US2268038A - Mixing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30', 1941. T EL 2,268,038

' MIXING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1940 A INVENTOR jx/orberf Knz' He L.

ATTCJRNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE one-third to Werner G. 0. Frank and one-third to Fred A. Landgraber, both of Bloomfield,

Application November 16, 1940, Serial No. 365,856

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mixers and, more particularly, to a mixer for mixing liquids or for mixing a solid or semi-solid matter and a liquid.

In the past'in devices of this character many parts were required, such as baffles or stirring blades, which parts notonly make the machine diflicult to clean but, generally, such mixers were merely an elaboration upon a stirring operation, whichoperation is not fully efficient. It is also usuaLafter mixing, that the mixture be drawn off by gravity orsepar-ate pumping mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing device which will dissolve solid or semi-solids and a liquid by mixing the same and commix liquids in a manner to secure uniform dispersion throughout.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a mixing device whichhas few parts, which parts may be readily removed for cleaning and the machine cleaned quickly and easily.

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the top of the rotor;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of said rotor;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the connection between the hub of the rotor and the rotatable shaft.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The invention comprises a container or mixing tank Ill, having an opening II in the bottom thereof, below which is formed an auxiliary chamber I2.

Within the opening [2 is a rotor plate l3, the

periphery of which. is closely adjacent the side of I the opening H. The rotor l3 comprises a hub I4 a mixing machine in which the mixed contents may bequickly removed from the machine through operation of the mixing mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing machine in which the contents are agitated in a container and passed to an auxiliary chamber, there to be forced back into the container, recirculated and mixed.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious or will appear during the course of the following specification.

The objects of thepresent invention are. accomplished by providing a tank which acts as a mixing chamber, said tank having an opening in the bottom thereof, below which is an auxiliary cover to the auxiliarychamber is a rotor plate having agitator blades ,inthe central portion thereof, projecting into the tank. Around the blades is a rim having louvres formed therein which extend through the rotor and are in communication with the auxiliary chamber. On the bottom of the rotor and projecting into the auxiliary chamber is a plurality of impeller vanes. The rotor is mounted on a rotatable shaft which may be driven by any desirable means. The auxiliary chamber is in communication with the tank through, an opening adjacent the periphery of the rotor. The auxiliary chamber is also in connection with a valve controlled outlet.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away to show the rotor plate;

rality of louvres I! which project upwardly from and extend through said rim I6 forming openings between the container 10 and the auxiliary chamber l2.

On the bottom of the rim l6 of the rotor l3 and extending from the inner to the outer edge thereof are formed a plurality of impeller vanes l8 which project into the auxiliary chamber l2 The rotor I3 is mounted on a rotatable shaft l9 which is driven by any desirable source, such as a motor M, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The drive shaft l9 hasa flangeZfl formed thereon on which the bottom surface of the hub l4 rests. Adjacent the top of the shaft is a pin l9a which projects from diametrically opposite sides of said shaft.

The hub M has diametrically opposite slots 2i adapted to receive the pin I9a, as the rotor is placed on the shaft I9. I

The top surface of the hub has two oppositely disposed helically inclined cam surfaces22 and 23, having shoulders 24 and 25 formed therebetween. When the bottom surface ofthe hub l4 rests .upon the flange 20, the pins 19a project outwardly over the cam surfaces 22 and 23 at their lowest points. By turning the rotor I3 in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in the drawing, so that. the higher portion of the inclined cam surfaces are brought into contact with the pins I900, the rotor is firmly fastened and held in the drive shaft l9.

Formed in the bottom of the tank It] and in the side wall of the chamber l2 at the periphery thereof is a slot 28 which is in communication With'the chamber l2 which forms a port therebetweenand the interior of the tank III. A discharge'outlet 29 is connected to the auxiliary chamber l2, said outlet having a valve 30 therein, which is used to open and close said outlet. A strainer 3| may be connected to the outlet side of the valve. If desired a pipe may be fastened to the outlet side of the valve for the purpose of distributing the mixed contents,

When it is desired to use the device of this invention the liquids to be mixed, or the liquids and. solids which are to be mixed are placed within the tank The motor M is then started which, as shown by way of example in the drawing, rotates the rotor I 3 in a counterclockwise direction. The tank I0 is preferablyrectangue lar or square. Since the action of the rotor tends to whirl the contents of the tank, the corners of the 'square tank breaks the swirl which helps to break-up and thoroughly mix the ingredients.

As the rotor 53 is rotated, the agitator blades I5 whirl the product in the tank ll] forcing it, through centrifugal force, toward the side of the tank. A portion of the mixture at the bottom of the tank l0 passes downwardly between the agitator blades l5 whereit comes in contact with the impeller vanes IS in the auxiliary chamber i2, such contact causing the product, through centrifugal force, to be forced to the outer edge of the chamber, the impeller vanes I8 at the same time forcefully impelling the product being mixed, out of the auxiliary chamber 12 upwardlythrough the slot 28 and 'by'assuring a complete and thorough dispersion of all of the mixture in the tank.

The'louvres vI'll agitate the mixture, chopping or breaking any solid. matter with which they come. in contact and also pass a portion of the product being mixed into the chamber 12.

