GB1593122A - Variable agitator mixer - Google Patents

Description

(54) VARIABLE AGITATOR MIXER (71) We, GARLINGHOUSE BROTHERS, INC., a corporation of the State of California, located at 2415 East Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90021, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a mixer and particularly an oscillatory type mixer of the kind described in our Patent Specification Number 1418980.

According to claim 7 of our aforesaid Patent an oscillatory type mixer comprises a container for material to be mixed having a lower flexible section forming a chamber of variable shape and an upper rigid section, an agitator mixer assembly comprising: a rigid disc mounted at the center of said flexible section and connected to a motor driven rotational wobble drive for said disc; an annular washer connected to said disc and clamp ingly securing an annular portion of the flexible wall of said lower flexible section between said disc and said washer; and an agitator mixer element mounted in said flexible lower section and being releasably attached to fastening means on said disc, said agitator mixer element extending inwardly into the chamber in said flexible section.

Quite commonly, washing devices for fabrics, and in fact a great variety of materials, depend upon a container capable of being rotated, the container being provided with vanes or baffles of some kind to churn the liquid in order to bring it into contact with the material being washed as thoroughly as possible. When liquids are to be mixed, the same general approach usually is followed, namely the preparation of some type or other or rotary agitating means. On occasions such containers have been so set up mechanically as to reverse motion back and forth to further increase churning and turbulence. In still other types of devices, jets of liquid alone projecting in one direction or another are on occasion depended upon for mixing liquids. Paddle wheels and propellers are, of course, a commonly used expedient.

Whenever a washer or mixer needs to be provided with a relatively large number of baffles, paddle wheels, or propeller vanes, there is constantly the problem of cleaning such devices after the machine has operated for a while. There must always be a thorough cleaning if one mix is to be followed by another of different kind. A great number and assortment of vanes, paddle wheels or propellers add to the power needed for operation and also add appreciably to the expense of building, installation and maintenance.

According to the present invention there is provided an oscillatory type mixer as claimed in claim 7 of U.K. Patent 1418980 wherein the upper rigid section has a capacity at least as great as the capacity of the lower flexible section.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of composite container in which a relatively simplified version of removable agitator is mounted, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the agitator taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the flexible portion of the container equipped with a different type of agitator assembly, FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the device in a different position, FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of still another form of agitator making use of flexible appendages, FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of an agitator assembly making use of rigid appendages, and FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the flexible portion of the device making use of a rigid agitator assembly of still another form.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a frame indicated generally by the reference character 10 mounted on a supporting base 11, the frame consisting of a base plate 12 on which are columns 13 and 14 with respective diagonal stiffener braces 15 and 16 attached to a crossbeam 17 adjacent the bottom.

A tilting carriage including a bottom plate 20, side plates 21 and 22 and a top plate 23 is pivotally mounted by means of pivot shafts 24 and 25 at the tops of the respective columns 13 and 14. A handle 26 is employed for tilting the carriage when the need arises.

A two-part container indicated generally by the reference character 27 consists of a cylindrical upper rigid section 28 and a lower flexible section 29. The upper edge of the flexible section is fastened to the lower edge of the rigid section by means of a band 30.

The rigid section and flexible section acting together provide a chamber 31 which can be closed by means of a cover 32 sealed in place when required by means of a seal 33.

There may also be provided a jacket 35 surrounding the lower flexible section and providing a sealed chamber 36. To satisfy some special requirements, there may be provided a tubing line 37 with one branch 38 communicating with the chamber 31 in the area of the rigid section 28 and a branch line 39 in communication with the sealed chamber 36. Either a low pressure or vacuum condition may thus be applied or a high pressure condition as the case suggests.

In order to provide an oscillating wobble motion to the lower flexible section 29, a motor 40 is slung beneath the bottom plate 20, the motor being provided with a gear reducing unit 41 from which is driven a shaft 42 at the top of which is a fitting 43 with an angular]y offset projection 44. Extending angularly upwardly from the offset projection 44 is a wobble shaft 45 which is rotatably mounted in a rigid disc 46. An inner plate 47 substantially integral with the disc 46 has an annular washer 48 bolted to it by means of bolts 49 whereby to clamp an annular portion 50 of the flexible section 29 and seal it in position.

A rotating packing seal 51 is held in place by a packing ring 52 whereby to provide a rotating seal for the shaft 42.

Of special interest is the provision of an agitator assembly indicated generally by the reference character 55 which, in the form of invention of Figure 1, consists of a post 56 through which extends a central bore 57 providing an opening through which a bolt 58 extends so that its threaded end 59 can threadedly engage a threaded recess 60 in the disc 46.

