Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/031,374, filed Feb. 21, 2011, which is a continuation of Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent Application Ser. No. PCT/US09/054522, filed Aug. 20, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/090,396 filed Aug. 20, 2008, The entire disclosure of each of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference, 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Wastewater from municipal sewage systems, large-scale agricultural operations, and industrial waste product systems often includes large amounts of organic and inorganic waste material that, if left untreated, can create severe odors due to anaerobic decay and can generate toxic products. Treating such waste generally involves collecting the organic and inorganic waste material in a stream of liquid or water, and collecting the waste in settling pools, ponds, or lagoons. Thereafter, the waste is allowed to settle in progressive settling ponds, pools, or lagoons, and any floating detritus is allowed to decompose, allowing the effluent to be run off relatively free of the debris for further treatment or clarification, During this process, the addition of oxygen sufficient to meet the basic oxygen demand (BOD) is preferred so that the waste material in the water will undergo biodegradation, that converts the wastewater into a relatively nontoxic, non-offensive effluent, Since anaerobic decomposition is inefficient as compared to aerobic decomposition, and anaerobic decomposition often results in the production of a malodorous sulfur-containing gas, it is preferred to add oxygen to the wastewater to increase decomposition while reducing or eliminating the existence of anaerobic decomposition. Various approaches have been used, typically by surface aeration or by submerged aeration systems wherein air is pumped below the surface of the water, or sometimes by a rotating impeller that mixes the wastewater and entrains air into that water. Examples are to be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,521,864; 3,846,516; 5,874,003; 6,145,815; and 6,241,221. 
     While each of these previous designs may have application in that have been considered and developed, there is still a need for an improved apparatus for economically mixing a large quantity of wastewater with sufficient air to at least satisfy the BOD of the wastewater to promote biodegradation of the waste materials, and/or to reduce or eliminate offgassing of offensive odors. Further, it will be appreciated that in the collection of sewage from household waste, a great deal of human hair accumulates in settling pools, ponds, or lagoons, causing large mats or strings of hair mixed with other organic matter, which will often cause entanglement of material in wastewater treatment equipment, and can result in equipment failure—an issue that is not addressed in the foregoing prior examples. As such, a design that is not adversely affected by the hair and stringy waste that accumulates in wastewater facilities, while providing oxygenation of a large variety of settling pools, ponds, or lagoons in an energy efficient manner and producible at a cost effective price would be greatly appreciated. 
     SUMMARY 
     These needs may be satisfied by a water treatment unit that can be situated in a body of water such as a tank, pool, pond or lake. The water treatment unit includes a riser having an intake that can be situated below the surface of the water. A chamber is coupled to an upper portion of the riser stand that has a base, a sidewall extending upward from the base, and a top that can be located above the water surface in the body of water. The riser has an outlet adjacent the top of the riser into the chamber. The chamber has at least one water outlet in a lower portion of the chamber, and an air inlet in an upper portion of the chamber. The water outlet from the chamber can take the form of one or more outlets through the chamber base. A directionally adjustable pipe can be coupled to the outlet from the chamber so that the outflow from the chamber can be used to develop a desired flow pattern, such as a toroidal flow, within the body of water. 
     An impeller is connected to the riser to move water upward from the intake and out through the upper opening of the riser into the chamber. The upper opening can take the form of a plurality of openings spaced around an upper portion of the riser. The impeller can take the form of a motor coupled to the chamber upper portion immediately above an upper end of the riser and a shaft coupled to the motor and to at least one propeller situated within the riser below the water level in the body of water. The water flow from the riser into the chamber creates a head within the chamber forcing water out through the water outlet in the lower portion of the chamber. 
     The water treatment unit riser upper opening can be surrounded by a depending flange. The depending flange can intercept and outward flow of water from the upper opening of the riser. The outward flow of water will also become downwardly directed at least due to the influence of gravity. The outward and downwardly directed flow of water can entrain air coming through the air inlet in the upper portion of the chamber to elevate the level of oxygen dissolved in the water within the chamber, which then flows out through the outlets in the chamber base. The downwardly directed water can also mix with water in the chamber in a turbulent manner to generate a surface foam. 
