GB2492412A

GB2492412A - Agitation device

Info

Publication number: GB2492412A
Application number: GB1111268.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin Reay
Original assignee: AND Design Ltd
Current assignee: AND Design Ltd
Priority date: 2011-07-01
Filing date: 2011-07-01
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Also published as: GB201111268D0

Abstract

An agitation device 10 for agitating material contained in a receptacle, the agitation device comprising a body portion 12 and at least two stirring elements 14 extending from said body portion 12, wherein the body portion 12 comprises a housing having located therein a powered motion element, the powered motion element arranged to impart a vibrating action to the device and thus to the at least two stirring elements 14, said vibrating action arranged to effect movement of the agitation device relative to the said material, and wherein said at least two stirring elements 14 extend from said body portion such that, in normal operation, the at least two stirring elements 14 extend downwardly from the body portion 12 and serve to support the device 10 on a surface of the said receptacle; and further wherein at least one of said at least two stirring elements 14 comprises a turbulent flow member 18 located at, or adjacent, an end of said stirring element remote from said body portion, said turbulent flow member configured to impart a turbulent flow to said material to be agitated.

Description

AGITATION DEVICE

The present invention relates to an agitation device and particularly, but not exclusively, to an agitation device for agitating ingredients in the S preparation of food.

The use of agitation devices in laboratories and various industries such as the building industry (where such agitation devices may be used to agitate, by way of stirring and/or mixing, for example, paints, plaster, concrete/cement, etc), the food industry, etc. is prevalent. Such agitation devices are available with numerous shapes/configurations, such as: turbine type; impeller type; cross-beam type; frame type; bEade type; anchor type; pitched-blade type; propeller type; helical ribbon type; whisks, etc, and these agitation devices can be manually powered, electrically powered, mechanically powered, and can be driven directly, or indirectly by way of gears.

The type of agitation device to be used is dependent upon the material(s) to be agftated. Whisks are particularly suitable for use in both the food industry and for domestic food preparation and their design facilitates mixing, circulation, cooling, stirring of food ingredients, and can allow air to be introduced into the food ingredients.

In the field of food preparation, agitation devices are chosen not only for ease of aeration and/or mixing of the food ingredients, but also for compatibility with kitchen space, temperature conditions, mixing volumes, the shape and material (e.g. Teflonc) of food mixing vessels, ease of cleaning (e.g. water-proofing or dishwasher suitability), or any combination of these requirements.

Many known agitation devices for use in food preparation, however, suffer disadvantages in that a fairly quick rotary or "beating" action must often be employed by a user in order to agitate the ingredients of a mixture to obtain a desired consistency/texture of the mixture. This action requires a

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vigorous rotation of the agitation device applied by way of the user flexing and rotating their wrist In particularly thick mixtures, the force necessary to agitate the ingredients can cause a user to quickly tire due to fatigue in the wrist region and so it can be difficult for a user to maintain a constant speed of rotation of the agitation devica This issue can be a particular problem in the elderly/infirm or those with weaker wrists.

Alternative processes for mixing materia](s) employ vibrating means to agitate a mixture to cause mixing of the material(s) therein-These processes can employ oscillations to act on the material(s) of the mixture to agitate the mixture. Such processes may employ vibration devices arranged to agitate vats of liquid, etc. in order to facilitate mixing of material(s). The frequency of vibration of such devices may range form infrasonic, through acoustic frequencies, to ultrasonic. These types of processes and devices are employed advantageously where it is desirable to segregate the mixing element from the substance to be mixed or where use of a mixing element may not be possible. For example, an agitation device in which mixing elements of the agitation device have to be physically inserted into a mixture may require measures (e.g. seals) to prevent contamination of the mixture and ingress of material(s) in the mixture to mechanical and/or electrical components of the agitation device and also egress of components of the device and/or lubricating fluids to the material(s) being agitated. Such measures are often expensive and difficult to implement and often are not completely effective so that they are susceptible to liquid ingress. Therefore segregating a motor and vibration technology from the actual elements to be inserted into the mixture is desirable to prevent such contamination and/or ingress/egress problems.

International patent application number PCTJGB200S/051034 discloses an agitation device which attempts to address the drawbacks noted above.

