CA1105449A - Composite wobble plate mixer with recirculating jacket - Google Patents
Composite wobble plate mixer with recirculating jacketInfo
- Publication number
- CA1105449A CA1105449A CA328,236A CA328236A CA1105449A CA 1105449 A CA1105449 A CA 1105449A CA 328236 A CA328236 A CA 328236A CA 1105449 A CA1105449 A CA 1105449A
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- housing
- liquid
- charges
- section
- motor
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is disclosed a conditioner for liquid-like charges, comprising a frame, a closed housing on the frame, and a composite container for the charges comprising a lower flexible section located within the housing and an upper rigid section. A wobble plate is mounted on the bottom of the flexi-ble section and a wobble drive is rotatably journaled in a lower wall of the housing, having a driving relationship with the wobble plate. A motor is provided on the frame at a location below the housing. The motor has a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein. Both the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section are within the housing and a partition attaches the upper rigid section to the housing and separates the interior of the housing into a lower chamber surrounding the flexible section and an upper chamber surrounding the rigid section.
There is disclosed a conditioner for liquid-like charges, comprising a frame, a closed housing on the frame, and a composite container for the charges comprising a lower flexible section located within the housing and an upper rigid section. A wobble plate is mounted on the bottom of the flexi-ble section and a wobble drive is rotatably journaled in a lower wall of the housing, having a driving relationship with the wobble plate. A motor is provided on the frame at a location below the housing. The motor has a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein. Both the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section are within the housing and a partition attaches the upper rigid section to the housing and separates the interior of the housing into a lower chamber surrounding the flexible section and an upper chamber surrounding the rigid section.
Description
MIXER FOR LIQUID CHARGES
The present invention relates to a conditioner and par-ticularly to the application of the wobble principle as applied to a conditioner for liquid-like charges.
Although the wobble principle has been made use of in 5 mixing such ingredients as concrete, such mixers are not always capable of being effectively and economically produced in small sizes such, for example, as might be useful in mi~ing laboratory samples or in another fi~ld in the washing of clothes. For more sophisticated mixing of many of the more lO recent plastic materials, some loaded with fillers, and with various rapid set up times, aided by heat and catalysts, slow motion but rapidly effective mixing techniques need to be made use of. There is fur,ther, in sundry industrial processes, need for a wa~hing machine capable of washing both hard and 15 soft objects where the washing takes place in presence of liquid, liquid detergent, or other washing media, and for the washing of various materials, both hard objects and soft objects such as fabric. It is also necessary in some types of laboratory conditioning operations to wash or agitate a 20 liquid in the presence of a vacuum, in the presence of a pressure above atmospheric, and perhaps in other assor~ed special environments.
The present invention provides a conditioner for liquid~
like charges comprising: a frame; a closed housing on the frame; a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flexible section located within said housing and an i~
upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journal~d in a lower wall of said housing and having a driving relationship witll said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below said housing; said motor having a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and li~uid-like charge therein; both the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section being entirely within the housing and means attaching the upper rigid sect~ion to the housing.
According to another aspect there is provided a con-ditioner for liquid-like charges comprising: a frame; a closed housing on the frame; said housing having lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures;
a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flex-ible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible saction and liquid~
like charge therein, said housing surrounding both the flexible section and the rigid section and a partition separating the interior of the housing into a lower chamber ~: .
~,. ...
surrounding the flexible section and an upper chamber surroun-ding the rigid section, both said sections having openings through the respective walls; and means for draining said container.
S According to a further aspect there is provided a con-ditioner of liquid-like charges comprising: a ~r:ame; a closed housing on the frame; said housing having a lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures; a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flexible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wo~ble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a one direction dri~ing connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein; a rotatable drive connection between said upper rigid section and the housing; and a supporting structure for said container loc-ated in said housing, a lower portion of said supporting structure being rotatable mounted on said housing and said rigid section being mounted on and carried by said supporting structure, and means for draining said container.
The features and objects of the present invention will be best understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the device set up and ready for operation.
FIGURE 2 in a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure l;
EIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view o~ another form of the device showing a li~uid-like charge of material in the inner moving container preparatory to the conaitioning operation;
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a somewhat simpler version of the conditioner picture in Figure 3; and ~IGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another form of the invention.
In one of a variety of forms of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown in Figure 1 a frame indicated generally by the reference character 10 con-sisting of a base 11 and upright legs 12 and 13 stiffenedby braces 14 and 15 respectively. A yoke 16 consisting of a platform 17 and arms 18 and 19 i9 tiltably supported on the legs 12 and 13 by employment of a pivot connection 20 for the arm 18 and a pivot connection 21 for the arm 19. A
handle 22 may be employed to tilt the yoke and its load, when desired.
