Patent Publication Number: US-6334704-B2

Title: Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/556,933, filed Apr. 21, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,381 entitled “Liquid Ejection Apparatus and Liquid Ejection Method” which in turn is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/103,617, entitled “Liquid Ejection Apparatus and Liquid Ejection Method” filed Jun. 24, 1998, now abandoned. The entire disclosure and contents of the above-mentioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejection method using the liquid ejection apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejection method for ejecting liquid inside a tank into a space above the liquid surface, or towards a peripheral wall. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In fermentation and culturing, the fermenting liquids and culturing liquids are very prone to foaming. Due to agitation during the process, there is a considerable amount of foaming so that operability is often impaired. In order to inhibit such foaming, and to disperse the temporarily created foam, anti-foaming agents such as silicone are added. The addition of such anti-foaming agents however not only involves significant cost, but also poses a risk adversely affecting the fermentation and culturing processes, because these anti-foaming agents are in themselves foreign substances to the liquids. In addition, the anti-foaming agents are mixed with the product as impurities so that the quality of the product is degraded. Moreover additional time is required to remove them from the product. Furthermore they are mixed in the waste liquid and thus impede the treatment of the waste liquid. Hence the addition of anti-foaming agents is an undesirable means, which should be avoided as much as possible. 
     A problem is that the inner peripheral surface of the wall of the agitating tank becomes contaminated by micro-organisms or solid raw materials or products being deposited thereon. This often causes a decrease in reaction yield or a reduction in heat transfer coefficient of the agitating tank peripheral wall. In this case, it is practically impossible to wash the inner peripheral surface of the wall of the agitating tank to remove the extraneous matter from the inner peripheral surface of the agitating tank without stopping the operation in the agitating tank. 
     Yet another problem is that when apparatus such as jackets, and coiled pipes and multi-tube heating units are respectively provided on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the agitating tank and inside the agitating tank, as apparatus for heating or cooling the liquid inside the agitating tank, there is often the situation where the liquid inside the agitating tank decreases due for example to evaporation so that with time, the liquid level inside the agitating tank drops, and the heat transfer area of the heating or cooling apparatus cannot be effectively utilized. 
     In order to increase and hence recover the reduced heat transfer area, there is a means involving supplying fresh liquid to the tank so that the liquid surface is raised; and a method involving circulating the remaining liquid inside the tank by means of a pump provided outside the tank to distribute the liquid onto the inner peripheral surface of the tank wall. The former wherein fresh liquid is supplied to the tank, has the defect that there is an abrupt change in the composition of the liquid inside the tank, requiring a change in operational conditions, and also the quality of the product changes. Moreover, the latter has the defect that it requires a pump and piping for circulating the remaining liquid, so that after operation, residual liquid remains in the tank as well as inside the piping. 
     Accordingly, means which can be put into practice to solve the defect that the heat transfer area cannot be effectively used have yet to be found. 
     When desired to evaporate the liquid inside the agitating tank, there is a method involving immersing a heating device in the liquid and/or mounting a heating device on the outside of the agitating tank peripheral wall, to thereby apply heat to cause evaporation from the liquid surface either while agitating or not agitating the liquid. With this method there is the defect that the heat in the space above the liquid surface which is heated by the heating device cannot be effectively utilized, and that the heating of the liquid is limited to the contact area of the heating device, so that the heat from the heating device cannot be effectively utilized and the rate of evaporation of the liquid is slow. 
     The present inventors have overcome the defects with the conventional agitation such as contamination of the surface of the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the agitating tank and the surface of the heating or cooling apparatus and a reduction in the heat transfer area by using only mechanical agitation. Hence, with good efficiency, the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the agitating tank and the surface of the heating or cooling apparatus are washed, thereby preventing the reduction in the heat transfer area of the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the agitating tank and of the heating or cooling apparatus. Moreover, the accumulated results of a thorough study into agitating blades and agitating methods which can achieve mixing of liquids of different specific gravities and suspensions with good efficiency, have led to an invention related to agitating blades and agitating methods (EP 0619136A). 
     The agitating blades of this prior invention are agitating blades wherein a liquid transporting body such as one or a plurality of tubular bodies, gutter bodies, and plates, is attached preferably at an incline to an attachment device mounted on an agitator shaft, the liquid transporting body being open at both ends with an upper opening and lower opening. 
     The present inventors, from the accumulated results of continuous investigations to solve the former problems discovered the following problems in the invention related to the beforementioned patent application. That is to say, in the abovementioned prior application, the liquid transporting body is preferably secured at an incline. Since the inclination angle is fixed and is not changed, then in changing the purpose of use and the conditions of the agitating blades, the agitating blades must be stopped and removed from the tank to change the inclination angle. 
     Furthermore, with the tubular body constituting the liquid transporting body, normally it is common for this to be in contact with liquids with strong corrosive characteristics. Hence in order to have complete corrosion resistance, the surface is coated or lined with a substance having a high corrosion resistance such as a synthetic resin like polytetrafluoroethylene, or glass or a ceramic or the like. However, while with such a coating or lining, the technology has improved remarkably, there is still the danger of pinholes. Consequently due to these pinholes, it is difficult to ensure the reliability of the corrosion resistance of the coated or lined tubular body. 
     In order to increase the reliability of the corrosion resistance of the tubular body, then prior to use of the tubular body, the presence of pinholes in the coating layer or the lining layer of the tubular body (these layers are in general referred to simply as a lining layers) is preferably checked for not only on the outer face of the pipe but also on the inner face. However, checking for the presence of pinholes in the inner face of the pipe is extremely difficult, Moreover, even if pinholes are found, it is difficult to repair these pinholes. 
     Therefore it is preferable to use a gutter body as the liquid transporting body, since with a gutter body, it is easy to check for the presence of pinholes in the lining layer, and hence to repair the pinholes. 
     In the specification of the beforementioned prior patent application, in the case where a gutter body is used as the liquid transporting body, the principle of raising the liquid with the gutter body and discharging this from the upper opening is disclosed. However there is no disclosure at all regarding the mounting face and the mounting direction. 
     With regards to use, in the case where the liquid discharged from the upper opening of the gutter body is used for example for washing the inner peripheral surface of the tank wall by distributing this onto the inner peripheral surface of the tank wall, or for maintaining the heat transfer area and/or washing the heat transfer surface by distributing this onto the heat transfer surface, or for evaporation by distributing this into the space above the liquid surface, then needless to say it is preferable to have a large distance and quantity (hereunder referred to as the ejection distance and ejection quantity) for the liquid ejected from the upper opening of the liquid transporting body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to take into consideration the above situation with conventional liquid ejection apparatus and provide an improved liquid ejection apparatus and improved liquid ejection method using the liquid ejection apparatus. 
