Flowing Liquid Aspirates Gas Patents (Class 261/DIG75)
  • Patent number: 5098614
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustment bubble bend. The structure of the adjustable bubble bend allows the user to control the volume of the bubbles produced by the device and to reduce the noise emitted from the device during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventors: Chiu-Tseng L. Yeh, Pu-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 5091118
    Abstract: An apparatus for dissolving a gas, such as oxygen, into a liquid, such as water, having a low concentration of that gas. The apparatus has an inlet, an outlet and a central region therebetween and has walls defining an interior adapted for dissolving the gas in the liquid. The apparatus also has a gas injecting means adapted for maximizing a gas-liquid interface and promoting contact between the gas and the liquid, thereby maximizing the concentration of the gas in the liquid. The apparatus is useful for modifying the liquid for a specific purpose, such as for developing a culture medium. The apparatus can have different internal configurations, depending on the degree of gas linkage and retention required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventor: Peter H. Burgher
  • Patent number: 5087292
    Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of a liquid with a gas. A gas injector, for example oxygen, is surrounded with a sheath to carry a flow of a liquid under treatment (for example lead) which is taken up and circulated by the pump. The end of the injector is thereby protected by moving away the bubbles of oxygen. Application for example in the refining of metals, for example non ferrous metals, food liquids, paper pulps and the production of sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Guillermo Garrido
  • Patent number: 5085678
    Abstract: An exhaust gases and particulate capture system comprises an aspirator unit and a secondary stack mounted in fluid cooperation with a large water tank. Exhaust gases, along with entrapped particulates from the combustion process, are removed from a smokestack and are introduced into the aspirator unit and mixed with water from the tank. The gases and particulates are blended with the water in the mixing chamber of the aspirator which churns the gases, particulates and water into a very turbulent condition. The resulting mixture is discharged from the aspirator through an entrainment nozzle into the water tank. The design of the exit end of the entrainment nozzle effects a sweeping motion to the mixture being discharged ensuring that the mixture is discharged over the entire width of the tank holding the water. The exhaust gases and entrapped particulates are cooled and condensed in the water tank and the particulates settle down to the bottom of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: Robert B. Woltman
  • Patent number: 5078921
    Abstract: A column flotation cell includes a fluid vessel, an exteriorly mounted microbubble generator, conduits for conducting a pressurized mixture of bubbles and liquid from the generator to the vessel, features for inhibiting the coalescence and enlargement of the bubbles prior to their introduction into the vessel, and an arrangement for introducing the bubble/liquid mixture into the vessel and for distributing the mixture uniformly throughout the vessel cross-section. Coalescence and enlargement of the bubbles are inhibited by limiting the length of the mixture-conducting conduits, and by designing the conduits so as to provide a substantially uniform and continuous flow diameter. The uniform and continuous nature of the flow diameter reduces local disturbances of fluid flow which would otherwise occur at discontinuities in the flow path, tending to cause coalescence and enlargement of the bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: The Deister Concentrator Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Zipperian
  • Patent number: 5073309
    Abstract: A device for dispersing a gaseous phase in a liquid phase comprises at least one Venturi ejector with a vertical or inclined axis, composed of a mixer head (1) for admitting the liquid, a neck (2) for admitting the gas, and an injector tube (3). The injector tube is prolonged by a chamber (5) whose diameter is equal to or greater than that of the injector tube with which it possibly merges. Also described is the application of this device to treatments such as chemical, biochemical or metabolic reactions involving the transfer of a gas to a liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Elf France
    Inventors: Jacques Bousquet, Alain Catros, Le Xuan Huynh, Alain Secq
  • Patent number: 5073310
    Abstract: An air injector assembly has an input port and an output port connected by a bypass bore and tapered bore. Fitted within the tapered bore is an air injector mechanism which contains a throat and a venturi nozzle portion. The opening of the bypass bore can be varied so that the amount of water passing therethrough is controlled to regulate the pressure being received at the input port which represents the back pressure on a pump. By varying the opening of the bypass bore, the back pressure of the pump can be regulated so that the pump may operate safely. Air is injected into the air injector assembly when water is pushed through the throat and into the venturi nozzle. A cavity is formed at the junction where the throat is coupled to the venturi nozzle so that air can be drawn thereat to aerate and oxidize the water passing therethrough. By aerating and oxidizing the water, hydrogen sulfide is removed and iron is precipitated, and can be removed later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Water Master, Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 5061406
