ITMO20120140A1 - EQUIPMENT FOR MIXING AND / OR OXYGENATION OF WATER. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

"MIXING AND / OR OXYGENATION EQUIPMENT

OF WATERS "

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and / or oxygenating water.

In particular, the present invention refers to an apparatus for the treatment of water of the type used for example in tanks for fish farming and aquaculture in general, in fishing basins, in aeration tanks in purification plants and in the reclamation of eutrophic lakes.

As is known, equipment of this type is able to mix and move the water, generating a current inside the basin in order to avoid the stratification of the bottom or to ventilate, de-icing.

In particular, these apparatuses generally consist of a support upright, bound to a bank in the case of tanks or ballasted on the seabed in the case of basins and lakes suitable for supporting a paddle agitator.

In greater detail, the paddle agitator consists of a propeller, which can rotate around a respective substantially horizontal axis. The movement of the propeller mixes the water generating a flow (current) of water directed substantially along the aforementioned horizontal axis. In the case of large tanks or basins, a plurality of apparatuses are provided, suitably positioned and spaced apart to facilitate the circulation of the current and move the water in any area of the basin.

The known apparatuses also have a system for vertical movement of the paddle agitator, capable of positioning the propeller at different heights according to the depth of the basin and the position in which the flow of water is to be created.

This movement system generally consists of a winch or other similar element, arranged on the top of the vertical upright emerging from the water. The winch is suitably connected to a slide adapted to support the aforementioned agitator. In this way, by operating (manually or electrically) on the winch, the slide is made to slide on the vertical upright to position the agitator vertically or to make the agitator emerge from the water in case of any maintenance operations.

The agitator is keyed onto the shaft of a respective immersion motor, also suitably mounted on the slide and able to rotate the propeller around the respective horizontal axis.

However, the equipment for mixing water described above has important drawbacks, linked in particular to the distribution of water which they are capable of handling.

In fact, it should be considered that in conditions of fixed agitators the quantity of water moved by the agitator directly depends on the size of the propeller blades and on the speed of rotation of the same. Therefore, in order to be able to move a large volume of water, equal to the quantity of water contained in the basin, large and therefore particularly expensive and bulky agitators must be used.

Alternatively, as mentioned above, to generate a current sufficient to move all the water contained in the basin, a plurality of suitably positioned equipment is used, with the consequent disadvantages in terms of cost and practicality of installation of the equipment.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to make available an apparatus for mixing and / or oxygenating water that is structurally simple and of low cost and at the same time capable of moving and distributing a very consistent flow of water, covering a larger surface, and to automatically modify the water flows in the basin.

The object is fully achieved by the equipment for mixing and / or oxygenating water according to the present invention, which is characterized by the contents of the claims reported below.

The technical characteristics of the present invention according to the aforementioned object are clearly verifiable from the content of the claims reported below, and the advantages thereof will become more evident in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the attached drawings, which represent a purely embodiment thereof exemplary and not limiting, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an overall and perspective view of an apparatus for mixing and / or oxygenating water according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 during a respective condition of use; And

Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 during a respective condition of use.

In accordance with the attached figures, 1 generally represents an apparatus for mixing and / or oxygenating water according to the present invention.

In particular, the apparatus 1 comprises a support frame 2, at least partially immersed in water and defined by a vertical upright 3.

Preferably, the vertical upright 3 has an upper end 3a emerging from the free surface of the water and a lower end 3b immersed in the water and associated with a support base 4 suitable for resting on the bottom of the basin or of the tub. Advantageously, the support base 4 can be equipped with a ballast for stably anchoring the entire apparatus to the bottom of the basin or of the tub.

However, it should be specified that the positioning of the vertical upright 3 can be any. For example, the upright 3 can be constrained to a lateral edge of the tank (not shown) or associated with a floating structure.

The frame 2 also has a cover plate 5, associated with the upper end 3a of the upright 3 and adapted to cover the operating members of the apparatus from any atmospheric agents. Furthermore, the cover plate 5 provides an upper surface designed to support a series of photovoltaic power supply cells for the aforementioned operating members of the apparatus.

The frame 2 also comprises a support portion 6 for supporting stirring means 7.

In particular, the support portion 6 comprises at least one rail 8, parallel to the longitudinal extension of the upright 3 and associated with the upright 3 itself by means of a hinge 9.

Advantageously, there are two rails 8 defining a track, parallel and suitably connected to each other by means of a pair of bars 10, each of which is arranged at respective opposite ends of the rails 8.

In this situation, it should be noted that a respective hinge 9 is defined on each bar 10 which is designed to define an articulation which allows the rotation of the support portion 6 around an orientation axis "X" which extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the upright 3 itself. .