     The present inventors selected the size of the inclination angle of the liquid transporting body in order to increase the ejection distance and ejection quantity of the ejected liquid. Furthermore, in the case where the liquid transporting body was a gutter body, it was realized that the mounting face and mounting direction of the gutter body must be selected for the ejection distance and ejection quantity of the liquid from the upper opening of the gutter body. The present invention has been reached based on this knowledge. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid ejection apparatus wherein at least one gutter body serving as a liquid transporting device and having a lower opening and an upper opening at respective lower and upper end portions thereof is secured to an agitator shaft by means of an attachment device, the gutter body having an inclination angle greater than 0° and up to 90°, and the gutter body is revolved around the agitator shaft axis with a concavity facing the agitator shaft or the revolution direction, and the lower opening of the gutter body immersed beneath a liquid surface, and the upper opening of the gutter body exposed from the liquid surface, so that the liquid at the immersed portion of the gutter body passes within the gutter body and is ejected from the upper opening thereof. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid ejection apparatus wherein at least one gutter body serving as a liquid transporting device and having a lower opening and an upper opening at respective lower and upper end portions thereof is mounted on an agitator shaft by means of an attachment device, the gutter body having an inclination angle which is adjustable to be greater than 0° and up to 90°, and the gutter body is revolved around the agitator shaft with a concavity facing the agitator shaft or the revolution direction, and the lower opening of the gutter body immersed beneath a liquid surface, and the upper opening of the gutter body exposed from the liquid surface, so that the liquid at the immersed portion of the gutter body passes within the gutter body and is ejected from the upper opening thereof. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid ejection apparatus wherein at least one tubular body serving as a liquid transporting body and having a lower opening and an upper opening at respective lower and upper end portions thereof is mounted on an agitator shaft by means of an attachment device, the tubular body having an inclination angle which is adjustable to be greater than 0° and up to 90°, and the tubular body is revolved around the agitator shaft with the lower opening of the tubular body immersed beneath a liquid surface, and the upper body opening of the tubular body exposed from the liquid surface, so that the liquid at the immersed portion of the tubular body passes within the tubular body and is ejected from the upper opening thereof. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of ejecting a liquid involving revolving the liquid transporting body of the liquid ejection apparatus according to the abovementioned respective first, second and third aspects of the invention, around the agitator shaft with the lower opening immersed beneath the liquid surface, and the upper opening exposed from the liquid surface, so that the liquid at the immersed portion of the liquid transporting device passes within the liquid transporting device and is ejected from the upper opening thereof. 
     The liquid ejected from the upper opening of the liquid transporting device in the fourth aspect of the invention is used for example for washing the inner peripheral surface of a container wall, for maintaining the heat transfer area and/or washing the heat transfer surface, or for evaporating the liquid in the space above the liquid surface. 
     With the present invention while having no particular limit, the terms upper and lower are respectively defined as a position near to the bottom of the liquid and a position far from the bottom of the liquid. 
     The attachment device is for mounting one or more liquid transporting bodies on the agitator shaft. The attachment device may be a rod, a rectangular or square bar, a shaped steel body, a pierced plate body (referred to hereunder as a perforated plate), or a non-perforated plate. With the non-perforated plate and perforated plate, these are preferably attached to the agitator shaft such that when turned within a liquid, the fluid resistance is as small as possible. When the non-perforated plate is used vertically in the liquid (perpendicular to the rotation plane of the liquid transporting body) the width is preferably narrow. 
     The rods, square bars, shaped steel bodies, perforated plates and non-perforated plates are positioned approximately on a radius or diameter in the revolution plane. The number of rods, square bars, shaped steel bodies, perforated plates and non-perforated plates may be one or more. When a plurality are used, then normally each member is positioned either on the same revolution plane or on planes differing from each other. 
     One or a plurality of liquid transporting bodies may be attached to one attachment device. The number of liquid transporting bodies attached to one attachment device is appropriately selected depending for example on the viscosity of liquid, the type of liquid transporting body, the thickness of the liquid transporting body, the diameter of the container itself, the angle between the agitator shaft and the liquid transporting body, and the use of the liquid ejected from the upper opening of the liquid transporting body (referred to hereunder as the ejected liquid). So are when the attachment position of a liquid transporting body is decided in the case when one liquid transporting body is attached to one attachment device, or when the spacing and the attachment position of the neighbouring liquid transporting bodies are decided in the case where a plurality of the liquid transporting bodies are attached to one attachment device. 
     The gutter body serving as the liquid transporting body is preferably made from a metal such as steel or stainless steel with the surface coated or lined with a substance having a high corrosion resistance such as a synthetic resin like polytetrafluoroethylene, or glass or a ceramic or the like. However this may be made from a corrosion resistant material such as highly corrosion resistant plastics or metal, or glass or ceramics. 
     The gutter body is a long body having an opening in a longitudinal direction. The shape of the central transverse section, and the respective shapes of the upper end opening and lower end opening of the gutter body have no particular limitation. It is also possible to make these a left/right symmetrical or a left/right non-symmetrical shape (referred to hereunder as symmetrical shape and non-symmetrical shape). However in practice the former is preferable. 
     As a representative example of the symmetrical shape, the following can be considered; a circumference with part of an arc missing (referred to hereunder as a cut out circumference), a semi-circle, a semi-elliptical circumference, a half oval, a U-shape, a V-shape, polygon shapes such as; a trapezoid, a square, a rectangle, a modified pentagon shape wherein a right octagon shape has been divided in two by a straight line connecting a first point and a fifth point thereof, and a modified hexagon shape where a right octagon shape has been divided in two by a straight line connecting the central points of respective first and fifth sides thereof, as well as shapes wherein the head angles of the polygon shapes are rounded and/or the sides are bent outwards with a small curvature (referred to hereunder as substantially polygon shapes) and one side is removed. 
     As a representative example of the non-symmetrical shape, there are for example shapes where one of the peripheries or the sides at the edge (referred to hereunder as the opening edge) corresponding to the two peripheral edges of the opening of the beforementioned symmetrical shapes is extended (these symmetrical shapes and non-symmetrical shapes are referred to hereunder as open shapes). 
     The gutter body may be made of an equal sided V-shaped steel body, an H-shaped steel body, or as a C-shaped steel body wherein the transverse section is a quadrilateral of square or rectangular shape or is circular. The C-shaped steel body is preferable. The equal sided V-shaped steel body gives a gutter body having a right angled V-shape opening. The H-shaped steel body gives a gutter body having a square or rectangular shaped opening with respective opposite sides missing. The C-shaped body wherein the transverse section shape is a quadrilateral gives a gutter body having a quadrilateral shape opening with one portion of one side missing, while the C-shaped steel body wherein the transverse section is circular gives a gutter body having a cut-out circumference opening. 
     In coating or lining the gutter body which in itself is known, prior to coating or lining, the edges of the openings are preferably rounded, or enlarged into a column shape. 
     The shape and size of the respective upper and lower openings of the gutter body can be the same as each other or different from each other. 
