Abstract:
The present invention is a method and apparatus for aerating liquids including pumping liquids to be aerated into a hollow manifold, providing nozzles on the manifold and openings in the top of the manifold for spraying the liquids to be aerated therefrom, swirling the liquids in a spiral direction prior to the liquids reaching the nozzles, injecting air under pressure into the nozzles prior to discharge of the liquids to be aerated from the nozzles, and discharging the liquids through the nozzles and the openings from the interior of the manifold to the exterior of the manifold.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date and priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/127,962 filed Apr. 6, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to aeration of bodies of water or other liquids such as ponds, lagoons, and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Methods and apparatus for aerating ponds, lagoons, basins, reservoirs and other bodies of water or other liquid are known in the art. Exemplary of the apparatus and methods for aerating bodies of water are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,441,452; 4,514,343; 4,710,325; 5,320,068; 5,425,874; and 5,893,337. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for raising the dissolved oxygen level of a body of water or other liquid. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for increasing the movement of the liquid in a body of water or other liquid. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulfide gas, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and methane gas from a body of water or other liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and apparatus for aerating ponds, lagoons, basins, reservoirs and other bodies of water and other liquids. The method and apparatus of the invention may be used in water treatment, waste water treatment, industrial applications, aquaculture, and agricultural applications. The method and apparatus of the invention raises the amount of dissolved oxygen in a body of water or other liquid, increases the water movement in the body of water or other liquid, and removes hydrogen sulfide gas, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane gas and other from a body of water or other liquid in which the invention is employed. 
     The present invention includes pumping liquids to be aerated into a hollow manifold, providing nozzles on the manifold and openings in the top of the manifold for spraying the liquids to be aerated therefrom, swirling the liquids in a spiral direction prior to the liquids reaching the nozzles, injecting air under pressure into the nozzles prior to discharge of the liquids to be aerated from the nozzles, and discharging the liquids through the nozzles and the openings from the interior of the manifold to the exterior of the manifold. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view, partly fragmentary, of the aeration apparatus of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged front sectional view of the discharge pressure manifold and liquid pump assembly of the aeration apparatus of the invention taken along lines  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view of the air pump or air blower assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partly cut-away, sectional view of the air blower assembly of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional rear side view of the discharge manifold assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional rear side view of an air venturi tube assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional top view of the air venturi tube assembly shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional top view of an air venturi tube assembly; 
     FIG. 9 is a front end view of the aeration apparatus of the invention showing the intake of the pump assembly; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the aeration apparatus discharge and flow pattern; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional end view of an air venturi tube assembly; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged side sectional view of the self-contained bearing assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged top sectional view of the self-contained bearing assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective fragmentary view of the front end of the aeration apparatus showing the intake of the pump assembly and showing the intake cage in the operating position; and 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective fragmentary view of the front end of the aeration apparatus showing the intake of the pump assembly and showing the intake cage in the raised position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1,  9 ,  10 ,  14  and  15 , the aeration apparatus of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral  20 . Aeration apparatus  20  can be seen to have two generally rectangular air-tight parallel floats or pontoons generally indicated by the numerals  22  and  24  on either side of the aeration apparatus  20 . Pontoons  22  and  24  float on the surface of the water  25  or other liquid in a pond or reservoir which is being aerated by aeration apparatus  20 . 
     Pontoons  22  and  24  each have rectangular top walls  22   a  and  24   a  respectively, rectangular bottom walls  22   b  and  24   b,  respectively, rectangular inner walls  22   c  and  24   c,  respectively, and outer side walls  22   d  and  24   d,  respectively. Pontoons  22  and  24  also each have rectangular front end walls  22   e  and  24   e,  respectively, and rectangular rear end walls  22   f  and  24   f,  respectively. 
     Pontoons  22  and  24  are connected together by beam  26  and beam  28 . Beams  26  and  28  are preferably welded or bolted at each end thereof to the inner walls  22   c  and  24   c  of pontoons  22  and  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a bearing  30  is connected to beam  26  by bolting or the like for rotatable receipt of drive shaft  32 . Preferably bearing  30  is a pillow block bearing. A pulley or sheave  34  is rigidly connected to drive shaft  32  for rotatably driving drive shaft  34 . Pulley or sheave  34  is driven by motor  36  and drive belt  37 . Motor  36  may be an electric motor or any conventional motor or engine such as an internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline, diesel, butane or any other conventional fuel. Motor  36  is mounted at the rear end of apparatus  20 . 
