EP2035126B1 - Homogenizer device with horizontally supported sprockets - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for dispersing and/or homogenizing liquids comprises a vessel (110) with a central bottom outlet (111) leading to a processing unit (120) comprising two independently rotating concentric toothed wheels (130, 140) separated by a predetermined gap through which the liquids pass from a central region (150) to a peripheral region (160). The toothed wheels are driven on horizontal shafts (131, 141) and liquids processed through the toothed wheels can be recycled to an inlet (180) in the bottom of the vessel.

Description

The invention relates to a homogenizer apparatus for dispersing and / or homogenizing flowable substances, with a container having one or more inlet opening for introducing the substances to be homogenized, in a central region of its bottom a container outlet opening for supplying the substances in a below the Bodens arranged processing unit having two independently rotatably mounted, concentrically arranged circularly formed sprockets, which are separated by a predetermined gap, wherein a first sprocket and a second sprocket in the processing unit are arranged on a respective shaft perpendicular to Is arranged central axis of the container for substances to be homogenized, wherein the sprockets as part of a compact Machining unit are formed, which is arranged immediately below the bottom of the container.

Devices of the type mentioned are used in the prior art to homogenize viscous substances at high speed of the respective sprockets. The known devices, however, have the disadvantage that effectively working and adaptable processing units, which allow a matched to a given substance mixture processing, large in size, heavy in execution and expensive to manufacture.

A device of the type mentioned is out FR-A-2 364 289 known.

Out EP 0 079 300 a device for the continuous mixing and homogenization of powdery substances with liquid substances is known, wherein a feed hopper for supplying the powdery substances in a screw conveyor, which ends in front of the rotor of a homogenizing turbine, is provided and the liquid substances are fed through a channel. The outer end of the screw and located between this end of the screw and the rotor of the homogenizing turbine inner walls of the housing are designed so that they work as a venturi, and that the liquid substances are supplied under pressure on the outside of the screw to a To create empty space in the Venturi tube and directly at the outlet of the screw, so that a dampening of the powder leaving the screw is prevented.

The object of the invention is to provide a homogenizer device with a compact processing unit that works effectively and yet allows an adaptable to a given substance mixture processing.

For a device of the type mentioned, this object is achieved in that the distance between the sprockets via at least one displaceably mounted shaft is adjustable.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims.

In the device according to the invention is achieved by the combination of features that the distance between the sprockets via at least one displaceably mounted shaft is adjustable, that all components of the processing unit can be attached very close below the bottom of the container, and thus to be homogenized substances over a comparison to the prior art shorter supply line can be introduced into the processing unit and are also attributable to a shorter compared to the prior art return line into the container. As a result, a processing of very small amounts of substance is possible in particular.

The construction according to the invention allows a direct flanging of a drive motor on a drive shaft while avoiding gears, belts or the like. This has the consequence of a reduction of components, manufacturing costs and maintenance costs. Furthermore, will due to the direct coupling of the drive motor with the drive shaft reduces the formation of unwanted vibrations and thus increases the smoothness and the synchronization of shafts and rotors.

Another important advantage is to mention that can be dispensed with the use of normal, massively executed drive shafts on technically complicated, wear-prone and thus expensive Koaxialgleitringdichtungen, as they are used in constructions with central shaft / hollow shaft, as in their place normal mechanical seals occur. Normal mechanical seals are thereby subject to a lower load than coaxial mechanical seals, since the latter are exposed to twice as high speed as the former, which implies a higher friction, a higher heat and thus a higher wear. The above statements apply equally to the bearings of central shaft / hollow shafts in comparison with normal, solid drive shafts.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is the lower height to call in comparison to a conventional device in which the drive shafts of a first sprocket and a second sprocket of the processing unit are arranged axially in the conveying direction of the outlet opening leaving substances.

According to a common preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that below the outlet opening a mixing conveyor wing having a plurality of leaf elements for mixing the substances to be homogenized with at least one powdery substance and for deflecting the conveying path of the substance mixture by 90 ° in the direction of the decentered to the vertical axis container arranged processing unit is provided, wherein the axis of rotation of the Mischförderflügels is also perpendicular to the conveying direction of the outlet opening leaving substances.

In the device according to the invention of this common embodiment, liquid is divided from the container after emerging from an outlet opening of the container by means of the mixing conveyor wing in discrete liquid thrusts, which successively behind the mixing conveyor wing to move in the direction of the homogenization unit.

In the area of the mixing conveyor wing, the liquid is supplied with powder and possibly another liquid or powdery substance. The powder and the optional further substance mix more intensely with the liquid particles of the thrombus in a peripheral region of a thrombus than in a central region of the fluid thrombus, since the liquid particles have a higher kinetic energy in the peripheral region.