In the form of invention of Figure 3 there is provided a different agitator assembly 65.

This assembly is built around a post 66, secured to the disc 46 by means of a bolt 67 as described in connection with the agitator assembly 55. On the upper portion of the post 66 is a pair of appendages 68 and 69. A second pair of appendages 70 and 71 is likewise secured to the post 66 at a location more nearly approaching the disc 46, the appendages 70 and 71 being displaced 90 degrees with respect to the appendages 68 and 69.

The agitator assembly 65 can be removed by merely disengaging the bolt 67.

In the form of device of Figure 5 the appendages 68, 69, 70 and 71, which are illustrated as flexible chains, are supplanted by flexible cable appendages 72, 73, 74 and 75.

Collars 76 anchored to the post 661 may be used for fastening the cable appendages to the post. The bolt 67 is again used in the same fashion to secure the agitator assembly to the disc and to enable its removal therefrom.

In the form of invention of Figure 6, stiff rod appendages 77, 78 and 79 are rigidly mounted on the post 661l by being welded thereto in position such that they extend transversely outwardly at about right angles with respect to the post.

Still another type of agitator assembly 81 is shown in Figure 7. In this instance, there is provided a post 82 of special construction in that a base 83 of the post is of relatively small diameter and a top section 84 is of relatively large diameter. By making use of a geometric shape of this kind the top section 84 overhangs the bottom of the lower flexible section 29 to an appreciable extent. Although the post 82 is shown as frustoconical, a comparable effect can be secured with a somewhat mushroom type design for the post. Here again, to hold the post in position, use is made of the bolt 67 threadedly engaging the disc 46 in the same manner as has been previously described.

Although it is a great convenience to have the agitator assemblies removable for either washing or replacement by a different type of agitator, where the mixer is to be used for mixing only one type of easy cleaning material, some saving can be effected by making the agitator assembly non-removable.

In the operation of this device making use of any one or another of the agitator assemblies, the disc 46 and the plate 47 have given to them a distinctly oscillating wobble motion by rotation of the fitting 43. When this occurs, the top of the post describes an arc of appreciable radius within the chamber 31, thereby adding to the churning effect of the contents. When appendages like the flexible appendages of Figures 3 and 5 are used, these flexible appendages are flailed up and down and in a roughly circulatory path as well, due to the wobble action of the disc 46 imparting its motion to the post. In this manner the flexible appendages churn virtually throughout the entire space within the chamber 31 from one wall to the other. Longer appendages may be used when the wall of the chamber needs to be scraped clean. The rod appendages of Figure 6 have a comparable motion without the flexible flailing.

The overhang of the top section 84 of the post 82 as shown in Figure 7 has a somewhat different action on the liquid contents in that as the top section is oscillated, the sloping sidewall tends to push a portion of the liquid contents downwardly toward the bottom of the chamber 31, such portion of the liquid, after being pushed toward the bottom, ultimately turning and returning to the top along the inside walls of the lower flexible section 29, this action being repeated in what may be described as a soft mixing routine.

Although in the chosen embodiments the flexible appendages have been shown fastened to an upstanding rigid post, it will be appreciated that flexible appendages can when desired be fastened by conventional means to the plate 47 itself, at locations removed from the geometric center. So mounted, such flexible appendages will also be given a flailing motion whereby to churn and agitate the contents of the chamber 31.

In providing dual chamber sections 28 and 29 such as proposed, the material experiences two different modes of agitation. The lower section, being flexible, subjects the material to a very distinctive churning movement, some movement being imparted to the material by upward and downward wobbling of the flexible bottom and a progressive churning in the mid area produced by the agitating post, as in Figure 1, or the laterally extending arms of Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The upper section, identified as second chamber in in the claims, is a chamber of capacity larger than the flexible chamber and capable of containing a correspondingly greater proportion of the material to be mixed.

As noted in the embodiment shown and described, the upper rigid section 28 has a capacity appreciably exceeding the capacity of the flexible section 29, the rigid section 28, also being of greater depth. The sections could, however, be substantially the same capacity.

What is of consequence is to have adjacent spaces for the material to be mixed wherein the material in one of the spaces is continuously subjected to one type of motion and agitation different from the other. The material does not, however, remain in one space or the other, but instead passes continuously from one space to the other in an ever-changing pattern of turbulence, aided at all times by the agitator assembly 55 in the case of Figure 1 or other forms of the agitator as in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7.

