Liquid circulator
A liquid circulator is described that is configured to circulate liquids such as water, chemical mixtures, suspensions and the like. The liquid circulator includes an oscillation shaft, a circulation assembly mounted to the oscillation shaft, and a head unit located above the circulation assembly with a motor having an output shaft in driving engagement with the oscillation shaft. The liquid circulator may be devoid of a processor controlling operation of the liquid circulator. The circulator can also include a rotary to oscillation drive mechanism between the output shaft and the oscillation shaft that is configured to convert rotation of the output shaft into clockwise and counterclockwise oscillation of the oscillation shaft. In another example, an automatic clutch mechanism can be provided between the output shaft and the oscillation shaft.
1 . A liquid circulator, comprising:
an oscillation shaft that is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions;
a circulation assembly mounted to the oscillation shaft at a lower end thereof, the circulation assembly including a rotatable propeller that circulates a liquid, and a drive motor connected to the rotatable propeller to rotate the rotatable propeller;
a head unit located above the circulation assembly, the head unit including a motor with a rotary output shaft;
the oscillation shaft extending into and through the head unit whereby an upper end of the oscillation shaft is disposed above the head unit; and
a drive mechanism associated with the head unit between the rotary output shaft and the oscillation shaft that is configured to convert rotation of the rotary output shaft into clockwise and counterclockwise oscillation of the oscillation shaft, wherein the drive mechanism is indirectly connected to the oscillation shaft whereby the oscillation shaft is indirectly driven by the drive mechanism and the oscillation shaft is configured to be raised and lowered relative to the head unit and the motor of the head unit.
2 . The liquid circulator of claim 1 , further comprising a mount bracket attached to the head unit, wherein the mount bracket is configured to mount the liquid circulator to a support structure.
3 . The liquid circulator of claim 2 , wherein the mount bracket comprises a dock mount, and the support structure comprises a dock.
4 . The liquid circulator of claim 1 , wherein the motor of the head unit is an alternating current motor.
5 . The liquid circulator of claim 1 , wherein the liquid circulator is devoid of a processor controlling operation of the liquid circulator.
6 . The liquid circulator of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive sleeve surrounding the oscillation shaft; and further comprising a sleeve that is separate from and located above the drive sleeve and that surrounds the oscillation shaft and wherein the sleeve is fixed to the oscillation shaft by a fixation means; wherein the drive sleeve includes an upper end, the sleeve includes a lower end, and the upper end of the drive sleeve is engaged with the lower end of the sleeve.
7 . The liquid circulator of claim 6 , wherein the fixation means comprises a set-screw.