GB643470A - Process and apparatus for mixing flowable materials - Google Patents

Abstract

643,470. Centrifugal mixing apparatus. SAFETY CAR HEATING & LIGHTING CO., Inc. June 20, 1947, No. 16298. Convention date, Dec. 26, 1946. [Classes 23 and 86] A continuous mixing apparatus comprises means for feeding in predetermined ratios the constituents of flowable materials, such as flour, paints, insecticides &c. into a turbulent centrifugal mixing zone, particularly suitable for mixing small percentages of minor constituents with larger quantities of major constituents. A controlled stream of the major constituents of a product is fed from a bin 2 to a screw conveyer 12 into which controlled amounts of the minor constituents are also fed, in a larger proportion than required in the final product, by screw conveyers 18, 20, 22, and 24 withdrawing materials from the bins 4, 6, 8 and 10 respectively. The constituents are fed from the bins by motors M at rates corresponding to the ratio of the constituents required in the final product. A uniform stream of the product is fed through a spout 26 to the treatment zone of a centrifugal mixing machine 28, of the type described in Specification 563,052, comprising a lower annular plate 36 extending outwardly from the base of a frustro-conical hub portion 34 and a top annular plate 40 mounted on vertical and concentrically-spaced impactors 38 to form a treatment zone between the plates 38, 40. The intermediate product and the correct amount of the major constituent are withdrawn from the bins 46, 2 by screw conveyors 48, 52 respectively and fed into a similar mixing machine 50 so that the final product received in the bin 62 contains the constituents in the ratio required. The final product may be produced by several intermediate stages followed by a final mixing operation. In a modification. star feeders regulate the amounts of the different constituents which fall on to a constant speed endless belt which deposits the accumulated stream into one, or more, centrifugal machines. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also a drying arrangement in which moist flour in a bin 100, Fig. 3 (Cancelled), is fed at a constant rate by a star feeder 102 through a spout 103 to a centrifugal machine 104. At the same time, a relatively large stream of air is blown by a fan 106 through a heating coil 108 and a spout 110 into the machine 104 to treat the flow. The latter is then fed into a separating bin 112 where substantially all of the air separates from the flour and is discharged through a cyclone separator 114 by a fan 116. The flour from the bin 113 and the separator 114 is discharged to a storage bin 118 through star feeders 120 and 122 respectively. A further arrangement comprises similar means for bleaching flow. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.