In arrangements of the invention disclosed in the above patent application, the stirring elements are uniform. This uniformity of stirring elements may lead to the agitation device only acting upon material within a portion of the total area of material to be stirreth The present invention seeks to provide for an agitation device having advantages over known such agitation devices.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agitation device comprising a body portion and at least two stirring elements extending from the body portion and for insertion into material in a receptacle which is to be agitated, wherein the body portion comprises a housing having located therein a powered motion element, the powered motion element arranged to impart a vibrating action to the device and thus to the at least two stirring elements, the vibrating action arranged to effect movement of the agitation device relative to the material, and wherein the at least two stirring elements extend from the body portion such that, in normal operation, the at least two stirring elements extend downwardly from the body portion and serve to support the device on a surface of the receptacle; and further wherein at least one of said at least two stirring elements comprises a turbulent flow member located at, or adjacent an end of said stirring element remote from said body portion, said turbulent flow member configured to impart a turbulent flow to said material to be agitated.

An advantage of the present invention is that the turbulent flow member imparts a turbulent flow to the material to be agitated. In conventional agitation devices, the area swept by the stirring elements of the agitation device to effect movement of the agitation device relative to the material remains substantially the same, and so substantially the same portion of material is agitated. However, by imparting turbulent flow (or an increased turbulent flow) to the material, material lying outside an initial area swept by the stirring elements can be drawn into the area swept by the stirring elements. Therefore, greater mixing of the material may be achieved The turbulent flow member may extend at [east slightly transversely relative to a direction of movement of the stirring element upon which it is located.

Optionally, the movement of the agitation device may comprise rotational movement such that ends of the stirring elements follow a curved path.

Further optionally, the turbulent flow member may extend at least slightly inwardly, or radially inwardly, from the stirring element upon which it is located relative to the curved path.

Yet further optionally, the curved path may comprise a closed-curve path.

Optionally, the rotational movement may comprise a stepped rotational movement-At least one of, or each of, the at least two stirring elements further optionally may comprise, at the end(s) thereof, foot member(s) to effect or enhance oscillation and/or movement of the agitation device about a vertical axis. The foot member(s) may comprise vane(s) extending from the end(s) of the stirring element(s). Optionally, the vane may comprise a curved vane-The vane(s), further optionally, may be arranged to impart lift to the stirring element(s) as the agitation device moves in a first direction relative to the material. Further optionally, the vane(s) may be arranged to impart a downwardly directed force on the stirring elements as the agitation device moves in a second direction opposite to the first relative to the material.

Optionally, the or each vane may comprise a claw formation.

Optionally, the at least two stirring elements may comprise a resilient elastic material.

Optionally, at least one stirring element may include a surface area enhancing element or elements. The surface area enhancing element(s) may optionally comprise at least one of: holes; protrusions; extensions; dimples; and/or ridges. Further optionally, the surface area enhancing element(s) may comprise a hole which extends substantially over the length of the stirring element.

The present invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I illustrates a top perspective view of an agitation device according to the present invention; Figs. 2a to 2d illustrate side views of the agitation device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the agitation device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of the agitation device when in operation.

As mentioned, Fig 1 illustrates an agitation device 10 which comprises a body portion 12, stirring elements 14 that depend downwardly from the body portion 12, and a user interface 16 to allow a user to control operation of the agitation device 10 In the illustrated embodiment, the body portion 12 comprises a substantially cylindrical housing and the stirring elements 14 comprise elongate members. in a normal orientation of the agitation device 10, the stirring elements 14 extend downwardly and radially outward from the body portion 12.

One of the stirring elements 14 has, at a tip thereof (i.e. at an end of the stirring element 14 remote from a root of the stirring element 14), a paddle element 18. The paddle element 18 presents a different fluid flow feature than the ends of the other stirring elements 14. The paddle element 18 is arranged to impart turbuLent flow to material to be stirred by the agitation device 10 (or an increased turbulent flow to the material compared with the ends of the other stirring eLements 14). This turbulent flow may increase the amount of mixing of the material.

The user interface 16 optionally comprises a control switch arranged to allow a user to control operation of the agitation device 10. The control switch allows a user to at least switch the agitation device 10 on and off, but may provide further functions to allow the user to set at least one of a frequency of vibration of the agitation device 10 (e.g. speed settings); a period of operation of the agitation device 10 (e.g. a timer); intermittent operation of the agitation device 10; a charging program for a power source of the agitation device 10; and at least one heating andfor cooling IS operation mode andfor temperature of said agitation device 10 In use, the stirring elements 14 are placed in the material(s) to be agitated and the agitation device 10 is arranged to perform an agitating action to: (i) agitate the material(s); and/or (ii) introduce air into the material(s); andlor (iU) dissipate heat. This agitating action will be described in more detail in relation to Fig. 4 but, as an initial indication, the action comprises at least one of: a rotational movement of the agitation device 10 within the said material(s); a translational movement of the agitation device 10 through the said materials(s), and an oscillatory movement of the agitation device 10 within the material(s).

