Floating mixer

Claim 2

In a floating liquid mixer adapted to be mounted in a parent body of liquid, the combination comprising: a float adapted to be supported bouyantly in the parent body of liquid, said float having a vertically extending passage therethrough, mixing means positioned below said float adapted to be submerged in the parent body of liquid for agitating the liquid, drive shaft means connected to said mixing means, motor means mounted on said float for powering said drive shaft, a shield member at the lower end of said passage containing an opening through which said drive shaft means extends, said opening providing a clearance between said drive shaft means And said shield member whereby liquid agitated by the mixing is introduced into said passage, and conduit means between said passage and a location remote from said mixing means for controllong the level of liquid in said passage.

Claim 3

The mixer of claim 1 in which said float is circular.

Claim 4

The mixer of claim 2 in which said mixing means, motor means, and conduit means are mounted concentric to said float.

Claim 5

A mixing device comprising: floatable supporting means adapted to be buoyantly suspended in a parent body of liquid, motor means supported on said floatable supporting means, a shaft for rotation by said motor, conduit means suspended vertically below said floatable supporting means and adapted to be submerged in the body of liquid, said conduit means having vertically spaced upper and lower openings so that liquid is withdrawn from one level and discharged at another level below the liquid surface, said upper opening of the conduit means being spaced below said floatable supporting means, axial flow impeller means positioned in said conduit means below said upper opening and driven by said shaft for forcing liquid under pressure through said conduit means, chamber means surrounding said shaft for receiving the liquid projected upwardly along said shaft in order to provide a seal between said motor means and said axial flow impeller means, baffle means adapted to be submerged below the surface of the parent body of liquid and spaced above the upper opening of said conduit means for radially deflecting the liquid discharged from said conduit means in substantially radial directions, and said conduit means oriented so that the liquid is discharged substantially vertically from the upper opening thereof against said baffle means.

Claim 6

A mixing device comprising: floatable supporting means adapted to be buoyantly suspended in a parent body of liquid, motor means supported on said floatable supporting means, a shaft for rotation by said motor, conduit means suspended vertically below said floatable supporting means and adapted to be submerged in the body of liquid, said conduit means having vertically spaced upper and lower openings so that liquid is withdrawn from one level and discharged at another level below the liquid surface, said upper opening of the conduit means being spaced below said floatable supporting means, axial flow impeller means positioned in said conduit means below said upper opening and driven by said shaft for forcing liquid under pressure through said conduit means, chamber means surrounding said shaft for receiving the liquid projected upwardly along said shaft in order to provide a seal between said motor means and said axial flow impeller means, baffle means adapted to be submerged below the surface of the parent body of liquid and spaced above the upper opening of said conduit means for radially deflecting the liquid discharged from said conduit means in substantially radial directions, and said conduit means oriented so that the liquid is discharged substantially vertically from the upper opening thereof against said baffle means.

Claim 7

The mixing device of claim 4 in which said upper end of the conduit means is vertically oriented in a position spaced below said baffle means by leg members depending from said floatable supporting means.

Claim 8

The mixing device of claim 4 in which said baffle means is circular.

Claim 9

The mixing device of claim 4 in which said conduit means has a cylindrical portion, and said axial flow impeller means is positioned in said cylindrical portion.

Claim 10

The mixing device of claim 4 in which said baffle means comprises the bottom wall of said floatable supporting means.

Claim 11

In a mixing device, the combination comprising: float means adapted to be suspended in a parent body of liquid, said float means having a bottom wall adapted to be submerged in the parent body of liquid, draft tube means suspended below said float means for directing liquid upwardly toward the bottom wall of said float means, said draft tube having an upper open end and lower opening, axial flow impeller means within said draft tube means below said upper open end for discharging liquid under pressure from said upper open end against the bottom wall of said float means, motor means supported on said float means for driving said impeller means with a shaft, chamber means surrounding said shaft for receiving the liquid moving upwardly along said shaft so as to provide a seal between said motor means and said impeller means, and said upper end of the draft tube means oriented toward and spaced from said bottom wall of the float means so that as the liquid is discharged therefrom it is deflected radially.

Claim 12

In a mixing device, the combination comprising: float means adapted to be suspended in a parent body of liquid, said float means having a bottom wall adapted to be submerged in the parent body of liquid, draft tube means suspended below said float means for directing liquid upwardly toward the bottom wall of said float means, said draft tube having an upper open end and lower opening, axial flow impeller means within said draft tube means below said upper open end for discharging liquid under pressure from said upper open end against the bottom wall of said float means, motor means supported on said float means for driving said impeller means with a shaft, chamber means surrounding said shaft for receiving the liquid moving upwardly along said shaft so as to provide a seal between said motor means and said impeller means, and said upper end of the draft tube means oriented toward and spaced from said bottom wall of the float means so that as the liquid is discharged therefrom it is deflected radially.

Claim 13

The mixing device of claim 9 in which said shaft tube, impeller means, and motor means are mounted centrally of said float means.

Claim 14

The mixing device of claim 9 in which said bottom wall of the float means is circular in configuration.

Claim 15

The mixing device of claim 9 in which said draft tube is suspended below said float means by a plurality of depending leg members.