Floating vertical shaft downflow directional mixer and method

Claim 1

A floating vertical shaft downflow directional mixer apparatus comprising; float means for buoyantly supporting the mixer apparatus in an open surface body of liquid, drive motor means mounted on the float means for support thereby above the surface of the body of liquid and propeller shaft means drivingly connected to the motor means and extending downwardly therefrom, propeller means on the propeller shaft means at a location below the float means, vertically elongated draft tube means mounted on the float means to extend downwardly therefrom, the draft tube means having an upper intake end and a pump casing portion extending downwardly from the intake end around the propeller means, the draft tube means having a lower discharge portion and terminating in a lateral discharge outlet means at one side of the draft tube means and spaced a distance below the float means, the lower discharge portion and discharge outlet means of the draft tube means being generally bilaterally symmetrical to a median plane through the axis of the propeller shaft means, said float means being constructed and arranged to support the draft tube means with said propeller shaft means disposed generally vertical when motor means is not driving the propeller means, said motor means being operative to drive the propeller means in a direction to pump liquid downwardly through draft tube means and out of said discharge outlet means to direct liquid pumped by the propeller means from said one side of the draft tube means in a unidirectional stream generally symmetrical to said median plane and having a substantial horizontal component, stabilizer means for stabilizing the mixer apparatus against tipping due to reaction forces produced by the stream of liquid discharged from the outlet of the draft tube, said stabilizer means including elongated thrust reaction means, draft tube attachment means attaching one end of said thrust reaction means to said discharge portion of said draft tube means generally symmetrical to said median plane, and anchor means spaced in a direction having at least a substantial horizontal component from said one side of the draft tube means for anchoring a second end of the thrust reaction means, said thrust reaction means being constructed and arranged to allow vertical movement of the floating downflow mixer apparatus in the body or water while maintaining the mixer apparatus oriented with the propeller shaft means generally upright when the motor means operates the propeller means.

Claim 11

A method of mixing in an open surface body of water comprising: (a) providing a floating vertical shaft downflow directional mixer apparatus including float means for buoyantly supporting the mixer apparatus, drive motor means mounted on the float means for support thereby above the the surface of the body of liquid and propeller shaft means drivingly connected to the drive motor means and extending downwardly therefrom, propeller means on the propeller shaft means at a location below the float means, vertically elongated draft tube means mounted on the float means to extend downwardly therefrom and having an upper intake end and a pump casing portion extending downwardly around the propeller means and a lower discharge portion terminating in a lateral discharge outlet means at side of the draft tube means spaced below the float means, the lower discharge portion and discharge outlet of the draft tube means being generally bilaterally symmetrical to a median plane through the axis of the propeller shaft means, (b) placing the floating downflow mixer apparatus in the open surface body of water, the float means being arranged to support the draft tube means with the propeller shaft means generally vertical when the motor means is not driving the propeller means, (c) operating the drive motor means to drive the propeller means in a direction to pump liquid down through the draft tube means and out of the discharge outlet means in a unidirectional stream generally symmetrical to said median plane and having a substantial horizontal component, (d) attaching elongated thrust reaction means at one end to said lower discharge portion of said draft tube means and generally symmetrical to said median plane, and anchoring a second end of the elongated thrust reaction means at a location spaced in a direction having at least a substantial horizontal component from said one side of the draft tube means to allow vertical movement of the floating downflow mixer apparatus while maintaining the mixer apparatus oriented with said propeller shaft means generally upright when the motor means drives the propeller means.

Claim 12

A method of mixing in an open surface body of water comprising: (a) providing a floating vertical shaft downflow directional mixer apparatus including float means for buoyantly supporting the mixer apparatus, drive motor means mounted on the float means for support thereby above the the surface of the body of liquid and propeller shaft means drivingly connected to the drive motor means and extending downwardly therefrom, propeller means on the propeller shaft means at a location below the float means, vertically elongated draft tube means mounted on the float means to extend downwardly therefrom and having an upper intake end and a pump casing portion extending downwardly around the propeller means and a lower discharge portion terminating in a lateral discharge outlet means at side of the draft tube means spaced below the float means, the lower discharge portion and discharge outlet of the draft tube means being generally bilaterally symmetrical to a median plane through the axis of the propeller shaft means, (b) placing the floating downflow mixer apparatus in the open surface body of water, the float means being arranged to support the draft tube means with the propeller shaft means generally vertical when the motor means is not driving the propeller means, (c) operating the drive motor means to drive the propeller means in a direction to pump liquid down through the draft tube means and out of the discharge outlet means in a unidirectional stream generally symmetrical to said median plane and having a substantial horizontal component, (d) attaching elongated thrust reaction means at one end to said lower discharge portion of said draft tube means and generally symmetrical to said median plane, and anchoring a second end of the elongated thrust reaction means at a location spaced in a direction having at least a substantial horizontal component from said one side of the draft tube means to allow vertical movement of the floating downflow mixer apparatus while maintaining the mixer apparatus oriented with said propeller shaft means generally upright when the motor means drives the propeller means.