    Abstract: The dispersion of a gas in a liquid is enhanced by the use of an adjustable conical mixer to control the flow of a gas/liquid mixture to a venturi device used to accelerate the mixture to a supersonic vclocity with subsequent deacceleration to subsonic velocity to produce sonic shock waves in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alan T. Cheng
  • Patent number: 5057230
    Abstract: A pump forms a pressurized stream of waste water, supplying it to a ring main which feeds the liquid to a plurality of conduits depending therefrom. Each conduit has a venturi whose throat has an inlet for gaseous oxygen formed therein. The throat of each venturi has a plurality of apertures through which gas is introduced from a chamber surrounding the throat. Each conduit ends in one or more nozzles immersed in a volume of liqud. Each venturi restricts the flow of water therethrough and creates turbulence so that a turbulent flow of liquid containing oxygen bubbles is emitted from the associated nozzle at relatively high velocity such that turbulence assisting the dissolution of oxyen is created in the volume of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Michael J. Race
  • Patent number: 5055284
    Abstract: A method for producing amorphous aluminocarbonate compounds which comprises continuously recirculating a first aqueous solution from a reaction vessel through a recycle system and injecting a gas comprising carbon dioxide into the first solution at a turbulent area located in the recycle system. A second aqueous solution is added to the first solution while the gas injection is continued, and the pH of the resulting mixture is maintained in the approximate range of from 8 to 10. The gas injection is discontinued when the entire amount of the second solution has been added to the first solution, in order to allow further precipitation of the amorphous compound. The method is particularly adapted for producing amorphous sodium aluminocarbonate and sodium magnesium aluminocarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: J. M. Huber Corporation
    Inventors: Claude R. Andrews, John A. Kosin, Michael E. Tarquini
  • Patent number: 5041217
    Abstract: A process and any of several pump/circulators provide selective rapid mixing of influent wastewater with the mixed liquor in the channel of an oxidation ditch and thereby provide maximized use of the entire volume of the channel. The pump/circulator is disposed at the beginning of the anoxic zone and preferably receives the influent wastewater. The oxidation ditch is preferably a barrier oxidation ditch or at least a baffle oxidation ditch in order to prevent backmixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventor: John H. Reid
  • Patent number: 5035842
    Abstract: A non-homogenous mixture of liquid and gas is fed into a vessel to form a body of gas above a pool of liquid. Liquid is fed from the pool through a discharge pipe containing a constriction forming a venturi and gas is drawn from the gas body through a pipe extending through the liquid pool into the discharge pipe to effect mixing of the liquid and the gas in the venturi. Perforations in the discharge pipe adjust the amounts of gas and liquid leaving the vessel to maintain both liquid and gas within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Framo Developments (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Frank Mohn
  • Patent number: 5030362
    Abstract: Undesirable materials, such as unreacted raw materials and by-products, are stripped from liquid systems by delivering a compressed, inert gas through the pores of a sintered porous sparger element and into the liquid system in the form of very small gas micro bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Pauliran Da Silva, Silvio Balestieri, Francesco Cerbino, Augusto P. Queiroz, Theodore V. Kowalchyn
  • Patent number: 5023021
    Abstract: A venturi (eductor) cartridge for injecting and dissolving fluids is installed as a removable insert after a tee, and utilizes an axial aspirator tube and thin-sheet radial diffusion for efficient low-turbulence momentum recovery in a very short distance. The venturi minimizes bubble size and bubble recombination to enable maximum solvation, and is particularly suited for use with corrosive fluids. The venturi exits directly into a tank of fluid or into a standard pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventor: Richard H. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5015370
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating well water to remove dissolved minerals and entrained gases. An aerator is disposed within a well, the aerator being located being the frost line and the water table. Water from the reservoir within the well and/or from the associated pressure tank is directed through the aerator so that the aerator will cause gases such as hydrogen sulfide to be released from the water, and will also cause dissolved iron and manganese to oxidize and precipitate out of the water so that the quality of the water within the reservoir is substantially improved. The water flow through the aerator will preferably be controlled by the operation of a solenoid operated valve which may in turn be operated by a timer to cause periodic recycling of the water through the aerator and back into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Inventor: Anthony Fricano
  • Patent number: 5004484