     Preferably the area of the upper opening is smaller than the area of the lower opening. The respective opening areas of the upper opening and the lower opening of the gutter body are defined as the areas which acquire the through flow of liquid along the concavity of the gutter body. With the respective opening areas of the upper opening and lower opening of the gutter body, in the case where the shape of the upper opening and lower opening are an open shape with left-right symmetry, then this is the area enclosed by the shape and a straight line connecting the opposite opening edges. In the case where the transverse section shape of the upper opening and lower opening is a non-symmetrical open shape, then this is the area enclosed by the shape and a straight line connecting the extended portion edge and the other opening edge, or the area enclosed by the shape and a straight line connecting the opposite opening edges excluding the extended portion. 
     There is no particular restriction on the shape of the side face of the gutter body (referred to hereunder as the side shape), however normally this is a straight line, a curve which is bent at a small curvature so as to protrude upward or downward, or an S-shape wherein the upper end and/or the lower end of a straight line or the beforementioned curve are further extended in the transverse direction. For the curve, a parabola is preferably. Among other things, a straight line is preferably since this simplifies formation of the gutter body. Moreover, a curve which is bent so as to protrude downwards is preferably since this enables an increase in the discharge distance and/or the discharge amount. A parabola which is bent so as to protrude downwards is particularly desirable. 
     There is no particular restriction on the shape as seen from the front (referred to hereunder as the front shape), however normally this is a straight line, a curve which is bent at a small curvature in the transverse direction (a direction parallel with the rotation plane of the gutter body; defined similarly hereunder), or an S-shape wherein the upper end and/or the lower end of a straight line or the beforementioned curve are further extended in the transverse direction. However, a straight line is preferable. 
     As with the beforementioned side shape and front shape, there is no particular restriction on the shape as seen from above or beneath (referred to hereunder as the plan shape). This may be a straight line, a curve which is bent at a small curvature towards the direction of revolution of the gutter body or the opposite direction, or an S-shape wherein the upper end and/or the lower end of a straight line or the beforementioned curve are further extended in the transverse direction. However among other things a straight line is preferable. 
     There is no particular limit to the length of the gutter body. The lengths of a plurality of gutter bodies attached to the attachment device can be the same as each other, or may be different from each other. 
     The gutter body may be twisted sufficiently to obtain raising of the liquid. 
     The gutter body is attached to the agitator shaft with the concavity facing the agitator shaft or the revolution direction. In this case, the eccentric or deviation angle defined hereinunder is appropriately selected depending for example on the shape of the gutter body itself and the opening shape, the opening area ratio between the upper and lower openings, and the use of ejected liquid. The eccentric or deviation angle means angle between the center line of the gutter body (being the line perpendicular to and equally dividing a line connecting the symmetrical shape opposite edges of the opening; defined similarly hereunder) and a diameter of the revolution plane of the gutter body which passes through the center point of the gutter body (the intersection point of the before-mentioned center line of the gutter body and gutter body; defined similarly hereunder). 
     In order to eject the liquid from the upper opening of the gutter body as a spray, as minute droplets, or as a fine flow, then the whole of the upper opening of the gutter body can be covered with a perforated plate drilled with a plurality of holes, or with a mesh. This is also preferable. With the perforated plate, the plurality of holes may be pierced regularly or irregularly. There is no particular restriction on the shape and number of holes. As a representative example of the shape of the holes, these may be circular, elliptical, square or rectangular. 
     A deflector plate may be provided spaced apart from the upper opening of the gutter body, to thereby abruptly change the direction of the liquid ejected therefrom. Moreover, with the gutter body, the upper opening may be closed off by a plate such that a gap is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the gutter body. 
     The longitudinal opening of the gutter body may be covered with a non-permeable or permeable cover which is removable. 
     Moreover, the gutter body may be free to turn around the longitudinal axis thereof. In this case, the eccentric or deviation angle is appropriately selected depending for example on the shape of the opening and the size of the inclination angle of the gutter body, the viscosity of the liquid in the container, and the revolution speed of the gutter body. In the case when the gutter body is free to turn around longitudinal axis thereof as mentioned above, the gutter body may be rotatably mounted on the attachment device. In this case the gutter body may also be secured after being turned to an optical eccentric or deviation angle. Moreover, this can be turned automatically depending on the revolution speed of the gutter body. In this case, the gutter body is mounted on the agitator shaft so as to be freely rotatable. 
     When attaching the gutter body to the attachment device, the arrangement must be such that the attachment device does not obstruct the rising of the liquid within the concavity of the gutter body. 
     The gutter body is secured to the attachment device at an inclination angle of a predetermined size. Furthermore, this may be mounted such that the size of the inclination angle (the angle between the longitudinal axis of the gutter body and the rotation plane of the gutter body: defined similarly hereunder) can be optionally adjusted. The latter arrangement however is preferable. Here the longitudinal axis of the gutter body is defined as the line connecting the center points of the gutter body at the respective upper and lower openings. 
     The inclination angle is made greater than 0° and up to 90°. The lower opening may be closer to the agitator shaft than the upper opening, or the distances from the agitator shaft to the lower opening and to the upper opening may be made equal to each other. In practice however, the former is desirable. In the case of the latter, then the lower opening of the gutter body is preferably closed off. In this case also, the liquid at the immersed portion of the gutter body is raised inside the gutter body. The size of the inclination angle is appropriately selected depending for example on the type of liquid, the rotational speed of the liquid transporting body, the desired discharge distance and discharge amount for the ejected liquid, and the use of the ejected liquid. Normally 5° to 85° is ideal. 
     The size of the inclination angle of a gutter body is appropriately selected depending for example on the shape of the gutter body itself and the opening shape, the opening area ratio between the upper and the lower openings, and the use of the ejected liquid. 
     In order to mount the gutter body on the agitator shaft so that the size of the inclination angle can be adjusted, then for example the lower end portion of the gutter body may be hinged so as to fit over the agitator shaft, and the upper end mounted so that the upper opening of the gutter body is movable along the radius of the rotation plane by means of a vertical traveller device or a horizontal traveller device. The device for moving the upper opening of the gutter pipe involving a vertical traveller device, and the device involving a horizontal traveller device are referred to hereunder respectively as a vertical system and a horizontal system. 
     Furthermore, the gutter body may be bendable and/or able to be telescoped. To make the gutter body bendable, then for example the gutter body may be made from a flexible material, or the gutter body may be divided into a plurality of sections, and these sections connected by joint members (a gutter body section is referred to hereunder as a gutter segment). In order to enable telescoping of the gutter body, then for example a plurality of gutter segment may be connected together so as to be slidable relative to each other. 