     The water treatment unit can be used to move water from the body of water up through the riser, and out through the laterally directed openings into the chamber adjacent to the air inlet. The water moving out the laterally directed openings of the stand pipe, mixes with air drawn in through the air inlet to oxygenate the water, and the oxygenated water exits the chamber into the body of water through one or more water outlets in the lower portion of the chamber due to the head developed by the inflow of water into the chamber. The outward flow of water from the chamber can cause a toroidal or other desired flow of water within the body of water surrounding the water treatment apparatus. 
     Other features of the present disclosure and the corresponding advantages of those features will become apparent from the following discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, exemplifying the best mode of practicing the present disclosure, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views, but not all reference numerals are shown in each of the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a water treatment unit embodying the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a water treatment unit according to the present application with a portion broken away to reveal the interior the water treatment unit. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the water treatment unit shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a second water treatment unit embodying the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a water treatment unit according to the present application, having a portion broken away to reveal the interior the water treatment unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to at least one embodiment of the present application, a water treatment unit  10  includes a riser or pump barrel  12  having a lower end  14  and an upper end  16  that is optionally fabricated from plastic, metal (including, for example, galvanized steel, enamel-coated steel, aluminum, stainless steel, or other malleable metals), or other materials known in the art. Further, according to at least one embodiment, one or more inlets  18  are be provided around lower end  14  of riser  12 . According to at least one optional embodiment, a bottom end  20  is optionally added to lower end  14  of riser  12 , whereby one or more inlets  18  may be fitted to lower end  14  of riser  12 , and may optionally include a ballast member  22  as shown in  FIG. 3  to assist in maintaining the water treatment unit  10  upright. It will be appreciated that the weight of ballast member  22  may be adjusted to adjust the height at which the upper end  16  floats above the water level of the lagoon, pond, or tank W. 
     According to at least one embodiment, riser  12  is sized and shaped to be of any required length and cross-sectional area as required by the necessary water flow, amperage requirements, and viscosity of wastewater. One or more water discharge outlets  24  can be provided around the upper end  16  of the riser  12 , A cap  26  can be coupled to the upper end  16  of the riser  12  by fasteners  28  or other means to substantially close the upper end  16  of the riser  12 . The cap  26  can include a peripheral wall  30  that surrounds the upper end  16  of the riser  12 . 
     A mixed wastewater chamber  32  optionally surrounds the upper end  16  of the riser  12  and peripheral wall  30 , formed by a housing comprising a chamber floor  34  that is optionally fixed to a selected portion of riser  12 , located between the upper end  16  and the lower end  14 , by fasteners, welding, fusing or other means of connecting the material comprising riser  12  and chamber floor  34 . Mixed wastewater chamber  32  further optionally comprises wall  42  and chamber ceiling  46 , with chamber floor  34 , wall  42 , and chamber ceiling  46  meeting to cause wastewater chamber  32  to attach to, and substantially enclose riser  12 . Chamber floor  34  optionally comprises one or more openings  39  in chamber floor  34 , whereby fluid that has been pumped through riser  12  cascades out through discharge outlets  24 , into mixed water chamber  32 , and building pressure forces the resulting mixed fluid down and out through the one or more openings  39  in chamber floor  34 . Further optionally, chamber ceiling  46  comprises chamber ceiling opening  54  through which air can be drawn into the chamber  32 . An intermediate wall  58  optionally depends from chamber ceiling  46  outside peripheral wall  30  (if present in the embodiment) and inside the outer wall  42 . In operation, turning to  FIG. 3 , intermediate wall  58  separates an inner chamber  60  from the remainder of chamber  32 , as intermediate wall  58  is sized to depend from chamber ceiling  46  to reach water level W 1  inside chamber  32  such that no air gap exists between water level W 1  and a bottom portion of inner intermediate wall  58 . While each of the peripheral wall  30 , intermediate wall  58  and chamber wall  42  are illustrated to be portions of right cylinders in shape in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , other shapes may be adopted for one or more of the walls  30 ,  42  and  58 . 