    Abstract: A system and method of removing dissolved gases and volatile organic chemicals from a water supply is provided. Water is supplied under pressure to a contacting chamber in a manner wherein it causes air to be aspirated into the chamber for turbulent contacting with the water. The air and water are directed through the contacting chamber in a common axial direction. Either the water or air may be heated prior to introduction to the contacting chamber to enhance the effectiveness of the dissolved gases and volatile organic chemicals removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Barrett, Haentjens & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stirling, John R. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 4992216
    Abstract: Flowing an ozone-containing gas through one passage which is either the space between an outer tube and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube or the space in the inner tube, and flowing an aqueous liquid through the passage, which the ozone-containing gas is not flowing through, provides aqueous ozone solutions of high concentration and purity provided that the inner tube possesses a number of pores with an average diameter of 2 to 4 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Ise Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Saita, Hisayuki Kawano, Takeshi Utsuki
  • Patent number: 4981582
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the microbubble flotation separation of very fine particles, especially coal, so as to produce a high purity and large recovery efficiently. This is accomplished through the use of a high aspect ratio flotation column, microbubbles, and a countercurrent use of wash water to gently wash the froth. Also, disclosed are unique processes and apparatus for generating microbubbles for flotation in a high efficient and inexpensive manner using either a porous tube or an in-line static generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Roe-Hoan Yoon, Gregory T. Adel, Gerald H. Luttrell
  • Patent number: 4973432
    Abstract: A jet aeration header is disclosed, for use in water and wastewater process and treatment system. The header comprises a first pipe defining a cylindrical water passage, a second pipe extending parallel to the first pipe and defining a cylindrical air passage, at least one water outlet conduit connected to the first pipe to allow water to be expelled out of the water passage, an air-feed pipe connecting the second pipe to the outlet conduit to allow air to be delivered from the air passage to the water flowing through this conduit, and a venturi cone mounted in the outlet conduit to allow air to be FED from the air passage and be mixed with a water expelled through the outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: ECO Equipement FEP Inc.
    Inventors: Gaetan Desjardins, Louis Obidniak, Pierre Lariviere
  • Patent number: 4971731
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating microbubbles in a flowing liquid stream for use in a froth flotation system. The system utilizes a microbubble generator having a tubular housing with an inlet end and an outlet end. Located coaxially within the housing is an inner member with an elongated, tapered, exterior surface. A porous tubular sleeve is mounted between the housing and the inner member coaxially therewith to define with the cylindrical interior surface of the housing an elongated air chamber of annular cross section. The porous sleeve has a cylindrical inner surface that defines with the exterior surface of the inner member an elongated liquid flow chamber of thin, annular cross section. An aqueous liquid is supplied to the liquid flow chamber at a relatively high flow rate and air under pressure is supplied to the air chamber so that air is forced radially inwardly through the porous sleeve to be diffused in the form of microbubbles in the flowing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Deister Concentrator Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Zipperian
  • Patent number: 4965022
    Abstract: The pump energy requirements for the dissolving of a gas in a liquid are significantly reduced by injecting gas bubbles into a stream of said liquid at a relatively low pressure, utilizing a pressure head of liquid to increase the solubility of the gas in the liquid, and employing liquid stream velocities and gas-liquid contractor diameters and lengths, gas dispersion means and residence times such as to obtain a desired level of gas concentration in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Litz
  • Patent number: 4956080
    Abstract: The improved high pressure oxygen-saturated water treatment apparatus of the present invention functions to provide super-saturated oxygen treatment to waste water for purification thereof. The apparatus includes a pressurized treatment tank having a substantial longitudinal dimension, with a chamber separation plate forming two interconnected chambers in the tank. An input conduit for flowing waste water into the first chamber of the tank is provided. An oxygen input conduit is connected to the tank for providing oxygen-containing gas under substantial pressure within the tank. An oxygen output conduit is also disposed on the tank for receiving the oxygen-containing gas from the tank to form a pressurized oxygen-containing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Microlift Systems, Incorporated
    Inventor: John Josefik
  • Patent number: 4954147