     In the case where a plurality of the gutter bodies are secured to an attachment device, then these may be arranged independent of each other, or may be formed integral with each other. For the latter, then for example the opposite inclined sides of a trapezoidal plate may be bent in opposite directions to each other to thereby give gutter bodies formed by the bent portions. In this case, the unbent flat portion may be made the attachment device, or a separate attachment device may be provided for the trapezoidal plate. The unbent flat portion acts as an agitator blade. With this gutter body, the respective shapes of the upper opening and lower opening are non-symmetrical. Moreover, by forming openings in the flat portion constituting the attachment device, then fluid resistance of the attachment device can be reduced. This is also desirable. 
     When the gutter body is attached so that the lower opening thereof is closer to the agitator shaft than the upper opening thereof, as mentioned hereinunder referring to FIG. 11, the lower opening  11  of the gutter body  1  may be located on or off a plane involving the agitator shaft  3  and the upper opening  12 . In the off case, the gutter body  1  can be managed to revolve so that the lower opening  11  is leading or following, although the former is preferable. When a plurality of gutter bodies are attached at an incline, they may be arranged so that the lower end portions cross over each other in the vicinity of the agitator shaft. 
     In the case where the corrosiveness of the liquid inside the tank is minimal, then instead of a gutter body mounted such that the size of the inclination angle is optionally adjustable, a tubular body may be similarly mounted. 
     This tubular body, as with the beforementioned gutter body, is preferably coated or lined. However, a coating or lining is not always necessary. 
     There is no particular restrictions to the shape of the transverse section in case of the tubular body (the section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis). However, shapes such as circular types including circles, ellipses, or ovals, polygon types including squares, rectangles, pentagons, and hexagons, and shapes wherein the head angles of polygons are rounded and/or the sides are bent outwards with a small curvature (referred to hereunder as substantially polygon shaped) are preferable. 
     The upper opening and lower opening of the tubular body may constitute respective bases of the tubular body. Furthermore, the tubular body may be formed by covering the bases with base plates and drilling holes in the ends of the tubular body. 
     The attachment device with the liquid transporting body attached thereto may be secured to the agitator shaft, or slidably mounted thereon, no matter which the transporting body may be, gutter body or tubular body. The lower opening of the liquid transporting body is immersed beneath the liquid surface, while the upper opening is exposed from the liquid surface. By rotating the agitator shaft and hence revolving the liquid transporting body, the liquid at the immersed portion of the liquid transporting body is raised inside the liquid transporting body due to the centrifugal force, and is ejected from the upper opening. Together with this, the liquid is agitated by the portion of the liquid transporting body beneath the liquid surface. 
     With the liquid ejection apparatus of the present invention, the liquid transporting body is secured to the agitator shaft, or is slidably mounted thereon by means of the attachment device. There is no particular restriction to the securing means and for example an insertion, threading, welding or bonding or the like may be used. 
     In the case where the attachment device is secured, then one attachment device may be mounted on the agitator shaft, or a plurality of attachment devices may be mounted thereon along the longitudinal axis. In the case of the latter, the liquid will be agitated by the liquid transporting bodies which are immersed beneath the liquid surface, and hence this is preferable. Furthermore, in the case of the latter, the lower opening of a lower stage liquid transporting body are preferably made to overlap each other in the longitudinal axis direction of the agitator shaft. 
     In the case of mounting so as to be slidable, this may be achieved for example by providing on the surface of the agitator shaft along the longitudinal axis thereof a groove or protuberance or spline, and providing on the attachment device a protuberance or groove or spline which can slidably engage with the groove or protuberance or spline on the agitator shaft. 
     Furthermore, the attachment device slidably mounted on the agitator shaft may be moved automatically or manually. For example, a floating element may be provided on the attachment device so that this can be floated on the liquid surface and thus moved automatically corresponding to the up and down movement of the liquid level inside the tank. Moreover, this may be moved up and down by remote operation from outside the tank. Furthermore, this may be stopped at a predetermined position. In addition, this may be moved up and down by hand, by suspending the attachment device from a connecting wire outside of the tank, and tensioning and slackening the wire outside of the tank. 
     The floating element may also serve a dual role as an attachment device. The floating element is preferably of a shape and construction which will result in minimum fluid resistance during agitation. 
     With the liquid ejection apparatus of the present invention, the immersed portion of the liquid transporting body acts as an agitating blade. However other agitating blades such as turbine blades, propellers, pitched flat vanes, flat vane disc turbines, flat vanes, curved vanes, or Pfaudler-type impellers and Brumagin-type impellers may be combined together with the liquid transporting body. 
     Moreover, the attachment device itself may act an agitating blade. 
     There is no particular restriction to the size of the liquid ejection apparatus of the present invention. For example this may be an optional size such as a laboratory type small scale apparatus used for example inside a flask, or a large scale apparatus used for example inside a large size tank at a manufacturing plant of a factory. 
     The liquid agitating apparatus of the present invention for installing inside a flask is preferably one where the inclination angle is adjustable by the vertical system. 
     The ejected liquid ejected from the upper opening of the liquid transporting body may be employed for the following various uses. For example: 
     (a) For distributing liquid onto the inner peripheral surface of a tank wall to wash the inner peripheral surface; 
     (b) In the situation where the liquid level inside the tank drops, then in the case of a tank provided with a jacket on the outer surface of the tank wall, for distributing liquid onto the inner surface of the tank wall which serves as a heat transfer surface, or with a tank provided with coiled piping or a multi-tube unit inside the tank, for distributing liquid onto the surface of the coiled piping or of the multi-tube unit which serves as a heat transfer surface, to thereby maintain the heat transfer area, and/or wash the surface; 
     (c) For distributing liquid into the space above the liquid surface to evaporate the liquid; and 
     (d) For other uses. 
     In the case where the ejected liquid is used for evaporating liquid in the space above the liquid surface, then one or a plurality of liquid transporting bodies are attached to one attachment device in the radial direction of the revolution plane with the inclination angle selected corresponding to the revolution speed of the liquid transporting body (peripheral speed in the plane of revolution), so that the ejected liquid is rapidly discharged. Normally this is from 15° to 85°. 
     Furthermore, in order to evenly distribute the ejected liquid onto the liquid surface then preferably a plurality of liquid transporting bodies are attached to one attachment device. 
     In the case where the ejected liquid is employed to wash the inner peripheral surface of the tank wall and/or maintain the heat transfer area of the tank wall which serves as a heat transfer surface, then at least one liquid transporting body need be provided on one attachment device at the tip end thereof, with the upper opening of the liquid transporting body close to the inner peripheral surface and within the ejection distance of the ejected liquid therefrom. 
     Furthermore, in the case where this is employed to maintain the heat transfer area and or wash the heat transfer surface of a heating or cooling apparatus such as coiled tubes or a multi-tube unit provided inside the tank, then only one liquid transporting body need be provided on one attachment device with the upper opening of the liquid transporting body close to the heat transfer surface and within the ejection distance of the ejected liquid therefrom. 
     With the liquid ejection method of the present invention, the revolution speed of the liquid transporting body is appropriately selected depending for example on the liquid type, the shape and thickness of the liquid transporting body, and the use of the ejected liquid. 
