US3542490A - Water air lift device - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Morris R. Gare Hillside, New Jersey (c/o Eureka Products Co., 4 Bruen St., Newark NJ 07105) [2]] Appl. No. 752,915 [22] Filed Aug. 15, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [54] WATER AIR LIFT DEVICE 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 417/108 [51] Int. Cl F041 1/00, F04f5/0O, F04f 5/44 [50] Field ofSearch 103/232, 260, 263, 259, 277

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,081 6/1905 Shepard 103/260 1,061,429 5/1913 Wallbillich 103/260 lllinnbl...

1,177,270 3/1916 Pursell 103/262X 1,828,231 10/1931 Patterson 103/260 562,266 6/1896 Young et al. [03/232 655,615 8/1900 Evans 103/259 932,934 8/1909 Wood 103/232 960,023 5/1910 Knight.... 103/232 3,282,226 11/1966 Repp 103/232 3,340,819 9/1967 Allen l03/260X 3,448,691 6/1969 Frazier 103/258X Primary Examiner-Donley .l. Stocking Assistant Examiner-Warren J. Krauss Attorney-Sommers & Sommers ABSTRACT: An air flowadapter, having structural features for efficient and continuous air lifting of water from a tank to a discharge point such as a filtration apparatus for efficient utilization and direction of air and entry thereof into a water area in a positive directional lifting action, preventing dissipation and loss of air, and backup of air and water and providing a smooth, efficient air lift water system.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 FIG.

INVENTOR M. R. GARE BY M ATTORNEYS v ATER AIR LIFT DEVICE WATER AlR LlFT DEVICE This invention relates to an air lift water device for efficient. unidirectional lifting of water. preventing backflo-w of water and air. H

Devices proposed for this purpose heretofore have generally been objec'tionableas, in operation, they allowed water and air to back up and flow in the opposite direction. These and other objections to devices heretofore proposed have been eliminated in the device ofthis invention, providing novel means for achieving, the above noted objections, and

which is rugged, durable and efficient in use.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts: i

FIG. 1 is avertical, partly-sectional view. taken on line l-l of FIG. 2, and showing the device of the invention in a filter tank; and

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

As will be seen from the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, this invention relates to a water air lift device having features, described below, such that efficient flow of air for lifting water to a filtration apparatus or other point of a' discharge is provided. t

The device comprises a housing having an air-water mixture chamber ll having constricted. vertically alinedupper and lower apertures l6, 17' therein. An air chamber 22 is laterally offset from air-water chamber ll and connected thereto by aperture 14 in the intermediate common wall at a point laterally offset from an interm'ediatethe apertures 16; 17 ofair-water chamber 11. Air inlet means 21 is connected to air chamber 22, for admission of air into air chamber 22 and thence (through aperture 14) into air-water chamber 11 at a point intermediate the upper and lower openings 16,17 of chamber 11 and laterally thereof. Water enters chamber 11 through the lower aperture 17 thereof. The base portion 31 of the housing 10 is provided with apertures 32 for admission of water W thereinto and thence through connecter member 33, and aperture 17 and into the air-water chamber 11.

The device ofthis invention thus comprises housing 10 sealed in the body of water W except for the water inlet aper tures 32 in base 31; air A flows from a source (such as, for example, a pump) into tube 21 and thence to air chamber 22and into the air-water mixture chamber ll. wherein the air mingles with and lifts the water through tube 41 for discharge to a filter or other point remote from aperture 16. The device 10 has a lower end adapted to be positioned in or near the bottom of a water reservoir. such as a fish tank T (FIG. 1). Air inlet tube 21 is secured at one end to and seals the aperture 18 in air chamber 22, said chamber being disposed in alined laterally adjacent relation to the air water flow chamber 11. As clearly shown in the drawings. the-base member 31 includes a planar. imperforate bottom wall 50 of rectangular configuration with walls52 extending upwardly therefrom to a top wall 54 having a water outlet opening 56 formed therein. The opposite sidewalls 58 and 60 converge from the bottom wall.50 upwardly at an angle of about 45 to the bottom and are connected to the top wall 54 by the vertical wall portions 62 and 64. The inclined wall 58 is formed with the elongated, narrow, slitlike water inlet apertures 32 thereby admitting water laterally into the base member 31 so that the device may be supported on a horizontal surface such as the bottom of the fish tank T flowsthrough the apertures 32 in base member 31 and up through the connecter member 33 and into the airwater chamber 11, wherein the air rises and thus lifts and transports water upwardly therewith through the air lift tube Air bubble accumulation and loss are prevented by virtue of flow of'air' from larger area (air chamber 22) through smaller constricted aperture 14, into a larger area (water chamber 34 and air lift tube 41). Water back up is prevented by virtue of flow of water from a larger area (base member 31) through a smaller area connecter member 33) into a larger area (water chamber 34) the water being thence litted (with the air) through air lift tube 41 in a continuous unidirectional path upwardly.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made in accordance with the Patent Statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto or thereby, the inventive scope being defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A water air lift device; comprising: a housing havingan air-water mixing chamber with vertically alined upper and lower apertures therein and an air chamber laterally offset from the air-water chamber. said chambers being separated by a planar, vertical intermediate common wall provided with a medial aperture, said commonwall being laterally offset from the said vertically alined apertures, said air chamber being imperforate except for said aperture in the intermediate common wall and an air inlet connection; a, water inlet base member, comprising a planar, imperforate bottom wall for supporting the device in a vertical position on a horizontal support surface, side wall defining means extending upwardly from the bottom wall and having a water inlet opening formed therein, and a top wall having a water outlet opening formed therein, said sidewall defining means including a wall portion which extends upwardly at an acute angle from the bottom wall and the water inlet opening is formed in said wall portion; and a connecter member connecting the water outlet opening of-the base memberand the airwater chamber lower aperture, said connecter member being of smaller area than the air-water chamber, whereby water will be lifted, and moved upwardly and out of the air-water mixing chamber in a continuous unidirectional path and air bubble accumulation and loss will be prevented by virtue of the flow of air from the air chamber aperture into the larger area of the air-water chamber, and thence out ofsaid air-water chamber.

2. A water lift device according to claim 1 in which said bottom wall is of rectangular configuration. said wall portion slopes upwardly from one end of the bottom wall, and the water inlet opening comprises a plurality of narrow, elongated slits.

3. A water lift device according to claim 2 in which the slits are parallel and are arranged with one end directed, toward said bottom wall and with the other end directed toward said top wall.

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