GB2119269A

GB2119269A - Fluid mixing device

Info

Publication number: GB2119269A
Application number: GB08212374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sydney Howe; Keith Beckett
Original assignee: AMCO PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: AMCO PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-04-28
Filing date: 1982-04-28
Publication date: 1983-11-16
Also published as: GB2119269B

Abstract

The device (4) which allows the mixing of two or more fluids prior to their introduction into a container (10) or space comprises at least two tubes (18, 19) connected together and providing adjacent outlets for the fluids passed therethrough and a mixing chamber (24) which surrounds the tube outlets, and has outlets to allow the fluids mixed therein to pass into the container (10) or space to be filled. Each tube (18, 19) is arranged to lie flat when not containing material under pressure to prevent reverse flow of material thereinto. The device is particularly useful for mixing cement with a setting agent. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in outlets or inlets for fluids The invention relates to outlets for fluids, and more particularly but not exclusively to outlets for materials such as water borne cement grout and water borne materials for setting the cement where the materials are to be kept apart until introduced into a container or space to be filled.

According to the invention there is provided a fluid mixing outlet assembly comprising at least two tubes connected together for providing adjacent outlets for fluids passed through the tubes, each tube comprising means for preventing reverse flow of material into the tube outlet, and a mixing chamber surrounding the tube outlets, the mixing chamber having one or more outlets for allowing fluids to pass into a chamber or space to be filled.

The means for preventing reverse flow of material into each tube outlet is preferably provided by each tube being of flexible material arranged to lie flat when not containing material under pressure, thereby providing a non-return valve action.

The tubes may be connected together by securing a side of one tube to a side of an adjacent tube at or adjacent the outlets thereof so that the outlets are substantially uni-directional.

The tubes may be formed from sheet material, for example fabric reinforced plastics sheet. Each tube is preferably formed from two elongate strips of the sheet material secured the one to the other along the two elongate edges thereof.

The mixing chamber may be provided by wall means extending from the or the outermost tubes across but spaced from the tube outlets so that material emanating from the tube outlets is caused by the wall means to flow out of the mixing chamber in a direction having at least a substantial component perpendicular to the direction of flow at the tube outlets.

The wall means may comprise extensions of the outermost tube walls connected the one to the other.

Alternatively, the mixing chamber may comprise a mixing tube extending coaxially with and surrounding the tube outlets. The mixing tube may be secured to the tubes, or alternatively may comprise retaining means for retaining the mixing tube surrounding the tube outlets. The retaining means may comprise a divider extending across the mixing tube, which divider is located between the tubes or an adjacent pair of tubes and engages the connection between the tubes to retain the mixing tube captive on the tubes.

The end of the mixing tube remote from the tubes may be closed, thereby causing fluid to leave the mixing tube in a direction opposite to the direction in which material enters the mixing chamber from the tubes.

The invention further provides a container comprising a fluid mixing outlet assembly for allowing fluids to be introduced into the container, the assembly thus acting as an inlet for fluids into the container.

By way of example, two embodiments of a fluid mixing outlet assembly according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a container having a fluid outlet assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of the first embodiment of a fluid outlet assembly; Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section, of a second embodiment of a fluid outlet assembly; and Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of the fluid outlet assembly of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows a container 10 to which is secured a fluid outlet assembly generally indicated at 11 through which fluids are mixed and introduced into the container 1 0. A pair of filler inlets 1 2 and 1 3 are held to the material of the container 10 by clamping rings 14 and 15, and material to be introduced into the container 10 is fed via pipes 1 6 and 1 7 which pipes engage the filler inlets 1 2 and 1 3 respectively.

The container 10 is of flexible material, for example, sheet plastics material reinforced with a fabric such as nylon and a particular use for such a container is for packing a space for example in roadway, tunnel or other similar construction operations, the container being filled with a settable fluid or slurry such as a slurry of cement and pulverised flyash aggregate which when mixed with a setting compound solidifies to fill a desired space. It will be appreciated, however, that the outlet assembly hereinafter described could be used in other types of container, and with other materials to be mixed.

From the filler inlets 1 2 and 1 3 extend tubes 1 8 and 1 9 respectively, each tube 1 8 and 1 9 being made from two elongate strips of flexible sheet material, such as fabric reinforced plastics material, secured together by welding or other suitable means along the parallel edges of the tubes. In this way, the tubes 1 8 and 1 9 lie flat when not subjected to internal pressure.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the ends of the two tubes 1 8 and 1 9 are joined to provide an outlet. Tube sheet 20 of the tube 1 8 and tube sheet 21 of the tube 1 9 are secured together by welding or other suitable means and the other tube sheets 22 and 23 are also secured together by welding or other suitable means but beyond the end of the sheets 20 and 21.

