GB2187395A - Mixing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A mixing machine comprises a rotary mixing drum 22, 23 and a drum drive motor 11 both supported in operative relationship on a transportable frame 1 designed for operational stability in two alternative positions corresponding to desired alternative orientations of the drum axis of rotation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mixing machine This invention relates to a mixing machine and more particularlyto a mixing machine ofthe kind having a transportable frame on which is mounted a rotary drum for mixing liquids, powders, slurries, resins and any other fluent materials.

It has been previously proposed to provide machines ofthis kind in which the mixing drum is a cylindrical container removably held in a rotary cage mounted on the drive shaft of a drive motor. A paddle mounted on a stationary support enters the drum to produce the mixing action on rotation ofthe drum relative to the paddle. The drum and motor assembly are tiltably mounted so that the axis of rotation ofthe drum may be positioned substantially vertically or at an angleto the vertical depending on the material to be mixed.

The known mixer has certain disadvantages. The requirement for a tiltable arrangement increases the expense of the machine while the design of the drum is not suitable for all the different kinds of material that may need to be mixed on site.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a mixing machine comprising a rotary mixing drum and a drum drive motor both supported in operative relationship on a transportable frame designed for operational stability in two alternative positions corresponding to desired alternative orientations of the drum axis of rotation.

Preferably, the drum is detachable from the motor so astro permit replacementofone drum suitablefor operation in one of said positions by another drum suitable for operation in the other of said positions.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a mixing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and Figure2 is a diagrammatic side view ofthe machine in the alternative position of use.

Referring nowtothe drawings, Figure 1 shows a frame 1 in one position of use with itsfourlegs 2,3,4 and 5 resting on the floor. The frame 1 is made of tubular steel and is of robust construction with bracing members 6,7 interconnecting the pairs of legs 2, 3 and 4,5 respectively. The upper surface of the frame 1 is inclined slightlydownwardlyfromfrontto back (leftto right in Figure 1).A motor support plate 8 is suspended from parallel cross members 9, 10 and a motor and gearbox unit 11 are fixedly attached thereto with the drive shaft 12 of the motor projecting upwardly between the cross members 9, 10. The top and part of the front of the frame 1 are covered by a protective plate 13 (shown partially broken away in the drawing) Mounted atthe front oftheframe is a socket 1 4for receiving a post 15 the upper end of which is connected to a horizontal arm 16 terminating in a depending portion to which is fixed a V-section paddle 17 terminating in a rectangular trailing blade 18.

Atthe rear of the frame 1 is a U-shapedpartofthe frame supporting an axle 19 forwheels 20,21 with solid rubbertyres. The arrangement is such that by picking the frame up by its legs 3,4 (the ends of which may be equipped with handles as shown in chain dot line)theframe stilted on the legs 2, 5 until the wheeis 20,21 make contact with the ground at which point the frame is stable in its second position of use as shown in Figure 2. Byfurthertiltingthe frame in the same direction the legs 2,5 can be lifted clear of the ground sufficiently to enable the frame to betransportedonthewheels20,21 by pushing on the legs (now better considered as handles) 3,4.

A cage 22 is fixedly mounted on the motordrive shaft 12 and receives a cylindrical container 23 with handles 24,25 which fit over projections 26 on the cage 22 so as to attach the container 23 to the cage 22 for rotation therewith. The cage 22 and container 23 together constitute a "drum " in the context of this specification. The cage 22 has a bottom boss which is designed to fit snugly overthe end of the drive shaft 12 for releasable attachment thereto by means of a bolt 27 engaging the drive shaftthrough aside opening in the boss.

The drawing also shown an alternative drum 28 which is of conventional tumble-action design with a fixed internal tumbling blade 28 and, likethe cage22, a bottom boss attachable to the motor drive shaft by the bolt 27.

In the first position of use illustrated in Figure 1 the frame of the mixing machine rests on the ground by its four legs 2,3,4 and 5 so that the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 12 and hence of the drum fixed thereto is inclined slightly to the rear of vertical. In this posi tionthe drum 22,23 will normally be used, e.g.for mixing resin.

If it is now desired to mix an alternative material such as concrete requiringthe use ofthetumbleaction drum,the resin mixing drum 22, 23 andthe paddle 17with its support 15 are simply removed and thetumble-action drum is fitted to the motor drive shaft. The frame is then lifted by its legs 3,4 and tilted rearwardly about the legs 2,5 until it reaches the second position of use shown in Figure 2 in which the axis of rotation of the drum is slightly inclined above the horizontal plane. Emptying ofthe tumbie-action drum is achieved by tilting the frame further to the rear about the ground-contacting wheels 20,21.