As the stirring elements 14 travel through the material due to the agitating action, they will impart an element of turbulent flow to the material, thereby serving to mix the material. Coupled to this first element of turbulent flow, the paddle element 18 may increase the degree of turbulent flow around the stirring element 14 upon which it is located compared with the other stirring elements 14. This may serve to increase the mixing of the material.

Figs. 2a to 2d illustrate alternative (side) views of the agitation device 10 of Fig. 1. Likewise1 Fig. 3 ilLustrates a top view of the agitation device 10 of Fig. 1. Features of Figs. 2a to 2d and 3 common with Fig. I are denoted by like reference numeraLs

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Fig. 4 illustrates the agitation device 10 according to the present invention when in operation. Features common with those already described in relation to Figs. 1 to 3 are denoted by like reference numerals and will not be described further.

Upon operation of the user interface 16 by a user to activate the agitation device 10, a motion element (not shown in Fig. 4) located in the body portion 12 is activated to produce vibrations which serve to cause movement of the entire agitation device 10. Such movement can be one, or a combination of, a rotational movement (as indicated by arrows A) and a translational movement (as indicated by arrows B).

As will be appreciated, when the agitation device 10 is located in a receptacle, for example, a saucepan, with the stirring elements 14 thereof extending into material(s) to be agitated, such movement serves to agitate the material(s) and cause stirring and/or mixing thereof.

Arrow C schematically illustrates turbulent flaw (or increased turbulent flow) in the material which is in the vicinity of the paddle element 18. As the paddle element 18 moves through the material along a substantially closed-curved path as indicated by arrows A, "eddy-currents" will be form around the paddle element 18. Arrow C is shown to convey these eddy-currents". It is the turbulent flow from these eddy-currents which may serve to increase the mixing of the material.

In an optional arrangement, the stirring elements 14 may be at least partly formed from resilient and/or deformable material(s) which serve to transfer vibrations from the body portion 12 (caused by the motion element 20) to the tips of the stirring elements 14. These vibrations of the tips of the stirring elements 14 cause them to move relative to the surface of the container in which the stirring device 10 is located.

The vibrations produced by the motion element may vary in frequency and the frequency is, optionally, selectable by a user via the user interface 16.

In an optional arrangement, the roots of the stirring elements 14 are spaced equally about the circumference of a lower region of the body portion 12.

In an optional arrangement, the paddle element 18 may be located adjacent an end of the stirring element 14.

In an optional arrangement, paddle elements 18 may be located on more than one of the stirring elements 14, and optionally on all of the stirring elements 14 The stirring elements 14 optionally may be formed from wire, tube, and may comprise prongs, fingers, or elongate "Uflshaped" members The stirring elements 14 may also curve inwardly proximate to the ends which are remote from the body portion 12 to form a shape similar to a conventiona] "balloon" whisk.

The stirring elements 14 may typically be formed from at least one of: metal; wood; or polymer materials, but are not limited to these materials.

Optionally, at least one of the stiFring elements 14 may include a surface area enhancing element or elements to increase the surface area of the stirring element, e.g. holes, protrusions, extensions, dimples, ridges, etc. For example, the stirring elements 14 may be formed with a hole which extends substantia[ly over the length of the stirring element.

In the illustrated arrangement, the stirring elements 14 are in a substantially elongate" configuration. However, in other optional arrangements, other configurations could be used, e.g. a flat configuration for use in a shallow container, or a small diameter for use in narrow containers.

In a further optional arrangement, an angled "blade1' type configuration (similar to a turbine) to provide lift during rotation could be provided.

Indeed, in the illustrated arrangements of Figs. 1 to 4, the stirring elements 14 comprise, at ends thereof, curved feet 20 which are shaped to provide lift during rotation. Optionally, the curved feet 20 may be inverted to impart a down force on the stirring elements 14. En either of these arrangements, the curved feet 20 serve as instability members to effect oscillation of the agitation device 10 about a vertical axis. In such arrangements, at any instance as few as one stirring element 14 may be in contact with a receptacle surface upon which the agitation device 10 is supported. As the agitation device 10 rotates relative to the material (and the receptacle surface), different ones of the stirring elements 14 may then come into contact with the receptacle surface, and other ones of the stirring elements 14 may move from contact with the receptacle surface. In the illustrated arrangements, the curved feet 20 comprise curved vanes extending from ends of the stirring elements.

