U.S. patent number 3,744,765 [Application Number 05/193,275] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for turbine mixer.
Invention is credited to Max L. Bard.
United States Patent |
3,744,765 |
Bard |
July 10, 1973 |
TURBINE MIXER
Abstract
A turbine mixer in which a turbine type impeller is immersed in
a vat containing liquids and solids to be mixed. The turbine when
rotating in liquids of differing viscosities tends to either
produce a vortex or open space such as would starve the intake side
of the turbine and prevent its operation or overfill the vortex
producing excessive load factors. A pump is provided to draw
material either from the side of the vat or from the bottom of the
vortex and pump it to the opposite position to control the vortex
so as to be filled to the desired depth.
Inventors: |
Bard; Max L. (Joplin, MO) |
Family
ID: |
22712948 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/193,275 |
Filed: |
October 28, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/265;
261/87 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F
3/04539 (20130101); B01F 7/1625 (20130101); B01F
7/00241 (20130101); B01F 3/04617 (20130101); B01F
2003/04567 (20130101); B01F 2003/04638 (20130101); B01F
2003/04546 (20130101); B01F 2003/04645 (20130101); B01F
2003/04687 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01F
3/04 (20060101); B01F 15/00 (20060101); B01F
7/16 (20060101); B01F 7/00 (20060101); B01f
005/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;259/95,96,107,108 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jenkins; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Coe; Philip R.
Claims
I claim:
1. A turbine mixer comprising a vat for containing liquid and solid
materials to be mixed, a shaft supported vertically in said vat in
offset relation to the axis of said vat for rotation therein, means
connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft, a turbine mixer
element secured to the lower end of said shaft in said vat, and
means for moving liquid materials to and from the outer lower side
edges of the vat to and from the bottom center of said vat below
said turbine mixer to control the vortex in said vat.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the
material includes a pump, first conduit means connecting said pump
to the lower side portion of said vat, second conduit means
connecting said pump centrally of the bottom of said vat, and valve
means controlling the flow of material through said first and
second conduit means for moving material in either direction from
the bottom of said vat to the side of said vat.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said turbine mixer
element is provided with a hub, a central disk secured to said hub
and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of mixing and
pumping teeth formed on the peripheral edge of said disk with at
least some of the teeth being sloped upwardly and downwardly from
the plane of said disk, and means on said hub for directing fluids
in said vat into contact with said teeth.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for directing
fluid against said teeth is positioned above and below said
disk.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for directing
fluid against said teeth includes a pair of annular venturi formed
adjacent the outer edges of said disk.
6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a pair of annular venturi
are formed adjacent the outer edges of said disk between said fluid
directing means and said disk and means are provided on said fluid
directing means for feeding fluid into each of said annular
venturi.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein means are provided in
said turbine mixer element for introducing air or gas into the
materials being mixed.
8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means for introducing
air or gas includes a venturi throat at the point of intermix of
the air or gas with the materials being mixed.
9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means for introducing
air or gas includes a plurality of conduits formed in said disk and
extending from a hollow shaft.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for moving
liquid materials to and from the outer lower side edges of the vat
to and from the bottom center of the vat include a pump for
supplying the liquid materials under pressure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rotary mixers of the type for
dispersing solids in a fluid.
2. Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a rotary mixer in which a
turbine type mixer element is rotated in a vat containing solids
and liquids to be thoroughly mixed. The rotating mixing element is
of a turbine type and with some viscosities of liquid will normally
produce a vortex or hollow as mixing progresses, with other
viscosities the vortex is too full. A pump is provided for pumping
a part of the contents of the vat from the edge thereof to the
center underlying the vortex or in a reverse direction to control
the vortex.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a turbine mixer
combined with a vortex control system.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following
specification when considered in the light of the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the invention;
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one of the control valves;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the turbine mixer element shown
partially broken away and in section for convenience of
illustration;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the
line 6--6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the
line 7--7 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken
along the line 8--8 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the
arrows;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken
along the line 9--9 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the
arrows;
FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 10--10
of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a modified disk;
FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 12--12 of
FIG. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows; and
FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of modified air feeding
systems of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference
characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures the
reference numeral 10 indicates generally a turbine mixer
constructed in accordance with the invention.
