Solar activated water aeration station

• US 4,906,359 A
• Filed: 04/17/1989
• Issued: 03/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berthold V. Cox Jr
• Original Assignee: Berthold V. Cox Jr
• Inventors: Cox, Berthold V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fisher, Richard V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nessler, Cynthia L.
• Application Number:
  US07/338,319
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 210/242.2, 210/170, 210/169, 261/30, 261/120, 119/1, 119/3
• US Class Current: 210/170.02
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2311 Mounting the bubbling devices or the diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231141 Mounting auxiliary devices, e.g. pumps or compressors in a particular place on the bubbling installation, e.g. under water
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231154 the bubbling devices being provided with ballast to keep them floating under the surface, i.e. when the bubbling devices are lighter than the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/503 Floating mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/32055 by using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/20 using diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 7/00 Aeration of stretches of water
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/70 Waterborne solar heat collector modules for working fluids forming pools or ponds F24S10/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/425 Horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

A solar activated water aeration station for introducing oxygen at a predetermined depth into a body of water is disclosed. The station includes a floatable base having a solar panel capable of being adjusted through a range of inclined positions, an anchor connected to the floatable base for orienting and maintaining the floatable base in a pre-selected position with the solar panel having a southern exposure, control means mounted on the floatable base including a motor and air pump operated by the solar panel so as to provide a continuous stream of oxygen through an aeration tube connected to the motor and air pump, in order to deliver the continuous stream of oxygen to a body of water at the desired predetermined depth.

Claims

1. A solar activated water aeration station for introducing dissolved oxygen at a predetermined depth into a body of water, comprising:

a floatable base for floating on a body of water;

an inclined and adjustable solar panel operatively mounted on said base to enable said solar panel to be adjusted through a range of inclined positions relative to said floatable base;

an anchor connected to said floatable base for orienting and maintaining said floatable base in a pre-selected position with the solar panel maintaining a southern exposure;

control means mounted on said floatable base and operated by said solar panel for energizing a floatable base mounted motor and air pump in order to provide a continuous stream of oxygen during activation of said solar panel, said control means including means for controlling and boosting the output from the solar panel for operating said floatable base mounted motor and air pump with maximum power output and operation efficiency;

an aeration tube connected to said motor and air pump and extending from said floatable base to a predetermined depth in the body of water for delivering the continuous flow of oxygen to the body of water at the aforesaid predetermined depth through a lower free end of said aeration tube; and

diffuser means cooperating with the lower free end of the aeration tube for breaking up the continuous stream of oxygen into smaller molecules and thereby facilitating mixing of the oxygen into the body of water as dissolved oxygen at the aforesaid predetermined depth.

2. The station as defined in claim 1 wherein said floatable base is constructed from water resistant foam material supported within a water resistant wood frame.

3. The station as defined in claim 2 wherein said wood frame includes spaced horizontal struts extending along top and bottom surfaces of said floatable base and spaced vertical struts extending along sides of said floatable base and being interconnected to said horizontal struts.

4. The station as defined in claim 1 wherein said floatable base is totally enclosed and provides a predetermined square foot enclosed shaded area within the body of water corresponding to said floatable base, and the open free end of said aeration tube being anchored at a predetermined depth in the body of water in the vicinity of the shaded area in order to provide a fish comfort station including both shade and oxygen.

5. The station as defined in claim 3 wherein said inclined solar panel is mounted on upper horizontal struts of said wood frame.

6. The station as defined in claim 5 wherein said solar panel is adjustably mounted on spaced vertical leg supports connected to spaced upper horizontal struts on said wood frame, each of said vertical leg supports at an upper end thereof being pivotally adjustably mounted to said solar panel.

7. The station as defined in claim 1 wherein said anchor is connected to cables extending from opposite sides of said floatable base, said cables being shortened or lengthened relative to said floatable base to provide the desired depth position of said anchor.

8. The station as defined in claim 7 wherein said anchor is of one-piece concrete construction with a rectangular configuration and having eye bolts secured therein for attachment to said cables.

9. The station as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means including said motor and air pump are mounted within a self-contained enclosure mounted on said floatable base.

10. The station as defined in claim 9 wherein ground wires extend from said solar panel and said enclosure across said floatable base and into the body of water for grounding purposes.

11. The station as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for controlling and boosting the output from the solar panel comprises linear control booster means connected between the solar panel and said motor and air pump for controlling and boosting the output from the solar panel.

12. The station as defined in claim 11 wherein said motor and air pump are of the oil-less continuous operating type constructed of corrosion resistant material.

