moderate increase of air pressure immediately upstream from the orifice.

Claim 4

In a tank containing a body of liquid, and means for supporting therein a sparger submerged in said body of liquid, a valved sparger supported by said means, and including a rigid peripheral seat and a valve member having its periphery movable to close with respect to the seat, said movable valve periphery being so located as to be exposed during normal operation to the body of liquid while determining the distribution of air release about the sparger, characterized by: a yieldable stop means which in its initial position rests at its periphery on the seat but has a slight clearance from the valving member throughout their peripheries; the clearance being such that at a selected minimum air-flow volume which is appropriate for establishing above the sparger a vigorous air-lift column to break up bubbles therein to fine bubbles, the total effective orifice area provided by the valve when moved off of the seat and uniformly engaging the stop means in said initial position is constricted to provide a back pressure equivalent to at least two inches of water column; and means for applying a preloading force to the stop means to provide an initial contact pressure against the seat such that before yielding, the stop means will induce said back pressure and induce substantial equality of distribution of said orifice about the seat; and said stop means being yieldable to provide an increase of said area to accommodate greater flow with only moderate increase of air pressure immediately upstream from the orifice.

Claim 5

A sparger including a body having a fitting for mounting on a supply pipe and for passage of a gas supply from the pipe to the body, and having a generally circular valve seat substantially at its periphery to be exposed during normal use to liquid in which the sparger may be submerged; a generally circular valve adapted to seat all along its periphery on the valve seat to close the body against entry of surrounding liquid when gas is not being discharged; said fitting being suitable for the supply of gas at a volumetric flow rate greater than that which is a minimum sufficient rate when the gas is discharged around said seat into liquid, for producing a vigorous air-lift column in liquid above the sparger; and a resilient stop engaging the body at points surrounding the periphery of the valve to be spaced with a peripherally uniform clearance beyond said valve periphery from the seat to allow said valve periphery to move from the seat; said stop engaging the seat with a preload pressure which resists separation of the stop from the seat until the initial opening of the valve with peripheral uniformity as permitted by said clearance yields a back pressure, at said minimum sufficient rate, at least equal to a two-inch water column; and said stop yielding for a greater opening of the valve and a greater flow rate at a moderately higher back pressure.

Claim 6

A sparger including a body having a fitting for mounting on a supply pipe and for passage of a gas supply from the pipe to the body, and having a generally circular valve seat substantially at its periphery to be exposed during normal use to liquid in which the sparger may be submerged; a generally circular valve adapted to seat all along its periphery on the valve seat to close the body against entry of surrounding liquid when gas is not being discharged; said fitting being suitable for the supply of gas at a volumetric flow rate greater than that which is a minimum sufficient rate when the gas is discharged around said seat into liquid, for producing a vigorous air-lift column in liquid above the sparger; and a resilient stop engaging the body at points surrounding the periphery of the valve to be spaced with a peripherally uniform clearance beyond said valve periphery from the seat to allow said valve periphery to move from the seat; said stop engaging the seat with a preload pressure which resists separation of the stop from the seat until the initial opening of the valve with peripheral uniformity as permitted by said clearance yields a back pressure, at said minimum sufficient rate, at least equal to a two-inch water column; and said stop yielding for a greater opening of the valve and a greater flow rate at a moderately higher back pressure.

Claim 7

A sparger including a body having a fitting for mounting on a supply pipe and for passage of a gas supply from the pipe to the body, and having a generally circular valve seat substantially at its periphery to be exposed during normal use to liquid in which the sparger may be submerged; a generally circular valve adapted to seat all along its periphery on the valve seat to close the body against entry of surrounding liquid when gas is not being discharged; said fitting being suitable for the supply of gas at a volumetric flow rate greater than that which is a minimum sufficient rate when the gas is discharged around said seat into liquid, for producing a vigorous air-lift column in liquid above the sparger; and mechanical means for ensuring that movement of the valve from the seat will be peripherally uniform; said mechanical means including a guide web centrally anchored at a point spaced substantially from the valve, and at peripheral points linked to the valve periphery with a linkage member of substantially rigid cylindrical nature; said valve having a centrally anchored web cooperating with said guide web to confine movement of the valve periphery and linkage member to movement generally perpendicular to the plane of the valve seat.

Claim 8

A sparger including a body having a fitting for mounting on a supply pipe and for passage of a gas supply from the pipe to the body, and having a generally circular valve seat substantially at its periphery to be exposed during normal use to liquid in which the sparger may be submerged; a generally circular valve adapted to seat all along its periphery on the valve seat to close the body against entry of surrounding liquid when gas is not being discharged; said fitting being suitable for the supply of gas at a volumetric flow rate greater than that which is a minimum sufficient rate when the gas is discharged around said seat into liquid, for producing a vigorous air-lift column in liquid above the sparger; and mechanical means for ensuring that movement of the valve from the seat will be peripherally uniform; said mechanical means including a guide web centrally anchored at a point spaced substantially from the valve, and at peripheral points linked to the valve periphery with a linkage member of substantially rigid cylindrical nature; said valve having a centrally anchored web cooperating with said guide web to confine movement of the valve periphery and linkage member to movement generally perpendicular to the plane of the valve seat.

Claim 9

A sparger including a body having a fitting for mounting on a supply pipe and for passage of a gas supply from the pipe to the body, and having a generally circular valve seat substantially at its periphery to be exposed during normal use to liquid in which the sparger may be submerged; a generally circular valve adapted to seat all along its periphery on the valve seat to close the body against entry of surrounding liquid when gas is not being discharged; said fitting being suitable for the supply of gas at a volumetric flow rate as great as that which is a minimum sufficient rate when the gas is discharged around said seat into liquid, for producing a vigorous air-lift column in liquid above the sparger; and a stop spaced with a peripherally uniform clearance beyond said valve periphery from the seat to allow said valve periphery to move from the seat; said stop having a firmness of positioning to resist further separation from the seat at least until the initial opening of the valve with peripheral uniformity as permitted by said clearance yields a back pressure, at said minimum sufficient rate, at least equal to a two-inch water column.

Claim 10

A sparger including a body having a fitting for mounting on a supply pipe and for passage of a gas supply from the pipe to the body, and having a generally circular valve seat substantially at its periphery to be exposed during normal use to liquid in which the sparger may be submerged; a generally circular valve adapted to seat all along its periphery on the valve seat to close the body against entry of surrounding liquid when gas is not being discharged; said fitting being suitable for the supply of gas at a volumetric flow rate as great as that which is a minimum sufficient rate when the gas is discharged around said seat into liquid, for producing a vigorous air-lift column in liquid above the sparger; and a stop spaced with a peripherally uniform clearance beyond said valve periphery from the seat to allow said valve periphery to move from the seat; said stop having a firmness of positioning to resist further separation from the seat at least until the initial opening of the valve with peripheral uniformity as permitted by said clearance yields a back pressure, at said minimum sufficient rate, at least equal to a two-inch water column.