In other words, the support portion 6 is movable with respect to the vertical upright 3 around the aforementioned orientation axis "X".

The support portion 6 also comprises a carriage 11 for supporting the aforementioned stirring means 7, removably associated with the rails 8 to slide along the longitudinal extension of the rails 8 themselves.

The trolley 11 defines an internal compartment in which the stirring means 7 facing away from the upright 3 are housed, so as to generate a flow of water away from the apparatus 1.

Said stirring means 7 can be connected to said trolley 11 at least through a first connecting transverse bar 19.

In a first configuration, illustrated in Figure 3, the stirring means 7 are connected to the carriage 11 by means of a hinged connection made by means of said first transverse bar 19.

In this configuration, the first transverse bar 19 defines a hinge axis "Z" and the stirring means 7 can rotate around the aforementioned first transverse bar 19, ie around the aforementioned hinge axis "Z".

In a second configuration, illustrated in Figure 2, the stirring means are connected to the carriage 11 through a connection made by means of a first transverse bar 19 and a second transverse bar 20.

In this configuration, the transverse bars 19, 20 define a plane "B-B" for the positioning of the stirring means 7 and the latter are fixed and integral with the carriage 11.

Furthermore, the trolley 11 has sliding members on the rails 8, of a known type and therefore not further described and illustrated in detail. In this way, handling means 12 active on the supporting trolley 11 move the trolley 11 along the rails 8 to position the stirring means 7 at a predefined height.

These handling means 12, illustrated only schematically in Figure 1, are associated with the upper end 3a of the vertical upright 3 and are preferably constituted by a winch.

As illustrated in greater detail in Figure 3, the handling means 12 are preferably defined by a winch 21 active on a chain 22 having a first end 21a connected to the winch 21 and a second end 21b on the carriage 11.

With this configuration, by operating the winch 12a it is possible to carry out the controlled ascent / descent of the trolley 11, and therefore of the stirring means 7, along the aforementioned rails 8 and / or allow the positioning of the trolley, and therefore of the stirring means 7, to certain depths of service.

The stirring means 7 are therefore at least partially immersed in water and can rotate around a respective axis of rotation "Y" to move a flow of water "A" schematically indicated in Figure 2.

Preferably, the stirring means 7 can comprise at least stirrer 7a or at least one oxygenator 7b, or both, or a mixed combination of stirrer (s) and oxygenator (s).

The agitator, preferably of the paddle type 7a, allows the water to be mixed and moved, generating a current inside the basin in order to avoid the stratification of the bottom.

The oxygenation 7b allows to oxygenate and clean the water by exploiting the phenomena of saturation and / or flotation.

Both in the case of paddle stirrer 7a and in the case of oxygenator 7b there is a propeller 13.

The propeller 13 is preferably coupled to an immersion motor 14 to rotate the propeller 13 around the aforementioned axis of rotation "Y".

Advantageously, in the case of use of the apparatus 1 to oxygenate and aerate the water, the agitator 7a is coupled to an oxygenation member 7b, to introduce air in correspondence with the water flow "A".

The oxygenation member preferably comprises an air intake duct arranged outside the water and a duct for delivering the sucked air, arranged at the agitator to deliver the air at the propeller 13.

The apparatus 1 also comprises a first orientation member 15, associated with the frame 2 and operatively engaged with the support portion 6, to move the portion 6 itself and the stirring means 7 around the said orientation axis "X".

It should be noted in particular that the axis of orientation "X" is preferably incident to the axis of rotation "Y" of the stirring means. In other words, the axis of orientation "X" develops vertically while the axis of rotation "Y" can be perpendicular to the axis of orientation "X" or oblique with respect to the latter. With the arrangement described above, the first orientation member 15 defines a movement of the stirring means 7 along a substantially horizontal plane.

In other words, with reference to the connection made between the stirring means 7 and the trolley 11 when the connection is made only through the pair of transverse bars 19 and 20, the first orientation member 15 favors the movement of the stirring means 7 on the plane position "B-B" alternately to the right and to the left with respect to the axis of rotation "Y".

Advantageously, the orienting member 15 defines a movement of the support portion 6 and of the stirring means 7 according to a predefined path and having a to and fro motion. In this way, the stirring means 7 are moved between two end positions, in an "oscillating" motion to move a large amount of water and to widen the width of the respective water flow "A".

It should be noted in fact that in this situation, the flow of water "A" does not develop in a single direction but is moved, changing its orientation (figure 2).

The apparatus 1 also comprises a second orientation member 23, associated with the frame 2 and operatively engaged with the stirring means 7 to move the latter around the aforementioned hinge axis "Z" made in the configuration defined by the first transverse bar 19.