Supported by the yoke on the platform 17 is a housing 25 having a bottom wall 26 and a side wall 27, the side wall housing a chamber 28.
At the upper end of the housing 25 is a section 27' joined to the housing 25 by a flexible band 29. The section 27~ is attached to an annular band 30 on which are lugs 30' by which the section 27' is supported at the tops of the arms 18 and 19. Also supported by the annular band 30 is an agitating container indicated generally by the reference character 31.
It is of material significance that the container be a two-part construction, which consists of two sections, namely an upper rigid section 32 and a lower flexible section 33.
In the form of the invention of Figure 1 as in the other forms of tha invention the object is to mix, wash or other-10 wise condition a specific charge of material in batch lots.
Although the volume of the charge may vary to some extent, there is a relationship to the volume of the contalner which should be observed. Obviously the aggregate volume of the upper rigid section and the lower flexible section must exceed 15 the volume of the charge. Of greater importance is that the volume of the charge be in excess of the volume of the lower flexible section. This means that the volume of the upper rigid section be at:least comparable to that of the lower flexible section though preferably greater by a measurable 20 amount.
Where the upper rigid section has a cylindrical form and the lower flexible sec~ion is connected directly to it and has at that point substantially the same cylindrical form, the depth of the upper rigid section will be materially greater 25 than the depth of the lower flexible section.
With the relationship as described, the charge will occupy both sections, and experience a dif~erent mixing effect in each, portions of the charge passing cyclically out of one section and into the other and then returning. sy having a substantial portion of the charge in the upper rigid section a~
all times, the lower flexible section will be required to move only a smaller fraction of the charge during its cyclical 5 wobble operation while portions of the charge merely change places in the container as a whole. The result is a more thorough, more rapid mixing or washing operation, as the case may be, without, however, requiring any more appreciable speed up in the oscillatory wobble motion.
In the embodiment of Figure 1 the liquid level of the charge will normally be somewhere near the mid portion of the upper rigid section. If a fold-in type of mixing is to be done, as where solid ingredients are to be mixed with a liquid mass, the level may be below the free end of such 15 agitator post 46 as may be employed. For washing operations the upper rigid section may be almost full.
In the e~emplary embodiment of the invention of Figure 1, the upper edge of the lower flexible section is anchored to the lower edge of the upper rigid section by a band 34. A
20 cover 35 provided with a handle 36 is shown and there may be provided a seal 37 which makes a sealing connection with an upper rim 38 of the rigid section 32.
Fastened to the bottom of the lower flexible section is a wobble assembly indicated generally by the reference char-25 acter 39. The wobble assembly consists of an inner plate 40and an outer plate 41, outer perimet~rs of which secure be-tween them an annular edge 42 of the lower flexible section by means of bolts 43. To give the charge an adequate lift when -the wobble plate 40 is oscillated, it is advisable to have the diameter of the wobble relatively large as compared to the diameter o~ the lower flexible section measured, for example, at the upper perimetrical edge.
An electric motor 50 is hung on the un~er side of the platform 17 and connected thereto by a casing 51 housing a gear reducer. A drive shat 52 from the gear reducer extends upwardly through a hole 53 into the chamher 28. A liquid-tight packing 54 forms a rotating seal, being held down by a 10 flange 55 secured by screws 56.
On the upper end of the drive shaft 52 is a fitting 57 providing an offset head 58. A tilted shaft 59 extendin~
obliquely upwardly from the offset head is rotatably contained in a disc 45 which is anchored to the inner plate 40.
An agitator post 46 secured to the inner plate 40 by a bolt 47 extends into the interior of the container 31 and moves with the wobble assembly 39. ~ relatively short post is shown. Occasions may, however, be such as to require a much longer post extending well into the upper rigid section.
By rotation of the fitting 57 and offset head 58 at a relatively slow speed achieved by employment of the gear re-ducer, an oscillating movement or wobble motion is imparted to the disc 45 and, accordingly, to the bottom of the lower flexible section 33 and its contents. Oscillation as des-25 cribed provides the agitation for the conditioning, cleaning or mixing of a charge in the container 31.
Where some special condition is desired a~j for example, conditioning in the presence of a vacuum, there may be provlded a vacuum line 60 in communication with the chamber 28 in the housing 25. A vent 61 protected by a baffle 62 is in communi-cation with the interior of the container 31 to equalize pres-sure between the exterior and the interior of the flexible 5 section 33 thereby permitting it to operate freely as long as the containers are being subjected to a vacuum condition.
Conversely, a pressure condition could be maintained through the same line 60.