     Other objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the appending drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A shows a plan view of a liquid ejection apparatus with respective gutter bodies fixedly attached to an agitator shaft by means of an attachment device; FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view on section IB—IB shown in FIG. 1A; In FIG. 1A, the agitator shaft is shown as a cross-section end face; 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of one embodiment of S-form gutter body; FIG. 2B is a front view seen from the oblique direction (in the direction of the arrow in FIG.  2 A); FIG. 2C is a perspective-view of the gutter body; 
     FIG. 3A shows a side view of another example of a gutter body; FIG. 3B is a front view seen from the oblique direction (in the direction of the arrow in FIG.  3 A): 
     FIG. 4A to FIG. 4L show examples of transverse section of symmetrical shapes of opening portions of gutter bodies; 
     FIG. 5A to FIG. 5K show examples of transverse section of non-symmetrical shapes of opening portions of gutter bodies; 
     FIG. 6A shows an upper opening of a gutter body which is covered with a perforated plate; FIG. 6B shows the same part as in FIG. 6A which is covered with a plate having apertures; 
     FIG. 7A shows an upper opening of a gutter body which is closed off by a plate such that a gap is formed along an inner peripheral surface of the upper opening; FIG. 7B shows another embodiment of the upper opening of gutter body for the same effect as in FIG. 7A; 
     FIG. 8A is a plan view of a gutter body provided with a deflector plate spaced apart from the upper opening; FIG. 8B is a sectional view on VIIIB—VIIB shown in FIG. 8A; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an eccentric angle; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a gutter body revolvably mounted on an agitator shaft; said gutter body being rotatable by itself; 
     FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating a positional relationship of a gutter body fitted to an agitator shaft, and a perspective view of the right half (right side) of FIG. 1B; 
     FIG. 12A to FIG. 12D are respectively a perspective view, a plan view, a front view, and a side view of a liquid ejection apparatus having a tubular body, with the size of an inclination angle adjustable by means of a vertical system; In FIG. 12B, the agitator shaft as shown as a cross-sectional end face; 
     FIG. 13A to FIG. 13D are respectively a perspective view, a plan view, a front view, and a side view of liquid ejection apparatus having tubular bodies, with the size of the inclination angle adjustable by a horizontal system; the agitator shift in FIG. 13B is shown as a cross-sectional end face; 
     FIG. 14A shows a side view of a bent gutter body; FIG. 14B through 14D show respectively a side view, a plane view and an end view of the straightened gutter body; FIG. 14E through 14G show respective perspective, side and end views of gutter segments; 
     FIG.  15 A and FIG. 15B show respectively a side view and a plan view of an extended gutter body which can be telescoped; and FIG.  15 C and FIG. 15D show respectively a side view and plan view of a contracted gutter body; 
     FIG.  16 A and FIG. 16B show respective front and plan views of a liquid ejection apparatus having two opposite gutter bodies formed integral with each other; the agitator shaft in FIG. 16B is shown as a cross-sectional end face; 
     FIG.  17 A and FIG. 17B show respective plan and front views of a liquid ejection apparatus having gutter bodies attached eccentrically; the agitator shaft in FIG. 17A is shown as a cross-sectional end face; FIG. 17C is a sectional view on section XVIIC—XVIIC shown in FIG. 17B; 
     FIG.  18 A and FIG. 18B are respectively a plan view and a front view (a view on arrow B in FIG. 18A) of another liquid ejection apparatus having gutter bodies attached eccentrically; the agitator shaft in FIG. 18A is shown as a cross-section end face; 
     FIG. 19 is a longitudinal section view of an agitator tank with a liquid ejection apparatus installed thereinside; 
     FIG. 20 is a longitudinal section view of an agitator task with a liquid ejection apparatus having a plurality of gutter bodies attached along the longitudinal axis of the agitator shaft, installed thereinside; 
     FIG. 21 is a longitudinal section view of a flask with a liquid ejection apparatus installed thereinside; 
     FIG. 22A is a plan view of a liquid ejection apparatus with a floating element dual purpose attachment device mounted on the agitator shaft, so as to be slidable thereon; FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view on section XXIIB—XXIIB shown in FIG. 22A, and FIG. 22C is an enlarged perspective view of an attachment portion of the floating element dual purpose attachment device of the gutter body; and 
     FIG.  23 A and FIG. 23B are respective plan and front views of a liquid ejection apparatus with a plurality of gutter bodies attached to a single attachment device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more specifically be means of embodiments shown in the drawings. However the invention is not limited to these embodiments. 
     The drawings are typical ones for illustrating the theory of the present invention, and the relative size etc. is not shown accurately. 
     In FIG.  1 A and FIG. 1B, gutter bodies  1  are fixedly mounted to an agitator shaft  3  by means of an attachment device  2 . 
     The cross-sectional shapes of the gutter bodies  1  at a central portion, upper opening and lower opening are semi-circular, corresponding to the shape of a cylinder which has been longitudinally sectioned along a face parallel with a face including the base face (cutting in the longitudinal axis direction parallel with a face including the base face is referred to hereunder as half cutting), and the upper part is extended substantially horizontally. 
     The attachment device  2  comprises plates  22  secured to a central ring  21  and radiating out at a central angle of 90°. Retainers  23  for holding the butter bodies  1  are provided on the tips thereof. The agitator shaft  3  is passed through the central ring  21 , and the attachment device  2  is then fixedly secured to the agitator shaft  3 . The plates  22  are long rectangular flat plates with an inclined tip. The surfaces thereof are aligned parallel with the axial direction of the agitator shaft. The retainers  23  are tubes having inner radii equal to the outer radii of the gutter bodies  1 . 
     The gutter bodies  1  are passed through and secured to the retainers  23  of the attachment device  2 , with lower openings  11  thereof arranged closer to the agitator shaft  3  than upper openings  12 . The concavities or the longitudinal openings of the gutter bodies are arranged facing inwards towards the agitator shaft, and such that the retainers  23  of the attachment device  2  do not obstruct the liquid rising in the concavities. The inclination angles of the gutter bodies  1  are made approximately 60°. 
     With this liquid ejection apparatus, the lower openings  11  of the gutter bodies  1  are immersed beneath the liquid surface, while the upper openings  12  are exposed from the liquid surface. By rotating the agitator shaft  3  and hence revolving the gutter bodies  1 , the liquid is subjected to a centrifugal force, so that the liquid at the immersed portion of the gutter bodies  1  rises inside the concavities towards the upper openings  12  of the gutter bodies  1 , and is ejected from the upper openings  12 . Together with this, the liquid is agitated by the portions of the gutter bodies  1  beneath the liquid surface. 
