CA1238039A - Vertical blender with tapered helical stirrer - Google Patents
Vertical blender with tapered helical stirrerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1238039A CA1238039A CA000543340A CA543340A CA1238039A CA 1238039 A CA1238039 A CA 1238039A CA 000543340 A CA000543340 A CA 000543340A CA 543340 A CA543340 A CA 543340A CA 1238039 A CA1238039 A CA 1238039A
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- screw
- mixing container
- disposed
- improved vertical
- vertical blender
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Abstract
VERTICAL BLENDER WITH TAPERED HELICAL-STIRRER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention is directed to mixing apparatus having a relatively large diameter tapered screw flight which decreases in diameter to one-half of that diameter at the top portion of the screw, while maintaining constant pitch between such screw flights. The mixing screw is disposed within a container structure having an input feed at the bottom thereof. The material to be mixed is carried in the center of the container from the bottom to the top thereof in a column, while forging the material in a downward motion circling down the sides of the vessel. Because each flight of the screw decreases in diameter, the material to be mixed is forced from the central column for intermixing into the downward flow at different speeds creating a gentle and turbulent mixing action.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention is directed to mixing apparatus having a relatively large diameter tapered screw flight which decreases in diameter to one-half of that diameter at the top portion of the screw, while maintaining constant pitch between such screw flights. The mixing screw is disposed within a container structure having an input feed at the bottom thereof. The material to be mixed is carried in the center of the container from the bottom to the top thereof in a column, while forging the material in a downward motion circling down the sides of the vessel. Because each flight of the screw decreases in diameter, the material to be mixed is forced from the central column for intermixing into the downward flow at different speeds creating a gentle and turbulent mixing action.
Description
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VERTICAL BL~NDER WITH TAPERED HELICAL STIRRER
BAC~GROUND OF T~E INVENTION
The present invention is directed to mixina apparatus and methods, and more specifically to an improved vertically disposed blender apparatus prcviding a qentle but turbulent mixing action in a plurality of flows of diferent speeds from a centrally disposed upwardly flowing column of material to an externally disposed sleeve of downwardly movinq material.
Prior art mixing apparatus, and especially those of the kind adapted for fertilizer blending, have had a number of disadvantaqes and disabilities.
One such disadvantage of these prior mixinq devices lS has been the excessive blendinq time required to satisfactorily mix the constituent particulate-like solids into the final mixture.
Some mixinc~ apparatus of the prior art have also been unnecessarily complicated in construction, and have required excessive amounts of maintenance, as well as having decreased operating life.
Other prior art mixing devices have been difficult and/or inefficient to load anci/or unload, as well as more expensive to operate, due inter alia to excessively long mixing times being required.
Yet other prior art mixing devices have been difficult to service ~ue to the inefficient placement of constituent parts of the apparatus.
Accordinqly, and in view of the disadvantaqes and ~eficiencies of prior art mixing a~paratus and methods, it is a material object of the vertical mixinq ap~ar~tus and ~ethods of the present ~r~
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.. ..
invention to substantially alleviate the difficulties an~ deficiences of prior art apparatus and methods.
These and other objects of the present apparatus and method invention will be better under-stood with reference to the following brief description of the drawing, detailed description of preferred embodiments, appended claims and accompanying draw-ing.
~UMMARY OF T~E INVEN~ION
The present invention is directed to mixing apparatus having a relatively large diameter tapered screw flight which decreases in diameter to one-half of such diameter at the top portion of the screw.
The screw changes in pitch, increasing in pitch in a longitudinal direction upwardly, with the diameter doubling from top to bottom. The functioning of this tapered screw structure creates the desired mixing action inside the holding container.
The material to be mixed is carried in the center from bottom to top in a column r with the material to be mixed traveling in a counter current direction downwardly along the sides of the vessel.
Because each flight of the screw decreases in diameter, the material to be mixed is forced from the central column for intsrmixinq into the downward flow at different speeds, creating a gentle and turbulent mixing action.
In preferred embodiments, the material to be mixed enters at the bottom of the blender by gravity flow, which is accomplished by fixing a side-wall on a portion of the vessel at the botTom there-of. Thus, a void is created ~or the material in which it may fall from the loading hopper. ~aterial is then drawn into the container by means of a paddle-like structure on the rotating shaft of the
VERTICAL BL~NDER WITH TAPERED HELICAL STIRRER
BAC~GROUND OF T~E INVENTION
The present invention is directed to mixina apparatus and methods, and more specifically to an improved vertically disposed blender apparatus prcviding a qentle but turbulent mixing action in a plurality of flows of diferent speeds from a centrally disposed upwardly flowing column of material to an externally disposed sleeve of downwardly movinq material.
Prior art mixing apparatus, and especially those of the kind adapted for fertilizer blending, have had a number of disadvantaqes and disabilities.
One such disadvantage of these prior mixinq devices lS has been the excessive blendinq time required to satisfactorily mix the constituent particulate-like solids into the final mixture.
Some mixinc~ apparatus of the prior art have also been unnecessarily complicated in construction, and have required excessive amounts of maintenance, as well as having decreased operating life.