After conditioning of the charge within the con.ta.iner 31 10 by the wobble motion described, the charge can be discharged after first removing the cover 35 by manipulating the handle 22 in order to tilt the yoke and consequently the container 31 to a partially inverted position whereby the contents can be discharged. In this tilting operation the entire apparatus, 15 namely the yoke, the container 31, and motor 50 is tilted about the axis of rotation of the pivot connections, 20 and 21.
By so balancing the assembly that the greater load is on the side occupied by the electric motor 50, when the container 31 is loaded with a charge, the yoke will always tend to assume 20 the position of Figure 1 which may be designated as upright position with the cover 35 at the top~..
In a second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 through 7, the frame consists of a cylindrical base 65 in which a chamber 66 houses an electric motor 67 with its gear 25 reducer 68 arranged to drive a drive shaft 69. A conical clutch 70 when in engagement transfers the drive to a driven shaft 71 which extends through the bottom 72 of a housing indicated generally by the reference character 73 embodied s "
in part in a cylindrical wall 74. A thrust ring 75 attached to the bottom 72 above an opening 76 therein accomodates the drived shaft permitting it to rotate freely. At the upper end of the driven shaft is a fitting 77 having an offset head 78 5 on which is a tilted shaft 79 forming part of the wobble action.
The tilted shaft 79 is rotatably secured in a disc 80 which is part of an inner plate 81. The inner plate 81 and an outar plate 82 hold between them an annular edge 83 o~ a flexible section 84, the flexible section being part of a container indi-lO catèd generally by the reference character 85, of which a rigidsection 86 forms the other part. The upper edge of the flexi-ble section is anchored to the lower edge of the rigid section by means of a band 87.
For mounting the container in the housing 74 there is 15 provided a p3~ti:~ti~0n 88 on which is an annular flange 89, the rigid section 86 being secured to the annular flange 89 by welding or other appropriate attachment.
In addition to providing a support for the container 85, the partition 88 devides the interiGr of the housing 73 into 20 an upper chamber 90 and a lower chamber 91, the container 85 is in communication with the upper chamber 90 not only by reason of the rigid section having an open top, but also by use of the multiplicity of performations 92 which extend through the wall of the rigid section. If desired the ~lexible section 25 84 may be provided with perforations 184 to communicate with the lower chamber 91. A solenoid actuated dra~in valve 93 is adapted to be opened and closed by remote dontrol when the liquid contents of the container are to be discharged. After f~
the liquid contents pass through the open drain valve into the lower chamber 91, they can be discharged therefrom by a discharge valve 94.
A~ pictured by way o~ example, the machine is set up 5 for washing a charge consisting of bundles 98 of fabric in a detergent liquid 97. It will be appreciated, however, that this is by way of example only inasmuch as the charge could be solid objects or virtually any type or description of article which might need conditioning, as for example, 10 washing, dyeing, impregnating, bleaching, softening, etc.
Here the volume of the charge is about twice the volume of the lower flexible section, and the liquid level is near the top of the upper rigid section.
A lid 99 is shown closing the top of the container 73 15 where an occasion might require conditioning under special designated pressure as, for example, either a vacuum or neg-ative pressure on the one hand, or a positive pressure on the other hand. On other occasions the chamber 90 may be filled with a selected gas of some predetermined mixture.
After the charge has been conditioned, as suggested in the foregoing description, and i~ should become desirable to rid the bundles 98 of surplus moisture, there is an arrange-ment built into the housing 73 making it possible to spin dry the contents. To accomplish this an annular bearing com-prising upper and lower races 103 and 104 serves to mount the housing 73 on the c~lindrical base 65. A gear train con-sisting of a large gear 105 on the drive shaft 69 meshing with a small gear 106 on a driven shaf-t 107 is made use of to rotate the driven shaft 107 at a relatively higher speed. The driven shaft is journaled on a brack~t 108.
The second drive shaft 109 in axial alignment with the driven shaft 107 has a magnetic clutch 110 asso~iated therewith 5 the second drive sha~t being rotatably mounted in a bracket 111. On the second drive shaft 109 is a pulley 112 over which passes a belt 113, the belt passing over a pulley 114 on the drive shaft 71. The pulley 114 is made fast to the bottom 72 of the housing 73 so that when the pulley 114 is rotated, 10 the housing 73 will be rotated. When the housing 73 is being rotated at the higher speed made possible by the gear ratios of the gears 105 and 106, the clutch 70 is disengaged by mani-pulation of the plunger 115 and rocker arm 116 in a substan-tially conventional ~ashion.
Holes 88' through the partition 88 allow liquid to en-tirely surround both upper and lower portions of the container 85. A seal 76' effectively seals the opening 76 through which the drive shaft 71 passes. In the form of invention of Figure 4 which xesembles Figure 3 as to its general aspects, 20 a partition 188 whichcarries the upper rigid section 86 of a container 85' on the cylindrical wall 74 is imperforate.
