US2814473A

US2814473A - Fluid agitator

Info

Publication number: US2814473A
Application number: US511065A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold J Kroll
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-05-25
Filing date: 1955-05-25
Publication date: 1957-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1957' H...J. KROLL' 2,814,473

` FLUID AGITATOR Filed may z5. 1 955 2 sheets-sheet z Y El l i3 V INVENToR.

24 y Hm/d kwil United States Patent O l' FLUID AGITATOR Harold J. Kroll, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 511,065

7 Claims. (Cl. 259-108) This invention relates to a fluid agitator and more particularly to a device adapted for manual operation and selective application to and removal from a lluid container having a relatively small filler opening.

While the present invention is adapted primarily for use in conjunction with an auxiliary fuel tank for an outboard motor, operated on a mixture of gasoline and oil, the device may be applied to and us-ed with equal facility for the purpose of agitating fluids in any container having a relatively small filler opening.

For many years small gasoline engines, which have been operated on a fuel comprising a mixture of gasoline and oil, have received their fuel supply from a tank which formed an integral part of the machine whether the same was a lawnmower, outboard motor or similar machine. ln all of these instances, the machine itself was either portable in use or subject to ready movement to effect the desired and thorough mixing of the gasoline and oil prior to the starting of the engine.

With the advent of the use of larger outboard motors and also multiple motor installations on boats, it has become common practice to install and lixedly position an auxiliary tank, capable of holding several gall-ons of fuel, in the boat. The fixed mounting of a large capacity fuel tank in the boat has presented a serious problem with reference to the adequate and proper mixing of the oil and gasoline within the tank, prior to starting the motor, to insure proper lubrication to prevent the burning out of the bearings in the motor.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved fluid agitator which may be manually operated and selectively applied to or removed from a fluid container having a relatively small filler cap opening. The agitator serves to insure the adequate and proper mixing of the oil and gasoline prior to the starting of the motor.

Another object of the present invention resides in the t' provision of a new and improved iluid agitator including an impeller having radially extending blades which are capable of being deflected from their normal horizontally extended position to a vertical position to reduce the normal operating diameter of the impeller to a size that will permit its ready insertion into or the removal from the relatively small filler opening of a container.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved iluid agitator mounting and positioning means which is capable of ready application to or removal from the filler opening of a container.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and improved guiding, positioning, and mounting means adapted for removable application to the liller opening of a container to releasably retain the fluid agitator in operating position thereon.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision in the fluid agitator mounting means of a yieldable, deformable or expandable member adapted to engage the filler opening of the container'to provide the Z,8l4,473 Patented Nov. 26, l'?

ICC

means for guiding, positioning and mounting the agitator on the container.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple, inexpensive, durable, and effective fluid agitator which may be manually manipulated to insure the thorough mixing of the yoil and gasoline Within the container prior to the starting of the outboard motor or motors.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an auxiliary fuel tank now commonly employed in conjunction with an outboard motor with parts broken away to illustrate the application of a lluid agitator constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the impeller constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the ller opening of the container with the agitator shown in normally extended position in full lines within the container; the dotted line showing of the agitator indicates the deflected position of the several impeller blades to facilitate the insertion of the agitator through the relatively small filler opening; the dot-dash line showing indicates the position assumed by the several impeller blades as the impeller is being withdrawn from the Container through the relatively small iiller opening; and also showing, in vertical section, the agitator positioning, guiding, and retaining means, in unexpanded condition adapted for ready insertion into the filler opening prior to its expansion to releasably retain the agitator in operating position within the container;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the agitator positioning, guiding, and mounting means;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing the deflected position of the several impeller blades to facilitate their admission through the relatively small filler opening in the container; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing a means for securing the shank portion of the impeller'onto the agitator shaft.