13. The station as defined in claim 12 wherein said motor and air pump comprise a combined D.C. motor and air pump.

14. The station as defined in claim 13 wherein said air pump draws outside air therein through an outside air line connected to an air filter externally mounted on said enclosure.

15. The station as defined in claim 14 wherein said air filter comprises an automobile oil filter which is releasably connected to a hollow element extending through said enclosure, said outside air line being connected to said hollow element within said enclosure.

16. The station as defined in claim 15 wherein said automobile oil filter includes an overhanging protective shroud and air passageways extending from the bottom of the filter upwardly into the filter and then downwardly through said hollow element in said enclosure.

17. The station as defined in claim 9 wherein said enclosure further includes a chimney extending from said enclosure for exhausting heated air from within said enclosure to atmosphere, said chimney including a transverse portion at an outer free end thereof which prevents water from entering the chimney.

18. The station as defined in claim 17 wherein said enclosure includes a back pressure PSI oxygen gauge to determine the operation of the diffuser means and a volt meter to determine the amount of voltage generated by the solar panel.

19. The station as defined in claim 18 wherein said diffuser means comprises a low air density and porous product for breaking up the stream of oxygen into smaller molecules and thereby facilitate mixing of the oxygen into the body of water at the predetermined depth.

20. A solar activated water aeration station for introducing oxygen at a predetermined depth into a body of water including a solar panel mounted on a floatable base for operating control means including a motor and air pump mounted on the floatable base and connected to an aeration tube which delivers oxygen from the motor and air pump to a predetermined depth in a body of water on which the floatable base is floating, said station further comprising an externally mounted air filter releasably connected to a self-contained enclosure to facilitate replacement thereof and communicating with the enclosure by way of an outside air flow line at one end, the outside air flow line being connected at an opposite end to the motor and air pump, and chimney means extending from said enclosure for exhausting heated air from said enclosure to atmosphere.

21. The station as defined in claim 20 wherein said air filter is threadably connected to a hollow element extending through said enclosure, and said outside air line being connected to said hollow element within said enclosure.

22. The station as defined in claim 21 wherein said air filter includes an overhanging protective shroud and air passageways extending from the bottom of the filter upwardly into the filter and then downwardly through said hollow element in said enclosure.

23. The station as defined in claim 22 wherein said chimney means includes a chimney extending from said enclosure for exhausting heated air from said enclosure to atmosphere, said chimney having a transverse portion at an upper free end thereof which prevents water from entering the chimney.

24. A solar activated water aeration station for introducing oxygen at a predetermined depth into a body of water including a solar panel mounted on a floatable base for operating control means including a motor and air pump mounted on the floatable base and connected to an aeration tube which delivers oxygen from the motor and air pump to a predetermined depth in a body of water on which the floatable base is floating, said station further comprising solar panel positioning means including floatable base anchor means depending from the floatable base for maintaining the solar panel in a pre-selected position with a southern exposure, and adjustable inclination means extending upwardly from the floatable base for adjusting the solar panel throughout a range of inclined positions relative to the floatable base for pre-selected area latitude, thereby providing maximum sun exposure.

25. The station as defined in claim 24 wherein said anchor means includes a one-piece concrete anchor adjustably mounted to said floatable base by cables extending from opposite sides of said floatable base.

26. The station as defined in claim 24 wherein said adjustable inclination means includes vertical legs supported by said floatable base and has pivotal adjustments at the upper end thereof.

27. A solar activated water aeration station for introducing oxygen at a predetermined depth into a body of water including a solar panel mounted on a floatable base for operating control means including a motor and air pump mounted within a self-contained enclosure on the floatable base and connected to an aeration tube which delivers oxygen from the motor and air pump to a predetermined depth in a body of water on which the floatable base is floating, said station further comprising a linear control booster connected between the solar panel and motor and air pump for controlling and boosting the output from the solar panel which operates in cooperation with the motor and air pump which are of the oil-less continuous operating type, in order to maximize power output and operation efficiency.

28. The station as defined in claim 27 wherein the motor and air pump comprise a combined D.C. motor and air pump.

29. The station as defined in claim 28 wherein said enclosure includes a back pressure PSI oxygen gauge to determine efficient operation of a diffuser means cooperating with the lower free end of the aeration tube, and a volt meter to determine the amount of voltage generated by the solar panel.

30. The station as defined in claim 29 and including outside air filter means releasably connected to a hollow element extending through said enclosure to filter outside air to the motor and air pump and chimney means extending from said enclosure for exhausting heated air from within said enclosure.