'The openings provided in the rotor 13 "through the louvres I! prevent excess pressure being built up in the chamber l2 by the impeller vanes I8 and thus prevents overheating of the mixture which is very detrimental to some mixtures, for example, when yeast is being dissolved in water. Any excess pressure is released upwardly through the louvres.

In emptying the tank in, the valve 30 is opened, the impeller vanes l8 then forcing the mixture which'enters theauxiliary chamber [2 a between the agitator blades l5 and through the louvres I! through the outlet 29 serving to pump the mixture from the tank quickly.

When it is desired to clean the mixing device of this invention, it may easily and quickly be done by turning the rotor in a counter-clockwise direction, so that the pins I90. are released from the portions of the cam surfaces 23 andZd and are brought adjacent the slots 2! in the hub. The rotor may then belifted from the shaft l9.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations rotor plate rotatably mounted in said auxiliary chamber the periphery thereof registering with the edge of said opening and acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, agitator blades on the top of said rotor plate and projecting into said containerja plurality of louvres disposed on the top of said plate and, extending therethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottom of said plate, projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a port in the bottom of said container adjacent the peripheryof said rotor connecting said chamber and said container, and means for rotating said plate.

2. In a mixing machine, a rectangular shaped container having an opening in the bottom thereof and an auxiliary chamber positioned below said opening, a rotor plate rotatably mounted in said auxiliary chamberthe periphery registering with the edge of saidopening and acting as a'cover to said auxiliary chamber, agitator blades on'the top of said rotor plate and projecting into said container, a plurality of louvres disposed on the top of said plate and extending therethrough, a plurality of impeller varies on the bottom of said plate, projectinginto said auxiliary chamber, a 'port inthe j bottom of said container adjacent the periphery of said rotor connecting said chambenand said container, and means for rotatingsaid plate.

3. In a mixing machine, a container having an opening in the bottom thereof and an auxiliary chamber position below said opening, a valve controlled discharge outlet connected to said auxiliary chamber, a rotor plate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and said container and acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, agitator blades on the top of said rotor plate and projecting into said container, a plurality-of louvres disposed on the top of said plate and extending therethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottom of said plate, projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a

port in the bottom of said container, adjacent the periphery, of said rotor connecting said chamber and said container, and means for rotating said plate. a

, 4. In a mixingmachine, a container having an opening in thebottom thereof and an auxiliary chamber position'below said opening, a valve controlled discharge outlet'connected to said auxiliary chamber, arotor plate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and said container acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, 'said rotor comprising an annular rim, agitator blades extending radially between the central portion of said rotor and said rim and projecting into said container, a plurality of louvres disposed on the top of said rim andextending there through, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottom of said plate projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a port in the bottom of said container adjacent the periphery of said rotor connecting said chamber and said container, and means for rotating said plate.

5. In a mixing machine, a container having an opening in the bottom thereof and an auxiliary chamber position below said opening, a valve controlled discharge outlet connected to said auxiliary chamber, a rotor plate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and said container acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, said rotor comprising a hub. and an annular rim, agitator blades extending radially tween said chamber and said container adjacent the periphery of said rim and in communication with said chamber, and means for rotating said plate.

6. In a mixing machine, a container having an opening in the bottom thereof and an auxiliary chamber position below said opening, a valve controlled discharge outlet connected to said auxiliary chamber, a rotor plate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and said container acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, agitator blades on the top of said rotor plate and projecting into said container, a plurality of louvres disposed on the top of said plate and extending therethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottom of said plate projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a hub on said rotor having two oppositely disposed helically inclined cam surfaces on the top surface and diametrically opposite keyways therethrough, a drive shaft having a flange thereon to engage the bottom surface of said hub said drive shaft having diametrically opposite projecting pins adapted to engage said cam surfaces, means for driving said shaft, and a port in the bottom of said container adjacent the periphery of said rotor and in communication with said chamber.

'7. A rotor plate adapted to be rotatably disposed in an opening in the bottom of a container having an auxiliary chamber below said opening the periphery of said plate being adapted to register with the edge of the opening said rotor comprising an annular rim, agitator blades projecting from one side of said rotor extending radially between the central portion of said rotor and said rim, a plurality of louvres disposed on the rim of said rotor on the said side thereof and extending therethrough, and a plurality of impeller vanes projecting from the opposite side of said plate.

8. A rotor plate adapted to be rotatably disposed in an opening in the bottom of a container having-an auxiliary chamber below said opening the periphery of said plate being adapted to register with the edge of the opening, said rotor comprising a hub and an annular rim, agitator blades projecting from one side of said rotor and extending radially between said hub and said rim, a plurality of louvres disposed on the rim of said rotor on the said one side thereof and extending therethrough, and a plurality of impeller vanes projecting from the opposite side of said plate and extending from said hub to the periphery of said rim.

9. A rotor plate adapted to be rotatably disposed in an opening in the bottom of a container having an auxiliary chamber below said opening the periphery of said plate being adapted to register with the edge of the opening said rotor comprising a hub and an annular rim, agitator blades projecting from one side of said rotor and extending radially between said hub and said rim, a plurality of louvres disposed on the rim of said rotor on the said one side thereof and extending therethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes projecting from the opposite side of said plate, two oppositely disposed helically inclined cam surfaces on the top surface of hub.

NORBERT KNITTEL.

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