In particular, in accordance with a first preferential embodiment solution, the orienting member 15 comprises a linear actuator 15a associated with the support portion 6, preferably constituted by a fluid-dynamic piston 16.

In greater detail, as shown schematically in the accompanying figures, the piston 16 has a cylinder 17 which is irremovably associated with the upper end 3a of the vertical upright 3, and a rod 18 slidingly coupled to the cylinder 17.

It should be noted that the stem 18 is also associated with a protruding portion 8a of one of the rails 8 to define, during its back and forth stroke, the rotation of the support portion 6 and of the stirring means 7 around the axis "X". The piston is connected to respective fluid-dynamic feeding members not shown and described as they are of a known type.

In accordance with a second embodiment not shown in the accompanying figures, the actuator 15a consists of a motorized transmission member, of the type consisting of a chain wound in a ring between two pulleys of which at least one is motorized.

The pulleys are associated with the vertical upright 3 and the chain is operatively connected to one of the aforementioned rails 8.

The motorized pulley moves the chain according to a back and forth motion, defining the alternate rotation around the "X" axis of the support portion 6 and of the stirring means 7.

In accordance with a third embodiment, the aforementioned second orientation member 23 is defined by a linear actuator 24 and a chain 25, the latter having a first end 25a connected to the actuator 24 and a second end 25b connected to the stirring means 7.

In this way, depending on the position assumed by the linear actuator 24, which pulls or releases the chain 25, it is possible to promote a rotation of the stirring means 7 around the aforementioned hinge axis "Z".

Advantageously, the stirring means 7, movable around the axis "X" in a to and fro motion and rotatable around the hinge axis "Z", are able to move a large amount of water and to widen the width of the respective flow "A".

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. Equipment for mixing and / or oxygenating water comprising: - stirring means (7) at least partially immersed in water and rotatable around a respective rotation axis (Y) to move a flow of water (A); and - a support frame (2), at least partially immersed in water and having a support portion (6) of said stirring means (7); characterized in that it also comprises an orientation member (15), associated with the frame (2) and operatively engaged with the support portion (6) to move the stirring means (7) around a respective transverse orientation axis (X) to said axis of rotation (Y). 2. Apparatus according to the previous claim, characterized in that said frame (2) comprises a vertical upright (3), said support portion (6) being rotatably associated with said vertical upright (3) in correspondence with at least one hinge (9 ) defining the rotation of the stirring means (7) around the orientation axis (X). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said support portion (6) comprises: - at least one rail (8), parallel to the development of said orientation axis (X) and associated with the vertical upright (3) through said hinge (9); and - a carriage (11) for supporting said stirring means (7), removably associated with said rail (8) to slide along the longitudinal extension of the rail (8) itself. 4. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it also comprises means for moving the support trolley (11), associated with an upper end (3a) of the vertical upright (3) emerging from the water to translate the trolley (11) along the rail (8) and in a direction parallel to the orientation axis (X). 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said orienting member (15) comprises a linear actuator (15a) associated with the support portion (6) to move the portion (6) itself and the stirring means (7 ) according to a to and fro motion and along a predefined path. 6. Apparatus according to the preceding claim when it depends on 3, characterized in that said actuator (15a) is a fluid-dynamic piston (16), having a cylinder (17) which is irremovably associated with said vertical upright (3) and a rod (18) , slidingly coupled to said cylinder (17) and associated to said rail (8). 7. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said support portion (6) comprises two rails (8), parallel and associated with each other; said stem (18) being engaged to one of said rails (8) to define the to and fro movement of the support portion (6) and of said stirring means (7). 8. Apparatus according to claim 5 when it depends on claim 3, characterized in that said actuator (15a) is a motorized transmission member, comprising a pair of pulleys associated with the vertical upright and a chain wound in a ring between said pulleys and associated with said rail (8). 9. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said support portion (6) comprises two rails (8), parallel and associated with each other; said chain being engaged to one of said rails (8) to define the to and fro movement of the support portion and of said stirring means (7). 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that said stirring means (7) are preferably defined by a blade stirrer (7a) comprising a propeller (13) and a motor (14) associated with the helix (13) to rotate it around said rotation axis (Y). 11. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said stirring means (7) are preferably defined by an oxygenation member (7b), to introduce air in correspondence with the water flow (A) moved by a propeller (13) and a motor (14) associated with the propeller (13). 12. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said oxygenation member (7b) comprises an air intake duct arranged outside the water and a delivery duct for the sucked air, arranged in correspondence with the stirring means (7) to deliver the air at the propeller (13). 13. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said frame (3) further comprises a support base (4) for said vertical upright (3), associated with a lower end (3b) of said upright (3) to be immersed in water and permanently bound.