In this way, a mixing chamber 24 is formed for materials passing through the tubes 1 8 and 1 9 as material is forced to emerge substantially sideways from the outlet with respect to the direction of the flow of material through the tubes at the tube ends. Furthermore, as the tubes 1 8 and 1 9 lie flat when not subjected to internal pressure, the outlet assembly has a non-return valve effect to make it difficult for material from the mixing chamber to re-enter either of the tubes 1 8 and 19.

Figs. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of an outlet assembly.

As with the first embodiment, two tubes 18' and 19' extend from filler inlets in a container wall but the configuration of the end of the tubes 18' and 19' is different from the configuration of the ends of the tubes 1 8 and 19 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Mutually adjacent side walls 25 and 26 of the tubes 18' and 19' respectively are secured together by welding or other suitable means at 27. The other side walls 28 and 29 of the tubes 18' and 19 respectively are left unsecured to provide tube openings at 30 and 31.

To provide a mixing chamber, a mixing tube 32 is located over the openings 30 and 31. The mixing tube 32 is formed of flexible sheet material and is conveniently similar to the material from which the tubes 18' and 19' are made, two sheets of the material being secured by welding or other suitable means at parallel edges thereof. Additionally, the mixing tube 32 has an internal partition 33 which acts as a divider between the mutually adjacent sheets 25 and 26 of the tubes 18' and 19'. The partition 33 causes the mixer tube 32 to be retained captively on the ends of the tubes 18' and 19' thereby causing material leaving the tubes 18' and 19' to mix before entering the container. Material can enter the container from both ends of the mixing tube 32, although it may be desirable to close one end of the mixing tube 32, for example, the right hand end as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 if an increased mixing effect is required. It will be appreciated that the partition 33 may be omitted if the mixing tube 32 is secured directly to one or both of the ends of the tubes 18' and 19'.

The fact that the tubes 18' and 1 9' and the mixing tube 32 are flat when not subjected to internal pressure provides the outlet assembly with a non-return valve effect to prevent material returning up either of the tubes 1 8' and 19'.

Claims

1. A fluid mixing outlet assembly comprising at least two tubes connected together for providing adjacent outlets for fluids passed through the tubes, each tube comprising means for preventing reverse flow of material ;nto the tube outlet, and a mixing chamber surrounding the tube outlets, the mixing chamber having one or more outlets for allowing fluids to pass into a chamber or space to be filled.

2. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for preventing reverse flow of material in+.o each tube outlet is provided by each tube being of flexible material arranged to lie flat when not containing material under pressure, thereby providing a non-return valve action.

3. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the tubes are connected together by securing a side of one tube to a side of an adjacent tube at or adjacent the outlets thereof so that the outlets are substantially uni-directional.

4. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tubes are formed from sheet material.

5. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the tubes are formed from fabric reinforced plastics sheet.

6. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherin each tube is formed from two elongate strips of the sheet material secured the one to the other along the two elongate edges thereof.

7. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mixing chamber is provided by wall means extending from the or the outermost tubes across but spaced from the tube outlets so that material emanating from the tube outlets is caused by the wall means to flow out of the mixing chamber in a direction having at least a substantial component perpendicular to the direction of flow at the tube outlets.

8. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the wall means comprise extensions of the outermost tube walls connected the one to the other.

9. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the mixing chamber comprises a mixing tube extending coaxially with and surrounding the tube outlets.

1 0. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the mixing tube is secured to the tubes.

11. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the mixing tube comprises retaining means for retaining the mixing tube surrounding the tube outlets.

1 2. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the retaining means comprise a divider extending across the mixing tube, which divider is located between the tubes or an adjacent pair of tubes and engages the connection between the tubes to retain the mixing tube captive on the tubes.

1 3. A fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 1 2 wherein the end of the mixing tube remote from the tubes is closed, thereby causing fluid to leave the mixing tube in a direction opposite to the direction in which material enters the mixing chamber from the tubes.

14. A fluid mixing outlet assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A container comprising a fluid mixing outlet assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim for allowing fluids to be introduced into the container, the assembly thus acting as an inlet for fluids into the container.