Buoyantly Supported Patents (Class 417/61)
  • Patent number: 5186610
    Abstract: A drilling mud water recovery apparatus for water collecting on drilling mud precipitated out of the mixture includes a buoyant pump assembly free floating on a layer of water above drilling mud. The pump assembly is connected with a source of electrical energy through electrical controls for a predetermined timed operation of the pump and protecting the pump motor against high and low voltages above or below a predetermined value and a current interrupting function in the event of an electrical short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventors: M. Steve Pennington, Veronica J. Fowler-Pennington
  • Patent number: 5176503
    Abstract: An aerator or destratifier used in small bodies of water is provided with a sealed flotation chamber in which a motor is completely housed. A stationary shaft runs between the top and bottom surface of the flotation chamber onto which the motor is mounted. A plurality of paddles is externally affixed to the exterior surface of the flotation chamber. A V-belt, a chain or a gearing arrangement is provided between the motor and the internal surface of the flotation chamber which will enable the flotation chamber to constantly or intermittently rotate. The plurality of paddles would then agitate the body of water and allow oxygen to be dissolved therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Inventors: Jerry D. Palmer, Roy K. Williams
  • Patent number: 4998585
    Abstract: A floating layer recovery apparatus is disclosed for selectively pumping a liquid floating on groundwater. The apparatus preferably includes a first float which is buoyant in the floating layer attached by a guide to a bottom float which has neutral buoyancy in the groundwater. A middle float is slidably attached to the guide for upward and downward movement between the first and bottom floats. The middle float being an inlet is constructed to have an effective density in the assembly such that it rests at a point where its inlet is near the bottom of the floating layer. Coiled conduits disposed above and below the bottom float carry the floating layer liquid received by the inlet to a pump disposed below. The pump then pumps the floating layer liquid from the conduit to the ground surface. In a preferred embodiment, more precise control over the level of the inlet port is achieved by means of an adjustable inlet port means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: QED Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Newcomer, Steve Richter
  • Patent number: 4957572
    Abstract: In order to form a bead of organic material having a butyl rubber base and a viscosity greater than 35000 poises, the material in a drum is heated and pumped by a reciprocating pump and delivered to an output nozzle via a conduit. A lock chamber in the conduit is delimited by valves. A variable volume chamber connected to the lock chamber or upstream of the lock chamber is able to selectively take in or discharge organic material for maintaining a constant pressure at the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Philippe Dewitte, Michel Canaud, Rene Poix
  • Patent number: 4832013
    Abstract: A portable floating apparatus for providing pressurized air to a submerged diver. The apparatus is comprised of the combination of a gasoline engine and an air compressor, said combination being housed in a buoyant container similar to a suitcase. The gasoline engine is preferably a two-stroke engine which drives the air compressor. The top of the container has large outlets for the intake of fresh air for compression, engine cooling and the exit of exhaust gases. These outlets have cowlings extending therefrom to reduce flooding by water from spraying or waves in rough seas. A small outlet on the side of the container with a coupling allows a flexible hose to supply air to a submerged diver. An optional fan may be inserted in the duct of one cowling to provide additional ventilation and cooling. The air supply hose, cowlings and other exterior components can be stored in the container when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Hartdorn
  • Patent number: 4789307
    Abstract: A pump assembly has a housing with water admitting openings through the housing near the bottom. A pump in the housing has an intake near the bottom. A water level sensor connects the pump to a battery in the housing when the level rises above the pump intake, to operate the pump. Closed cell foam flotation floats the assembly to permit pumping from a pool of any depth greater than one third the height of the housing. Flotation also is arranged to achieve self-righting of the assembly in the event of inadvertent tipping or upset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventor: Donald L. Sloan
  • Patent number: 4764313
    Abstract: A flotation platform supports a mast assembly through which a drive shaft extends having a wind driven turbine on the upper end and a propeller on the lower end situated below the water surface. The propeller is rotated by the wind turbine and causes localized water circulation in the body of water in which the mill is situated thus aerating and mixing the water in the summer and also maintaining an ice free area around the mill in winter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Sunset Solar Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas Cameron, Lorraine Cameron
  • Patent number: 4674493
    Abstract: A floating apparatus for providing pressurized air to a submerged swimmer. A container is sealed and waterproofed so that it will float on the surface of the water and has an inlet above the water and an outlet below the water. The outlet is adapted to be coupled to a hose which will provide air to the submerged swimmer. The inside of the container houses a pump which couples the inlet to the outlet and forces pressurized air through the outlet. The pump is driven by an electric motor within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: Dan E. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4666335