In optional arrangements, the frequency of vibration of the agitation device may range from infrasonic, through acoustic, to ultrasonic.

The motion element may comprise a single element, but could also comprise a number of element& The agitation device has been described above as a single-piece device.

However, in an optional arrangement, it may comprise a separate body portion and stirring elements such that the two items can be detached from one another. In such an optional arrangement, the stirring elements may move as one with the body portion, or may also move relative to the body portion.

The single piece device may allow the device to be stood or inserted entirely into material(s) to be agitated without the risk of liquid ingress to the body portion where electronic components may be located.

Further, and as described above, the body portEon of the agitation device houses the motion element. However, in an optional arrangement, the motion element may be located in a separate unit which incLudes the stirring elements, or in a detachable separate unit.

Also, the power source and user interlace may be located in the stirring elements or in a detachable separate unit. Further, the user interface may be remotely activated. The user interlace optionally may be waterproof, either by including a seal around the user interlace, or by embedding the user interlace under a sealed surface (e.g. a flexible surface).

Optionally, the body portion and/or stirring elements may be formed from shock absorbing material(s). Further optionally, these features may be formed from shock neutral or shock enhancing material(s).

In a yet further optional arrangement, the body portion may be designed to fit into the hand of a user to allow manual control of the stirrer. However, the body portion could also be shaped to allow attachment to a further device including, but not limited to, a mechanical mixer.

The above described arrangements include an off-centred motor to create vibrations of the agitation device. Other optional arrangements for creating such vibrations may include, but are not limited to: piezoelectric devices: solenoid driven devices; rotary cams; rotary ratchets; and linear ratchets.

It should be understood that the motion element is not limited to an electric type, but may include any suitable motion device, e.g. manually driven devices.

An agitating action of the agitation device of the present invention can include mixing and/or stirring actions.

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Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. An agitation device for agitating material contained in a receptacle, the agitation device comprising a body portion and at least two stirring elements extending from said body portion, wherein the body portion comprises a housing having located therein a powered motion element, the powered motion element arranged to impart a vibrating action to the device and thus to the at least two stirring elements, said vibrating action arranged to effect movement of the agitation device relative to the said material, and wherein said at least two stirring elements extend from said body portion such that, in normal operation, the at least two stirring elements extend downwardly from the body portion and serve to support the device on a surface of the said receptacle; and further wherein at least one is of said at least two stirring elements comprises a turbulent flow member located at, or adjacent, an end of said stirring element remote from said body portion, said turbulent flow member configured to impart a turbulent flow to said material to be agitated.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said turbulent flow member extends at least slightly transversely relative to a direction of movement of said stirring element upon which it is located 3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said movement of the agitation device comprises rotational movement such that said ends follow a curved path.4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein said turbulent flow member extends at least slightly inwardly from the stirring element upon which it is Located relative to said curved path.5. A device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein said turbulent flow member extends radially inwardly from the stirring element upon which it is located relative to said curved path.6. A device according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein said curved path comprises a closed-curve path.7. A device according to any one or more of Claims 3 to 6, wherein said rotational movement comprises a stepped rotational movement.8. A device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said at least two stirring elements further comprises, at said end thereof, a foot member to enhance oscillation and/or movement of said agitation device about a vertical axis.9. A device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each of said at least two stirring elements further comprises, at said end thereof, a foot member to enhance oscillation and/or movement of said agitation device about a vertical axis.1U.A device according to Claim B or 9, wherein said foot member(s) comprise(s) a vane extending from said end of said stirring element.11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein said vane comprises a curved vane.12.A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, wherein said vane(s) is/are arranged to impart lift to said stirring element(s) as said agitation device moves in a first direction relative to said material.13.A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, wherein said vane(s) is/are arranged to impart a downwardly directed force to said stirring element(s) as said agitation device moves in a second direction opposite from said first relative to said material.14. A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 13, wherein said foot member comprises a claw formation.15.A device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least two stirring elements comprise a resilient elastic material.16.A device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said stirring elements includes a surface area enhancing element or elements.17. A device according to Claim 16, wherein the surface area enhancing elements comprise at least one of: holes; protrusions; extensions; dimples; and/or ridges.18.A device according to Claim 16 or 17, wherein the surface area enhancing element comprises a hole which extends substantially over the length of the stirring element.19.An agitation device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>