     Motor  36  is connected to a generally rectangular motor support plate  38 . Motor support plate  38  is connected to two vertical legs  40 — 40  which extend upward from beam  26  and two vertical legs  42 — 42 , one leg  42  being connected to the inside wall  22   c  of pontoon  22 , and the other leg  42  being connected to inside wall  24   c  of pontoon  24 . Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, a hood generally indicated by the numeral  43  is placed over motor  36  and connected the top walls  22   a  and  24   a  of pontoons  22  and  24  to prevent rain from contacting motor  36 . If desired, the hood  43  could be connected to the pontoons  22  and  24  by hinges to enable the hood  43  to be tilted away from the motor  36  to service the motor  36  or other equipment under hood  43 . 
     Drive shaft  32  is also rotatably received in two identical self contained bearing assemblies  44  and  44   a.  Bearing assembly  44  is bolted to bearing support beam  46  and bearing assembly  44   a  is bolted to beam  28 . Bearing support beam  36  is connected at each end thereof to cross beams  48  and  50 . Cross-beam  48  is connected at one end thereof to vertical leg  40  as shown in FIG.  1  and at the other end thereof to vertical leg  42 . As shown in FIG. 1, cross-beam  50  is connected at one end thereof to vertical leg  40  and at the other end thereof to vertical leg  42 . 
     Drive shaft  32  extends through the conventional centrifugal air blower or pump generally indicated by the numeral  52  in FIGS. 1,  3 ,  4  and  10 . Centrifugal air blowers such as centrifugal air blower  52  are well known in the art. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air pump  52  includes an impeller generally indicated by the numeral  54  having a plurality of blades  56  rigidly connected to cylindrical collar  57 . Cylindrical collar  57  is rigidly connected to and turns with drive shaft  32 . 
     Impeller  54  and blades  56  are contained in the air blower housing generally indicated by the numeral  58 . Air blower housing is located above the surface of the liquids  25  upon which pontoons  22  and  24  float. Air blower housing  58  includes a rear wall  60  and a front wall  62  through which drive shaft  32  extends. Rear wall  60  has an opening  60   a  therein for induction of air into the interior of air blower housing  58  as indicated by the arrows  64  in FIG.  3 . Front wall  62  has an opening  66  therein for receipt of drive shaft  32 . A side wall  68  connects front wall  62  to rear wall  66 . A beam  70  connects side wall  68  to the inside wall  24 c of pontoon  24 , and a beam  72  connects side wall  68  to the inside wall  22   c  of pontoon  22 . A tapered air conveying tube generally indicated by the numeral  74  extends from the top of air blower  52  to air distribution tube  76 . Air blower housing  58  may contain conventional baffling known in the art as desired to concentrate air flow therethrough. 
     Tapered air conveying tube  74  conveys air as indicated by the arrows  78  in FIG. 3 to air distribution tube  76 . Air distribution tube  76  has two end portions  76   a  and  76   b  which are connected to the discharge manifold generally indicated by the numeral  80 . Air discharge manifold is rigidly connected to the top walls  22   a  and  24   a  of pontoons  22  and  24  by any conventional method such as welding or the like. End portion  76   a  of air distribution tube  76  is connected to air venturi tube  82  and end portion  76   b  of air distribution tube  76  is connected to air venturi tube  84 . 
     The forward end of drive shaft  32  is connected to the conventional self-priming centrifugal water or liquid pump generally indicated by the numeral  86  in FIG.  2 . Centrifugal water or liquid pumps such as centrifugal liquid pump  86  are well known in the art. As shown in FIG. 2, liquid pump  86  has an impeller generally indicated by the numeral  88  having plurality of blades  90  connected to cylindrical collar  92 . Cylindrical collar  92  is rigidly connected to drive shaft  32  and turns with drive shaft  32 . 