Other prior art mixing devices have been difficult and/or inefficient to load anci/or unload, as well as more expensive to operate, due inter alia to excessively long mixing times being required.
Yet other prior art mixing devices have been difficult to service ~ue to the inefficient placement of constituent parts of the apparatus.
Accordinqly, and in view of the disadvantaqes and ~eficiencies of prior art mixing a~paratus and methods, it is a material object of the vertical mixinq ap~ar~tus and ~ethods of the present ~r~
,,~
~3~
.. ..
invention to substantially alleviate the difficulties an~ deficiences of prior art apparatus and methods.
These and other objects of the present apparatus and method invention will be better under-stood with reference to the following brief description of the drawing, detailed description of preferred embodiments, appended claims and accompanying draw-ing.
~UMMARY OF T~E INVEN~ION
The present invention is directed to mixing apparatus having a relatively large diameter tapered screw flight which decreases in diameter to one-half of such diameter at the top portion of the screw.
The screw changes in pitch, increasing in pitch in a longitudinal direction upwardly, with the diameter doubling from top to bottom. The functioning of this tapered screw structure creates the desired mixing action inside the holding container.
The material to be mixed is carried in the center from bottom to top in a column r with the material to be mixed traveling in a counter current direction downwardly along the sides of the vessel.
Because each flight of the screw decreases in diameter, the material to be mixed is forced from the central column for intsrmixinq into the downward flow at different speeds, creating a gentle and turbulent mixing action.
In preferred embodiments, the material to be mixed enters at the bottom of the blender by gravity flow, which is accomplished by fixing a side-wall on a portion of the vessel at the botTom there-of. Thus, a void is created ~or the material in which it may fall from the loading hopper. ~aterial is then drawn into the container by means of a paddle-like structure on the rotating shaft of the
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vertical screw~ A relief strip is cut from the first ~ ~light at the leading edge thereof, and which continues for 180. This structure permits the next half ~light of the screw to relieve the downward pressure, thus allowing the material to flow to the vertical screwO
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~ DRAS~ING
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the improved vertical blender apparat~ls of the present invention showing the mixing container, the tapered screw disposed therewithin, the drive means disposed at the top of such screw, input means disposed to the left of the mixing container, exit means disposed at -the bottom portion of the container, and scale means for weighing discharged and mixed material;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the improved - vertical blender apparatus oE the ~resent invention as shown in FigO 1, and further showing the mouth of the input means, the top of the mi~ing cont~iner, and the motor and gear reducer with horizontally disposed belt connecting means;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the screw element, and which ~urther shows the tapered blade of such screw element hereof;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the tapered screw element of the present invention as shown in Fig. 3 showing a single flight with tapered blade diameter and having constant pitch thereof, with sweep means and wiper means disposed at the lowest flight of the blade of the screw; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom view of the screw element as set forth in Figs. 3 and 4 hereof, and further showing the disposition of the sweep means and wiper means with respect to the lowest ~light of the vertically mounted screw blade, and yet
vertical screw~ A relief strip is cut from the first ~ ~light at the leading edge thereof, and which continues for 180. This structure permits the next half ~light of the screw to relieve the downward pressure, thus allowing the material to flow to the vertical screwO
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~ DRAS~ING
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the improved vertical blender apparat~ls of the present invention showing the mixing container, the tapered screw disposed therewithin, the drive means disposed at the top of such screw, input means disposed to the left of the mixing container, exit means disposed at -the bottom portion of the container, and scale means for weighing discharged and mixed material;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the improved - vertical blender apparatus oE the ~resent invention as shown in FigO 1, and further showing the mouth of the input means, the top of the mi~ing cont~iner, and the motor and gear reducer with horizontally disposed belt connecting means;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the screw element, and which ~urther shows the tapered blade of such screw element hereof;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the tapered screw element of the present invention as shown in Fig. 3 showing a single flight with tapered blade diameter and having constant pitch thereof, with sweep means and wiper means disposed at the lowest flight of the blade of the screw; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom view of the screw element as set forth in Figs. 3 and 4 hereof, and further showing the disposition of the sweep means and wiper means with respect to the lowest ~light of the vertically mounted screw blade, and yet
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further showing a relief section cut into the outside edqe of the lowest flight of the blade continuing for approximately 180 around such ~light.
D~TAILED ~ESCRIP~ OF PR~FE~RED E~BODIMENTS
The improved vertical blender apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for mixing granular materials, and fertilizer in particular, although the present invention is not limited by any particular granular or particulate solid elements to be mixed therein. Examples, without limitation, of other materials which may be mixed include food products, animal feeds, and other aqricultural-related commodities.
The improved vertical blender apparatus of the present invention includes a mixing container which is generally tapered in contour from the -top to the bottom. A tapered screw is vertically centered ~ ~ and disposed within the mixing container. Such tapered screw includes a qenerally helical blade disposed and mounted upon a central shaft. Such blade has a constant pitch, and has an area decreasing in size Erom the bottom to tht~ top in a ratio of at least three to one, and as much as four to one, in preferred embodiments. The diameter of such blade tapers from a full diameter, which in some embodiments may be equal to the pitch of the screw, to a diameter which is equal to one-half of the pitch of the screw.