     According to at least one embodiment, motor  64 , such as a ¾ HP electric motor or any other properly sized and powered motor, engine, or other revolving powerplant, can be fixed to and supported by the cap  26  as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , or motor  64  may be attached to a motor plate  110  that is sized larger than chamber ceiling opening  54 , thereby allowing motor  64 , and motor plate  110  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) may be removably attached to chamber ceiling  64  by way of fasteners such as bolts, wing nuts, or other fastener means. Shaft  66  is optionally connected to motor  64  by coupling member  65  extending downward through cap opening  68  in cap  26  in general axial alignment with riser  12 . It will be appreciated that by utilizing a motor plate that fits over the top of chamber ceiling opening as shown in  FIG. 5 , removal of the motor  64 , shaft  66 , and propellers  70  are readily pulled from riser  12  to allow for inspection of components, sharpening of blades, and general maintenance or repair of the equipment with minimal disassembly effort. 
     According to at least one embodiment, at least one propeller  70  is coupled to shaft  66  to cause rotation of shaft  66  by the motor  64 , thereby creating an upward flow of fluid from a body of water outside waste treatment unit  10  into riser  12 . A buoyant member  72 , such as that shown in  FIG. 4 , may be attached to waste treatment unit  10  in any manner to cause waste treatment unit to sit at a specified height in a body of water or fluid such that waste treatment unit  10  sits at a predetermined level W as shown in Fig,  3 . It will be appreciated that level W may be determined as a different height for different embodiments of waste treatment unit  10 , and depending on the application for which waste treatment unit  10  is utilized. It will be appreciated that buoyant member  72  can take many forms, including foam filled buoys, air filled bladders that may be adjusted to adjust where water level W sits in relation to waste treatment unit  10 , or any other buoyant material. For example, two buoyant floats such as two 2′×4′ polyethylene coated foam dock floats available from Formex Manufacturing, Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga., can be utilized, along with cross members or other attaching members to hold waste treatment unit  10  in the proper relation to the fluid line, Additionally, two or more torque lines can be connected to the outer wall  42  to prevent rotation of the treatment unit  10  when the motor  64  is running. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , according to at least one embodiment, multiple propellers  70  are employed, whereby a first propeller  70  is included along shaft  66  near the lower end of riser  12 , and a second propeller  70  is included along shaft  66  near upper end  16  of riser  12 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, second propeller  70  is positioned such that the propeller is at least partially exposed to air, thereby allowing second propeller to entrain air into the water or fluid flowing past second propeller  70  and into discharge outlets  24 , According to at least one embodiment, second propeller is positioned relative to the height of the discharge outlets such that air is entrained into the water at a size less than 1.0 mm, 0.5 mm, less than 0.25 mm, less than 0.15 mm, or less than 0.1 mm in size for the given motor/propeller combination, 
     An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4  in which the water treatment unit  10  is shown to include a riser or pump barrel  12  having a lower end  14  and an upper end  16 . One or more inlets  18  can be provided around the lower end  14  of the riser  12 , A bottom end  20  can be provided that may include a ballast member  22  to assist in maintaining the water treatment unit  10  upright. The riser  12  can be of any required length. One or more water discharge outlets  24  can be provided around the upper end  16  of the riser  12 . A cap or lid  26  can be coupled to the upper end  16  of the riser  12  by fasteners  28  or other means to substantially close the upper end  16  of the riser  12 . The cap  26  can include a depending wall peripheral wall  30  that surrounds the upper end  16  of the riser  12 , 
     A chamber  32  can surround the upper end  16  of the riser  12  and the peripheral wall  30 . A chamber floor or bottom plate  34  can be fixed to an intermediate portion  36  of the riser  12 , located between the upper end  16  and the lower end  14 , by fasteners  38  or other means. The chamber floor or bottom plate  34  can have one or more openings  39  and an outer edge  40  that can be circular. The chamber  32  can be further defined by a shroud outer wall  42  that can have a lower edge  44  that contacts the chamber floor or bottom plate  34 . A chamber ceiling  46  can have an outer edge  48  that can be fixed to or unitary with an upper edge  50  of the shroud outer wall  42 . The chamber ceiling  46  optionally includes chamber ceiling opening  54  through which air can be drawn into chamber  32 , The top wall  46  can be spaced from the cap  26  by means of spacers  56 , which can be adjustable, The spacers  56  are illustrated to be fixed to the cap  26  and contacting top wall  46 , but the spacers can be fixed to the top wall  46  and contacting cap  26 . An intermediate wall  58  can depend from the top wall  46  outside the peripheral wall  30  and inside the outer wall  42 . The intermediate wall  58  can be seen to separate an inner chamber  60  from an outer chamber  62 . While each of the peripheral wall  30 , intermediate wall  58  and outer wall  42  are illustrated to be portions of right cylinders in shape, other shapes may be adopted for one or more of the walls  30 ,  42  and  58 . 
