Diffuser for aeration basin

Abstract

A diffuser for introducing gas in bubbles into liquid held in an aeration tank .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.a body member having a backing surface and passaging extending from a gas inlet to an outlet at the backing surface, and a flexible, gas permeable membrane covering the backing surface and secured at its periphery to the body member in sealing relationship thereto. The membrane is .[.adapted to distend.]. .Iadd.distendable .Iaddend.and .[.move.]. .Iadd.moves .Iaddend.away from the backing surface upon delivery of gas under pressure to diffuser, with the gas flowing through the distended portion of the membrane and into the liquid in the form of relatively small gas bubbles, and .[.adapted to collapse.]. .Iadd.collapses .Iaddend.into engagement with the backing surface when gas under pressure is not delivered to the difuser. A check valve .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.a movable valve member on the membrane and a valve seat on the backing surface enables flow of gas into the space between backing surface and the membrane, and blocks flow of liquid into the passaging in the body member.

I claim: 
     
       1. Diffuser means for use in an aeration basin for introducing gas in the form of bubbles into liquid held in the basin, said diffuser means comprising: a body member having a backing surface and passaging in the body member extending from a gas inlet .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.to receive gas under pressure from a source thereof to an outlet at the backing surface for delivery of the gas under pressure thereto;   a flexible, gas permeable membrane covering the backing .[.surfce.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.and secured generally along the periphery of the membrane to the body member in sealing relation, the membrane being .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.to distend and move away from the backing surface upon the delivery of gas under pressure to the diffuser, with the gas flowing through the distended portion of the membrane and into the liquid in the form of relatively small gas bubbles, and being .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.to collapse into engagement with the backing member when gas under pressure is not delivered to the diffuser;   and check valve means comprising a movable valve member on the movable with the membrane and a valve seat on the body member at said outlet, the movable valve member being moved away from the valve seat along with the membrane when gas under pressure is delivered to the diffuser to open the check valve for allowing the gas to enter the space between the member and the backing surface, and the movable valve member being moved into sealing relationship with the valve seat to close the check valve when gas under pressure is no longer delivered, for blocking flow of liquid into the passaging in the diffuser means; and   stop means comprising interengageable means on the body member and secured to the membrane generally at a central portion thereof for limiting movement of said central portion of the membrane away from the backing surface to a predetermined position spaced apart from yet being generally adjacent to the backing surface, whereby when gas under pressure is delivered to the diffuser means, the membrane distends and moves away from the backing surface but with the stop means holding the member spaced generally adjacent to the backing surface for flow of gas through the distended portion of the membrane.   
     
     
       2. The diffuser means set forth in claim 1 wherein the movable valve member is formed of fluid impermeable material and is carried on the membrane. 
     
     
       3. The diffuser set forth in claim 1 wherein the movable valve member is integrally formed in the membrane. 
     
     
       4. The diffuser set forth in claim 1 wherein the backing surface of the .[.diffuser.]. .Iadd.body member .Iaddend.is generally planar and the .[.member.]. .Iadd.membrane .Iaddend.is secured to the .[.diffuser.]. .Iadd.body member .Iaddend.around the periphery of the backing surface. 
     
     
       5. The diffuser set forth in claim 4 wherein the backing surface and the distended portion of the membrane are of generally disc shaped configuration. 
     
     
       6. The diffuser set forth in claim 1 wherein the membrane has a plurality of small pores formed therein which expand in size when the membrane is distended by the gas under pressure for flow of gas therethrough and which close when the membrane collapses against the backing surface for blocking flow of liquid therethrough. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  Diffuser means for use in an aeration basin for introducing gas in the form of bubbles into liquid held in the basin, said diffuser means comprising: a body member having a backing surface and passaging in the body member extending from a gas inlet positioned to receive gas under pressure from a source thereof to an outlet at the backing surface for delivery of the gas under pressure thereto;   a flexible, gas-permeable membrane covering the backing surface and secured generally along the periphery of the membrane to the body member in sealing relation, the membrane being positioned to distend and move away from the backing surface upon the delivery of gas under pressure to the diffuser, with the gas flowing through the distended portion of the membrane and into the liquid in the form of relatively small gas bubbles, and being positioned to collapse into engagement with the backing member when gas under pressure is not delivered to the diffuser;   and check valve means comprising movable valve member means movable with the membrane and a valve seat on the body member at said outlet, the movable valve member means being moved away from the valve seat along with the membrane when gas under pressure is delivered to the diffuser to open the check valve for allowing the gas to enter the space between the member and the backing surface, and the movable valve member means being moved into sealing relationship with the valve seat to close the check valve when gas under pressure is no longer delivered, for blocking flow of liquid into the passaging in the diffuser means; and   stop means comprising interengageable means on the body member and the member generally at central portions thereof for holding the central portion of the member generally adjacent to the central portion of the backing surface, whereby when gas under pressure is delivered to the diffuser means, the membrane distends, with portions of the membrane spaced outwardly of said central portion moving away from the backing surface but with the central portion of the membrane remaining held closely adjacent to the central portion of the backing surface by said stop means. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  The diffuser means of claim 7, wherein said movable valve member means is formed as an integral portion of said membrane. .Iadd. 
     
     
       9.  The diffuser means of claim 8, wherein the movable valve member means is formed of material which is fluid-impermeable when pressurized gas is applied. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said movable valve member means is a separate component from said membrane mounted to said membrane. .Iadd.11. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said movable valve member means is distinct from said membrane and is at least in part embedded in said membrane. .Iadd.12. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein the backing surface of the body member is generally planar and the membrane is secured to the body member around the periphery of the backing surface. .Iadd.13. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the backing surface and the distended portion of the membrane are of generally disc-shaped configuration. .Iadd.14. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein at least the portions of the membrane spaced outwardly of said central portion thereof have a plurality of small pores formed therein which expand in size when the membrane is distended by the gas under pressure for flow of gas therethrough and which close when the membrane collapses against the backing surface for blocking flow of liquid therethrough. .Iadd.15. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said interengageable means is secured to the membrane generally at a central portion thereof for limiting movement of said central portion of the membrane away from the backing surface to a predetermined position spaced apart from yet being generally adjacent to the backing surface. .Iadd.16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said stop means, when gas under pressure is supplied, holds said central portion of said membrane against said backing surface.