    Abstract: A water circulating device designed to be installed in a pond or the like for circulating warmer subsurface water to the surface to prevent freeze-over of the pond. The device comprises a framework having a base section which rests on the floor of the pond and an upright section extending up from the base section, a long substantially rigid water conduit mounted on the base section for pivoting about a generally horizontal axis, a pump for pumping water through the conduit from its intake end to its discharge end, and a float connected to the conduit and mounted for up and down movement on the upright section of the framework whereby when the framework is in the water the float rises and pivots the conduit to an inclined position in which the intake end of the conduit is disposed for intake of warmer subsurface water and the discharge end is disposed for discharge of the warmer water at a location adjacent the surface of the water to prevent freeze-over of the pond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Ivan J. R. Jones
  • Patent number: 4553902
    Abstract: A floating portable pump is constructed of a float defining a well for containing water, a centrifugal pump supported on the float with its impeller shaft extending vertically and with its suction inlet submerged in water in the well, and an internal combustion engine arranged to drive the pump impeller. The pump and engine are secured together on the float in an arrangement such that the engine causes rotation of the pump impeller to cause the pump to draw water from the well through its suction inlet and discharge water from the pump discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Diesel Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: H. Alfred Eberhardt
  • Patent number: 4540528
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing air with liquid, an aerator or oxygenator, comprises a motor or other power drive generally mounted in vertical position on a floating or a fixed structure, the motor having a shaft extending downwards through an opening in the center area of the float or fixed structure and bearing on its lower part a screw pump portion located in a cylindrical volute section just below the water level. When the apparatus is operating, the waste-water is sucked by means of the screw pump from the bottom of the body of liquid at which the apparatus is positioned and is pushed upwards in order to be diffused by means of a centrifugal impeller having outwardly curved blades, at least one of which extends downward to merge with a spiral shaped portion of a blade on the screw pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Inventor: Johny H. Haegeman
  • Patent number: 4526514
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a barge or sled adapted to float or slide on the surface of a heavy viscous mass, a pump support frame, a metal net or latticed cage suspended under the pump support frame, the net or cage penetrating the mass to a slight depth to define a surface section of the mass, and a bed of heating resistors disposed slightly above the base of the cage to enter the section to heat and fluidize it sufficiently to be pumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Inventor: Jean-Claude M. Duverne
  • Patent number: 4469472
    Abstract: A pump mechanism adapted to float on a reservoir of water characterized by a floating enclosure provided with an internal chamber, a float disposed within the chamber of the enclosure, a first valve coupled to the float and adapted to open and close an orifice provided at the top of the enclosure, a refill valve associated with an orifice provided at the bottom of the enclosure, and an output tube opening on the chamber of the enclosure and provided with a check valve to prevent the back flow of water into the chamber. As the air within the chamber expands the water within the chamber is expelled through the output tube causing the enclosure to float higher on the reservoir and the float to float lower within the enclosure. When the water level within the enclosure drops to a predetermined level, valves open to recharge the mechanism with water and cool air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Inventor: John C. Newby
  • Patent number: 4468358
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing air with liquid (aerator or oxygenator) comprises a motor or other power drive generally mounted in vertical position on a float or a fixed structure, the motor having a shaft extending downwards through an opening in the center area of the float or fixed structure and bearing on its lower part a propeller located in a cylindrical volute section just underneath the waterlevel. When the apparatus is operating, the waste-water is sucked by means of the propeller from the bottom of the body of liquid on which the apparatus is floating and pushed upwards in order to be diffused by means of a rotating diffusion head in the shape of a paddle-wheel. This feature increases efficiency of the installation, allowing the velocity of the fluid leaving the propeller to be kept as low as possible and the dimensions of intake volute and propeller to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Johny H. Haegeman
  • Patent number: 4365938
    Abstract: A water pump system having a float and underwater intake with discharge into an increasingly sized series of consecutive pipes, open to the water body, for entraining additional water with that expelled from the discharge to provide a high volume, low rate and pressure water mover and a method of aquaculture employing the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventor: Archie F. Warinner
  • Patent number: 4277690
    Abstract: A plant for utilizing kinetic energy inherent in the wave movement of water or heaving of the sea. The plant comprises a float unit and energy absorption apparatus connected to the unit. The absorption apparatus comprises an immersed piston built into an elongate acceleration pipe, which is open at both ends and substantially vertical, this pipe being connected to the float unit and accompanying it in the wave motion of the water.The piston is connected to a hydraulic motor driving an electric generator.The piston is arranged in a portion with extended cross section upwards in the acceleration pipe.Coupled between the piston and hydraulic motor there is a hydraulic cylinder with a double-sided piston, and a rectifying hydraulic circuit for always supplying hydraulic pressure to the same side of the hydraulic motor.A flywheel can be connected between the hydraulic motor and generator for smoothing out the action of pressure variations on the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Inventor: Sven A. Noren
  • Patent number: 4179243
    Abstract: The invention comprises a pumping device for pumping water from the bottom of a lake or reservoir. The device has a raft with pipe means pivotably mounted to the raft. A rotatable shaft is mounted to the raft having a propellor at its lower end located in the upper end of the pipe means with wind driven means to rotate the shaft. The pipe means is pivotable to either a vertical or horizontal position and has means to lock the pipe means in a vertical position whereby the pipe means may be retained in a horizontal position when positioning the raft in a lake or reservoir whereupon the pipe means may be pivoted to a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Inventor: Richard J. Aide
  • Patent number: 4102136
    Abstract: A pump and pump manifolding system is disclosed for producing selected directional flow across a barrier, such as a levee, between at least a plurality of adjacent reservoirs such as shallow ponds. Typically, a housing which has at least two sidewalls is placed in the barrier. One of the sidewalls forms the fluid-tight barrier or interface with the pond on one side of the levee. The other of the sidewalls forms the fluid-tight barrier or interface with the pond on the other side. The housing itself is divided into upper and lower fluid chambers; the lower fluid chamber is adapted for the inflow of fluid to be pumped and the upper fluid chamber adapted for the outflow of fluid to be pumped. A pump, typically of the high flow, low head, impeller or propeller variety, has an intake communicated to the lower chamber and a discharge communicated to the upper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Inventor: John L. Winther
  • Patent number: 4089620
    Abstract: A motor-driven propeller is disposed within a draft tube beneath a buoyant float and is adapted to pump water upwardly through the draft tube. In one mode of operation, the pumping device functions as an aerator in that the water pumped upwardly through the draft tube flows upwardly through an opening in the float and is deflected across the upper side of the float and into the atmosphere by a diffuser plate spaced above the opening. The pumping device can be converted into a flow developer by positioning the diffuser plate beneath the opening in the float and, when the plate is so positioned, water pumped upwardly through the draft tube strikes the plate and is deflected outwardly beneath the lower side of the float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: Riga, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Ravitts
  • Patent number: 4053181
    Abstract: Apparatus for extracting mineral resources lying on the bottom of sea into a working ship floating on an ocean utilizing circulating current based on the difference of water levels. A hollow box shaped tank has its bottom opened and sunk liftably into the sea bottom through a rope from the working ship. The tank is equipped with a rotatory driving mechanism and trawled along the sea bottom while stirring it when the ship travels on the ocean. An elongated flexible coaxial pipe comprises an inner pipe and a coaxial outer pipe, each having at its lower end a fanwise shaped hopper mouth disposed within the tank through the upper wall thereof. The coaxial pipe passes through an internal seawater cistern in the bottom wall portion of the working ship and has its upper portion within an external seawater cistern mounted on the upper portion of the working ship. A suction pump is joined to the upper end of the coaxial inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Inventor: Nakaji Saito
  • Patent number: 4030859
    Abstract: The invention comprises a water circulator device for circulating the water in a lake, pond, or reservoir. The device comprises a raft having a wind driven shaft mounted thereon for vertical rotation. A mixing chamber is mounted beneath the raft with the upper edge of the chamber above the surface of the lake, pond, or reservoir. The lower end of the shaft has a propellor mounted thereon within the mixing chamber. A pair of vertical telescoping pipes are mounted beneath the chamber of reduced diameter in relation to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: Lake Aid Inc.
    Inventor: Dale L. Henegar
  • Patent number: 3965365
    Abstract: A power generating machine which is actuated by the continuous swells occurring in the ocean. The machine is supported on a pair of spaced main floats, between which is a power float connected to a linkage which allows the power float to reciprocate vertically with the passing swells. A flywheel is driven through a one way clutch connected to the float linkage to drive an electrical generator, the linkage also being coupled to an air compressor. Sensing floats pivotally attached to the main float support structure detect the contour of the swells and, through associated drive means, cause the spacing of the main floats to be adjusted to the existing swells crest spacing for maximum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Inventor: Edward L. Parr