    Abstract: A water conditioning apparatus and method wherein raw water is supplied to a plurality of axially aligned stripping chambers to form a cove shaped sheet within said stripping chambers and to cause an aspiration of air in each of the stripping chambers. Alternating high and low pressure zones are formed in the stripping chambers to enhance the air stripping of the water. The water is discharged through an outlet nozzle where the water sprays against the side wall of the nozzle to cause the water droplets to coalesce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Hazleton Environmental Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy A. Galgon
  • Patent number: 4952308
    Abstract: A method and several embodiments of apparatus are disclosed for use in foam flotation separation. The method discloses performing the separation in a module operated at nonatmospheric pressure, and the apparatus disclosed are suitable for use as the module of the method. Both the method and the apparatus contemplate positive and negative pressure operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Chamberlin, Michael A. McCool
  • Patent number: 4936552
    Abstract: Apparatus for aerating fluids passing therethrough including an elongated housing having a cylindrical inlet section and a cylindrical outlet section connected by a chamber section having at least one air port through the walls thereof. A converging frustoconical nozzle is concentrically disposed within the inlet and chamber sections so that fluid passing therethrough mixes with air drawn through the air port for discharge through the outlet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventor: Charles E. Rothrock
  • Patent number: 4931225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for dispersing a gas into a liquid. Gas is injected into a liquid and the flowing gas-liquid mixture is accelerated by a flow area contraction to at least sonic flow velocity, and subsequently decelerated by a flow area expansion to subsonic velocity. The attendant shock waves disperse the gas in the liquid. Preferred embodiments include off-centering the gas injection direction from the centerline of the contracting flow area and controlling the pressure at the exit of the expanding flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alan T. Cheng
  • Patent number: 4927568
    Abstract: A novel and unique apparatus is disclosed for use in aerating water held in a container, such as a livewell in a fishing boat. The aeration apparatus receives fresh water through a conventional water distribution system, aspirates ambient air into the water, and discharges the mixture of fresh water and aspirated air within the livewell at a location substantially below its water level. Air is aspirated into the fresh water by means of a housing mounted above the water level in the livewell. The housing includes a main passageway through which the fresh water passes and an aspirating port in the housing wall which puts the main passageway in communication with ambient atmosphere above the livewell. A discharge tube receives the mixture of fresh water and aspirated air from the housing and directs it to a plurality of discharge ports positioned substantially below the livewell water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Campau
  • Patent number: 4911826
    Abstract: A system for sparging aerated water into a column for the froth flotation of minerals, and located in the lower portion of the column, consists of water and air supply headers connected to a supply of pressurized water and air, respectively. The headers comprise a number of water and air passages, each having shut off valves. A multiplicity of sparger tubes is arranged, in one or more horizontal planes, either radially towards the column center or parallel to each other from opposite sides of the column. Each sparger pipe comprises a mixing tee attached to a water passage and an air passage, and a perforated portion provided with a number of small openings. The number of openings in each pipe is determined by the cross-sectional area covered by the sparger pipe. The openings may be arranged upwardly and/or downwardly at an angle in the range of about 5.degree. to 90.degree. from the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Cominco Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter L. Harach, Donald B. Waites, Michael A. Redfearn
  • Patent number: 4904381
    Abstract: Apparatus for magnetization treatment of fluid used to activate such fluids as water and oil by treating in a magnetic field to improve the quality thereof includes a rotor having a magnetic field generator is arranged in a passage or a reservoir of fluid and is rotatable by being connected with a rotating means. The rotating magnetic field is produced in the fluid passage or reservoir, thereby the fluid is strongly magnetized and effectively activated, showing a very efficacious improvement of the fluid quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Inventor: Kazuko Urakami
  • Patent number: 4897204
    Abstract: A process for gas dissolution which uses a vessel, a portion wall made of ceramic material for dividing the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, a first inlet of the vessel for introducing a liquid into the first chamber, a second inlet of the vessel for introducing a pressurized gas into the second chamber, and a discharge port of the vessel for discharging the liquid from the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Toshiba Ceramics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Katoh, Takashi Ogawa, Masashi Fujimoto, Mitsumasa Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4895683
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in an apparatus for mass transferring between phases different from each other, tube plates are fixed to opposite opening ends of an outer tubular column having a fluid feeding nozzle and a fluid discharge nozzle, the tube plates are each formed therethrough with a through-hole for fixing a porous tube, the hole is formed over the entire peripheral wall thereof with a stepped portion such that an elastic member such as an O-ring can be easily provided. A tubular press-in member including an annular elastic member, a collar and the like are provided in the hole, into which the end portion of the porous tube is coupled, whereby the press-in member is pressed into a space formed between the hole wall and the porous tube wall so as to achieve sealing between the porous tube wall and the tube plate wall, so that the inner porous tube can be replaced by a new one simply, easily and quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Kiyomoto Tekko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 4886577
    Abstract: Oxygen delignification of paper pulp (comminuted cellulosic material in a slurry) at medium consistency (i.e., about 6-18%) is practiced without the necessity of a separate mixer. The pulp is drawn into the inlet of a fluidizing centrifugal pump capable of pumping medium consistency pulp. The pump typically has a vacuum system associated with it for effecting degassing of the pulp. As the pulp is pumped out of the pump outlet, oxygen gas is added to the pulp. This is accomplished utilizing a shear plate having a central opening and one or more radial bores, oxygen being introduced under pressure into the bores to pass into the pulp flowing through the plate central opening. A tube may be disposed in the bore(s) and have an oxygen permeable portion (such as a porous stone or sintered metal) extending into the central opening in the plate, the oxygen being introduced in the form of very small bubbles by the oxygen permeable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Kamyr, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Wiley
  • Patent number: 4885084
    Abstract: A nozzle/venturi with a bypass for controlling the pressure differential and therefore the amount of air which is entrained into the fluid stream. The nozzle/venturi assembly is utilized in a filtering system for removing contaminants from a water supply. The nozzle/venturi assembly includes a nozzle/venturi with a water inlet, an air inlet and an outlet passage and a bypass valve with an adjustable passageway to control the fluid flow through the bypass. The bypass valve includes a diaphragm which is effected by the downstream pressure resulting in an adjustment of the pressure differential and a spring biased seal valve to control the pressure which will open the bypass. The nozzle/venturi assembly provides efficient and precise control of the pressure differential to ensure that a constant amount of air is entrained into the fluid stream through the entire pump cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Flint & Walling, Inc.
    Inventor: Lorin G. Doyle
  • Patent number: 4876753
    Abstract: This invention relates to an air turbulence massage device having a control device with a blower unit and a turbulence matting which can be placed in a bathtub. The turbulence matting can be connected with the blower unit outlet by means of an air tube. The turbulence intensity, using a preset program, can be adjusted and changed between a lower and an upper value by varying the rotational speed of the blower unit. To achieve siultaneous switching times with the turbulence process, this invention provides that the lower value is preset as a minimum pressure value which is enough to overcome a counter-pressure predetermined by a normal water level in the bathtub. The upper value is preferably preset as an adjustable maximum pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Metronic Electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Bucher
  • Patent number: 4876752
    Abstract: This invention relates to a control device for an air turbulence massage device having a housing. The housing accommodates a blower unit which can be driven by an electrical motor. The housing has a connecting piece for an air tube that is in communication with a turbulence matting. The housing accommodates a check valve device which, when the control device is shut off, prevents water from flowing back from the turbulence matting to the electrical motor and the blower unit. The housing comprises an external housing and a separate internal housing. Air flow is separated from a water discharge path leading from the internal housing such that the blower unit and the electrical motor never contact the water flowing into the housing and the water can flow out of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Metronic Electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Bucher
  • Patent number: 4874509
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dissolving a gas in a liquid comprising a long tube or conduit having an inlet connected to a source of gas and liquid mixed together under pressure and an outlet connected to a back pressure valve that maintains the pressure in the tube above the partial gas pressure necessary to ensure that the liquid is saturated with the dissolved gas. The invention is especially useful for purifying, sterilizing, and clarifying water in a pool, tank or pond with air as the dissolved gas. A primary purpose of the invention is to enhance oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: Donald Bullock
  • Patent number: 4867918
