Electric heating – Metal heating – Of cylinders
Patent
1986-01-10
1987-12-22
Leung, Philip H.
Electric heating
Metal heating
Of cylinders
219 1055E, 366219, 99421HV, 99DIG14, H05B 678
Patent
active
047148136
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to mixers. It is primarily intended for a mixer which can be inserted into a domestic microwave oven, for example to achieve uniform and controlled thawing of frozen material.
Current medical practice often involves the thawing of frozen biological materials, and microwave radiation is sometimes used to achieve this. When this is done using a domestic microwave oven, rotation of the materials being thawed is usually performed in the horizontal plane by way of a motor-driven plate at the base of the oven, or alternatively in the vertical plane by way of a side-pivoted side-driven cradle. Neither method optimises the uniformity of radiation exposure, although the vertical method does contribute a tumble-mix component, once thawing is initiated. Non-uniform exposure of some frozen biological materials to microwave radiation may lead to heat-denaturation of the same in the areas of maximum exposure. The present invention was developed in order to minimise this problem, using a domestic microwave oven with central base-plate motor drive to achieve simultaneous horizontal and vertical axis rotation of the materials to be thawed. This optimises the uniformity of exposure of materials to microwave radiation, and also provides simultaneous tumble-mixing of the materials.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixer for use with a microwave oven having a turntable, comprising a closable container for receiving a charge of material to be mixed, and structure for fixing within the oven for co-operation with the container as the latter is carried around by the turntable rotating means, such co-operation being arranged to rotate the container about an axis transverse to that of the turntable.
In one preferred form the container is a generally cylindrical drum with its axis horizontal, journalled in a cradle which is carried round by the turntable rotating means. The co-operation may then be provided by a transmission between a member co-axial with the drum and an annular path traversed by that member. This transmission may include an intermediate wheel carried by the cradle and engaging said member and said path. The elements of the transmission may have frictional engagement or interengaging gear teeth.
The structure may include a base plate for resting on the floor of the oven, the cradle being carried by the plate and adapted for engagement by the turntable rotating means through an opening in the plate, the actual turntable having been removed. For stability and location, the cradle will conveniently have rolling means which run on the periphery of said opening, and the cradle may lie within that opening. The annular path may be provided by the base plate.
In an alternative construction, the container is spherical and the structure comprises surfaces on the interior walls of the oven for successive engagement by the sphere as it is carried around by the turntable, there being means for imparting a bias to the sphere so that there is a preferred surface of engagement, each surface when engaged by the sphere being capable of imparting a rolling motion thereto.
This bias is conveniently a tilt imparted to the turntable. The surface immediately upstream of the preferred surface in relation to the direction of rotation of the turntable will preferably be spaced from the axis of the turntable a distance equal to the radius of the container, while said preferred surface will be spaced from the axis of the turntable a distance greater than that radius.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for mixing and heating material, comprising encasing the material in a container, placing the container in a microwave oven, the oven having a turntable, and operating the oven, the container being carried around by the turntable rotating means and, by engagement with static structure within the oven, being caused to rotate about an axis transverse to that of the turntable.
Generally the container and structure will comprise a mixer as defined a
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Flattery Paul C.
Leung Philip H.
Price Bradford R. L.
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