1. A mixing machine comprising a rotary mixing drum and a drum drive motor both supported in operative relationship on a transportable frame designed for operational stability in two alternative positions corresponding to desired alternative orientations of the drum axis of rotation.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drum is detachable from the motor so as to permit replacementofone drum suitableforoperation in one of said positions by another drum suitable for operation in the other of said positions.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein one

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A mixing machine This invention relates to a mixing machine and more particularlyto a mixing machine ofthe kind having a transportable frame on which is mounted a rotary drum for mixing liquids, powders, slurries, resins and any other fluent materials. It has been previously proposed to provide machines ofthis kind in which the mixing drum is a cylindrical container removably held in a rotary cage mounted on the drive shaft of a drive motor. A paddle mounted on a stationary support enters the drum to produce the mixing action on rotation ofthe drum relative to the paddle. The drum and motor assembly are tiltably mounted so that the axis of rotation ofthe drum may be positioned substantially vertically or at an angleto the vertical depending on the material to be mixed. The known mixer has certain disadvantages. The requirement for a tiltable arrangement increases the expense of the machine while the design of the drum is not suitable for all the different kinds of material that may need to be mixed on site. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a mixing machine comprising a rotary mixing drum and a drum drive motor both supported in operative relationship on a transportable frame designed for operational stability in two alternative positions corresponding to desired alternative orientations of the drum axis of rotation. Preferably, the drum is detachable from the motor so astro permit replacementofone drum suitablefor operation in one of said positions by another drum suitable for operation in the other of said positions. The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a mixing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and Figure2 is a diagrammatic side view ofthe machine in the alternative position of use. Referring nowtothe drawings, Figure 1 shows a frame 1 in one position of use with itsfourlegs 2,3,4 and 5 resting on the floor. The frame 1 is made of tubular steel and is of robust construction with bracing members 6,7 interconnecting the pairs of legs 2, 3 and 4,5 respectively. The upper surface of the frame 1 is inclined slightlydownwardlyfromfrontto back (leftto right in Figure 1).A motor support plate 8 is suspended from parallel cross members 9, 10 and a motor and gearbox unit 11 are fixedly attached thereto with the drive shaft 12 of the motor projecting upwardly between the cross members 9, 10. The top and part of the front of the frame 1 are covered by a protective plate 13 (shown partially broken away in the drawing) Mounted atthe front oftheframe is a socket 1 4for receiving a post 15 the upper end of which is connected to a horizontal arm 16 terminating in a depending portion to which is fixed a V-section paddle 17 terminating in a rectangular trailing blade 18. Atthe rear of the frame 1 is a U-shapedpartofthe frame supporting an axle 19 forwheels 20,21 with solid rubbertyres. The arrangement is such that by picking the frame up by its legs 3,4 (the ends of which may be equipped with handles as shown in chain dot line)theframe stilted on the legs 2, 5 until the wheeis 20,21 make contact with the ground at which point the frame is stable in its second position of use as shown in Figure 2. Byfurthertiltingthe frame in the same direction the legs 2,5 can be lifted clear of the ground sufficiently to enable the frame to betransportedonthewheels20,21 by pushing on the legs (now better considered as handles) 3,4. A cage 22 is fixedly mounted on the motordrive shaft 12 and receives a cylindrical container 23 with handles 24,25 which fit over projections 26 on the cage 22 so as to attach the container 23 to the cage 22 for rotation therewith. The cage 22 and container 23 together constitute a "drum " in the context of this specification. The cage 22 has a bottom boss which is designed to fit snugly overthe end of the drive shaft 12 for releasable attachment thereto by means of a bolt 27 engaging the drive shaftthrough aside opening in the boss. The drawing also shown an alternative drum 28 which is of conventional tumble-action design with a fixed internal tumbling blade 28 and, likethe cage22, a bottom boss attachable to the motor drive shaft by the bolt 27. In the first position of use illustrated in Figure 1 the frame of the mixing machine rests on the ground by its four legs 2,3,4 and 5 so that the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 12 and hence of the drum fixed thereto is inclined slightly to the rear of vertical. In this posi tionthe drum 22,23 will normally be used, e.g.for mixing resin. If it is now desired to mix an alternative material such as concrete requiringthe use ofthetumbleaction drum,the resin mixing drum 22, 23 andthe paddle 17with its support 15 are simply removed and thetumble-action drum is fitted to the motor drive shaft. The frame is then lifted by its legs 3,4 and tilted rearwardly about the legs 2,5 until it reaches the second position of use shown in Figure 2 in which the axis of rotation of the drum is slightly inclined above the horizontal plane. Emptying ofthe tumbie-action drum is achieved by tilting the frame further to the rear about the ground-contacting wheels 20,21. CLAIMS

1. A mixing machine comprising a rotary mixing drum and a drum drive motor both supported in operative relationship on a transportable frame designed for operational stability in two alternative positions corresponding to desired alternative orientations of the drum axis of rotation.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drum is detachable from the motor so as to permit replacementofone drum suitableforoperation in one of said positions by another drum suitable for operation in the other of said positions.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein one drum is a rotary cylindrical drum cooperating with an externally supported paddle and used in side one position and the other drum is a tumble-action drum with a relatively fixed internal tumbling blade and is intended to be used in the other position of use.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the cylindrical drum comprises a cage rotationally fastwith the drive motor and a cylindrical container removably mounted in the cage for rotation therewith.

5. A mixing machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.