The turbine mixer 10 includes a vat 12 having a mixer shaft 17
mounted conventionally therein on one side thereof. A turbine mixer
element generally indicated at 18 is secured to the lower end of
the shaft 17.
The vat 12 has a conical bottom wall 19 as can be seen in FIGS. 1
and 2. A pump 20 is positioned adjacent the vat 12 and has a
conduit 21 extending from its inlet side to the side of the vat 12
adjacent the bottom wall 19 thereof. A conduit 22 extends from the
outlet side of the pump 20 to the center of the bottom 19 of the
vat 12.
A conduit 23 extends from the conduit 21 to the conduit 22 adjacent
the pump 20. A conduit 24 extends from the conduit 21 closer to the
pump 20 than the conduit 23 to the conduit 22 closer to the vat
than the conduit 23. A three-way plug valve 25 connects the conduit
21 to each of the conduits 23, 24 and a three-way plug valve 25
connects the conduit 22 to the conduit 24. By properly aligning the
valves 25A, 25B and 25C the pump 20 can pump materials from the
side to the bottom of vat 12 or in the reverse while the pump 20
rotates in the same direction.
The turbine mixer element 18 includes a central hub 27 which is
adapted to engage over a stub shaft 28 extending out of the bottom
of the hollow shaft 17. The stub shaft 28 has a nut 29 threaded
onto its lower end clamping the hub 27 to the lower end of the
shaft 17. A disk 30 is secured in the hub 27 and extends radially
outwardly therefrom. Teeth 31, 32 are integrally formed on the
peripheral edge of the disk 30 with the teeth 31 being inclined
upwardly from the plane of the disks 30 and the teeth 32 being
inclined downwardly from the plane of the disks 30.
A ring 33 is integrally secured to the hub 27 and extends upwardly
therefrom to engage around the lower end of the shaft 17. A second
ring 34 is arranged concentric to the ring 33 and spaced outwardly
therefrom. A plurality of sloping impeller blades 35 extend between
and are rigidly secured to the rings 33, 34 so that rotation of the
turbine mixer element 18 will cause fluid in the tank 12 to flow
into the space beneath the rings 33, 34 onto the disk 30.
A ring 36 having the same dimensions as the ring 33 is rigidly
secured to the lower end of the hub 27 and a second ring 37 is
arranged concentric therewith and spaced outwardly therefrom. A
plurality of sloping impeller blades 38 extend between and are
rigidly secured to the rings 36, 37 to move fluids in the vat 12
upwardly to the space above the rings 36, 37 as can be seen in FIG.
5. A downwardly and outwardly sloping venturi plate 39 is secured
to the lower edge of the ring 34 and extends downwardly and
outwardly therefrom with an arcuate outer portion curving back
upwardly. The venturi plate 39 has a plurality of perforations 40
formed therein for reasons to be assigned. An arcuate feeder plate
41 is secured to the venturi plate 39 to form a feeding chamber 42
as can be seen in FIG. 5. The feeding chamber 42 has an open inlet
end 43 and tapers toward a reduced cross-section open rear end 44.
A plurality of spiral impeller blades B are secured to each side of
the disk 30 to assist in moving liquids outwardly.
Rotation of the turbine mixing element 18 causes fluid in the vat
12 to flow into the chambers 42 and to be forced outwardly
therefrom through the orifices 40 into the space above the
disk30.
A venturi plate 45 identical to the venturi plate 39 is secured to
the upper end of the ring 37 sloping upwardly and outwardly
therefrom toward the disk 30. A lower arcuate feeder plate 46
identical to the upper arcuate feeder plate 41 is secured to the
venturi plate 45 to operate in the same manner as the upper feeder
plate 41 to feed fluid materials through the orifices 47 in the
venturi plate 45. The venturi plates 45, 47 taper toward the disk
30 so as to form an annular venturi opening which assists in moving
material through the orifices 40, 47. The orifices 40, 47 are
largest at the inlet end of the feeder plates 41, 46 and become
gradually smaller at the opposite end thereof.