     A motor  64 , such as a ¾ HP electric motor, can be fixed to and supported by the cap  26 . A shaft  66  can be coupled to the motor  64  by coupling member  65  to extend downward through an opening  68  in cap  26  in general axial alignment with the riser  12 , At least one propeller  70  can be coupled to the shaft  66  so that rotation of the shaft  66  by the motor  64  can cause an upward flow of water within the riser  12 , A buoyant member  72  can be coupled to the chamber floor  34  or to outer wall  42  to maintain the top wall  46  above the surface of the water surrounding the water treatment unit  10 , particularly in high water situations. In low water situations, the water treatment unit  10  may rest on the bottom  21  of the ballast unit  22 , Two or more torque lines  41  can be connected to the outer wall  42  to prevent rotation of waste treatment unit  10  when the motor  64  is running. 
     The operation of the water treatment unit  10  is illustrated, particularly in  FIG. 3 . As shown in at least one exemplary embodiment, waste treatment unit  10  is be placed in a body of water W such that riser  12  extends downward to a desired depth. It will be appreciated that the lower portion  14  of riser  12  may be made of a material that allows the addition of segmented tubes or other structures, such as PVC piping, stainless steel piping with threaded extensions, or other such structures that allows the ultimate depth of riser  12  to be determined by a user such that stratified layers of water in a treatment lagoon can be specifically targeted to be drawn up through riser  12  for oxygenation and displacement, thereby allowing water in the lower, anaerobic areas of a lagoon to be drawn up, oxygenated, and discharged. It will be appreciated that when motor  64  is powered on, water or the fluid in the lagoon, pond, or tank is drawn into the riser  12  through inlets  18  and propelled upward through the riser  12  by one or more propellers  70 , exits the riser  12  through outlets  24  into chamber  32 . The continuous flow of fluid into the chamber  32  generally causes the fluid surface level L within the chamber  32  to be slightly higher than the water surface surrounding the chamber, thus providing a hydraulic pressure forcing the water out the openings  39  in the chamber floor  34 . The size of the riser  12 , motor  64 , and propellers  70  are desirably selected so that between about 600 to 1000 gallons of water per minute can be pumped up though the riser  12  into the chamber  32 . Furthermore, fluid surface level L within chamber  32  may be manipulated by a user such that the pressure therein is increased, thereby allowing greater amounts of oxygen to be transferred. For example, the surface level L may be manipulated to increase sufficient to create a hydraulic pressure equal to approximately at least 1.1 atmospheres, at least 1.2 atmospheres, at least 1.3 atmospheres, or at least 1.4 atmospheres hydraulic pressure, thereby entraining more oxygen therein. 
