Method and apparatus for dispersing pigments in liquid vehicles

Claim 1

APPARATUS OF THE TYPE UTILIZING THE AGITATION OF PARTICLES OF A GRINDING MEDIA FOR DEAGGLOMERATING AND DISPERSING PARTICULATE SOLIDS IN LIQUID, COMPRISING: (A) A LOWER HOUSING ASSEMBLY PROVIDING A VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL MIXING CHAMBER OF PREDETERMINED DIAMETER HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END, AND CLOSED LOWER END ASSOCIATED WITH A FLUID INLET; (B) AN UPPER HOUSING ASSEMBLY REMOVABLY CONNECTED AS A UNIT TO THE UPPER END OF THE LOWER HOUSING ASSEMBLY, SAID UPPER HOUSING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: A TOP CLOSURE, AN OUTER WALL EXTENDING FROM SAID TOP CLOSURE, AN INWARDLY SPACED ARCUATE INNER WALL SECTION FORMING AN EXTENSION OF SAID MIXING CHAMBER AND COOPERATING WITH A PORTION OF THE OUTER WALL TO FORM A FLUID CIRCULATING JACKET, A SCREEN FOR REMOVING GRINDING MEDIA EXTENDING ABOVE THE OPEN END OF THE MIXING CHAMBER, SAID SCREEN BEING INWARDLY SPACED FROM AND COOPERATING WITH A PORTION OF SAID OUTER WALL TO PROVIDE A DISCHARGE CHAMBER HAVING COMMUNICATION WITH A FLUID OUTLET;