As the turbine mixer element 18 rotates liquid and solid material
are drawn downwardly between the rings 33, 34 and upwardly between
the rings 36, 37 into the spaces above and below the disks 30. The
material is thrown outwardly by the blades B through the venturi
opening past the orifices 40, 47 where additional material flows
into the stream with all of the material then being moved past the
combined mixing and pumping teeth 31, 32 on the disk 30 to assist
in dispersing the solids in the liquids. Ports P, P' extend from
the hollow shaft 17 to to the spaces above and below the disk 30 to
supply air or gas when needed.
The nature of the turbine mixer element 18 is such that a vortex or
hollow spot in the liquid materials in the vat 12 would normally
form in thin materials as soon as high speed rotation thereof
occurs. In order to control the vortex and thus improve the
efficiency of the mixer element 18 the pump 20 pumps material
either from the edge of the vat 12 into the center at the bottom
thereof or in a reverse direction to control the vortex by filling
or emptying liquid therefrom as required.
By controlling the vortex in the use of the turbine mixer of the
present invention sustained high speed operation can be maintained
without loss of mixing efficiency due to an improper vortex being
formed.
In FIGS. 11 and 12 a modified disk 30' is illustrated. The disk 30'
has a plurality of relative fine upwardly sloping teeth 31'
integrally formed on the peripheral edge thereof and sloping
upwardly at various angles. A plurality of relatively fine teeth
32' are also integrally formed on the peripheral edge of the disk
30' and slope downwardly at various angles. The disk 30' is used as
a replacement for the disk 30 with all other features of the
invention remaining the same as well as its use and operation.
In FIG. 13 a modified turbine mixer element is indicated generally
at 18'. The mixing element 18' is adapted to supply air or gas to
the liquid and solid materials being mixed to assist in entraining
the air or gas in the liquid.
The turbine mixer element 18' includes a hollow shaft 17' having a
relative thick disk 30A secured to its lower end. A shaft extension
17A is secured to the disk 30A by a bolt 28' and nut 29'. A
downwardly and outwardly sloping venturi plate 39' is integrally
secured to a ring 34' and terminates at its outer end in an annular
feeder plate 41'. A passage 100 extends from the hollow shaft 17'
through the venturi plate 39' to a venturi throat 101 which opens
between the chamber 42' and the space above the disk 30A.
A hollow arm 102 extends from the shaft 17A into the space beneath
the venturi plate 39' and above the disk 30A and communicates with
a venturi throat 103 arranged parallel thereto and spaced apart
therefrom.
A passage 104 extends from the hollow shaft 17' downwardly into the
disk 30A and outwardly to a manifold passage 105 formed in an
annular enlarged portion 106 of the disk 30A. Ports 107 and 108
extend upwardly and downwardly respectively from the manifold
passage 105 to feed air or gas into the space above and below the
disk 30A. A passage 109 extends downwardly from the shaft 17A to
the disk 30A and the shaft extension 17A and outwardly through a
venturi disk 45' identical to the venturi disk 39' to feed air or
gas to a throat 110 identical to the venturi throat 101.
A conduit 111 extends from a source of liquid under pressure and
has a venturi 112 formed therein to aspirate air through a conduit
113 connected thereto. Heat exchange elements 114 are connected to
the conduit 111 for heating or cooling the material flowing
therethrough. A conduit 115 is connected to the underside of the
turbine mixer element 18' through which to feed air or gas directly
when required.
In FIG. 13 a number of ways of feeding air or gas into the turbine
mixer 18' have been illustrated and it should be understood that
each turbine mixer 18' may be provided with one or more of each of
the air or gas feeding structures which may be then used either
simultaneously or selectively as desired.
Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention it
should be understood that numerous structural modifications and
adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of
the invention.
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