Agitator apparatus

Claim 2

An agitator apparatus for mixing a suspension liquid comprising a tank for containing the ingredients of the liquid to be mixed, agitator means, means for rotatably mounting the agitator means vertically disposed in the ingredients, and means for rotating the agitator means, the agitator means further comprising a shaft, a first helical blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, the first helical blade being approximately full pitch and mounted substantially normal to the shaft at all points along the blade, and at least one second helical blade mounted around the periphery of the first helical blade substantially normal to the shaft at all points along the blade, the pitch of the second helical blade being less than approximately two times the pitch of the first helical blade, and the width of the second helical blade being at least about half the width of the first helical blade to provide substantial surface for movement of the liquid in a direction opposite to that produced by the first helical blade.

Claim 3

The agitator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the direction of rotation is such that the first helical blade produces movement of the material in the downward direction, and the second helical blade produces movement of the material in the upward direction.

Claim 4

The agitator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second helical blade is mounted eccentrically around the first helical blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 5

An agitator apparatus for mixing a suspension liquid comprising a tank for containing the ingredients of the liquid to be mixed, agitator means, means for rotatably mounting the agitator means vertically disposed in the ingredients, and means for rotating the agitator means, the agitator means further comprising a shaft, a first helicoid blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, at least one second helicoid blade mounted around the periphery of the first helicoid blade and pitched opposite to the first helicoid blade for rotation therewith, the second helicoid blade being mounted eccentrically around the first helicoid blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 6

An agitator apparatus for mixing a suspension liquid comprising a tank for containing the ingredients of the liquid to be mixed, agitator means, means for rotatably mounting the agitator means vertically disposed in the ingredients, and means for rotating the agitator means, the agitator means further comprising a shaft, a first helicoid blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, at least one second helicoid blade mounted around the periphery of the first helicoid blade and pitched opposite to the first helicoid blade for rotation therewith, the second helicoid blade being mounted eccentrically around the first helicoid blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 7

The agitator apparatus of claim 4 wherein the direction of rotation is such that the first helicoid blade produces movement of the material in the downward direction and the second helicoid blade produces movement of the material in the upward direction.

Claim 8

The agitator apparatus of claim 4 including a plurality of second helical blades each out of phase with the other and each having a pitch of approximately 1.5 - 2 times the pitch of the first helical blade.

Claim 9

An agitator apparatus for mixing suspension liquids such as suspension fertilizers and feeds comprising a tank for containing the ingredients of the suspension liquid to be mixed, agitator means, the inside diameter of tHe tank being large relative to the outside diameter of the agitator means to provide space therebetween for large quantities of the ingredients, means for rotatably mounting the agitator means vertically disposed in the liquid to be mixed, and means for rotating the agitator means, the agitator means further comprising a shaft, a first helical blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of second helical blades, each mounted around the periphery of the first helical blade out of phase with the other for rotation with the shaft, each of the second helical blades being pitched opposite to the first helical blade and having a pitch of approximately 1.5 - 2 times the pitch of the first helical blade, each second helical blade being mounted eccentrically around the first helical blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 10

An agitator apparatus for mixing suspension liquids such as suspension fertilizers and feeds comprising a tank for containing the ingredients of the suspension liquid to be mixed, agitator means, the inside diameter of tHe tank being large relative to the outside diameter of the agitator means to provide space therebetween for large quantities of the ingredients, means for rotatably mounting the agitator means vertically disposed in the liquid to be mixed, and means for rotating the agitator means, the agitator means further comprising a shaft, a first helical blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of second helical blades, each mounted around the periphery of the first helical blade out of phase with the other for rotation with the shaft, each of the second helical blades being pitched opposite to the first helical blade and having a pitch of approximately 1.5 - 2 times the pitch of the first helical blade, each second helical blade being mounted eccentrically around the first helical blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 11

The agitator apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first helical blade is approximately full pitch.

Claim 12

The agitator apparatus of claim 7 wherein the direction of rotation is such that the first helical blade produces a movement of the material in the downward direction, and the second helical blades produce a movement of the material in the upward direction.

Claim 13

The agitator apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plurality of second helical blades comprises two helical blades mounted approximately 180* out of phase.

Claim 14

An agitator for mixing suspension liquids such as suspension fertilizers and feeds comprising a shaft, a first helical blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, the first helical blade being approximately full pitch, a plurality of second helical blades, each mounted around the periphery of the first helical blade out of phase with the other for rotation with the shaft, each of the second helical blades being pitched opposite to the first helical blade and having a pitch of approximately 1.5 - 2 times the pitch of the first helical blade, each second helical blade being mounted eccentrically around the first helical blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 15

An agitator for mixing suspension liquids such as suspension fertilizers and feeds comprising a shaft, a first helical blade mounted around the periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith, the first helical blade being approximately full pitch, a plurality of second helical blades, each mounted around the periphery of the first helical blade out of phase with the other for rotation with the shaft, each of the second helical blades being pitched opposite to the first helical blade and having a pitch of approximately 1.5 - 2 times the pitch of the first helical blade, each second helical blade being mounted eccentrically around the first helical blade in such a way that the agitator is unsymmetrical at at least some points along the shaft to produce an eccentric motion as the shaft rotates.

Claim 16

The agitator apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of second helical blades, each mounted around the periphery of the first helical blade out of phase with each other and extending substantially the full length of the first helical blade.

Claim 17

The agitator apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pitch of each second helical blade is greater than the pitch of the first helical blade.

Claim 18

The agitator apparatus of claim 13 wherein the outer helical blades are of approximately equal pitch and width.

Claim 19

The agitator apparatus of claim 14 wherein there are two second helical blades mounted approximately 180* out of phase.

Claim 20

The agitator apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second helical blades are narrower than the first helical blades.

Claim 21

The agitator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inside diameter of the tank is large relative to the outside diameter of the agitator means to provide space therebetween for large quantities of the ingredients.

Claim 22

The agitator apparatus of claim 17 wherein the inside diameter of the tank is at least three times the outside diameter of the agitator means.

Claim 23

The agitator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the first helical blade at its outside edge is between approximately three-sixteenths and three-eights inch.

Claim 24

The agitator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shaft is rotated at a speed of between approximately 250 and 450 r.p.m.