    Abstract: Gas dispersion in a liquid is enhanced by combining the gas and liquid in close proximity to a venturi or other flow constriction means used to create supersonic flow velocities and subsequent deacceleration to sub-sonic velocity. When a venturi is employed, the gas-liquid mixing occurs in the converging portion of the venturi or upstream but in close proximity to said venturi. Turbulent flow conditions upstream of the venturi or other flow constriction means adequate to disperse the gas uniformly in the liquid are not required and, surprisingly, the gas and liquid need not be uniformly dispersed prior to acceleration to supersonic velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Kiyonaga, Lawrence M. Litz, Thomas J. Bergman
  • Patent number: 4865776
    Abstract: A novel and unique apparatus is disclosed for use in aerating water held in a container, such as a livewell in a fishing boat. The aeration apparatus receives fresh water through a conventional water distribution system, aspirates ambient air into the water, and discharges the mixture of fresh water and aspirated air within the livewell at a location substantially below its water level. Air is aspirated into the fresh water by means of a housing mounted above the water level in the livewell. The housing includes a main passageway through which the fresh water passes and an aspirating port in the housing wall which puts the main passageway in communication with ambient atmosphere above the livewell. A discharge tube receives the mixture of fresh water and aspirated air from the housing and directs it to a plurality of discharge ports positioned substantially below the livewell water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Campau
  • Patent number: 4863643
    Abstract: An apparatus without any moving parts for dissolving gas in a liquid. Once introduced into the apparatus, a liquid is forced through a plurality of orifices in a plate which breaks the flow apart. Downstream of but close to this plate, a gas at a higher pressure than the liquid is injected into the liquid, forming a gas/liquid mixture. This mixture then flows down a first mixing tube at the end of which a deflector cap turns the flow approximately 180 degrees and throws it against a flat disk disposed close to the outlets of the first mixing tube. The force with which the impinging mixture strikes the deflector cap and then the disk causes large bubbles to break apart into smaller ones. The gas/liquid suspension then enters a second and longer tube surrounding the first mixing tube, where further continuous mixing by flow forces occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: David W. Cochran
  • Patent number: 4859376
    Abstract: An improved carbonator and method is disclosed which delivers water under pressure to a carbonator from a pump driven by the carbonating gas under pressure, the exhaust from which is mixed with the water being carbonated. Alternative embodiments are disclosed which are configured in unitary, low-cost, compact configuration conducive to cooling within confined compartments. Low operating pressures permit convenient use of inexpensive plastic components for efficient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Aquatec
    Inventors: Mark W. Hancock, Marvin M. May
  • Patent number: 4857350
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for maintaining or restoring freshness of vegetables wherein at least part of the vegetable body is immersed into low temperature water supersaturated with air dissolved therein by blowing air in water through pores having a size range of from 0.1 to 10 microns in diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignees: Kiyomoto Tekko Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Saito Hyakkaten
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Iwasaki, Toyosaburo Noguchi
  • Patent number: 4853124
    Abstract: A device for discharging bubbling streams of water into a bath. The device has a main float and a subfloat mounted on top of the main float so as to be floatable in the water in a bathtub and movable up and down with the change in the water level. The hot water in the bathtub is sucked up into the device from its bottom by a pump driven by a motor, the pump and the motor being mounted in the main float. The water drawn into the device is filtered by means of a strainer and sent up to the top of the device through a cylindrical space formed around the motor and passed through a plurality of injection nozzles, where air is mixed into the water to form bubbling streams, and through a plurality of downwardly angled discharge ports into the bathtub under the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Terada Pump Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seisaku Terada
  • Patent number: 4850205
    Abstract: In a soft-serve ice cream dispensing machine of the gravity feed type containing an overrun control device for controlling the amount of air ingested into the liquid mix while retaining the entrapped in a standby condition, the device including a tubular member with a longitudinal air passageway positioned with its lower end communicating between the mixing chamber and reservoir, its upper end extending above the fluid level in the reservoir, a mixing chamber within the device concentrically positioned in the air passageway with a plurality of lateral openings in the device extending into the mixing chamber allowing liquid mix to enter the mixing chamber and a venturi means in the air passageway downstream of the mixing chamber having a throat section and an air induction tube intersecting the throat section and extending above the level of the reservoir to permit additional air to be drawn into the air passageway due to the increased velocity in the throat area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: John W. Mills