Holes 184 through the lower flexible section 84' permit liquid to pass freely between the interior of container 85' and the lower chamber 91. A housing 118 contains a fixed outer bearing 25 ring 119 and an inner bearing ring 119' attached to the uppex rigid section 86 so that if need be the container 85' is free to rotate. A discharge valve 94' drains the upper chamber 90.
~n the form of invention of Figure 5, spin dry is accomplished in a differ~nt fashion. To make this possible an annular bearing 120 is made use of. One bearing ring 121 is mounted on a partition 122, and a second bearing ring 123 is secured to a bushing 124 anchored in a platform 125.
5 The partition 122 is at the top of a base 126 on a supporting surface 127. More particularly the partition is the bottom of a housing 128, the housing forming a chamber 129 ~or a reservoir o~ liquid 130.
Within the chamber 129 is an agitating container indi-10 cated generally ~3y the reference character 131. In this formof the invention the agitating container 131 has a rigid upper section 132 and a flexible lower section 133 secured to the upper section by a band 134. A rotating yoke 135, of which the platform 125 is part, has arms 136 and 137, the tops 15 of which have plates 138 and 139 to which the upper section 132 is anchored. Perforation 140 allow the li~uid 130 to pass into the container 131 and a lid 141 keeps the liquid from splashing out.
At the bottom of the lower section a solenoid actuated 20 discharge valve 143 can be opened to completely drain the con tainer when needed. To empty the chamber 129 a drain valve 146 is provided.
For agitating the contents 147 of the container 131 while the yoke 135 remains stationary, use is made of a wobble assembly 150. As in other forms of the invention, the wobble assembly consists of an inner plate 151 and an outer plate 152 which clamp between them an annular edge 153 of the lower section.
c~- Power for the operation is provided by a motor 155 in the base 126 acting through a speed reducer 156 to rotate a motor shaft 157. A fitting 158 on the sha~t 157 has an offset head 159 on which is a freely rotating shaft 160 journaled 5 in a disc 161, the disc being part of the inner plate 151.
A bearing unit 162 secured by a flange 163 to the under-side of the partition 122 contains a bearing 164 which rotatably supports the shaft 157, the shaft extending through an opening 165 in which is a seal 166.
Where a spin dry action is desired~ there is employed a clutch 170 of substantially conventional construction mounted in the bushing 124, and when desired/ operated by electrical means (not shown) from an exterior station.
Action of the clutch is to interconnect the shaft 157 and the 15 yoke 135 so that the yoke and all that is mounted on it rotates.
In this form of the device perforations 168 may be pro~
vided in the flexible lower section 133.
The motor 155 may, for example, be a two~spe.ed motor controlled by an appropriate motor switch 171 whereby when 20 the device is being used for conditioning such, Eor example, as washing, the low speed rate is employed. When the spin dry operation is to take place, the motor can be shited to high speed operation. Consequently, the rotation of the yoke 135 at the relatively higher speed spins the container 131 25 thereby to rid the bundles of presence of liquld by operation of centrifugal forceO Such liquid as may be thus spun from the bundles can again be drained off through the drain valve 146.
5~
While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be a practical and effective embodi-ment r it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited 5 to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equiva-lent devices.
The present invention relates to a conditioner and par-ticularly to the application of the wobble principle as applied to a conditioner for liquid-like charges.
Although the wobble principle has been made use of in 5 mixing such ingredients as concrete, such mixers are not always capable of being effectively and economically produced in small sizes such, for example, as might be useful in mi~ing laboratory samples or in another fi~ld in the washing of clothes. For more sophisticated mixing of many of the more lO recent plastic materials, some loaded with fillers, and with various rapid set up times, aided by heat and catalysts, slow motion but rapidly effective mixing techniques need to be made use of. There is fur,ther, in sundry industrial processes, need for a wa~hing machine capable of washing both hard and 15 soft objects where the washing takes place in presence of liquid, liquid detergent, or other washing media, and for the washing of various materials, both hard objects and soft objects such as fabric. It is also necessary in some types of laboratory conditioning operations to wash or agitate a 20 liquid in the presence of a vacuum, in the presence of a pressure above atmospheric, and perhaps in other assor~ed special environments.
The present invention provides a conditioner for liquid~
like charges comprising: a frame; a closed housing on the frame; a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flexible section located within said housing and an i~
upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journal~d in a lower wall of said housing and having a driving relationship witll said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below said housing; said motor having a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and li~uid-like charge therein; both the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section being entirely within the housing and means attaching the upper rigid sect~ion to the housing.
