Mixing and dispensing device

Details Mixing and dispensing device Mixing and dispensing device

1999-06-10

2001-04-10

Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)

Agitating

Stationary deflector in flow-through mixing chamber

Curved deflector surface

C366S181500, C366S177100, C222S137000, C222S145600

Reexamination Certificate

active

06213633

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mixing device for mixing two or more fluid materials. The invention also relates to a dispensing device for two or more fluid materials incorporating the mixing device so as to mix the fluid materials upon dispensing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various mixing devices for fluid materials are known. One general type of mixing device comprises a generally tubular column along which the two or more fluid materials are caused to flow together, the tubular column having internal turbulence-creating elements which engage with and cause turbulence in the flow of fluid materials along the column. The turbulence causes the materials to mix thoroughly. One such mixing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,026, which comprises a tubular column within which are a number of baffles in the form of helically twisted ribbons, the ribbons alternating in their direction of helical twist along the length of the column. The mixing device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,026 is disclosed in combination with a dispensing device for two fluid materials. Another such mixing device is disclosed in EP 0212290 A which comprises a cylindrical passage tube provided with a groove on its inner peripheral wall and a shaft with a helical groove on its outer peripheral surface. The grooves on the shaft and the passage tube are of unchanging depth along the length of the tube.
Known mixing devices are inadequate for the thorough mixing of certain materials, e.g. medicinal or other healthcare formulations which comprise two or more fluid materials each of which contain substances which are intended to interact on mixing to form a product.
It is an object of this invention to overcome this problem, in part at least, and also to provide an alternative to known mixing devices. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mixing device which is suitable for use with the type of small volume hand operated dispensing devices often used for healthcare products, such as toothpastes, gels etc. These generally comprise a number of reservoirs for the respective substances each reservoir communicating with a hand operated pump which pumps the substance through a respective communicating dispensing outlet. Such dispensing devices are well known, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,104,004 and 4,438,871 among many others. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, this invention provides a mixing device which is suitable for mixing two or more fluid materials; comprising a generally tubular column, within the column there being an internal longitudinally aligned core, with a space between the column and the core defining a channel which is suitable for the flow of the fluid materials in an overall longitudinal direction through the column, the channel having an inlet end and an outlet end for the respective inlet and exit of fluid material into and out of the channel, the inner surface of the column which faces the core having one or more fluid guide elements thereon which impart helical flow in a first twist direction upon a fluid flowing longitudinally along the channel from the inlet end to the outlet end, and the outer surface of the core which faces the column having one or more fluid guide elements thereon which impart helical flow in a second twist direction opposite to the first twist direction upon a fluid flowing longitudinally along the channel from the inlet end to the outlet end, characterised in that:
in part of the channel the helical flow imparted to the fluid is predominantly in the twist direction of the guide elements on the core and in a part of the channel upstream or downstream of this part the helical flow imparted to the fluid flow is predominantly in the twist direction of the guide elements on the column.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 26147 (1967-01-01), Parshall et al.
patent: 2512471 (1950-06-01), Trist
patent: 2639464 (1953-05-01), Magerkurth
patent: 4088449 (1978-05-01), Smith
patent: 4438871 (1984-03-01), Eckert
patent: 4767026 (1988-08-01), Keller et al.
patent: 5104004 (1992-04-01), von Schuckmann
patent: 5178458 (1993-01-01), Hsu
patent: 5421650 (1995-06-01), Meyer
patent: 5694833 (1997-12-01), Wenger
patent: 296 08 289 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 0 212 290 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 0 301 974 (1989-02-01), None
patent: 0 603 492 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 2 597 365 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 2 146 912 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 2 292 531 (1996-02-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Mixing and dispensing device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Mixing and dispensing device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mixing and dispensing device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2476960