     The gutter body  1  shown in FIG.  2 A-FIG. 2C is approximately an elongated bottomless half cut hollow cone. The transverse sectional shape of the central portion, the lower opening  11  and the upper opening  12  are all semi-circular. Furthermore, the side view shape is an overall elongated S-shape, with the central portion a straight line and the lower end and the upper end extended approximately horizontally towards the center and towards the periphery respectively in the rotation plane. 
     The gutter body  1  shown in FIG.  3 A and FIG. 3B is approximately an elongated bottomless half cut cylinder. The transverse sectional shape of the central portion, the lower opening  11  and the upper opening  12  are all semi-circular. Furthermore, the side view shape is a parabola shape protruding downwards with a small curvature. 
     With these gutter bodies shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4L, there is an opening border  15  between opening edges  13  and  14 . Moreover the cross-sectional area of the opening is the area of the shape enclosed by the peripheral surface of the gutter body and the opening border  15 . 
     With these non-symmetrical shapes shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5K, there is an opening border  17  between the opening edge  13  and the extended portion edge  16 . Moreover, the cross-sectional area of the opening is the area enclosed by the symmetrical shape of the peripheral surface of the gutter body and the aforementioned opening border  15  thereof, and the remaining area enclosed by the peripheral surface of the non-symmetrical shape of the gutter body and the opening border  17 . The gutter body having a non-symmetrical shape as shown in FIG.  5 A-FIG. 5K, is revolved with the opening edge  13  leading and the extended edge portion  16  following. 
     In FIG. 6A, a perforated plate  4  covering an upper opening  12  of a semi-circular gutter body  1  is semi-circular in shape corresponding to the upper opening  12 , with a plurality holes  41  randomly drilled therein. A perforated plate  4  covering a substantially rectangular shape upper opening  12  of a gutter body  1  shown in FIG. 6B, having corners rounded at two places, is substantially rectangular in shape with rounded corners corresponding to the upper opening  12 , and has a plurality of elongate rectangular apertures  42  formed regularly therein with their longitudinal axes parallel with each other. 
     In FIG. 7A, the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1  is semi-circular in shape while the shape of the plate  5  is a semi-ellipse having a longitudinal axis of a length equal to the diameter of the semi-circle of the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1 . Hence the shape of the gap  18  is a crescent moon shape. In FIG. 7B, the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1  is substantially rectangular in shape with the corners rounded at two places, while the shape of the plate  5  is rectangular with the long side equal to the length of the long side of the substantially rectangular upper opening  12 , and the short side shorter than the length of the short side thereof. Hence the shape of the gap  18  is a narrow substantially rectangular shape with corners rounded at two places. 
     In FIG.  8 A and FIG. 8B, a rectangular deflector plate  6  is provided at right angles to the axial direction of the gutter body  1 , and spaced apart from the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1 . Furthermore, the deflector plate  6  is mounted on the beforementioned retainer  23  for attaching the gutter body  1  to the attachment device  2 , by means of a rod  61 . 
     The eccentric or deviation angle will now be explained with reference to FIG. 9. A perpendicular line dividing in two the opening border  15  being the line connecting the symmetrical shape opening edges  13  and  14  of the gutter body  1 , is the center line p of the gutter body  1 . The intersection point of the center line p of the gutter body  1  with the gutter body  1  is the central point o of the gutter body  1 . The angle from the rotation plane radius  9  passing through the central point o of the gutter body  1  to the center line p in the direction of rotation  4  (shown clockwise in the figure) of the gutter body is the eccentric or deviation angle θ. 
     In FIG. 10, a lower support  113  is provided on a lower opening  11  of a gutter body  1 , connecting opening edges  111  and  112  thereof. Moreover, an upper support  123  is provided on an upper opening  12  connecting opening edges  121  and  122  thereof. Cylindrical rods serving as a lower support rod  114  and an upper support rod  124 , are respectively mounted aligned with the longitudinal axis of the gutter body  1 , on the centers of the lower support  113  and the upper support  123 . 
     A lower attachment device  221  and an upper attachment device  222  are secured radially to the agitator shaft  3 . The lower attachment device  221  and the upper attachment device  222  are both slender rectangular shape plates, with the length of the lower attachment device  221  shorter than the length of the upper attachment device  222 . The vertical spacing between the lower attachment device  221  and the upper attachment device  222  is made slightly greater than the vertical height of the inclined gutter body  1  (length of gutter body x sine of inclination angle). Apertures  2211  and  2221  are respectively drilled in tip portions of the lower attachment device  221  and the upper attachment device  222 . 
     The lower support rod  114  and the upper support rod  124  of the gutter body  1  are respectively inserted into the aperture  2211  of the lower attachment device  221  and the aperture  2221  of the upper attachment device  222 . A wing nut  1125  is threaded onto the upper support rod  124  to contact with the upper face of the upper attachment device  222 . 
     The gutter body  1 , when turned about the agitator shaft is thus automatically turned depending on the rotation speed of the agitator shaft. Alternatively, the gutter body  1  may be secured after turning to give a desired eccentric or deviation angle. 
     Securing the gutter body  1  is effected by threading a nut onto the upper support rod  124  and clamping the upper attachment device  222  between the nut and the wing nut  1125 , and/or threading two nuts onto the lower support rod  114  and clamping the lower attachment device  221  between these two nuts. 
     In the case of FIG. 10, the gutter body is turned with the longitudinal opening of the gutter body leading, and the protruded portion (the bottom of curved surface of the gutter body defined similarly hereunder) following. So does when the gutter body is twisted. 
     In FIG. 11, r 1 , r 2  and r 3  denote respective distances in the revolving plane of the lower opening  11  of the gutter body  1 , from the center of the agitator shaft  3 , to the opening edge  111  on the left side (left side when viewed from the agitator shaft; defined similarly hereunder), to the opening edge  112  on the right side, and to the protruded portion  115 . Symbols R 1 , R 2  and R 3  denote the respective distances in the revolving plane of the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1 , from the center of the agitator shaft  3 , to the opening edge  121  on the left side, to the opening edge  112  on the right side, and to the protruded portion  125 . 
     With the liquid ejection apparatus shown in FIG. 11, it is preferable to satisfy the relationship r 1 &lt;r 3 , r 2 &lt;r 3 , and R 1 &lt;R 3 , R 2 &lt;R 3  and r 3 &lt;R 3 . However, it is also possible to have r 1 &lt;r 3 , r 2 &lt;r 3  and R 1 &lt;R 3 , R 2 &lt;R 3  and r 3 =R 3 . Now r 1 , r 2  and r 3  are all on one revolving plane, and R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are all on another revolving plane. 
     In FIG.  12 A-FIG. 12D, each tubular body  7  has a lower end secured to the agitator shaft  3  by means of a hinge plate  71 , and an upper end is connected to a sliding ring  31  by means of a connecting link  72 . The sliding ring  31  is mounted so as to be slidable on the agitator shaft  3 . Furthermore, a wing screw  311  is provided on the sliding ring  31  for securing the sliding ring  31  at an optional position. The connecting link  72  and the sliding ring  31  constitute a vertical traveller device. 
