Patent US3765481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3765481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchanger and mixer
Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
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Filing: 1972-02-09
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Mixing apparatus comprising a gang of mixers each having an elongated jacketed hollow shell with an inlet and an outlet for process material and a series of pairs of helical blades mounted in axially adjacent and circumferentially offset relation in the shell with the blades in axially adjacent pairs being pitched oppositely to cause the material to be divided and folded or twisted in alternate directions as it advances through the shell is provided with means to transfer heat through the blades and to the process material. The blades are hollow and are mounted on a hollow tubular shaft which has internal manifold means providing fluid communication between adjacent ends of the pairs of blades. A conduit extends centrally through the shaft and forms an annular axially extending passage adjacent the bases of the blades for containing a heat-transfer fluid and transferring heat therefrom. Heat transfer fluid flowing through the blades is returned to its source at the other end of the shaft through the return conduit and the annular passage. There is provided means to rotate the shaft at a relatively slow speed to enhance the mixing and heat transfer action in the apparatus by sweeping from the inside of the shell relatively stagnant films which otherwise would build up.
Inventors
- 👤 W Root
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:41
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F35/00; B01F35/90; B01F35/92; B01F35/95; F; F28; F28D; F28D11/00; F28D11/02; F28F; F28F5/00; F28F5/06; B01F27/00; B01F27/05; B01F27/11; B01F27/114; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/076; Y10S165/081; Y10S165/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A heat exchanger and mixer comprising a hollow shell having an inlet for admitting process material and an outlet spaced from the inlet for discharging the process material, a shaft extending through said shell, a series of helical blades arranged axially adjacent one another on said shaft and extending outwardly into proximity with said shell, the trailing end of one blade being offset circumferentially from the leading end of the adjacent blade, said adjacent blades having pitches alternating in opposite directions in the path of movement of the process material to divide the process material and to fold the material in alternating directions to effect a mixing action as the process material advances forwardly through the mixer from the inlet to the outlet, each blade having a helical flow passage extending outwardly from said shaft and between said leading and trailing ends, means to flow a heat-transfer medium through said blades for transferring heat relative to said process material including manifold means in said shaft providing fluid communication among the flow passages in said blades, said manifold means including port means spaced apart in said shaft adjacent the leading and trailing edges of said blades for providing fluid communication with the interior of said shaft so that the heat-transfer medium may be flowed into each blade at one location and out of each blade at an axially spaced location after flowing through the length of the blade.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A heat exchanger and mixer comprising a hollow shell having an inlet for admitting process material and an outlet spaced from the inlet for discharging the process material, a shaft extending through said shell, a series of helical blades arranged axially adjacent one another on said shaft and extending outwardly into proximity with said shell, the trailing end of one blade being offset circumferentially from the leading end of the adjacent blade, said adjacent blades having pitches alternating in opposite directions in the path of movement of the process material to divide the process material and to fold the material in alternating directions to effect a mixing action as the process material advances forwardly through the mixer from the inlet to the outlet, each blade having a helical flow passage extending outwardly from said shaft and between said leading and trailing ends, means to flow a heat-transfer medium through said blades for transferring heat relative to said process material including manifold means in said shaft providing fluid communication among the flow passages in said blades, said manifold means including port means spaced apart in said shaft adjacent the leading and trailing edges of said blades for providing fluid communication with the interior of said shaft so that the heat-transfer medium may be flowed into each blade at one location and out of each blade at an axially spaced location after flowing through the length of the blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each blade includes a pair of shaped plates spaced from one another to provide said blade-passage and a scraping member sandwiched between said plates along their outer edges and extending radially outward into proximity with said shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means connected to said shaft to displace said shaft and said blades in said shell to effect a scraping action of said blades along the interior of said shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 including a jacket surrounding said shell and cooperating with said shell to form a second passage for containing a heat-transfer medium, means providing an inlet connection to said second passage and an outlet connection from said second passage for enabling said medium to flow therethrough, and a series of vanes in said second passage for guiding said medium longitudinally in said second passage from said inlet connection to said outlet connection, said shaft-displacing means including means to rotate said shaft, whereby heat may be transferred radially relative to process materials advancing through the mixer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means mounted at one end of said shaft for supplying said heat-transfer medium to said manifold means in said shaft and for collecting said medium from said manifold means after it has transferred heat relative to the process material, means mounted at the other end of said shaft for receiving heat-transfer medium from the blades in said series and for returning said medium through said shaft to said supply means, whereby the heat-transfer medium flows in one direction through the blades and is returned in an opposite direction through the shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said manifold means includes a conduit mounted within said shaft, and a series of pockets provided between said conduit and said shaft, said port means including a pair of ports located at opposite ends of said blades in registry with said pockets, whereby the heat-transfer medium flows through the blades and their associated pockets from the supply means to the returning means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said blades are arranged in pairs on said shaft with the blades in each pair having diametrically extending leading and trailing edges, said pockets and ports being arranged in pairs at said locations with one pocket in each pair providing fluid communication between adjacent offset blades in said axially adjacent pairs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 including second and third like mixers ganged with the first-mentioned mixer, each mixer having an inlet and an outlet and heat-transfer medium supply means, the outlet of the third one of said mixers being connected to the inlet of said second mixer and the outlet of said second mixer being connected to the inlet of said first mixer, said heat-transfer medium supply means for said mixers being grouped together at one end of each mixer with said outlet of said third one of said mixers being located adjacent its associated heat-transfer medium supply means, whereby the heat-transfer medium flows through the blades in a direction counter to the flow of process material in said first and third mixers and flows through said blades in a direction with said process material in said second mixer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 including a return conduit mounted centrally in said shaft for flowing said return heat-transfer medium to said supply means, said return conduit cooperating with said shaft to define an annular passage along the bases of the blades for flowing said heat-transfer medium through said shaft, said receiving and returning means at said other end of said shaft including return ports providing fluid communication between said blade-passages and said annular passage and port means providing fluid communication between said annular passage and the interior of said conduit adjacent each end of said conduit to permit a portion of the heat-transfer medium exiting from said blades at the other end of the shaft to flow through the annular passage and another portion to flow through the conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said port means in said conduit include apertures in said conduit, said apertures being sized to cause the portion of heat-transfer medium flowing through the conduit to be a major portion of the total flow through the blades.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said heat-transfer medium supply means includes a hollow plug in said one end of said shaft, a tube extending axially in said plug and in fluid communication with the interior of said conduit for flowing through said plug heat-transfer medium returning from said blades, said tube forming with said plug an annular chamber therein, and including supply ports providing fluid communication between said annular chamber and said blade passages, whereby the heat-transfer medium is flowed radially outward from the plug and into the blades and is returned through the conduit from the blades.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |