Agitation method and means

Claim 3

The method of agitating flowable material as defined in claim 1 wherein the container rocks about an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Claim 4

means for clamping a container between the members for rotation therewith, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container support means about the axis of rotation so that a vortex is formed in the contents of a container therein also tending to rock about the first axis so that the vortex created in the container contents tends to shift about in the container creating a precessing slosh wave which violently agitates and mixes the container contents.

Claim 5

means for clamping a container between the members for rotation therewith, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container support means about the axis of rotation so that a vortex is formed in the contents of a container therein also tending to rock about the first axis so that the vortex created in the container contents tends to shift about in the container creating a precessing slosh wave which violently agitates and mixes the container contents.

Claim 8

The method of agitating flowable material in a container as defined in claim 3 wherein the container and its contents are rotated at a speed of at least 100 rpm.

Claim 9

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents comprising A. means for supporting a container for rotation about a first axis, and B. means for pivotally supporting the support means for free rocking movement about a second axis passing through the container and being different from the first axis, and C. means for rotating the support means about the first axis so that a vortex is created in the contents of a container in the support means, said support means also tending to rock about the second axis at a frequency governed by the gyroscopic forces which arise due to the rotation of the container and its contents, causing the vortex to shift relative to the first axis, thereby creating a precessing slosh wave in the container contents which thoroughly agitates and mixes the container contents.

Claim 10

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents comprising A. means for supporting a container for rotation about a first axis, and B. means for pivotally supporting the support means for free rocking movement about a second axis passing through the container and being different from the first axis, and C. means for rotating the support means about the first axis so that a vortex is created in the contents of a container in the support means, said support means also tending to rock about the second axis at a frequency governed by the gyroscopic forces which arise due to the rotation of the container and its contents, causing the vortex to shift relative to the first axis, thereby creating a precessing slosh wave in the container contents which thoroughly agitates and mixes the container contents.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the two axes are essentially perpendicular to one another.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined in claim 5 and further including A. a container in the support means, and B. means in the container for increasing the coupling of the rotary motion of the container to the contents thereof.

Claim 13

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex Forms in the container contents comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock freely about a first axis, D. container support means rotatively mounted on the frame, so that a container supported thereby intercepts the first axis, the axis of rotation being oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container support means about the axis of rotation so that a vortex is formed in the contents of a container in the support means, said support means and any container therein also tending to rock about the first axis at a frequency governed primarily by the gyroscopic forces which arise due to the rotation of the container and its contents, so that the vortex created in the container contents tends to shift about in the container, creating a precessing slosh wave which violently agitates and mixes the container contents.

Claim 14

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex Forms in the container contents comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock freely about a first axis, D. container support means rotatively mounted on the frame, so that a container supported thereby intercepts the first axis, the axis of rotation being oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container support means about the axis of rotation so that a vortex is formed in the contents of a container in the support means, said support means and any container therein also tending to rock about the first axis at a frequency governed primarily by the gyroscopic forces which arise due to the rotation of the container and its contents, so that the vortex created in the container contents tends to shift about in the container, creating a precessing slosh wave which violently agitates and mixes the container contents.

Claim 15

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container as defined in claim 8 and further including a container having one or more baffles inside the container for augmenting the mixing of the container contents.

Claim 16

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container as defined in claim 8 and further including resilient means operating between the frame and the base for biasing the frame to a neutral position relative to the base.

Claim 17

Apparatus for agitating flowable material comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock freely about a first axis, D. a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents rotatively mounted on the frame so as to intercept the first axis and rotate about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container about the second axis so that the frame rocks about the first axis at a frequency governed mostly by the conditions of dynamic imbalance which arise due to rotation of the container and its contents.

Claim 18

Apparatus for agitating flowable material comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock freely about a first axis, D. a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents rotatively mounted on the frame so as to intercept the first axis and rotate about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container about the second axis so that the frame rocks about the first axis at a frequency governed mostly by the conditions of dynamic imbalance which arise due to rotation of the container and its contents.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the container has a removable cover.

Claim 20

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock about a first axis, D. container support means rotatively mounted on the frame, the axis of rotation being oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis, said container support means comprising

Claim 21

Apparatus for agitating flowable material in a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock about a first axis, D. container support means rotatively mounted on the frame, the axis of rotation being oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis, said container support means comprising

Claim 22

Apparatus for agitating flowable material comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock freely about a first axis, D. a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents rotatively and removably mounted on the frame so as to rotate about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container about the second axis so that the frame rocks about the first axis at a frequency governed mostly by the conditions of dynamic imbalance which arise due to rotation of the container and its contents, said rotating means comprising an electric motor mounted on the frame with its shaft removably conNected to the container.

Claim 23

Apparatus for agitating flowable material comprising A. a base, B. a frame, C. means for pivotally connecting the frame to the base so that the frame can rock freely about a first axis, D. a container shaped so that, when rotated, a vortex forms in the container contents rotatively and removably mounted on the frame so as to rotate about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, and E. means for rapidly rotating the container about the second axis so that the frame rocks about the first axis at a frequency governed mostly by the conditions of dynamic imbalance which arise due to rotation of the container and its contents, said rotating means comprising an electric motor mounted on the frame with its shaft removably conNected to the container.