US3920227A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable mixing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-13
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable mixing device for mixing and blending fluids in a container which has a fluid impeller adapted for pumping the fluids substantially laterally in counter-rotating and circular continuous motion in the container that is area-adjustable for varying the volume of fluids pumped to adjust the torque load on the impeller to prevent overload on the mixing motor during start-up. The impeller of the mixing device can be adjusted from outside the container without impeller removal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Philip E Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:54
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F27/00; B01F27/80; B01F27/81; B01F27/813; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S366/00; Y10S366/601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
A mixing apparatus for agitating fluids in a container comprising: a. drive shaft means adapted to extend into a container, b. support means for supporting said drive shaft means for axial rotation; c. driving means mounted with one end of said drive shaft means for imparting a driving force thereto for axial rotation; d. impeller means mounted with an opposite end of said drive shaft means for immersion in a fluid in a container having a surface coacting with the fluid for positively displacing a portion of said fluid outward substantially laterally from the axial alignment of said drive shaft means and into counterrotating and circulating turbulences within said container; and e. area-adjusting means for adjusting the surface area of said impeller means coacting with the fluid for varying the volume of fluid positively displaced during axial rotation for controlling the torque required from said driving means; f. said impeller means comprising 1. a first impeller member having at least one blade member mounted therewith; 2. a second impeller member having at least one blade member mounted therewith; 3. said second impeller member being disposed in longitudinal spaced relationship with said first impeller member to provide an adjustable space therebetween and to provide a longitudinal overlapping arrangement of said blade members for engagement of said blade members to form an adjustable surface for said coacting with a portion of the fluid; 4. one of said impeller members mounted with said drive shaft for fixed axial rotation; 5. one of said impeller members rotatably mounted with said area-adjusting means for axial rotation and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said other impeller member whereby the fixedly mounted impeller member drives the rotatably mounted impeller member during axial rotation; and 6. at least one of said impeller members having an axial opening to provide for fluid Flow in the container into the space between said impeller members for positive displacement thereof substantially laterally through said space by said longitudinally overlapping blade members during axial rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
A mixing apparatus for agitating fluids in a container comprising: a. drive shaft means adapted to extend into a container, b. support means for supporting said drive shaft means for axial rotation; c. driving means mounted with one end of said drive shaft means for imparting a driving force thereto for axial rotation; d. impeller means mounted with an opposite end of said drive shaft means for immersion in a fluid in a container having a surface coacting with the fluid for positively displacing a portion of said fluid outward substantially laterally from the axial alignment of said drive shaft means and into counterrotating and circulating turbulences within said container; and e. area-adjusting means for adjusting the surface area of said impeller means coacting with the fluid for varying the volume of fluid positively displaced during axial rotation for controlling the torque required from said driving means; f. said impeller means comprising 1. a first impeller member having at least one blade member mounted therewith; 2. a second impeller member having at least one blade member mounted therewith; 3. said second impeller member being disposed in longitudinal spaced relationship with said first impeller member to provide an adjustable space therebetween and to provide a longitudinal overlapping arrangement of said blade members for engagement of said blade members to form an adjustable surface for said coacting with a portion of the fluid; 4. one of said impeller members mounted with said drive shaft for fixed axial rotation; 5. one of said impeller members rotatably mounted with said area-adjusting means for axial rotation and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said other impeller member whereby the fixedly mounted impeller member drives the rotatably mounted impeller member during axial rotation; and 6. at least one of said impeller members having an axial opening to provide for fluid Flow in the container into the space between said impeller members for positive displacement thereof substantially laterally through said space by said longitudinally overlapping blade members during axial rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
a second impeller member having at least one blade member mounted therewith;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
a second impeller member having at least one blade member mounted therewith;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 1, including: means mounting said area-adjusting means for adjusting said impeller meeans from the exterior of the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 1, including: anticavitation means adapted for mounting with said impeller means for maintaining said fluid in the container substantially level during said axial rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
said second impeller member being disposed in longitudinal spaced relationship with said first impeller member to provide an adjustable space therebetween and to provide a longitudinal overlapping arrangement of said blade members for engagement of said blade members to form an adjustable surface for said coacting with a portion of the fluid;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