In addition, the liquid thrombus contains more liquid mass in its peripheral region than in its central region, so that it can easily lead to clumping of the powder supplied in its central region, since on the one hand only a small amount of liquid particles are present and on the other hand, the kinetic energy of this Liquid particle is so small that it is sometimes not sufficient to dissolve powder clusters.

In conventional homogenization devices, the powder clusters thus formed in a central region of a liquid thrombus may, in a subsequent processing operation in a homogenization unit, lead to blockages in the region of the respective rotors. These disadvantages are avoided by means of the device according to the invention.

The features, which is provided below the outlet opening of a plurality of leaf elements having Mischförderflügel for mixing the substances to be homogenized with at least one powdery substance and for deflecting the conveying path of the substance mixture by 90 ° in the direction of the decentered to the vertical axis container processing unit, wherein The axis of rotation of the mixing conveyor wing is also arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction of the outlet opening leaving substances, thereby causing the effect that more powder per unit time compared to the known devices can be introduced into a liquid substance mixture. The same effect is also given when viscous substances are used instead of the liquid substances. This is also due to the fact that thrombogenesis is largely avoided.

The thrombi resulting from the vertical shaft bearing of the mixing conveyor blade would have a pressure due to the velocity distribution of the particles of the peripheral region due to the centrifugal force Direction effect on the inner wall of the delivery line, ie against the conveying direction of the supplied through the inlet supports powder substances. The feeding of powder would be hindered. In the inventive storage of the mixing conveyor wing, this disadvantage does not occur due to the avoidance of thrombus formation, because a supply of powder substances is not impaired by an internal velocity and morphology profile of a thrombus. Instead, an improved mixing of the substances in question takes place largely without trombe formation.

The sprockets arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the container are preferably each driven by a shaft arranged horizontally in the processing unit.

According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention it is provided that the second sprocket is slidably mounted in the direction of its central axis such that it can be transferred from a first position in which it is arranged radially behind the first sprocket in a second position, in he is outside the conveying path of the funded from the first sprocket flowable substance is arranged.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the substances can be returned to the container after being processed by the sprockets into a container inlet opening in the region of the container bottom. The container inlet opening is preferably provided in a central region of the container bottom. Alternatively, the substances after processing by the sprockets also be attributable to a container inlet opening in the region of the container wall in the container.

In the device according to the invention, the substances are preferably conducted from a central region through the intermediate space into a peripheral region of the toothed rings.

The shafts of the sprockets are preferably drivable by separate drive units and can be operated in particular preferably in synchronism or in the opposite direction.

According to another important preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention it is provided that the sprockets are coaxially conical.

At least one of the shafts of the device according to the invention may optionally but not necessarily be designed as a hollow shaft through which a further substance can be introduced into the processing unit.

In the conveying path of the substances to be homogenized, a conveying vane-having inducer, which is arranged upstream of the sprockets, is preferably provided in the processing unit. The inducer acts as a means to promote the substances to be homogenized under a controllable pressure in the direction of the sprockets. In the event that the second sprocket is displaced in the direction of its central axis such that it is transferred from a first position in which it is arranged radially behind the first sprocket in a second position in which it outside of the conveying path of The flowable substance conveyed to the first sprocket is arranged, the inducer acts as a pump device for the effective conveying of the substances to be homogenized.

In the conveying path of the substances to be homogenized, the mixing conveyor blade is provided in the processing unit, which is also arranged upstream of the sprockets. The Mischfördeflügel fulfills the task of mixing powder or liquids of the substance to be homogenized in premixed form and to prevent blended Good is sucked into the container due to a possibly prevailing in the container negative pressure. This has the advantage that the additional substances can be supplied in a very precisely dosed manner, with the formation of agglomerates being prevented by way of thorough mixing. The Mischförderflügel is formed substantially like a conventional propeller with low-set blade elements, wherein a blade member is arranged inclined at an angle of about 5 ° to 10 ° with respect to a plane of rotation. Preferably, two to five leaf elements are provided. A leaf element preferably covers an angular range of about 30 ° to 70 °, in particular 50 °. According to a preferred embodiment with four leaf elements, two leaf elements are arranged in mutually different planes of rotation.

Fig. 1

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer Querschnittsansicht.

Fig. 2

den Mischförderflügel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer Draufsicht, von der Ebene der zentralen Achse des Behälters aus in Richtung auf den Inducer zu gesehen.