Before entering into a detailed description of the structure and operation of the present device, it is deemed advisable to mention the particular advantage of the present fluid agitator in lconnection with its use as a means for effectively mixing the oil and gasoline used as fuel for internal combustion engines, While the present invention is designed primarily for use in conjunction with auxiliary fuel tanks which are usually xedly mounted in the boat, at a position remote from the outboard motor which it supplies with fuel, it is to be understood that the Huid agitator will operate with equal facility in conjunction with any container which holds fluids which should be thoroughly agitated or mixed prior to their being Withdrawn from the container.

In the past, many outboard motors have been severely damaged or even ruined by having their bearings burned out due to the fact that the fuel supplied to them, at the time of starting, contained an insufficient proportion of oil to properly lubricate them.

Since the specific gravity of gasoline and oil are not equal, the two tend to separate during periods of idleness of either the boat or motor. For this reason, it is imperative that the contents of the container be thoroughly mixed to insure the proper mixture of oil and gasoline which is supplied to the motor when it is started. The lluid agitator, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, provides a simple and eective device which may be releasably retained in operating position in a container. The present Huid agitator is adapted for ready insertion into the container through the relatively small ller opening; it may readily be operated to thoroughly agitate and mix the uids in the container and it may be readily withdrawn from the container, if desired, after the thorough mixing operation has been completed.

Referring more particularly to Fig; l of the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that a iiuid agitator 1d, ccnstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, is adapted for removable application to a container 11 through a filler opening 12 which is normally of small diameter. The container 11 chosen for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing comprises a large capacity auxiliary fuel tank of the type adapted for fixed positioning in a boat to form a fuel supply for an outboard motor.

A vertically disposed shaft 13 carries an impeller 14 xedly mounted on its lower extremity. The upper end of the shaft 13 is bent outwardly to form a crank arm 15 on which an operating handle 16 is rotatably mounted.

A guide, positioning, and mounting means 17, carried by the shaft 13, serves as a means by which the device is removably applied to and releasably retained in the filler opening 12 of the container 11.

The impeller 14 is preferably formed of suitable yieldable resilient material such as neoprene and includes a cylindrical shank portion 18 provided with an axial bore 19 adapted to be slidably received over the lower extremity of the shaft 13. The impeller 14 is retained in fixed position on the shaft 13 by the application of a pin 20 which passes through aligned holes 21 and 22 formed respectively in the shaft 13 and the shank portion 18 of the impeller 14. A plurality of radially extending blades 23 project outwardly adjacent the lower extremity of the cylindrical shank portion 18 of the impeller 14 and the lower end of the impeller 14 is provided with a downwardly projecting tip 24 which forms a bumper adapted to Contact the bottom of the container `11 so as to position the radially extending blades 23 in spaced relationship with the bottom of the container 11 when the agitator is in operating position within the container. It should be noted, that the blades 23 of the impeller 14 are cast integrally with the cylindrical shank portion 18 and normally lie in a plane disposed at a right angle to that of the axis of the cylindrical shank portion 18 of the impeller 14. It should also be noted that neck portion 25 which form the junctions between the shank portion 18 and the blades 23 of the impeller 14 are of reduced diameter to permit vertical detiection of the blades for the purpose of reducing the normal diameter of the impeller to a size which will permit its insertion into and withdrawal from the relative small diameter of the filler opening 12 of the container 11.