According to another aspect there is provided a con-ditioner for liquid-like charges comprising: a frame; a closed housing on the frame; said housing having lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures;
a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flex-ible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible saction and liquid~
like charge therein, said housing surrounding both the flexible section and the rigid section and a partition separating the interior of the housing into a lower chamber ~: .
~,. ...
surrounding the flexible section and an upper chamber surroun-ding the rigid section, both said sections having openings through the respective walls; and means for draining said container.
S According to a further aspect there is provided a con-ditioner of liquid-like charges comprising: a ~r:ame; a closed housing on the frame; said housing having a lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures; a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flexible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wo~ble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a one direction dri~ing connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein; a rotatable drive connection between said upper rigid section and the housing; and a supporting structure for said container loc-ated in said housing, a lower portion of said supporting structure being rotatable mounted on said housing and said rigid section being mounted on and carried by said supporting structure, and means for draining said container.
The features and objects of the present invention will be best understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the device set up and ready for operation.
FIGURE 2 in a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure l;
EIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view o~ another form of the device showing a li~uid-like charge of material in the inner moving container preparatory to the conaitioning operation;
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a somewhat simpler version of the conditioner picture in Figure 3; and ~IGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another form of the invention.
In one of a variety of forms of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown in Figure 1 a frame indicated generally by the reference character 10 con-sisting of a base 11 and upright legs 12 and 13 stiffenedby braces 14 and 15 respectively. A yoke 16 consisting of a platform 17 and arms 18 and 19 i9 tiltably supported on the legs 12 and 13 by employment of a pivot connection 20 for the arm 18 and a pivot connection 21 for the arm 19. A
handle 22 may be employed to tilt the yoke and its load, when desired.
Supported by the yoke on the platform 17 is a housing 25 having a bottom wall 26 and a side wall 27, the side wall housing a chamber 28.
At the upper end of the housing 25 is a section 27' joined to the housing 25 by a flexible band 29. The section 27~ is attached to an annular band 30 on which are lugs 30' by which the section 27' is supported at the tops of the arms 18 and 19. Also supported by the annular band 30 is an agitating container indicated generally by the reference character 31.
It is of material significance that the container be a two-part construction, which consists of two sections, namely an upper rigid section 32 and a lower flexible section 33.
In the form of the invention of Figure 1 as in the other forms of tha invention the object is to mix, wash or other-10 wise condition a specific charge of material in batch lots.
Although the volume of the charge may vary to some extent, there is a relationship to the volume of the contalner which should be observed. Obviously the aggregate volume of the upper rigid section and the lower flexible section must exceed 15 the volume of the charge. Of greater importance is that the volume of the charge be in excess of the volume of the lower flexible section. This means that the volume of the upper rigid section be at:least comparable to that of the lower flexible section though preferably greater by a measurable 20 amount.
Where the upper rigid section has a cylindrical form and the lower flexible sec~ion is connected directly to it and has at that point substantially the same cylindrical form, the depth of the upper rigid section will be materially greater 25 than the depth of the lower flexible section.
With the relationship as described, the charge will occupy both sections, and experience a dif~erent mixing effect in each, portions of the charge passing cyclically out of one section and into the other and then returning. sy having a substantial portion of the charge in the upper rigid section a~
all times, the lower flexible section will be required to move only a smaller fraction of the charge during its cyclical 5 wobble operation while portions of the charge merely change places in the container as a whole. The result is a more thorough, more rapid mixing or washing operation, as the case may be, without, however, requiring any more appreciable speed up in the oscillatory wobble motion.
In the embodiment of Figure 1 the liquid level of the charge will normally be somewhere near the mid portion of the upper rigid section. If a fold-in type of mixing is to be done, as where solid ingredients are to be mixed with a liquid mass, the level may be below the free end of such 15 agitator post 46 as may be employed. For washing operations the upper rigid section may be almost full.
In the e~emplary embodiment of the invention of Figure 1, the upper edge of the lower flexible section is anchored to the lower edge of the upper rigid section by a band 34. A
20 cover 35 provided with a handle 36 is shown and there may be provided a seal 37 which makes a sealing connection with an upper rim 38 of the rigid section 32.
Fastened to the bottom of the lower flexible section is a wobble assembly indicated generally by the reference char-25 acter 39. The wobble assembly consists of an inner plate 40and an outer plate 41, outer perimet~rs of which secure be-tween them an annular edge 42 of the lower flexible section by means of bolts 43. To give the charge an adequate lift when -the wobble plate 40 is oscillated, it is advisable to have the diameter of the wobble relatively large as compared to the diameter o~ the lower flexible section measured, for example, at the upper perimetrical edge.
An electric motor 50 is hung on the un~er side of the platform 17 and connected thereto by a casing 51 housing a gear reducer. A drive shat 52 from the gear reducer extends upwardly through a hole 53 into the chamher 28. A liquid-tight packing 54 forms a rotating seal, being held down by a 10 flange 55 secured by screws 56.