Fig. 3

eine schematische Querschnittsansicht einer von dem Mischflügel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung durchmischten Substanzen-Charge, bei der die Welle des Mischförderflügels senkrecht zur zentralen Achse des Behälters ausgerichtet ist.

Fig. 4

eine schematische Querschnittsansicht eines Morphologie- und Geschwindigkeitsprofils einer von einem Mischförderflügel einer Vorrichtung gemäß Stand der Technik durchmischten Substanzen-Charge, bei der die Welle des Mischförderflügels koaxial mit der zentralen Achse des Behälters ausgerichtet ist.

Fig. 5

eine Teilansicht der in Figur 1 dargestellten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Querschnittsansicht, wobei der zweite Zahnkranz des Rotors II radial hinter dem ersten Zahnkranz des Rotors I angeordnet ist.

Fig. 6

eine Teilansicht der in Figur 1 dargestellten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer anderen Querschnittsansicht, wobei der zweite Zahnkranz des Rotors II radial hinter dem ersten Zahnkranz des Rotors I angeordnet ist.

Fig. 7

eine Teilansicht der in Figur 1 dargestellten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Querschnittsansicht, wobei der zweite Zahnkranz des Rotors II außerhalb des Förderweges der von dem ersten Zahnkranz des Rotors I geförderten fließfähigen Substanz angeordnet ist.

Fig. 8

eine Teilansicht der in Figur 1 dargestellten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer anderen Querschnittsansicht, wobei der zweite Zahnkranz des Rotors II außerhalb des Förderweges der von dem ersten Zahnkranz des Rotors I geförderten fließfähigen Substanz angeordnet ist.

The device according to the invention is explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is shown in the figures of the drawing. Show:

Fig. 1

a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention in a cross-sectional view.

Fig. 2

the mixing conveyor wing of the device according to the invention in a plan view, seen from the plane of the central axis of the container in the direction of the Inducer.

Fig. 3

a schematic cross-sectional view of a mixed by the mixing blade of the inventive device batch of substances in which the shaft of the mixing conveyor wing is aligned perpendicular to the central axis of the container.

Fig. 4

12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a morphology and velocity profile of a batch of substances mixed by a mixing conveyor blade of a prior art apparatus in which the shaft of the mixing conveyor is aligned coaxially with the central axis of the container.

Fig. 5

a partial view of in FIG. 1 illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention in a cross-sectional view, wherein the second ring gear of the rotor II is disposed radially behind the first ring gear of the rotor I.

Fig. 6

a partial view of in FIG. 1 illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention in another cross-sectional view, wherein the second ring gear of the rotor II is disposed radially behind the first ring gear of the rotor I.

Fig. 7

a partial view of in FIG. 1 illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention in a cross-sectional view, wherein the second ring gear of the rotor II outside the conveying path of the funded by the first ring gear of the rotor I flowable substance is arranged.

Fig. 8

a partial view of in FIG. 1 illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention in another cross-sectional view, wherein the second ring gear of the rotor II outside the conveying path of the funded from the first ring gear of the rotor I flowable substance is arranged.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrated homogenizer apparatus 100 according to the invention for dispersing and / or homogenizing flowable substances comprises a container 110 having an inlet opening for introducing the substances to be homogenized, wherein in a central region of the bottom of the container 110, a container outlet opening 111 for supplying the substances into a below the floor arranged processing unit 120 is provided.

The processing unit 120 includes two independently rotatably mounted, concentrically arranged, circular-shaped sprockets 130, 140, which are separated by a predetermined gap, wherein a first sprocket 130 and a second sprocket 140 in the processing unit 120 on each of a shaft 131, 141 are arranged, which is arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the container 110 for substances to be homogenized. The sprockets 130, 140 are part of the formed compact processing unit 120 which is disposed immediately below the bottom of the container 110.

Below the outlet opening 111, a mixing conveyor wing having a plurality of leaf elements for mixing the substances to be homogenized with at least one powdered substance and for deflecting the conveying path of the substance mixture by 90 ° in the direction of the processing unit decentering the vertical container axis is provided, the axis of rotation of the Mischförderflügels also perpendicular to the conveying direction of the outlet opening leaving substances is arranged.

The second ring gear 140 is slidably mounted in the direction of its central axis such that it can be transferred from a first position in which it is arranged radially behind the first ring gear 130 in a second position in which it outside of the conveying path of the first ring gear 130 conveyed flowable substance is arranged. The sprockets 130, 140 are each driven by a perpendicular to the central axis of the container 110 and horizontal shaft 131, 141. The substance or substances are guided from a central region 150 through the intermediate space into a peripheral region 160 of the sprockets 130, 140.