     This flow of fluid through riser  12  causes a continuous air inflow into the upper end  16  of riser  12  though chamber ceiling opening  54 , the air being mixed with the fluid within riser  12  at the point of discharge of the fluid from riser  12  through discharge outlets  24 . As fluid cascades out of discharge outlets  24 , into inner chamber  60 , out into chamber, chamber  32  and forcefully exits openings  39 , the direction and depth at which the oxygenated fluid is discharged can be determined the optional use of flow direction pipes  74  and  76 , which may be adjustable with respect to each other to selectively determine the depth and direction of flow direction pipes  74  and  76 . By selective direction of pipes  74  and  76 , the fluid outflow from waste treatment unit  10  can at least partially oppose or offset the rotation of the treatment unit  10  due to the torque provided when the motor  64  is running. The flow of water within the chamber  32  may cause the development of foam on the surface of the water within chamber  32 , depending on the fluid conditions. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, accumulating foam can be vacuum withdrawn through pipe  78 , or in another embodiment, the foam will automatically eject through pipe  78  due pressure build-up. Additionally, it will be appreciated that an activated charcoal filter may be added to pipe  78  to reduce any odor produced from the treated water as gas is offgased. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , according to yet another exemplary embodiment, waste treatment unit  10  optionally includes a movable shearing blade  120  attached to shaft  66 , and a fixed shearing blade  122 . Both fixed shearing blade  122  and movable shearing blade  120  may comprise metal, including steel, stainless steel, hardened steel, hardened stainless steel, or ceramic, carbide, or other suitable material. In practice, movable shearing blade  120  may be urged into close planar contact with fixed shearing blade  122  through the use of a bushing  124 , whereby the bushing comprises a spring, rubber, or other material able to urge shearing blade  120  toward fixed shearing blade  122 . By urging movable shearing blade  120  toward fixed shearing blade  122 , when motor turns shaft  66 , movable shearing blade rotates, and when passing over the top of fixed shearing blade  122 , any material caught between movable shearing blade  120  and fixed shearing blade  122  is sliced, thereby reducing the likelihood of long, stringy waste from becoming entangled with propeller  70  or clogging discharge outlets  24 . Further, bushing  124  allows a slight upward movement of the blade in relation to fixed shearing blade, any hardened or uncuttable objects may pass between the two blades, thereby preventing seizure of the unit and potential damage to motor  64 . 
     In application, at least one embodiment an oxygen transfer rate of at least 0.50 kg/hr O 2  transfer can be achieved while utilizing approximately 4.5 to 5 amps of electricity at 120 volts. In at least one additional embodiment, an oxygen transfer rate of at least 0.8 kg/hr O 2  transfer can be achieved while utilizing approximately 4.5 to 5 amps of electricity at 120 volts. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , it will be appreciated that additional flow direction pipes  74  and  76  may be added to inlets  18 , thereby allowing a user to further control to the source of water collection, and further allowing selective uptake of water at points in the lagoon where the oxygen level is likely to be the lowest. Likewise, by selectively placing flow direction pipes  74  and  76  to intake at points in a lagoon that are most likely to have low oxygen levels (both in terms of height and position within the lagoon), and by selectively placing flow direction pipes  74  and  76  for dispelling oxygenated water from the waste treatment unit  10 , a more consistently oxygenated lagoon can be developed by developing both inward and outward flow currents that adequately disperse oxygenated water and intake low oxygenated water, thereby allowing permeation of oxygen throughout the lagoon without creating a turbulent flow of water that precludes the settling of organic matter that is required in clarification or settling tanks or lagoons. Further, due to the fact that flow can be directed with relative precision and with relatively low pressure, a reduced amperage is required to operate motor  64 , thereby resulting in increased energy efficiency. Finally, it will be appreciated that the use of such directional flow allowing slower water transfer to occur further allows the use of propeller speeds to entrain air while not dispersing bacterial colonies known as flock. 
     Additionally, it will be appreciated that utilizing the flow direction pipes  74  and  76 , water may be utilized to direct water brought up from warmer strata in the winter to help eliminate ice build-up on the surface of outdoor lagoons, which further allows for additional oxygenation of the lagoon. 
     While these features have been disclosed in connection with the illustrated preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art that come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined in the following claims. Further, it will be appreciated that in very large ponds or lakes, it may be convenient or necessary to employ two or more water treatment units  10  to ensure a total water flow volume sufficient to provide sufficient oxygen to satisfy the BOD of the body of water.

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