On the upper end of the drive shaft 52 is a fitting 57 providing an offset head 58. A tilted shaft 59 extendin~
obliquely upwardly from the offset head is rotatably contained in a disc 45 which is anchored to the inner plate 40.
An agitator post 46 secured to the inner plate 40 by a bolt 47 extends into the interior of the container 31 and moves with the wobble assembly 39. ~ relatively short post is shown. Occasions may, however, be such as to require a much longer post extending well into the upper rigid section.
By rotation of the fitting 57 and offset head 58 at a relatively slow speed achieved by employment of the gear re-ducer, an oscillating movement or wobble motion is imparted to the disc 45 and, accordingly, to the bottom of the lower flexible section 33 and its contents. Oscillation as des-25 cribed provides the agitation for the conditioning, cleaning or mixing of a charge in the container 31.
Where some special condition is desired a~j for example, conditioning in the presence of a vacuum, there may be provlded a vacuum line 60 in communication with the chamber 28 in the housing 25. A vent 61 protected by a baffle 62 is in communi-cation with the interior of the container 31 to equalize pres-sure between the exterior and the interior of the flexible 5 section 33 thereby permitting it to operate freely as long as the containers are being subjected to a vacuum condition.
Conversely, a pressure condition could be maintained through the same line 60.
After conditioning of the charge within the con.ta.iner 31 10 by the wobble motion described, the charge can be discharged after first removing the cover 35 by manipulating the handle 22 in order to tilt the yoke and consequently the container 31 to a partially inverted position whereby the contents can be discharged. In this tilting operation the entire apparatus, 15 namely the yoke, the container 31, and motor 50 is tilted about the axis of rotation of the pivot connections, 20 and 21.
By so balancing the assembly that the greater load is on the side occupied by the electric motor 50, when the container 31 is loaded with a charge, the yoke will always tend to assume 20 the position of Figure 1 which may be designated as upright position with the cover 35 at the top~..
In a second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 through 7, the frame consists of a cylindrical base 65 in which a chamber 66 houses an electric motor 67 with its gear 25 reducer 68 arranged to drive a drive shaft 69. A conical clutch 70 when in engagement transfers the drive to a driven shaft 71 which extends through the bottom 72 of a housing indicated generally by the reference character 73 embodied s "
in part in a cylindrical wall 74. A thrust ring 75 attached to the bottom 72 above an opening 76 therein accomodates the drived shaft permitting it to rotate freely. At the upper end of the driven shaft is a fitting 77 having an offset head 78 5 on which is a tilted shaft 79 forming part of the wobble action.
The tilted shaft 79 is rotatably secured in a disc 80 which is part of an inner plate 81. The inner plate 81 and an outar plate 82 hold between them an annular edge 83 o~ a flexible section 84, the flexible section being part of a container indi-lO catèd generally by the reference character 85, of which a rigidsection 86 forms the other part. The upper edge of the flexi-ble section is anchored to the lower edge of the rigid section by means of a band 87.
For mounting the container in the housing 74 there is 15 provided a p3~ti:~ti~0n 88 on which is an annular flange 89, the rigid section 86 being secured to the annular flange 89 by welding or other appropriate attachment.
In addition to providing a support for the container 85, the partition 88 devides the interiGr of the housing 73 into 20 an upper chamber 90 and a lower chamber 91, the container 85 is in communication with the upper chamber 90 not only by reason of the rigid section having an open top, but also by use of the multiplicity of performations 92 which extend through the wall of the rigid section. If desired the ~lexible section 25 84 may be provided with perforations 184 to communicate with the lower chamber 91. A solenoid actuated dra~in valve 93 is adapted to be opened and closed by remote dontrol when the liquid contents of the container are to be discharged. After f~
the liquid contents pass through the open drain valve into the lower chamber 91, they can be discharged therefrom by a discharge valve 94.
A~ pictured by way o~ example, the machine is set up 5 for washing a charge consisting of bundles 98 of fabric in a detergent liquid 97. It will be appreciated, however, that this is by way of example only inasmuch as the charge could be solid objects or virtually any type or description of article which might need conditioning, as for example, 10 washing, dyeing, impregnating, bleaching, softening, etc.
Here the volume of the charge is about twice the volume of the lower flexible section, and the liquid level is near the top of the upper rigid section.
A lid 99 is shown closing the top of the container 73 15 where an occasion might require conditioning under special designated pressure as, for example, either a vacuum or neg-ative pressure on the one hand, or a positive pressure on the other hand. On other occasions the chamber 90 may be filled with a selected gas of some predetermined mixture.