The substances, after being processed by the sprockets 130, 140, can be returned to a container inlet opening 180 in the region of the container bottom into the container 110, which is provided in a central region of the container bottom.

The shafts 131, 141 of the sprockets 130, 140 are drivable by separate drive units 190, and in particular can be driven in synchronism or in the opposite direction. The distance between the coaxially conically shaped sprockets 130, 140 is adjustable via at least one displaceably mounted shaft 131.

In the conveying path of the substances to be homogenized in the processing unit an inducer is provided, which is arranged upstream of the sprockets 130, 140. In addition to the inducer, in the conveying path of the substances to be homogenized in the processing unit, a mixing conveyor blade, which is arranged upstream of the toothed rings 130, 140, is furthermore provided.

A Mischförderflügel is designed substantially as a conventional propeller with low-salary blade elements, wherein a blade member is arranged inclined at an angle of about 7 ° with respect to a plane of rotation. A leaf element covers an angular range of about 45 °. In each case two leaf elements of the Mischförderflügels are arranged in mutually different planes of rotation.

The above-described embodiment of the invention is merely for the purpose of better understanding of the teaching defined by the claims according to the invention, which is not limited as such by the embodiment.

Claims (19)

1. A homogenizing device (100) for dispersing and/or homogenizing free-flowing substances, comprising a tank (110) having one or more inlet ports for the introduction of the substances to be homogenized, which tank has, in a central region of its floor, a tank outlet (111) for feeding the substances to a processing unit (120) disposed beneath said floor, which processing unit includes two concentric circular gear rings (130, 140) which are mounted for independent rotation and which are separated from each other by a predefined distance, wherein a first gear ring (130) and a second gear ring (140) in said processing unit (120) are each disposed on a respective shaft disposed at right angles to the center axis of said tank (110) for the substances to be homogenized, and said gear rings (130, 140) form part of a compact processing unit (120) disposed directly beneath the floor of said tank (110), characterized in that the distance between said gear rings (130; 140) can be adjusted via at least one displaceably mounted shaft (130", 140").
2. The device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that beneath the outlet (111), there is provided a transporter/mixer impeller exhibiting a plurality of blade elements for mixing the substances to be homogenized with at least one pulverulent substance and for redirecting the transportation path of the mixture of substances through 90° toward the processing unit disposed out of line with the vertical axis of the tank, and the rotation axis of the transporter/mixer impeller is likewise at right angles to the transportation direction of the substances leaving the outlet.
3. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said gear rings (130, 140) are each driven by a respective horizontal shaft (131, 141).
4. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said second gear ring (140) is mounted for displacement in the direction of the center axis of its drive shaft in such a manner that it can be moved from a first position, in which it is radially in line with the first gear ring (130), to a second position in which it is offset from the transportation path of the free-flowing substance transported by said first gear ring (130).
5. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the substances, following processing thereof by said gear rings (130, 140), can be recycled to said tank (110)through a tank inlet (180) in the region of the tank floor.
6. The device as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said tank inlet (180) is situated in a central region of the tank floor.
7. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the substances, following processing thereof by the gear rings (130, 140) can be recycled to said tank (110) through a tank inlet (180) in the region of the tank wall.
8. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that the substances are passed from of a central region (150) through the intermediate space to a peripheral region (160) of said gear rings (130, 140).
9. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said shafts (131, 141) of said gear rings (130, 140) can be driven by separated drive units (190).
10. The device as defined in claim 9, characterized in that said shafts (131, 141) are driven in the same or different directions of rotation.
11. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said gear rings (130, 140) are configured coaxially in the shape of cones.
12. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of said shafts (131, 141) is configured as a hollow shaft, through which an additional substance can be introduced into said processing unit (120).
13. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that, in the transportation path of the substances to be homogenized in said processing unit, an inducer (170) having a transporter vane is provided, which inducer is disposed upstream of the gear rings and acts as a conveyor that forces the liquid under controllable pressure toward said gear rings.
14. The device as defined in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said transporter/mixer impeller is substantially in the form of a conventional propeller, of which a blade element is disposed at an angle of approximately 5° to 10° to a plane of rotation of the blade elements.
15. The device as defined in claim 14, characterized in that a blade element covers an angular range of from approximately 30° to 70°.
16. The device as defined in claim 15, characterized in that a blade element covers an angular range of approximately 50°
17. The device as defined in any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that from two to five blade elements are provided.
18. The device as defined in claim 17, characterized in that four blade elements are provided.
19. The device as defined in claim 18, characterized in that two of the blade elements of said transporter/mixer impeller rotate in a different plane of rotation from the other two.

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