On those occasions when some solid material such as a powder or fiber is to be mixed into the charge in the chambers, it is advantageous to have the agitator assembly protrude well into the upper rigid section 28. At the same time, the liquid charge is made such that the liquid level is well above the top of the lower section 29, but low enough so that at least the appendages 68 and 69 of Figures 3 and 4, for example are flung above the liquid level during operation. As a consequence, solid material deposited on the surface, even though it might be dry and not readily mixable, it beaten or folded into the liquid mass by the appendages. Action of the appendages, also being oscillatory in character, causes the appendage to ultimately reach into all portions of both the upper section 28 and the lower section 29.

It is significant to note that whether considering the post of Figure 1, or the laterally extending elements of Figures 3 through 6 inclusive, all of the parts referred to act within the upper section inside the rigid upper wall portion to a degree at least as active as in the lower flexible section if not in fact more so.

With the upper section being formed by a rigid wall, motion imparted to the material in that section is that generated from either the post of Figure 1 or the combined post and laterally extending elements of Figures 3 through 6 inclusive. Hence the mode of agitation of material in the upper section is always different and in contrast to the mode of agitation in the lower flexible section.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An oscillatory type mixer as claimed in claim 7 of U.K. Patent 1418980 wherein the upper rigid section has a capacity at least as great as the capacity of the lower flexible section.

2. An oscillatory type mixer as claimed in claim 1 as substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. post 82 as shown in Figure 7 has a somewhat different action on the liquid contents in that as the top section is oscillated, the sloping sidewall tends to push a portion of the liquid contents downwardly toward the bottom of the chamber 31, such portion of the liquid, after being pushed toward the bottom, ultimately turning and returning to the top along the inside walls of the lower flexible section 29, this action being repeated in what may be described as a soft mixing routine. Although in the chosen embodiments the flexible appendages have been shown fastened to an upstanding rigid post, it will be appreciated that flexible appendages can when desired be fastened by conventional means to the plate 47 itself, at locations removed from the geometric center. So mounted, such flexible appendages will also be given a flailing motion whereby to churn and agitate the contents of the chamber 31. In providing dual chamber sections 28 and 29 such as proposed, the material experiences two different modes of agitation. The lower section, being flexible, subjects the material to a very distinctive churning movement, some movement being imparted to the material by upward and downward wobbling of the flexible bottom and a progressive churning in the mid area produced by the agitating post, as in Figure 1, or the laterally extending arms of Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. The upper section, identified as second chamber in in the claims, is a chamber of capacity larger than the flexible chamber and capable of containing a correspondingly greater proportion of the material to be mixed. As noted in the embodiment shown and described, the upper rigid section 28 has a capacity appreciably exceeding the capacity of the flexible section 29, the rigid section 28, also being of greater depth. The sections could, however, be substantially the same capacity. What is of consequence is to have adjacent spaces for the material to be mixed wherein the material in one of the spaces is continuously subjected to one type of motion and agitation different from the other. The material does not, however, remain in one space or the other, but instead passes continuously from one space to the other in an ever-changing pattern of turbulence, aided at all times by the agitator assembly 55 in the case of Figure 1 or other forms of the agitator as in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7. On those occasions when some solid material such as a powder or fiber is to be mixed into the charge in the chambers, it is advantageous to have the agitator assembly protrude well into the upper rigid section 28. At the same time, the liquid charge is made such that the liquid level is well above the top of the lower section 29, but low enough so that at least the appendages 68 and 69 of Figures 3 and 4, for example are flung above the liquid level during operation. As a consequence, solid material deposited on the surface, even though it might be dry and not readily mixable, it beaten or folded into the liquid mass by the appendages. Action of the appendages, also being oscillatory in character, causes the appendage to ultimately reach into all portions of both the upper section 28 and the lower section 29. It is significant to note that whether considering the post of Figure 1, or the laterally extending elements of Figures 3 through 6 inclusive, all of the parts referred to act within the upper section inside the rigid upper wall portion to a degree at least as active as in the lower flexible section if not in fact more so. With the upper section being formed by a rigid wall, motion imparted to the material in that section is that generated from either the post of Figure 1 or the combined post and laterally extending elements of Figures 3 through 6 inclusive. Hence the mode of agitation of material in the upper section is always different and in contrast to the mode of agitation in the lower flexible section. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An oscillatory type mixer as claimed in claim 7 of U.K. Patent 1418980 wherein the upper rigid section has a capacity at least as great as the capacity of the lower flexible section.

2. An oscillatory type mixer as claimed in claim 1 as substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.