  • Patent number: 4842777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple liquid injector composed of several identical elementary injection tubes 2, disposed in a rim around a central tube. Each tube 2 has an inlet conduit 3, itself comprising a converging truncated cone 6 and a cylinder 7, followed by an aeration zone 4 comprising an aeration chamber 8 fed tangentially by a conduit 9 perpendicular to the tubes 2, a jet centering funnel 10, followed by mixing cylinder 11, and lastly a diverging outlet conduit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignees: E & M Lamort, Feldmuhle AG
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Lamort
  • Patent number: 4840753
    Abstract: Ring injectors for aerating fluids, useful for example in flotation systems, have a housing with a mixing section, in which air is added to the through-flowing fluid through an annular slot. A core is arranged in the center of the mixing section. An air-solid mix is formed in the mixing section by deposition of air bubbles on solid particles. An annular injector with a slot width (Q.sub.2) that leads into the airing chamber with a minimum opacifying speed of 2.0 m/s at the inlet of the aerating chamber, has an annex mixing and dispersing section (6) with a cross-section that remains the same until the end (12), as well as a middle piece (10) centrally arranged therein also having a constant cross-section, the length of the mixing and dispersing section (6) being 20 times the width of the annular slot (Q.sub.3). The distributing cone (2) and the middle piece (10) can be screwed together or inserted into each other. The air slot can be regulated by spacing rings (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Allmineral Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Jungmann, Ulrich Reilard
  • Patent number: 4840751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for contacting a gas with a liquid, wherein the liquid to be contacted is led in the form of a central liquid jet leaving a nozzle through the space containing the gas to be contacted into the liquid to be contacted. In accordance with the process of the invention, a part of the gas and/or the liquid to be contacted, or the total amount of the gas, or a part of the liquid and the total amount of the gas are led onto the surface of the central liquid jet in the form of gas or liquid jets directed to the surface of the central liquid jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Innofinance Altalanos Innovacios Penzintezet
    Inventors: Istvan Kenyeres, Lehel Koch
  • Patent number: 4834343
    Abstract: A method of improving the contacting of a gas and a liquid by injecting liquid, together with the gas in the form of substantially uniformly sized bubbles, into a vertical column of the liquid so as to introduce both a vertical downflow along the column axis and a rotational movement of the liquid-gas mixture about the axis. Preferably at least a major part of the liquid and a part of the gas is introduced tangentially near the top of the column, the remainder being introduced axially as a high velocity stream from the top of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventor: Adrian P. Boyes
  • Patent number: 4830794
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for producing a proppant carrying foamed fracturing fluid or the like having very high ratios of proppant material to the liquid phase of the foam, which can be substantially higher than even the theoretical maximum ratio available when the proppant is introduced into a foaming apparatus as a proppant/liquid slurry. This is accomplished by a dry sand foam generation process wherein the sand or other particulate material is introduced into a foam generator apparatus as a dry particulate material in a stream of gas which is subsequently mixed with a second liquid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Kevin D. Edgley, James L. Stromberg
  • Patent number: 4829607
    Abstract: A system for supplying sanitizing gas to a spa includes a sanitizing gas generator for generating sanitizing gas, a conduit for conducting the sanitizing gas from the generator to the spa, and an isolation device coupled to the conduit between the spa and the generator. An arrangement for creating subatmospheric suction pressure in at least a region of the conduit is employed whereby the isolation device is subjected to said suction pressure and the sanitizing gas is caused to flow from the generator to the spa. The isolation device has a drain opening through which liquid can flow to protect the generator from a backflow of water from the spa and a valve responsive to said suction pressure to seal said outlet port sufficiently to prevent significant loss of the suction pressure and of the sanitizing gas when the subatmospheric suction pressure is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Donald W. Kern
    Inventor: Rodger L. Huse
  • Patent number: 4828768
    Abstract: A process for operating a jet scrubber includes inducing gas to flow through a venturi by spraying coarse liquid droplets into the venturi inlet. The liquid is sprayed at the minimum rate needed to pump the gas. Additional liquid is atomized into fine droplets and introduced into the venturi throat. The ratio of combined liquid flow rates to the gas flow rate is substantially greater than the ratio of the minimum liquid flow rate to the gas flow rate. Hydrogen sulfide gas can be cleaned from a gas stream using a Stretford liquid according to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Eli Talmor