The positioning, mounting, and guide means 17 is operable to releasably retain the iluid agitator 10 in desired position in the filler opening 12 of the container 11 and comprises a bearing member 26, preferably formed of metal, having an axially disposed central bore 27 adapted to slidably receive the shaft 13 to form a bearing for the same. The lower extremity of the bearing member 26 includes a head 28 having an inwardly and upwardly tapering surface` 29 provided with an outwardly extending ear or lug 30. The upwardly extending shank portion of the bearing member 26 is provided with threading 31. adapted to receive an internally threaded sleeve 32 which forms a part of a jamb nut 33 that includes a anged head 34 and a downwardly extending shank portion 35 which terminates at its lower extremity in an inner and downwardly tapering surface 36. The peripheral surface of the flanged head 34 includes a plurality of outwardly projecting ears 37 which serve to facilitate the manual tightening of the jamb nut 33 on the bearing member 26. An expandable or deformable member 38 including a flanged head 39 and a depending body portion 40 surrounds the shank portion 35 of the nut 33 and is adapted for positioning between the bearing member 26 and the jamb nut 33. The expandable member 38 may be provided with a radially extending axially disposed cut or slot 41 which splits the ring for the purpose of facilitating its expansion or contraction in response to relative movement between the jamb nut 33 and the bearing member 26. In order to accomplish the desired expansion or contraction of the deformable member 38, it is provided with an axially disposed central opening formed of contiguous axially aligned surfaces including a cylindrical uppermost surface 43 adapted to contact the outer surface of the shank portion 35 on the jamb nut 33. A downwardly and inwardly tapering surface 44 is adapted to be engaged by the tapering surface 36 of the jamb nut 33 as it is moved toward the bearing member 26. The lower end of the tapering surface 44 merges into a cylindrical surface 45 adapted to surround and contact the outer surface of the shank portion of the bearing member 26. The lower extremity of the cylindrical surface 45 merges into a downwardly and outwardly tapering surface 46 adapted to contact the tapered surface 29 formed on the head 28 of the bearing member 26. It should be noted that the flanged head 39 of the deformable member 38 is provided with ears 47 adapted to facilitate the holding of the member 38 as the jamb nut 33 is tightened or loosened. Relative rotational movement between the bearing member 26 and the member 38 is precluded by the positioning of the lug 3i) which projects from the head 28 of the bearing member 26 in the cut or slot 41 formed in the deformable member 38. The member 38 is expanded or contracted at will by the tightening or loosening of the jamb nut 33 which cooperates with the bearing member 26 to apply or release pressure on the tapering

surfaces

44 and 46 of the member 38. The application of gripping pressure between tapered surfaces 29 and 36 of the jamb nut 33 and the bearing member 26 on the

tapered surfaces

44 and 46 of the member 33 while the loosening of the jamb nut 33 on the bearing member 26 will operate to relieve the pressure between the several tapered surfaces and permit the deformable member 38 to assume its normal contracted position.

A brief description of the application of the uid agitator 10 to the container 11 and its removal therefrom Iwill serve to illustrate the simplicity of the present device. The only preparation required for the application of the uid `agitator 10 to the container 11 comprises the removal of the ller cap from the opening 12 in the container 11 and the loosening of the jamb nut 33 on the agitator positioning and guide means 17 to insure that the deformable member 38 is in its contracted position. The tip 24 of the impeller 14 is then placed within the filler opening 12 of the container 11 with the blades 23 of the impeller 14 resting upon the upper marginal edge -of the filler opening 12. Slight downward pressure upon the shaft 13 of the agitator 10 will cause the free ends of the several blades 23 of the impeller `14 to `be deflected and move upwardly. Continued downward movement of the shaft 13 will result in the blades l23 assuming the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 as they pass downwardly through the relatively :small diametered opening 12 in the container 11. Reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing clearly illustrates the `deflected position of the impeller blades 23 Vas they are moved downwardly through the filler opening 12 of the container 11. As the tips of the several blades 23 pass beyond the lower marginal edge of the filler opening 12 and beyond the lower marginal edge of the depending shroud surrounding the ller opening 12, the blades will spring to their normal extended position which is at a right angle with the cylindrical shank portion 18 of the impeller 14. The member 38 may then be inserted into the filler opening 12 of the container 11 to a. point where the under surface of the anged head 39 of the member 38 engages the upper surface of the ller opening 12. In the event that the ller cap lfor the opening 12 of the container 11 is held captive 'by the usual chain, the member 38 should be so applied that the chain is disposed within an axial groove 48 formed in the outer surface of the split ring member 38. Alfter the split ring member vhas 'been properly positioned `within the ller opening 12, the ears 47 on the member 38 are grasped by one 'hand and the ears 37 of the jamb nut 33 are -grasped 'by the other hand and the jarnb nut 33 is manually rot-ated to cause it to move down- Wardly along the threaded portion 31 of the bearing member 26. Continued rotation of the jamb nut 33 toward the head 28 of the bearing member 26 will result in surface contact between the cooperating tapered surfaces '29 on t-he jamb nut 33, and 36 on the head 28 of the lbe'arin-g member 26, with the

