Patent ID: 6237897
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B01F,C02F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An oxygenator for mixing air with a supply of water flowing through said oxygenator, said oxygenator comprising:a chamber having a port outwardly extending therefrom for drawing air into said chamber;a venturi being extended through said chamber;said venturi having opposite inlet and outlet ends, opposite generally frusta-conical inlet and outlet portions and an intermediate portion interposed between said inlet and outlet portions of said venturi;said intermediate portion of said venturi having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therethrough to permit passage of air in said chamber into said intermediate portion of said venturi;wherein a flapper valve selectively closes said port, said flapper valve permitting passage of fluid into said chamber via said port and preventing passage of fluid out of said chamber via said port;wherein said chamber has opposite proximal and distal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal and distal ends of said chamber, said port having a longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said chamber;wherein said chamber has generally frusta-conical proximal and distal portions and a generally cylindrical middle portion interposed between said proximal and distal portions of said chamber, said proximal, distal, and middle portions of said chamber being coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said chamber, said port being extended from said middle portion of said chamber;wherein said flapper valve comprises a substantially circular disk pivotally mounted in said port for selectively closing said port;wherein said venturi has a longitudinal axis extending between said inlet and outlet ends of said venturi, wherein said apertures each having a longitudinal axis extending at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis of said venturi in a direction towards said inlet end of said venturi;wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged in at least one pair of diametric rows; andwherein said apertures are spaced apart at equal intervals in the respective row of apertures.