Agitating – Stirrer within stationary mixing chamber – Rotatable stirrer
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-02
2002-10-15
Cooley, Charles E. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Stirrer within stationary mixing chamber
Rotatable stirrer
C198S670000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06464388
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for continuously mixing liquid products and/or pulverulent products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for mixing liquid products and/or pulverulent products are well known. In particular, they are described in French Patent No. 2 414 952 and its Certificate of Addition No. 2 443 277.
In its most simple form, shown for example in accompanying
FIG. 1
, such a device comprises an outer tubular casing
10
presenting an open end
12
for the discharge of the mixture and an open end
14
for the infeed of one of the products to be mixed. Reference
16
designates the system of infeed of the second product to be mixed. Inside the tubular casing
10
is located a rotating mixer member
18
which is in the form of a helix extending over a large part of the length of the tubular casing. The mixer member
18
is driven in rotation about axis x′,x′ of the tubular casing by a motor
20
. Rotation of the helix
18
ensures both the mixture of the liquid and/or pulverulent products, and the entrainment of the mixture produced towards the discharge end
12
.
When this type of mixer is used for products which are hygroscopic, adhesive, clogging or hardening, caking occurs inside the helix
18
upon encountering the products to be mixed. This effect of caking on the helix
18
alters the efficiency of the mixture by the helix
18
and can therefore entrain to the outlet of the mixer a finished product which is non-homogeneous or even lumpy.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,801 describes a tubular device for conveying pulverized products. This device comprises a spiral element and an axial tubular bar mounted inside the spiral. One end of the bar is fast with the tubular casing of the device and this bar extends over the whole length of the path of the pulverized products in order to limit the free volume for the pulverized product. Such a device can in no way solve the problem raised.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for mixing liquid products and/or pulverized products which avoids the risks of the mixture caking on the helix of the mixer, without decreasing the efficiency of the mixer nor reducing its flowrate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To attain that object, the device according to the invention for continuously mixing liquid products and/or pulverized products, comprising at least one outer tubular casing, means for supplying products to be mixed disposed at a first end of the tubular casing, the second end of the tubular casing being open for the discharge of the mixture, a mixer member having the form of a helix of inner diameter D disposed inside the tubular casing, and means for rotating the mixer member about the axis of said tubular casing, further comprises an elongated piece closed at its two ends, of diameter d, with d<D, and of length l less than the length L of the mixer member, said piece being mounted radially free inside the mixer member and being radially free with respect to said outer tubular casing to form an imbalance, and means for axially holding said cylindrical piece inside the mixer member.
It will be understood that the cylindrical elongated piece which is mounted free inside the turn forming mixer member, i.e. without any mechanical link between the elongated piece and the mixer, constitutes the equivalent of an imbalance. Due to the rotation of the helix and the absence of mechanical link, the cylindrical piece hits the inner face of the turns of the helix, preventing caking of the mixture or causing any caking to be detached from the helix. In addition, it will be understood that the cylindrical piece is immobilized in translation, on the one hand, by the holding means disposed at the discharge end of the mixer and, on the other hand, by the effect of the products to be mixed entrained by the mixer member.
It goes without saying that, depending on the nature of the products to be mixed, the elongated piece mounted free in the mixer member will have different dimensions and suitable weights.
The ends of the elongated piece are preferably shaped.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3282055 (1966-11-01), Landau
patent: 3381801 (1968-05-01), Rastoin
patent: 3481512 (1969-12-01), Scheffer et al.
patent: 5524796 (1996-06-01), Hyer
patent: 2414952 (1979-08-01), None
patent: 2443277 (1980-07-01), None
Cooley Charles E.
Pari
Weingarten Schurgin, Gagnebin & Lebovici LLP
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