surfaces

44 and 46 on the member 38 to effect the expansion of the member 38 into frictional gripping contact with the inner surface of theliller opening 12 to releasably retain the fluid agitator 11i in desired position in the container 11i. The yshaft 13 of the fluid agitator 10 may 'be lowered to a position in which the tip 24 on the impeller 14 contacts the inner bottom surface `of the container 11, as shown in Fig. l, and the impeller 14 may be rotated by grasping and turning the operating handle 16 in either direction to effeet the desired agitating and mixing of the fluid within lthe container under the action of the several impeller blades 23.

After the mixing operation has been completed, the fluid agitator 1i? may be removed from the container 11, rif desired, by loosening of the jamb nut 33 to permit the member 38 to return to its normal contracted position in which it may readily be lifted from the filler opening 12 of the container 11. Upward movement of the shaft 13 will result in contact between the top surfaces of the several impeller blades 23 `and the lower `surface of the shroud which surrounds the filler opening 12. Continued upward movement of the shaft 13 will effect the downward deflection of the several blades 23 and continued upward movement of the shaft 13 will cause the blades 23 to be further deflected to assume positions which are substantially parallel and permit them to be withdrawn through the filler opening 12. Reference to the dot-dash 'line showing of Fig. 3 illustrates the deflected position assumed by the several blades 23 of the impeller 14 as they `are being drawn upwardly through the filler opening 12.

:From the .foregoing detailed description of the present invention, it will be noted that a new'and improved fluid agitator has been provided which is adapted for ready application to and removal from any container having la relatively small filler opening. The basic concept of the present invention is predicated upon the provision of a new and improved impeller formed of resilient yieldya'ble material in which the impeller lblades normally lie -in extended positions disposed at a right angle to the axis lof the impeller. The yieldable resilient characteristic of the impeller 14 makes it possible for its blades to ybe deflected to positions in which they lie substantially paral- -lel to the axis of the shank 18 of the impeller 14 to thereby permit the ready insertion of the impeller 14 through a relatively -small l'ler opening in the tank. After the impeller 14 has passed through the ller opening 12 in the container 11, the resilient nature of the material from Iwhich the impeller is made permits the blades to reasvsume their normal extended positions in which the Iactive diameter of the impeller is several times greater than the diameter of the ller opening through which the impeller ywas inserted.

From the foregoing detailed description it will 'be apparent that a sim-ple and effective fluid agitator has been provided which may readily be applied to or removed from Ia Huid container having a small filler opening.

While the device has been described in considerable detail 4in conjunction with its use as an agitator for mixing gasoline and oil used as f-uel for powering internal combustion engines, it is to 'be understood that the inven- -tion may be used with equal facility for agitating and mixing liquids in any containers having a small mouth opening.

While the invention has been d-escribed in considerable detail in the foregoing specification i-t i-s to be understood that various changes may be made in its embodiment without 'departing from or sacrificing 'any of the advantages hereinafter claimed.

lclairn:

l. A fluid agitator for application through and retent-ion in the filler opening of a container, said agitator comprising `a positioning and Iguide means securable in the filler opening of the container, an operating shaft journal'led for axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material fixedly secured to the other end of -said shaft, said impeller including a shank porti-on and radial-ly extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, said impeller 'blades having a spread considerably `greater than the diameter of the ller opening of the container, said blades being deflectable in opposite directions under pressure contact with the filler opening through .axial movement in opposite directions -of said operating shaft through the filler opening in the container to deflect said blades from their laterally extended positions to positions parallel to the axis of said shank portion to permit the passage of the impeller 'blades through the filler opening, said impeller blades being returnable to their normal extended positions under the action of the resilient characteristic of the impeller when the same is disposed either within or without the container.

2. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filler opening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guide means securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioning means including a member deformable under pressure to engage and frictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said filler opening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material xedly attached to the other end of said shaft, said impeller including a shank portion and radially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, each of said blades including a yieldable neck portion connecting said blade and said shank portions whereby said blades are deflectable in one direction to a position wherein they lie parallel to the axis of said shank portion to permit the insertion of said impeller through the ller opening and dellectable in the opposite direction upon removal of said impeller from the container, said blades being returnable to their normally extended positions under the action of said yieldable neck portions.

3. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filler opening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guide means securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioning means including a member deformable under pressure to engage and frictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said filler opening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turningmeans applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material including a shank portion xedly secured to the other end of said shaft and a plurality of radially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, said impeller blades having a spread considerably greater than the diameter of the filler opening of the container, said blades being deilectable in opposite directions under pressure contact with the liller opening upon axial movement of said operating shaft through the ller opening in the container to selectively permit the admission or removal of said impeller through the ller opening, said impeller blades being returnable to their normal extended positions under the action of the resilient characteristic of the impeller when the same is disposed either within or without the container.

4. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filler opening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guide means securable in the ller opening of the container, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material and including a shank portion tixedly attached to the other end of said shaft and a plurality of radially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said operating shaft, each of said blades including a resilient portion connecting said blade and said shank portion whereby said blades are deectable in one direction to permit the insertion of said impeller through the ller opening and deectable in the opposite direction to permit the removal of said impeller through the ller opening, said blades being deflectable in the opposite direction to permit the withdrawal of said impeller through the ller opening, said blades being returnable to their normally extended positions under the action of said resilient portions.

5. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filler opening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guide means securable in the filler opening of the container, an operating shaft journalled for `axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material including a shank portion xedly secured to the other end of said shaft and a plurality of radially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, said impeller blades having a spread considerably greater than the diameter of the filler opening of the container, said blades being deectable in one direction under pressure Contact with the ller opening in response to axial movement of said operating shaft through the filler opening in the container to permit the insertion of said impeller through the filler opening and deflectable in the opposite direction to permit the removal of said impeller through the filler opening, said impeller blades being returnable to their normal extended positions under the action of the resilient characteristic of the impeller when the same is disposed either within or without the container.

6. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the ller opening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guide means securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioning means including a member deformable under pressure to engage and frictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said filler opening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material and including a shank portion lixedly attached to the other end of said shaft and a plurality of radially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis` of said shank portion, each of said blades including a resilient portion connecting said blade and said shank portion whereby said blades are dellectable in one direction to permit the insertion of said impeller through the filler opening and detlectable in the opposite direction to permit the withdrawal of said impeller through the ller opening, said blades being returnable to their normally extended positions under the action of said resilient portions.

7. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the ller opening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guide means securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioning means including a member deformable under pressure to engage and frictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said iiller opening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movement in said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material including a shank portion xedly secured to the other end of said shaft and a plurality of radially 'extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said operating shaft, said impeller blades having a spread considerably greater than the diameter of the filler opening of the container, said blades being dellectable in one direction under pressure Contact with the filler opening upon axial movement of said operating shaft through the filler opening in the container to deflect said blades to a position wherein their axes are disposed in parallel relationship with the axis of said shank portion permit the insertion of the impeller through the filler opening and deliectable in the opposite direction to permit the withdrawal of said impeller through the iller opening, said impeller blades being returnable to their normal extended positions under the action of the resilient characteristic of the impeller when the same is disposed either within or without the container.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,216,722 Patten Feb. 20, 1917 2,045,710 Haywood June 30, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 34,929 Sweden a Oct. 6, 1911 520,474 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1940