Mixer

• US 4,034,967 A
• Filed: 08/27/1975
• Issued: 07/12/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John A. Gustairs
• Original Assignee: John A. Gustairs
• Inventors: Gustairs, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Robert I.
• Application Number:
  US05/608,136
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 259/104, 259/6, 259/21, 259/41, 259/75, 198/213, 198/214, 198/215
• US Class Current: 366/301
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/114 Helically shaped stirrers, i.e. stirrers comprising a helically shaped band or helically shaped band sections
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1145 ribbon shaped with an open space between the helical ribbon flight and the rotating axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/922 with two or more helices, e.g. with intermeshing helices
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/08 for liquid or semi-liquid paints

Abstract

A mixer of the disclosure incorporates a unique rotor construction having an elongated shaft portion about which a mixing element is wound in an axially spiraling manner so as to define radial mixing lobes. The mixer includes a housing defining a mixing chamber that receives at least two of the rotors whose mixing elements are wound in the same direction with the same pitch and are arranged in a meshing relationship with each other. A gear unit of the mixer drives the rotors in the same direction at the same speed about their elongated shaft portions so the radial lobes of each rotor pass between those of the other to provide a mixing action to components received within the mixing chamber. The rotors are preferably detachably secured to the gear unit so as to be removable for cleaning. The flow of the components being mixed through the chamber is provided by supply line pressure and the rotors provide a screw action that creates a back-flow turbulence acting against this flow to aid in the mixing.

Claims

1. A mixer comprising:

a housing defining a mixing chamber for receiving components to be mixed;

at least two rotors rotatably mounted by the housing within the mixing chamber;

each of said rotors including an elongated shaft portion and a mixing element that is wound about the shaft portion in an axially spiraling manner so as to define radial lobes;

said mixing elements being spaced from the associated shaft portions at the radial lobes so that the components being mixed can pass therethrough;

the elements of the rotors being wound in the same direction with the same pitch and being arranged in a meshing relationship with each other;

the lobes of the mixing elements having inner ends secured to the associated shaft portions and curved shapes extending radially between the inner ends thereof;

each mixing element being secured to the associated shaft portion at the inner ends of the radial lobes for at least three times for each revolution thereabout; and

drive means for rotating the rotors in the same direction at the same speed about their elongated shaft portions so the rotor elements thereof mesh with the radial lobes of each passing between those of the other to provide the mixing of components received within the mixing chamber into a homogeneous mixture.

2. A mixer according to claim 1 further including means for detachably securing the shaft portion of each rotor to the drive means to permit removal of the rotors for cleaning.

3. A mixer according to claim 2 wherein the detachable shaft portion of each rotor comprises a sleeve, and the drive means including at least two shafts for respectively receiving the sleeves of the rotors.

4. A mixer according to claim 1 wherein the housing defines an outlet through which the mixture is discharged and at least two inlets through which the components to be mixed are introduced into the mixing chamber.

5. A mixer according to claim 4 wherein the drive means rotates the rotors in a direction such that the spiraling orientation of the radial lobes moves the components being mixed away from the outlet toward the inlets and thereby creates a back-flow turbulence that aids in mixing the components.

6. A mixer according to claim 1 wherein the housing has an oblong cross-section taken across the direction of rotor rotation and includes pointed members between the rotors which cooperate with the housing to define mixing chamber portions for each rotor.

7. A mixer according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a motor as well as a gear unit driven by the motor and rotatably coupled to each rotor.

8. A mixer according to claim 7 wherein the gear unit includes a first gear driven by the motor and second and third gears respectively coupled to the rotors and driven by the first gear to coordinate the rotation of each rotor with the other.