Drive means are attached to the screw for progressing the blade thereon ~rom hottom to top, by rotating such blade. Input means are provided for directing the granular materials to be mixed to the base of the screw. An exit mean is provided above the base of the screw and preferably near the bottom
further showing a relief section cut into the outside edqe of the lowest flight of the blade continuing for approximately 180 around such ~light.
D~TAILED ~ESCRIP~ OF PR~FE~RED E~BODIMENTS
The improved vertical blender apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for mixing granular materials, and fertilizer in particular, although the present invention is not limited by any particular granular or particulate solid elements to be mixed therein. Examples, without limitation, of other materials which may be mixed include food products, animal feeds, and other aqricultural-related commodities.
The improved vertical blender apparatus of the present invention includes a mixing container which is generally tapered in contour from the -top to the bottom. A tapered screw is vertically centered ~ ~ and disposed within the mixing container. Such tapered screw includes a qenerally helical blade disposed and mounted upon a central shaft. Such blade has a constant pitch, and has an area decreasing in size Erom the bottom to tht~ top in a ratio of at least three to one, and as much as four to one, in preferred embodiments. The diameter of such blade tapers from a full diameter, which in some embodiments may be equal to the pitch of the screw, to a diameter which is equal to one-half of the pitch of the screw.
Drive means are attached to the screw for progressing the blade thereon ~rom hottom to top, by rotating such blade. Input means are provided for directing the granular materials to be mixed to the base of the screw. An exit mean is provided above the base of the screw and preferably near the bottom
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of the mixing container for exiting the mixed aranular material from the mixing container.
The improved vertical blender apparatus o~
the present invention functions such that when the granular material to be mixed is supplied to the input means, the material is drawn into the mixinq container at the bottom of the screwO The material to be mixed is then circulated in an upwardly disposed path from the bottom to the top in a central column, and also is circulated downwardly at the sides of the vessel to the base and to the exit means, with intermixing occurring between such oppositely directed flows at different speeds along the longitudinal dimension of such centrally disposed screw.
The improved vertical blender apparatus of the present invention may include for the mixing container a lower portion which is generally frusto-conical in shape and an upper portion which is substantlally cylindrical in shape. In some pre~erred embodiments, the frusto-conical portion of the mixing container may be approximately one-third of the height of the mixinq container.
The input means in preferred embodiments may comprise a hopper which is disposed at the side of the mixing container. Such hopper may in some ` embodiments have a relatively limited height for ease of loadin~, which may be as low as not larger than approximately one-half of the height of the mixing container in some preferred embodiments. The hopper may be of different shapes and dimensions but preferably may have an input mouth at the top thereof which may be approximately 506 of the cross-sectional area of the mixinq container.
of the mixing container for exiting the mixed aranular material from the mixing container.
The improved vertical blender apparatus o~
the present invention functions such that when the granular material to be mixed is supplied to the input means, the material is drawn into the mixinq container at the bottom of the screwO The material to be mixed is then circulated in an upwardly disposed path from the bottom to the top in a central column, and also is circulated downwardly at the sides of the vessel to the base and to the exit means, with intermixing occurring between such oppositely directed flows at different speeds along the longitudinal dimension of such centrally disposed screw.
The improved vertical blender apparatus of the present invention may include for the mixing container a lower portion which is generally frusto-conical in shape and an upper portion which is substantlally cylindrical in shape. In some pre~erred embodiments, the frusto-conical portion of the mixing container may be approximately one-third of the height of the mixinq container.
The input means in preferred embodiments may comprise a hopper which is disposed at the side of the mixing container. Such hopper may in some ` embodiments have a relatively limited height for ease of loadin~, which may be as low as not larger than approximately one-half of the height of the mixing container in some preferred embodiments. The hopper may be of different shapes and dimensions but preferably may have an input mouth at the top thereof which may be approximately 506 of the cross-sectional area of the mixinq container.
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Scale means may also be disposed beneath the exit means for weighinq the exited and mixed qranular materialO
The flights of the blade oE the tapered screw at the top of the mixing container preferably have a diameter which is approximately one-half of the diameter of the blade at the hottom of the mixing container. In preferred embodiments, such qenerally helical screw is supported within bearings disposed to be carried by the container means. Such bearings mav preferably include at least one exteriorly mount-ed bearing for ease of maintenance.
The drive means further preferably comprises a gear reducer connected to a motor. The gear reducer and the motor are connected in preferred embodiments by an horizontally disposed belt, and may preferably drive the screw from the top thereof.
The exit means preferably comprise a slide-ably disposed door. Sweep means are further disposed at the bottom o~ the screw in pre~erred emho~3iments for sweeping the bottom of the mi~ing container to enhance the mixing of the granular materials inputted into the mixing container and to wipe the bottom oE
the container for cleaning it out. ~iper means may ; 25 also be preferably disposed at the bottom of the screw for wiping the bottom of the container to clean out the granular material from the bottom of the mixing container. Such wiper means may be preferably disposed at approximately 90 to the sweep means.
