The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2012
Filed:
May. 08, 2009
Applicants:
Kristinn G. Drewry, Bellevue, WA (US);
Richard J. Koopmans, Bellevue, WA (US);
Inventors:
Kristinn G. Drewry, Bellevue, WA (US);
Richard J. Koopmans, Bellevue, WA (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B01F 13/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A means for mitigating or precluding formation of ice in water stored in large storage tanks generates large mixing bubbles toward the bottom of the tank, causing mixing of thermally stratified layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank. Incipient stratification of water along thermoclines is detected and the mixer is engaged only when temperatures of portions of stratified water in the tank approach freezing.