After the charge has been conditioned, as suggested in the foregoing description, and i~ should become desirable to rid the bundles 98 of surplus moisture, there is an arrange-ment built into the housing 73 making it possible to spin dry the contents. To accomplish this an annular bearing com-prising upper and lower races 103 and 104 serves to mount the housing 73 on the c~lindrical base 65. A gear train con-sisting of a large gear 105 on the drive shaft 69 meshing with a small gear 106 on a driven shaf-t 107 is made use of to rotate the driven shaft 107 at a relatively higher speed. The driven shaft is journaled on a brack~t 108.
The second drive shaft 109 in axial alignment with the driven shaft 107 has a magnetic clutch 110 asso~iated therewith 5 the second drive sha~t being rotatably mounted in a bracket 111. On the second drive shaft 109 is a pulley 112 over which passes a belt 113, the belt passing over a pulley 114 on the drive shaft 71. The pulley 114 is made fast to the bottom 72 of the housing 73 so that when the pulley 114 is rotated, 10 the housing 73 will be rotated. When the housing 73 is being rotated at the higher speed made possible by the gear ratios of the gears 105 and 106, the clutch 70 is disengaged by mani-pulation of the plunger 115 and rocker arm 116 in a substan-tially conventional ~ashion.
Holes 88' through the partition 88 allow liquid to en-tirely surround both upper and lower portions of the container 85. A seal 76' effectively seals the opening 76 through which the drive shaft 71 passes. In the form of invention of Figure 4 which xesembles Figure 3 as to its general aspects, 20 a partition 188 whichcarries the upper rigid section 86 of a container 85' on the cylindrical wall 74 is imperforate.
Holes 184 through the lower flexible section 84' permit liquid to pass freely between the interior of container 85' and the lower chamber 91. A housing 118 contains a fixed outer bearing 25 ring 119 and an inner bearing ring 119' attached to the uppex rigid section 86 so that if need be the container 85' is free to rotate. A discharge valve 94' drains the upper chamber 90.
~n the form of invention of Figure 5, spin dry is accomplished in a differ~nt fashion. To make this possible an annular bearing 120 is made use of. One bearing ring 121 is mounted on a partition 122, and a second bearing ring 123 is secured to a bushing 124 anchored in a platform 125.
5 The partition 122 is at the top of a base 126 on a supporting surface 127. More particularly the partition is the bottom of a housing 128, the housing forming a chamber 129 ~or a reservoir o~ liquid 130.
Within the chamber 129 is an agitating container indi-10 cated generally ~3y the reference character 131. In this formof the invention the agitating container 131 has a rigid upper section 132 and a flexible lower section 133 secured to the upper section by a band 134. A rotating yoke 135, of which the platform 125 is part, has arms 136 and 137, the tops 15 of which have plates 138 and 139 to which the upper section 132 is anchored. Perforation 140 allow the li~uid 130 to pass into the container 131 and a lid 141 keeps the liquid from splashing out.
At the bottom of the lower section a solenoid actuated 20 discharge valve 143 can be opened to completely drain the con tainer when needed. To empty the chamber 129 a drain valve 146 is provided.
For agitating the contents 147 of the container 131 while the yoke 135 remains stationary, use is made of a wobble assembly 150. As in other forms of the invention, the wobble assembly consists of an inner plate 151 and an outer plate 152 which clamp between them an annular edge 153 of the lower section.
c~- Power for the operation is provided by a motor 155 in the base 126 acting through a speed reducer 156 to rotate a motor shaft 157. A fitting 158 on the sha~t 157 has an offset head 159 on which is a freely rotating shaft 160 journaled 5 in a disc 161, the disc being part of the inner plate 151.
A bearing unit 162 secured by a flange 163 to the under-side of the partition 122 contains a bearing 164 which rotatably supports the shaft 157, the shaft extending through an opening 165 in which is a seal 166.
Where a spin dry action is desired~ there is employed a clutch 170 of substantially conventional construction mounted in the bushing 124, and when desired/ operated by electrical means (not shown) from an exterior station.
Action of the clutch is to interconnect the shaft 157 and the 15 yoke 135 so that the yoke and all that is mounted on it rotates.
In this form of the device perforations 168 may be pro~
vided in the flexible lower section 133.
The motor 155 may, for example, be a two~spe.ed motor controlled by an appropriate motor switch 171 whereby when 20 the device is being used for conditioning such, Eor example, as washing, the low speed rate is employed. When the spin dry operation is to take place, the motor can be shited to high speed operation. Consequently, the rotation of the yoke 135 at the relatively higher speed spins the container 131 25 thereby to rid the bundles of presence of liquld by operation of centrifugal forceO Such liquid as may be thus spun from the bundles can again be drained off through the drain valve 146.