     By moving the sliding ring  31  along the agitator shaft  3  perpendicular to the revolution plane, then the size of the inclination angle of the tubular bodies  7  can be adjusted. Once the inclination angle of the tubular bodies  7  is at a predetermined size, the sliding ring  31  is secured to the agitator shaft  3  by the means of the wing screw  311 . 
     In FIG.  13 A-FIG. 13D, each tubular body  7  has a lower end secured to the agitator shaft  3  by means of a hinge plate  71 , and an upper end connected to a pivot collar  32  by means of a connecting rod  73 . The pivot collar  32  is supported on a pivot shaft  321  so as to pivot in a parallel plane with the agitator shaft  3 . Furthermore a bore  322  is drilled in the center of the pivot collar  32  along the longitudinal axis thereof for insertion of the connecting rod  73 . A wing screw  323  is provided on the pivot collar  32  for securing the connecting rod  73 , when the connecting rod  73  is inserted into the bore  322  of the pivot collar  32 . The connecting rod  73  and the pivot collar  32  constitute a horizontal traveller device. 
     By moving the connecting rod  73  which is inserted into the bore  322  of the pivot collar  32  substantially along the rotation plane of the tubular bodies  7 , then the size of the inclination angle of the tubular bodies  7  can be adjusted. Once the inclination angle of the tubular bodies  7  is at a predetermined size, the connecting rod  73  is secured to the agitator shaft  3  via the pivot collar  32  by means of the wing screw  323 . 
     In FIG.  14 A-FIG. 14G, a gutter body  8  is made up of three sections, namely in order from the lower end, a lower gutter section  81 , a central gutter section  82 , and an upper gutter section  83 . The lower gutter section  81 , the central gutter section  82  and the upper gutter section  83  are all substantially the same as each other in transverse section shape, being a semi-circular shape. However the central gutter section  82  and the upper gutter section  83  are formed with expanded portions  821 ,  831  which are expanded so that respective lower ends thereof can accommodate the respective upper ends of the lower gutter section  81  and the central gutter section  82 . Moreover, the respective upper end portions of the lower gutter section  81  and the central gutter section  82  are formed as a quadrant as seen from the side. These quadrants have centers near the respective longitudinal openings of the lower gutter section  81  and the central gutter section  82 . Nock pins  812  and  822  are respectively threaded into the centers of the quadrants. Nock pin holes  823  and  833  are respectively drilled near the longitudinal opening of the respective lower end portion of the central gutter section  82  and the upper gutter section  83 , for insertion of the nock pins  812 ,  822  in the gutter section upper end portions. With the gutter body  8 , the nock pins  812 ,  822  and the nock holes  823 ,  833  constitute joint members. 
     The lower gutter section  81  and the central gutter section  82  are connected by inserting the upper end of the lower end gutter section  81  into the expanded portion  821  on the lower end of the central gutter section  82 , and inserting the nock pins  812  of the lower gutter section  81  into the nock pin holes  823  in the central gutter section  82 . The central gutter section  82  and the upper gutter section  83  are similarly connecting to thereby form a single gutter body  8 . 
     The gutter body  8  can thus be optionally bent or straightened by moving the upper end along the axis of the agitator shaft. 
     In FIG.  15 A-FIG. 15D, a gutter body  9  is made of three sections, namely in order from the lower end, a lower gutter section  91 , a central gutter section  92 , and an upper gutter section  93 . The lower gutter section  91 , the central gutter section  92  and the upper gutter section  93  are made successively narrower, with transverse section shapes being semi-circular shapes substantially resembling each other. Nock pins  921  and  922  are respectively threaded into the lower end outside and the upper end inside of the central gutter section  92  near the longitudinal opening. Furthermore, elongate slots  912  and  932 , are respectively formed in the lower gutter section  91  and the upper gutter section  93  (except at the opposite ends) near the longitudinal opening and parallel with the peripheral rim thereof, at positions corresponding to the respective nock pins  921  and  922 . 
     The lower gutter section  91  and the central gutter section  92  are connected by fitting the central gutter section  92  inside the lower gutter section  91  and respectively engaging the nock pins  921  of the central gutter section  92  with the slots  912  of the lower gutter section  91 . The central gutter section  92  and the upper gutter section  93  are similarly connected to thereby form a single gutter body  9 . 
     The gutter body  9  can thus be extended and contracted by moving the tip end along the longitudinal axis of the gutter body  9  so that the gutter segments slide relative to each other. 
     In FIG.  16 A-FIG. 16B, an inverse trapezoid shape plate  10  is attached to the agitator shaft  3 , with opposite inclined side portions thereof bend in opposite directions to each other in the rotation plane to thereby form two opposed gutter bodies  101 ,  102 . The respective shapes of the upper opening and the lower opening of the gutter bodies  101 ,  102  are both non-symmetrical V-shapes with one side longer and with rounded vertices. Moreover, unbent flat portions  103  of the trapezoid plate  10  constitute an attachment device, which in addition acts as an agitator blade. Six rectangular openings  1031  are formed transversely in the flat portions  103  to reduce fluid resistance. 
     The gutter bodies  101 ,  102  are revolved so that the short side of the non-symmetrical V-shape leads (clockwise in the figure). 
     In FIG.  17 A-FIG. 17C, two gutter bodies  1  are attached to the agitator shaft  3  at an incline thereto with their lower openings closer to the agitator shaft  3  than their upper openings, upper portions thereof being attached by means of an elongate rectangular plate attachment device  24 , and lower portions being attached by means of a trapezoid plate attachment device  25 . Both the attachment devices  24  and  25  are secured eccentrically with respect to the agitator shaft  3 . 
     With the gutter bodies  1 , the respective shapes of the upper opening and the lower opening are both V-shaped with a 90° vertex angle. One side is secured to the attachment devices  24 ,  25 , while the tip end of the other side is enlarged. 
     The two gutter bodies  1  are fixedly mounted eccentrically with respect to the agitator shaft  3  on opposite side faces of the attachment devices  24 ,  25 . 
     The gutter bodies  1  are revolved so to as to lead the attachment devices  24 ,  25  (clockwise in the figure). 
     In FIG.  16 B and FIG. 17A, vertex angles of the V-shaped gutter bodies may be varied up to 105°. In addition, the V-shaped gutter bodies may be replaced by any shape shown in FIG.  4 A-FIG. 5J, for example, a semi-circular shape. 
     In FIG.  18 A-FIG. 18B, elongate rectangular plate attachment devices  2  are located on the radius of the rotation plane and secured to the agitator shaft  3 . The length of the attachment devices  2  are substantially the same as each other. Two C-sections of rectangular shape in cross-section constitute the gutter bodies  1 . The longitudinal openings are faced inwards, with respective upper portions secured to the tip ends of the attachment devices  2 , and lower portions secured to the peripheral surface of the agitator shaft  3 , so that lower openings  11  are closer to the agitator shaft  3  than upper openings  12 , thereby inclining the gutter bodies  1 . 