The sweep means may be preferably formed from a planar sheet material having portions substan-tially conforming to the contours of the lower portion of the mixing container and substantially vertically disposed upon the lowest flight of the blade of the screw. According to such preferred constructions, the sweeping means serves to sweep the granular material to be mixed onto the lowest 1ight of the blade of the screw for upward conveyance thereof.
A portion of the outside edge of the lowest flight of the blade of the screw is preferably cut away to relieve downward pressure, allowing the material to flow to the vertical screw. Such cut-away, outside edge of the lowest flight of the blade of the screw begins substantially at the leadinq edge of the blade of the screw and continues for approximately 180 thereafter~ Such sweep means is vertically disposed substantially transversely to the radial movement of the leading edge of the lowest flight of the blade of the screw.
The improved methods of mixing granular materials of the present invention comprise chargina the granular materials to the bottom area of a ~ vertically mounted screw means having fliqhts tapered in diameter ~rom the top to the bottom. Next, the granular materials are elevated within the container to provide a centrally disposed upwardly moving columnar mass o the granular materials and an exter-iorly disposed sleeve-shaped mass of downwardly mov-ing granular material. The centrally disposed columnar mass is cross-blended with the exteriorly disposed and counter-current directed, sleeve-shaped mass of aranular materials. In preferred embodi-ments, the cross-blending comprises forcing materials from the Elights of the vertically mounted screw at dissimilar speeds to the exteriorly disposed sleeve-shaped mass o downwardly moving granular material, for rapid, efficient and relatively gentle mixing.
ReEerring now to the drawing and to Figs. 1 3~ and 2 in particular, the improved vertical hlender 3~ 3~
apparatus of the present invention generally 10 is depicted therein. Improvëd -vertical blënder apparatus 10 includes a mixing container 12 which may be reduced in diamet-er from the~ upper portion 14 to the lower portion 16. In some embodiments, lower portion 16 may be frusto-conical in shape, and upper portion 14 may be cylindrical in shape, as shown in Fig. 1. The frusto-conical lower portion 16 of mixing container 12 is illustratively shown in Fig. 1 as being approxirnately one-third of the height of mixing container 12.
A tapered screw generally 18 is vertically centered and disposed within mixing container 12. As also shown especially in Fig. 4, such tapered screw 18 includes a blade 20 disposed and mounted upon a central shaft 22. Such blade 20 has a constant pitch ~defined as the distance between flights thereof), and has an area decreasinq in size from the top 24 to the bottom 26 in a ratio o~ approximately at least or greater than three to one in preferred embodiments.
~he diameter of such blade 20 tapers Erom a full diameter at the bottom 26 thereof, which in some embodiments is equal to the one-half pitch-of screw 18, to a diameter which is equal to the full pitch of .screw 18 at the top 24 thereof.
As shown particularly in Fig. 2, drive means generally 28 are attached to screw 18 for progressing blade 20 thereon from bottom 2Z to top 24 thereof, by rotating blade 18. Drive means 28 further preferably comprises a gear reducer 30 connected to a motor 32 which may be exteriorly mounted, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of motor supports 33. Gear reducer 30 and motor 32 are connected in preEerred embodiments by horizontally disposed belt 34O
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As shown in Fiqs. 1 and A, the flights 36 of blade 20 of tapered screw 18 at top 2~ thereo.
have a diameter which is approximately one-half of the diameter of blade 20 at bottom 26 thereof~ In preferred embodiments, such screw 18 is supported by means of extremities 37 of shaft 22 within bearings 38,39 disposed to be carried by container 12. Such bearings 38,39 may preferably include at least one exteriorly mounted bearing for ease of maintenance, shown as the lower bearing 39 in Fig. 1.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the input means generally 40 in preferred embodiments may comprise a hopper 42 which is disposed at the side 44 of mixin~
container 12 and separated therefrom by side wall 46. Such hopper 42 may have a height of approximately one-half of the height of mixing container 12 in some preferred embodiments. Hopper 42 may preferably have an input mouth 48 at the top 50 thereof which is approximately at least one-half o~ the cross-sectional area of mixing container 12.
Scale means 52, shown schematically in Fi~. 1 and may be subsequently operatively associat-d with an unloadlng conveyer 54, and may also be disposed beneath the exit means 56 for weighing the exited mixed granular materi~ xit means 56 is provided adjacent base 37 of screw 18 and on the bottom 58 of mixing container 12 for exiting ~he mixed granular material from mixing container 12.
~xit means 56 preferably comprise a slideably disposed door.
