GB2208154A

GB2208154A - Hand operated fold-down mixer

Info

Publication number: GB2208154A
Application number: GB8714518A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Webb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-20
Filing date: 1987-06-20
Publication date: 1989-03-08
Also published as: GB8714518D0

Abstract

A hand-operated mixer for mixing cement or garden compost comprises a collapsible stand (14,16) which pivotally supports, on a hinge (26), a gearing mechanism (28). The gearing mechanism connects a hangle (38) to a cage (42,44) which releasably holds a container (46) with a lid (52). The container is provided with a liner and a liner retaining cage, Fig 5 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

A Mixing Device This invention relates to a mixing device, and more particularly to a hand operated device for mixing substances such as cement. Large and medium sized motorised mixers which are capable of mixing large volumes of cement are well known. However, such mixers are not particularly suitable when only small volumes of cement are required, for example in household applications. In such situations it has generally been necessary to manually blend the required constituents, for example, sand, cement and gravel, using a shovel or other such implement. This can be very laborious and tiresome, and involves a certain 'technique'. Consequently people who are physically weak have great difficulty performing the task.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which overcomes or reduces the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hand operable mixing device comprising a collapsible stand; means attached to said stand for holding an axially symmetrical container; means pivotally connected to said stand for holding said container, said holding means being pivotable from a loading position in which the longitudinal axis of the container is upright to a mixing position in which said axis is substantially horizontal; a manually rotatable handle; and reduction gear means connecting said handle to said holding means so as to transmit rotation of said handle to said container for rotating the latter through 36O while it is attached to the stand so as to cause tumbling of the contents of the container.

Preferably the stand comprises a pair of frame members which are hinged at their points of connection. The container is preferably held in a cage which is connected to a gearbox assembly by means of a rod,the gearbox assembly having the handle attached thereto such that rotation of the handle effects rotation of the cage and hence the container.

The gearbox assembly, and hence the cage, is tiltable through 9O from a first, loading position in which the longitudinal axis of the cage is substantially vertical, to a second mixing position in which the longitudinal axis of the cage is horizontal. By "substantially horizontal", I mean within lOb of the horizontal.

The cage may be further tiltable to a downwardly inclined position (for example, up to 3O below horizontal) to provide an alternative means of unloading the container.

The container is preferably provided with a detachable lid; it is also preferably provided with a detachable liner (which is preferably disposable) to prevent fouling of the inside of the container.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of a device in accordance with the invention in the loading position; Figure 2 is an illustration of the device of Figure 1 in the mixing position; Figure 3 shows the gearbox assembly of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates the stand, and the gearbox assembly and cage separately; and Figure 5 illustrates a liner for the container and a corresponding liner retaining cage.

Referring to the drawings, a mixing device 10, primarily intended for mixing cement, comprises a stand 12 which takes the form of two frame structures 14,16 hinged at their points of connection 18. The stand is restricted to a maximum opening by means of a strap 20 fixed to the bottom of each frame structure. A cross bar 22 spans the width of one of the frame structures, as can be seen in Figure 4, and a spigot 24 is mounted on the crossbar. A hinge 26 is attached to a spigot sleeve 25 which is attached to a gearbox assembly 28. The gearbox assembly comprises a first, smaller pulley wheel 30 and a second, larger pulley wheel 32, the pulley wheels 30,32 being linked together by means of a drive belt 34. The smaller pulley wheel 30 has an associated rod 36 which is attached to a handle 38. The larger pulley wheel 32 has an associated rod 40 which is attached to a cage 42.The construction is such that rotation of the handle 38 will effect rotation of the cage 42 as can be seen in Figure 3. The cage 42 has a plurality of arms 44 (perhaps three) which are foldable and optionally adjustable for length. The arms are designed to grip and retain a container 46, which is usually a bucket. The container is provided with a liner 48 and a liner retaining cage 50 to help prevent fouling of the inside of the container. The container is also provided with a lid 52 having a handle 54.

In use of the device, the apparatus is initially set up as shown in Figure 1, i.e. with the longitudinal axis of the container vertical. The liner 48 and the liner retaining cage 50 are placed in the container 46 and thereafter the desired volume of materials (usually cement aggregates) is placed in the container. The container lid 52 is put in position and extending arms 44 are hooked over the top of the lid to securely hold the container in position. The container 46 and gearbox assembly 28 are then pivoted approximately through 90" by tilting the container manually (about hinge 26) to the position as shown in Figure 2.

The handle 28 is then manually rotated which effects rotation of the cage 42 and hence the container 46 and this causes the contents of the container to be thoroughly blended. When the mixing process has been completed the assembly is returned to the vertical position and the container removed.

A distinct advantage of the device according to the invention is that it is simple and convenient for mixing relatively small volumes of substances such as cement quickly and easily without the necessity of performing back-aching work. While the device according to the invention has been described with reference to mixing of cement, it can also be used for mixing other bulky materials, such as garden compost.

Various modifications of the illustrated embodiment are possible; for example, instead of a pair of pulley wheels connected by a drive belt, there may be employed a series of meshed cogs; and the arms may be adjustable in length to permit use with different sizes of container.

Claims

1. A easily transportable small cement1 concrete, garden compost or other aggregate mixer comprising a hinged frame to which is attached a spigot, a demountable and hinged reduction gearbox with cage attached, operated by a handle which rotates the cage and a detachable bucket through 360. The whole to be able to be lowered and raised to obtain a loading or mixing position.

2. A small easily transportable mixer as in claim 1 wherein means are provided to enable the carrying frame to bt folded flat for storage.

3. A small easily transportable mixer as in claim 1 or 2 wherein means are provided to enable the gearbox and cage to be easily removed from the frame.

4. A small easily transportable mixer as in claim 3 wherein the bucket retaining straps are collapsable for storage purposes.

5, A small easily transportable mixer as in claim 4 wherein the central handle of the bucket lid enables it to be used as a plastering hawk or mortar board.

6. Asmall easily transportable mixer as in claim 5 wherein a removeable liner is provided in order to prevent fouling of the inside of the bucket and enable the mixer content to be transported to the working area without spillage.

7. A small easily transportable mixer as in claim 6 wherein a retaining cage is provided in order to prevent the collapse of the liner during the mixing operation.