     The lower portions of the gutter bodies  1  are secured to the peripheral surfaces on opposite sides of the agitator shaft  3 . Hence the lower openings  11  of the gutter bodies  1  are eccentric with respect to the agitator shaft  3 , and cross over each other at the position of the agitator shaft  3 . 
     The gutter body  1  is usually turned with the lower openings  11  leading and the upper openings  12  following (clockwise in the figure). 
     In FIG. 19, a liquid ejection apparatus similar to that shown in FIG. 1A with the exception that two attachment devices  2  (upper and lower) are used to attach the gutter bodies  1  to the agitator shaft  3 , is installed centrally inside an agitator tank T. An upper end of the agitator shaft  3  is connected to an electric motor M mounted on an upper base plate of the agitator tank T. A jacket J is positioned around the outer periphery of the peripheral wall and over the base of the agitator tank T. 
     The lower opening  11  of the gutter body  1  is immersed below a level L of the liquid inside the agitator tank T, while the upper opening  12  is exposed in the space above the level L of the liquid. Rotation of the agitator shaft by driving the motor M mounted on the upper base plate of the agitator tank T to thereby revolve the gutter body  1 , makes the liquid inside the agitator tank T to pass from the lower opening  11  of the gutter body  1  via the interior of the gutter body  1  to be ejected as ejected liquid from the upper opening  12 . The ejected liquid is distributed onto the inner peripheral surface of the wall of the agitator tank T, and/or into the space above the liquid level L. Moreover, the parts of the gutter body  1  below the liquid level L and the attachment device  2  below the liquid level L both act as agitating blades. 
     Even when the liquid level L is lowered by evaporation, enough liquid is ejected from the opening  12 , because the raise of liquid through the gutter body  1  is due to centrifugal force. This serves to keep heat transfer area at a constant level and also to keep constant evaporation speed, thereby to shorten evaporation time. 
     In FIG. 20, three liquid ejection apparatuses similar to that shown in FIG. 1A are connected to an agitator shaft inside an agitating tank T similar to that shown in FIG.  19 . An upper opening  12  of a gutter body  1  of a first stage (starting from the bottom: defined similarly hereunder) is above a lower opening  11  of a gutter body  1  of a second stage. Similarly, an upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1  of the second stage is above a lower opening  11  of a gutter body  1  of a third stage. 
     In FIG. 20, the level L of the liquid inside the agitator tank T is between the lower opening  11  and the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1  of the third stage. Drive of the motor M to rotate the agitator shaft  3 , to thereby revolve the gutter bodies  1 , makes the liquid inside the agitator tank T to pass from the lower opening  11  via the gutter body  1  to be ejected as ejected liquid from the upper opening  12 . The ejected liquid is distributed onto the inner peripheral surface of the wall of the agitator tank T, and/or into the space above the liquid level L. Moreover, the parts of the gutter body  1  below the liquid level L, and the gutter bodies  1  and the attachment devices  2  below the liquid level L all act as agitating blades. 
     With elapse of time and the accompanying drop in the liquid level L, then before the liquid level falls below the lower opening  11  of the gutter body  1  of the third stage, the upper opening  12  of the gutter body  1  of the second stage becomes exposed above the liquid level L. Hence the liquid inside the agitator tank T continues to be ejected from the upper opening  12 . In this way, the liquid inside the agitator tank T is continuously ejected from the upper openings  12  of the gutter bodies  1  without any interruption, until the liquid level L reaches the lower opening  11  of the first stage gutter body  1 . 
     In FIG. 1, a liquid ejection apparatus having gutter bodies  7  with the size of the inclination angle adjustable by means of a vertical system similar to that shown in FIG. 12, except that the wing screw  311  is omitted and a stopper  34  is secured to the lower portion of the agitator shaft  3 , is installed inside a flask F. 
     While outside of the flask F, the sliding ring  31  of the liquid ejection apparatus is slid upward along the surface of the agitator shaft  3  so that the inclination angles of the gutter bodies  7  are increased and the upper ends of the gutter bodies  7  approach the agitator shaft  3 , bringing the gutter bodies  7  closer together. The liquid ejection apparatus is then inserted into the flask through the opening and the sliding ring  31  released, thus dropping down along the agitator shaft  3  until it contacts against the stopper  34 , reducing the inclination angle to a predetermined size. The stopper  34  can be omitted. In this case the inclination angle of the gutter bodies  1  becomes a size corresponding to the rotational speed, and/or the length of the connecting link  72 . 
     In FIG.  22 A-FIG. 22C, the floating elements are a small diameter float  26  and a large diameter float  27 , both annular shaped and approximately rectangular shape in cross-section, positioned concentrically with each other on the same rotation plane. Two sets of gutter bodies  1  with two gutter bodies per set each located on the same diameter on either side of the agitator shaft  3  are attached to the floats  26 ,  27  with the central angle of the gutter body pairs at 90°. One set of gutter bodies is long, while the other set is short. Furthermore, the gutter bodies  1  are respectively attached to the floats  26  and  27  by means of retainers  19 . The floats  26 ,  27  are connected to a central ring  28  at their centers by means of support rods  29 . The central angle of the support rods  19  is a right angle. 
     A protuberance  281  is provided on the inner peripheral face of the central ring  28 . Furthermore, a groove  33  is formed along the longitudinal axis of the agitator shaft  3  in the outer peripheral face thereof. The agitator shaft  3  is inserted into the central ring  28 , so that the protuberance  281  of the central ring  28  is engaged in the groove  33  of the agitator shaft  3 , thereby mounting the floats  26 ,  27  on the agitator shaft  3  so as to be slidable thereon. 
     This liquid ejection apparatus always floats on the liquid surface so that irrespective of changes in the level of the liquid surface, the liquid is continuously and infallibly ejected from the upper openings  12  of the gutter bodies  1 . 
     In FIG.  23 A-FIG. 23B, attachment devices  2  of the same length as each other are located on either side of the agitator shaft  3  on the same diameter. Two gutter bodies  1  are attached to one attachment device (the left side in the figure), and three gutter bodies  1  are attached to the other attachment device (the right side in the figure). The inclination angles of these gutter bodies are the same as each other. However, the distances from the agitator shaft  3  to the respective gutter bodies  1  are all different so that when the agitator shaft  3  is rotated to thereby rotate the gutter bodies  1 , the paths, that is circular tracks, of the five gutter bodies  1  do not overlap each other. 
     With the liquid ejection apparatus of the present invention, the concentration is simple, and by merely rotating the agitator shaft, the liquid can be ejected over a large ejection distance with a large ejection volume. By means of this ejected liquid, washing of an inner peripheral surface of a tank wall, maintenance of a heat transfer area and washing of a heat transfer surface, as well as evaporation of the liquid is simplified.