Improved vertical blender apparatus 10 o~
the ?resent invention functions such that when the granular material to be ~lxed is supplied to input means 40, the material is drawn into mixinq container 3512 at the bottom ~6 o~ screw 18. The material to he _ g _ ~3~
mixed is then circulated in an upwardly disposed path from the bottom 26 to the top 24 of scEew 18 in a central column, and is circulated downwardlv at the sides of container 12 to exit means 56.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, sweep means 60 are ~urther disposed at bottom 26 of screw 18 in preferred embodiments for sweeping bottom 58 of mixing container 12 to pick up material in the hopper to bring such granular materials into mixing container 12 to prevent agglomeration of such granular materials. ~iper means 62 may also be preferably disposed at hottom 26 of screw 18 for wiping bottom 58 of container 12 further to clean out the granular material from mixing container 12. Such wiper means 62 may be preferably disposed at approximately 90 to sweep means 60, as shown in Fig. 5.
Sweep means 60 may preferably comprise planar sheet material having lower portion 64 and side portion 66 substantially conforming to the contours of lower portion 16 of mixinq container 12 and substantially vertically disposed upon the lowest flight 68 of blade 20 of screw 18. According to such construction, sweep means 60 serves to sweep the 2S granular material to be mixed onto lowest flight 68 o~ blade 20 of screw 18 for upward conveyance thereof.
As shown in Fig. 5, a portion 70 of the outside edge 72 of lowest ~liqht 68 of blade 20 of screw 18 is cut away to relieve downward pressure, allowing the material to flow to vertical screw 18.
Such cut-away portion may be approximately three inches in reduced diameter. Such cut-away, outside edge 72 of lowest flight 68 of blade 20 of screw 18 begins substantially at the leading edge 74 of blade 20 and con~inues for approximately 180 thereafter.
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Such sweep means 60 is ertically disposed substantially transverselv to t~e r~dial movement ot leadin~ edge 74 of lowest flight 68 of blade 20 and by means of sweep attach~ent ;~rac~et 76~ ~
The container element 12, motor supports 33, e~it means 56 in the form of a discharge gate, support legs 57 and blade 20 of the present invention are preferably formed of 304 stainless steel.
In the blending apparatus 10 of Fig. 1, the tapered screw 18 tapers from approximately 36" to approximately 18" diameter from the hottom 26 to the top 24 thereof. The hlender 10 including supportinq carriage may be approximately 13' hi~h, with motor 32 thereof comprising an additional 16" in heiqht.
Mouth 48 of input hopper 42 may be approximately 6'8"
high~ Such mouth 48 may be approximately 8' wide at the leading ed~e thereof, as shown in Fiq. 2, and 48"
in depth. Mixing container 12 may be approximately
Scale means may also be disposed beneath the exit means for weighinq the exited and mixed qranular materialO
The flights of the blade oE the tapered screw at the top of the mixing container preferably have a diameter which is approximately one-half of the diameter of the blade at the hottom of the mixing container. In preferred embodiments, such qenerally helical screw is supported within bearings disposed to be carried by the container means. Such bearings mav preferably include at least one exteriorly mount-ed bearing for ease of maintenance.
The drive means further preferably comprises a gear reducer connected to a motor. The gear reducer and the motor are connected in preferred embodiments by an horizontally disposed belt, and may preferably drive the screw from the top thereof.
The exit means preferably comprise a slide-ably disposed door. Sweep means are further disposed at the bottom o~ the screw in pre~erred emho~3iments for sweeping the bottom of the mi~ing container to enhance the mixing of the granular materials inputted into the mixing container and to wipe the bottom oE
the container for cleaning it out. ~iper means may ; 25 also be preferably disposed at the bottom of the screw for wiping the bottom of the container to clean out the granular material from the bottom of the mixing container. Such wiper means may be preferably disposed at approximately 90 to the sweep means.
The sweep means may be preferably formed from a planar sheet material having portions substan-tially conforming to the contours of the lower portion of the mixing container and substantially vertically disposed upon the lowest flight of the blade of the screw. According to such preferred constructions, the sweeping means serves to sweep the granular material to be mixed onto the lowest 1ight of the blade of the screw for upward conveyance thereof.
A portion of the outside edge of the lowest flight of the blade of the screw is preferably cut away to relieve downward pressure, allowing the material to flow to the vertical screw. Such cut-away, outside edge of the lowest flight of the blade of the screw begins substantially at the leadinq edge of the blade of the screw and continues for approximately 180 thereafter~ Such sweep means is vertically disposed substantially transversely to the radial movement of the leading edge of the lowest flight of the blade of the screw.
The improved methods of mixing granular materials of the present invention comprise chargina the granular materials to the bottom area of a ~ vertically mounted screw means having fliqhts tapered in diameter ~rom the top to the bottom. Next, the granular materials are elevated within the container to provide a centrally disposed upwardly moving columnar mass o the granular materials and an exter-iorly disposed sleeve-shaped mass of downwardly mov-ing granular material. The centrally disposed columnar mass is cross-blended with the exteriorly disposed and counter-current directed, sleeve-shaped mass of aranular materials. In preferred embodi-ments, the cross-blending comprises forcing materials from the Elights of the vertically mounted screw at dissimilar speeds to the exteriorly disposed sleeve-shaped mass o downwardly moving granular material, for rapid, efficient and relatively gentle mixing.