     Impeller  88  and impeller blades  56  are contained in the liquid pump housing generally indicated by the numeral  94  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. As shown in FIGS. 9,  14 , and  15 , liquid pump  86  has a front face plate or wall  87  with an intake port or opening  89  for induction of liquid from the body of liquid being aerated into the interior of liquid pump housing  94 . Intake port or opening  89  is located beneath the surface of the body of liquid being aerated as shown in FIG.  9 . Liquid pump housing  94  includes a rear wall  96  shown in FIGS. 1,  10 ,  14 , and  15  through which drive shaft  32  extends. A liquid seal  98  shown in FIG. 1 is connected to rear wall  96  to receive drive shaft  32  and form a liquid tight seal therewith. A side wall  100  connects front wall  87  to rear wall  96 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, liquid pump housing  94  is connected at the upper end  102  thereof to the discharge manifold  80 . Liquid pump housing  58  may contain baffling as desired to concentrate liquid flow therethrough. Liquid from liquid pump housing  94  and impeller  88  is conveyed into discharge manifold  80  as indicated by the arrows  104  in FIG.  2 . 
     Preferably, liquid from the reservoir, pond or other body of liquid being aerated will be drawn through a cage generally indicated by the numeral  106  constructed from grating  108  as shown in FIGS. 1,  14 , and  15  to prevent large objects such as sticks and logs from entering into intake port or opening  89  or from blocking port  89  and preventing liquid flow therethrough. Cage  106  is connected to front wall  87  of pump housing  94  by hinges  108  and  109 . Cage  106  has a lifting chain  112  attached thereto and to manifold  80  to lift cage  106  for ease of cleaning. Cage  106  is shown in the raised position for cleaning in FIGS. 1 and 15, and in the lowered, or operating, position in FIGS. 9,  10 , and  14 . A horizontal rectangular shelf  114  with grating  116  is rigidly connected front wall  87  of pump housing  94  to form the bottom of cage  106 . 
     The discharge manifold  80  is cylindrical in shape and hollow inside. Discharge manifold  80  has two cylindrical hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  connected to each end thereof. Hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  are connected by bolting to circular pressure plates  122  and  124  connected at each end of discharge manifold  80 . Circular pressure plates  122  and  124  have circular openings  122   a  and  124   a  in the center thereof which are smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of cylindrical discharge manifold  80 . Hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  have the same inside diameter as the openings  122   a  and  124   a  in pressure plates  122  and  124 . Pressure plates  122  and  124  maintain the back pressure inside discharge manifold higher than the pressure inside hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  and cooperate with hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  to form nozzles for spraying liquids and air from the outer ends of hollow tubes  118  and  120 . Hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  aid in mixing air with the liquid exiting therefrom and increase the amount of oxygen dissolved in the liquid. The size of openings  122   a  and  124   a  and the inside diameter of hollow nozzle tubes are determined by the horsepower requirement of motor  36 . 
     Venturi tubes  82  and  84  extend through the openings  122   a  and  124   a  in pressure plates  122  and  124  and slightly into hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  as shown in FIG.  2  and  6 - 8  and discharge air from air blower  52  into the stream of liquids exiting through hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120 . The lower pressure of the liquid exiting through hollow nozzle tubes creates a venturi effect and greatly increases the efficiency of mixing and dissolving air under pressure from air blower  52  with the liquids exiting from hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120 . 
     Air venturi tube  82  is supported by directional vanes  126 . Directional vanes  126  are connected to air venturi tube  82  and to the inside of discharge manifold  80 . Directional vanes  126  are mounted on an approximately 30 degree angle from the horizontal axis of the air venturi tube  82 . Directional vanes  126  are turned or spiraled about 22½ degrees to the right of the horizontal axis of the air venturi tube  82  as can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 11. 
