Patent ID: 7850365

Claim:
A device and a vessel, said device for circulating a liquid media in said vessel, comprising: a gas infusion tube having a leading end immersed in said liquid media and a trailing end adapted to be in fluid communication with a remote air pump that is external to said vessel; a diffuser secured to said leading end of said gas infusion tube; an outer tube having a lumen of sufficient diameter to receive therewithin said gas infusion tube and said diffuser; said outer tube having a leading end disposed in spaced apart relation to a bottom wall of said vessel and having a trailing end substantially flush with a surface of said liquid media; a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings formed proximate said cap; said diffuser forming bubbles in said liquid media that flow upwardly through the lumen of said outer tube, entraining said liquid media so that said liquid media follows a path of travel flowing upwardly through said lumen of said outer tube; said upwardly flowing liquid media changing direction a first time and flowing radially outwardly at the surface of said liquid media through said circumferentially spaced openings; said radially outwardly flowing liquid media changing direction a second time and flowing downwardly, externally of said outer tube; said downwardly flowing liquid media changing direction a third time and being entrained by said upwardly flowing bubbles into said leading end of said outer tube and thereafter repeating said path of travel; said path of travel being toroidal; and said path of travel ensuring that the liquid media is thoroughly mixed.