ReEerring now to the drawing and to Figs. 1 3~ and 2 in particular, the improved vertical hlender 3~ 3~
apparatus of the present invention generally 10 is depicted therein. Improvëd -vertical blënder apparatus 10 includes a mixing container 12 which may be reduced in diamet-er from the~ upper portion 14 to the lower portion 16. In some embodiments, lower portion 16 may be frusto-conical in shape, and upper portion 14 may be cylindrical in shape, as shown in Fig. 1. The frusto-conical lower portion 16 of mixing container 12 is illustratively shown in Fig. 1 as being approxirnately one-third of the height of mixing container 12.
A tapered screw generally 18 is vertically centered and disposed within mixing container 12. As also shown especially in Fig. 4, such tapered screw 18 includes a blade 20 disposed and mounted upon a central shaft 22. Such blade 20 has a constant pitch ~defined as the distance between flights thereof), and has an area decreasinq in size from the top 24 to the bottom 26 in a ratio o~ approximately at least or greater than three to one in preferred embodiments.
~he diameter of such blade 20 tapers Erom a full diameter at the bottom 26 thereof, which in some embodiments is equal to the one-half pitch-of screw 18, to a diameter which is equal to the full pitch of .screw 18 at the top 24 thereof.
As shown particularly in Fig. 2, drive means generally 28 are attached to screw 18 for progressing blade 20 thereon from bottom 2Z to top 24 thereof, by rotating blade 18. Drive means 28 further preferably comprises a gear reducer 30 connected to a motor 32 which may be exteriorly mounted, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of motor supports 33. Gear reducer 30 and motor 32 are connected in preEerred embodiments by horizontally disposed belt 34O
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As shown in Fiqs. 1 and A, the flights 36 of blade 20 of tapered screw 18 at top 2~ thereo.
have a diameter which is approximately one-half of the diameter of blade 20 at bottom 26 thereof~ In preferred embodiments, such screw 18 is supported by means of extremities 37 of shaft 22 within bearings 38,39 disposed to be carried by container 12. Such bearings 38,39 may preferably include at least one exteriorly mounted bearing for ease of maintenance, shown as the lower bearing 39 in Fig. 1.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the input means generally 40 in preferred embodiments may comprise a hopper 42 which is disposed at the side 44 of mixin~
container 12 and separated therefrom by side wall 46. Such hopper 42 may have a height of approximately one-half of the height of mixing container 12 in some preferred embodiments. Hopper 42 may preferably have an input mouth 48 at the top 50 thereof which is approximately at least one-half o~ the cross-sectional area of mixing container 12.
Scale means 52, shown schematically in Fi~. 1 and may be subsequently operatively associat-d with an unloadlng conveyer 54, and may also be disposed beneath the exit means 56 for weighing the exited mixed granular materi~ xit means 56 is provided adjacent base 37 of screw 18 and on the bottom 58 of mixing container 12 for exiting ~he mixed granular material from mixing container 12.
~xit means 56 preferably comprise a slideably disposed door.
Improved vertical blender apparatus 10 o~
the ?resent invention functions such that when the granular material to be ~lxed is supplied to input means 40, the material is drawn into mixinq container 3512 at the bottom ~6 o~ screw 18. The material to he _ g _ ~3~
mixed is then circulated in an upwardly disposed path from the bottom 26 to the top 24 of scEew 18 in a central column, and is circulated downwardlv at the sides of container 12 to exit means 56.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, sweep means 60 are ~urther disposed at bottom 26 of screw 18 in preferred embodiments for sweeping bottom 58 of mixing container 12 to pick up material in the hopper to bring such granular materials into mixing container 12 to prevent agglomeration of such granular materials. ~iper means 62 may also be preferably disposed at hottom 26 of screw 18 for wiping bottom 58 of container 12 further to clean out the granular material from mixing container 12. Such wiper means 62 may be preferably disposed at approximately 90 to sweep means 60, as shown in Fig. 5.
Sweep means 60 may preferably comprise planar sheet material having lower portion 64 and side portion 66 substantially conforming to the contours of lower portion 16 of mixinq container 12 and substantially vertically disposed upon the lowest flight 68 of blade 20 of screw 18. According to such construction, sweep means 60 serves to sweep the 2S granular material to be mixed onto lowest flight 68 o~ blade 20 of screw 18 for upward conveyance thereof.
As shown in Fig. 5, a portion 70 of the outside edge 72 of lowest ~liqht 68 of blade 20 of screw 18 is cut away to relieve downward pressure, allowing the material to flow to vertical screw 18.
Such cut-away portion may be approximately three inches in reduced diameter. Such cut-away, outside edge 72 of lowest flight 68 of blade 20 of screw 18 begins substantially at the leading edge 74 of blade 20 and con~inues for approximately 180 thereafter.
~3~3~3~9 .
Such sweep means 60 is ertically disposed substantially transverselv to t~e r~dial movement ot leadin~ edge 74 of lowest flight 68 of blade 20 and by means of sweep attach~ent ;~rac~et 76~ ~
The container element 12, motor supports 33, e~it means 56 in the form of a discharge gate, support legs 57 and blade 20 of the present invention are preferably formed of 304 stainless steel.