     Air venturi tube  84  is supported by directional vanes  128 . Directional vanes  128  are connected to air venturi tube  84  and to the inside of discharge manifold  80 . Directional vanes  128  are mounted on an approximately 30 degree angle from the horizontal axis of the air venturi tube  84 . Directional vanes  128  are turned or spiraled about 22½ degrees to the right of the horizontal axis of the air venturi tube  84  as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     The directional vanes  126  and  128  make a directional spiraling effect of the liquid being aerated before it is pumped through the openings  122   a  and  124   a  of the pressure plates  122  and  124 . The directional spiraling effect of the liquid will encapsulate the air produced discharged from air venturi tubes  82  and  84 . The directional spiraling effect of the liquid will reduce the levee or bank erosion by spiraling the liquid away from the levee or bank of the pond, lagoon, basin, and/or reservoir. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 1,  5 ,  6 ,  9 ,  10 ,  14 , and  15 , discharge manifold  80  has a plurality of holes or openings  130  on the top portion thereof through which water is discharged. Holes or openings  130  are preferably circular holes drilled through discharge manifold  80 . The number of holes  130  is dependent on the horsepower requirement of the motor  36 . As shown by the arrows in FIG. 10, the liquid is forced through the holes  130  in the discharge manifold  80  creating a high volume spray in the atmosphere. Spraying the liquid in the atmosphere strips the dissolved gases from the liquid. Oxygen is dissolved in the liquid as the small droplets fall to the surface of the liquid being aerated. This action creates a circular movement of the liquid to be aerated as shown by the arrows labled  200  in FIG.  10 . The discharge from discharge manifold  80  will be from holes  130  and from hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120  as shown in by the arrows in FIG.  10 . 
     The major oxygen transfer to the liquid is accomplished prior to the liquid leaving the hollow nozzle tubes  118  and  120 . However, some oxygen is dissolved into the liquid discharged from discharge manifold  80  from the splashing effect of the liquid and meeting the surface of the liquid to be aerated. The force and volume of the liquid creates a circular mixing effect of the liquid. 
     The self contained bearing assemblies  44  and  44   a  are shown in detail in FIGS. 12 and 13. Since the bearing assemblies  44  and  44   a  are identical, only bearing  44  will be described in referring to FIGS. 12 and 13. Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, bearing assembly  44  has a hollow bearing housing  136  which has two load bearings  186  and  187  on either end thereof which rotatably receive drive shaft  32 . The load bearings  186  and  187  are held in position by two load bearing snap rings  188  and  189  which are located in circular slots on drive shaft  32 . Housing  136  has two inner seals  192  and  193  and two outer seals  190  and  191  which hold grease or oil in lubrication reservoir  98  and keep load bearings  186  and  187  lubricated. Seals  190 ,  191 ,  192 , and  193  keep any liquids or other contaminants from entering the load bearings  186  and  187  and the lubrication reservoir  198 . 
     Housing  136  has two threaded plugs  194  and  195  for filling the lubrication reservoir  98  and keeping any contaminants from entering reservoir  98 . Bearing housing  136  is secured to the bearing mounting plate  137 . The bearing mounting plate  137  is connected to beam  46  by bolt  196  and nut  197 . 
     The self contained bearing assembly is instrumental in keeping drive shaft  32  from moving laterally and provides exceptional load distribution to drive shaft  32 , in addition to being low in maintenance. 
     The aeration apparatus  20  is preferably positioned perpendicular to a bank or a levee. As shown in FIG. 1, aeration apparatus  20  has sliding mounting legs  174  and  176  extending vertically through mounting leg brackets  175  and  177  connected to walls  22   d  and  24   d  of pontoons  22  and  24 . The mounting legs  174  and  176  can be driven into the bottom of the pond, lagoon, basin, reservoir or other body of liquid in which aeration apparatus is located. Most changes in the elevation of the liquid will be overcome by the apparatus  20  floating up and down and being guided by the mounting legs  174  and  176  in the mounting leg brackets  175  and  177 . 
     A second method of installation of apparatus  20  is to attach cables to the cable brackets  178 ,  180 ,  172 , and  184  and secure the cables to the levee or bank or secure the cables to positioning anchors. This method of installation is used to preserve the integrity of bottom of the pond, lagoon, basin, and/or reservoir if a liner is present. 
     In a field test of the apparatus  20  of the invention in a catfish pond utilizing a 15 horsepower electric motor as motor  36 , the rate of transfer of oxygen to the water in the catfish pond was 8.4 pounds of oxygen per horsepower hour. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereby.