Combination Submersible and Floating Aerator

• US 20130292858A1
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keeton Industries
• Original Assignee: Keeton Industries
• Inventors: Keeton, Jimmie A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,022,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 261/120
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2312 Diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/232311 the conduits being vertical draft pipes with a lower intake end and an upper exit end
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/234 Surface aerating
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23421 the stirrers rotating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/82 Combinations of dissimilar mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2209 Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/32055 by using solar energy

Abstract

An aeration system may have a submersible aerator that may be located on the bottom of a body of water and a floating aerator that may operate directly above the submersible aerator. The submersible aerator may create a laminar column of bubbles and may be powered by an air compressor. The floating aerator may use a motor driven propeller to agitate water on the water surface. A controller may determine when to operate the aerators, and may operate them separately or together in some instances. Some embodiments may have a controller that operates the aerators differently based on energy supply, which may vary in solar powered systems with a battery bank.

Claims

1. A liquid aeration system comprising:

a submersible aerator that generates a laminar column of bubbles; and

a floating aerator that floats within said laminar column of bubbles generated by said submersible aerator.

2. The system of claim 1, said submersible aerator is powered by compressed air.

3. The system of claim 2, said submersible aerator comprising:

a diffusor that creates said laminar column of bubbles; and

a tube encasing said diffusor that directs said laminar column of bubbles upward, said tube having an internal diameter.

4. The system of claim 3, said internal diameter being less than 4 inches.

5. The system of claim 3, said internal diameter being at least 4 inches.

6. The system of claim 2, said submersible aerator resting on a bottom surface of a body of water.

7. The system of claim 2, said submersible aerator being suspended from said floating aerator.

8. The system of claim 12, said submersible aerator being suspended above a bottom surface of a body of water.

9. The system of claim 1, said floating aerator comprises:

a motor;

a propeller connected to said motor, said propeller oriented to propel water above a surface of a body of water; and

a flotation device connected to said motor.

10. The system of claim 9, said motor being at least a ½

horsepower motor.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automated controller that operates said submersible aerator and said floating aerator.

12. The system of claim 11, said automated controller that operates said floating aerator when said submersible aerator is operating.

13. The system of claim 12, said controller that operates said floating aerator for a portion of time that said submersible aerator is operated.

14. The system of claim 11, said controller that operates said submersible aerator continuously.

15. The system of claim 27, further comprising a solar power source.

16. A system comprising:

a power source;

an air compressor powered by said power source;

a submersible aerator that generates a laminar column of bubbles; and

a floating aerator that floats within said laminar column of bubbles generated by said submersible aerator.

a controller connected to said power source, said controller configured to operate said submersible aerator and said floating aerator.

17. The system of claim 16, said power source comprising:

one or more solar panels; and

a battery bank.

18. The system of claim 17, said controller that determines when to run said two or more aerators based on a charge of said battery bank.

19. The system of claim 18, said controller that turns off one of said submersible aerator and said floating aerator when said charge is below a lower threshold.

20. The system of claim 18, said controller that runs at least one of said submersible aerator and said floating aerator at less than full speed based on said charge.