In the blending apparatus 10 of Fig. 1, the tapered screw 18 tapers from approximately 36" to approximately 18" diameter from the hottom 26 to the top 24 thereof. The hlender 10 including supportinq carriage may be approximately 13' hi~h, with motor 32 thereof comprising an additional 16" in heiqht.
Mouth 48 of input hopper 42 may be approximately 6'8"
high~ Such mouth 48 may be approximately 8' wide at the leading ed~e thereof, as shown in Fiq. 2, and 48"
in depth. Mixing container 12 may be approximately
6'4" in diameter, and the width of blending apparatus 10 may be approximately 9'7" Crom the leading edge of the lip of input hopper ~2 to the opposite sid~ or mi.Ying container 12.
The driving force of mi~ing screw 18 is mounted horizontally as shown in Fi~s. 1 an~ 2. The torque and thrust is absorbed preferably by Timken roller bearings (a trademark of The Timken Company, 1835 Dueber S.~., Canton, Ohio 44706), and power is transmitted throuqh precision cut helical gears in preferred emhodiments. The drive shaft 22, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, permits facilitated removal of screw 18, when reauired for servicin~. ~
standard V-belt drive 34 of the type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art is provided fro~
motor 32 to gear reducer 30.
~3~
Preferred embodiments of blender 10 of the present invention are up to- 8 -metric tons` in capacity, and may be coupled to a Thurman floor mount-mechanical lever scale, ~ with ductile-iron chairs, forged loops and tool steel pivot points.
("Thurman" is a trademark o~ the Thurman Company located at P. O. Box 2179, 1939 Refugee Road, Columbus, Ohio 43216).
The basic and novel characteristics of the improved vertical blending apparatus of the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure by those skilled in the art It will become readily apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arranqement of the improved apparatus of the present invention as set forth hereinabove without departin~
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the pre-Eerred and alternative embodiments of the present invention set forth hereinabove are not intended to limit such spirit and scope in any way~
The driving force of mi~ing screw 18 is mounted horizontally as shown in Fi~s. 1 an~ 2. The torque and thrust is absorbed preferably by Timken roller bearings (a trademark of The Timken Company, 1835 Dueber S.~., Canton, Ohio 44706), and power is transmitted throuqh precision cut helical gears in preferred emhodiments. The drive shaft 22, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, permits facilitated removal of screw 18, when reauired for servicin~. ~
standard V-belt drive 34 of the type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art is provided fro~
motor 32 to gear reducer 30.
~3~
Preferred embodiments of blender 10 of the present invention are up to- 8 -metric tons` in capacity, and may be coupled to a Thurman floor mount-mechanical lever scale, ~ with ductile-iron chairs, forged loops and tool steel pivot points.
("Thurman" is a trademark o~ the Thurman Company located at P. O. Box 2179, 1939 Refugee Road, Columbus, Ohio 43216).
The basic and novel characteristics of the improved vertical blending apparatus of the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure by those skilled in the art It will become readily apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arranqement of the improved apparatus of the present invention as set forth hereinabove without departin~
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the pre-Eerred and alternative embodiments of the present invention set forth hereinabove are not intended to limit such spirit and scope in any way~
Claims (23)
1. An improved vertical blender for mixing granular materials, comprising:
a mixing container having at least a portion thereof which is generally tapered from top to bottom of such portion thereof;
a tapered screw substantially vertically centered in said mixing container, said screw including a generally helical blade having a substantially constant pitch mounted to a central shaft, and further having an area decreasing in size from bottom to top in a ratio greater than approximately three to one said tapered screw substantially free of radial confinement;
drive means attached to said screw for rotationally turning the blade thereon from bottom to top;
input means for providing the granular materials to be mixed to the base of said screw; and exit means disposed generally proximate the bottom of said mixing container for exiting the mixed granular material from said mixing container;
whereby, when the granular material to be mixed is supplied to said input means, the material is drawn into said mixing container upwardly from bottom to top in a central column and cross-blended with the granular material which is circulated downwardly at the sides of said mixing container to the bottom thereof and to said exit means.
a mixing container having at least a portion thereof which is generally tapered from top to bottom of such portion thereof;
a tapered screw substantially vertically centered in said mixing container, said screw including a generally helical blade having a substantially constant pitch mounted to a central shaft, and further having an area decreasing in size from bottom to top in a ratio greater than approximately three to one said tapered screw substantially free of radial confinement;
drive means attached to said screw for rotationally turning the blade thereon from bottom to top;
input means for providing the granular materials to be mixed to the base of said screw; and exit means disposed generally proximate the bottom of said mixing container for exiting the mixed granular material from said mixing container;
whereby, when the granular material to be mixed is supplied to said input means, the material is drawn into said mixing container upwardly from bottom to top in a central column and cross-blended with the granular material which is circulated downwardly at the sides of said mixing container to the bottom thereof and to said exit means.
2. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 wherein said mixing container comprises a lower frusto-conical portion and an upper cylindrical portion.
3. The improved vertical blender of claim 2 wherein said frusto-conical portion of said mixing container comprises approximately one-third of the height of said mixing container.
4. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 wherein said input means comprises a hopper disposed substantially at the side of said mixing container.
5. The improved vertical blender of claim 4 wherein said hopper has a height of not larger than approximately one-half the height of said mixing container.
6. The improved vertical blender of claim 4 wherein said hopper has an input mouth at the top thereof, and said input mouth is at least approximately one-half of the cross-sectional area of said mixing container.
7. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 further comprising scale means disposed beneath said exit means for weighing the exited, mixed granular material.
8. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 wherein said tapered screw at the top of said mixing container has a diameter of approximately one-half the said diameter of said blade at the bottom of said mixing container.
9. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 wherein said screw is supported with bearings.
10. The improved vertical blender of claim 9 wherein said bearings comprise at least one exteriorly mounted bearing.
11. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 wherein said drive means further comprises a gear reducer connected to a motor.
12. The improved vertical blender of claim 11 wherein said gear reducer and said motor are connected by horizontally disposed belt means.
13. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 wherein said exit means comprises a slideably disposed door.
14. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 further comprising sweep means disposed at the bottom of said screw for sweeping the bottom of said mixing container to enhance the mixing of the granular material input into said mixing container.
15. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 further comprising wiper means disposed at the bottom of said screw for wiping the bottom of said mixing container to enhance the unloading of the granular material input into said mixing container.
16. The improved vertical blender of claim 14 further comprising wiper means disposed at approximately 90° to said sweep means.
17. The improved vertical blender of claim 14 wherein said sweep-means comprises a planar sheet having portions substantially conforming to the contours of the lower portion of said mixing container and substantially vertically disposed in operative relation to the lowest flight of the blade of said screw to sweep the granular material to be mixed onto the lowest flight of the blade of said screw for upward conveyance thereof.
18. The improved vertical blender of claim 17 wherein a portion of the outside edge of the lowest flight of the blade of said screw has been cut away to relieve downward pressure allowing the material to flow to the vertical screw.
19. The improved vertical blender of claim 18 wherein said cutaway outside edge begins substantially at the leading edge of the blade of said screw and continues for approximately 180°
thereafter.
thereafter.
20. The improved vertical blender of claim 14 wherein said sweep means is vertically disposed substantially transversely to the radial movement of the leading edge of the lowest flight of the blade of said screw.
21. An improved method of mixing qranular materials comprising:
charging the granular materials to the bottom area of a vertically mounted screw means having flights tapering in diameter from bottom to top;
elevating the granular materials within a container to provide a centrally disposed upwardly moving columnar mass of the granular materials and an exteriorly disposed sleeve shaped mass of downwardly moving granular materials; and cross-blending the centrally disposed columnar mass with the exteriorly disposed sleeve shaped mass of granular materials.
charging the granular materials to the bottom area of a vertically mounted screw means having flights tapering in diameter from bottom to top;
elevating the granular materials within a container to provide a centrally disposed upwardly moving columnar mass of the granular materials and an exteriorly disposed sleeve shaped mass of downwardly moving granular materials; and cross-blending the centrally disposed columnar mass with the exteriorly disposed sleeve shaped mass of granular materials.
22. The improved method of claim 21 wherein said cross-blending comprises forcing material from the flights of the vertically mounted screw at dissimilar speeds into the exteriorly disposed sleeve-shaped mass of downwardly moving granular materials.
23. The improved vertical blender of claim 1 further comprising paddle-shaped means disposed on the bottom portion of said tapered screw for drawing granular material to be mixed into said mixing container.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10487A | 1987-01-02 | 1987-01-02 | |
| US000,104 | 1987-01-02 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1238039A true CA1238039A (en) | 1988-06-14 |
Family
ID=21689934
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000543340A Expired CA1238039A (en) | 1987-01-02 | 1987-07-28 | Vertical blender with tapered helical stirrer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1238039A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106975399A (en) * | 2017-05-09 | 2017-07-25 | 六安龙翔美食王禽业有限公司 | One kind cultivation feeding stirring feed device |
| CN109865441A (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2019-06-11 | 天津海钢板材有限公司 | A kind of emulsion preparation device |
| CN113514301A (en) * | 2021-07-09 | 2021-10-19 | 西安热工研究院有限公司 | System and method for improving sample preparation representativeness of mechanical sample preparation device |
-
1987
- 1987-07-28 CA CA000543340A patent/CA1238039A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106975399A (en) * | 2017-05-09 | 2017-07-25 | 六安龙翔美食王禽业有限公司 | One kind cultivation feeding stirring feed device |
| CN109865441A (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2019-06-11 | 天津海钢板材有限公司 | A kind of emulsion preparation device |
| CN113514301A (en) * | 2021-07-09 | 2021-10-19 | 西安热工研究院有限公司 | System and method for improving sample preparation representativeness of mechanical sample preparation device |
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