Mixing Apparatus

Abstract

A mixing tank for mixing a powder or liquid in a carrier liquid having a mixing compartment and a discharge compartment separated by a weir into which the mixed liquid overflows. The mixing compartment contains a nozzle adapted to project a film of liquid around its entire periphery. The nozzle is mounted near the bottom of the compartment and below the liquid level and directs the liquid film outwardly and downwardly to agitate the liquid in the compartment and to prevent deposition of the powder or precipitate onto the bottom.

Description

This invention relates to mixing apparatus wherein a powdery material or a second liquid is mixed with a carrier or solvent.

An object is to provide an apparatus of the above type having novel and improved characteristics.

Another object is to provide a mixing apparatus wherein the incoming liquid serves to agitate the carrier liquid or solvent in the mixing compartment and to prevent deposition or sedimentation of solids on the bottom of the tank.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a tank having a vertical partition separating the interior into a mixing compartment and a discharge compartment. The top of the partition serves as a weir over which the liquid flows into the discharge compartment. The incoming liquid is introduced at the bottom of the mixing compartment in the form of a radial spray or film below the liquid level in the compartment in a manner to agitate the liquid and remove any deposit from the bottom of the tank. The mixed liquid is removed from the discharge compartment as required for use.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a mixing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1 but on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the apparatus is shown as embodying a tank 10 which is attached to a fixed wall 11 by brackets 12 (FIG. 2). It is obvious, however, that the tank may be supported in any convenient manner or may be made portable if desired.

The tank 10 includes a cylinder wall 15 and a bottom wall 16 and is provided with a separator 17 which divides the interior into a mixing compartment 18 and a discharge compartment 19. The top 20 of the separator 17 serves as a weir over which the liquid flows from the mixing compartment 18 to the discharge compartment 19. The mixed liquor is withdrawn from the discharge compartment 19 through a discharge pipe 21.

The carrier liquid or solvent is introduced through inlet pipe 25 and a nozzle 30. The inlet pipe 25 extends through the bottom 16 and may be welded or otherwise sealed thereto as by nuts 26. The nozzle 30 is threaded into the end of the pipe 25 and is adapted to clamp a ring 32 between the bottom of the nozzle and a shoulder 33 in the pipe 25.

The ring 33 carries a series of radial spider arms 34 which support an axial rod 35 extending axially through the nozzle 30 and carrying a deflector plate 36 against which the liquid from the nozzle 30 impinges and is deflected outwardly around its entire periphery. The lower surface 37 of the deflector plate 36 is channelled to deflect the liquid both outwardly and downwardly toward the bottom wall 16 of the tank.

The nozzle 30 is submerged in the liquid in the compartment 18 and the spray or film discharged therefrom serves to agitate the liquid and sets up a current which prevents a deposit or precipitate from being deposited on the bottom of the tank.

In operation, the compartment 18 is maintained filled at least to the level of the weir 20 by incoming liquid supplies through the nozzle 30. A pump not shown may be used if required for this purpose.

The top of the tank remains open, or if covered, may be opened to receive the powder or liquid for mixing. This material is placed on the top of the liquid in the compartment 18 and is mixed therewith due to the agitation produced by the nozzle 30. The mixed liquid then passes over the weir 20 into the compartment 19 from which it is withdrawn for use as desired.

In order to drain the tank or to provide circulation a series of small holes 40 may be provided at the bottom of the separator 17. When the apparatus is in use no appreciable flow takes place through these holes as the liquid head is about the same in both compartments. They assist, however, in maintaining both compartments filled during normal operation.

The apparatus above described is useful for mixing chemicals, for maintaining a chemical reaction or for mixing or dissolving a powdery material in a liquid and is adapted to effect rapid and uniform mixing of the components.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Mixing apparatus comprising a tank having bottom and side walls and having a divider separating the interior into a mixing compartment and a discharge compartment, and forming a weir over which the liquid flows from the mixing compartment to the discharge compartment, means including a fixed nozzle disposed below the liquid level in said mixing compartment extending vertically from the bottom of said mixing compartment centrally thereof and being provided with a deflector plate extending transversely thereof, said nozzle being adapted to discharge liquid radially and downwardly around its periphery and into the liquid in said compartment for agitating the same, and means withdrawing the liquid from said discharge compartment.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said plate is mounted on a rod extending through said nozzle.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which drainage holes are formed in said divider for equalizing the liquid level or for draining the mixing compartment.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said deflector plate has a surface shaped to deflect the liquid from said nozzle outwardly and downwardly toward the bottom of said compartment.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said deflector plate has a surface shaped to deflect the liquid from said nozzle around the entire periphery thereof.