said second impeller member being disposed in longitudinal spaced relationship with said first impeller member to provide an adjustable space therebetween and to provide a longitudinal overlapping arrangement of said blade members for engagement of said blade members to form an adjustable surface for said coacting with a portion of the fluid;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
one of said impeller members mounted with said drive shaft for fixed axial rotation;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
one of said impeller members mounted with said drive shaft for fixed axial rotation;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driving means includes: a. speed control means mounted with said drive shaft means, and b. motor means connected therewith for imparting a driving force and rotation to said speed control means and drive shaft means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said first impeller member includes a first hub member mounted with said drive shaft means and disposed in axial alignment relative thereto, said first hub member having at least one blade member mounted therewith; and b. said second impeller member includes a second hub member rotatably mounted with said area-adjusting means and disposed in axial alignment relative to said drive shaft means and longitudinally movable relative to said first hub member upon actuation of said adjusting means, said second hub member having at least one blade member mounted therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
one of said impeller members rotatably mounted with said area-adjusting means for axial rotation and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said other impeller member whereby the fixedly mounted impeller member drives the rotatably mounted impeller member during axial rotation; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
one of said impeller members rotatably mounted with said area-adjusting means for axial rotation and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said other impeller member whereby the fixedly mounted impeller member drives the rotatably mounted impeller member during axial rotation; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
at least one of said impeller members having an axial opening to provide for fluid Flow in the container into the space between said impeller members for positive displacement thereof substantially laterally through said space by said longitudinally overlapping blade members during axial rotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
at least one of said impeller members having an axial opening to provide for fluid Flow in the container into the space between said impeller members for positive displacement thereof substantially laterally through said space by said longitudinally overlapping blade members during axial rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said adjusting means includes: a. an adjustment rod having one end adapted for mounting with said second impeller hub member and having an opposite end extending exteriorly of said container, the longitudinal axis of said adjustment rod being in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft means; and b. means mounted with said opposite end of said adjustment rod for adjusting said adjustment rod upwardly and downwardly about its longitudinal axis whereby said second impeller member is also adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to said first impeller member to provide an increase or decrease in the total longitudinal area of said blade members which coact with the fluid positively displaced through the space between said impeller members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for adjusting the adjustment rod includes: an actuating member threadably mounted with said opposite end of said adjustment rod and rotatable for axial adjustment of said adjustment rod.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 1 including: a. an upper circular plate attached to the upper edge of said blade member of said first impeller member; and b. a lower circular plate attached to the bottom edge of said blade member of said second impeller member and parallel to said upper circular plate; said blade members being longitudinally adjustable relative to each other for positioning the lower edge of the first impeller blade member and the upper edge of the second impeller blade member so as to overlap each other in variable amounts upon adjustment thereof by said adjusting means to transmit a driving force from one of said impeller blade members to said other impeller blade member during said axial rotation; and at least one of said circular plates having said axial opening to provide for said fluid flow into said space between said impeller members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 8 wherein: a. said first impeller member includes a first hub member mounted with said drive shaft means and disposed in axial alignment relative thereto, said first hub member having said blade member mounted therewith; and b. said second impeller member including a second hub member rotatably mounted with said area-adjusting means and disposed in axial alignment relative to said drive shaft means and longitudinally movable relative to said first hub member upon actuation of said adjusting means, said second hub member Having said second impeller blade member mounted therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 9 wherein said blade members of each of said impeller members are respectively mounted with said first and second hub members, each of said blade members having a substantially arcuate shape and extending substantially laterally from the respective axial alignments of each of said hub members to the respective peripheries of said upper and lower circular plates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mixing apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said first impeller member includes a plurality of blade members; and said second impeller member includes a plurality of blade members.
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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |