IP Library Granted Patent US 7,178,979
Granted Patent B2
US 7,178,979 · App. 10/827,640 · Granted Feb 20, 2007

Water agitation system for water retention structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,178,979
App. No.
10/827,640
Granted
Feb 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water agitation system configured to be positioned within a water retention structure configured to receive and retain water, includes a housing having a drive shaft extending downwardly therefrom; at least one upright member connected to a cross beam that is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; and at least one buoyant stirrer that slidably engages an upright member. The buoyant stirrers are configured to move relative to the upright members in response to a level of water within the water retention structure.

Claims (42)

1. A water agitation system configured to be positioned within a water retention structure configured to receive and retain water, said system comprising:

a housing having a drive shaft extending downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of beams operatively connected to said drive shaft, said plurality of beams configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft; and

at least one buoyant stirrer, that slidably engages at least one of said plurality of beams, wherein said at least one buoyant stirrer is configured to move relative to said at least one of said plurality of beams in response to a level of water within the water retention structure,

wherein said plurality of beams includes first and second upright members, wherein said first upright member is connected to a first end of a horizontal member and said second upright member is connected to a second end of said horizontal member, and wherein said at least one buoyant stirrer includes a first buoyant stirrer that slidably engages said first upright member and a second buoyant stirrer that slidably engages said second upright member.

2. The water agitation system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of beams rotate about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, and wherein said at least one buoyant stirrer rotates along with said plurality of beams such that the rotation of said at least one buoyant stirrer imparts motion to water within the water retention structure.

3. The water agitation system of claim 1 , further comprising a tube extending downwardly from said housing, wherein said drive shaft is disposed within said tube and a cross beam rotatably engages said tube, wherein a magnet assembly is connected to said drive shaft so that a rotation of said drive shaft causes said magnet assembly to rotate, and wherein said at least one buoyant stirrer includes a metal member that is magnetically coupled to said magnet assembly so that a rotation of said magnet assembly causes said at least one buoyant stirrer to rotate in response to the rotation of said magnet assembly.

4. The water agitation system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one support structure extending downwardly from said housing, wherein said at least one support structure abuts a surface of the water retention structure.

5. The water agitation system of claim 1 , further comprising a flotation member configured to allow the water circulation system to float on water retained within the water retention structure.

6. The water agitation system of claim 1 , wherein the water retention structure is a basin of a bird bath.

7. The water agitation system of claim 1 , wherein the water retention structure is a livestock water trough.

8. The water agitation system of claim 1 , wherein the water retention structure is one of a swimming pool, water tower, and pond.

9. The water agitation system of claim 1 , wherein said water circulation system is battery powered.

10. The water agitation system of claim 1 , wherein said water circulation system is electrically connected to a standard electrical outlet.

11. The water agitation system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a switch, timer and sensor for selectively activating and deactivating said water circulation system.

12. A water agitation system positioned within a water retention structure that receives and retains water, said system comprising:

a housing having a drive shaft extending downwardly from said housing, said drive shaft being operatively connected to a motor within said housing that is configured to rotate said drive shaft about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft;

a plurality of beams connected to a cross bar that is configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said drive shaft; and

a plurality of buoyant stirrers, each of which slidably engages one of said plurality of beams, wherein said plurality of buoyant stirrers are configured to move relative to said plurality of beams in response to a level of water within the water retention structure, wherein said plurality of beams rotate about said longitudinal axis of said drive shaft along with said cross bar, and wherein said plurality of buoyant stirrers rotate along with said plurality of beams such that the rotation of said plurality of buoyant stirrers imparts motion to the water within the water retention structure.

13. The water agitation system of claim 12 , wherein said plurality of beams includes first and second upright members, wherein said first upright member is connected to a first end of said cross bar and said second upright member is connected to a second end of said cross bar, and wherein at least one buoyant stirrer includes a first buoyant stirrer that slidably engages said first upright member and a second buoyant stirrer that slidably engages said second upright member.

14. The water agitation system of claim 12 , further comprising a tube extending downwardly from said housing, wherein said drive shaft is disposed within said tube and said cross bar rotatably engages said tube, wherein a magnet assembly is connected to said drive shaft so that a rotation of said drive shaft causes said magnet assembly to rotate, and wherein each of said plurality of buoyant stirrers includes a metal member that is magnetically coupled to said magnet assembly so that a rotation of said magnet assembly causes said at least one buoyant stirrer to rotate in response to the rotation of said magnet assembly.

15. The water agitation system of claim 12 , further comprising at least one support structure extending downwardly from said housing, wherein said at least one support structure abuts a surface of the water retention structure in order to support said housing above the surface of the water retention structure.

16. The water agitation system of claim 12 , further comprising a flotation member configured to allow the water circulation system to float on water retained by the water retention structure.

17. The water agitation system of claim 12 , wherein the water retention structure is a basin of a bird bath.

18. The water agitation system of claim 12 , wherein the water retention structure is a livestock water trough.

19. The water agitation system of claim 12 , wherein the water retention structure is one of a swimming pool, water tower, and pond.

20. The water agitation system of claim 12 , wherein said water circulation system is battery powered.

21. The water agitation system of claim 12 , wherein said water circulation system is electrically connected to a standard electrical outlet.

22. The water agitation system of claim 12 , further comprising at least one of a switch, timer and sensor for selectively activating and deactivating said water circulation system.

23. A water agitation system positioned within a water retention structure that receives and retains water, said system comprising:

a housing having a drive shaft extending downwardly from said housing, said drive shaft being operatively connected to a motor within said housing that is configured to rotate said drive shaft about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft;

a tube extending downwardly from said housing, wherein said drive shaft is disposed within said tube and said horizontal member rotatably engages said tube, wherein a magnet assembly is connected to said drive shaft so that a rotation of said drive shaft causes said magnet assembly to rotate;

first and second upright members connected to first and second ends of a horizontal member, respectively, said horizontal member being configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said drive shaft; and

first and second buoyant stirrers that slidably engage said first and second upright members, respectively, wherein said first and second buoyant stirrers are configured to move relative to said first and second upright members, respectively, in response to a level of water retained within the water retention structure, wherein said first and second upright members are adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft along with said horizontal member, and wherein said first and second buoyant stirrers are adapted to rotate along with said first and second upright members, and wherein each of said first and second buoyant stirrers includes a metal member that is magnetically coupled to said magnet assembly so that a rotation of said magnet assembly causes said first and second buoyant members to rotate in response to the rotation of said magnet assembly in order to impart motion to the water retained within the water retention structure.

24. The water agitation system of claim 23 , further comprising at least one support structure extending downwardly from said housing, wherein said at least one support structure abuts a surface of the water retention structure in order to support said housing above the surface of the water retention structure.

25. The water agitation system of claim 23 , further comprising a flotation member configured to allow the water circulation system to float on water retained by the water retention structure.

26. The water agitation system of claim 23 , wherein the water retention structure is a basin of a bird bath.

27. The water agitation system of claim 23 , wherein the water retention structure is a livestock water trough.

28. The water agitation system of claim 23 , wherein the water retention structure is one of a swimming pool, water tower, and pond.

29. The water agitation system of claim 23 , wherein said water circulation system is battery powered.

30. The water agitation system of claim 23 , wherein said water circulation system is electrically connected to a standard electrical outlet.

31. The water agitation system of claim 23 , further comprising at least one of a switch, timer and sensor for selectively activating and deactivating said water circulation system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2014
From: ALLIED PRECISION INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MILLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 032152/0921 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2004
From: REUSCHE, THOMAS K.; CHUMBLEY, PHILIP E.
To: ALLIED PRECISION INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 015243/0199 →