Apparatus for introducing a gas into a body of liquid

An apparatus for introducing gas into a large body of liquid, including a horizontal frame on ballast adjustable floats, a pressurized gas source, a vertical shaft rotatable about its axis, and a plurality of blades submerged in the liquid and extending radially from a hub on the lower end of the shaft. The blades each have an elastomeric membrane around a longitudinal member, where the longitudinal member is hollow with a closed end and in communication with the pressurized gas source through the shaft on the other end, with openings through its lower side, and the elastomeric membrane has perforations which are spaced from the longitudinal member openings. A drive on the platform rotates the shaft via a ring gear around the shaft with a key connection thereto allowing axial movement therethrough, and an inwardly facing surface supported on bearings. A selectively driven and smaller pinion gear directly engages the ring gear.