5~
While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be a practical and effective embodi-ment r it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited 5 to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equiva-lent devices.
Claims (14)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A conditioner for liquid-like charges comprising: a frame; a closed housing on the frame; a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flexible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below said housing; said motor having a driving con-nection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein;
both the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section be-ing entirely within the housing, and means attaching the upper rigid section to said housing.
both the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section be-ing entirely within the housing, and means attaching the upper rigid section to said housing.
2. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 1 wherein the means attaching the upper rigid section to the housing comprises a partition.
3. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 2 wherein the partition separates the interior of the housing into a lower chamber surrounding the flexible section and an upper chamber surrounding the rigid section.
4. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 1 wherein there is a drain valve at the bottom of the flexible section and a drain valve at the bottom of said lower chamber.
5. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 1 wherein there is a releasable clutch in said driving connection, said housing having a rotatable mounting on the frame and a selective high-speed drive between said motor and the housing whereby to spin dry the liquid-like charge.
6. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 1 wherein the rigid section has openings through the wall thereof whereby to provide communication between the rigid section and the upper chamber.
7. A conditioner for liquid-like charges comprising:
a frame; a closed housing on the frame; said housing having lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures; a composite container for said charges compris-ing a lower flexible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a driv-ing connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein, said housing surrounding both the flexible section and the rigid section and a partition attaching the upper rigid section to said housing and both said sections having openings through the respective walls; and means for draining said container.
a frame; a closed housing on the frame; said housing having lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures; a composite container for said charges compris-ing a lower flexible section located within said housing and an upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a driv-ing connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the flexible section and liquid-like charge therein, said housing surrounding both the flexible section and the rigid section and a partition attaching the upper rigid section to said housing and both said sections having openings through the respective walls; and means for draining said container.
8. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 7 wherein the container is rotatably mounted within said housing, means for unlocking the wobble motion whereby to provide a rotating drive from said motor to said container for the centri-fugal expulsion of moisture from said container.
9. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 8 wherein said motor is a two-speed motor.
10. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 8 wherein said motor is a variable speed motor.
11. A conditioner of liquid-like charges as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has a lower, side and top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures;
and said motor is on said frame at a location exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a one direction driving connection with the wobble drive.
and said motor is on said frame at a location exterior relative to said housing; said motor having a one direction driving connection with the wobble drive.
12. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 11 wherein said driving connection comprises a motor driven shaft from the motor to the wobble drive, said supporting structure comprises a yoke rotatably supported on said frame and having a rotatable relationship with said drive shaft, and a clutch having one clutch element engagable with the drive shaft and another clutch element engagable with the yoke whereby to interconnect the yoke with the drive shaft for rotating the yoke together with the container in said one direction.
13. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 11 wherein there are perforations through the lower flexible section whereby to permit passage of said liquid-like charge between said lower flexible section and the interior of said closed housing.
14. A conditioner for liquid-like charges as in claim 11 wherein said supporting structure comprises a yoke within said closed housing having a lower transverse portion rotatably mounted on said housing and being rotatable relative to said wobble drive and side elements of said yoke extending upwardly from said lower transverse portion, said upper rigid section being mounted on and carried by said side elements.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA328,236A CA1105449A (en) | 1977-06-29 | 1979-05-24 | Composite wobble plate mixer with recirculating jacket |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/811,163 US4112518A (en) | 1973-05-29 | 1977-06-29 | Mixer for liquid charges |
| US811,163 | 1977-06-29 | ||
| CA285,824A CA1081208A (en) | 1977-06-29 | 1977-08-31 | Wobble plate mixer for liquid charges |
| CA328,236A CA1105449A (en) | 1977-06-29 | 1979-05-24 | Composite wobble plate mixer with recirculating jacket |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1105449A true CA1105449A (en) | 1981-07-21 |
Family
ID=27165261
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA328,236A Expired CA1105449A (en) | 1977-06-29 | 1979-05-24 | Composite wobble plate mixer with recirculating jacket |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1105449A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112246173A (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2021-01-22 | 广州市爱百伊生物技术有限公司 | Batching jar and production line |
| CN114028989A (en) * | 2021-11-17 | 2022-02-11 | 王雪芳 | Outer wall coating diluting device with stirring function and method |
-
1979
- 1979-05-24 CA CA328,236A patent/CA1105449A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112246173A (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2021-01-22 | 广州市爱百伊生物技术有限公司 | Batching jar and production line |
| CN112246173B (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2022-11-04 | 广州市爱百伊生物技术有限公司 | Batching jar and production line |
| CN114028989A (en) * | 2021-11-17 | 2022-02-11 | 王雪芳 | Outer wall coating diluting device with stirring function and method |
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| MKEX | Expiry |